Worry-Free Living

When you think about worry-free living, you might think that is simply impossible to achieve. If you are a non believer and put your faith in your job, your bank account, your marriage, and even what you can achieve, you are 100% correct. Some day something will happen that will shake things up. You lose your job, you get that dreaded phone call from your doctor, your marriage falls apart, your children run away, even your bank account dwindles. However when you place your faith in God, the Creator of everything in the heavens and the earth, nothing is impossible, but it will take faith to see that happen.

I'm not saying that by being a believer, you won't have difficulties and won't be subject to the same things are non believers are, but we do have someone we can turn to, just like when a young child faces a problem, they know who to run to without any second thoughts. That is what the Bible means when it says to have child-like faith. They know by taking their troubles to mom or dad, thing will be okay. They will handle it and then they skip off knowing it's being handled.

In her latest book, Worry-Free Living, Joyce Meyer teaches you how to have that child-like faith, what it means to cast your anxieties upon the Lord, and how to trade your anxiety for peace that only God can provide. In just under 135 pages, this simple and easy to use book guides you through things like understanding what it means "to seek God's kingdom first, is the key to living in the peace of the Lord. To seek God's kingdom simply means to seek the know God and His ways. We are to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness over all other things ,and then everything else we need will be given to us as well. In other words, one reason we worry and fret and live in fear and anxiety is that we simply have our priorities mixed up. We are seeking our security in the things of this world rather than in the God who created this world. God meets the needs of every created thing, including you and me. As believers, we are supposed to seek Him, not to seek the fulfillment of our needs. If we will seek Him first, He has promised to provide for us in every way, to open the doors of opportunity He has for us, and to give us the security we need." (pg. 16).

I received Worry-Free Living by Joyce Meyers compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest opinion. This little book is simply chalk full of great advice including a six step plan for God's peace in your life that anyone can follow. Combined with Scripture verses each of the 5 chapters focuses on specific things we can do to eliminate anxiety, manage stress and enjoy the present day that God intended us to do. One thing is true, the Bible is the perfect owner's manual to helping us enjoy every day of our life to the fullest. I'd rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Worry-Free Living, Joyce Meyer or where you can preorder a copy of this book due out June 7, 2016 today, please click on the links below:

Worry-Free Living by Joyce Meyer

You can find Joyce Meyer on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Worry-Free Living, please visit Faith Words website. 

Overload

I don't believe that there is one person alive who has never dealt with or felt the effects of stress in their life. For a teen it might be a project or homework assignment that feels like more than they can handle especially when a deadline is looming and perhaps they have put it off thinking they'd have more time. For adults, the list is ever longer from work related stress issues, financial, health, marriage, parenting, you name it and at times it can seem like we simply have too much on our plate. We know it is something we must deal with, but how? Why can't we simply pull the plug when our lives feel like we have hit the "overload" level?

Joyce Meyers brilliantly tackles this subject with humor, grace, some motherly advice and of course, tempered with biblical scripture to guide us on this journey in her book, Overload: How to Unplug, Unwind, and Unleash Yourself from the Pressure of Stress. Most of us understand how stress can manifest in physically harmful ways from putting added pressure on our body and its vital organs. She offers some great advice in each section from understanding what stress is, how it impacts us, what we can do, what does the Bible offer and so much more. Some great take away's I found in this book are the Things to Remember that sums up each chapter like, "one of the biggest cause of stress is focusing on the negative things that are happening around us. What you think about - what you focus on - is going to affect how you see life. When we look at the positive things that God has placed in our lives, it gives us a sense of perspective, stability, thankfulness and balance. Psalm 103 instructs us to "forget not" God's benefits and then gives us an entire list of benefits that are ours as children of God." (pg 87).

Joyce uses her own stories of how she dealt with stress along with some great examples you are not likely to forget to change how we view what we choose to "stress about." We all understand that stress like worry is like a rocking chair, it moves us but we go nowhere. We simply need to remember that God is not going to let you sink. He is in control and He is going to see you safely to the other side. I forget how much like the apostles we are, when things in our life seem to spin out of control, we think God has somehow forgotten about us, like when they found themselves adrift in the sea and a storm came up unexpectedly, they panicked even though they had Jesus aboard and who was simply sleeping through it all. Ever wonder how He could sleep through a storm? Because He trusted in God, the Father, who would see Him safely to the other side. We simply fail to place all our trust in God to get us to the other side and often give up before we are almost there.

I received Overload: How to Unplug, Unwind, and Unleash Yourself from the Pressure of Stress by Joyce Meyer compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my personal and honest evaluation. This book arrived just when I was dealing with my own multi-level stresses of my own with my husband and I both enduring heart and health issues as well as trying to keep our family going and acting as a buffer through all of that. I only wish I picked it up and read through it before I had a complete meltdown because I would have realized how little we really do think we can control and the rest we simply have to trust God to get us the rest of the way through things. I believe my favorite quote from the entire book, and believe me, there are tons of them is, "If you'll do what you can do, God will do what you cannot." This one is truly a keeper for me and one I will be referring to quite a bit more but with more confidence in God when stress happens. I need to keep my eye off the storm and on God instead. Well worth all 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Overload: How to Unplug, Unwind, and Unleash Yourself from the Pressure of Stress, Joyce Meyer or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Overload: How to Unplug, Unwind, and Unleash Yourself from the Pressure of Stress by Joyce Meyer

You can find Joyce Meyer on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Overload, please visit Faith Word's website. 

Bounce Back

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." ~ Albert Einstein

Most women desire to be women of faith, with spiritual depth and maturity, but how can you do that when dealing with pain, anger, sadness, discouragement, hopelessness and desperation? Why can you find encouragement while life hands you a truck load of lemons? How do you push past the emotions that are longing to keep your bound to your current lot in life when all you want to do is leave it all behind and move forward?

How do you overcome dealing with a spouse that has walked away from your marriage, leaving you a single mom with responsibilities of dealing with bills, the house, kids and going back to work?

How do you deal with losing someone you loved to death or disease when you know God could have healed them?

How do you push past the pain from abuse in your childhood that happened decades ago and now are having to confront the nightmares and emotions even though you thought you left it all behind?

How do you deal with a spouse that has walked away leaving you holding the bag while they move on with a women half your age and now years later he wants your forgiveness while you are still holding on to the bitterness and resentment?

How do you deal with the fifth miscarriage in your life while hoping to fill your home with the sounds of a family and children and are now told you can't have any more?

Do any of these terms describe you or perhaps all of these?

• Overstressed

• Overworked

• Underappreciated

• Underpaid

• Burnt out

If you are like most women, you can lay claim to one or more of these terms even if you don't want to. Most of us simply don't know how to break out of being burdened, in bondage or carry emotional baggage that is too heavy for one person to carry. We realize we are broken but don't know how to fix it.

We want to be set free, to break out and to bounce back!

That is the reason for the book, Bounce Back from Julie Clinton, that has been written to show you how you can not only break free but to bounce back and see your life from a completely different perspective, using stories she has gained from women going through those very things mentioned above. She shows you how to have hope again. That God does love you and He wants a better life for you. He does have a way for you to move from where you are, to the better life of your future and that you can bounce back from what has been holding you back.

I received Bounce Back by Julie Clinton compliments of Worthy Publishings for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I think every woman at some point in her life can look back and see times where her own set backs have held her back more than she wanted. Julie's book not only shows you that God is with you every step of the way, but through the stories she shares of what other women went through and got through, you can share in the hope we can bounce back and move forward through our circumstances no matter how difficult. They are all 100% survivable! I easily give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Bounce Back, Julie Clinton, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Bounce Back by Julie Clinton

You can also find Julie Clinton on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Bounce Back, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

Past Tense: 365 Daily Tools for Putting Stress Behind You - For Good!

How do you deal with traffic jams, lost keys, bills to pay, unruly children? Feeling tense already just thinking about any of those or even all of them? What about when it comes to work, dealing with office politics, lack of respect, unemployment or time management? How about things that seem completely out of control like noise, pollution, harsh lighting or crowds? Add in holidays, peer pressure, addictions, college, divorce, marriage, aging, emergencies and grieving? Hopefully you aren't dealing with all of these during this time in your life, but if you like most of us, you are dealing with one or two if not a handful of these. So how do you deal with them without going postal, taking medications, or even running away?

We all have secrets that have helped us deal with any of these issues and yet there are some that seem to be professionals at handling things so smoothly they are like the water on a duck's back while we sit back, stare and look at them in complete awe! Now, there is a great collaboration between Shawn and Ron Kilgarlin put together in a great resource to deal with all of those items I've mentioned above in Past Tense: Daily Tools for Putting Stress Behind You - For Good!

This book is packed with 24 subcategories that will enable you to find a different way to deal with problems that you have come across or perhaps are going through right now. Each of these chapters takes a closer look at some of the specifics that would fall in that category and offer a different way to look at them from a more positive impact. For example in the chapter dedicated to Being Productive, you'd find advice on making plans, taking breaks, using calendars and planners, lists and eating and sleeping habits. There are so many great resources tucked away that the authors refer to such as ways to pay for college, signing up for free online training resources, and financial advice. There is simply so much to cover I can't list them all.

Some of the topics I found interesting were taking a walk in the rain and why it makes you feel so good if you do it. I've loved the rain since I was a child and often have been critized in the past for simply wanting to sit outside for a good soak, but did you know there are some surprising health benefits to just being outside when it rains? Did you ever hear anyone mention allergies when it rains? Perhaps there was a great reason for Gene Kelly to be so happy just Singing in the Rain! It all deals with negative ions. People get the same benefits by sitting next to a bubbling stream, waterfall or at the beach.

"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." ~ The character Michael Simmons in the movie Fireproof (2008)

"An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold." ~ Chinese Proverb.

Along with each topic are some great quotes dealing with the subject from some equally famous people, so if you're like me, a LOVE a great quote, this is a definite added benefit. There are references to great authors, speechwriters, Bible scriptures, movies and more that you will be using this book as a resource not only to help you manage your own stress level but role modeling it for those that you come into contact with every single day. It seems so simple when you read them but it's a wonderful resource to have them all collected in a wonderful book. I highly recommend this to family's, manager's and any one struggling with dealing with anything that life hands you. I know this has benefited me greatly and left me with more than one smile on my face and plans to reduce stress in areas where I am still challenged. Can't wait for another rainy day!

I received Past Tense: 365 Daily Tools for Putting Stress Behind You - For Good by Shawn and Ron Kilgarlin compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and think this is a wonderful self help resource in that it deals with virtually everything you can think of including Postpartum Depression, Addictions, Heartaches, Peer Pressure, School, Faith, Holiday Stress, Friendship, Love, Community and Neighbors, Health and Fitness and so much more! This will be a resource, I know I will be referring to for quite some time and has a permanent place on my library shelf. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it for anyone looking for some great options on dealing with stress in a more positive way!

For more information on Past Tense: 365 Daily Tools for Putting Stress Behind You - For Good, Shawn and Ron Kilgarlin, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Past Tense: 365 Daily Tools for Putting Stress Behind You - For Good! by Shawn and Ron Kilgarlin

You can also find more reviews on Past Tense from the Pump Up Your Book Tour, by clicking here.

• Hardcover: 452 pages
• Publisher: American Screening Corp (April 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1623331218
• ISBN-13: 978-1623331214
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1 inches

Escape

Have you ever woken up in a cold sweat thinking you're stuck in a life you don't want? Did you ever consider disappearing - leaving family, friends, even a spouse - ditching everything you've ever known and starting over again? Maybe, just maybe, even returning to an old lover?

That's how Emily Aulenbach begins the story of her escape: escape from a workaholic husband she rarely sees, an overpriced New York City apartment that never feels like home, a job where profits, not people are the priority. She doesn't plan her escape; she just walks out of her cubicle, gets behind the wheel of her husband's BMW, shuts off her BlackBerry, and drives away.

The one thing she can't escape is her past. Lately she's been getting letters from Jude, the fiercely independent man she loved in college. She thought they were soul mates, until she caught him cheating on her. Now she finds herself heading north, toward the New Hampshire town where she and Jude fell in love a decade ago. She doesn't care if she's making another wrong turn. She just knows she needs a new destination.

My Review:

In the latest novel by Barbara Delinsky, Escape, is the story we all wish for at different times in our life. Those times where everything reaches a boiling point and we feel completely overwhelmed. Emily acts on those feelings when the law firm she works for has her working more for the benefit of companies instead of the victims in the latest lawsuit over the health effects of drinking water. Feeling more empathy for the victims, she simply gets up and walks away after a very powerful conversation with a woman whose baby is going to have health problems for the rest of its life.

She and her husband, James have been trying to have a baby for quite some time, and now their love life revolves around an ovulation clock instead of desire and need. When her and James studied law in school, their goals were to make a difference in the lives of people they would work for, but this isn't working for her. James is busy working to make partner this year and she never sees him anymore since he is working nights and weekends now.

So getting in her husbands BMW, she heads to Bell Valley, a place where she has found peace back in her early childhood, where her best friend Vicki, still lives with her husband Rob, running the Red Fox Inn. Emily hasn't maintained contact with Vicki because she's been striving for success but now feels an overwhelming pull to come back to Bell Valley, back to old friends, back to the woods that can once again heal what's broken in her heart and in her life.

I received this book compliments of Doubleday Publishers for my honest review and LOVED it. I spent the day reading it when my family gave me a day to myself. It had a healing effect on me as well because I got the opportunity to take a virtual vacation from my own life. I got to feel the calming presence of the walk in the deep, dark woods that Emily takes and sat by the bubbling brook listening to the sounds of the water. I can relate because I personally have felt that pressure of life come to the boiling point but this provides a safe outlet to see where a journey like that might lead. The conclusion of the story is beautiful! Rating this one a must read, I can easily say it earns a 5 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion.

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, click on the links below:

Escape by Barbara Delinsky

You can also find Barbara on Facebook by clicking here.