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Book Review: Defiant Joy
Today I’m reviewing a book I knew I was going to love even before I picked it up. Stasi Eldredge’s book Defiant Joy has the subtitle: Taking Joy of Hope, Beauty, and Life in a Hurting World. And I think that message is so timely and needed. There is so much brokenness and sorrow in the world, it almost seems like joy isn’t possible. But the good news is—it is! This book revels in just how much joy there is available for us in Christ.
I was fortunate enough to see a Facebook post inviting people to receive an advance reader’s copy of the book from the publisher and help spread the word about the book as part of the launch team.
What can I say, I see the words “free book” and “Stasi Eldredge” and I click!
I got my book a few weeks ago and felt like a bit of a time traveler because I got to read it early (the book came out earlier this week). Please note that I received no compensation for this review, and all opinions are my own.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small portion of sales, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting my blog through your purchase!
I’m a huge fan of the Eldredge’s books (Captivating and The Sacred Romance among my favorites) as they have really helped me to grow and experience my relationship with God in new and deeper ways, so you bet I was eager to read this latest book.
I had discovered Stasi’s blog post titled Defiant Joy in 2016 and
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I’d Like To Unplug…But I’m Sick
I keep reading about the value of unplugging—from our phones, from social media, from electronics in general—but this presents special challenges when you’re chronically ill. As much as I’d like to reap the benefits of unplugging, it’s just not as possible as it used to be.
For one thing, you know what happens the moment I turn my cell phone off? One of my doctors’ offices finally calls me back.
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Summer Fun Update
At the beginning of summer, I created a list of easy and affordable ideas for summer fun, especially for those of us who are chronically ill. I thought I would write a post with an update on what I was able to accomplish on the list. It was fun to keep track of the fun things I did this summer.
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Listen To The Winning Song From Our Contest! + Behind The Scenes Creating The Song
A little while ago, fellow blogger Melissa Miles and I held a contest for a chance to win a custom song if you subscribed to both our blogs. I am so excited to announce that the song is done and you can listen to it here!
I’ll also share the story that inspired the song and my thoughts on the collaborative process working with a musician as a lyricist for the first time. (Hint: It was awesome!)
Without further ado, here’s the song, This Love For Swing. I wrote the lyrics, and Melissa wrote the music and recorded the instruments and vocals.
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Recovering from Major Events When You Have A Chronic Illness
Those of us with chronic illness know how challenging it can be to go to major events because of the toll it takes on our bodies.
I struggle to make it out of the house for a short coffee date with a friend, and unfortunately wonderful events such as birthday parties or weddings prove even more of a challenge.
So I created a plan to help me recover from going to bigger events, and I’m going to share tips so you can create your own plan tailored to your needs. I’ll share tips for listening to what your body needs and applying them in a way that is proactive vs. merely reactive.
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Romantic Congratulations Cards
Since I just had one friend get married and a cousin get engaged, I thought I’d share the congratulations cards I made for them. I hope these ideas inspire you and help you celebrate milestones with those you love!
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Turning Ordinary Moments into Prayer Spaces
I thought up the phrase “prayer spaces” many years ago while driving home from work, and it’s been a phrase that has helped remind me to find time to turn my focus off of the hectic speed of life, and toward God.
Here’s what sparked me to think of that phrase. One of my favorite songs is hidden
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Like A Disappointed Butterfly
I was sitting outside last week, and it was one of those still days where you could imagine you were the only person on earth. There was no one else home, no neighbors outside, and no lawn mowers or car engines were humming in the distance. All I could hear
