Book Review: Growing a Peaceful Heart by Karen Whiting & Sara DuBose

Filled with devotions of faith, encouragement, and forgiveness, Growing a Peaceful Heart by Karen Whiting and Sara DuBose will touch your heart, mind, and spirit. 

In this 30-week devotional, those looking to grow in personal peace and to find peace in their relationships, learn from a series of personal, historical, and Biblical stories shared by speakers and authors dedicated to peacemaking. From all walks of life, these women offer the reader their years of wisdom to help them be whole in mind, body, and spirit.

Karen Whiting and Sara DuBose have partnered with other authors to bring you Growing a Peaceful Heart. Broken down into weekly sections, the first 11 weeks cover personal peace. The next 13 weeks discuss peace in relationships. The final weeks speak about becoming peacemakers. Each week opens with a prayer, followed by stories, and multiple peace steps for the reader are interspersed. 

I have admired Whiting's work for years, and Growing a Peaceful Heart is a moving collection of stories. What I struggled with is the format. I actually felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of material. Keeping in mind, these are short devotionals and the book is not meant to be read in a few sittings, there wasn't a clear stop because all the stories ran one into the other until you got to the next week. The reader might choose to use the five "Today's Peace Step" action items found in textboxes for a break, but my preference would have fewer stories, more white space, and clearer end points.

Growing a Peaceful Heart contains stories from the heart, Scripture, and prayers to bring peace to you, to your relationships, and to help you find a way to bring peace to a fallen world. 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ AMG Publishers (October 15, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1617155780
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1617155789

I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Dec 19

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.   

Happy Hanukah to all who celebrate it! I hope you have a blessed holiday. We were preparing for Christmas yesterday. The house is coming together. Today, I have to mail out Christmas cards. They will be late, but at least they will go out. 

Travis enjoys napping under the tree

All the work holiday parties are done, and my year as president of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley is coming to a end on December 31 (unofficially). It will be official on January 12, with the passing of the gavel to the incoming president. They were kind enough to get me a few gifts. What should I buy with my Barnes & Noble gift card?

I didn't read anything this past week, because I am involved in our company's Adopt A Family program. This program provides gifts for families in need. This year, we will have helped bring Christmas to more than 60 families. I did, however, finish listening to this one.

I also started listening to this one. At least something good comes out of all that time in the car.

I didn't touch any of these at all.

After those few, I really need to read this book because its review is so overdue. 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This book arrived earlier in the week. I forgot I had ordered a used copy. 

I also found these Kindle freebies this week.

That's it for me. I hope everyone who celebrates it has a great Christmas!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - June 22

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome back to Monday. I hope you had a nice weekend. We celebrated Father's Day with all three kids. The weather was beautiful, and we were able to have a nice outdoor dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

I've been trucking along with my reading. It is easier when you are reading what you want instead of sticking to a schedule.

I finished the fourth book in Karen White's Tradd Street series. My review appears here.

I am currently reading the next book and hope to finish it before we leave for vacation.

Here is the updated list of what is traveling with me to the Outer Banks.

I am bringing my Kindle Fire, but not sure how much I'll use it. I cut back on the number of books I am bringing because last year I hauled too many. On the off chance I get through all of these, I can pick one off my device or study for my real estate broker's exam. 

What kinds of books to you put in your beach bag? Are they light reads or intense reads? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you pack a variety?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Jun 10

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

It is the second week of June. How is it the second week of June already? Didn't spring just start? Now, we are closer to summer. Well, at least that means vacation is on the horizon.

I've already put together my reading pile for the two weeks in NC. Both my Kindle and Kindle Fire are acting cranky, so I'll bring them, but not sure what I'll be able to read on them. Grrr!

In case you missed it, I reviewed this one on Friday. You can read the review here.

I finished this book and my review will appear this Friday at An Imperfect Christian Mom.

I am currently reading these three. 

This pile is going on vacation with me at the end of the month. 

Yes, Marilla was supposed to be my first read of the year. I started it, but got busy with books to review. I'm determined to read it while we are away.

I just bought this one. No, I don't need more books. This is just one I really wanted. The hubby wants to read it too, so that made spending the money on it easier.

This is for a review. August, I think. 

What is on your list this week? Anything new and exciting to share? 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 6

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! Hope you enjoyed the first weekend in May. The Lil' Princess had a dance show all weekend, plus I had work and church, so we had some things going on. Not as hectic as it has been, which is fine by me.

Had a chance to review this book on Friday.

I recently started this one.

Then here is the rest on my list. 

After that, I might dabble in some of the leadership books I bought recently.

What's on your list this week? Anything you're excited about reading?