Monday Motivation

Monday Motivation

"Jesus, Our Perfect Hope" (365 Devotions) by Charles Stanley

My review...

I’ve never read anything by Charles Stanley in the past, but I’ve heard wonderful things about him. So, when I saw this devotional, I thought it’d be a good time to check him out, as I really enjoy devotional books. While I haven’t finished the entire book, I have read enough to know that this book will make a great addition to my daily time with Jesus. I also love the fact that this book is a year-long devotional, and I plan to use it as such.

Stanley’s latest is to help the reader find the one, true source of hope: Jesus. It’s a hope that will never fail, no matter what struggles we may encounter. The book is beautifully designed, with an imitation leather cover that is padded and a ribbon bookmark. The pages match the cover with their color scheme. As with other devotional books, Stanley’s contain a title, a Bible verse, the devotion, and a prayer. The entries are written in a way that is easy to understand. Each reading is one page, so they are short enough to fit easily into a busy schedule. There is also a “wrap-up” comment at the end of each page with a reminder of why the reader’s hope is in Jesus. Topics addressed include staying hopeful when change doesn’t occur quickly, staying focused on Jesus through the difficult seasons, and remembering that God will fulfill His promises to us.

Here are some of the reminders of why our hope in Jesus is never misplaced:

·        My hope is in Jesus because He is awesome and deserves all my praise.

·        My hope is in Jesus because He is working in the unseen.

·        My hope is in Jesus because He sees my full potential and helps me reach it.

·        My hope is in Jesus because He never fails me.

·        My hope is in Jesus because He’s worthy of my trust.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher as part of the BookLook Bloggers program, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Amazon purchase link

Monday Motivation

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes but don't quit."

— Conrad Hilton

Have a wonderful week!

Takeover Thursday with Scott Abel: Breathing Room

I want to extend a warm welcome to Scott Abel. He's discussing how we all need a bit of breathing room. Take it away, Scott...

Breathing Room

Whenever people discover that I’m an author in addition to my day job and family life, the usual reaction–other than a mental picture of me eating chips out of a bag while hunkering over my laptop and wearing the same clothes I had on yesterday–is a sense of marvel at how I find the time to write.

With a wife, two kids, and a full-time job that often requires travel, I’ll be the first to admit that time spent writing is a precious commodity. When I first embarked on this adventure, I often felt guilty when I couldn’t find time to open up my laptop and refine a few pages of my current manuscript or continue an exciting scene or exchange of dialogue. One piece of advice that is often beat into the heads of aspiring writers is to write daily, and I took that advice to heart. So when I failed to follow through, the guilt would often consume me.

And then the stress would take over.

If I couldn’t find time each day to write, how would I ever finish this story? How would I improve my writing skills? And if I couldn’t improve my writing skills, how would a publisher ever deem me worthy of publication? Would all of my literary dreams and aspirations go unfulfilled?

Panic and desperation soon followed.

And yet I finally found peace with all of this pressure through two simple words: Breathing room.

Simply put, the term “breathing room” means the space between our current pace and our limits. It’s the space between how fast we’re filling our schedules, how much we’re spending, how we’re relating to the people who matter most to us, and our personal limits. Every person has a certain capacity for how much they can handle, be it their schedule, finances, or relationships. And when we start living our lives in the red and leave no margin for error, when we try to cram as much into our life as humanly possible, we begin to not only lose control, but to lose the joy of living as well.

We know all too well the stress and anxiety that comes from living life in the red and having no breathing room. If one more bill comes in… I have to finish this project… All Mom and Dad do is talk about money… You’re always on the phone… I never see or hear from you any more…

The greatest danger of living with no breathing room is that when we have no margin for error, our focus narrows to the point at which we exclude everything but the one thing in which we’ve reached our limit. As a result, our relationships suffer. We no longer take pleasure in the company of those who matter most because our minds are elsewhere, fixated and worried about trying to regain a sense of control in an area that is quickly careening off the rails.

So why do we do this? Why do we live in the red with no breathing room? It all comes down to fear. We fear missing out or falling behind.

I feared that if I didn’t carve out time each day to write, I would never improve my writing skills, finish my manuscript, and enjoy the same literary success others seemed to have on Facebook. I feared that if we didn’t buy a house in a certain neighborhood, drive a nice enough car, or take an impressive enough vacation I wouldn’t measure up to my peers. I feared that if I pulled my kids from dance lessons, swim lessons, private tutorials, cheerleading, band, and other activities that they may miss out on opportunities to forge strong friendships or academic achievement. And if I did that, would I be limiting their potential and undermining their future?

Because of fear, we have the tendency to max everything out, run full throttle in the red, and leave no room to breathe. And because we fear not mattering enough, our fear has the tendency of driving us from what–and who–matters most.

But what breathing room comes down to is simply a matter of faith.

When God first helped the Israelites establish their nation, he gave them ten commandments. One of them was to keep the Sabbath holy. In other words, He instructed His people to take a day off because He knew how we were wired. Don’t worry about not harvesting all of the crops today. Don’t worry about not sewing clothes or putting a roof over your head. Don’t worry about your child’s education. Don’t worry about the demands at work. Our Heavenly Father says, “Trust me. Just take some time. And breathe.”

Jesus reminded us of God’s intention for us to create breathing room when he said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans pursue all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you…”

Our Heavenly Father knows our concerns. Always. What we need to do is trust Him with that knowledge, take a moment, and… breathe.

About Scott...

Scott works in state government as a leadership development specialist.  He speaks frequently to State agencies, organizations, and non-profits on leadership, teamwork, and generational differences in the workplace. Scott has a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Texas Wesleyan University, but is a rabid, life-long fan of the TCU Horned Frogs. He is the author of the supernatural suspense novel Sunrise and lives in the suburbs of Austin with his wife and two precocious daughters - who enthusiastically assist him in his search for the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.

Where to find Scott online...

www.scottabelbooks.com

"Don't Settle for Safe" by Sarah Jakes Roberts

My review...

Sarah Jakes Roberts knows that we, as women, will feel overwhelmed at times, and she wants to remind the reader that they're not alone in their journey. It is possible to be strengthened by the struggles in life.

Roberts' latest includes numerous personal stories to highlight her message. Biblical stories and verses are appropriately woven throughout. Many of the author's points are relatable and applicable. This book is designed for women at any stage of life. There are numerous valuable nuggets of information included, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I've read similar books, and this was a bit flat in comparison. Prayers and questions for personal reflection are included throughout the book.

There were some key takeaway points for me, including:

• "If voices of insecurity, doubt, and fear are not confronted, they will dictate your life."
• "Excuses are comfort zones."
• "You can't live in the past and maximize the present."
• "You do not choose purpose. Purpose chooses you."

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the BookLook Bloggers program. I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

Amazon link for purchase

"Never Give Up" by John Mason

My review...

This is an inspiring and motivational book full of bits of information designed to encourage the reader to never give up on their dreams. The chapters are short, so they are easy to digest, as well as fit into a busy daily schedule. Some of the tips are common sense, but the stories illustrate the points well and may give the reader new insight. It is a quick read, but I chose to read just a few nuggets each day and really focus on the message of each one.

The book is broken into three parts: “Looking Inward,” “Looking Outward,” and “Looking Upward.” Scripture is woven throughout the book, and the author frequently reminds the reader that God isn’t finished with them yet, so don’t quit. Quitting prevents us from reaching God’s goals.

Some of my favorite takeaway quotes are:

·         “Worry is a route that leads from somewhere to nowhere. Never let it direct your life.”

·         “The most influential person you will talk to all day is you. So, you should be very careful what you say.”

·         “Faith is like a toothbrush: everyone should have it and use it every day, but we shouldn’t use someone else’s.

·         “A mistake is temporary — quitting is forever.”

·         “Take a chance. It might give you a brand-new life.”

·         “A goal changes everything.”

·         “The struggle today builds strength for tomorrow.”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to leave a positive review.

Amazon link for purchase

Monday Motivation

Some motivation to begin your week:

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."

— Jack London

Have a wonderful week!