Share It!
|
Have you ever noticed that some people always choose to see the bad in a situation and some people always see the good?
It can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing on the bad. We just got our truck paid off two months ago, and despite replacing the entire brake system, it’s still making a noise and I have to take into the shop tomorrow. I struggle with balancing my day job, my mommy job, my wife job, and finding time to write.
Here’s the good. I have a truck to drive that is paid off. I’m blessed with a job, two children, a husband, and this writing gift and dream God placed in my heart that I get to share with you.
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
If you focus on looking for the good in any situation, no matter how bleak, you will find something to praise God for and be a much happier person. Even when I suffered an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, God taught me He uses hardships for good.
You might wonder what this has to do with a Christian fiction book review and giveaway.
This was the lesson I learned from reading, Prize of My Heart, Lisa Norato.
Like the main character, we have to choose whether or not we acknowledge God for the good things in our life, or just blame Him for the bad.
I really enjoyed the hero, Captain Brogan Talvis. He struggled with God and the bad things he’d endured. And trust me, there were a lot.
I thought I had the ending pegged, but was taken completely by surprise. Love that!
I did feel the heroine, Lorena, could have been developed more. I wanted her to struggle with something, to have a flaw. The good Lord above knows I’m flawed, and I need the people I read about to have flaws so I can relate to them.
If you enjoy historical fiction, you’ll like this book. It’s clean with a happy, albeit surprise, ending.
Here’s the back cover copy.
An unsolved mystery separates ex-privateersman Captain Brogan Talvis from his lost son–his only living relation, his only family. Shortly before her tragic demise, his wife abandoned their infant to strangers, refusing to reveal the child’s whereabouts. Now, three years later, Brogan has discovered the boy at the home of a shipbuilder’s daughter, Lorena Huntley.
Lorena guards a dark secret about her young charge. She finds herself falling for the heroic captain who has come to claim his newly built ship, unaware his motive for wooing her is to befriend the boy he plans on reclaiming as his own–until the day another’s evil deceit leaves her helplessly ship-bound, heading toward England.
As the perfect opportunity to reclaim his son unfolds, Brogan is haunted by thoughts of Lorena in her dire circumstance, and he is forced to make a heartrending choice between his child and the woman who has begun to capture his heart. But only his unselfish sacrifice can win him the greatest prize of all–love.
Now for the fun part. Bethany House gave me this copy for my honest review and I’m passing that along to one of you.
Here’s how to enter.
Winner will be announced here on Tuesday May 22nd, 2012. Each action puts your name in the drawing once, so you have a total of 5 entries if you do all of them.
1. Comment below and include your email address so I can easily contact you if you win.
2. Tweet or share this post on Facebook
3. Become a follower of this blog
4. Follow me on Twitter
5. Like my Facebook author page
Do you notice a change when you begin to look for things to praise God for instead of complaining? Do you have any tips for turning around a pessimist outlook?
|
Share It!
I found out when I try to look at things to praise God for (the full 1/2 of the cup) instead of complaining- helps to feel more thankful even in the hardship and feel peace in my heart. Also helping others even with prayers for them, takes your focus of your own problems and give you good feeling! Of course I’m still not at that point where I do this all the time, still have a long way to go, but at least trying for now!
Thanks for your spiritual blogg, I love it. I would like to read this book, so I already did all of the above
Ghada, you make an excellent point on praying for others. When we focus less on ourselves, we focus more on Him. I’ve got your entries down!
It’s amazing how God can take even our darkest days and give us joy when we praise Him. I just need to remember to cultivate that thankful heart of praise. An old song by the Imperials called “Praise the Lord” always comes to mind, how awesome our God inhabits our praise… such a powerful, uplifting thought.
I’m a follower via e-mail.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Hi, Merry. I love your line, God inhabits our praise. He does, I’ve never heard it put quite that way. Our God is amazing, another of my favorite songs. I’ve got you entered.