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Start Something That Matters – a giveaway

January 20, 2012

Let me start out by saying I normally would not have read “Start Something That Matters.” It’s just not my kind of book. Not that I haven’t dreamed about starting some sort of ministry, but I definitely would never call myself an entrepreneur. I leave that title to my husband and he wears it proudly. Start Something That Matters was written by Blake Mycoskie, the creator of TOMS. You can learn more about them here.

So I started the book hesitantly but it surpassed any expectation I may have had. It easily became one of my favorite books. The encouragement. The transparency. It was so refreshing. It’s definitely not a typical business-advice kind of book. This goes beyond the business world and dives into serving others and making your life worth more than dollar signs. And it is full of humor. It’s also full of names. Watch where you step cause they are droppin’ like flies. Let me tell ya, I am not a fan of name droppers at all. Unless you’re lifting up the name of Jesus I could care less about who you know. But the stories he fills this book with. The obstacles all of these amazing companies have overcome. It makes me want to ‘start something that matters.’ Or even to ‘join in on something that matters.’ I will definitely be forcing encouraging my husband to read this! And nowadays there are so many people who are ready to break away and start their own businesses. SSTM is a great source of encouragement in a world that seems overpacked with small businesses already. You can make a difference.

I was beyond excited when I received the book in the mail. And honestly I was surprised. They were thoughtful enough to send me a book to review and also one to giveaway. And let me tell ya, whoever wins this book is going to be blessed! Be prepared to be on fire to start something! Your brain will be reeling as you fly through this book. So yes, today we have a giveaway! Enter below for your chance to win “Start Something That Matters”. And…….

A $20 gift card to TOMS! You can then choose your own size and style and be a part of the giving. And let’s be real, these shoes aren’t cheap, so anything to help you get a pair so you can encourage others to support this inspiring company. Get involved and help place shoes on the feet of a child who otherwise would be exposed to the dangers of his environment.

You can comment up to four times!

1. What would you get with your TOMS gift card?
2. Subscribe to the email list and leave a comment saying you did. { top right of this page ^ }
3. Like Eucharisteo on Facebook and leave a comment saying you did.
4. Follow Eucharisteo on Twitter and, again, leave a comment saying you did.

I will draw a name on January 27th and announce the winner that day! My best to all of you!

Blessings!

In Books

The Daniel Fast

December 30, 2011

This Sunday, along with thousands of others, I’m beginning the Daniel Fast. The Daniel Fast is found in the beginning of the book of Daniel in the Old Testament.

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

{Daniel 1:8-20 ESV}

I have personally never participated in a fast. Mainly because I’ve always been pregnant or nursing. Well, I did try fasting when I was a new Christian to remove meat from my diet during Lent only to find I had accidentally eaten a hamburger {no joke} on a quick lunch break. It didn’t even dawn on me until that evening when I was recounting my meals for that day. So thankful for grace.

But this is the first time I’ve really understood what fasting means and why it is so beneficial to followers of Christ. I give the credit to Susan Gregory, also known as the Daniel Fast Blogger. Her book, The Daniel Fast, is so full of wisdom. She is able to explain fasting in such a beautiful and exciting way. It’s not just about food. It’s about our spirit and our hearts.

If you’re interested in joining I highly encourage you to get this book. Only do not get the Kindle version. I’m so incredibly disappointed that I can’t print out the recipes. It’s making menu planning very difficult. But the book is worth every penny even if it didn’t come with recipes.

So won’t you join in? As New Years approaches we’re so quick to make resolutions for the whole year. This is only for 21 days and the benefits are out of this world – literally. But, of course, check with your doctor first if you have any health concerns.

Prayerfully consider fasting as an act of spiritual obedience. I, for one, and looking forward to drawing closer to God during this next month.

Blessings!

In Books, Recipes

Favorite Books of 2011

December 29, 2011

This was such a great year for reading! So many wonderful bloggers writing books. My bookshelves have never been so happy. Here is my list of favorites from 2011.

One Thousand Gifts – The book that ignited a thankful heart within me. Since reading this one year ago I have gifted it over twenty times. Highly, highly, highly recommend! We all need our minds renewed and this is just the book to help you do it.

Organized Simplicity – A book that has wonderful advice on taking care of your home, but the part that struck me the most was how she emphasizes how little we need to be truly happy. I have been happily purging useless items from my house since reading this.

Made to Crave – I have such struggles with food and Made to Crave has shown me that my struggles aren’t necessarily with food. A great book in guiding us back to God and not sugar coating our problems with snacking.

Grace for the Good Girl – This has been a very interesting read. I definitely do not consider myself a ‘good girl’, however there were so many wonderful lessons in this book on how to interact with ‘good girls’. I have had many friends who have felt this book was written for them.

Kisses from Katie – A beautiful story that is continuing to be written each and every day. I am highly inspired by Katie’s faith to leave her comfortable home in Tennessee and to adopt thirteen young girls in her new home of Uganda. Faith in action.

Large Family Logisitics – Having five children I can’t go on enough about how helpful this book is. But honestly, I think a woman newly married would get just as much help from it. There is so much good advice and is a deceivingly large book!

Start Something That Matters – Honestly, I’m not even finished with this one yet, but I LOVE it! A book I wouldn’t have normally picked up but ended up being one of my favorites. Look forward to a review and giveaway within the next couple weeks.

Natural Enlightenment Photography – I have to add this in because I’m a photographer. I didn’t get as much out of it as I had hoped, but if you’re a budding photographer you will love it! Lots of wonderful tips on shooting organically.

I’m anxious to see what all new books come out in 2012!

Blessings!

In Books

Kisses from Katie {giveaway}

November 21, 2011

Last night I reluctantly finished reading Kisses from Katie. A book that has single handedly changed my entire perspective on life. I did not want to finish reading because I wanted it to continue. I have never before been more thankful for blogs!

Description from Amazon:

What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person but didn’t know any of the language? A passion to make a difference. Katie Davis left over Christmas break her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved by the people and children of Uganda that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. She has given up a relatively comfortable life—at a young age—to care for the less fortunate of this world. She was so moved by the need she witnessed, she’s centered her life around meeting that need. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, is in the process of adopting thirteen children in Uganda, and she completely trusts God for daily provision for her and her family.Despite the rough conditions in which Katie lives, she has found a life of service to God to be one of great joy. Katie’s children bring constant delight and help her help others by welcoming whoever comes to their door. As the challenges grow, so does Katie’s faith and her certainty that what she’s doing in Uganda, one person at a time, will have far-reaching rewards. It isn’t the life she planned, but it is the life she loves.

To further her reach into the needs of Ugandans, Katie established Amazima Ministries. The ministry matches orphaned children with sponors worldwide. Each sponsor’s $300/year provides schooling, school supplies, three hot meals a day, minor medical care, and spiritual encouragement. Katie expected to have forty children in the program; she had signed up 150 by January 2008; today it sponsors over 400. Another aspect of the ministry is a feeding program created for the displaced Karamojong people—Uganda’s poorest citizens. The program feeds lunch to over 1,200 children Monday-Friday and sends them home with a plate of food; it also offers basic medical care, Bible study, and general health training.

Katie Davis is more than fascinating, she’s inspiring, as she has wholeheartedly answered the call to serve.

Before I had even finished reading the book I asked my dear husband for one thing for Christmas. Necklaces made by the women in the impoverished city of Masese that are sold so they can provide for themselves and their families. When they arrived in the mail I squealed in delight. Yes. Squealed!

And today I’d like to bless two people! One will receive the book Kisses from Katie and the other will receive a necklace from the wonderful women of Amazima!

{Keep it for yourself of give as a gift? Spread the good news of what Katie is doing!}

All you need to do is comment in the rarely opened comment section and tell what you are thankful for. You can enter a second comment for sharing on Facebook and a third comment for sharing on Twitter. But the catch is that you have to mention in the comment section below where you shared it AND add something else you are thankful for. So you can enter up to three times. You have until Thursday night and on Friday we’ll draw two winners. I look forward to hearing your eucharisteos!

Blessings!

In Blessings, Books, Change the World

Different Paths

October 26, 2011

A dear group of friends and I are going to start getting together and sharing our God Stories. You know, the story of how you came to Christ. Your life story, up until now, of how you’ve been drawn to Him and walked with Him. And it’s reminded me of something.

Don’t ever belittle somebodies past.

We all walk different paths. Some of us have known God from the very beginning. Having never missed a Sunday church service. Some of us were Christmas and Easter church goers. And there are some of us who never even heard the story of God until recently.

You are no better because you’ve been a Christian your entire life.

You are no better because you had a life changing moment in your teenage years.

You are no better because you are so fresh to salvation.

We all struggle. We all have a past that was hard and has drawn us closer to our Savior. Or maybe your past/current situation has pulled you away from Christ. Don’t listen to others when they begin to dissect what you’ve gone through. God chose you for this moment. To live this life. He knows that we’re going to struggle in our faith. Every step of faith just adds to our story. The joyful steps and the painful steps.

On the other hand, don’t let your past be all that defines you. Your God Story is special, but it’s not over. Continue to grow and to stretch. Allowing your story to encourage others. Who doesn’t want to read a story full of risk and adventure and love? Step out on faith and allow Him to add a chapter to your life that you didn’t think possible. And share your story.

As of yesterday I began reading a book that has been a huge blessing! Kisses from Katie

Her past seems very normal. Typical American growing up in the church. But then she gave the pen over to the Lord and had Him finish writing her story. And He still is!

I imagine writing my God Story is going to take a bit of time. But I want to encourage you to write yours out as well. And share it with others. Encouragement is strongly lacking in our society. I can never stress enough how important it is to help lift others up. Maybe hearing your God Story will make others see His grace. His amazing, amazing grace.

Blessings!

In Books, Encouragement