Girl, Wash Your Face

Sometimes as women we need that emotional cheerleader in our life that takes whatever we are going through to take us by the hand and give us that much needed talk to stop feeling sorry for whatever you're going through and get moving forward. Yet all too often we fall for the lies our own self is telling us. Lies that we aren't a good enough mom, while others around us seem to breeze through motherhood without a care in the world. Lies that all of our dreams will remain just that, dreams of a life we never got around to living. Lies that we are not good enough, when God cared enough to make us the fine women we are today. Don't you need someone to give you that honest talk to shake you out of your pity party of one and get moving on with your life with a better outlook for tomorrow.

Enter Rachel Hollis, who I think resembles Anna Kendrick quite a bit and who always seems to have it together and never seems to have a bad day, a bad month or even a bad year. Yet as women that is how we constantly compare ourselves to others around us instead of comparing our yesterday person to our today person. Why do we do that? In her book, Girl, Wash Your Face, Rachel gets brutally honest, like your best friend would and holds nothing back to get you through the lies she faced and quite honestly like most of the lies all women believe. It is a cry along with her book as she faces adoption struggles, laugh with her when she shares the most incredible stories of her own life and gives you a transparent look at how she can appear to have it all together on the outside and is barely holding it all together on the inside.

She is the one friend I think all of dream of having. She is the person who would come cry with you while your enduring one of life's most challenging struggles, like losing her brother to suicide and then helping you back on your feet to show you that you don't have to stay in that place, and you can use what you're going through to make you stronger. She is such a wonder to listen to and trust me, all of us women NEED this book. I found so many great take away's that I believe I'm going to have to buy another one so I can have a pristine copy, while this one is my reference source to run to when I need a quick pick me up. For me, this book is a much needed book for all women both young and old and why I feel it is beyond worthy of 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Girl, Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

You can find https://www.facebook.com/TheChicSite/Rachel Hollis on Facebook to stay up to date with all her wonderful projects.

The Buffer Zone Diet

"I've lost the same twenty pounds over and over, and I always gain it back again, plus a few extra pounds. What's wrong with me? "

Men and women from all over the world are ready to get off the diet rollercoaster but don't know how. They are fed up with counting calories, carbs, and fat grams, and obsessing over every bite and sip. They lose weight, only to regain it when they start eating normally. Ever hopeful, they try another new diet, only to be disappointed again.

Every year there is a hot new diet craze that promises to melt off pounds by eating this but not that: Paleo, Atkins, South Beach, Cabbage Soup, Cookie Diet, Weight Watchers, and more. They all tell you something different: eat protein, but not carbs. Eat carbs, but not fat. Eat fat, but not carbs. No wonder so many people are confused about health and nutrition and every expert seems to have a different perspective. Fred Cuellar knows exactly how you feel and his own experience with dieting left him frustrated, baffled and heavier than before, and he wondered why diets never work in the long run. This led him to seek answers to the questions millions of people ask on a daily basis: Why can't I lose weight and keep it off?

Millions of us are dieting, yet obesity levels keep on rising, but why? Fred was determined to figure out the solution to the diet problem and create a formula to lose weight permanently, in a way that is easy and sustainable. It's called the Buffer Zone Diet. He explains the science behind weight loss and gain, while debunking several myths about what we should or should not eat or drink using himself as a guinea pig. With much trial and error, he devised a method to lose weight and maintain a healthy body, all without deprivation, hunger , or will power. Dieting is actually making you gain weight. It is what the diet industry doesn't want you to know.

The Buffer Zone isn't a diet book. You will not be required to measure carbs, count fat grams or starve yourself. Instead you will be given a specific method to timing your meals to lose weight and, best of all, keep it off. You will be amazed at how attuned you will be with your body and give yourself the nutrition you need for optimum weight loss. With guidelines in learning to understand emotional hunger from true physical hungry and our goal shouldn't just be losing weight, but to be healthy.

I received The Buffer Zone Diet by Fred Cuellar compliments of Max Vera Publishing and The Cadence Group. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise.I think there isn't one of us that hasn't tried some form of diet in our life time and I was truly inspired at the approach this author took to his research on a personal level that he shares quite openly in his search to figure out what works and what doesn't and perhaps more importantly, why. This is a science that I hadn't considered but yet it makes logical sense. It is timing out your meals between 8-10 hours from the end of your final meal of the day to breakfast the next day. You decide when you will have  the largest meal of your day and incorporating two primer meals to get you through to your next meal. It can be lunch as your big meal of the day with breakfast and dinner being your primer meals, always stopping 3 hours before bed and allowing at least 10-14 hours between last and first meal each day.

He believes the problem doesn't lie with what we eat, although that is important, it is how many times we eat during the day and how much food we do eat. He believes there is a science in the timing of our meals and that most of us eat between 21 meals each week along with upwards of 49 snacks a week. That is what is making us fat along with the content of what we eat. I am impressed with his research particular detailing his own weight loss failures and finally success! He even provides you with examples of how you can begin to incorporate this into your life and still have things like pizza and donuts! I give this a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion and you still need to determine calorie counts of food to come up with a daily plan of what works for you.

For more information about The Buffer Zone Diet, Fred Cuellar or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Buffer Zone Diet by Fred Cuellar

You can find Fred Cuellar on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest information.

You can pick up a copy of this book at Amazon or other retailers near you. 

The Little Book of Hygge

If someone were to ask you what is one little thing that can make you happy? Perhaps it is the smell of your favorite rose in bloom, or the furry antics of your pet, an unexpected rain shower, or the brilliant ways your comfort food makes you feel? Some people consider the Danes a famously happiest people in the world and hygge is a cornerstone of their way of life. Hygge (pronounced Hoo-ga) loosely translates as a sense of comfort, togetherness and well-being. It is the pursuit of everyday happiness.

In his book, The Little Book of Hygge, Meik Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, he shares different ways both inside and outside the home of ways you can get back in touch with those moments of true comfort which he believes leads to happiness. From foods to activities, to making memories, and those things we do routinely, which the less we do them, the more they make us happy. Think of it like a hug without touching in some small way. The book defines these very Danish ways from the way you light a room, whether by candlelight or electric lamp, and these ways that Danes find happiness is the very source of this book. In fact there are Danish hygge bakeries, shops and cafes are popping up all over in an effort to teach people to enjoy more of the life we are missing out on in a rush to get it all done.

"Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. The feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down. You may be having an endless conversation about the small or big things in life - or just be comfortable in each other's silent company - or simply just be by yourself enjoying a cup of tea." (pg. 6).

I received The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. This book contains a bit of everything from mouth-watering Danish dishes, mulled wine. to clothing types (dressing in layers and woolen socks) to designing your home to bring you a bit more hygge or well-being happiness, like a shelf filled with thick books or your favorite tea pot or vase! I believe we add these things to our homes and favorite rooms without considering why, just that they make us happier by being in the room that is filled with things we love. This will provide you with some amazing smiles and perhaps offer you some suggestions to take those ordinary places in your home or office and make them a bit more hygge-like! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Little Book of Hygge, Meik Wiking or where you can pick up this book today, please click on the links below:

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

You can find the Happiness Research Institute on Facebook to learn more about Hygge.

To read more reviews on The Little Book of Hygge, please visit Harper Collins Publishers website. 

One of the Few

The one thing I am always impressed with whenever I come across our service men and women is discipline, honor, integrity and duty. During their military training, they seem to come across things that go beyond a human beings natural desires and override them to perform as they have been trained and not what they "feel" like doing. They do what they are called to do and often times have to make the hard decisions many of us would never consider doing.

Jason B. Ladd has done double duty in his book, One of the Few combining a bit of his own personal memoirs as a Marine alongside learning what it is to become a Christian. He started at the beginning with no training whatsoever in either area, knowing of God but not truly knowing who He is. Along the way Jason shares how each aspect of his training, from basic training to flight school have taught him more than simple military protocal and training as he advanced in the Marines but how each aspect of that training and often mistakes can be applied to a Christian walk of faith.

In the chapter Read, Fly, Repeat, he shares how much faith is evident in every aspect of a fighter pilots life. While he doesn't build the plane or maintain it, still each time he steps inside the cockpit, he has to have faith that someone who does that job, has done it to the best of their ability, therefore giving him faith that it will perform as it should.

"I have faith in the Marines who work on the jets; they have faith in my ability to fly them - together, we complete the mission. Marines are expected to maintain the highest standards of discipline, professionalism, and integrity. Every lance corporal turning a wrench knows he is part of a team. Without his help, jets will not fly, and without his attention to detail, pilots will not succeed. He does his best because that's what Marines do. They do not settle for average. Marine's work day, night and t hrough the weekend to make sure the job is done right. That's why I have faith in the Marines who maintain the fleet. "

"This was a revelation. I never thought of myself as a man of faith, yet I was beginning to see how much faith I had in everyday things. I need faith to drive to work every day. I have fiath I will receive a paycheck for my work because legal checks and balances ensure compensation and deter unfair business practices. And I must trust architects because I don't worry about roofs collapsing on my head. In order to remain sane, I must trust these even will not occur despite a lack of proof." (95).

I received One of the Few by Jason B. Ladd by Boone Shepherd Publishing and applaud this writers use of military memoirs to also illustrate his growing Christian faith. For some who read this book, especially service men and women, this life lessons will resound more to them because it applies to the brotherhood shared among those in our military service. I love the way his faith grew in the different aspects of his learning to become a Marine pilot and even how mistakes teach us valuable lessons of growing in our own walk of faith. We don't quit, we simply get up, shake off the dust and soldier on. For me, this one really earned a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion because I really LOVED his duality in this novel, one from growing up in the military and becoming a Marine and the life lessons he gained from that, but secondly, how his walk of faith grew out of those very same lessons in a remarkable way.

For more information about One of the Few, Jason B. Ladd or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

One of the Few by Jason B. Ladd

You can find Jason B. Ladd on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

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. 

The Forgotten Way - Meditations

Ted Dekker is by far a house hold name for most Christians! Besides being a well known and best selling author, Ted Dekker's novels take the reader into places they never expected to go and always come away with a sense of having experienced something a bit more than most readers do after a great novel. Their lives are changed. It is more than to say its a sense of bewilderment, but I would call it an awakening instead. Its like we have known this all along and have to be reawakened to remember who we really are.

Whether it is through a novel surrounding any variety of genre's, Dekker awakens the soul in all of us. In The Forgotten Way, it is a book that is much deeper than anything he has ever written. Almost prophetic in nature, you feel as if the words he writes are from someone much older and with that sage like wisdom and mystery about them. This is a book of meditations geared to take the reader on the path of Yeshua for power and peace in this life. Often throughout this book he utilizes the analogy of Clark Kent who forgets that he has the ability and power of Superman and so spends a vast part of his life living in the darkness of who he could be.

Much like us as believers we find ourselves trapped into getting so immersed in the world and what is going on that we forget that as believers in Yeshus, we are merely passing through hoping to make this world a better place and remind other of His love. This isn't getting all caught up in religious dogmas of various religions but in understand who we are as sons and daughters of Yeshua and what power we have once we realize that. We don't have to be bound by the standards of the world. When we learn to let go of the worldly and embrace our spiritual awareness we can be free to love as Yeshua loved even his enemies. It is why most people don't understand the very nature of who Jesus was and the life He lived when he was with us. This book helps believers to understand that somethings what happens in this life, is not what God sees. We need to change our spiritual perspective in order to deal with life here on earth. Perhaps my favorite quote in the entire book is simply, "Remember, what you believe about yourself never defines you' only what your Father believes about you truly defines you. Your beliefs and perceptions, however, do define the experience you have in this world."

I received The Forgotten Way by Ted Dekker as a self purchase and was not required to give a favorable review. However being such a fan of his literary works and how much novels like A.D. 30 and A.D. 33 along with the Outlaw Chronicles series like Hacker, Identity and Water Walker, have created a spiritual awakening, I knew I wanted more. It's like getting inside a brilliant man's mind to see what makes it tick and you might be surprised at what you'll find when you do. For me the journey is just begin but now I am wide awake, with eyes wide open and aware of whom I am in Yeshua. Can't wait to go back now and reread not only the Forgotten Way but these other books I've mentioned. Great minds when synced up think alike not only spiritually but on a different conscious level and this the reason I'd rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Currently this book is not available for sale at this time but may become available at a later date.

For more information about The Forgotten Way, Ted Dekker or where you can join a Facebook study group, please click on the links below:

The Forgotten Way by Ted Dekker

You can find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels and projects.

The Forgotten Way on Facebook to join in the conversation about the book. 

Gotta Have It

Ever feel like a two year old child at times with seeing something you just gotta have?

Are you spending so much time trying to get what you want that you have no energy left to get what you need? Each of us has a "never enough" activity, food, or behavior - and we're read to throw a grown-up tantrum when we don't get it.

Dr. Gregory L Jantz calls this phenomenon excessity - when our excesses become "necessities." Excessities are our reward, our coping mechanism, and the illusory answer to pain. We feel we need their pleasure to insulate us from a difficult world. Yet the more we starve what we really need - such as purpose, hope, and security - the greater our hunger grows for what will never satisfy.

In Gotta Have It! by Dr. Gregory L. Jantz, you are invited to discover the truth that is hiding behind your secret desires. With real-life stories and sections for self-reflection, Gotta Have It! will help you see your life as never before - and delight in the ways God is longing to fulfill your true needs.

My Review:

WOW this book is a huge eye opener for anyone who has the opportunity to read it. Most of the time when we think of wants, we consider things like what we can buy, a new home, furniture, shoes, cars, video games, and electronics to name a few. Yet what this book uncovers is the wants we have convinced ourselves is just part of our nature and who we are. You discover that food cravings, lack of discipline to exercise, alcohol and prescription drugs, caffeine, work, electronics, shopping, tobacco, hobbies, gambling and even sex can also be something that literally traps us in our lives and create destructive habits.

The book takes you through all of those I mentioned above and many more and teaches you how to successfully deal with ridding yourself of the excuses and helps you to deal with them on a personal level. Some people never understand just how excessive things can literally kill them if they allow it, yet it's not something God has meant to hurt us. This excessities can become the ruling member in our homes if we let it but with the help in this book, you can begin to see just how much we let things control our lives instead of us controlling them.

I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and think that every church leader and family should read this book. I would easily rate this a 5 out of 5 stars and can even see how we have become victims unknowingly in some areas as well. For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase your copy, click on the title below:

Gotta Have It!