Guarded by Christ by Heather Holleman

Book Description

Heather Holleman used to live a fragile life, a prisoner to fear, anxiety, and despair. Like many younger women, she knew Jesus, but she wasn’t strong in Him. Her search for comfort seemed unending.

Then one day, while reading a simple statement in Scripture, “God guards the lives of his faithful ones” (Psalm 97:10), that all began to change.

In Guarded by Christ: Knowing the God Who Rescues and Keeps Us, Heather guides women through a series of practical mental shifts that immensely helped her live strong in the Lord. Learn how in Jesus, you are guarded:

• By righteousness instead of condemnation
• By peace instead of anxiety
• By hope instead of despair
• By the Holy Spirit’s power instead of self-effort
• By a crucified life instead of a self-important one

We all need maturity in Christ that prepares us not just to endure anything, but to live from the strength and peace of Jesus in every season. Guarded by Christ will help women cultivate this maturity, reconnecting them with the Savior who rescues, keeps, and holds us with His love.

My Review

Like her first book, Seated with Christ, Heather Holeman brings new light and perspective on just how secure we are in Christ. In this book she focuses on how Christ protects our souls and how we can look to scripture, knowing that we are secure in God Almighty's strong tower, our refuge. No one can destroy our souls because Christ protects it at all time.

"Because of this guarding God, we learn to Dwell in our soul more than in our life's external realities, and we become strong and unshakeable in a world that's falling apart."

Separated into three parts, you travel from knowing you are guarded and rescued to a secret place where peace is found and then living daily in the fortress God has given us within himself. 

One of my favorite chapters was in chapter 6: From Harrassed to Harmonized.
I don't always live in a state of peace. In fact, most of my life recently has been a state of such a state of chaos I was having panic attacks not even 4 months ago. But Heather pointed out something I desperately needed. 

"The ups and downs of your hearts are like the waves of the sea, but the Holy Spirit is a calm place within you." 

God guards me even from myself. When my life or the circumstances I'm currently in are overwhelming me to the point I tell Him "I don't think I can do this anymore, I just can't. It's too much for me to handle." Heather's daughter said something profound and that helped me see it differently. And then Heather quoted a man named Smith that just hit it home for me.

"When [the God of love] He sees His children resting their souls on things that can be shaken, [He] must necessarily remove those things from their lives in order that they may be driven to rest only on the things that cannot be shaken; and this process of removing is sometimes very hard."

This book is really great. I definitely recommend it! And be sure to checkout her first book Seated with Christ. 

I give it a 4 out of 5! 
I received this book for free from the publisher’s in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part of Moody Publishers Bloggers Review program.

Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs

Book Description

About The Women of Easter

This Season of Grace, 
Deepen Your Faith in God 
Who So Loved the World 
that He Gave Us His Son.
 
You’re about to meet three women named Mary, each of whom has a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Mary of Bethany prepares the way for the Lord’s burial when she anoints His feet and fills the air with her perfume. His mother, Mary of Nazareth, remains by His side from His first breath to His last, her loyalty unwavering. Mary Magdalene, delivered of seven demons, bravely supports her Teacher through His darkest hours, then proclaims the glorious news of His resurrection. 
 
What a trio. What a Savior!

My Review

I have loved every single of of Liz Curtis Higgs books that I have read. He verse-by-verse Bible studies are always so eye opening and thought provoking. I was ecstatic to see her coming out with Women of Easter, since her Women of Christmas was a big hit in my world!

Going through these three women: Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary Magdalene, even a bit of Martha! We get to see the transition and details leading up to Jesus's death and then after his resurrection through this verse-by-verse study.
I was in tears more than a few times after some mind boggling verses came to life; life breathed into them after reading this book. If I could, I would get everyone I knew a copy of this book! Women of Christmas was amazing but the power and knowledge of Christ dying for us and coming back to life is a miracle that evokes a power of emotions.

But not only does she going over the verse she shares real life stories of her family to compare feelings and emotions to connect with the people like Mary and Martha when Lazarus died. 

Needless to say, you don't want to miss this book!

I give this book a 5 out of 5! MUST OWN.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review as part of their Blogging for Books program. 

Valentines? Not a Problem!

Hahaha! This just made my day and completely inspired this post! Listen, listen!

Valentine's Day problems. ❤️

A video posted by Snoopy And The Peanuts Gang (@snoopygrams) on Feb 9, 2015 at 9:14am PST

Like Peppermint Patty, everyone asks the same question every day. Maybe even twice a day.

"Have you been given a lot of Valentines [Love] in your time?"

My answer, too, would be,

"No. I've never received a single Valentine." 

That is, if we were talking specifically, and only, about Valentines Day. But not today. Valentines Day is a great day to express our affections to the people we love. Sure, some say it's just a card industry day, but only if you make it that way.

However, there of many of us who don't believe that anyone cares about us or even loves us. Then, we go digging around others lives and comparing their love life to ours. Trying to find ways on how to get our own valentines, and love.

Peppermint Patty said it perfectly though!

"I should talk to someone who is used to getting [giving] Valentines!"

And, there is only One who does it perfectly every day: Jesus Christ!

Think about it, He is the giver and creator of Love. And, if you think about it, receives a lot of love too! {Psalm 18:1} Whom better to learn from then the master! The only reason love even exists and we know it to be real is because He loved us first! {1 John 4:19}

Turn to him for guidance in your life, and love. Take direction from Him and don't wait for others to love you before you love others. And take in confident reassurance, that you have the ultimate Valentine in your life, forever! He wants you to be His forever Valentine. {John 15:9}

From the ever poetic words of Veggie Tales:

"God made you special and he Loves you very much!"

God bless and have a wonderful day!

It's the Small Things

It's amazing what blessings God sends to us in our every day lives. Things, people typically don't notice or maybe even take for granted.

Last night, my family decided it was a good night to get a pizza; I couldn't have agreed more. So, we stopped by the store to grab some soda's before picking up the pizza and that's where I met my blessing.

This man and his 9 (I think) year old daughter were waiting in line. The line was really long! So, there was time to kill just standing there. The father struck up a conversation with me about the lines, the stores, and just casual conversation.

See, my family and I just moved up here just before Christmas. Now we're in a much bigger city, a metropolis, from our last home of 10 years. I thought I'd miss it a little, because I knew where everything was and when to go and how to get there, etc,. But, I've realized I not only don't miss it, I like our new home 10 times more then I ever liked our last place.

Sure, it's busier. I don't know where everything is, yet. It takes longer to get to places and there are some days you shouldn't go because traffic is so bad. But here's what I've noticed in the short time I've been here.

The people.

They talk to you. They are more polite. They are just friendlier people.

A couple of times when I've been to the grocery store people ahead of me have done things for me, though they may seem simple, mean a lot to me. Asking if I need help or putting the bar to separate our orders for me, making room for me to put my things on the belt.

With a smile.

It makes me want to cry on the spot.

Things I found out in my ten minute conversation last night:

The man was from Guatemala. He's been here since 1991. In our part of town since 2001. We both agreed Walmart was a crazy place to shop, for many reasons. There's a Walmart (or 2) in the second capital of Guatemala now. The farmers market downtown used to be three times the size of when it first started, you couldn't even find parking. And you can only find replacement toothbrush heads at Publix.

Just having someone initiating a conversation with me made me not fill invisible. Or unapproachable (sometimes I'm too self conscious or maybe believe no one will talk to me because of my size)

That was major part of the blessing. Here comes to icing on the cake.

He finished paying for his and his daughters things. They used some gift cards and the last one had $1.88 left on it. He handed it to me and said to use it. He said it wasn't much, but it was something.

And he was right. It wasn't much in one hand to card wasn't much, but in the other the gesture was worth its weight in gold. It was so kind and genuine.

Then he said, "God bless, you".

So sincere. Not like when some people say it in passing, like they've just made that their signature for every day conversation. But that he meant it, he was asking God to bless me.

Ever since my family and I moved up here, I've felt like God brought us here to start over. That he gave us a new and empty book to start writing the next Arc in our story for his Glory. Haha, that rhymed.

I feel fresh air coming back into my lungs, and it really feels good to breathe again.

~~

Take time out of your day to talk to someone. Someone you don't know or don't ordinarily strike conversations with. In the store, down the road to a neighbor. Engage them with Christ's love and sincerity. Bless someone with your time and attention, even for just a few minutes. You have no idea how much that will impact someones life. It's the small things, too.

Have a wonderful day and

God bless you all, from the bottom of my heart. <3