Tag: God

Blog Tour, Book Review, Books, Christian publishing, Jesus, Kingdom books, The Word of God

BOOK REVIEW: Finding Jesus in the Wilderness, by Rachel Yarworth

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It is my absolute privilege to be able to kick off the Blog Tour for this incredible book!

Finding Jesus in the Wilderness: 40 reflections for dry and difficult times

Author: Rachel Yarworth ISBN: 978-1739257743 RRP £10.99

Image of the front cover of Finding Jesus in the wilderness

THE BLURB

Wilderness seasons come to us all: those spiritually dry and difficult times when God feels far away and the temptation to quit is everywhere. But it’s not all bad. There are treasures hidden among the difficulties that God has brought you here to find.
This book offers companionship to those who find themselves in a wilderness season – a hand to hold and a voice to encourage you to keep going. There is hope here after all. Also suitable as a Lenten devotional, where reading a reflection every day will help you to identify with Jesus’ own journey through the wilderness.

MY REVIEW

One of the really thrilling things about being in a community with like-minded Christian writers is that you get to be involved with seeing some incredible books be produced and released into the world. I was so  privileged to be able to read an early version of this book when it was still in manuscript form, and it blew me away. I was so excited by it, that I wanted to endorse it, which I did, and recommend it to everyone and anyone.

Have you ever been in a spiritual wilderness season? Perhaps you are in one now? Have you ever wondered why you are there? Or where God is in all of it? Or if you will ever come out the other side?

I think most of us can associate with those thoughts and questions. Loss, long term illness, broken relationships; there are a myriad reasons why we can find ourselves struggling to connect with God. Seasons where we feel lonely, misunderstood, weary and dry.

Written from the Wilderness

Image of the author, Rachel Yarworth

This special book was written from the wilderness place; Rachel knows all about it. This isn’t an ‘I got through the other side and now I can see everything clearly’ book, it is real and raw about how it feels to be in that season. Yet it also brims over with hope.

Every chapter is full of truth and treasure, based soundly on the written word of God, and also incorporating some personal Holy Spirit inspired words of encouragement. Written as a 40- day devotional, each day tackles a different aspect of the wilderness experience. Rachel has chosen to alternate these so that alongside every perceived difficulty there is a chapter of hope. So although the wilderness might be a place of desperation, loneliness and fear, is can also be a place of romance, connection and preparation.

Get yourself a copy!

I love this book! Can you tell? It is perfect for Lent, but equally as good at any other time. I am currently reading through it a second time and it is helping me immensely. God is speaking deep words of encouragement to my soul as I face my own challenging season.

I cannot recommend Finding Jesus in the Wilderness highly enough. Go get yourself a copy – buy two and give one away! I truly believe this is going to be a life-changing book for many.

Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is available direct from Rachel at www.rachelyarworthwriter.uk, through Amazon in paperback and eBook form, and wherever good Christian books are sold.

If you want to go even deeper with this book, Rachel has also produced a helpful companion Prayer Journal, also available via her website.

Image of front cover of Finding Jesus in the Wilderness Prayer Journal.

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, ‘The Bride‘, published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, ‘Christ Illuminated‘ was published in September 2023.

‘The Stranger‘, her fourth full length novel was published 22 November 2024 by Broad Place Publishing.

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Blog Tour, Book Review, Books, Christian publishing, Christian Writer, Faith, Kingdom books

BOOK REVIEW: POLISHED ARROWS by Jenny Sanders

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Being a writer of Medieval fiction you would think that I might know a thing or two about the crafts of fletchers, bowyers and arrow smiths. I thought I did too, until I read Jenny Sander’s new book, Polished Arrows.

Front Cover Image of the book, Polished Arrows, showing an archer with a bow and arrow primed to shoot.

But Polished Arrows isn’t a book solely describing the art of arrow making. Jenny has done her research and it is thorough; every step of the transformation of a stick to a lethal weapon is described in detail. But not as a research aid to history writers! Instead she carefully and cleverly uses each step of the process as a framework to describe the redemptive, refining processes that God wants to take each one of His followers through. In order that we might be as effective as possible for Him.

Maximum Impact

The question the book asks is this – as Christian people, how do we have maximum impact in a world that needs to see that God is alive and well? Jenny takes as her inspiration this verse from Isaiah 49:2

He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
    in his quiver he hid me away. ESV

Our expert arrow maker is a God who loves us, wants the best for us, and has so much grace available for us, that we too can become as polished arrows in His quiver. The process is not easy, and there are no short cuts. From coppicing to stripping, removing of knots and imperfections, to being polished and fitted with flight and arrowhead. Each arrow making stage corresponds to a different stage of the formation of our Christian character, under His skilful hands

Image of full cover of Polished Arrows

Biblical Examples

Each step of the process is given its own chapter, and further illustrated by a biblical example of men and women who God took and moulded for Himself. Chapter one, for example, talks of Coppicing, the process by which sticks are chosen for their potential and cut and taken. For her biblical example Jenny takes the Apostle Paul, whom God chose and called when he was still Saul the persecutor. The most unlikely choice from our human perspective. But God knew what Saul/Paul would become in His hands. He saw his potential as a formidable weapon for the Kingdom.

Polished Arrows is a challenging read. Deep, thought provoking, and well grounded in scripture. It can be read as it is, or used as study aid for individuals or groups, with helpful discussion questions included. It is a call to spiritual maturity, a reminder that we are called, not only to be different, but to represent God and His truth, and to advance His kingdom. To be weapons of warfare in His hands.

If you look at society and wonder how you can make a difference, how you can be most effective for God, then this book is for you.

Photo of Author, Jenny Sanders
Jenny Sanders

Polished Arrows was published by Instant Apostle on 17th May 2024. RRP £12.99

Available where all good books sold. For more information about Jenny and her writing, go to www.jennysanderswriter.co.uk

If you would like to win a free copy of Polished Arrows then do sign up to my newsletter, and you will automatically be included in this month’s free giveaway draw.

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, ‘The Bride‘, published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, ‘Christ Illuminated‘ was published in September 2023.

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here