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

Barbara Dahlgren is a humorist, freelance writer, and speaker whose articles have appeared all over the world. Married to a pastor, she and her husband have served churches in Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, Washington, Michigan, and California where they currently reside. She blogs at Barbara’s Banter: taking my faith but not myself too seriously and is the author of Zorro and Me, a humorous look at the couple’s adventures in ministry.

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?

1. I was born many years ago in the foothills of the Ozarks in a town with a population of 10.
2. While on a mission trip to Nigeria, our children were held captive by the police for a few hours.
3. My son was unexpectedly born in a hotel room while we were traveling, so we used a dresser drawer as a baby bed.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ed97/the-choice-is-yours-celebration-tour-giveaway