"She Dreams" by Tiffany Bluhm (Read with Audra blog tour) ... and a GIVEAWAY!

Say yes to the dreams God has planted in your heart.

Every woman was born to dream--to live a life of beauty, passion, adventure, and purpose. No matter how big or how small they are, our dreams push us to become women of courage, grace, and grit. God in His goodness breathes new dreams within our hearts and revives the dreams that have died, inviting us to trust Him as we dream impossible dreams that only He can bring to pass—because God not only gives dreams; He fulfills them.

In this six-we study we will look at Moses' journey to live out the God-sized dream given to him, exposing the ancient wisdom and truth God offers for every woman with a dream beating in her heart. With timely truth and encouraging accounts of God's heart and hand in the life of Moses as well is in the lives of ordinary women, author Tiffany Bluhm will dare you to dream the impossible dreams the Lord is stirring in your heart, reclaim and broken dreams, and trust God for the victory. Throughout the study will identify:

• The role of prayer as you grow into your dreams.
• The importance of obedience as you pursue what God has for you.
• Why your dreams are a blessing not only to you but also to others.
• How your failures can be a gift that help your dreams become a reality.
• The life-changing love, power, and wisdom of the Dream Giver.

Get ready to discover the role you are designed and destined to play as you partner with God for the impossible!

In addition to the book, there is a a Bible study guide with leader helps and DVD available.

Links to purchase

Read Chapter 1 for free

My review...

If you’re looking for a dose of inspiration to follow your dreams, then this book is for you!

Bluhm shares her personal stories, including her dreams and fears, and mixes in some Scripture verses and biblical stories to illustrate her points. In doing so, the author has made this book quite relatable to most, if not all, women, as so many put their dreams aside to take on other roles and help those around them reach their goals. Bluhm reminds the reader not to give up on their God-given dreams but to keep the faith and press forward. An associated study guide and DVD are also available.

Some of my favorite quotes are:

·        “Our messy moments aren’t the defining line of our story. They are merely twists in the narrative.”

·        “As we dream God-sized dreams, let’s refuse to be boxed in by labels or cultural norms that do not encourage us to be who God created us to be.”

·        “Knowing your why is critical to the life of your dreams, because without it you may be tempted to give up or give in when the going gets tough.”

·        “…trust that the Lord is still at work in the midst of the changes. Because He is.”

·        “As we pursue our God-sized dreams, it is imperative that we fight the urge to compare our beginning or middle with someone else’s later chapter in the story.”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the Read with Audra blogger program, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Amazon purchase link

About Tiffany...

Tiffany Bluhm, author of the She Dreams hey book and Bible study, is a speaker and writer who is passionate about helping women come to know their value and purpose because of a loving, redeeming God. In the style that speaks to women right where they are, she shares insights from a life spent chasing after Jesus while walking alongside women from suburbia to the inner-city, jails and brothels, and the slums of Kolkata. She speaks regularly at conferences and events and writes for a number of websites, print publications, and popular blogs, including the YouVersion Bible app, Deeply Rooted Magazine, and ScaryMommy.com. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and two sons and blogs at TiffanyBluhm.com.

Learn more at www.SheDreamsBook.com

Where you can find her on social media...

Facebook (@TiffanyABluhm)

Twitter (@TiffanyABluhm)

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Exceptional You!" by Victoria Osteen

My review...

I’ve read a number of books by Joel and Victoria Osteen, so I was excited to read Victoria’s latest. I’m always encouraged by them, and this one didn’t disappoint.

Exceptional You focuses on how we see ourselves versus how we should see ourselves: through God’s eyes. To Him, we are anything but ordinary. We’re exceptional and a masterpiece, expertly gifted by Him.

The book is written so you feel that you’re chatting with a friend, sharing stories and encouraging one another. The book is organized into seven sections:

·        Know That You Are Chosen

·        Lift Up Your Eyes

·        Keep Your Memory Box Full

·        Travel Light

·        Love Well

·        Live in the Now

·        Power Up

Each chapter ends with bullet points (“Exceptional Thoughts”) highlighting key items from the chapter. Personal stories, Biblical examples, and Scripture verses are woven throughout. Overall, it provides the reader with a lot of food for thought. I have numerous notes that I’ll return to when I need a dose of encouragement, as there are so many solid nuggets of truths in this book, many of which remind the reader that words have power.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

·        “Where you’re going is much more important than where you’ve been.”

·        “You cannot undo your past, but you can do something about your present.”

·        “Don’t let your own voice of doubt drown out the voice of God.”

·        “Take your worry list and make it your prayer list.”

·        “You have something to offer that no one else can give.”

·        “The happiest people are those who appreciate the blessings in their lives and don’t underestimate their value.”

·         “Life is fragile. Find reasons to be grateful. They are always there is you look for them.”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Amazon purchase link

About Victoria...

Victoria Osteen is the co-pastor of Lakewood Church, the New York Times bestselling author of Love Your Life, and the host of a national weekly radio program, Victoria Osteen Live, on Sirius XM's Joel Osteen Radio. She is an integral part of each service at Lakewood as well as the "Night of Hope" events across the U.S. and abroad. She lives with her family in Houston, Texas.

"Into the Deep" by Lauren Gaskil (Read with Audra blog tour)

Q&A with Lauren...

Q: What inspired you to write your new book, Into the Deep: Diving into a Life of Courageous Faith?

A:  I should have drowned years ago. When the waves of anxiety, depression and chronic pain came crashing over me, the “faith” I’d been raised to practice couldn’t keep my head above the waves. But I didn’t drown. I’m still here. Because by God’s grace, in the undertow I discovered a deep faith in Jesus that saved me from sinking into the depths and catapulted me straight into His rescuing arms. He saved me from drowning, and my hope in writing this book is that He might use my story to help save others who feel like they are drowning too.

Q: When did you first experience bouts of anxiety? What were some of the situations that brought on the feelings of anxiousness?

 A:  I started experiencing anxiety in high school, after a traumatic event triggered panic attacks.

Q: You are very open about your struggle with chronic pain and the recurrent anxiety and depression that come along with it. How did your physical issues cause you to lose faith? Tell us about how you’ve learned to overcome these challenges.

A:  Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos is a nasty disorder — I truly wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. One day, you can wake up feeling like you’ve been hit by a bag of bricks or two semis. Other days, you can’t move without being in pain or risking injury from loose joints making bones pop out everywhere. Having unstable joints means arthritic pain is a constant companion and makes it hard to do “normal” tasks like lifting bags, exercising or evening cutting vegetables for dinner some days. These difficult physical challenges made it hard to keep faith in the beginning because I didn’t understand why God wasn’t healing me. When I finally opened my heart to the possibility of healing, bad turned to worst, and it made me question everything I believed in. After years of diving deeper with Jesus, at the end of the day, no matter what pain I experience, I know in the deepest parts of my soul that I will be OK. Not because of who I am, but because of who God is. He is a good, good Father. He is always with us and always for us, just like His Word says He is. He cannot not be faithful and His Spirit — the very hope of Christ — lives in me. When I think about all of those things, I find everything I need to overcome because the Jesus in me is stronger than the waves of darkness that try to overtake me. In Him, I have nothing to fear.

Q: After college, you sought out the help of a Christian counselor. What did you learn about the connection between your struggles with your faith alongside your battles with anxiety and depression?

A:  I learned that God wasn’t punishing me with anxiety and depression, instead, He was allowing it as an opportunity to deepen my relationship with Him. I also learned that having anxiety and depression didn’t make me any less of a Christian, it just meant I had different areas I had to learn to trust God with. In this case, that involved areas of mental health.

Q: One of the chapters is entitled “Six Things You Need to Know.” What are the six things you want to make sure readers will take away from this chapter?

A:  I believe words have immeasurable power. That’s why I’m a writer. That’s why I strive to think long and hard about the words I choose before I write or say them. That’s why I fight daily to speak life, love, hope, and truth over myself in order to drown out the cruel, untruthful things others have spoken over me. Words are powerful no matter what we are going through, but they are even more powerful when our faith is tested. I wish I could forget some of the things people said to me when the waves of life came crashing in. “You’re never going to get over this,” they told me. “This is going to haunt you for the rest of your life.” Or my personal favorite, “Do you have unresolved sin in your life? Maybe God is punishing you for something.” When we feel like we are drowning, we are susceptible to believing the lies and hurtful things we hear from the outside world. What I want women to know more than anything, is that in their hurt:

1.      God is not punishing you.

2.      You are not alone.

3.      You are going to be OK

4.      Darkness does not define.

5.      You were made for the deep.

6.      God’s love will carry you.

Q: The book ends with a series of stories about warriors of the deep. What can women learn from these stories? What makes a woman a warrior?

A: This is one of my favorite chapters of the book. There is nothing more powerful and inspiring than a testimony! These women are warriors because they chose to give God a chance and take Him at His Word. Every day, they choose to place their past, present and future into His hands, and because of that choice, their deep despair has been replaced with a deep faith and faith to overcome anything that comes their way. They are warriors because they have learned to let go and let God. And that? That is true faith.

My review...

Gaskill has written a book that shows how her faith struggled through anxiety and chronic illness. It also shows how she developed a courageous faith to "swim" through those deep waters. The purpose is to help the reader learn to exchange their fears for courage, too.

Numerous personal stories are shared in the book, along with scripture verses and reflective questions to "Go Deeper." The author is genuine and transparent, which will likely make this book relatable to many readers, as everyone will face deep waters at some point. Gaskill outlines practical strategies, along with examples, to help the reader when they feel they are drowning by reminding them that Jesus is there to be their lifeline.

Some of my favorite quotes include:

• "When we fight for and step into faith, God's Word and His promises begin to unfold in our lives."
• "Beloved, you were not meant to live a life crippled by fear."
• "Faith is our compass in the deep."
• "The secret to surrender is trust."
• "Faith is not the absence of fear but the presence of courage."

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher as part of the Read with Audra blog tour program. I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

Amazon purchase link

Excerpt from chapter one


About Lauren...

Lauren Gaskill is an author, speaker and host of the Finding Joy podcast and Finding Joy Ladies Night Out events. After being diagnosed with an incurable connective tissue disorder, Lauren made it her life mission to encourage others to fight for faith and find joy — no matter what life’s circumstances might bring.

Gaskill is a storyteller who believes stories are powerful and loves how God uses them for His good. She writes and speaks to motivate and inspire others to experience abundant life in Christ. She is particularly passionate about encouraging women to fight for faith and go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. Gaskill also writes and speaks about what it looks like to walk with Jesus through pain and suffering.

She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Where you can find Lauren online...

website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

"A Fragile Hope" by Cynthia Ruchti (Litfuse Blog Tour)

When your life's work revolves around repairing other people's marriages, what happens when your own marriage begins to fall apart? Find out what happens to Josiah Chamberlain in Cynthia Ruchti's new book, A Fragile Hope. Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what's left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them?

Celebrate the release of A Fragile Hope by entering to win Cynthia's Sign of Hope Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Fragile Hope
• A metal wall scripture hanging

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on May 3. The winner will be announced May 4 on the Litfuse blog.

My review...

Relationship expert Josiah Chamberlain knows exactly how to help couples, but he discovers that he is less-than-equipped to fix the problems in his own marriage, especially when he didn’t even realize they existed. A tragic accident causes him to view his wife Karin in a different light. He must battle feelings of grief, anger, bitterness, and betrayal as he struggles to find hope amidst his doubts.

This is a beautifully written and truly engaging heartfelt story, which will remind the reader of God’s unfailing love. Some of my favorite quotes from the story are:

·         “Grief doesn’t know how to tell time.”

·         “Some storms pass and leave the earth refreshed. Others leave devastation in their path. Either way, you will go on.”

·         “Alone. It’s a feeling. Not a destination or condition. God is especially near to those who think there alone.”

·         “Forgiveness — though invisible — leaves its imprint on every heart it touches.”

·          “The past has history but no breath. Today breathes.”

·         “A quiet moment of gratitude is never wasted.

·         “Where would we be if we hadn’t discovered that seeds of hope can grow in mud?”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the LitFuse Blogger Program, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Amazon link for purchase

About Cynthia...

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope through her award-winning novels, novellas, devotionals, nonfiction, and through speaking events for women and writers. Her books have been recognized by honors such as the Selah Awards, Christian Retailings' BEST Awards, and Foreword Book Reviews Book of the Year Awards. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

Where you can find Cynthia online…

cynthiaruchti.com

hemmedinhope.com

Facebook.com/CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage

@cynthiaruchti

Ace Collins’ Magic of Christmas Prize Pack ("The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Ace Collins, LitFuse Blog Tour)

Click on the graphic above to enter the "Magic of Christmas Prize Pack" giveaway (as part of the LitFuse Blog Tour for this new release).

My review...

December means a time of celebration for many, especially Christians. It is often considered the most joyous time of the year. Collins has penned a unique devotional, perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

This book covers December 1st through the 31^st. Each day contains a daily scripture verse and a devotional. The story behind a popular Christmas tradition, movie, or song is also included, along with some holiday crafts. It is as if Collins took the best of holiday books and put them together to create this one. It helps the reader keep the focus on the true meaning of the season instead of focusing on the busyness. It is inspiring and practical, and each reading short, making it easy to fit into your day. I believe this book will become part of my holiday tradition from now on.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the Litfuse Blogger program.

Landing page link for tour...

http://litfusegroup.com/author/acollins