"Becoming MomStrong" by Heidi St. John

In the past year I've been in over fifteen book launch groups and never have I ever been more excited for a book release than Becoming MomStrong by Heidi St. John. There's no other way to say this: Becoming MomStrong has CHANGED MY LIFE. A book so profoundly life-changing is rare and doesn't come along often.

Heidi speaks directly to the culture, her words have empowered to be the woman, wife, and mom I've always wanted to be. I used to think there was a "secret" to being MomStrong. Or, I thought that being MomStrong was reserved for some women and I didn't consider myself to be one of the women in the "some women" group. But through reading this book, I've learned there isn't a secret to being MomStrong and it's intended for EVERY woman in any stage of life.

In Becoming MomStrong Heidi consistently points the reader back to Scripture and empowers us to be the women we've been beautifully designed to be. Heidi reminds us that it's time that we turn to the Word of God to discover what HE says and not what the culture dictates. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of doing what the culture tells me to do. Our culture is filled with "do what feels good" and lacks so much wisdom. To stand on the Word of God that is filled with truth, grace, wisdom, and love has empowered me and changed the way I love and care for others, my husband, and my son.

In fact, it is because Heidi's words are so apologetically grounded in Scripture, that I've been so hungry to sink my heart into the Word every day. Each day looks a little bit different but one of my very favorite things to do is Heidi's Scripture Writing Challenge. Truthfully, I was very skeptical and didn't think I'd like writing Scripture or even stick with the challenge. The joke is on me because I love writing Scripture! Heidi says that spending 7 to 10 minutes a day writing Scripture will change your life and she's exactly right. My life has been changed because of Heidi's encouragement and leadership in creating the Scripture Writing Challenge.

If you're a woman in ANY season of life from rocking a baby in the wee hours of the morning to having an empty nest, this book is for you. Becoming MomStrong is available everywhere books are sold!

Oh - I sent Becoming MomStrong to two readers. The books will be arriving today and tomorrow in your mailboxes!

"Unseen" by Sara Hagerty

On Tuesday, Unseen by Sara Hagerty hit the bookshelves. When I cracked the spine of this book 45 days ago, the Lord had been stirring and preparing my heart for the message contained in this book. The back cover reads this:

"In a world that screams, "hey! Look at me!" it is a rare treasure to discover someone whose life instead whispers, "Why, will you look at Him?" Unseen will both prick your heart and encourage your soul teaching you that the most fruitful and fulfilling life of service of God is stealthily off the beaten path, yet smack-dab in the center of His will."

Unseen pulled me into the folds of God's love and into the hidden places that only He can see like joys and pains, heartaches and dreams. Sara's words taught me that He sees me and calls me into a place of hiddenness - into the shadow of His wings - to seek His face and learn His heart.

My very favorite quote from the book is this:

Maybe who I am in secret is reason for praise.

Maybe in my unproductive, looking-up-at-Him life produces awe among the angels.

My audience is one - THE One. It is there that I find complete peace and rest. My soul is finally at peace after a lifetime of competing for the wrong things among the wrong people. This peace and rest has only been found in the hidden places and unseen times spent with the Father. I've become hidden in Him and in His hiddenness, I've never felt more seen or more alive. I want to stay here forever.

Can you imagine the angels being in awe of us? It's almost unimaginable but that's the place I've been seeking the most. Since reading this book, Jesus has given me an unquenchable thirst for His Word. I just want more, more, more of Him. When I've filled myself up with Him, I overflow and live and love from a place of abundance. It's a place I've always wanted to live from but always tried to do it on my own strength.

It used to feel so unproductive to spend time with Jesus. But what I learned through reading this book is that what may feel the most unproductive is actually the most productive use of my time. To just be with Jesus and seek Him has become the most productive use of my time. It doesn't feel wasteful anymore; it feels necessary - it IS necessary and the only way to become the woman I've long dreamed to be.

It will come as no surprise that I absolutely loved this book. From cover to cover I couldn't stop reading or highlighting. In fact, I just started reading it again over the weekend. Sara is a beautiful and gifted writer - her words are like honey.

So, I'm gifting a brand new copy of the book to one person and it's super simple to enter! (You know it's going to be simple - as a mother to a very busy two-year-old, I don't have time for anything that isn't super simple!) All you have to do by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, September 3, 2017 is:

• Follow @jennasbooknook on Instagram (If you're already a follower, you're still eligible to be entered into the drawing if you do the next 2 things!)
• "Like" my Instagram post about this giveaway
• Comment on the same post tagging a friend. You'll receive one entry into the drawing for up to 10 friends you tag. (Tag 3 friends, get 3 entries!)

Anyone who does all 3 of those things will be automatically entered to win a copy of Unseen.  The winner will be drawn on Monday, September 4, 2017 and notify the winner via Instagram.

Note - This is NOT a promotion through or endorsed by Sara Hagerty. I am doing this promotion myself and will send a brand new copy of the book to you!