Giveaway & Review of “A Heart Set Free” & Tea!!

I have a really great giveaway for you girls and I’m really excited to offer one of you a free copy of

A Heart Set Free by Christina Fox

PLUS

a 12 Single Serving Tea Sampler Gift Pack from Blooming with Joy Tea! Sweet!!

Enter using the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post!

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A little about both prizes:

A Heart Set Free By Christina Fox

Christina came to Boston a few weeks back and we had the pleasure of meeting in person. We are both part of an online writing group, and it was neat to make the  “real live” connection after being “virtual friends” for several years. We got to talk about her book a bit as we toured Boston.

On the site of the Boston Massacre
On the site of the Boston Massacre

If you have teen daughters, you’ll want to read A Heart Set Free and discuss it with them. I’m using certain aspects of it as I teach the Junior and Senior High girls in our church youth group, because, let’s face it, emotions are a huge part of our lives, and dealing with them in a godly way is something that we need to learn.

Emotions will rule you if you let them, and Christina talks about her own struggle with despair and depression, and likens them to house guests who show up unannounced and un-invited, who’ll make themselves at home and never leave if given the chance.

She walks through several Psalms and discusses how commonly we see negative emotions on display in them: anger, fear, loneliness, abandonment, despair, depression, betrayal, you name it…these negative emotions are in these “laments.” (Side note: There are more “laments” than any other type of Psalm!)

She shows us how the Psalms are helpful and instructive to us today, as we observe the way the psalmist confesses his struggles in his raw, honest prayers to God.

Christina shows us a three step pattern in the Laments that will help us when we struggle. She walks us through honestly telling God what’s going on in our heart (He already knows anyway!), encouraging us to go to Him for help, then engaging the mind to recall what we do know about God.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

“One of the greatest lessons we can learn from the Psalms is the importance of expressing our feelings to God. We learn not only of its importance but also the fact that we are free to do so and God wants us to.” pg. 94

“God’s love for us is immeasurable and limitless. It is not dependent on anything we have done. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us more or love us any less….It is this love that the Psalmist looked to as he waited for God’s response to his lament. Focusing on God’s love helped reshape his emotions. It restored his trust.” pg 128

“Often we allow our emotions to lead us and take precedence over our minds. The laments show us that both the mind and heart can meet together. They show us that the truth of God’s Word we have stored in our minds can lead the heart to rejoice in that truth.” p.135

“Too often our emotions tell us half-truths and sometimes even downright lies. Our emotions can exaggerate our circumstances to the point that we feel like our entire world has been flipped upside down. When we feel emotions like fear, sorrow, despair, abandonment, or worry, we need to be prepared to draw for the deep wells of God’s Word, saturating our heart with the Truth. We need to compare what we are telling ourselves with what God’s Word says.” p. 164

I really liked that this book was not super emotional and feelings driven, and not overly Spartanish either. I love Christina’s high view of God’s Word as the truth that will keep us anchored when life gets tumultuous! A great read!

About Blooming With Joy Tea Sampler Pack

Michelle from Blooming with Joy Tea has graciously offered her “12 Single Serve Sampler Pack” for this giveaway. Best thing about this prize– you get to choose the 12 tea flavors you’d like to try! Each one makes a 10 ounce cup of tea, and comes attractively wrapped in brown card stock and hand tied with jute. The winner will be given a free code where they can head over to Blooming With Joy and choose their flavors! (I love her Earl Grey Creme but you already know that!)

Side note: I am a huge believer in tucking tea into my letters and I have done so for years. (And pretty stickers and bookmarks!) These single serving teas are perfect for this!

Also, Michelle offered this coupon code to any reader who’d like to take advantage of it. Use code JOYFILLEDDAYS to receive 10% off any $30 purchase.

Contest ends Wednesday (4/27) night at Midnight!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fine Print: Contest and shipping limited to the Continental US. You must provide an address within 48 hours of winning or another winner will be chosen.

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