A few weeks ago, my friend Bev posted about some books she had been reading and gave away a trade copy of John Eldredge's new book. Well, in that line of thinking I wanted to share some recent gems that have fallen into my lap lately. And, not to out - do my friend Bev, but I have two books, signed by an author to give away with this post! So get your typing fingers ready and consider your favorite story about your dad or your kids and lets get going! .
The first book I want to highlight is from a wonderful woman who is authentic, transparent and gifted in prophetic ministry! She speaks to many diverse audiences throughout the world and is a testimony to God's love, His grace and His incredible power to overcome in even the most difficult circumstances. I've heard Mary speak on one occasion and am looking so forward to the class she is teaching at Gateway Church tomorrow (Monday) night.
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All of that said, I want to tell you about her personal testimony, "A Glimpse of Grace." This is Mary's true story told in her own words. It is the gripping tale of Mary's transformation from a self-driven successful business woman who had the world at her feet to a woman who had lost everything and faced the most bitter humiliation a woman could find herself in until she discovered the truth and the grace of God in a lonely prison. She is a woman of grace, of power and of truth who lives to see the Kingdom of God grown and fulfilled, people empowered to do His will and she is a woman of extreme vision and strength. Mary Forsythe is the president of Kingdom Living Ministries and a gifted woman of God who testifies whenever she can to the glory and power of her God to change any life. After all He did it for her! A powerful excerpt from this book: This is a quote from the journal of Mary's friend and fellow inmate in prison, Liz: .
"They say it's so humiliating - that Ashfield. Mary came back looking very weak, but her spirits were good. She was pale; she was puny. She looked very, very bad. But whatever battle she went to fight, she won. I had no idea what she had been through, but she came back with her peace of mind. It was astounding. She was so for more of God so broken - weak in her body, but powerful, so poweful, in spirit.
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"Something happened to her there because she was so different when she came back - more broken. Everything about her was different, dramatically different. It was like she went to the pit of the enemy's camp and took something back. She came back with power. She was confident in God when she left, but she was bold, so bold when she got back."
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If you want to read a story of God's grace in the most desparate of circumstances, of a woman who truly came to the end of herself and found her destiny in the One True God, then read the story of Mary Forsythe in a Glimpse of Grace. You can purchase her book at Kingdom Living Ministries. .
On Saturday, I was blessed to meet and be instructed about the craft of writing fiction by author Martha Rogers. She is a member of our own Beth Moore's First Baptist Church Houston and a friend to her as well. She had several books for sale including her fiction read "Sugar and Grits" a fabulous fiction novel written by four authors about the lives of four women in Calista, Mississippi. I highly recommend this fun fiction read from Barbour books. However, the two devotions she was selling made my "hit" list from the minute she told me about them. They feature short essays by various authors in the Christian arena about the spiritual influence fathers bring to their children's lives, and the things we can learn from the faith of children about God.
."Whispering in God's Ear" is a compilation of true stories inspiring childlike faith compiled by Wayne Holmes and published by WaterBrook Press. In this sweet devotional, Beth Moore shares a beautiful story about how her two daughters came to Christ as children and were baptized. She shares beautifully her experience as their mother and what it meant to her to be a part of their journey.
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In the second book, "The Embrace of a Father" Martha Rogers writes of the gentle way her fathe
r had of influencing her back to Christ as a young adult who had lost her way. She tells eloquently of his love for her and the way he encouraged her without judgment and prayed for her without ceasing, being there for her in ways only a father can. This book is also a compilation assembled by Wayne Holmes and published by Bethany House. .Now here is the give-away part! Please write your own true stories in the comments to this post about how either your father influenced you spiritually or you have witnessed the faith of a child that inspired you to seek God with a different perspective! The contest ends on Friday, March 14th and the winners will be drawn and announced on Saturday. All of these books are great reads and these last two make great reads or gifts for those you love. There will be two books given away - the books are "Whispering in God's Ear" and "The Embrace of the Father" - both copies are include stories and are signed by Martha Rogers. Leave your story and enjoy these books! Be blessed friends.
Twinkle, you will love this book. Every story is precious and they will bless your heart and the hearts of your children for years to come. Please email me your address so I can send you your book and Congratulations!
