blog birthday + GIVEAWAY!

Hello friends! 

Sorry for the lack of posting lately! I’ve been pretty busy and recently got back from a family trip to Arkansas (post coming soon!).

Well, my blog has turned two years old on July 13th, so to celebrate I’m having a GIVEAWAY!!! 

WHAT YOU’LL WIN >>

A copy of “Kisses from Katie”

   This has been my favorite book ever since I read it! Katie is a huge inspiration to me. I’d love to go to Uganda someday and help out with her ministry. [Read my book review here]

HOW TO ENTER >>

   Leave a comment below and answer this question: In one word, describe what God is to you.

   

*One comment per person
*Giveaway ends Friday, August 7th

Thank you all for following along and for your encouragement!
~Tashia

Set-Apart Femininity // book review

{buy the book here}

Leslie Ludy, author of Authentic Beauty and the bestselling When God Writes Your Love Story, reveals how a young woman's pursuit of acceptance and sameness directly counters her true purpose--to be set apart by her love for God and God's love for her.This empowering message filled with inspiring stories, personal illustrations, and a foundation of God's Word to awaken young women to sacred femininity and a life infused with meaning. 

I very much enjoyed this book! Leslie touched on some subjects I have been thinking about lately. Some of it was a little over my head (such as her writing style + big words), but other than that it was a really good book and I learned a lot. 
 I underlined so many things while reading this and wrote down lots too. 
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

Jesus Christ must be the focus of your life -- He must be enough, even if no earthly love story comes your way. Rather then searching for a human love story to meet your deepest needs for fulfillment and security, find your fulfillment and security in your intimate romance with the Prince of your soul. 

Don't let your longing for human love usurp your longing for more and more of Jesus Christ. As you seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness within your life, everything else He disires for you will fall perfectly in place with His own perfect time and way (see Matthew 6:33). 

A godly man longs for a woman who has been shaped a molded by the beauty of Jesus Christ.

The best way to find a truly Christ-built man is to stop hunting for one and, instead, pour all of your time and energy into your relationship with Jesus Christ. <<[that quote though!]

A set-apart existence may not turn the head of a typical American guy, but it will capture the heart of a Christ-like man.

Jesus Christ should be the focus of your existence and source of your fulfillment. 

A set-apart woman does not seek to win male favor, rather, she builds her life around Jesus Christ.

If you desire a beautiful, lasting, God-written love story, hold out for a guy who values the things your Heavenly Prince values. <<[this quote!]

"Less of me more of Him!" That is when our souls will sparkle with spectacular beauty of Jesus Christ.

Maybe no one will notice us. But that makes no difference as long as they notice HIM shinning through us. <<[love this one!]

A woman who is completely dead to herself and alive to Christ, is truly the fairest of them all.

The secret to becoming the radiant, beautiful, alluring, lily-white princess of childhood dreams is forgetting all about self and becoming completely consumed with only one thing -- Jesus Christ.

I have so many more I'd love to share!! You will just have to read the book for yourself!

Have you ever read this book before? Or any of Leslies other books?
What book did you read this week?

Kisses from Katie \\ book review

{Buy the book here}

Kisses from Katie invites readers on a journey of radical love down the red dirt roads of Uganda. You’ll laugh and cry with Katie as she follows Jesus into the impossible and finds joy and beauty beneath the dust. Katie and her children delight in saying yes to the people God places in front of them and challenge readers to do the same, changing the world one person at a time.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! Katie is so inspiring and it was really neat reading her stories! It's a new favorite of mine! 

Here are some thoughts that I had while reading the book:

I really liked how whoever God brought into Katie's life, she would show them unconditional love. She looked passed the dirty faces and ratty clothe and saw hurting children (and adults) who needed shown God's love.

When Katie needed strength to go on, she would cry out to God for wisdom + guidance. So often we run to our friends when Jesus is standing with His arms stretched open wide, waiting for us to come running to Him. 

This book made me realize how truly blessed I am, here in the United States. They had so little, yet were so thankful for what God had given them. 

Even though we are far from perfect, God still uses us. He has a plan for each and everyone of us to do great things. When we make ourselves available to God, He moves in ways that no one could imagine! God created each of us with a purpose and wants us to fulfill that purpose. 

I have more thoughts, but think I will stop with that! I hope you enjoyed reading this review and will get the book and read it yourself! I got SO much from it and hope you will too!

. . .

PSALM 29:11

"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."

A Young Woman after God's own Heart | book review

{Buy the book here}

This young woman's version of Elizabeth George's bestselling book "A Woman After God's Own Heart" shares the intentions and blessings of God's heart with teen girls. On this journey they discover His priorities for their lives--including prayer, submission, faithfulness, and joy--and how to embrace those priorities in daily life.

Elizabeth's mentor style, the "Heart Response" messages of reflection, and the age-significant themes make this an excellent book for groups or for personal study. And best of all, girls will discover that God is a faithful, caring, and loving presence during this exciting and sometimes difficult time in their lives.

One of my favorite parts from this book is the section about “A Heart that Loves.” It really opened my eyes about how to love others. We can’t just say “I love you” and never do anything about it. We have to mean it and show them that we love them. Elizabeth showed that we need to:

1. Respect one another

2. Listen to one another

3. Serve one another

4. Help on another

5. Share with one another

6. Touch one another (be careful in this area!)

7. Pray for one another

8. Encourage one another

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands” 

Proverbs 14:1

Another favorite part was the section on “A Heart that Cares.” It was mainly about caring for others and for our home. She pointed out that we need to:

1. Learn the basics

2. Do our share

3. Volunteer to help

4. Get help if we need it

5. Develop a heart that cares

6. Set aside time

7. and Follow these ‘golden rules’

There are many more things that I liked, but I can’t list them all! 

You will just have to get the book and read it yourself. :)

“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” 

Proverbs 24:3 and 4

Do you enjoy reading?

If so, what have you read recently?