This week on Living Inspired I’m excited to have two great authors talking about their brand new books! Frank Viola hopes his new book, God’s Favorite Place on Earth (David C Cook, 2013) will change your life as it changed his. “In every generation, Christians face the same struggles and challenges,” observes Viola. “The Gospels tell us the amazing story of Jesus’ earthy life. Yet there is a story within the Gospel story that is often missed. To my mind, it is the greatest story never told—a narrative within the narrative. This book will show you how to be ‘Bethany’ for the Lord right here, right now.” In her second book, Embracing Beauty, Trina Holden brings practical efficiency and insight to women who want to find and rock their personal style in the season of motherhood.
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More about Frank:
Frank Viola has helped thousands of people around the world to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and enter into a more vibrant and authentic experience of church. He has written many books on these themes, including From Eternity to Here, Revise Us Again, Reimagining Church, Finding Organic Church, Jesus: A Theography and Jesus Manifesto. Viola has also written articles for or has been interviewed by TIME, Christianity Today, Charisma, LIFE Today, CBN, Relevant, The Christian Post, Outreach Magazine and many others, while his own blog, FrankViola.org, is rated as one of the top 10 most popular religious blogs today. More information on Viola can be found at frankviola.org and www.davidccook.com.
More about God’s Favorite Place on Earth:
When He came to earth, Jesus Christ was rejected in every quarter in which He stepped. The Creator was rejected by His own creation. “He came to His own and His own received Him not,” said John. For this reason, Jesus Christ had “no where to lay His head.” There was one exception, however. A little village just outside of Jerusalem named Bethany. Bethany was the only place on earth where Jesus was completely received.
God’s Favorite Place on Earth is a retelling of Jesus’ many visits to Bethany and a relaying of the message it holds for us today. Frank Viola presents a beautifully crafted narrative from the viewpoint of Lazarus, one of the people who lived in Bethany with his two sisters. This incomparable story not only brings the Gospel narratives to life, but it addresses the struggle against doubt, discouragement, fear, guilt, rejection, and spiritual apathy that challenges countless Christians today. In profoundly moving prose, God’s Favorite Place on Earth will captivate your heart with its beauty, charm, and depth. In this book you will discover how to live as a “Bethany” in our world today, being set free to love and follow Jesus like never before.
“God’s Favorite Place on Earth realigned my heart toward Jesus and His mysterious, confounding, surprising, beautiful ways. It’s not often I learn something new when reading a book, but Frank Viola’s sharp storytelling and insightful interpretation made me hunger for more of the real Jesus. Pick up this book if you need a reversal in your Christian life; it will not disappoint.” – Mary DeMuth, author of Everything: What You Give and What You Gain To Become Like Jesus
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More about Trina Holden:
Trina is a homeschooling mom of 3 who regularly schedules field trips to the thrift store to clothe her family frugally. You can find her wearing purple most days, jotting down words that beg to be written in between cooking, cleaning and laughter-filled phone conversations with friends. She blogs about true beauty, deep community, and real food at trinaholden.com
Short Interview with Trina Holden:
What life event led you to write this book?
The inspiration to write Embracing Beauty came during a season when I had actually been neglecting beauty. We were living on our converted bus in the middle of some investment property we were managing, and in the crowded space and life with 3 little ones I totally let any sort of intentionality toward beauty fall off the to-do list. As a result, I felt a part of me begin to shrivel. It was during this time that God revealed to me that beauty is a priority to Him, and should be to me, as well.
I began to find little ways and places and times to once again make beauty a priority, and felt my spirit become refreshed. I realized that many women are missing out on the joy to be found in the area of personal fashion, and I wanted to reach out to them with what the Lord was showing me.
What challenge were you hoping to address?
As mothers of small children I think it’s very easy to give up on beauty in our personal appearance. Our bodies are constantly changing size, and we have very little personal time for shopping or primping. It can be very depressing! Yet we can’t neglect the pursuit of beauty because it’s a huge area in which God intended us to experience joy. We need all the joy we can get in this season!
So often mamma’s struggle with seeing their bodies as beautiful after pregnancy. They also don’t have as much time or money for building their wardrobe. I address each of these challenges in my book, and hope to equip women to rediscover the fun of getting dressed.
How did you experience God during the writing of this book?
When I outlined this book, I planned on it being about 15,000 words and focus mostly on the practical tips I had discovered for dressing my body in the season of motherhood. God had other ideas, and repeatedly I felt the call to go deeper with the message of the book—to address body image, balance in the pursuit of beauty, and God’s heart behind beauty. Yet that message felt too deep for me—I felt inadequate to address those topics. Yet the call remained, so I found myself in prayer, asking God for wisdom for every line of the chapters that get to the heart of beauty. The book ended up being 30,000 words—double the size I felt adequate to write—and I can honestly say, the extra words? They are truly from God. And the ‘heart’ chapters in the book are having more of an impact than I could ever have had with just a collection of style tips. I really felt God used my willingness to put my fingers to the key board in order to get a message out to women that is close to His heart. I don’t take credit for this book.
More about Embracing Beauty:
Are you lost when it comes to rocking your personal style? Did motherhood completely derail your passion for fashion? Is lack of time, money, or a consistent waistline keeping you from looking your best? Trina Holden knows how that feels. After 3 kids in 5 years, and the challenges that brings to the budget and the body, beauty in the form of personal style had completely fallen by the wayside. Until the day she decided that she didn’t want to live without this source of joy and fulfillment any longer, and began to rethink her approach to style, and relearn how to dress her body well. In this candid and sometimes hilarious book, Trina shares her journey to embracing beauty in the season of motherhood. Every chapter is crammed with practical inspiration and tips for defining your style, choosing clothes and accessories that work for you, and combining it all into a look that will bring joy to your day, and bless those around you. Because clothes are not just a covering—they can be a way to express our very soul, a song we sing to those around us. Trina gets to the heart by showing how engaging in the creative process of dressing ourselves well can actually echo God’s love for beauty, and be a witness to those around us of our Father’s character. From the proper motivation to the correct measurement for a bra, this book covers the whole journey to embracing personal style. Chapters focus on creating a personal color scheme, strategies for pregnancy and nursing, and all the waist sizes in between. In addition, you’ll find an entire section on building your wardrobe on a budget with Trina’s tips from years of experience thrift shopping, including “10 Questions to Ask to Avoid Bringing Home a Wardrobe Orphan”, “Thrift Shopping With Kids in Tow”, and even “Building Your Child’s Wardrobe From the Thrift Store”. Don’t miss out on the joy God intended you to experience in the area of dress. With “Embracing Beauty” you can rediscover the beauty of your momma body, and how to rock your personal style.
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