Monday, February 10, 2020

Celebrate Lit Tour: Forgotten Faith

This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.

About the Book


Book: Forgotten Faith
Author: Lauren Reeves
Genre: Non-fiction/Christian Devotional
Release Date: December 20, 2019

When Christians are challenged to explain what they believe and why, too many fall short. Do the majority of Christians feel true commitment to their faith anymore? Are they able to retain hope and perseverance when trials come? Or do they find themselves questioning God’s goodness? We live in a time where Christians seem to have forgotten their once strong faith.

In her book Forgotten Faith, popular podcaster and speaker Lauren Reeves teaches Genesis in a way that keeps her reader wanting more. She provides the foundation necessary to make the rest of the Bible make sense long after this book’s last page is turned. From cover to cover, the believer will find a fascinating study of Genesis and that Genesis and Revelation go hand in hand, painting a picture of the End Times and the reason for hope. The content has the ability to do for readers what might otherwise take years of study to unveil.

Forgotten Faith seeks to uncover treasures in Genesis that have long been hidden away, treasures that are relevant to today and the End of Days and have been waiting for the right time to be known—and the time is now.
Behold, I am coming soon . . . I am the Alpha and Omega,
the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Revelation 22:12–13


 Click here (aff) to get your copy of the book!  

About the Author


Lauren Reeves loves to encourage the heart of a person into a deeper walk with Christ. She believes the mind informs the heart, so offering resources that are engaging and fascinating is necessary. Bible literacy ranks as one of the biggest ways she wants to influence the body of Christ, and she has an extraordinary gift for explaining intimidating theological ideas in easy-to-understand ways that keep a reader wanting more. She is the co-host of Joy for the Journey Podcast with Tammy Whitehurst (www.joyforthejourneypodcast.com) and loves teaching God’s word, songwriting, and leading people into worship. She is currently completing her master’s degree in Christian apologetics from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in religion from Baylor University. Lauren and her family live on a ranch in Texas. Learn more at www.laurenreeves.com  

More from Lauren

Why did I write this book? Because I’ve often been told that learning and understanding Genesis is the foundation for the rest of the Bible. Much of the Christian worldview can be found there, which effects our decision making. But Genesis not only lays the foundation for the rest of the Bible, it is closely linked with Revelation, the last book in the Bible. Just about every time I’ve asked a Bible study group what they would like to learn about next, one of the number one answers was always “Revelation” or “End Times Events.” Even though for years people have been hungry to learn more about Revelation, most Christians and churches try to steer clear of this subject because the end times plan can be intimidating and is not 100 percent clear from Jesus’s revelation to John in that book. Since differing opinions often cause dissension, people understandably avoid areas of the Bible that aren’t absolutely clear. However, I believe those words would not have been given to us to read if we were supposed to avoid studying them. For that reason, I’ve taken the risk and written a book on Genesis that ties Genesis and Revelation together helping us to understand the end times plan more clearly. One thing I hope is clear in my book, though, is you don’t have to agree with my interpretation of end times events to glean great truths and a greater understanding of the Bible through my book. One stance had to be taken to talk about the subject in detail, but truly, if a reader does not agree with my stance, it’s not a big deal. There’s way more to the book than that. The goal was to make us all think on and around Genesis and Revelation to help us study it and have opportunity for the Holy Spirit to reveal truths to us through the Word. I hope other books are written from different end times stances so we can read and study from a different angle. The more we read from different angles, the more we grow in knowledge and understanding. It is my belief that being certain that there IS an end times plan is what helps anchor the hope of Christ firmly in our souls. If we don’t have a forward view, it is so easy to get stuck in the tunnel vision of the here and now, which can often appear hopeless. So, now more than ever before, Christians need to be studying the first book of the Bible to know what we believe and the last book of the Bible to know that there is an end times plan that is sure and wonderful. I hope this book stirs your soul in a unique way. It is deep, yet devotional. I really believe it is a book for today.

Blog Stops


Blossoms and Blessings, February 4 (Author Interview)
Godly Book Reviews, February 5
deb’s Book Review, February 6
Texas Book-aholic, February 7
Through the Fire Blogs, February 8 (Author Interview)
Christian Bookshelf Reviews, February 10 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, February 11
Mary Hake, February 12
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 13 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, February 16 (Author Interview)

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Lauren is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:


Will you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Ever since Christ captured my heart, the most defining way I see myself is “His.”  Admittedly, I don’t always act like His, but when I get off track, it never takes long to sense the Holy Spirit inside me whisper, “This is not who you are.”  I am most fulfilled when I’m walking where He leads, even if it’s the harder road.  So I can’t tell you what role I will be playing forever other than being His.  I am a wife, but if my husband dies (though I hope I go first!), I am no longer actively a wife – I’m a widow.  I’m a daughter but if my mother dies, even though I am still her daughter, I don’t get to play that role this side of heaven anymore.  Nothing in this world is constant other than who we are in relation to Christ.  That’s something I always try to remember.  Because when I start putting my identity in anything else, it will always feel shaky.  But if I keep my identity in Christ, I can be a thousand things throughout life and never lose my footing.

What is your latest book about?  
Forgotten Faith is about the book of Genesis in the Bible.  But it’s not just a book about Genesis, it does something unique.  It highlights the many ties between Genesis and Revelation.  In my research I came to realize that the first and the last book of the Bible are tightly knit.  They are like a perfect opening and closing by the best author.  They play into one another giving us a foundation and a certain hope.  I’ve often heard it said that Genesis is the foundation for understanding the rest of the Bible.  I do believe that.  But now I believe Revelation might be almost just as significant.  I’m convinced Forgotten Faith is a necessary book for today, and that’s one reason I wrote it. 

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?  If so, what was the most interesting thing you learned?  
I really did years of research for this book without knowing it.  I became interested in the topics within Forgotten Faith and through the past several years I’ve been researching and learning without a clear picture of the book it would one day become.  I was learning because I was curious, not because I wanted to write a book.  But as time went on, I realized what I had been interested in and learning about had a theme.  So I set out to explore writing a book on Genesis.  Everything started coming together, but it wasn’t until I started gathering all of my research that I realized Genesis and Revelation tip their hat to one another pretty often – more often than I ever expected.  So, generally speaking, that was one of the most fascinating things to me.

Where do you like to write?  
My favorite place to write is in my home office.  My books are all on a bookshelf behind me for easy access, my computer screen is big so I can see what I’m working on easily, and my English Springer Spaniel sits lovingly at my feet.  It really is one of my favorite places.  If I’m going to be reading a lot for research though, I usually choose to be outside.  I’ll sit on the back porch and let the dogs play in the yard, or I’ll sit out in a swing where I can let our horses out of their pasture to graze on new grass around me.  Our geese usually come over and play with my shoelaces while I read.  Being an animal lover, those creatures make research peaceful and not as grueling.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?  
I’ve found I have to have an outline.  Have to!  I’ve started so many books and never finished them – not because it wasn’t interesting, but because I went so far off the point of the book and spent so much time doing it, that I didn’t know how to get back without just starting over!  So outlines are necessary for me, even though outlining is the least fun process ever.  I used an outline when writing Forgotten Faith, and it made all the difference.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?  
I like playing games with friends and family, spending time with the horses (or any animal), and going on weekend trips with my husband and friends.

Is there a place you’d like to visit but haven’t yet?  
Yes!  We have some friends that just got back from a trip to Estes Park, Colorado.  They stayed in a cabin there in the snow. They got to see so many elk and deer.  They tubed on a snow hill.  I’m pretty sure if we ever go, we will have to snow mobile as well!  I’ve never been around snow much living in Texas, so I’d really like to experience that!  I love the idea of playing and being around snow all day and then coming in the cabin, building a fire, and watching movies and playing games at night.  That would be so fun!

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? 
Is it crazy if I say that I don’t have a favorite???  I like so many for so many different reasons that I’ve rarely been able to nail just one or two down as a true favorite.  I guess the verse that has most recently stirred my heart is Zephaniah 3:16b-17 – “…let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

Do you have a favorite movie?  
My all-time favorite movie is The Secret Life of Bees.  No, it’s not a documentary about bees!  It was a book first (and a very profound book at that!) by Sue Monk Kidd.  The movie has Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifa, and Alicia Keys in it.  Something about that movie resonates with me.  It has become my comfort movie.  If I’m needing comfort, that’s the movie I will watch.  I have probably seen it over 50 times, no joke.

What are some nonfiction books you found impactful?  
The most recent one I can think of was I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek.  I loved it.  My masters is in Christian Apologetics and that book does a good job of equipping us with answers for why we believe what we believe.  It’s definitely worth the read!  I would also recommend C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity as well as A Grief Observed, and I loved Grace is Greater by Kyle Idleman.

What is your favorite holiday?  
Definitely Christmas because I love seeing people come together and selflessly buy for kids on angel trees. I love seeing the lights and decorations on neighborhood houses.  I love how many Christmas parties and events there are during that time of year.  And I love hearing Christmas songs playing in the stores and radio stations.  People hear about Christ more this time of year than probably any other, even if it’s only subtly.  I love that the whole holiday of Christmas is centered around Jesus, and the majority of the nation still celebrates it!

What is your favorite season and why is it your favorite?  
Spring is my favorite because of how all the wildflowers and trees start blooming.  I always think its so significant that so many species of trees and plants burst into bloom every year right around Easter/Passover.  It’s like the creation is praising Jesus in its own way for making a way for redemption!  The timing is so perfect and the thought of creation praising Jesus moves me ever year!

Are you currently working on any new novels?  If so, could you give us a hint?  
I’ve actually taken a little break from writing so I can finish seminary.  Seminary has a significant amount of reading homework, practicums, and papers, so I’m going to focus on finishing that and then I will start working on my next book.  I will admit, though, I have already been jotting down notes and significant things I’ve been learning.  I can feel another book rising up in me!  I love it.


Thank you so much for being here!  Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?  
Well, thank you for having me!  I guess I’d like to tell readers to never stop reading.  Reading is so important, especially as a Christian.  I believe our minds inform our hearts, so keeping our minds engaged with Christ-centered books (and of course the Bible) is so very important for our hearts.  So never stop reading.  I mean even God gave us a book to read, so I’m pretty sure he thinks it’s important, too! Ha!  And, yes, you can connect with me or find out more about my books at www.laurenreeves.com

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Review: The Way of the Brave (Global Search and Rescue #1) by Susan May Warren

This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.

About the book:
Haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong, former pararescue jumper Orion Starr has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team. But he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali in Alaska.

Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from her guilt. The former CIA profiler and psychiatrist green-lighted an operation against the Taliban that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she'll be forced to trust her life to the most dangerous of heroes--the man she nearly killed.

Orion and Jenny will have to put their wounds behind them to save their friends . . . and their hearts.
My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:
I'm a huge fan of Susan May Warren's novels, so it's no surprise that this book automatically made it on to my want-to-read shelf. ;) I enjoyed this introduction to a new series and the characters were great.

It took me a little bit to get into the story, but towards the end I had a difficult time putting it down and am SO eager to read the next one. I can't wait to see what happens with THOSE characters. Lol!

The Way of the Brave had so many intense moments. I found the pacing to be fast from the middle point of the story on. The romance was pretty good, although I wasn't a huge fan of it for some reason. Also, I did have a little difficultly keeping the characters straight at first.

All in all, though, the ending was fantastic and I really liked the story. As I said, I'm looking forward to the next book.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Find the book on:
Amazon (aff link), Goodreads

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Celebrate Lit: Beyond Second Chances

This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.


About the Book



Book: Beyond Second Chances
Author: Shirley Quiring Mozena
Genre: Christian, Religion, Christian Life, Inspirational
Release Date: August 31, 2015

A woman who knows grief and loss after the death of her second husband, is jilted just before an ill-advised remarriage, yet retains her trust in a loving God. Shirley Quiring Mozena leans on her relationship with her faithful God while experiencing the pangs of loneliness and regret. Weaving in her family’s backstory, she tells of a shy pastor’s daughter who through dramatic life experiences learned a deep trust in God’s faithfulness in all circumstances. When a new man in her life appears, can Shirley trust his love? One woman’s story of love triumphing over loss will strengthen and inspire.


Click here to get your copy. (aff link) 

About the Author



World traveler, Shirley Quiring Mozena is happy hiking a trail, sitting by the fire reading a good book, or having a cup of coffee with a friend. She loves adventure and is ready to go at a moments notice. Shirley has shared her story throughout the country, and is a retired music teacher and librarian. She enjoys entertaining with her husband in their home with a good meal and scintillating conversation.
Shirley has experienced the greatest test of her faith through the death of her two husbands. Together, she and her husband, Jim, work with others who have lost loved ones through death.
Shirley would be happy to hear from you at her website: www.shirleymozena.com

More from Shirley

Can you find love again on a couples matching site? Yes. And no. In my first book, Second Chances, I share how I found love and married second time on a matching site. Seventeen months after our marriage, my husband died. I didn’t think I’d ever love again, but after time, explored the same website only to be crushed with disappointment. My dreams were destroyed. As a result, I learned to fully surrender to God and be contented in whatever state I was in—married or single. This book continues my story and ends in joy! Find out what happens in this second book. God blesses us Beyond Second Chances. Read my story and be encouraged.

Blog Stops

My Devotional Thoughts, January 30 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 31
janicesbookreviews, February 1
Christian Bookshelf Reviews, February 2 (Author Interview)
Andrea Christenson, February 5 (Author Interview)
Quiet Quilter, February 6
Vicky Sluiter, February 8 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, February 9
Susan K. Beatty, Author, February 10 (Author Interview)

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Shirley is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Amazon gift card and a copy of Second Chances!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f532/beyond-second-chances-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Author Interview:

Where do you like to write?

I try to carry a small notebook in my purse whenever I go anywhere. At home, it’s usually at my computer that faces my front yard. I can see what’s going on outside (although my rhododendron needs to be trimmed—it’s hiding my view!).

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

It’s really hard to choose one favorite, but as a child, I memorized Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

What are some nonfiction books you found impactful?

The Bible
The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman
Streams in the Desert, L.B. Cowman
The Attributes of God, A.W. Tozer
My God is True!, Paul D. Wolfe
Great Days with the Great Lives, Charles R Swindoll

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie?

“Bring Me Home” from Les Miserables

Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?

I absolutely love hearing from my readers. It makes me happy to know I’ve touched someone’s emotions or drawn them closer to God with my words. My blog is there, as well as my books. Be sure to watch the book trailer! Here’s my website: www.shirleymozena.com

Friday, January 31, 2020

Monthly Reflections ~ January 2020

Monthly Reflections, where we take the time to reflect on the previous month.

How I Did With My January Goals:
Some of the links in my blog posts, tweets, social media posts, etc. contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.
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