Book Review: A Deeper Kind of Calm by Linda Dillow

About The Book:

How Do We Walk Boldly When Our World Seems to Be Crumbling Beneath Our Feet? Join celebrated author and speaker Linda Dillow on the journey to contentment with this follow-up to the best-selling Calm My Anxious Heart. Learn how to positively handle the disappointments of life and discern the comforting truth found in God’s Word. Be encouraged and learn to deal with the waves of trials, depression, and discouragement that threaten to flood our souls. Hidden in the psalms are portraits of what faith looks like in times of trial. Through them, author Linda Dillow will help you discover how to: -remember what God has done (Psalm 77) -hide in His presence (Psalm 46) -cling to Him (Psalm 63) - praise Him for all we cannot see (Psalm 84) The glorious promise from Psalm 84 is that as we walk through the “valley of weeping,” it can be turned into a place of blessing. Includes a four-week Bible study to help you further unpack the comforting truth of God’s Word.

My Thoughts:

This book arrived in my mailbox at the time I needed to read it. My Grandfather and our friend Blake had just died within a few weeks of each other.  I needed some help dealing with all of my emotions and this book helped me so much.  From the very first page of Chapter 1 named, My Valley of Weeping, I knew this book was going to serve me well.  Dillow guides us through the Psalms to help us deal with the Valleys of Weeping in our lives.  Even though I had a lot of "why" questions during this time in our life (still do) this book helped me to find my way to God instead of turning away from Him. 

I have always turned to Psalms when I need help in some area of my life.  Since the book breaks down into four different chapters from Psalms, as stated above, I now have more specific Psalms to turn to in my times of need.  There is also a 4-week bible study included at the end of the book to do on your own or with a group.

Final Thoughts:

I recommend that if you are facing any trials in your life and you're wondering how you can find God in the midst of those trials you should read this book.  It was a wonderful guide for me during a difficult time.  I also recommend another book I have read by Linda Dillow called Calm My Anxious Heart:  A Woman's Guide To Finding Contentment.

Highly Recommended.

Jackie

I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

And Now About The Wrinkles...

Ladies...some of you may remember when I wrote this sweet little post a year or so ago.  It was all sweetness and honey about how I'm embracing my 40's and how I look so much different now than I did in my 20's and how I'm so OKAY with it all.  

Well...this morning as I'm putting on my makeup for 2nd time...I'm saying to myself..."Are you kidding me?  What is up with this makeup?".  

It's the WRINKLES I tell you!  

Powders.  Liquids.  Matte.  Dewy.  Primers.  Serums. 

Doesn't seem to matter the formulation...things just don't glide on my face like they used to. 

It's okay...really.  It is.  I'm Embracing My Wrinkles...Really...

But Still...There Are Those Days...

Okay...Enough about my vanity for today.

Thank You and Amen!

Jackie

When The Big Wind Blows - Reflecting on the Joplin Tornado

I've hesitated writing about the tornado that devastated Joplin, MO last week because I have needed time to process what has happened there.  There are so many tragic stories...but stories of heroism and hope, as well.  

An emergency worker carries a girl from the remains of the Academy Sports in Joplin...

 

Joplin is practically in our backyard...3 hours away...but still...our backyard.  In Missouri, tornados happen around us fairly frequently.  I've become accustomed to the sirens going off and taking for granted that it's just another storm...We have a basement, after all, so we're safe...right?

Look around you right now...and think about how it could be gone in a matter of seconds.  Everything you've worked hard for...built...saved for...gone into debt for...and...carried for 9 months and labored 21 hours for...gone in a matter of seconds.  It makes me reconsider everything that I thought was important.  

I've been inspired by watching how the people of Joplin...and Missouri...and the Country...are responding to this tragedy.  It gives me Hope.

Hundreds of volunteers line up on May 23rd at Missouri Southern State College to wait for their work assignments...

This devastating event...along with other events in the past year remind me that things don't matter.  As long as I have a roof over head, my children are healthy and safe, food on the table and job to go to...I am Blessed.  I don't know why these things happen or why God allows this kind of thing...but I know that people can come out stronger because of tragedies.  When we witness something like this...it makes us stop and think about our own lives.  Our differences of opinion regarding religions or political affiliations or whether homeschooling or public school is better, what neighborhood we live in or what kind of car we drive, what color of curtains to hang in the living room or what kind of purse I carry...it all doesn't matter.  

Being grateful for what we do have and helping people in their time of need...showing Love for all the people God Created.  Now...that's the Good Stuff!

A church severely damaged in the tornado...the Cross still standing...

Togetherness.

Jackie

*photos courtesy of the Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee)