A woman overwhelmed

A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life (Abingdon Press, August 2017)

“A Woman Overwhelmed” is a phrase with which many women can relate.

But what would happen if we could see the insanity in our pace and embrace our overwhelming God?

There is a reason they say that a woman’s work is never done— because it isn’t! As women, we often are overwhelmed by the demands and circumstances of life, resulting in stress, fear, worry, impatience, fatigue, frustration, and even depression. The truth is that we were created to be overwhelmed . . . not by life but by God! When we learn to be overwhelmed by God, the fruit in our lives goes from rotten to fragrant—filling our days with peace, hope, love, and joy.

In A Woman Overwhelmed, best-selling author Hayley DiMarco shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God’s love and power.

Be empowered to find freedom in becoming overwhelmed with who God is—by learning to focus on what we know about God so that we can hold onto faith even when it seems that all is lost. For it is when an overwhelmed woman gives up the mission of me and exchanges it for the mission of God that being overwhelmed becomes a good thing.

Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

My thoughts: This is a wonderful little book for any woman who is feeling overwhelmed! I love the stories that Hayley shares, since they are full of humor and heartfelt. Reading this book takes no time at all, and is so enjoyable, since you feel like you are sitting down with a good friend and talking about life. I enjoyed this book tremendously!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Hiding from my Kids in my Prayer Closet

Finding grace and laughter when motherhood gets real

Soon after Jessica Kastner became a mother, she wondered if she was the only mom who found pretend play more boring than watching playdough harden and who dreaded yet another friend’s Instagram post of homemade deliciousness.

In Hiding from My Kids in the Prayer Closet, Kastner shares her experience as an “unmom”—a mom who loves her kids more than she loves the daily experience of mothering. She helps readers laugh at the ridiculous, delight in the unpredictable, and enjoy being the mothers God made them to be.

My thoughts: While I didn't totally relate to Jessica with this book, I do feel like she hit the nail on the head at times and that this book is a fun addition to the genre. This book if for any mother who has felt out of her league navigating parenthood, mom groups, or the loneliness that comes with staying home with your little ones. While one might not be able to relate to everything, Jessica has a lot of truths in this book that help other (un)moms know they are not alone. I enjoyed what she had to say and the humor she said it with!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Women Who Move Mountains

Infuse Your World--and Your Heart--with God's Life-Giving Power

Amid our packed schedules and life's curveballs, our hearts long for more. We want to live and love well; we want to be a source of joy and life. The good news is that you can--and the secret is found in the simple act of prayer.

Prayer was never meant to be a recitation of requests, but rather a drawing close to the heart of God. When you learn to exchange the obstacles of life for the promises of God, you will pray with passion and confidence rather than fear or insecurity. From this place of surrender and intimacy, you will discover what it means to become a powerful, effective woman of prayer--a woman whose life overflows with springs of living water that transform not only her own life, but the world around her.

With study questions and journaling exercises included, this is the perfect book to go deeper either on your own or with a group.

My thoughts: This was an excellent book for me to read on my own, but I can see it making an exceptional study group book! I enjoyed the depth that I found. I enjoyed how Sue talks about the different prayers and goes deeper into the differences. This is an excellent book to read on your own or with a group!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Brave is the New Beautiful

Our culture bombards women with “thinspiration” messages and pressure to “do it all” while wearing the mask of perfection.

Women are left feeling alone and overwhelmed. How can they stop comparing themselves to others? How can they live out who they really are?

Lee Wolfe Blum offers stories from everyday women who have answered these questions with their lives—and found true beauty in the process. In Brave Is the New Beautiful, Blum weaves reflections from her own journey with inspirational stories from everyday women who chose to take off their masks and live authentically. Through call-to-action questions and ideas, she encourages readers to be brave enough to be who they really are and the beloved that God knows they are.

My thoughts: Wow! This book is one that every woman needs. I love how it covers a myriad of different topics, all going back to the different ways women are brave. Filled with story after story that will leave you encouraged, this is a must for all women!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Miscarried Joy review and giveaway

Miscarried Joy: Moving Beyond Incredible Pain to Extraordinary Faith (Nyreepress Publishing, October 2016)

Faith over fear. Patience over frustration. Pain with a purpose.

In Miscarried Joy, Tanika transparently shares her deeply personal and disappointing experiences of losing her babies due to miscarriage. There were times when she felt God was the cause of her pain. However, her journey through the lives of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth and Naomi, revealed quite the opposite—God had allowed her pain for a much greater purpose. Each of these women had something in common: they learned to surrender their will and trust God’s plan beyond the pain. They were pushed to a posture of prayer that led them from questioning God to have total confidence in Him. Tanika discovered that this season of waiting didn’t show up simply to challenge her, but to change her.

With biblical depth, heart-filled transparency and a voice of passion, you will:

—Understand God’s heart in the midst of incredible pain
—Discover the importance of trusting God’s plan over your own
—Arm yourself with the strength to let go of bitterness and comparison to appreciate the beauty of your story
—Learn and implement spiritual principles and strategies to walk boldly in faith
—Embrace God’s delay and birth contentment in your season of waiting

What have you miscarried? What purpose have you had difficulty conceiving? Is it a calling you fear stepping into? A vision that has not yet come to pass? Miscarried Joy has something for anyone who needs help pushing through incredible pain to conquer discouragement, walk in faith and birth their purpose. God’s delay in your life could be a set up for your greatest calling to be fulfilled.

My thoughts: We don't always understand why we have to walk difficult paths in this life. In Miscarried Joy, Tanika opens her heart to readers about the pain she has felt from miscarrying, but the incredible hope that can be found. I think that this book fills a much needed void, as she mentioned that most of the resources she came across after miscarrying were by women who went on to become mothers. This book is a must read for those struggling with a miscarriage or infertility.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten: Favorite Heroines

This week, the subject for Top Ten Tuesday at the Broke and Bookish is rewind. I don't believe that I have ever done a list of my favorite heroines, so that is what my choice is.;)

1. Lucy Pevensie

I know I mention this series a lot, but it is one of the few that has stayed a favorite through the years, and was even better the second time around. I love Lucy and her goodness. It makes me remember that we can choose to look for the good and wonderful all around us, rather than focus on the rotten. (something I do too often)

2.Lucy Alling

I adored this book and love how Lucy changes over the course of the story.

3. Anne Elliot

Honestly, it is hard for me to pick a favorite Austen heroine, since I love Lizzy for her spunk and Emma for her ability to change when she realizes she is in the wrong, but it is Anne that truly steals the show for me. It feels like Jane poured wisdom into this heroine that the others lacked. She has some great quotes!
"My idea of good company, Mr. Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company." Anne

4. Hermione Granger

I didn't get into the Harry Potter books until I was an adult and they were all out (which, in some ways was a nice way to do it, since I didn't have to wait for the books to come out one at a time!), but I think that Hermione would of been a favorite no matter the age I started reading the series.


5. Katniss Everdeen

This series had me with the bow and arrows.;) She really is a favorite, as she sacrificed for her sister and then her district.

6. Dru Porter

This is one that I read fairly recently and fell in love with Dru, the headstrong youngest in the Porter family. I love her spunk!

7. Allison Shire

I know, you all are probably getting tired of my mentioning this book, but I adored it! I love the heroine and the sparks of romance.;)

8. Lady Miranda

I'm not sure why exactly, but I adored this book and Lady Miranda! Perhaps because I see a bit of myself in her...

9. Lillian Avery

I loved this heroine and the WWII inspired story that goes with her!

10. Grace Christiansen

I gravitate towards heroines that like to bake, after working in a bakery for over a decade. I couldn't help but cheer as Grace found her way to her dreams and true love!

So, what books are on your list? Are there heroinces that I need to add to my list? I'm sure I missed some obvious ones!

If My Husband Would Change, I'd Be Happy

Like most brides on their wedding day, you no doubt were filled with love for your husband and the hope of a happy life together. But perhaps today, as the realities of life together have settled in, those happy expectations are going unfulfilled. And it's tempting to think, "If only my husband would change, I'd be happy."

That myth is but one of many that Rhonda Stoppe dispels in her easy-to-read exploration of what it takes to experience a truly happy marriage. In the process, she addresses such important topics asunderstanding your husband's need for your unconditional respectrekindling the love that drew you to your husband in the first placerefusing to believe the lie that you'd be happier married to someone elselearning to be content in the midst of financial strugglesthinking about sex from a biblical worldview

If you desire to rekindle the love and hope you felt on your wedding day, this book will go a long way toward making that dream come true.

Contains discussion questions and personal reflections at the end of each chapter.

My thoughts: This is an excellent book on marriage! So often, as women, we focus on the things we would change about our spouse or buy into the lie that we would be happier with someone else. Rhonda does a wonderful job of encouraging women to put their focus on Christ and making Him the center of their marriage.
I liked that Rhonda was easy to relate to and included notes from her husband on each chapter. This is a great book for newlyweds and those of us who have been married for a while. I think it would be great to study as a group too!
I received this book from Lit Fuse in exchange for my honest review.

Come With Me

Proverbs 31 Author Calls Women to a Revolutionary Faith
What if there was a real-life invitation to a lifetime of unexpected destinations and adventure? What if your faith was the key?
In her warm, conversational way, Proverbs 31 author Suzie Eller shows how your faith is just that. How when you take a step away from the uncertainty, the to-do list, the busy life, the worries and excuses, you take a step toward the One who promises to delight and surprise. Who brings you deeper than you ever thought possible.
Two thousand years ago, 12 men answered the call to follow a man they hardly knew--and they were changed in ways they never imagined. Today that same invitation echoes across history, beckoning you to an adventure that will spill into every aspect of your faith and life. "Come with Me." Will you say yes?

My thoughts: This is an excellent book that will challenge the reader to answer the call on following Jesus as Peter and the other disciples did. I like that she calls readers to think like the 13th disciple, to be the 13th disciple and answer the call, trusting that God has everything in control, even when life throws curve balls. I appreciated the stories that Suzie shared and how she opened her heart to readers.
This book is incredibly encouraging and will challenge you! I highly recommend it.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

You're Already Amazing

Her book, by the same title, started the ball rolling on daring women to seek after the woman that God has called them to be and pursue His purpose for their lives. In this interactive, engaging LifeGrowth study, Holley builds on her book and does a wonderful job of centering around 6 ideas:
Who God created Us to be
What's true no matter how we feel
Our amazing journey with Jesus
God's plan for our relationships
God's purpose for our lives
How we can thrive for a lifetime
This is an excellent study that I look forward to doing with a group soon! I love the quotes and thoughts in it, particularly "With Jesus, We're not only amazing. We're enough. We're beautiful. We're wanted. We're chosen. We're called. We've got what it takes.... not to survive but to change the world". Isn't that an awesome thought? I think that this is an excellent study to do on your own, with a friend, or in a group!
I received this study from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Letters to My Daughters: The Art of being a Wife

Barbara Rainey Offers Sage Advice on the Art of Being a Wife
Radio personality and bestselling author Barbara Rainey knows firsthand the challenges newly married couples face. Dismayed by Hollywood depictions of marriage and the seemingly easy solution of divorce, she sees a desperate need for a voice of experience, a mentor who has been there and understands--and can encourage, coach, and care.
As her daughters began their married lives, Barbara wanted to share with them, and now you, some of the lessons learned throughout her own marriage as well as those gleaned from years of ministry to couples. In these heartfelt, insightful letters, she answers the tough questions and addresses the realities of marriage. Through personal stories--including her own mistakes--and practical advice, Barbara provides the tools and direction to help you become a godly wife and determine your part in achieving a better marriage

My thoughts: This book is just gorgeous! I love that it is not only an excellent resource on marriage, but it is also gorgeous enough to be a keepsake. The format, letters from Barbara to her daughters/daughters in law, answering some of their questions on being a wife, is a fun way to read a book on marriage. I like that she has backed her letters with her own experiences and added insight from marriage books that touched her own union.
This book would make a wonderful wedding shower or wedding present, but is also an excellent resource for those of us who have been married for a while.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

The Gift of Friendship

Whether next door or in the next time zone, our friends provide some of our most important relationships. We cherish time spent with them, bemoan time spent apart, and look forward to the next time we can have coffee or rush to greet them as they walk toward our door. And nothing warms our hearts like stories of true friendship.
Collecting over fifty true stories from some of today best writers, Dawn Camp offers readers a chance to sit back and experience the gift of friendship. With its beautiful photographs and poignant prose, this collection is a great gift for a dear friend and the perfect pick-me-up any time you need a boost. Contributors include Crystal Paine, Liz Curtis Higgs, Tsh Oxenreider, Myquillyn Smith, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Lisa-Jo Baker, Jessica Turner, Lysa TerKeurst, Bonnie Gray, Holley Gerth, Renee Swope, and many more

My thoughts: I think more than anything, this book was a great reminder to me about how to be a great friend. I loved all the different sections, but I think the one about "It takes a friend to be a friend" was just what I needed to read.;) I love that there is a section on family and friendship as well.:)
This is a great collection of true stories that celebrate the gift of friendship!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Hope Unfolding

I get it, Momma. I totally get it.
Every day you wake up and try your very best. You love, give, and pour out your life for the ones who call you Momma. But no matter how much you offer, there are still days you feel as though you come up short. You worry, Am I loving these babies enough? Is this ever going to get easier? Why does it seem like I am the only one who cannot balance it all?

Sometimes, we just need hope (and maybe a long uninterrupted nap). We need someone to help tune our hearts to the voice of the Father and to remind us that He has not forgotten about us.
In Hope Unfolding, Becky Thompson is a friend who reminds you that you aren’t alone, and that God is still writing your story. She guides you to encounter the Truth of God’s presence that not only fuels you with strength, but also a fresh confidence. And beyond gaining faith that tomorrow could be different, you find hope and purpose where you are standing today.

My thoughts: Every mother should buy this book! Filled with grace filled truths that most, if not all of us, need to hear. I didn't realize just how hard motherhood was until my daughter was born. You have the demands of raising a young person that is constantly changing and developing, then there is the mommy guilt that can beat a soul down. Sometimes, we just need to remember the hope and joy that motherhood brings, and the grace that is extended to us (all of us). I love how she uses personal experiences to bring the book to life, since that it was makes a non fiction book for me; being able to relate to the author and what she/he is trying to communicate.
This would be an excellent book to read as a group study for mothers!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Brave Enough

Find the courage to be who you are―not who you wish you were. 
Is fear holding you back from becoming your best self? Does it add stress to your day and keep you up at night? What could be different if you let go and started living brave today? 

Bravery doesn’t have to mean cliff diving out of your comfort zone. Life is about being braveenough―for yourself, for God, for your tasks, and for your calling―right where He’s placed you. A brave-enough life is one lived fully and confidently, with your shoulders relaxed and free from the weight of responsibility and the burden of trying too hard. 

Nicole Unice, author of She’s Got Issues, wants that life to become a reality for you. She challenges you to get real about where you are right now―the places where you feel too scared to change, too tired to endure, or too worried to let go. Through personal stories and practical application, Nicole will lead you on a journey to harness all of your misspent doubts, concerns, and fears―and discover what God is saying about who you can be.

My thoughts: I love the open and honest way that Nicole writes in this book! It's a call for women to stop dreaming and get up and be brave. I am motivated by her writing and how she pulls in personal stories from her own life and the lives of those around her. I really appreciated her writing about fake grace and how we handle failures by not relying on God and His grace, which makes us fake.
(She does a much better job describing that!)
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Just Show Up

Kara Tippetts’s story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer.

It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara’s story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing “God with us” through fierce and beautiful friendship.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

More about the authors: The late Kara Tippetts was the author of “The Hardest Peace” and blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Cancer was only a part of Kara’s story. Her real fight was to truly live while facing a crushing reality. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, is parenting their four children and leading the church they founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado. ***||*** Jill Lynn Buteyn is the author of “Falling for Texas,” an inspirational novel, and a recipient of the ACFW Genesis Award for her fiction work. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children.

My thoughts: I knew this book was going to be a hard one to read when it arrived in my mailbox! I read Kara's first book around the time my MIL was diagnosed with breast cancer, so it hit me hard. To see that Kara lost her battle to cancer at such a young age seems unfair. But, as I read the book, I was amazed at the message of hope found in it, one that I should of seen as a Christian. Even though it is tragic that she left behind her husband and young children, she is in a better place where there are no more tears, no more suffering.
If you have had tragedy hit the life of a friend and you just don't know how to handle being their for them, I highly suggest this book! It is a wonderful resource for those who want to help but don't know how to be there for a friend or loved one. I like how Jill points out that many offers to help are broad, leaving the one suffering to wonder if it was an honest offer or not.
One of my favorite quotes from the book: "we put so much pressure on ourselves to do everything right that many of us decide it's too hard to even attempt entering into someone else's suffering."
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Girl Meets Change

Whether chosen and celebrated --- like going off to college or welcoming your first baby ---or unexpected and anxiety-inducing --- like losing a job or grappling with a broken trust ---all change brings stress.

Kristen Strong knows about change --- especially the kind you didn't choose or expect. What she's fought hard to learn over the years is that change is not something to be feared but something to be received as a blessing from a God who, more often than not, works through change, not in spite of it. Strong has learned to see change not as a grievance but as a grace.

In this hope-filled book, Kristen shows women how when we follow God's will, we receive blessings of contentment, purpose, and renewed strength. She encourages women to see change not as the end of their story but as the scenery for this part of life's journey. And she offers practical advice for coping with change in every part of life.

My thoughts: Change. It happens to all of us. Sometimes it is welcomed, but other times it brings grief or sorrow. In Girl Meets Change, readers are encouraged to see the blessings that come with change. Filled with personal stories and struggles, this book is well written and engaging. I generally like changes, but there are those times that they are not an adventure.;) Whether you see change as adventures waiting to happen or not, this is a great book for you!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Taming the To-Do list

Ever just wish the world would stop for a day so you could catch up?

No matter how much we accomplish in a day, we nearly always feel a little guilt over what we didn't do. But do we really have more to do than the women who came before us? Maybe not.

In Taming the To-Do List, Glynnis Whitwer exposes a seismic shift in society: from one in which most of us were proactive to one in which we carry the burden of having to respond--to every email, text, tweet, and message we receive. This creates a cycle where everyone else sets the priorities for our days rather than us directing our own lives. The result? We procrastinate, putting off the important stuff for later while we tend to the "urgent" stuff right now.

It's time to take back your schedule! Ready to tame that to-do list? This book shows you how.

My thoughts: Unfortunately, most of us find ourselves in the position of over committing ourselves and then procrastinating when it comes to making sure those commitments are met. With personal insight and stories, Glynnis offers hope for those of us who procrastinate.;) I like that she gives tips for readers to be able to determine what our true priorities should be. I also appreciated her myth buster.;)
If you find yourself bogged down with your to do list, then I highly recommend that you not procrastinate: pick up this book soon.;)
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Hot Mama

It’s easy for us moms to slip into the habit of letting the craziness of our days interfere with our relationships with our husbands. We simply don’t have the energy or the ideas for a spicy, satisfying sex life. We’re usually just amazed we made it to the end of the day without collapsing or throttling someone.

Hot Mama to the rescue!

In this witty book, hot mamas Kathi Lipp and Erin MacPherson share hilarious stories and creative ideas from moms everywhere to help you build a relationship with your spouse that’s happy, healthy, and fun. From building confidence and banishing guilt to flirting (remember that?) and wearing clothes that get you—and him—in the mood, Kathi and Erin show you how to take your sex life from ho-hum to sizzling hot.

My thoughts: This is great resource for mothers! Both those who are new mothers and those who have had children for some time. While having a family is a blessing, at times it is hard to juggle your marriage, family, and commitments. In this book, Kathi and Erin are incredible candid and fun as they share some of the secrets they have found to keep their marriages going strong. They have some wonderful ideas and resources for keeping love alive and prioritizing. I highly recommend this one! It would make a great gift to new mothers especially, but there is something in this book for mothers of all ages.;)
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.