The One Good Thing {book review and giveaway}

Nathan Steen is a very unique man. Every day he carries a handful of stones in his pocket and looks for opportunities to do random acts of kindness as he moves one stone from one pocket to the other. Many lives have been impacted by Nathan Steen's life, but he has a secret that he has kept for over twenty years, from his parents, his children, even from his wife. This secret threatens to shatter the very fabric of the reputation that Nathan has maintained almost his whole life.

The One Good Thing tops the list as my new favorite fictional read in the past few years. Kevin Alan Milne explores themes of friendship, death, bullying, kindness, humanity, and redemption plus so much more. Written from the perspective of a different character in every chapter, the reader can truly understand the struggles and feelings of each family member. I found myself asking, "How far would I go to help someone in need?" and "Do I daily .... or even weekly ....  approach my life looking at how I can not only help but also truly make a difference in someone's day...or even someone's life?"

I loved this book so much that it is my GREAT delight to be able to offer to YOU a chance to win this book for your very own!

Yay, right?!?!

There are A LOT of entries available. Just fill out the rafflecoptor below.

And you can buy this book on Amazon today!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The One Good Thing from Center Street as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Chris Tomlin - Burning Lights {Review & Giveaway}

When I was about nineteen years old, I fell in love with a new worship movement especially geared for college students. It was fresh and real and freeing and gut-wrenchingly from the heart. They called themselves Passion, and the passion that they inspired in the hearts of not only but especially college students was just mind-blowing. A whole generation fell in love with the likes of David Crowder, Charlie Hall, and Chris Tomlin....including me.

Almost 15 years later, Passion is still going strong. Their worship leaders have multiplied and many have written and launched albums of their own. Yay!

This week, I am excited to tell you that one of my LONG TIME FAVS released a NEW album on Tuesday of this week.....Burning Lights.

Chris Tomlin wrote his first worship song at fourteen years old. Ten years later, he started a journey that would see him leading thousands upon thousands of the leaders of the next generation in worship. His songs have made their way into church worship services, youth group prayer vigils, car radios, and maybe even your personal iTunes playlist. from Give Us Clean Hands, We Fall Down, How Great Is Our God, God of This City and so many more comes worship songs for the new millennium.

Burning Lights continues this amazing trend with songs like White Flag that reminds us to lay our own agenda down in surrender to His, God's Great Dance Floor that just rocks your socks off and makes you want to leave your seat and get on your feet, and my current personal fav, Whom Shall I Fear {God of Angel Armies} that reminds me of the story in the Bible where Israel's enemies saw WAY more fire power behind the Israelite army than was actually there, and like them, I know that "the God of angel armies is always by my side."

Even though Sparrow Records gave me an album for review, I got so excited listening to these songs at Passion '13 that I could not wait to tell you about it because I know you will love them too!

PLUS......

And this is the best part.....

Five of you....yes that is right....FIVE of you will win Burning Lights for FREE!! Right here!!

Yay!!

Just enter the Rafflecopter below for a WHOLE LOT of chances to be one of those winners!! Be sure to come back every day to tweet or share for more entries!
{If you are reading this in your e-mail or a reader, please click over to the blog to enter.}

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Mandisa: It's Christmas *Christmas Angel Edition* (giveaway)

I love Christmas.
Picking out a live tree.
Pulling out the decorations from the attic.
Unwrapping ornaments that haven't been seen for twelve months.
Placing every one just so on the tree.

Finding the perfect gifts for those you love.
Wrapping them with care.
Watching the faces light up with glee.

Snowball fights.
Fireplace warmth.
Hot cocoa
And It's a Wonderful Life.

Soaking in the TRUE meaning of it all....

And so much more....but what REALLY helps me truly get "in the mood" of the Christmas season are the sounds of the holidays ... ie: Christmas songs!!

Yay!
So I am so excited to tell you about this rocking album.

From the woman who brought you the soulful melodies of Stronger and the upbeat joyfulness of Good Morning comes this amazing 2012 Christmas album, It's Christmas (Christmas Angel Edition).

Mandisa knocks it out of the park....seriously!

While the album is filled with holiday favorites, like Little Drummer Boy and Feliz Navidad, done in Mandisa's own personal style, the best part of her musical styling on this holiday collection are the original songs.

From the title song, It's Christmas, that makes us reminisce and remember what Christmas is all about to Somebody's Angel which challenges us to reach out to those around us who are lost and broken to my personal favorite, Christmas Makes Me Cry, which reminds us to take time to process our own losses or  to notice the hurting of the lonely, the forgotten, or the left-behind at Christmas as well as the beautiful picture of the bittersweet symphony of how a babe came to give His life for us.


Click here if you cannot see video or are reading from e-mail or RSS feed

Hope.
Gratitude.
Fun.
Laughter.
Tears.
Wide-eyed wonder.

That is what this album provokes in your heart.
And to be honest with you...it exceeded my expectations
For REALS.

So because Sparrow Records believes in this album like I do, they wanted to offer 3 of my readers a chance to win this album for your very own!

SUPER cool, right?

Just enter the Rafflecopter below.
You will get MORE entries the more actions you take, and note which ones that you can come back and do EACH day...

Don't miss out!

Merry Christmas, peeps!

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Who Should Give Us the Desires of Our Hearts? {Guest Post}

Today, it is my pleasure to welcome Brenda from Triple Braided as she shares on our heart's deepest desires.

Brenda considers herself a "recovering single" after years as a single woman chasing her dreams instead of God's dreams for her. Now she lives with her two miracles: her husband who God physically saved from Cardiomyopathy after a dramatic heart transplant and her baby girl who will be born this month from those three hearts. Brenda encourages women to live a life surrendered to Jesus in every season on her blog, Triple Braided, and she recently published her first eBook, Fall for Him: 25 Challenges from a Recovering Single. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

About six years ago I met weekly in an apartment in Atlanta with about five other women. We were all single, and as you can imagine, we all wished we were married. Our purpose for meeting was to have girl time but also for Bible study. Most of the time, however, we ended up having a verse study instead. Every week we would start out with good intentions. We would first eat and talk and laugh. Then we would move into discussing whatever Bible study we were doing at the time.

 For myself as a single woman, the topic of the Bible study at the time really didn't matter. All studies usually wound up being about relationships and dating and marriage. Ours was no different. Whether we were talking about Abraham or David or Ruth, shortly into the discussion our conversation would shift, and we would begin analyzing our lives as single women. There was one verse from the Bible that came up every week. And every week we would go 'round and 'round debating its meaning. It was like the Christian single's mantra.

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

The reason for our debate is most likely obvious. 

The desperate desires of our hearts was to be married. And we were delighting in the Lord to the best of our knowledge. So why wasn't God giving us our desires?

At the time I mistakenly believed that only single people struggled with delighting in the Lord and not getting the desires of their hearts. If you're married, what more could be wrong?

But now that I am on the other side of "I do's," I realize that we all struggle with the tension between our desires and delighting in the Lord.

The desire to have a baby, adopt a baby, or have a healthy baby.

The desire to be a full-time homemaker, get a part-time job, or maybe have a more flexible one.

The desire for a husband who's a Christian, a husband who prays with his wife, or a husband who spends time with his family.

The desire for good health, to lose weight, or to not have a terminal disease.

The desire for children who are respectful, who don't have trouble learning, or who are self-sufficient.

The list goes on and on and on. Doesn't it?

We all have desires. Things that we want out of this world either for noble reasons or for reasons to make life a little more comfortable.

And God says He will give us the desires of our hearts when we delight in Him.

But what does that mean exactly? What does that look like? Obviously we don't get everything we want. So what did God mean when He said He would give us the desires of our hearts when we delight in Him?

I spent some time studying this verse, and especially the word "delight." 

I want to delight in the Lord, but honestly sometimes I don't know what more I can do!

"Delight" in Hebrew is 'anag which means to be soft, delicate, dainty, happy about.

If I am soft, delicate, dainty, and happy about (not complaining or resentful), then my desires are able to be molded into God's desires for me. He will give me my desires. They will be from Him instead of me choosing the desires of my heart myself and then asking Him to comply with them. My desires often begin to change.

It wasn't until after my years as a single woman that I realized the true meaning of Psalm 37:4, and ever since I've been recovering from searching after my own desires.

 I wrote an eBook out of this experience called Fall for Him: 25 Challenges from a Recovering Single. It's available now in PDF, Kindle and Nook formats. The purpose is to help single women see that their life is not waiting out there in the future for them. Their life is now. But it can only be fully revealed by being surrendered to Jesus - allowing Him to plant His desires for them in their hearts. If you are single, this book is for you, to help you have the desires of God's heart now. If you're married, this book is a great gift for that single woman in your life who is struggling with the desperate desire to be married. Maybe your niece, cousin, or sister. Maybe your best friend. Go ahead. Reach out your hand. Bless this special woman with your love. Give her an eBook that will help. You can purchase a copy by visiting www.FallforHim.com.


As a woman who was single into her late twenties, I have such a passion for those who are walking the road of singleness to find their deepest heart's desires in Him. I am so thankful to Brenda for braving writing out her own personal journey. Today, Brenda is graciously giving away one e-book to one of you. Yay, right? Whether you are single or have a friend/family member who is single and would like to give this for a Christmas present, please enter below for a chance to have Fall for Him as your very own!

 

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Into The Light {Review and GIVEAWAY!}

When Sparrow Records first approached me to review Into the Light by Matthew West, I hopped over to iTunes to check him out and listen to his top three songs. Much to my delight, I found that I not only had heard the top three multiple times, but also that I truly liked them! So, of course, I quickly accepted.

What has truly endeared me to Matthew West's music is the fact that he is telling stories, real-life, knock-your-socks-off, gut-wrenching, grace-quenching stories from every day people just like me and you and all of us. As a girl who aspires daily to be a better story-teller through both words and photographs, I love the heart behind an artist who shares the stories of redemption in a way with which we can all identify.

One of those top three songs of Matthew's that is arguably MY favorite song of his is Forgiveness.

And then I heard the story.
Bam.

I.
WAS.
FLOORED.

Undone, even.

In fact, you need to hear it.
Seriously.
Please listen to this.
I RARELY cry watching videos on people's blogs or YouTube clips.
But this...
Well, just see for yourself...


Wow.
Did you catch that?
AH-MA-ZING!

It makes me want to sing, from the depths of my soul, the words Matthew penned,

Show me how to love the unlovable Show me how to reach the unreachable Help me now to do the impossible Forgiveness, Forgiveness

With stories like that set to song, this is an album not to be missed.

‘…there is power in a story…and we all have a story to tell…the songs on Into The Light are inspired by these amazing, real-life stories…[these stories] will challenge all who hear to discover the hope, healing and freedom that can only be found when we step out of the darkness and Into The Light…’

~Matthew West, JesusFreakHideout.Com

So with that....five readers will get to share in these stories FOR FREE, winning THIS album and a journal from Matthew West. In addition to that, ONE lucky reader will win a collection of Matthew's albums {including this one} and a special journal. Sweet deal, right?

Purchase Into the Light on iTunes TODAY!!

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Night of the Living Dead Christian {Review & Giveaway}

When I heard about this Christian fiction book all about monsters, I was intrigued. Growing up with sci fi as a fictional staple in our home, gave me an appreciation for all things strange, weird, and extraordinary. Matt Mikalatos' book, Night of the Living Dead Christian, surprised me in the parallels that it draws from the "monster" world into the lives of Christians across the globe. From werewolves, vampires, zombies, and more, Matt challenges us to discover the "monster" inside of each of us through his funny wit, unexpected charm, and blatant honesty.

Relevant Magazine praised Matt as "Monty Python meets C.S. Lewis," which totally grabbed my attention, and I was not disappointed. While the randomness of the story confused me and caused me to struggle to enter in to the storyline for the first couple of chapters, as I carried on, I was impressed by the depth of theological understanding juxtaposed with the open transparency of today's culture.

Additionally, as a blogger, finding word treasures sprinkled throughout the book found me highlighting to savor again and again like "bone-white moon," "attractive brains," and "the pain tears like glass in the intestines."

And today one of YOU will get to win a FREE copy of this book! Isn't that great??

Here's how you can enter ::

1) Leave a comment telling me what the scariest monster is to you.

2) Become a follower on either Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs. If you already are that's fine, too!

3) Tweet and/or share on Facebook the following...

@MattMikalatos #NightOf the Living Dead from @TyndaleHouse challenges you to find the monster in you via @lindseyfoj http://bit.ly/uUZqGw

4) Follow @lindseyfoj on Twitter.

That is 4 ways to enter!! Giveaway ends Tuesday, December 20th at Midnight EST when random number generator will choose one winner. Certificate will be mailed to the winner just in time for Christmas -- to keep or to give away!!

Check out more of Matt Mikalatos at ::

http://mattmikalatos.com/

Order Night of the Living Dead Christian and other great books at ::
http://www.tyndale.com/

Still not convinced...check out this video from the author :

{subscribers click here to see video}

watch on tyndale.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

And The Winner Is.....

Congrats to Nancy Franson!!

Winner of the $20 DaySpring gift card....just in time for holiday shopping!!

{Chosen by random.org}

• 
  Nancy FransonCollapse

  That's just so pretty! I counted to 1000 with Ann, and the practice changed my life. So thankful God loves this gray-haired old woman enough to continue to invite me into deeper knowledge of and love for him. Just started a women's Sunday School class and talked about my experience in counting the gifts. Hoping others will take the dare. Thanks for the invite to enter the giveaway. Blessings to you.

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Don't be sad if you did not win. DaySpring is running an amazing special with dozens of items marked down PLUS an extra 30% off with the code SUPER30 through the end of November. Don't miss these great saving on AH-MA-ZING gifts for your whole family!!

I already got my order in, and I am SO excited for the items...over half of my presents have already been purchased! Yay!! Plus a few things just for me! Hehehee...!!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! Praying His grace and blessing are so real to you today!!

Gratitude, A Review, and A Giveaway

When I got home and I saw this BIG box on my front step, I could hardly contain the excitement. I had been looking forward to my (in)spired deals review product for awhile, and I just knew that THIS was it!!

I couldn't wait to open it up. I mean, you know what you picked out online and how it looks, but it isn't quite the same as getting the package in your hands and discovering your new gift.

I slowly, with sheer the anticipation of a child, pulled out my special prize, and to my surprise it was heavier and taller than I expected, but in a totally I-love-this-and-can't-wait-to-find-out-where-in-the-house-this-would-look-best way!!

To live with joy is to see God's goodness

The quote circled on the rim seemed to speak simply and poetically of the dynamic of my life these past few years -- a travel-weary journey of {RE}discovery to find His heart, a well-worn path of {RE}newing the joy of my salvation, and a life-altering transformation to {RE}focus my eyes to be one with His grace.

We are moving soon {within our current town}, so I am not sure where in our home this latest treasure will come to reside. However, I do know that this strong & constant reminder to

LOOK for His joy,

SEEK His peace,

and FIND His grace

will continue to lead me on the path of KNOWing His heart.

Gratitude - a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation, as for gifts or favours;

the state of feeling grateful

#286 - spending a whole week with my best friend

#287 - seeing Baltimore from the "top of the world"

#288 - floating around on our own dragon

#289 - having late night talks about the silly and serious

#290 - hanging out with my long time youth group friend at her home

#291 - taking pics with my new DSLR WITH my BFF

#292 - finding sorrow, resilience, & hope in the Holocaust Memorial

#293 - romping around DC - Lincoln, Georgetown, White House, Capital -- beautiful at night

#294 - finding AH-MA-ZING shopping deals

#295 - discovering THE boots that I have been looking for for 2 YEARS

{I kind have a boot obsession}

#296 - spending the day with my love watching one of our favorite movie series

#297 - {RE}discovering His heart in community at church today

#298 - seeing Fall again this year through new eyes...new lenses

#299 - growing stronger in my body day-by-day

#300 - finding myself again and again through His grace

I have joined The Gratitude Community -- a place to be inspired by others and what God is doing in their lives, a chance to share my own journey of gratitude, and an opportunity to REMEMBER to be grateful in ALL things. So on Mondays, I will add to my list of 1000 gifts of all the graces God has provided in my life. Would you consider joining me? Even if you don't blog, you can join the gratitude community by starting a gratitude journal, mentionning your gifts on Facebook, or sending e-mails to your friends. Let's work together to help in creating a more thankful, joyous world!!

And now to the giveaway!!

Did you think I forgot??

Want a $20 gift certificate to DaySpring Online?

You could use it towards a Wooden Pedestal like mine OR if you use it before November 30th you could apply it towards the beautiful canvases that are already marked down by 30% OR get a fun tote bag at the special deal of Buy ONE, Get ONE FREE {I ordered a couple of my own..and they are SO CUTE!!}

Leave a comment sharing things you are thankful for and/or where you have specifically chosen joy and seen God's goodness in return.

You can also tweet and/or share on Facebook for extra entries.

Just leave an extra comment for each to let me know you did!

You do not have to be a blogger to win so ALL are welcome to sign up!! Please just make sure that I have an e-mail address for you so that I can notify you if you win.

Oh and even if you don't win, you can use the code TABLE50 {during November only} at checkout to get 50% off of the above Pedestal or the beautiful Wooden Caddy {that I am seriously thinking of getting myself!!}

Giveaway ends Black Friday at Midnight EST!

Just in time to do some weekend shopping online!

DaySpring provided me with the wooden pedestal for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Mr. & Mrs. Love (and a GIVEAWAY!)

There is always something really exciting about getting something in the mail, especially when it is a gift OR a surprise.

So last Tuesday, when a package arrived for me, I was THRILLED.

Now it wasn't a surprise, but it was a GIFT!

YAY!

Dayspring via (in)courage sent me the Mr. and Mrs. Love Collection.

And I couldn't wait to use the collection so I could tell YOU all about it!

I chose these items from the selections given because I wanted to contribute to my Valentine's Day events with hubby to give him a little surprise as well {except he saw the box when it arrived and was TOO curious for me to keep it a surprise until Valentine's Day--oh well!}.

We started our sweetheart day in the early afternoon so we could spend more hours together.

Hubby's idea. *swoon*

We took the fun to Ocean City {about 30 minutes away}, so, of course, the trip wouldn't be complete to Arno without a little venti latte for the road. As for me, I am still LOVING my lime water}.

We took a walk on the Boardwalk.

We played mini-golf and arcade games.

We actually WANTED to be spontaneous and didn't make reservations anywhere. So we drove around for a bit, and since grace & favor seemed to be on our side, we got a table at the first restaurant we walked into. It was beautiful, on the water, live music. PERFECT!

We, then, went to the movies and watched *blush* Justin Bieber's movie Never Say Never. We chalk it up to the years of being children & youth pastors. WE LOVE TO SEE KIDS/YOUTH/PEOPLE WALK IN THEIR DREAMS/TALENTS/CALLINGS. It EXCITES us!! It was really an inspirational movie to encourage people to never give up on their dreams.

And then we went home to savor our NEW GIFTS!

Yay!

The first thing that I loved about the collection is the actual design itself. The black, white, & red color scheme is so classy. I also love the contrast of the lines on the mugs and journal with the paisley pattern on the coupon book and gift bag.

Arno made us hot chocolate in our sweet mugs, painted red inside and detailed with a heart as you tip the warm liquid to your face as well as delicately displayed on the inside rim, "I found the one my heart loves. Song of Solomon 3:4 NIV"

We browsed through the coupon book and decided to let the other choose their coupon of choice for the day. My choice: a massage. His choice: {that's easy} a kiss {or two} hehehee.

We "planned" to write in the journal, set up with one side for HIM and one side for HER, but since I am a "words" girl, hubby did his rough draft on his computer {isn't he cute?} and hasn't transferred it yet. And, I, well...blogger, aspiring writer that I am.....have no excuse...! But I LOVE that idea, and we plan to utilize that for the years to come(AND still for this "past" V-day)to memorialize our heart song for each other.

We had a LOVE-ly night! I guess I can't give this collection ALL the credit, but it did seem to create an environment that gave us time to catch up, to connect, and to chat about our lives and our future.

I am looking forward to more evenings and connections JUST LIKE THIS!

Thank you, Dayspring!

YOUR TURN TO WIN!!

Would you like a chance to win the Mr. and Mrs. Love Collection OR anything of your choice from Dayspring?

I heard that YES!

Dayspring is sponsoring a giveaway RIGHT here on my blog. You could win a $20 gift certificate to use on any item of your choice. (shipping charges will apply)

So here are few ways that you can enter:

1) Write a comment below telling me what you and your "someone special" {spouse, boyfriend, kids, friends, etc) did for Valentine's Day. Please no generic comments like "Enter me!" or something of the sort.

2) Follow me on Twitter.

3) Follow me here {on this blog} via Google Connect.

4) Follow me {also here} via Networked Blogs.

5) Tweet, update your status, or blog about this giveaway. You can EVEN utilize the easy to use buttons at the bottom of this post.

You can do ONE or ALL of the above, but just remember, PLEASE enter a separate comment for every action you take including links back to anything posted on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog to have a BETTER CHANCE of winning.

This contest will be open until Thursday, February 24th @ 11:59 p.m. EST.

The winner will be chosen by a random number generator and announced on my blog on Friday, February 25th as well as contacted via e-mail.

As a bonus, for the month of love, Dayspring is ALSO giving 25% off everything in their online store with the code LOVE25.

I received the Mr. & Mrs. Love Collection free from Dayspring. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Proverbs 30:18-19 (New Living Translation)

¹⁸ There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
¹⁹ how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.