Archive for the 'CFBA Reviews' Category

March 18, 2009 @ 7:25 am | Filed under: Books, CFBA Reviews

Tags: blog tours, reviews

March 1, 2009 @ 3:33 pm | Filed under: Books, CFBA Reviews

Feeling Lost? Need Directions? Author Shares Six Tips for Finding Your Route   (Orlando, Florida) Have you ever wished you could look into the future and obtain better insight in order to make wiser decisions for your best outcome? So many times, results from poor choices could have been avoided if we had seriously considered the direction of God’s guidance for our lives, instead of trying to figure things out on our own. In her book, Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life, Cheri Cowell presents six questions readers should ask themselves when facing important decisions. Through observation and exploration, she examines each question and shares examples of how others–from Bible times to present day–have used these questions to find God’s way in the story of their lives. From career options to medical decisions to relationship questions, Cowell’s instruction and guidance helps readers learn how to make confident choices as they seek God’s direction on the road of life.	Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City ISBN-10: 0834123355 ISBN-13: 978-0834123359 Cost: $14.99
Cheri Cowell, a popular conference speaker and writer, uses her experience in ministry to encourage and equip Christians seeking answers to the unspoken questions of faith. She is earning a degree in theological studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, where she and her husband, Randy, call home. For more information, see: http://directionanddiscernment.com/index.html    Blog Tour Questions:     Obviously, the search for God’s will is a topic of interest to many Christians today. What would you say is the most common misconception about seeking God’s direction for ones life?   I encounter this same question every time I speak on this topic. The answer is what I call the Myth of the Path of Relative Ease, which says when we finally find God’s perfect will we’ll be on easy street. Easy Street promises smooth sailing and a peace-filled life. But I’ve learned this is anything but biblical. The Bible tells us we can’t use an ‘easy life’ as a road-sign pointing to His way. In fact, His way promises to be a bumpy road filled with potholes and dangerous cliffs. The exciting thing for us is when we learn to walk in His ways, we’ll have a Companion for the journey who knows the dangerous curves ahead.   In Direction, you write about the process of determining if something is God’s will or not. You say to test it against the character of God. How can we know what the character of God is like?   I don’t presume to know all there is to know about who God is, but when looking for the leading hand of God, it’s important to know how we see that hand. Some see God’s guidance as that of a loving Father showing His child the best way to live so as to protect from harm, others know Him as a Best Friend who shares all that’s needed to make wise decisions. Then there are those who see God as a Guide, almost like a whitewater rafting guide who’s been down this rapid before and can show the way.   When you are personally faced with a big decision to make, what’s the first thing you do? LOL, I think I’m like most people. I have well-worn paths I retreat to, and some are not healthy. I’m afraid I tend to talk it out with friends instead of first talking to my Best Friend. I’m fear-filled first instead of crawling up in my Father’s heavenly lap and seeking His heart on the matter. And yes, I also rely on the common road signs most of us have relied upon when making big decisions—Bible reading, prayer, open & closed doors, and the sense of peace we’re to have when walking in God’s light. This last list sounds like a good thing, but I’ve learned there’s a good way to do this and a not-so-good way. The not-so-good way is the one that says these road signs are to point me to God’s perfect will. The ‘good way’ is to use these same road signs as a means of drawing closer to the heart of God instead of looking for a hidden will. It is in this position, close to the heart of God, where we are best able to hear from God. Sometimes we think we only need to go to God about the big decisions in our lives. What evidence do you have from God’s Word that He is interested in every decision? I call this the Too Big and Too Small God problem. When we make our God so big, He becomes aloof and distant. When we buy into this lie we only go to God when the decision is big enough. Such decisions often find us at God’s door begging for direction such as, “Who am I supposed to marry; should I take this job and move my family; or is it ever okay to take my loved one off life support?” These are indeed big decisions that require a Big God, but if we’re only going to God when a situation is big enough, we’re missing most of life. Most of life is lived in the humdrum of everyday decision-making. It is the ordinary day-in-and-day-out little things like, “’Do I run this yellow light; do I tell her how I really feel even if it means losing a friend; or do I pick up the phone and call that person I’ve been thinking about all day?” where the little things add up to become big things. Satan tries to tell us these are the small things a Big God should not be bothered with. This is one of his favorite tools. He used these same lies with Jesus during His temptation in the desert, but Jesus knew they were lies. We, too, need to learn to identify Satan’s lying tongue. You’re continuing your education at Asbury Theological Seminary. What are you hoping to do once you finish your degree? It is my prayer to write and speak biblical truths more effectively. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to earn a Masters in Theological Studies. As I gain more knowledge, I’ve seen my writing and speaking gain power and conviction. When a Christian is totally consumed and overwhelmed by the stress of making the right decision, it is tough to put everything in perspective. Are there some practical tips you can share so that he/she can still continue with their everyday life? Certainly. My first suggestion is to take time to be alone with God. Our God-time is often the first casualty of a stress-filled life, but this is precisely the time when we need Him the most. Next, find some help. The Christian life is not to be a solitary event. Even Jesus went to the Garden with four friends. Share with a handful of committed Christians your struggles, ask for practical help if necessary, and then invite them to lift you up in intercessory prayer. This last step is forming what I call a Clearness Community. Through this Community you will hear God’s voice more clearly than any one of us can discern on our own. How is Direction an extension of your own personal search for God’s will?   As I answer these questions I’m sitting in Tennessee in a vacation cabin where my husband and I are seeking God’s direction about a potential move here from our home in Florida. My friends have teased, “You know, there’s this really good book you should read…” Their levity allows me to keep things in perspective as we weigh the options, seek the leading of the Holy Spirit, and trust in a God who walks with us no matter what decisions we make.	BONUS MATERIAL Toughest Decisions You’ll Ever Make     * Is he/she the right one for me (to marry)? Scriptures: Hebrews 13:4, 1 Cor. 7, Gen. 2:18,21-25   *  Is this the right job/career-move for me? Scriptures: 1 Cor. 3:10, Romans 1:8-13   * Do I believe God is who He says He is? Scriptures: John 12:42; John 6:35; John 8:12; John 10:9; 11; John 11:25; John 14:6   * Which daycare/school/aftercare/babysitter is the best choice for my son/daughter? Scriptures: Ephesians 6:4, 1 Timothy 3:4, 5:10; Deut. 11:18-19   * Which church do I join? On the flip side, should I leave my church and find another? Scriptures: 1 Cor. 1:10, Romans 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, Romans 16:17   * What treatment options for my/my loved one’s life threatening disease (cancer, leukemia) should I pursue? Which doctor should I choose? Scriptures: 1 Cor. 12:9, Ex 15:26, Psalms 133:3, 147:3   * Do I/Can I forgive that person? Can I ever forgive myself? Scriptures: Matthew 5:44, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 18:21-35, Colossians 3:13   * Do we pursue infertility treatments or accept that children are not a part of God’s plan for us? Scriptures: Prov. 31:28; Genesis 30:1-3,22; Acts 18:1-3,18,19,26   * How do I/we care for my aging in-laws/parent(s)—home healthcare/nursing home/move them to my/our home? Scriptures: Proverbs 17:6, Romans 12:10, Eph. 6:1-3   * Should I take my loved one off life-support? Scriptures: Psalm 116:15-16, 1 Cor. 15:20-22, Rev. 21:1-4   * Should we go into debt for…? Is it okay to file bankruptcy? What if we lose everything? Scriptures: Proverbs 19:1, Mark 12:42, Romans 3:18, Exodus 22:25-27   Cheri Cowell http://www.directionanddiscernment.com/

Tags: blog tours, book reviews, direction

February 5, 2009 @ 9:44 pm | Filed under: Books, CFBA Reviews

Take a break from whatever you’re doing, sit down for a few moments and focus your thoughts and your heart on one or two of the prayers in this book. You’ll be thankful that you did!  Marion Stroud’s prayerful meditations will take you to the Father’s feet with the honest concerns of your own life.

In Dear God, It’s Me you will find six sections that cover every aspect of a woman’s life: A Woman Within, A Woman and Marriage, A Woman and Her Children, A Woman at Work, A Woman Who Cares, and A Woman Growing Older. The topics range from A Bride’s Prayer on the eve of her wedding to Feeling Unwanted and such concerns as Blue Monday, Mid-Life Crisis, After Chemotherapy, and Bereavement. Singleness and marriage, parenting and career, caring for others and growing older … with imagination and inspiration Marion Stroud offers prayers for every season of a woman’s life.

Meet Marion through the Q&A below and then leave a comment and be entered into a drawing for a free copy of this awesome book!

What are your own private times with God like?

If I’m totally honest about my quiet time, they can be very erratic when I’m under pressure. In an ideal world I would follow the contemplative tradition where I read, allow time to sit and listen to what I sense God might be saying, write it down in a journal and then pray about it. But, if I follow that pattern there’s the temptation to think that if I haven’t got, say half an hour, then there’s no point in starting. That’s wrong of course.  I don’t refuse to speak to my husband or children if I haven’t got the time for a heart-to-heart. So I try to put an hour aside once a week and ideally, half a day, once a month for a longer time of contemplation.

On other days I may use a devotional guide that might give me a short passage or even just a verse to think about. Writing the key point on a card and keeping it in my pocket means that I can remind myself and talk to God about it during moments. Catherine Marshall spoke of nuggets like this as being like vitamin pills that we should take daily with or after meals and that’s a goal for me this year! I also try to walk for 30 minutes first thing in the morning on weekdays–the theory being that I get my exercise before my body is awake enough to object! I have five post cards in my pocket on which I’ve written various topics and people to pray for. Most days I will pray for these things as I walk–but I try to bring praise and thanksgiving to God first.
 

Women go through so many experiences during the different seasons of life. How can a transparent prayer life with God help them to cope?

I remember when my father was dying with cancer. I had five children at home at the time, ranging in ages from 18 to 8. My two older children were doing public exams, which would decide their future academic path. I felt as if I was being torn into a dozen different pieces! I wanted to help my mom, be at home for my husband and children and support my father. A friend pointed out that I didn’t need to try and be God’s little helper. I couldn’t protect the rest of my family, or control the pressures they were facing. What I could do, however, was to take all these pressures and heartaches to the Lord, tell Him how frazzled and unhappy I was feeling (He knew anyway), and leave Him to deal with my needs and feelings and those of the rest of the family. It was like taking a really heavy bag to the foot of the cross and then just leaving it there. It was the “leaving it there” that was the key.

The prayers in Dear God It’s Me, and It’s Urgent! are very real-to-life. It’s almost like you can read the minds of other women who run to God with their own urgent life situations (big and small). Why do you think God is pleased to hear these very raw prayers?

 Jesus was always very honest when He spoke to people. Jesus knew what was in their hearts and He didn’t mince His words. God knows exactly what is going on in our lives and just as we can only really help a loved one if they are honest, so it is with God. He truly knows the best and the worst about us and loves us just the same. God already knows the underlying truth to our raw prayers and it is only when we acknowledge that truth to Him that we are open to hear His response!

How do women’s prayers change as the seasons of their lives change?

 

Older people sometimes find it hard to remember things and my husband reckons that this is because the “bank vault” of our memories is much fuller! It’s a bit the same with prayer. When I was young I knew what it was like to have the concerns and joys of being a “‘young mum” and sleepless nights and toddler tantrums loomed large in my prayers, while prodigal teenagers only happened to other people! As I’ve got older I can remember both the tantrums and the teenage stage but am also grappling with caring for the elderly and praying for those with serious illness. So the scope of my prayers widens. I have children and grandchildren, for whom the tantrums and teenaged years are still very much “today,” but, I have the concerns of my “today” to pray for as well. I can quite see why older people need more time to pray as they have so many things to pray about!

 

You can feel incredibly weighed down by all this need.  Sometimes I just have to remember to follow the suggestion of a friend of mine. She focuses on just one or two of the most urgent things and then pictures herself putting the rest of her concerns into a basket. She may picture the basket as one of those gondolas attached to a hot air balloon, and as she releases it, it floats away and she has no further responsibility for it–the wind of God’s Spirit has taken over. At other times she pictures it as the basket in which Moses was cradled as an infant, hidden in the reeds. She leaves it there, knowing that God might prompt her to do something to provide an answer to her prayer but in the meantime, He has it all in hand.
 
How can reading prayers be a comfort to women as they deal with their own life issues?

 

I see these written prayers as providing words where there are no words. When crisis times arise, you may feel that you just can’t voice your own feelings. Knowing that someone else has travelled on the same journey and survived, is an inexpressible comfort. It may also give you insights into what friends might be feeling and facing, when you haven’t had personal experience of that particular situation, so that you can be more supportive of their needs.
 
Discuss an example of an urgent time from your own life that became the inspiration for one of these prayers. How did God respond?

 

There have been an awful lot of urgent prayers in my life. But the one I remember most vividly, perhaps, is when our youngest son ran away from home. His three older siblings, who, the previous year had all been home-based the year before, were now at college university or travelling, and we had gone from a family of seven to a family of three in a few short months. I lay in the bath, with tears pouring down my cheeks, asking the Lord where we’d gone wrong. And God reminded me of the feeding of the 5,000 and the fact that the disciples were told to pick up the fragments of food that remained because nothing is wasted in His economy. Our older children had been relatively easy as teenagers, and without this experience, and the issues and events that surrounded it, I would have had a very different view of raising children. But now I was faced with a challenge. I could allow this experience to crush me, or, I could learn from it and share what I’ve learned with others. I chose to do the latter. It wasn’t easy but it has been a very valuable lesson for the many other crises that have beset my path since.
 
You’ve written quite a few books that have been read by women both in Great Britain and America. How do you find writing for American women different from British women? What are some similarities and universal truths that bond women from these two different continents together?

 

My American friends tell me that we Brits are more polite; I think that we’re more cynical! But when all is said and done, we’re all sisters under the skin! Britain is a much more secular society than America, and so what I write for a British audience would assume less faith or even familiarity with God and what He offers. But we share a common need for food, shelter, belonging and living a life that has meaning and purpose. We all love our families and struggle to be the best person we can be. We all realize that this is a tough call because we’re so aware of our weaknesses and failures.

 

Obviously there are a number of cultural differences. Even the words we use can mean different things on either side of the ocean. This is why a wise editor included a glossary in Dear God It’s Me. One of the words in the glossary refers to “Marmite.” Perhaps this is just as well. I shall always remember when a visiting American friend picked up a pot of Marmite. Marmite; a dark savoury spread, and spread it thickly on her toast, thinking that it was chocolate spread. Her horrified expression as the yeast extract hit her taste buds will remain with me forever!

 

Remember - leave a comment and you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win a copy of Marion’s book at the end of the month! Stay tuned…

 

May 30, 2008 @ 7:23 am | Filed under: CFBA Reviews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. Originally from Oklahoma, she graduated with honors in English from CSU Sacramento before ultimately settling in the wide-open spaces of Wyoming where she now resides with her husband and their three children. Tina serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors and enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors with her family, and works as a full-time writer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sometimes, the key that unlocks your future lies in someone else’s past…

In Ruby Among Us, Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art─but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty can shield her from the memory of the mother she can no longer remember. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide from the past as Lucy is eager to find it.

From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento, to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search for a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby.

What she finds is enigmatic and stirring in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.

“What an incredible story. As both mothers and daughters, Ruby Among Us struck a special cord in each of the four of us. Tina writes in a way that makes us feel like we’re there; from the first line, we were captivated and drawn into an intricate weaving of the precious and fragile relationships that define us.”
~Point of Grace~

“Reading is a passion of mine, and when I find myself identifying with the characters, anxious to get to the next page to find answers to my questions, I know I’m into a good book! The daughter-mother-grandmother theme in Ruby Among Us pulled me in. Wonderful story-telling.”
~Jordin Sparks~, 2007 winner of American Idol

“Highly recommended. If you’re a mother or daughter, you’re going to love Ruby Among Us. Forkner does an extraordinary job…. I look forward to more from this author.”
~Ane Mulligan~, Novel Journey

“Don’t miss this one! Tina Ann Forkner is a strong new voice in fiction and Ruby Among Us is an amazing story of trials, regrets, and, ultimately, redemption. Lucy and her family history in the historic wine country of Sonoma bring to life the Scriptures about the Vine and His branches.”
~Kristin Billerbeck~, author of The Trophy Wives Club

If you would like to read the first chapter go HERE

Tags: Christian fiction, new authors, publishing