Lay Counseling

In college my major was psychology.  I have always been fascinated by the human mind and thought that after my dance career I could go into Christian counseling.  Well, my dance career ended quite early and my drive to start a family pushed my counseling aspirations to the side.

When I saw Lay Counseling as one of my review options I thought it would be a good read for an inquiring mind.  Maybe reading this would help reignite my counseling spark.

I have to admit that this book was extremely hard to get through.  It reads like a textbook but the information this book contains is wonderful.  Any church leader or Christian counselor would benefit greatly from this resource.

It has everything from the need for a lay counseling ministry in our churches to all the details that goes along with building a lay counseling ministry and everything in between.  We as Christians are called to help one another and this book is a wonderful reminder of how to "bear one another's burdens."

If counseling doesn't interest you I would not recommend this book but if it does I would highly recommend it.  There is so much information it's almost overwhelming if you read it straight through but if you read it a little at a time and use it as a reference it is invaluable.

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In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day

"What if the life you really want and the future God wants for you are hiding right now in your biggest problem, your worst failure...your greatest fear?"

When you read a quote like that your ears perk up.  Who doesn't have failure or problems?  Who doesn't have fear?  We live in a crazy time, in a crazy world, so it's easy to get focused on our circumstances and the world around us.  We forget just how big our God really is.

In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day is a book that caught me off guard.  From the very first chapter I felt convicted.  I knew this was going to be another book that would make me think about my own situation and it most certainly has!

The focus of the book is Benaiah and his encounter with a lion in a pit on a snowy day in 2 Samuel 23:20-21.  If you were just reading through the Bible you would most likely miss it but Mr. Batterson delves deep into these two verses and explains what it means to be a lion chaser.

There are so many good quotes in this book!  Seriously, you should see my notes.  I love how the author makes all the concepts he explains so simple.  There are a lot of computer and neurological comparisons that made the points the author is trying to convey even more understandable.  

At the end of each chapter there is a list of the major points that were discussed in that chapter (which are a perfect reference) as well as a "Starting Your Chase" question which really helps you delve deeper in your own personal lion chase.

Reading this book has pushed me into a lot of self-reflection which I think is the authors purpose.  There are several things that I read that I am still thinking about and will continue to think about.  I did not read this book by accident.  "The timing was divine" as the author says.  

For someone who has struggled with fear and anxiety her entire life, it was eye opening.  I realized lies that I have been believing as well as felt challenged to rediscover dreams that I had  cast away, thinking they would never be possible.  Mr. Batterson reminded me that those dreams came from God and that I need to chase them through God to show who God is and give Him the glory.

This book was originally published ten years ago but the copy I received is a revised edition that has bonus material which I loved.  At the end of the book there is an excerpt from Chase the Lion which just came out this September and looks great!  It is definitely going on my Christmas wish list.

It has been a long time since I've felt this hopeful.  Sure there are dreams that I can no longer pursue but I have a few ideas in my head of what could possibly be my lion-chasing dreams and that gets me scared and excited.   Who knows what the future holds!  All I know is that I am going to trust the Lord in all things AND highly recommend this book!  It's a quick read with easy to understand language and personal stories from the author that make this story even more relatable.

Mr. Batterson ends the book by saying, "Be a lion chaser.  It's who you're destined to be."  I can proudly say that I am now a lion chaser, running towards my destiny!  

Click HERE to find out more about the author

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.  

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From Cairo, With Love

After reading No Resting Place and starting my next book (another deep nonfiction) I decided I needed a quick, fun read and From Cairo, With Love by Nancy Campbell Allen was the perfect escape!

This historical romance novella is from the Timeless Romance Singles line (a branch of the Timeless Romance Anthologies).  Even though this is a historial romance I found it to be less historical and more romance but nontheless it was a cute story and one that I couldn't put down.

Valentine Baker is a spinster who is perfectly content with being single but she longs for more adventure in her life.  She hears about a trip to Venice through her cousin and is soon on a ship bound for Cairo with Contessa, her traveling companion.  Mr. Maxwell, the gentleman that is accompanying the women to Cairo, quickly catches Valentine's eye and before either of them realize they are mixed up in a crazy storm and shennanigans aboard the ship that continuouly push them closer together.

Some of the storyline is predictable but there are definitely some suprises that will keep you turning from page to page, quickly reading to see what happens next.  I read the last page with a smile on my face, glad that love once again prevailed, and happy that I chose this book.

If you want a sweet, quick read with a little mistery, suspense, and love then this is the book for you.

Be sure to check out more books from the Timeless Romance Anthology series and from Nancy Campbell Allen.

I received a copy of this e-book from Mirror Press in exchange for an honest review

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No Resting Place

My review of No Resting Place by William Humphrey is one that hits home with me.

I have always been proud of my heritage.  When you look at me I look "white" but I'm really not.  I'm actually Choctaw/Cherokee (with a little German and Irish mixed in).  I am not legally allowed to be considered Native American only because of a lack of documentation.  When I asked my grandparents why the documentation is not there the only reply was, "The Trail of Tears."

I have a relatively young family and the cool thing about that is that I got to know my great-grandparents pretty well.  My maternal grandfather's parents were raised on a reservation in Oklahoma and I remember sitting at my great-grandfather's knee, listening to him talk about the days on the reservation, and about his families journey on the Trail of Tears.  Even though I didn't understand it all my heart still broke with his stories.  How could people be so cruel?  How can one human treat another human with such contempt?

Sadly, as life tends to get in the way, I haven't done as much research as I should have on the Trail of Tears to understand what my ancestors went through.  All I knew was that they lost everything as they were forced from their land and many of them lost their identity which is why there is a gap in my lineage to prove that I am who I say I am.  I am Native American.

When I was asked to review No Resting Place I was pretty excited.  Like me, Mr. Humphrey's ancestors went through the Trail of Tears and with the story being passed down from generation to generation Mr. Humphrey was able to put pen to paper and tell the story that has been lost in our American history.

From the beginning I could tell that this book was going to be a challenge.  The author has a very unique writing style and one that I am not accustomed to reading.  I'll be honest, I almost gave up on this book but I wanted so bad to see what my ancestors saw and feel what they felt that I pressed on and I'm so glad that I did.

It is a hard story to read and another sad note in American history.  Much like the holocaust, Native Americans were forced off their land by the "white man" and moved first to concentration camps and then west.  Depending on the compassion of the officer that came knocking on your door, some families were able to take some of their belongings with them while others left with only the clothes on their back.

There are stories of people dying while on the trail and them not being able to bury them.  Women dying in childbirth only for the infant to die later.  Walking in a foot of snow with only rags to give them warmth and many losing all hope and wishing for death.

I cannot even begin to imagine what that trek must've been like.  Tears blur my vision as I think about my family having to endure all that.

I have read a few reviews of this book and it is not well received which doesn't surprise me.  This is a hard story to read but it is very well researched and gives you a truthful, yet painful picture of what occurred.

This book was originally published in 1989 but has been brought back to life by Open Road Media since the passing of the author and I am so thankful that it was.  I've already talked to my grandparents about pulling out my great-grandparents scrapbooks again so I can delve more into my families history.

If you are into Native American history or history in general I highly recommend it!  While painful to hear, it's a story everyone should know.

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Victoria

There are so many books that become movies these days.  Being the bookworm that I am I almost always read the book before I see the movie.  Books are almost always better than the movies and, truth be told, I'm not really a movie gal anyway.  I'm more of a TV/documentary type which is why I'm super excited about the book that I am reviewing today.

From the first paragraph, I was enchanted. I could not put it down which was surprising to me since I'm normally not one for stories of British royalty but I couldn't help it.  The imagery comes alive and you immediately bond with poor, sheltered Victoria.  What I love most about her is watching how both her relationships as well as her strength in her position as the Queen of England blossoms throughout the story. Seeing Victoria grow from a child into a woman is pictured beautifully.   The dialogue is wonderfully written and almost audible in some instances.

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Open

It’s so easy to get into a rut.  Life can get so mundane and routine and sometimes it takes some unforeseen circumstance to knock you down and make you realize all the things you have unknowingly taken for granted.  

For Emma Jameson it was the ending of a relationship.  She’s in her late twenties, feeling sad and lonely, and at a crossroads.  Isn’t life supposed to be better than this?  Where is she supposed to go from here?  Where is God in all of this?

Haven’t we all had times like these in our lives? Those moments when life doesn’t go the way you expected it to and you don’t know which way to go?  

After a note telling Emma to go through the next open door she decides to take a chance.  What does she have to lose?  She walks through a door and suddenly is in Biblical times walking with Jesus!  As a Christian, this is something I have always dreamed of.  To be able to ask Jesus whatever you want and to be able to see Him actually teaching the disciples, walking on water, and performing miracles.  To see His smile and hear His voice.  So amazing!  The author did a wonderful job of bringing the Bible to life.  

This book is such a treasure and so easy to read.  The author has a wonderful way of bringing you into the story and the entire book just flows.  It reminded me that there are things that I can do in my Christian walk but then there are things that I simply cannot do and it’s time I stopped trying and “instead, start abiding.”

I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review

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Armor of God

I read books all the time.  There are very few books that I do not finish but for some reason every time I start a Bible study I never end up finishing it.  I have at least six Bible studies that are sitting in my office that I've started but for whatever reason I've never finished them.  This is SO embarrassing for me to admit but isn't confession one of the steps to recovery?

When my church started a summer women's Bible study of the Armor of God I knew this was my chance to complete one.  Maybe my problem has been not having accountability to help me finish?

I was so proud of myself!  We started in June and as the weeks went on I kept up with my homework and never missed a weekly meeting until Dylan ended up in the hospital the first of August.  Our final meeting was the Thursday that Dylan came home from the hospital.  I was heartbroken but my baby definitely came first and at least this time I had a good excuse for not finishing the study.  

Despite my circumstances of adjusting to life with a Type 1 diabetic child I was determined to finish this study so I emailed our women's ministry leader a few weeks later, explained why I wasn't able to attend the last meeting, and asked if there were some way I could get a copy of notes or a video from that final meeting.  She couldn't send me the actual video that the group watched but she did send me a condensed version of the video which sadly sat untouched in my inbox for weeks.

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365 Morning Pocket Prayers

"Prayer is a privilege"

This is the first line of the introduction of the 365 Prayer Devotional.  When I read this line something just hit me.  Prayer IS a privilege and one that I more often than not take for granted.  This is why I am so thankful that God has put this book in my hand.

At first glance this little book is gorgeous!  The cover is so serene and has a leather-like feel to it.  It's a beautiful shade of blue and is small enough to carry around with you in a purse or backpack and does not take up much space on a desk. 

The days are numbered but not by specific dates which I like.  Some people like to read straight through while others like to jump around and the 365 Pocket Morning Prayers allows you to whatever is comfortable for you.  

Each prayer is a specific topic so if you wake up struggling with courage there is a prayer for that.  

As you can see each day is divided into three parts: the theme, the prayer, and a Bible verse.  The prayers are short, to the point, and relevant to our lives today.  I do not believe that prayers must be written for Christians.  That's one thing that is awesome about our faith!  We can tell the Father whatever is on our hearts whenever we want but there are times when the words do not come as easily and this is book just perfect for those times.

I've been keeping my copy on my bedside table and even though I haven't been using it every single day I love that it is there if and when I need it.  With Christmas around the corner, this would be a wonderful stocking stuffer for anyone in your life! What better gift to give than to start their day with prayer!

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Searching the Scriptures

I wish I could tell you that being a Christian for as long as I have that I have the whole Bible study thing down.  I don't.  I love reading God's Word but when it comes to studying its one of those overwhelming tasks that almost paralyzes you.  Do I study by topic or by book?  Is there a right or wrong way?  Which way is the right way for me?

I think that reading and hearing the Word of God is wonderful but there comes a time where that is not enough.  I think I am at that point in my walk where it is time to get off the "spiritual milk" and more into the "meat" of the Bible which is why I am so excited to be reviewing Searching the Scriptures by Chuck Swindoll.  From the first chapter I knew I was on to something.  Maybe this is the answer to the Bible study prayer that I have prayed for so long?

If you want a thorough introduction to Bible study then this is a great place to start!  For me it's perfect!  Maybe I've been trying too hard.  It's time to get back to basics!

Mr. Swindoll breaks it all down for you step by step and compares the steps to something simple and something we all can relate to: cooking.  I have read several other books about various Bible study methods and it's almost like they're written in code!  They left me frustrated and no closer to understanding the Bible than when I began.  

Mr. Swindoll even mixes in wonderful stories that help you remember certain steps.  My personal favorite is a story about the importance of observation referencing Sir William Osler.  I won't spoil the story for you but trust me it's one that you will never forget.

There are four main principles in Searching the Scriptures:

Observation - What does the Bible say?

Interpretation - What does the Bible mean?

Correlation - What other Bible passages deal with this idea?

Application - What difference does this make to me?

Mr. Swindoll goes into each of these in detail so everything is explained for you.  There is also a "Your Turn in the Kitchen" section which allows you to go deeper with your understanding of that chapter as well as getting you more into God's Word.  This interaction was truly my favorite part and am still working on some of the questions from several of the chapters so I can go even deeper in my understanding.

I could see giving a copy of Searching the Scriptures to a new believer so that they can start with a firm foundation in the Word or a seasoned Christian who might want to take a different approach to Bible study.  

This is a must-have for anyone and will be apart of my Bible reference library for years to come.  If you would like more information about Chuck Swindoll's ministry Insight for Living please check out his website.  Also, if you like challenges there is even a Searching the Scriptures Quiz to test your Bible knowledge!

I'm off to study! :)

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal

Gratitude.  It's something that's so easy when things in your life are going peachy and very tough when things aren't going so well BUT it's something we should be doing daily despite our circumstances.

When those times are tough and you're really struggling to be grateful it's nice to have something that will help you get out of that worry/stressed mindset into that peaceful/thankful frame of mind which is why I'm so excited to be showing off my new Gratitude Prayer & Praise Coloring Journal from Tyndale's Living Expressions Collection!

I was SO excited when Tyndale asked me to review this coloring journal.  I've been doing an adult coloring book on my iPad for awhile but have been scared to try my hand at actually coloring so to say that I was out of my element is an understatement.

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41 Will Come

 "The number 41 represents the dawn of a new day - the hope and promise that if you don't quit, the rain will stop, the giant will fall, and you will enter your 'promised land.'"  

Just reading that gave me hope.  All of us are on a journey.  Some of us are about to enter a storm, some of us are in a storm, and some of us just got out of a storm.  All of us!  40 is the storm; 41 is the rainbow.

A week after I started reading this book my 10-year-old son was in the emergency room then rushed to the PICU with poisoned blood and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Once we got D home from the hospital and fell into a new normal I picked up the book again and it gave me so much hope!  I wish I could say I'm in my promised land right now but I've got several fronts on me at the moment so it could be awhile before I'm there but that's ok!  Each story that the author references reminds me that even in the storms God is still working and oh when I hit that promised land...baby, it is on! :)

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone!  Mr. Tate's writing style is wonderful and the personal stories he tells is great!  He's funny, encouraging, and heartfelt.  This is the author's first book and I'm positive it's not going to be his last.  Grab a copy! I promise you won't regret it.

NavPress/Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review

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Four Chambers

For a girl who is not into romance novels I have been reading quite a few of them! I guess I'm a sucker for a sweet love story which is exactly what Four Chambers is.    

I read Four Chambers by Julie Wright a few months ago but with the whirlwind of summer I am just now getting a chance to post my review.  

From the first page I was hooked.  I know I’m not the only one who has ever wanted to vandalize a cheating boyfriend’s car right?  It took me right back to my crazy college days and I instantly identified with Andra and her struggles on the road to pursuing her dreams.  

The on again off again romance between Andra and Everett was sweet and frustrating and everything in between.  Julie’s writing style is wonderful in how she pulls you into the character's world.  I could see these characters and truly relate to what they were going through.  Once I started reading I could not put it down and finished the book within hours of starting it.  Don’t you love stories like that?  I could see me reading this again which doesn’t happen that often for me.  Highly recommend!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Heart of the Ocean

Publisher: Mirror Press

Release Date: November 1, 2013

Genre: Historical Fiction

Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza's life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt's death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

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First Light

When I walk into a bookstore or browse Amazon looking for my next book to devour my first place to venture to is not to the romance section.  If you've heard one love story you've heard them all, am I right?  I'm more of a suspense, mystery, or non-fiction gal myself but after reading First Light I might have to give love a chance again. 

I have to admit when I started reading I wasn't really sure if I was going to like this story but was pleasantly surprised.  I figured out quite quickly that I was reading a fairy tale that felt extremely familiar yet different at the same time.  I quickly fell in love with Adrielle, the main character, as well as numerous other enchanting characters including fairies and a prince! 

I love how simple the authors writing style is yet I could see every scene in my mind's eye.  I ended the book with a smile on my face and hope in my heart.  I can't wait to see where the next book in the series is going to go.  It is suppose to develop another characters story, Cecelia, who just happened to be one of my favorite characters in this book.  Can't wait!

Even if you're not into romance but would like a fun, easy read this is for you!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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About Me

Hello & Welcome!

I am so glad you've stopped by and want to know a little about the girl behind the reviews. I started Only By Grace Reviews in 2016, and as you can imagine, things change as life progresses, so this post will be periodically updated to reflect those changes.

♡ I am a Christian, and my faith is first and foremost in my life

♡ I am happily married to Louie, the most amazing man who is my life partner and best friend. We've been together almost fifteen years and are still as in love as we were when we were dating.

♡ I have two sons, Dash and DJ, that keep life interesting and give my life meaning

♡ I love animals, particularly dogs, but due to allergies I can't have a house full.  For almost twelve years I had a purebred Yorkie named Reagan, who was my princess. Sadly, we lost her in January 2024 and my life has not been the same since. I can't bring myself to get another dog yet and not a day goes by that I don't think about my girl.

♡ I do freelance work as an accounting assistant and deal with severe chronic illnesses that I've dealt with my entire life, which makes it impossible to work a traditional job.

♡ I pretty much read anything and everything but anything unnecessarily graphic or sexual will make me stop a book immediately. I am a huge history buff so if it's historical, or based on a true story, you've got my attention.

About My Boys

Though I am now technically an empty nester, both my boys still live at home thanks to the state of our economy and living in an area where it's a higher cost of living. Though no matter where they are, my boys are still my life.

Dash is my oldest, and he's a working man. School was never his thing, so as soon as he graduated, it was off to work. While at first I struggled with him not continuing his education, as time has passed, it's clear he's where he's meant to be. He is thriving at his job, has never missed a single day of work in the almost three years he's been working, and has already started to move up in the company.

When he's not working, Dash continues to make music, writing his own songs, and even recording a few samples. He has been working with a local producer recently and hopes to drop his first album soon.

DJ is my youngest and is my special needs baby, having both ASD as well as Type 1 diabetes, but he doesn't let his hindrances stop him from giving life his all.

DJ just started college this month, and I am so excited for him. He graduated from high school in 2024, but we felt him taking a gap year would benefit him, and it has, as he's now ready to take on the world! He's majoring in cyber security, and when he's not studying, he is gaming. He streams on Twitch and occasionally on YouTube, though not as often as he used to.

I am so proud of the men that both my boys have grown into and cannot wait to see what their futures hold.  

Random Tidbits

♡ Baby Groot is my spirit animal

♡ I am not a movie person at all, and am obsessed with old TV shows like I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show

♡ I am a diehard Dallas★Cowboys fan, which has brought my life a lot of pain over the years (thanks Jerry Jones!) but I back my boys through thick and thin

♡ Me and my husband are currently restoring a 1960 Ford Falcon that belonged to my grandfather, and was my dad's childhood car, in hopes that he can ride in it one more time before he dies

♡ I always dreamed of being a mechanic, and building/restoring a 1968 Ford Mustang fastback.  This is our next project after the Falcon is finished :)

♡ Over the past two years I've lost 110lbs due to having medically-required bariatric surgery in 2023 after gaining weight due to numerous medical issues.  You can read all about my sickness HERE and the beginning of my weight loss journey HERE. It's been awhile since I've written about my weight loss journey as it has truly been one of the hardest things I've ever had to deal with and it's not something I like to think about.

♡ I have an obsession with all things teal

♡ I love any and all music!  If you saw my playlist on Apple Music you'd die.  Smooth jazz to headbanger metal, gangsta rap to Christian praise and worship...I love it all!! Music is in every fiber of my being and is the soundtrack of my life.

♡ I have played the flute since I was 11. I went to college on a music and dance scholarship and was a performing arts major. I learned how to play the piano and the saxophone my freshman year but haven't played since.  I also used to sing in college and at church, but lately my performances have been relegated to the shower, the car, or to annoy my boys at any random moment.

♡ I taught myself how to read when I was four. I had a very old copy of Cinderella that I would follow along with when my mom would read to me, eventually memorizing it and reading it to myself multiple times a day. I do still own the book and it is barely hanging on by a thread.

♡ The first novel I ever read was Harriet the Spy when I was eight years old. I do have a first-edition copy that had belonged to my grandmother and it's one of my most prized possessions.

♡ I have a soft spot for debut authors and and novels and try to give as much support as I can. It takes such bravery to put yourself and your work out there and I want to show these authors that I see them.

♡ Books are truly my passion and my escape. Reading is like breathing to me and I know all my fellow bookworms can relate.

If you've made it this far thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I know this was all kind of random but it gives you a glimpse into the chaos that is me.

Edited August 27, 2025

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