Eat, Live, Thrive Diet

Eat, Live, Thrive Diet: A Lifestyle Plan to Rev Up Your Midlife Metabolism by Danna Demetre and Robyn Thomson... the well-known health and lifestyle coaches of the widely popular website Lean Healthy Ageless. They have written a practical, science-based diet book that unravels the mystery of why women gain weight as they age and includes a sustainable plan to permanently lose the pounds and inches.

My Review: Eat, Live, Thrive Diet is an excellent source to help re-evaluate your diet and lifestyle, making adjustments as needed. I admit that all I have really done so far is READ about it instead of experimenting with their advice. However, that is mostly due to changes in medications due to diabetes. The authors confirm that any changes in diet should be approved by your personal physician. One of the things I do love about the book is that it does allow leeway for personal needs, as well as personal preference.

The book is also easy to read with a conversational style that kept my interest. Also, there is a lot of info that can help the reader pinpoint areas that are problematic. Learning how and what to eat is a life-changer! DIET does not always mean a plan to lose weight; diet is simply what you eat normally. This is about a LIFESTYLE and helps you explore how your body reacts to foods. Are you feeling tired and sluggish after a meal? Use the elimination plan to help discover if a certain food group is a cause.

There are also many tempting recipes in the back. I confess that I hate to cook, but most of these are inspiring me to learn to enjoy it. Plus, it's time to get healthier NOW. Some of the products recommended are ones (mostly brands) unknown to me, but I have not tried to find them (yet), either.

This is a book I plan to use and I do recommend it to others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free as part of the “Eat Live Thrive Diet” WaterBrook-Multnomah Launch Team. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

LINKS:
LeanHealthyAgeless.com
EatLiveThriveDiet.com 

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble 
ChristianBook 
Penguin Random House
WaterbrookMultnomah

"The Pilgrim's Progress" Digital Book Giveaway

Based on John Bunyan’s epic masterpiece, THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS is one of the most popular books of all time, and one of the most important stories of our faith! Second to the Bible in total copies and translations, the story was written by John Bunyan a pastor, imprisoned for sharing his faith.

This powerful allegory helps families understand the spiritual journey is the most important journey in life, as well as the importance of sticking to the path, even when the journey gets difficult.

An animated film version is coming to select theaters for TWO NIGHTS ONLY in April. Take a look at the trailer below:

I have already seen the film and will be posting my review, along with a *giveaway of 2 Tickets for 3 Individual Winners in APRIL!! I recommend gathering a group of friends and/or family to BUY TICKETS NOW! The film will only be available on Thursday, April 18, 7:00p and Saturday, April 20, 12:55p, so you don't want to miss your chance to see it. This is also a good time to share your own faith walk and to hear from others about their journey. This is especially important to hand down to the younger family members Traditions and history are important to celebrate, and especially at Easter as we celebrate our resurrected Savior!

GIVEAWAY!! Yes, there is a giveaway available now through March 23, 2019. I have been authorized to give away THREE digital interactive storybooks! I will announce the 3 Winners on Sun, March 24th. To enter, simply use the hashtag #PilgrimsProgressL3. Also please SHARE the posts!! If I see my post has been shared, you will be given a bonus chance to win a Digital Interactive Storybook. (*Giveaway's are limited to USA residents only.)

LINKS:
Website
Buy Tickets
Group Ticket Inquiries
Resources 
Facebook 
Instagram

Other Bodies - Joel Ohman

In a world where immersive VR suits distort what is real from what is not, and the AI Personhood Act blurs the lines between body and bot, the choices sixteen-year-old Hattie Martins faces are very personal. How far would you go to undo your greatest regret?

My Review: My first impulse was to pass on reviewing this one simply because YA Dystopia isn't something that interests me. Yet, once I saw the subject matter, I decided to go for it. The story of a teenager who discovers she is pregnant is one that tugs at the heartstrings. Her only relative, her grandfather, has recently died leaving her alone and broke. She is able to obtain a job at "Managed Motherhood" due to her experience as a caregiver to him and is the only hope she has. Hattie is torn on what to do about her pregnancy, and despite the futuristic setting, the dilemma she faces is one that stretches back for centuries.

I never did understand some of the twists and turns, but I did get drawn into the plot and the characters. The book was about more than abortion and people in the story were multi-dimensional. I would have enjoyed the book more if some had been a bit more clearly defined, but I can't fault the style either. It also drew me deeper into the story instead of letting me merely expect & lean on default characters that fit a cliche.

Other Bodies does use the mantra of many who say, "My Body, My Choice." However, it goes beyond the narrowing of that mindset being the sole reason for the decision that Hattie ultimately makes. Nor does the story tie up neatly at the end with tidy solutions. You are left wanting to know, "What happened next?" But, it is a satisfying close to that chapter and it is hoped that it leaves the reader not only wanting more of the story but also wanting to explore the subject matter. It's a very good book that I recommend, especially for teens and young adults. 

LINKS:
Buy "Other Bodies"

Authors Note

 
Tell A Story 

 
JoelOhman.com

 
AbortionFacts.com

I received a copy of this book from the author via #FlyByBloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

The Louder Song by Aubrey Sampson

Lament helps us hear God’s louder song.

When you’re in the midst of suffering, you want answers for the unanswerable, resolutions to the unresolvable. You want to tie up pain in a pretty little package and hide it under the bed, taking it out only when you feel strong enough to face it. But grief won’t be contained. Grief disobeys. Grief explodes. In one breath, you may be able to say that God’s got this and all will be well. In the next, you might descend into fatalism. No pretending. Here, you are raw before God, an open wound.

There is a pathway through this suffering. It’s not easy, but God will use it to lead you toward healing. This path is called lament. Lament leads us between the Already and the Not Yet. Lament minds the gap between current hopelessness and coming hope. Lament anticipates new creation but also acknowledges the painful reality of now. Lament recognizes the existence of evil and suffering—without any sugarcoating—while simultaneously declaring that suffering will not have the final say.

In the midst of your darkest times, you will discover that lament leads you back to a place of hope—not because lamenting does anything magical, but because God sings a louder song than suffering ever could, a song of renewal and restoration. 

We all go through periods of suffering, whether physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological. In The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament, author Aubrey Sampson addresses the various forms of grief through her own personal pain and stories of others.

The message that spoke to me was about ignoring our pain by covering it with distractions to deflect attention from our suffering. Many rush past the examples of lament in the Bible, preferring the times of joy. Yet, the lament is the times that bring us nearer to God... trusting Him more as we go through the valley of despair and shadows. These songs and prayers of lament and sorrow are outpourings to God that then allow Him to give us HOPE as He guides us through them. Sampson's journaling that expresses her own pain and grief has led her to a deeper trust in God. 

Her vulnerability and authenticity remind me that it's easy to withdraw into myself as I deal with grief, pain, and anxiety. The verses she lists toward the back of the book, along with the Study Guide, are very useful tools for focusing on renewal and restoration in spite of everything and that God's song to us is, indeed, louder when we listen to Him.

I received this book as part of the Tyndale Blog Network at no cost to myself in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.

Perfumed Letters - Robin T. Smith

Every woman knows how special it is to select just the right perfume...and how a scent can capture an experience or evoke a memory like nothing else. In Perfumed Letters, Robin Smith offers a refreshing spiritual revelation regarding the intimacy of perfume, known as a woman's anointing. She uses powerful, evocative images from the Bible and life experiences to illustrate how God refines, presses, and fashions our individual scents as pleasing to the Lord. 

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and I admit I was surprised... but it was a pleasant surprise. Smith uses several examples of the correlation of perfume and our faith... even our signature styles of worship and attitude toward God. The author writes with wit, wisdom and an honesty that can reach out to those who feel like they have nothing --- no pleasing aroma --- to offer the Lord. She also covers when our perfume has become a stench rather an enticement. Some of the things she writes on definitely points out that we are of different generations, but we simply use phrases that I am unfamiliar with. The point is made and actually helps me to relate a bit more to younger people.

I loved the chapter on being fragranced for seasons. It's a vivid reminder that we not only have the literal seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, but also the seasons/periods of time in our spiritual journey. During this time we sometimes have to remember our fragrances of spiritual blessings available to all. Remember that you are a perfumed letter, personally sent by God, to send the message of his love to others. This book is sure to resonate with many and make you more aware that, according to 2 Corinthians 2:15, "Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing."

 I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

I Declare War - Levi Lusko

Whether you recognize it or not, you're at war with yourself. There's anxiety. Selfishness. Self-sabotaging tendencies. Narcissism. The black dog of depression. The inability to do the great things you long to do because you spend so many hours mindlessly drifting through the internet.

It is war but all is not lost. You can win—if you choose to engage.
In I Declare War: Four Keys to Winning the battle With Yourself, Levi Lusko candidly shares about his struggles with moodiness, bullying, suicidal thoughts, night terrors, and difficulty managing himself. He identifies four weapons you have at your disposal—thoughts, words, behaviors, and power—and illustrates how to use them to achieve ongoing victory. (Back Cover)

My Review: Levi Lusko's raw honesty always shines through in his books and this one is no exception. Our emotions can truly turn our thoughts and actions into a battlefield and the mind can overcome the goals you hope to achieve. Lusko relates many anecdotes and memories from this childhood and youth and how they continue to impact him today. Adult issues are often rooted in childhood events as he clearly demonstrates throughout the book.

Sometimes, especially in a season of depression and feeling unworthy, it helps to know that you are not alone. Even though you may not know the other person, it is a relief to know that others struggle --- and overcome the war within. I recommend this book for others who can both commiserate but face their own challenges with a renewed sense of courage to overcome their own battles. Use the tools that Lusko speaks of... Thoughts, Words, Behaviors, and Powers to overcome the thoughts that try to defeat you. Most of all, he points you to our ultimate Hope.

I received a copy of this Thomas Nelson published book from BookLookBloggers at no cost to myself for review purposes. I was neither influenced or required to write a positive review.