About the Book
Book: The Choice is Yours
Author: Barbara Dahlgren
Genre: Religion/Christian Living/Devotional
Release Date: November 2019
Do you stress over making decisions? Does the possibility of making the wrong choice paralyze you? In The Choice Is Yours: 52 Choices for Happier Lives, Barbara Dahlgren explores decisions we face daily. She does so with the spiritual insight and practicality developed through fifty years of ministry. The Choice Is Yours is drawn from Dahlgren’s blog, Barbara’s Banter: taking my faith but not myself too seriously, and is suitable for a devotional or a Bible study tool. Each chapter includes practical suggestions, a key Bible verse, and the option for the reader to jot down their own tips for making better choices in daily life.
Click here to purchase your copy.
About the Author
More from Barbara
When my granddaughter was in preschool, she came home one day and was sad. Her mom asked what was wrong. Sophia replied, “My teacher said I didn’t make good choices today.”
I always felt her teacher had a great deal of wisdom. Instead of saying Sophia was naughty or bad, she planted a seed of thought into her little life about making better choices. Better choices lead to happier lives. In a way, that was the inspiration for my latest blog theme which led to this book.
My first book was called Zorro and Me. It was about my husband, whom I’ve nicknamed Zorro, and our experiences in 50 years of ministry. Usually known as a humorist, I try to intersperse a lot of personal experiences in my speaking and writing. My philosophy is to take my faith, but not myself, too seriously. I think we would all be happier if we chose to laugh more and criticize less.
Here’s a little quiz to get to know me better. Which one do you think is false?
- I was born many years ago in the foothills of the Ozarks in a town with a population of 10.
- While on a mission trip to Nigeria, our children were held captive by the police for a few hours.
- My son was unexpectedly born in a hotel room while we were traveling, so we used a dresser drawer as a baby bed.
- I’ve mounted a camel near the Great Pyramids in Egypt, climbed the Great Wall in China, leaned with the Tower of Pisa in Italy, and been on safari in Kenya.
- While on a teen trip touring the White House, one of my children became ill, so the Secret Service took him outside where he barfed behind a big bush on the White House lawn. It’s the one on the left when you look at pictures of the White House.
Guess what! They are all true. There’s more, but I don’t want to give all my secrets away today.
I found the book to be a little abrupt and almost condescending at times. Her words could have been more graceful and not so preachy. I don't like people who judge and tear others down for their beliefs. I did like the part about God loving us for who we are. He loves us no matter what and that love will never go away. We are His children and He doesn't like to see us hurt.
I did like the chapter on forgiveness. It is hard to forgive but once we do there is healing. We may have a hard time forgetting what happened but I think we make the choice to forget so the enemy doesn't have a way make into our life. I thought the author did a good job on this chapter with a few things I didn't fully agree with.
The next chapter I have to talk about is " Choose to Laugh." The author says, "Christians can be some of the biggest fuddy-duddies around." I'm not sure who she associates with, but I don't find Christians to be like that. We all laugh at different things because we choose what we think is funny. Generally Christians are joyful and that statement bothered me.
The saying goes, "Sticks and stones may break my back, but words will never harm me." Words can destroy a marriage, tear down a person or cause someone to stumble in their walk. I liked this chapter the most because it talks about saying sweet things and watching how we speak to others. We all have choices to make. The question is, will you choose to follow God?
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Everyday we are faced with making choices. Sometimes we don't always make wise choices but the good news is God is there to help us. I liked the book mostly but there were a few things I didn't agree with. God gives us free will and we make the choice to follow Him or turn away from Him. The author talks about our thoughts are not God's thoughts. I think if we are following God and have given our life to Him that our thoughts will match up according to His word. The author sometimes says something, then later in a chapter says the opposite. It is very confusing at times and hard to follow her train of thought.
I found the book to be a little abrupt and almost condescending at times. Her words could have been more graceful and not so preachy. I don't like people who judge and tear others down for their beliefs. I did like the part about God loving us for who we are. He loves us no matter what and that love will never go away. We are His children and He doesn't like to see us hurt.
I did like the chapter on forgiveness. It is hard to forgive but once we do there is healing. We may have a hard time forgetting what happened but I think we make the choice to forget so the enemy doesn't have a way make into our life. I thought the author did a good job on this chapter with a few things I didn't fully agree with.
The next chapter I have to talk about is " Choose to Laugh." The author says, "Christians can be some of the biggest fuddy-duddies around." I'm not sure who she associates with, but I don't find Christians to be like that. We all laugh at different things because we choose what we think is funny. Generally Christians are joyful and that statement bothered me.
The saying goes, "Sticks and stones may break my back, but words will never harm me." Words can destroy a marriage, tear down a person or cause someone to stumble in their walk. I liked this chapter the most because it talks about saying sweet things and watching how we speak to others. We all have choices to make. The question is, will you choose to follow God?
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 23
Jacquelyn Lynn, November 24
Mary Hake, November 24
For the Love of Literature, November 25
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , November 26
Older & Smarter?, November 27
My Devotional Thoughts , November 28
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, November 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 29
CarpeDiem, November 30
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 1
Texas Book-aholic, December 2
janicesbookreviews, December 3
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 4
A Reader’s Brain, December 5
Inklings and notions, December 6
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Barbara is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Farmer Max and Miz Patti have a big red barn on their Maple Shade Farm, but one thing is missing—they need a barn quilt. But what pattern should they hang on the side of their barn? The pineapple quilt, or the corn and beans quilt, or what about a quilt with animals on it? None of them are quite right though. Since it’s Christmas, they wonder what barn quilt would have been just right for the stable where Jesus was born. Work along with their neighbor boy, Dennis, as he helps Farmer Max and Miz Patti decide on and make the perfect barn quilt.
Patti Michels has lived in the same rural midwestern county her entire life, thirty-nine of those with her husband. She loves designing her family’s Christmas card and working with senior citizens. At the end of a long day, she enjoys returning to the farm and looking out her kitchen window at her own barn quilt.
Brought to the palace as a newborn, the royal life bestowed upon Mackenna Sparrow was never meant to last forever. With Princess Alina engaged to be married, Mackenna’s presence as companion is no longer required and, like it or not, she must return to the birthright which should have been hers – that of a commoner. But not everyone at the palace wants her gone. When the truths she’s based her life on start crumbling as fast as her future, will she find the courage to trust, both herself and the prince she’s fallen in love with?
Aussie author, Hannah Currie, loves God, family, people (in small numbers, let’s not go crazy here!) and writing. She and her husband live with their three adorable kids in sunny Queensland, where it really is beautiful one day and perfect the next. Except, maybe, during heatwaves. They’re not so fun. She loves to connect with readers at www.hannahcurrie.com.