Do you have a vision?

What are you passionate about? What are you good at? How could you make a profit at it?

Sometimes our dreams require a blind jeté into the unknown. A leap of faith. And those are so scary!

Alyssa Avant encourages moms in her new book FaithLeaps: The Christian Mom’s Guide to Passion, Purpose, and Profits.

Cuz I don’t know about you…but I sometimes feel guilty about pursuing profits for my dreams, my writing, my blog, even my new business of editing, book promotion, and VA work. I know I undersell myself. I doubt. I offer too much of myself for too little. I think that’s the enemy telling us that we’re not worth it or we’re selfish to want honest pay for honest work. We internalize that our place is in the home, taking care of babies and dinner and laundry. Perhaps even homeschooling our children. We shouldn’t have time for our own work. But those are lies!

Alyssa addresses these fears in her book so eloquently and edifies moms, encouraging us to move forward and seek God’s will. Many of us can make time for a business on the side of parenting and housework.

It doesn’t have to be a traditional job. For most of us, a full time daytime job is not a viable option, especially if we homeschool or have small children. I know many moms who have successful home businesses that they juggle while they care for their families, homeschool their children, support their husband’s career and/or ministry.

It’s all about priorities.

Mothers who work at home cannot compartmentalize their lives. Our lives are one big puzzle and all of the puzzle pieces must fit together. If not, the picture of life is distorted and has little to no value. We must give appropriate attention to God, our spouse, children, ourselves, our homes and our businesses. Most people struggle as one area demands more attention than the others.

Where do you struggle with priorities? Do you give “appropriate attention” to all areas of your life or is it off-kilter?

Alyssa offers some great free quizzes to determine interests and spiritual gifts. She discusses the differences between these and talents.

Spiritual gifts are given to us by God for work in His Kingdom. These gifts we receive at the time of our salvation. Talents, though given to us by God, will not necessarily be used for God…A skill is something that we can practice or learn.

What are your interests, gifts, skills, talents? My spiritual gifts are teaching, prophecy, and exhortation.

I am very excited to be part of Alyssa’s launch team and I really feel this book could help so many moms who struggle with doubt and the lies of the enemy. Fulfill your dreams, girl! Find your purpose within God’s will and seek after it. You will be blessed and in turn, bless others.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

The book of Acts is where our faith begins. The apostle Paul brings the Truth to the Gentiles. Without Paul’s great mission work, would we even know of Jesus?

Join me as we delve into Paul’s world at Ephesus in So Shines the Night, the newest Biblical fiction novel from Tracy Higley.

I am proud to be a member of Tracy’s Caravan, a group of readers, bloggers, lovers of words and Biblical history…

History truly comes alive within these pages.

Freedom has been a theme in my spiritual journey lately. Why shouldn’t God speak to me through a novel too?

This novel is frightening. It shows a very scary world of pure evil – demon possession, sorcerers, spells and hallucinogens to “expand” the mind and open up souls to the enemy. It shows the very real battle of spiritual forces in Ephesus during the time of Paul.

The story is well-wrought and balances the spiritual journeys of the main characters, Daria and Lucas, with their inevitable, but tasteful, love interest. The many mysteries and plot twists add excitement and fun to a very dark topic. The protagonists are believable and lovable and I am immediately sympathetic for them, cheering them on in my heart. The villains are portrayed well and there is little sympathy for them. I can cast actors to play all of them in my head! The flashback frame sets the scene for a powerful lesson in seeking security only in Christ and watching for His return, but never being idle.

I think many of us turn a blind eye to a very real evil that fights for power over all of us. Many of us struggle with strongholds over our spirits and live our lives in bondage without ever truly breaking free and experiencing the completeness of Christ’s love.

We must wake up and fight as God’s army – against the powers of darkness.

I pray that the message of this novel will help many to seek freedom in Christ.

Interview with the author.
I love this about Tracy: she interacts with her fans and we call her friend. She makes time for us. These are my silly questions to her and she answered them! Tracy asked her Caravan to send her our questions and she put a file together with all her answers for us. I included 2 other really good ones from the list. I hope these bless you, readers and writers!

1. How do you start writing a new novel? Do you make an outline, use a gazillion different colored Post-It notes on a big wall grid, just sit at the computer and knock it out, or what?

I am definitely an outliner and a plotter, but most of what I put together is on the computer. For the past few books I’ve been using a program called Scrivener, which I really like. I have notes in my personal “template” file that pertain to all stories – to the structure behind them – and I look them over as I plot through the scenes. For every scene I create a brainstorming worksheet before I write it – something that gives me the high-level look at what’s going to happen in the scene, and contains some of the sensory details I’ve imagined. I print this out and have it next to me as a I write the scene.

2. What advice to you have for someone who wants to write “The Great American novel’ and struggles to even get started? I know that’s broad…

Like any huge, overwhelming project, the best advice is just to start. See what kind of writer you are by getting started. Does an outline and a plot make you feel stunted? Do you fear the blank page and need to think it through first? There are tons of writing helps out there no matter what kind of writer you are. Find some, read and digest them, and then come back and keep writing.

3. What advice do you have for writers launching their first book?

Find your people. It’s tough, but there are folks out there who are very much like you and will love to read what you write. So the first step is truly understanding yourself and your special brand of writing. The second step is to make sure your books, your website, etc all match up to that special brand. And then start spreading the word to find those like-minded people who will be your best fans.

4. Who is your greatest inspiration – as a writer, mom, Christian?…any and all of those criteria.

As a writer, I’m inspired by C.S. Lewis (of course), but also by Stephen Lawhead and Frederick Buechner, both of whom have the ability to pick the reader up and carry them somewhere else. As a mom, it is the awesome friends I have, whose daily interactions with their children I am privileged to witness, that inspire me most. And as a Christian? The lives of those who live big and adventurous for the kingdom – willing to love and risk because they are secure in Christ.

5. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

Keep writing. If you haven’t finished anything, keep writing. If you’ve finished something and are trying to submit and sell it somewhere, don’t wait for an answer, keep writing. If you’ve gotten some interest and it’s moving through the process, keep writing. The publishing industry can move very slowly, and the best way to be ready for your “big break” is to keep improving through practice, practice, practice.

Tracy L. Higley started her first novel at the age of eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. She has authored nine novels, including Garden of Madness and Isle of Shadows. Tracy is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Ancient History and has traveled through Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Italy, researching her novels and falling into adventures. See her travel journals and more at TracyHigley.com.

Are you a dreamer?

I’m not the only one!

{Do you hear that John Lennon song playing in the background too?}

You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream Book Review

Bestselling author, blogger, {in}courage writer, Holley Gerth has done it again with her amazing book, You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream. I just love her friendly writing style. It’s like we’re just hanging out together, chatting over a warm cuppa.

This lovely book is full of Scripture, prayer, and downloadable printables for you to work through your dream obstructions.

This book is a pep rally for your Dream.

My life has been travelling on this theme of Dreams this year. I think God is working and moving in many lives simultaneously about Dreams and how we are all so interrelated and connected to one another in the Body of Christ.

So, are you wondering about the title of this post? Holley cited a study about a societal shift from Alpha Women (the popular leaders) to Gamma Women (the wind beneath the wings-types). She thinks God-sized dreamers are Gamma Women. I do too. And I love the way she stated it! I had such a similar thought a few weeks ago. God confirmed my thought with that paragraph in the book! Amazing…

But the waiting for these dreams to come to fruition! ugh, to trust God with the timing and everything that could stand in the way!

Holley addresses the waiting and any other obstacle we or the enemy can throw in the path to our Dreams. There are no excuses!

This. Brilliant!

Perhaps our idea of waiting is too limited. We think we have to be still and do nothing at all. But what if waiting is more about the attitude of our hearts? We move forward with a sense of expectation and are open at any moment to God redirecting us.

Do you experience fear? Don’t we all…Fear holds me back from my Dreams and I could do so much more if it weren’t for fear strangling me.

I love Holley’s fear analogy. Fear is like a herd of little yippy Chihuahua dogs!

[F]ear always think it’s the master. Sometimes it convinces you of the same. But it’s not true.

Holley admonishes us to put that fear on a leash and take back your Dream! She goes down the list of everything that holds us back to fulfilling our Dreams.

I especially like the chapter on “Disclaimers.” When you get run-down and you don’t like your dream anymore. It doesn’t mean it’s time to quit!

And, Holley reminds us to take care of ourselves. Aren’t we always our last priority – after kids, husbands, jobs, homeschooling, housework…then we don’t even have time or energy left over to care for our own needs! But we have needs, and dreams too! And they’re worth it. Risk it. Tread through the fear. Don’t regret doing nothing.

And the last chapter contains stories of God-Sized Dreams! Proof that others have traveled this journey and come out on the other side! Success stories of charities, businesses, ministries, creativity, and others. They could be your story.

What’s your God-Sized Dream?

Have you read You’re Already Amazing? Cuz you are!

{Visit DaySpring for all sorts of gorgeous God-Sized Dreams companions and products!}

Disclaimer: I received a free galley copy of this book through the Revell Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

I couldn’t put this book down. I struggled to even see the words through my tears.

Sarah Mae understands. She knows. I went through my struggles alone when I first had my girls, beaten down by the enemy and awash in grief that I could barely cope with my life.

Oh, if I’d had this book then. Or a friend.

Now that I’m through that storm and looking back from this sunshiny other side, I can see that dark place and wonder at our amazing God who saw me through it. I was not alone. But I didn’t have any help. I had no mentors. I had no friends who offered assistance in sincerity. My husband was at a loss, not understanding what was happening, why I felt the way I did. I was just overwhelmed.

Sarah Mae fills that gap that so many moms need. Help.

I am so excited to have the opportunity to share Desperate with you. We are not alone.

Included in the Book:

• QR codes and links at the end of each chapter that lead to videos with Sarah Mae and Sally talking about the chapter
• Practical steps to take during the desperate times
• Bible study and journal exercises in each chapter that will lead you to identify ways in which you can grow as a mom
• Mentoring advice for real-life situations
• Q & A section with Sally where she answers readers questions

I just love Tracy Higley. I love her books too.

I was excited to read and review her re-release of Isle of Shadows (formerly Shadow of Colossus). Get the first three chapters and more!

The main character, Tessa, is very likeable and believable. I immediately saw her as a heroine and wanted her to succeed in everything: life, love, happiness.

This is the ultimate redemption story, similar to that of many women of the Bible. A fallen woman doesn’t know she needs God and she finds living water. All her problems don’t go away, but having God and other believers help her makes it all more bearable.

I especially love this book because it takes place during Old Testament times. The history is impeccable and accurate. I would love to travel with Tracy as her assistant on one of her research tours!

As always, Tracy Higley weaves real Bible characters into her story. In Isle of Shadows, our Bible character is Simeon, who trusts God to see our Savior before death. I too wonder if they might have been really like that…

Tracy Higley’s books are a beautiful tapestry of Biblical history. The right amount of love story satisfies all audiences. The books don’t glorify evil, but show how God and believers can overcome all evil. I encourage my eldest daughter (12) to read Higley’s books when they coincide with our history studies!

Book Description

Revised and updated from the original, Christy-award finalist Shadow of Colossus.

Enslaved in a World of Money and Power, Tessa Dares to be Free.

Raised as courtesan to wealthy and powerful men, Tessa of Delos serves at the whim of her current patron, the politician Glaucus. After ten years with him, Tessa has abandoned all desire for freedom or love, choosing instead to lock her heart away.

But when Glaucus meets a violent death in his own home, Tessa grasps at a fragile hope. Only she knows of his death. If she can keep it a secret long enough, she can escape.

Tessa throws herself on the mercy of the Greek god Helios, but finds instead unlikely allies in Nikos, a Greek slave, and Simeon, Glaucus’s Jewish head servant. As Simeon introduces her to a God unlike any she has ever known and Nikos begins to stir feelings she had thought long dead, Tessa fights to keep her heart protected.

As an assassination plot comes to light, Tessa must battle for her own freedom—and for those to whom she has begun to open her heart—as forces collide that shatter the island’s peace.