Monday, December 10, 2018

Ellie Claire 365-Devotional Journal

I've been on the hunt for a devotional journal for longer than I care to admit. I'm super picky about the type of journal I want because they're a year-long commitment. Most I've found are either too bulky, too short, or have no space to jot down your thoughts and prayers. Then I found the Ellie Claire 365-Devotional Journals.

First of all the covers are absolutely beautiful! Whether you like bold vibrant colors or you prefer something more peaceful and serene, Ellie Claire has something for you! Each one has an elastic band to help hold your journal shut which is super handy. If you throw it in your bag to take with you, you don't have to worry about the pages getting bent or destroyed. The journals are also flexible! Yay!! No lugging around bulky hard backs, or trying to figure out how to maneuver to write on the pages. These journals were designed with YOU in mind.

At the top of each page is the date (no year) to help you stay on track. I like that they don't have a year so if you give or receive more than one, one won't go to waste. Under the date is the devotion which takes up about half the page. Each devotional has a theme which we will get to later. Under the devotion is what I like to call free space. It's lined space for you to write your prayers, jot down your thoughts or journal, however the spirit moves you. I like that they left plenty of space for you to utilize your creative side.

I said each devotional has a theme and they do. The first one I want to talk about is The Earth is the Lord's and Everything in it. This devotional encourages you to take a minute and marvel at God's creation. If we stop and look we can see his hand in everything, from the changes of the seasons, to the way the animals move. I don't know about you, but, sometimes I need the reminder to stop and realize God is right here with me, if I only look.


The second devotional is Peace Begins With Me. It has a beautiful and soothing cover. This journal is all about trusting God to calm your fears and anxieties. It's about praising God instead of worrying and trusting that He is able even when we cannot see. This devotional takes us throughout scripture to show us how God is able to calm the storms and relieve our fears and that He is faithful to do just that, if we only ask.


Last and certainly not least is the Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus devotional. I don't know about you but Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus is one of my favorite hymns..my favorite lyric is "And the things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace". This devotion encourages you to look at God's grace and mercy in your life. We know he loves us, but, sometimes we get so busy chasing the things of this world that we miss Him. We miss his presence in our present and wonder why we feel so alone and empty.



Each of these journals would make a beautiful gift to yourself or someone you love, If you found one, or two (or three!) you love you can get your copy by clicking the link or links below. 

*I was provided a free copy of these books. All opinions expressed above are my own



Tuesday, December 4, 2018

The Amish Midwife's Secret

About the Book

Book: The Amish Midwife’s Secret
Author: Rachel J. Good
Genre: Inspirational Amish Romance
Release Date: November 27, 2018
“A beautiful story of forgiveness and second chances.” -Shelley Shepard Gray, New York Times bestselling author
They won’t see eye-to-eye until they meet heart-to-heart…
Kyle Miller never planned on becoming a country doctor. But when he’s offered a medical practice in his sleepy hometown, Kyle knows he must return… and face the painful past he left behind. Except the Amish community isn’t quite ready for Kyle. Especially the pretty midwife who refuses to compromise her herbal cures and Amish traditions with his modern medicine…
The more Leah Stoltzfus works with the handsome Englisch doctor, the more she finds herself caught between the expectations of her family and her own hopes for the future. It will take one surprising revelation and one helpless baby in need of love to show Leah and Kyle that their bond may be greater than their differences… if Leah can find the courage to follow her heart.
My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed The Amish Midwife's Secret. The story grabs you from the very first page and won't let you go until the very end. Ms.Good has a talent for writing stories that pull on your heart strings and this one is no different. The characters are relatable and make you forget you're reading a work of fiction. If you've never read one of Ms.Good's stories or you've never tried Amish fiction I highly recommend The Amish Midwife's Secret. You won't be sorry!
* I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own. 

About the Author

Inspirational author Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope,
and forgiveness. The author of several Amish romance series, she grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for many of her stories. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.
Rachel’s Amish series include Sisters & Friends (Charisma House/Harlequin), Love & Promises (Grand Central), Hearts of Amish Country (Annie’s Book Club), and Surprised by Love as well as several anthologies—Springs of Love, Love’s Thankful Heart, Plain Everyday Heroes—and the Amish Quilts Coloring Books.

Guest Post from Rachel

The Amish and Herbal Remedies

As many of you know, my Amish novels are based on real life. I get ideas from hanging around Amish friends, hearing their stories and observing their lives. I’d never invade their privacy by telling their stories exactly as they happen, but the things I learn trigger plot ideas.
I’ve always been fascinated by the way the Amish approach healing. Once thing I’ve learned is that, although they’re usually willing to visit doctors, they don’t always take the medicines that are prescribed. Instead, they often substitute herbal remedies. That, and several visits to one of my favorite Amish natural products stores, gave me an idea for one of the conflicts in The Amish Midwife’s Secret.
Leah, an Amish midwife, prefers herbal remedies. Of course, that puts her in direct conflict with Kyle, the new Englisch doctor in town, who only believes in science and traditional medicine. Put the two together and lots of sparks fly. Of course, some of those sparks are also of a romantic nature.
Leah is not only a midwife, but her family owns a natural products store. She knows the best herbs for healing. Rather than sending a small boy to the hospital for pneumonia, Leah covers the baby’s chest with a warm mixture of onions and other herbs and spices (some Amish friends prefer raw onion for congestion), and she feds the baby fresh pineapple juice for his cough.
As a doctor, Kyle is horrified. He wants to admit the baby to a hospital at once. And he expects the old country doctor he’s replacing to back him up. Instead, Dr. Hess informs Kyle that many of the Amish go to doctors for a diagnosis, but then rely on herbal treatments rather than prescriptions.
Kyle, who’s been debating about whether to stay in Amish country or move to a big-city hospital, decides to remain in Lancaster and make it his mission to prevent the Amish midwife from harming newborns and their mothers. He certainly doesn’t expect to have his eyes opened to other ways to handle illnesses. But he has to admit, Leah’s methods do seem to work. When a crisis comes, they soon discover that it takes both of them to save a baby.
***
A extra little secret: Those of you who get my newsletter already know this, but Kyle in The Amish Midwife’s Secret appeared in two earlier books. The Midwife story stands alone, but if you want to know more about Kyle and Emma’s past, you can find it in the Sisters & Friends series, Book 1, Change of Heart, and Book 2, Buried Secrets.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, November 27
Christian Bookaholic, November 27
KarenSueHadleyNovember 27
The Avid Reader, November 28
Genesis 5020, November 29
cherylbbookblog, November 29
BigreadersiteNovember 30
Quiet Quilter, December 1
Bibliophile Reviews, December 2
Britt Reads Fiction, December 2
Cafinated Reads, December 4
Carpe Diem, December 4
Maureen’s Musings, December 5
Janices book reviewsDecember 6
Moments, December 9
Texas Book-aholic, December 9
The Becca Files, December 10
Vicky Sluiter, December 10

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a grand prize package of two faceless Amish dolls and an autographed copy of The Amish Midwife’s Secret and Plain Everyday Heroes!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d66f/the-amish-midwife-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway