Book Review: Mornings With Jesus 2012: Daily Encouragements for Your Soul (Plus a Giveaway)

Mornings With Jesus 2012: Daily Encouragements for Your Soul

Publisher: Guideposts

Publish Date: 2011

Paperback, 378 pages 
Non-Fiction, Christian, Devotional

My Review:
"We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." 1 John 4:13 (NIV)

That is the Bible verse that starts the devotional for today, January 31, 2012, which is my day on the tour.  The Faith Step for today, or as I like to think about it the lesson to take away and act upon is: "Ask Jesus to empower you to celebrate the blessings of another today."

Wow.  This is a powerful one for me.  And I bet it is one for you as well.  We all have a little bit of the green-eyed monster in each of us.  And I don't even think this devotion speaks to that.  I'll tell you how it spoke to me when I read through it last night in preparation for this post today.  Yes you could say I procrastinate, but in a way maybe waiting made this message appear at just the right time for me.  God has a miraculous way of doing that and several of the devotions have been that spark for me.

But back to today's devotion and celebrating the blessings of another.  The one quote that stood out in the whole devotion was this one:

How does someone crippled with pain wholeheartedly rejoice over another's miraculous healing, without that whisper deep in the soul: "Lord, what about me?"  

Sharon Hinck's words really spoke to me here.  Because this is what I feel often.  Heck at one time I have even been on the other side of that as I watched a friend die of brain cancer yet the tumors that my doctor at one time believed were inoperable and would probably only give me a month or two to live were found to only be cysts.  I wondered how I could face her husband and son since I was alive and she was not.  Now I am on the opposite side.  I see others happy and healthy and I continue to decline and all I want is my life back, the life I had just 4 years ago.  So yes I have asked "Lord, what about me?"

But as the devotion goes on, I felt uplifted, I am not forgotten and through the strength of God I can celebrate the blessings of others.  Just as my friends celebrated my blessings as well.  I know now they harbored no ill-feelings towards me and that has let loose a burden as well.  So this devotion has doubly blessed me today.

And today's devotion is not the only one that has really helped me. Earlier this month there was a great devotional by Camy Tang about a stagnant prayer life and boy don't I feel like I have been there before.  Each one I have read so far has had something to say to me.  Each morning (or evening) I get just a little bit of God talking to me through these wonderful devotions written by these Christian women.  And I look forward to enjoying the rest of the year with the insight these ladies will provide me into my own spiritual life and I hope to come out on the other end just a little closer to Jesus.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:

"Be still and know that I am God.” is one of the most beautiful verses from the Bible, but it’s not easy to practice in this busy world. Mornings with Jesus will help you do just that—“be still” in Jesus’ beautiful and powerful presence. For those who are seeking a deeper experience in their relationship with Christ, Mornings with Jesus offers a fresh perspective of who Jesus is (the Healer, the Son of God, the Comforter, the Good Shepherd) and what that means for day-to-day life. With a warm and friendly voice, 365 short devotional writings on the character and teachings of Jesus encourage readers to greet each day by drawing near to Him and inviting His presence into their day. Spend time with Jesus at the beginning of each day and experience His nearness and peace in a new way throughout the year. Each day’s selection includes: • a Bible verse • an entry based on Jesus: His words, miracles, and parables; His wisdom, compassion, and comfort; His mystery, power, divinity, and humanity • a “faith step” that will inspire and challenge readers to apply the day’s message to their lives

Link to buy the book

 Blog tour schedule

GIVEAWAY
Thank you to the publisher, I have a second copy of Mornings With Jesus 2012 to giveaway.  To win simply by enter below.  Open to US/Canada only.  Ends 2/7/2012.  The only mandatory entry is name and email and if you are logged into Rafflecopter using Facebook it will enter those for you all you will have to do is hit the enter me button.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I received this book through Litfuse publicity for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. ***