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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

***Book Giveaway*** FIRST Wild Card Tour-- Your Best Life Begins Each Morning by Joel Osteen

My review and giveaway below




It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book's FIRST chapter!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!





Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


Your Best Life Begins Each Morning

FaithWords (December 10, 2008)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Joel Osteen is the pastor of the largest church in America with one of the most diverse congregations and over 30,000 members attending every week. He has quickly become a leading voice in a new generation of inspirational leaders and pastors. Under his leadership, Lakewood Church has grown in every area of ministry, more than quadrupling in size in the past five years. In the summer of 2005, the church moved into Houston’s 17,000-seat Compaq Arena and become the new Lakewood International Center. Joel and his wife Victoria live in Houston with their two children.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $ 13.99
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (December 10, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446545090
ISBN-13: 978-0446545099

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


YOUR Best Life BEGINS EACH MORNING


Devotions to Start Every New Day of the Year


JOEL OSTEEN



Introduction


The key to living your best life starts with how you approach every new morning, because today is the only day you have. You can’t do anything about the past, and you don’t know what the future holds. But when you wake up in the morning, you can make up your mind to do your best to enjoy your day. You’re not going to allow what does or doesn’t happen to steal your joy and keep you from God’s abundant life.


Don’t start your day off by feeling guilty about yesterday or recalling all the mistakes you made. Rather, when you make mistakes, simply ask God for forgiveness and then move on, confident that the moment you ask, God forgives you. You are ready for a great present and a bright future. Get up every morning and receive God’s love and mercy and the power of His Word for your life.


Start your day with God by saying, “Father, I thank You that this is going to be a great day. I thank You that I have discipline, self-control; that I make good decisions. I may not have done all that I could have yesterday, but that day’s gone. I’m going to get up and do better today.” These devotions are written to inspire ardent love and worship to God. While they are not meant to replace your personal time with God, it is my desire that the readings will be keys you can use to unlock doors leading a fuller life. I hope they will be a springboard to help you draw nearer to God and to help you overcome the obstacles that might keep you from living your best life now.


Your life can be transformed and renewed as you allow God’s Word to refresh and to reshape your thinking, speaking, and daily activities. Allow the Scriptures to speak to you. Be still and listen to what God is saying to you. No matter where you are or what challenges you face, you can start to enjoy your life right now!



J ANUARY 1


For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun! Do you

not see it? I will make a pathway

through the wilderness. I will create

rivers in the dry wasteland.

ISAIAH 43:19


Unpack Your Dreams


W HAT DO YOU WANT TO DO with your life?

If you could write your best life story this morning, what would it say? Is your first reaction to see and describe yourself in terms of past experiences or present limitations, more in terms of losing or just surviving rather than fulfilling your dreams?


If you’ve packed away your dreams, dare to unpack them today and ask God to rekindle them in your heart and mind. It’s time to enlarge your vision.

He wants to pour out His far and beyond favor on you (see Ephesians 2:7). He wants to do big things and new things in your life.


J ANUARY 2


“For I know the plans I have for you,”

declares the Lord, “plans to prosper

you and not to harm you, plans to

give you hope and a future.”

JEREMIAH 29:11


We Serve a Great God


Y OU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED adversity or trials in your past. Perhaps you’ve had more than your share of setbacks and heartaches. But today is a brand-new day. It is time to stretch your faith and pursue the excellence that God has placed in your heart. It is time to break out of the “barely get by” mentality, to become the best you can be, not merely average or ordinary, for the rest of your life.


We serve the Most High God, and His dream for your life is so much bigger and better than you can even imagine. Never settle for a small view of God. Start thinking as God thinks. Think big. Think increase. Think abundance. Think more than enough!


J ANUARY 3


What, then, shall we say in response

to this? If God is for us, who can be

against us? He who did not spare his

own Son, but gave him up for us all—

how will he not also, along with him,

graciously give us all things?

ROMANS 8:31–32



With God on Your Side


GOD IS CONSTANTLY trying to plant new seeds in your heart. He’s trying to fill you with so much hope and expectancy that the seed will grow and bring forth a tremendous harvest. Never allow negative thinking to keep you from God’s best. If you will get in agreement with God, this can be the greatest time of your life.

With God on your side, you cannot possibly lose. He can make a way when it looks as though there is none. He can open doors that no one can shut. He can cause you to be at the right place, at the right time. He can supernaturally turn your dreams into reality.


J ANUARY 4


For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed from faith to faith: as it is

written, The just shall live by faith.

ROMANS 1:17


Stretch Your Faith


PERHAPS WE HAVE A GOAL to break a bad habit, to lose some weight, or to pay off our credit cards. At first, we’re so excited and we go after it! But over time, we get lazy; we get complacent. Maybe we see a little improvement, but then we get comfortable right where we are. Where we are may not be a bad place, but we know it’s not where we’re supposed to be. We’re not stretching our faith. We’re not pursuing the excellence that God has placed in our hearts.

Maybe you’ve been coasting lately, thinking that perhaps you’ve reached your limits. You’re not stretching your faith. You aren’t believing for an increase.

No, don’t stop halfway; go on up to the top of your mountain. Believe God for more.


J ANUARY 5


By faith Abraham, when called

to go to a place he would later

receive as his inheritance, obeyed

and went, even though he did not

know where he was going.

HEBREWS 11:8


Step Out of Your Comfort Zone


PEOPLE WHO SEE THEIR DREAMS come to pass are people who have some resolve, some backbone; people who refuse to settle for somewhere along the way. Abraham, one of the Old Testament heroes of faith, obeyed God and followed Him all the way to the Promised Land of abundance in Canaan. Abraham’s father, however, stopped along the way and settled in Haran (see Genesis 11:31), feeling it was good enough but missing out on God’s best.


Don’t fall into a complacency trap. It doesn’t take any more effort to stay filled with faith than it takes to develop a negative attitude. Dare to step out of your comfort zone today. God has so much more in store. Keep pursuing and keep believing.


Copyright © 2008 by Joel Osteen Publishing

My review: What a wonderful way to kickstart your morning! I have never read a Joel Osteen book, but I had read an interview with him a while back and this book immediately called to me. I love a devotion, but sometimes I just do not have the time to dig in like I should. Figuring out when to read can be the challenge for me. Your Best Life Begins Each Morning is the perfect size for a morning meet with your Lord. The verses are appropriate to moving you into a positive walk every morning. I found myself focusing on each verse and message throughout the day. The devotional days are mapped out for the whole year, and it looks like it is going to be one excellent year! I definitely recommend Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Begins Each Morning. It is a brief read that goes right to the heart.

Now about the giveaway. Valerie from Hachette books has given me the opportunity to share this wonderful devotional with a reader! You are going to want to get in on this one! Here are the details:

For an opportunity to win simply reply to this blog and please include your email address to avoid spammers change it up... ex: yourname(at)email(dot)com.

Open to US and Canada but NO PO BOXES.

I really think you are going to enjoy this one!

Giveaway ends 12/23

16 comments:

Bridget said...

I've posted this on Win A Book. No need to enter.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a wonderful devotional.

djecse at yahoo dot com

Cloud 9 said...

I have this book and it is wonderful. I recommend it to everyone.
Thanks for the great review!

The Giveaway Diva said...

wow this sounds like a good book!
thanks!

Anonymous said...

wow this sounds liek a great book to read!!

papalum(at)hotmail(dot)com

nadine said...

My parents love Joel Osteen. This would make a wonderful Christmas gift for them.

=)
TruBlu
Nadine-STella

stellargurl93[AT]aim[DOT]com

Me... said...

This looks like what I've been looking for! Thanks for the opportunity!

daq_17 at hotmail dot com

Wendi said...

Kelly - don't enter me - just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your review, and that I'm adding a link to mine. Here's my Review!

:) Wendi

bevsclark said...

I would love the opportunity to read this book. Joel Olsteen is a powerful and inspriational speaker.

bevsclark gmail com

bevsclark said...

I would love the opportunity to read this book. Please include me in the drawing. Thanks.

bevsclark gmail

thebluerose said...

This sounds like a really good book. ^.^

ttt1612 AT yahoo DOT com

Jennifer said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the entry!

jls_wss2003 at yahoo dot com

Simply Stacie said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

stacie_vaughan (at) hotmail (dot) com

Shonda said...

Thanks for hosting this contest. My e-mail is: shonm428 (at) gmail (dot)com

ChristyJan said...

This would be a great way to start the day! Please enter me.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

Karin said...

Would love to be entered--thank you!

karin56381 (at) gmail.com