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You can find my review of this book HERE

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Searching the Scriptures

You can find my review for this book HERE

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Gratitude: In More Ways Than One

Gratitude.  It's something that's so easy when things in your life are going peachy and very tough when things aren't going so well BUT it's something we should be doing daily despite our circumstances.

When those times are tough and you're really struggling to be grateful it's nice to have something that will help you get out of that worry/stressed mindset into that peaceful/thankful frame of mind which is why I'm so excited to be showing off my new Gratitude Prayer & Praise Coloring Journal from Tyndale's Living Expressions Collection!

I was SO excited when Tyndale asked me to review this coloring journal.  I've been doing an adult coloring book on my iPad for awhile but have been scared to try my hand at actually coloring so to say that I was out of my element is an understatement.

After the sweet introduction you turn the page and on the left hand side there is a prayer and Bible verse and on the right side you can use the space to write out a prayer or journal about that days subject.  I love how they have a few things colored for you so you can get an idea of what you want to do but leave the majority of the border blank for you to color to your heart's content.

I decided to start with something small since I wanted to test out my Copic markers to see if I could use them since it's been awhile.  These little hearts colored beautifully but turn the page and....

#Copicfail 

I was so sad!!  I was really hoping to use markers but the paper is definitely not thick enough for it so I pulled out my colored pencils instead and got to work. I'm sure I'll figure out a way to fix my oops when I get to that page! LOL

The colored pencils do not give that smooth look that I love but it was still fun finishing my hot air balloon.  While I was coloring my little man came in asking what I was doing and asked if he could color a little too.  Since this page was telling me to love each other I decided that meant that my baby could add some of his artistic talent to my page.

While Dylan was coloring I remembered that I still had my Koh-I-Nor Woodless Color Pencils so I pulled those out and gave them a try.  They definitely colored a lot smoother which I preferred but Dylan stuck with the Crayola colored pencils.

My baby did a great job but I think he's a perfectionist like his Mama because this little bit took him quite awhile and he still wasn't happy with it.

I just love that I got to share this precious time with my son as well as talk about what it means to love one another.

I had meant to have our page completed when I posted this but my husband was rushed to the hospital Friday morning with a kidney stone so this weekend has not been what I had planned at all.  The stone came out this morning (praise the Lord!) but he is still sore and now I'm feeling like I'm trying to get a cold.  When it rains it pours but I'm being thankful through the storm! ;)

I do love how coloring gets your mind off of things and when you are coloring in a gratitude journal your mind automatically moves to the Scripture and how you can apply what you just read on the previous page to your life.  I am learning that coloring is a wonderful way for you to meditate and when I feel like writing there is space for me to do so.

I love everything about this journal except I do wish the pages were thicker for those of us that do not like coloring with colored pencils.  I did find out that there is an Inspire Creativity page on Pinterest that gives you ideas as well as free downloadable samples for not only this journal but others in the Living Expressions Collection.  One of the pins had a girl painting on her page so maybe that's my next coloring route.  If anyone has any good ideas for paints that wouldn't bleed let me know!

I'm off to color, journal, meditate, and be grateful through the storm. :)

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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There is Hope! 41 Will Come

God's timing is so amazing.  Sometimes you look at a certain situation and you see God all up in it.  This situation might not be easy.  Actually I can guarantee it not but you know that God is allowing it for a reason and you pray, give it all to God, and walk by faith every moment until you find yourself victorious.

A few months ago Tyndale House Publishers graciously accepted me as one of their reviewers/bloggers of new releases and each month I will be sharing with my readers some of the amazing books that are being published.

I was so excited when my first book came in: 41 Will Come by Chuck E. Tate.

When I first read the introduction I knew this was going to be something God was going to use in my life. I've had issues I've struggled with my whole life.  Maybe God was going to open my eyes about one of those issues.  Little did I know that this book was going to help me go through one of the hardest challenges of my life.

40 is a significant number in the Bible and though the author does reference them he's more focused on 41.  What is 41?

 "The number 41 represents the dawn of a new day - the hope and promise that if you don't quit, the rain will stop, the giant will fall, and you will enter your 'promised land.'"  

Just reading that gave me hope.  All of us are on a journey.  Some of us are about to enter a storm, some of us are in a storm, and some of us just got out of a storm.  All of us!  40 is the storm; 41 is the rainbow.

A week after I started reading this book my 10-year-old son was in the emergency room then rushed to the PICU with poisoned blood and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Once we got Dylan home from the hospital and fell into a new normal I picked up the book again and it gave me so much hope!  I wish I could say I'm in my promised land right now but I've got several fronts on me at the moment so it could be awhile before I'm in my promised land but that's ok!  Each story that the author references reminds me that even in the storms God is still working and oh when I hit that promised land...baby, it is on! :)

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone!  Mr. Tate's writing style is wonderful and the personal stories he tells are great!  He's funny, encouraging, and heartfelt.  This is the author's first book and I'm positive it's not going to be his last.  Grab a copy! I promise you won't regret it.

NavPress/Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review

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