I was contacted by Jocelyn Green a bit ago about participating in a Veteran’s Week Blog Tour for the book Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan. I am a huge fan of her book Faith Deployed so I knew any book she was apart of was going to be great.
Battlefields and Blessings is a book made up of a bunch of different stories/devotionals. Co-authored by Jane Hampton Cook, Jocelyn Green and John Croushorn.
The book has 1 entry for each day of the year. Now I read the book all the way through over a few weeks. But you could also just read 1 entry a day based on the day or a couple each day. The entries are from different people associated with the military in some way. From Chaplains who work at the Pentagon who were there on 9/11, to military wives having to get through deployments. A lot of people who wrote them have about 3-4 entries each. I found this pretty cool because it let me know a little bit more about each of the people who wrote them. At the end of each entry, there is a short prayer for us to read. I could really see this book as a great tool to have during a hard situation such as a deployment. There are stories of faith, what people have gone through and some very inspirational thoughts that just stick with you.
The people who wrote in this book felt very real to me. Sometimes there were entries from a husband and wife and it was great to hear from both of them. There were stories about 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and life back at home. Stories from mothers and wives and from those who have been to war. I also really enjoyed the layout and even how the book was put together. Just a great mix of people.
The one entry that sticks out to me was from a military wife Kerri Hartwick who lost her husband in Iraq. One of the prayers listed said, “Lord, prepare my heart for whatever you have in store for me.” Really this is what we have to deal with in life. We don’t know the future or if our prayers will be answered but we can know God is there for us through whatever we must go through. There were many other entries that made me feel very encouraged as well.
Would you like to win a copy of this book? Trust me it is amazing! It is also autographed by Jocelyn Green.
Here is how the giveaway will work…
It starts now! And it ends Sunday November 14th, 2010 at 11:59pm Central time.
To enter please answer this question:
What encourages you the most during a hard time? Any favorite verses that come to mind?
That is it! Good luck 🙂
PS make sure I have a way to email you if you win 🙂
For more information here are the websites…
Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan
I received a free signed copy of the book Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan for this review. And an additional copy to giveaway to one of my readers.
This is such a heartfelt post!! I hope you don't mind, but I tweeted it! And by the way, my hubs is from CA and I am from NY and we are always fussing about the way the other talks – even after 13 years! I say he has an accent and I don't!! 🙂
Haha, I'm from CA, and my Hubby is a mil brat, us Californian's don't have accents, we simply have unique slang ;).
For me what encourages me during deployment are not only my sisters in Christ, but my sisters in arms and in Christ. For us to be able to gather together and discuss Bible study, no particular verse, but God's word in general truly helps me. I'm not certain if it's simply the conversation with people older than 3 or the conversation topic, but that's what helps me the most.
What encourages me most is being able to talk with friends who are going through the same things I am. Those friendships mean so much and are a godsend to me.
Since this is my first time as a mom for my son to deploy I have clung to so many different verses. one of my favorites is from the book of Job. By his light I walked through darkness! Job 29:3 especially at the beginning of his deployment. Being able to connect with wives of soldiers has been a big help for me. You all are dear to me heart!
Susan O.
LOL, I had to do a double take… my high school prom date (who is currently in the military) has a wife named Jocelyn Green, and it turns out to be the same one who wrote the book! What a small world. 🙂
I get most of my courage from the mantra "Put one foot in front of the other." I'll repeat it over and over, whether I mean that literally or metaphorically. I also keep in close touch with my family. Even though they have never experienced the military lifestyle, they are quick to help and are always there to listen.
Do you wish no charge electronic copies of bestselling publications, then kindly go to this site and acquire your cost-free duplicate of this book.