Into the Deep: Diving Into a Life of Courageous Faith by Lauren Gaskill

BOOK INFORMATION

Genre: Christian, Christian living, women's issues, spiritual growth, religion and spirituality 

Paperback: 240 pages

• Publisher: Abingdon Press (November 6, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1501869744
• ISBN-13: 978-1501869747

Synopsis: 
Develop enduring faith for the turbulent waters of life.

Following Jesus doesn’t guarantee sunny skies and smooth sailing. In fact, the waters of life are often tumultuous, crashing over us. Sometimes we can feel that we’re drowning in a sea of confusion, division, frustration, complacency, or disillusionment. We need more than a shallow faith to survive these deep waters.

Into the Deep is an invitation to dive headfirst into a life of courageous faith. With endearing warmth and authenticity, Lauren Gaskill shares how she and others have learned to swim with Jesus in the deep waters of life—facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, and chronic illness—only to discover a more authentic, enduring faith that cannot be shaken by circumstances. In addition to examining the character of God and the lives of women and men of the Bible who chose to dive deeper with God, she provides practical examples and tools that help us take our faith to the next level by learning to make decisions by faith alone, control our reactions to overwhelming situations, and live a life rooted in love.

Get ready to exchange fear and frustration for the boldness, courage, and holy confidence that lead to a life of deep faith and joy!

Review: This is a fabulously well-written book that you can read on your own or use as a group study. If you want to know how to discover a deeper, more authentic faith in God, this is the book for you. The author uses stories from her own life, as well as the lives of men and women in the Bible to show how deep, courageous unshakable faith is possible. I highly recommend this to everyone!

Rating: Four stars

About the author

Lauren Gaskill is an author, speaker and host of the Finding Joy podcast and Finding Joy Ladies Night Out events. After being diagnosed with an incurable connective tissue disorder, Lauren made it her life mission to encourage others to fight for faith and find joy — no matter what life’s circumstances might bring.

Gaskill is a storyteller who believes stories are powerful and loves how God uses them for His good. She writes and speaks to motivate and inspire others to experience abundant life in Christ. She is particularly passionate about encouraging women to fight for faith and go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. Gaskill also writes and speaks about what it looks like to walk with Jesus through pain and suffering.

She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Find her online at LaurenGaskillInspires.com or on Facebook (lauren.gaskill.inspires), Twitter (lauren_inspires) and Instagram (lauren_inspires).  

TOUR SCHEDULE

Walking In The Light	11/6/2018
Anita Ojeda	11/6/2018
Feeling in Red	11/6/2018
this chattanooga mommy saves	11/6/2018
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader	11/7/2018
Grace Space Christian Coaching blog	11/7/2018
Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues and Chocolate	11/8/2018
Natalie Walters	11/8/2018
Meagan Davenport	11/9/2018
SK Bell Blog	11/9/2018
Inklings and Notions	11/10/2018
Julie Danielson	11/10/2018
PamelaBlack	11/10/2018
Rachel's Reading	11/11/2018
This Is Me	11/11/2018
Back Porchervations	11/12/2018
Courage. Hope. Love.	11/12/2018
Jen Howat	11/13/2018
Book Babble	11/14/2018
A Beautiful Inheritance	11/14/2018
Once Upon a Storyville	11/14/2018
A Peace of Mind	11/14/2018
Genesis 5020	11/14/2018
Happily Managing a Household of Boys	11/15/2018
snidbits	11/15/2018
Texas Book-aholic	11/16/2018
Faithful Acres Body Soul Spirit	11/17/2018
Edits and Reviews by Leslie	11/17/2018
The Little Friar	11/18/2018
Blogging About Everything!!!	11/18/2018
The Writer's Tool	11/19/2018
Mommy Ramblings	11/19/2018
Thoughts on Books	11/19/2018
Veronica's 'Views	11/19/2018
God is Love	11/20/2018
Deep Imprints	11/20/2018
EnchantedExcurse	11/20/2018
Rachel Dawn Writes
Melinda Means

A Spoonful of Grace: Mealtime Blessings in Bite-Sized Pieces by Annette Hubbell

BOOK INFORMATION

Genre: Christian Living, Religion and Spirituality

• Paperback: 444 pages
• Publisher: Credo House Publishers; First edition (February 1, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1625860668
• ISBN-13: 978-1625860668

Synopsis: ABOUT TWO MINUTES! That’s how long it takes to read each of these mealtime reflections. A Spoonful of Grace is a collection of 366 thought provoking, gratitude-building, supercharged daily graces. Each prayer is accompanied by a companion Bible verse and a conversation starter—impactful yet brief enough to hold the attention of hungry kids. As part of a well-balanced diet of conversations with God, A Spoonful of Grace:

- Sows the seeds of a thankful attitude

- Whets the appetite about the Bible and what’s in it

- Nourishes the heart, mind, and soul

- Taken with food, constitutes a complete meal

Review: I really enjoy this book. There are enough prayers to go through an entire year without repeating one, with an added section of special ones for holidays and birthdays. Each day also provides a scripture reading and "Grace Notes," which are quotations and ideas to continue a discussion.

One of the things I like about this book is that the scripture readings include selections from all 66 books of the Bible, even those which are sometimes ignored/neglected. While I no longer have small children in the home on a daily basis, this is something I will use whenever my grandchildren are visiting, and for any family get-togethers in the future.

**I received a copy of this book from Adams PR Group, with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

Rating:  Five stars

Q&A with author/actor Annette Hubbell
​Author of "A Spoonful Of Grace"

Q: What inspired you to write your new book?
At a casual lunch with some friends, our host led us in a grace prayer before the meal, and the idea hit me like lightning. Writing a book was the furthest thing from my mind—and my abilities.  I think that’s why God started me out easily; to have given me a glimpse of the final product would have overwhelmed me and stopped me dead in my tracks.
 
I had grown up with the Catholic grace, but except for a general, spur of the moment grace, I had never heard any other formal, standardized grace. So when our host began his grace, the Lutheran Grace, I was amazed with this new piece of information.  There must be others, I concluded.  What if I were to collect them—from all over the world—and create a book out of it? I could even pair them with Scripture for added meaning.  In effect, I would simply become a compiler, or so I thought. I sent out inquiries, asking everyone to share, eagerly awaiting the replies.  What I got back surprised me. It seemed there were, in fact, only three types of graces ever said: The Catholic and Lutheran graces, and the ones made up every night. Even more surprising were the responses of those who never said grace but wished they did, and would if they had some structure. 
 
I set about to write, but publishers soon informed me that there had to be an application. Back to the drawing board to add what came to be the “Grace Notes”: side bars—much like what you see in a Study Bible—to add context, or set the stage for God’s word.  I needed a much bigger education to pull that off, so I studied hard, received a Certificate in Apologetics from Biola University, immersed myself in Bible studies, and traveled throughout the Holy Lands.  After ten years of work, prayer and relying on God, A Spoonful of Grace is the result.
 
Q: What should parents know about this book?
A Spoonful of Grace is a collection of 366 evening meal graces taken from all 66 books of the Bible. They are designed to provide meaningful exposure to prayer and the Bible at a most opportune time: the family evening meal. They are unique, too, because each one is inspired by its companion Bible verse(s), designed to be read in its entirety in about two minutes, and enhanced by a section called “Grace Notes.” Using quotations and ideas to further illustrate the theme of the verse, these “Grace Notes” promote lively and meaningful conversation. Interestingly enough, I’ve had people—people who attend church often—tell me that saying grace, other than on spe­cial occasions, had never occurred to them. Each day’s grace and devotional are meant to be read aloud by all family members, with friendly, approachable illustrations that are short enough to keep the attention of hungry kids.

 Q: How do you envision this book being used by families?

A Spoonful of Grace is suitable for every family, wherever its members are in their individual faith journeys. Whether the parents are just beginning to integrate prayer and Scripture into their daily routine or already say grace together, this book sets the tone for family mealtimes-light-hearted, yet at the same time, full of meaning and purpose. TheGrace Notes allow children to think about actions and their ability to make choices.  I envision the children taking turns reading each day’s grace, and the parents guiding the conversation around it.
 
This book, however, is not just for families. A seeker or new believer is given doses of theology in small pieces that might be more easily absorbed. A Spoonful of Grace is also great for grandparents and caregivers to have in the house, busy people who want to add more Bible reading into their lives, or people who would like to say grace with others but are uncertain how to start. Because Scripture is taken from easier-to-understand versions like The Message or the New International Version, adult students who are learning English as a second language would also benefit.

Q: Why do you believe it is important to create intentional family time in today's culture? 
A Spoonful of Grace is a response to diminished attention spans wrought by social media, and the expectation of instant gratification. When I tested A Spoonful of Grace with some families, one said “This consumed the entire conversation during dinner.” Another family told me that their 15-year- old was appreciating his family more through simply spending more quality time together. My aim was to keep these graces and devotionals witty and to the point in order to capture a young person’s interest quickly. I hope that the book will help turn mealtime into conversations about faith and values such as sharing, honesty, friendship, and honorable conduct.

About the author

Annette Hubbell earned her undergraduate degree in Marketing from San Diego State University, her M.B.A. from Cal State University in San Marcos, and a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.  She has been featured in over 160 performances, and starred in the DVD, “Witness To Gettysburg” edited by 33-time Emmy Award winner Robert Gardner. She was awarded Presenter of the Year twice at the Civil War Round Table of San Diego, and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Hubbell lives in San Diego, California with her husband of 33 years, Monte. They have a daughter, Amy. She and her husband Scott live in Los Angeles, California. For more information, visit www.AnnetteHubbell.com.

BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: The Fabulous @50 Re-Experience by Dianna Bowes

Baby Boomer women have spent decades suppressing their own wants and desires, and losing themselves in the expectations and demands of culture, parents, partners, and children, working hard to please and care for almost everyone but themselves. They've been misunderstood by marketers, politicians, millenials, most men .. and last but not least, themselves.

The time has come for these strong, beautiful, and fabulous women to discover, reveal, and honor their true selves. The time has come for them to re-expereince life as they've known it, and to celebrate life as it can be.

If you're a Boomer woman in personal crisis needing to reinvent your life, facing divorce, life-threatening illness, financial disaster, or the crushing loneliness after the kids have grown and gone, if you are asking yourself, "Now what?" and fearing that it might be too late for you and your dreams ... this book is for you.

The Fabulous@50 Re-Experience

From Dianna Bowes, visionary foundress of Fabulous @ 50, The Fabulous @50 Re-Experience is a living, breathing, sweet and sassy guide to remind you that you're not alone ... and it's not too late for you to thrive.

Review: This is a great book for baby boomer women (like me). Being midway through my fifties, I can relate to nearly everything the author discusses in her book.  She says this time of our life should be about rediscovering who we are and what we want to do with the rest of our lives.

Ms. Bowes gives us a combination of homework questions, coaching and artwork to show us that we can change our lives if we are willing to do the work and rid ourselves of our demons.

There are personal stories throughout the book which are inspirational. There is also a great deal of humor to be found in the author's writing.

When it comes to the questions she asks, I have to admit that some of them go VERY deep and left me staring at the page for quite some time before I could come up with a really honest answer.

If you are in your fifties, or even if you're just getting close, this book is well worth reading and working through.

**I was provided a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**


Rating: Four stars

Available to buy from....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Amazon Paperback

Read a preview HERE

  
Artwork from the book

About the Author

Dianna is a shining example of how to get the most out of life as a “seasoned” woman. At a time when most of us look to relax in front of the TV, she is out in our Alberta communities creating a dynasty! And in her “spare time,” she turns her time and talents to family and friends, graphic design, painting, biking, cross-country skiing and fulfilling a host of volunteer commitments. Though Dianna is now a successful entrepreneur and inspiration to many, she had to overcome many barriers to get there. Raised by grandparents in a dysfunctional family, Dianna was shy and lacking in self-confidence as a child and young adult. She married at 20, but tragically her new husband was killed in a explosion within a year. She remarried a few years later and was blessed with two children who are the light of her life. But the marriage was rocky and further eroded Dianna’s self-esteem. A serious health problem (tumour on her vertebrae) in her 40s brought things to a head and the marriage ended. Rather than wallow in despair, Bowes decided to take control of her life. She recreated herself into the woman she always wanted to be by focusing on personal development and coaching. When her 50th birthday was approaching, she started Fabulous@50 (a community for seasoned woman) and has never looked back. Now confident and poised, Bowes is dedicated to helping other women through their life changes and challenges. Bowes has won numerous awards for her work: a 2014 Leader of Tomorrow Award from Business in Edmonton, 2011 YWCA Woman of Distinction Award (Turning Point category) The 2014 New York Stevie Awards in two categories: Women Helping Women (Bronze) and Best Event (Gold). 2015 New York Stevie Award - Top Canadian Entrepreneur (Bronze).

Find the author on the following sites...

Fabulous@50 Community   Blog   Facebook   Twitter   Google+   Pinterest   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

Keep in the loop, become a Fabulous@50 community member and receive our Be Fabulous! E-Magazine Click here {no catch} just a fun e-mag with fun stuff!

Adaption is a part of life, and we can accept it or fight it. It's a choice!

Fabulous@50 Experience 2014 - Edmonton 

Follow the Book Tour

I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

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