Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Authentic Influencer: The Barnabas Way of Shaping Lives for Jesus by Jonathan Murphy

You may feel like an ordinary believer, but God has a knack of using ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. Authentic Influencer encourages you to walk with Barnabas, learn from God, and shape the world for Jesus Christ— one life at a time.

God's approach to influencing the world is through His people. People shape people. And yet, many of God's people spectate from the sidelines unsure of what to do. Authentic Influencer is rooted in principles emerging from the life of God's choice example in the Scriptures—a man called Barnabas—rather than recycled quotes from corporate leadership works.

Every follower of Jesus can be inspired, instructed, and mobilized to influence the world from right where they are. In fact, it is everyday believers—not just "professional" Christians such as pastors, church leaders, authors, and others—who are specifically tasked by Jesus Himself to bring godly influence to the world. We are all His agents of change, be it shaping one person or a thousand.

Authentic Influencer is a Christian leadership book that:

Highlights 15 key principles that emerge from Barnabas that are relevant, practical, and customizable to every believer
Inspires you to shape those around you for Christ
Urges you to practice investing in others through discipleship
Challenges you with inspiring stories and practical wisdom emerging from biblical truths

By studying the life of Barnabas, we see how he influenced the world for Jesus Christ in practical and doable ways. Become encouraged to shape our world for Jesus— beginning with whoever happens to be close by.

Purchase

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MY REVIEW

If you ever felt like you couldn't be an influencer for Jesus, Authentic Influencer walks you through the principles inspired by Barnabas.

The book gives step-by-step information from the Book of Acts to guide you on your journey. It teaches you how to be the authentic person you are and influences the people in your life for Jesus. By applying the 15 principles in Authentic Influencer, with faith in Jesus you can apply them to your own Christian walk.

I can see this book being a great resource for youth groups or adult classes at your local church. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Christian Film- His Only Son-In Theatres March 31st-Get Your Tickets Now!

Dear Readers,

I had the pleasure of being able to screen His Only Son in the comfort of my home this week. It is an amazing film. There was a good choice of music, location, and the actors' portrayal of Biblical characters was excellent and brought the story to life.

The story's message is a powerful one about obedience to God and his many promises being fulfilled. It's an emotional one that will touch your heart. I highly recommend that you take the time to view it when it comes to a theatre near you.

About the film:

The film partnered with Angel Studios—the studio that brought you The Chosen—to crowdfund over $1,235,000 for its March 2023 theatrical release. It was initially set to premiere in around 600 theaters but thanks to a crowdfund that raised over 1,235,000 in under a week and overwhelmingly positive reviews from audience members, it’s now showing in 1,200 theaters and counting!

Synopses:

SHORT SYNOPSIS:

After being called on by the Lord, Abraham's faith is tested on his three day journey to sacrifice his son.

LONG SYNOPSIS:

His Only Son recounts one of the most controversial moments in the Old Testament—when Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain of Moriah. While traveling to the place of the sacrifice, alongside Isaac and two servants, Abraham is flooded with vivid memories from the years he and Sarah spent longing for the son they were promised—the son he must now lay upon the altar.

His Only Son the first movie ever to crowdfund its theatrical release

The film partnered with Angel Studios—the studio that brought you The Chosen—in 2022 to crowdfund over $1,235,000 for its March 2023 theatrical release.

Angel Studios has produced several titles through crowdfunding, including The Chosen—whose episodes have been viewed over 420 million times—Dry Bar Comedy, The Wingfeather Saga, and The Tuttle Twins.

His Only Son is an independent film made on a shoestring budget of less than $250,000 but is now going to be screened in 1,200 theaters nationwide and counting

It was initially set to premiere in around 600 theaters but thanks to a crowdfund that raised over 1,235,000 in under a week and overwhelmingly positive reviews from audience members, it’s now showing in 1,200 theaters and counting

This is one of the most impactful Easter films in a generation

Spend Easter weekend watching His Only Son with family and friends

The sacrifice of Abraham and Isaac parallels the sacrifice of Christ on the cross

The location where Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, Mount Moriah, is also believed to be the same location where the Temple in Jerusalem was built, where Christ was later crucified.

This Easter film will leave a profound spiritual impact

See His Only Son in theaters this Easter. Buy tickets at https://bit.ly/hisonlysonfg
Buy tickets to His Only Son at https://bit.ly/hisonlysonfg

GIVEAWAY – https://www.blessedfreebies.com/his-only-son-giveaway.html

His Only Son Website https://hisonlysonmovie.com/

Info about His Only Son and Angel Studios: invest.Angel.com/son

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Captured Secrets Blog Tour by Carmen Peone

Captured Secrets JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Captured Secrets by Carmen Peone, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Captured Secrets
Series: Seven Tine Ranch Romance #1
Author: Carmen Peone
Publisher: Iron Stream Media
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Genre: Christian Contemporary Western Romance

"Brimming with suspense and adventure, Captured Secrets, is a love story I'll not soon forget. An engrossing tale with all the twists and turns that make a contemporary Western so hard to put down." Debra Whiting Alexander, award-winning author of Zetty

After her parents die in a horrific car accident, Sydney Moomaw is thrust into running their guest ranch in eastern Washington. She soon discovers that her parents were keeping secrets. Why is the ranch in serious debt? Why did her parents allow the insurance to lapse? Why didn’t they tell her about it? And where are their wills? Sydney needs to figure out a way to save the ranch she loves before her sister sells it.

Photographer Trey Hardy arrives at the ranch the same day Sydney’s parents are killed. His working-vacation plans change when he decides to help Sydney save her ranch. But, his offers to help are met with resistance. Her stubbornness and independence are both maddening and alluring.

Amid the tangle of finances, tensions with her sister, and her own grief and anger, Sydney begins receiving threatening notes. They must be from her abusive ex-husband, but he’s in jail. Isn’t he? When a teenager appears at the ranch insisting she is Sydney’s daughter, Sydney finally realizes she’s going to have to start trusting people to help her. Will Trey’s plan work? Can they save her beloved ranch? Can she really have the life she’s dreamed of?

My Review

The story captured my attention from the beginning. The theme of Captured Secrets was hard and gut-wrenching at times due to the abusive aspect of the story. It, however, was handled well without being too graphic. It hit home for me due to my own past experiences.

The setting of the ranch on the reservation was well described and made me feel I was there. The characters are well-developed and real, and the struggles they faced were steeped in loss, danger, and suspense.

The story is a beautiful slow-burn romance with many twists and turns. I laughed at Sydney's wit and stubbornness and Trey's patience and understanding. I loved how God's message came through each bad circumstance and struggle Sydney faced. She was tough and strong even though she had suffered much abuse. Through family, her husband Trey, and friends that supported her in her attempt to save the ranch, she renewed her faith.

The author is a fabulous storyteller. Highly recommended. Keep the tissues handy.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of Young Adult Adventure and Contemporary Western Romance and lives in northeast Washington state and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation with her husband. She had worked with a Tribal Elder, Marguerite Ensminger, for three years learning the Arrow Lakes Language and various cultural traditions, which led to her writing career. With a degree in abnormal psychology, the thought of writing never entered her mind, until she married her husband and they moved to the reservation after college. With the love of history and the western woman’s lifestyle, she weaves threads of hope, family, relationships, love, and faith into her stories. Sign up for her newsletter and receive her novella, Gentling the Cowboy for Free.

Connect with Carmen by visiting carmenpeone.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a signed (or Amazon ebook) copy of Captured Secrets (winner's choice), a $15 Amazon gift card, and a photo greeting card related to the book and taken by the author!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 7, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 14, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

The Adventures of Lefty and Righty & The Windy City Book Tour by Lori Orlinsky

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Adventures of Lefty & Righty: The Windy City by Lori Orlinsky
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:   Mar 7, 2023
Content Rating: G for everyone.

Book Description:

Do you ever wonder what happens to socks that get lost in the dryer? Join Lefty and Righty for the adventure of a lifetime as they sneak out of the laundry room with a destination in mind: a White Sox game! But with so much to do in The Windy City, will they make it to the game in time? Through their fun-filled day, they’ll discover the sights, sounds—and even the tastes—of Chicago, all while encountering a few surprises along the way!

My Review

When I started reading this children's book to write the review I couldn't help but smile. I thought to myself, "So that's where my lost socks go- on an adventure." Wonderfully creative idea for a book that children will love.

The storyline is educational but funny. The illustrations well represent the story which is written in rhyme. The color of the illustrations stands out well to draw any child's attention. At the end of the book are interaction pages with fun facts about Chicago's points of family interest.

The book cover is hardcover and can be wiped down. I believe that most children would enjoy the book and it would be a great addition to any home library.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and willingly choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ B&N ~ IndieBound
Mascot Books
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Award-winning children’s book author Lori Orlinsky lives in. . . you guessed it . . . Chicago! Lori is the mother of three little ladies, who are small but mighty. At 5’1”, she wishes her children’s picture book, Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All), was around when she was growing up. Lori also wrote The Tooth Fairy’s Tummy Ache and Balloons for Tiger. Her latest book, The Adventures of Lefty and Righty: The Windy City, was inspired by her daily struggle to find matching socks when they come out of the dryer.

connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ facebook ~ youtube ~ goodreads

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Review of Amazing Grace:The Life of John Newton by Bruce Hindmarsh & Craig Borlase

Dear Readers

I want to introduce you to the story of John Newton (the person who penned the hymn "Amazing Grace.")

It's an interesting and heart-wrenching one, but also an inspirational one of hope.

Have a blessed day,

Julie

Description:

Amazing Grace is the surprising true story of John Newton, author of the song that has touched millions. A biography that reads like a novel, it reveals Newton’s dramatic story of sin and salvation as a slave trader before his ultimate transformation to speaking out against the horror of slavery. His story speaks to the brokenness within us all and our need for God’s amazing grace—and reveals the truth behind his song.

Amazing Grace is based on years of research on the life and writings of John Newton. It tells of a prodigal who returns home, and a young love that defies the odds; of a young man whose life is torn by grief and wounded by the cruelty of others, following his descent into deeper suffering and finally into the brutal world of the slave trade. Newton rejects God repeatedly but is rescued by a divine mercy that reaches deeper than he could ever have imagined as he ultimately faces his past and repents.

Newton’s story is shocking, and Amazing Grace does not try to airbrush or excuse his faults. There are glaring contradictions in the life of a ship’s Captain who retreats to his cabin to study his Bible and write tender love letters to his wife while hundreds of slaves lie in chains in the hold below.

To Order

http://bit.ly/3YZRWRT

To Enter the Giveaway

https://www.blessedfreebies.com/amazing-grace-giveaway.html

My Review

Amazing Grace was a difficult, but enlightening book to read due to the subject matter. The story of John Newton is one of heartbreak, danger, adventure, and a struggle with his faith due to the atrocities he was part of.

A fairly newly converted Christian influenced by prejudice, society standards, and money, I could feel the turmoil he faced as I read the pages. Being self-deceived and turning his back on the Christian faith, his life was not an easy one.

The main parts I took away from reading his biography are: (1) No matter how dark your sins are, you can still be forgiven

(2) No matter how strong your faith is, you can still be self-deceived

(3) Once you are right with God, it is your duty to live for Christ

(4) Follow Jesus and be more like HIM- put forth LOVE. Answer to God, not man's will.

The authors did an amazing job in their storytelling and descriptions of the life of the slave traders. The accounts of the life of the slaves were heart-breaking. Along with the sorrowful parts of the story, there always seemed to be some pivotal point in John's life that set him straight again on the right path showing hope and inspiration. Well worth the read.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Book Blast for Family Gatherings at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In the year since he lost his wife in a tragic accident, Lester Lehman has found healing and purpose—helping construct Dale Kraybill’s new bulk store, enjoying the Kuhn sisters’ hearty meals, and settling in a tiny, built-for-one lakeside house. Falling in love again is surely not on Lester’s mind. Yet despite his firm “no,” two available ladies have set their kapps on the handsome widower—in a boisterous rivalry that weaves mayhem among Gloria’s wedding festivities.

A welcome escape comes from a fresh-faced newcomer. Marlene Fisher disarms Lester with her witty quips on his romantic predicament, while her sparkling eyes inspire surprising thoughts of a shared future. But the heartbreak that brought Marlene to Promise Lodge runs deep, and the pretty maidel believes she’s not meant to marry. In a season of vows to love and honor, scripture holds the key to building their happiness together: love is kind, and above all patient.

Read an Excerpt

Out-of-town families would start arriving today to attend his niece Gloria’s wedding on Wednesday as well as Laura Hershberger’s wedding on Thursday when they married the Helmuth brothers, Cyrus and Jonathan—but for now, Lester could revel in the hush of a solitary sunny afternoon. Living alone in his tidy house all winter had taught him a sense of self-reliance that had cleared his soul—had given him an unencumbered sense of freedom he’d never expected. His bobbing dock rocked him like a cradle. He felt far, far removed from the grief and despair that had followed the loss of his wife, his son, and his brother last spring, and as Lester eased into a state of semi-sleep, he knew the true meaning of inner peace.

At long last, all was well with his life. With the help of his family and friends here at Promise Lodge, he was moving forward . . . floating on the fluffy clouds of a nap . . .

“Yoo-hoo! Lester, honey! Thanks to Delores, I’ve found you!”

Lester jerked awake. Whose voice was that? and why had she implied that his dear, deceased wife had led her here?

When he opened one eye, he saw a pudgy little woman starting across the expanse of grass that surrounded Rainbow Lake. Her brown cape dress fluttered around her thick legs as she hurried toward him. Clutching her kapp with one hand to keep it from flying off her head, Lester’s uninvited guest appeared so excited—and in such a state of overexertion—that he feared she might be bringing on a heart attack. He remained absolutely still, hoping she’d believe he was asleep.

“My stars, here you are at long last!” she blurted out, huffing between phrases. “I’ve ridden all the way from Sugarcreek—for Gloria’s wedding—because with my Harvey gone—Delores has been telling me—for quite some time now—that she wants me to take care of you, Lester! So here I am! Because I know better than to—to ignore heavenly guidance.”

Lester sighed. Agnes Plank, his wife’s best friend, had never known the meaning of silence. She barely drew a breath at the end of one sentence before she shot headlong into her next burst of words. There would be no ignoring her now that she’d almost reached his dock, so Lester reluctantly raised the back of his chaise. All hope for a nap was gone. He felt a headache prickling around his temples.

My Review

Promise Lodge, an Amish Community, with the addition of new residents, has become a loving, helpful community of peace of quiet. That is until Lester, a widower is visited by two women from his past and an agenda he isn't ready for.

The story has a lot of twists to it and many humorous instances. But then it has it's sorrowful and upsetting circumstances as well. This is one of the best Amish stories I've read. The author's descriptions of the setting transported me to where the characters appeared real and I felt the warmth of community coming together.

The characters are well-developed with many layers. A sweet romance evolved as the two people learned about trust, forgiveness, and the ability to love again. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

About the Author:

In 1983, Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. She wrote around 70 of those confession stories, and she’s sold more than 50 books to traditional or online publishers. A longtime resident of Missouri, she’s currently writing Amish romances set in imaginary Missouri towns for Kensington. She now lives in Omaha, NE with her husband and their Border collie, Vera.

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Thursday, February 16, 2023