A to Z Challenge, Book Review, "A Chocolate Life; Savoring God's Sweet Grace"

“A Chocolate Life; Savoring God’s Sweet Grace”

By Deb Burma

Review by Shelly Burke

Who doesn’t love at least a bit of chocolate once in a while? Deb Burma’s new devotion book, A Chocolate Life; Savoring God’s Sweet Grace, shows readers how life can be like chocolate—sweet, bitter, light and smooth, or dark and lumpy. In devotions with titles that include Chocolate-frosted Grace, Hot Cupcake Aromatherapy, Chocolate Gifts, Choice Morsels, and Not by Chocolate Alone, Burma takes examples and illustrations from her life and shows us how we can apply them to our own lives. In every devotion (there are 30 devotions in the book) she shows us how God sustains us, forgives us, and provides us with His endless grace. As an extra treat readers will find nine chocolate-based Burma family recipes in the book. YUM!

One of my favorite devotions is Chocolate Gifts. In this devotion Burma relates how her kids sometimes hoard the chocolate gifts they’ve received…only to find later that the months-old stash is stale and hard. She reminds us to not to do the same with God’s gifts to us, but to use them and share them! God’s gifts will never spoil but, as Burma points out, “if we don’t use them, other people will miss out on the rich blessings and grace of God that they could receive through us.”

The devotions are quick to read and packed with God’s Word and meaning. Burma encourages us to take in “nuggets and morsels of God’s Word (and chocolate)” and make Him a priority in our lives—just as each of us is a priority to Him. She encourages us to make God’s Word available at all times—by having a Bible handy, written verses or passages posted around our homes, and a devotion book in our car or purse to read while waiting.

A Chocolate Life; Savoring God’s Sweet Grace  is the perfect size and price (quantity discounts available) to wrap up with a candy bar or other chocolate treat, or tuck into a greeting card and give as a gift on a special occasion or “just because.” Every reader of A Chocolate Life will “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

To read more by Deb Burma, check out her blog at Fragrant Offerings .

(Now that I’m done writing this review, I’m going to go find…some chocolate!)

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To purchase A Chocolate Life; Savoring God’s Sweet Grace devotion book, magnets, or Scripture cards, ask at your Christian bookstore or go to www.cph.org (Concordia Publishing House).

It’s FREEBIE FRIDAY!

To win one of three FREE copies of “A Chocolate Life,” just

Leave a comment on this blog or at the Facebook page “Home

is Where the Mom Is”! Three winners will be randomly chosen and

you’ll be contacted for your mailing address.

Blogging A to Z Challenge

“55 Things you can do in Just Five Minutes”

AND "Freebie Friday!"

It’s Freebie Friday! When you comment on this blog entry you’ll be entered to win one of three personally autographed copies of Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom’s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home. Winners will be randomly chosen from the comments. Tell me what you can do in just five minutes, or which of these suggestions you’re going to try next time you have a few minutes to spare. Winners will be notified by e-mail, so please make sure we can click on your name and contact you for your address and to whom you’d like the book autographed. GOOD LUCK!

You’re waiting for the kids to collect everything they need before you drive them to school. Or you’re husband is just finishing a phone call before you head out for a date. Or the pork chops are almost done defrosting in the microwave.

Rather than “frittering the time away” (as my wise father would say), challenge yourself to accomplish something. You’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish in just a few minutes! This is by no means a complete list, but will get you into the habit of using even just a few minutes to do a simple task.

In your bedroom:

1. Organize one dresser drawer.
2. Straighten your shoes.
3. Sort the stuff on your bedside table.
4. Give your husband a long hug and a big kiss.

In the kitchen:

5. Clear out the dishwasher (I’ve timed myself—it usually takes less than 3 minutes).
6. Discard leftovers from the refrigerator.
7. Go through the pantry and make a grocery list.
8. Start your meal plan for the next week.
9. Clean one cupboard.
10. When you’re cooking, brown an extra pound of hamburger so you can make a quick casserole on a rushed day.

In the bathroom:

11. Fold a load of clothes.
12. Toss your old toothbrushes and get out new ones.
13. Clear off the counter.
14. Experiment with a new makeup look or hairstyle.
15. Check your supply of toilet paper, soup, shampoo, etc., and add to your list if any are low.

In the car:

16. Sort through the glove box.
17. Take a few deep breaths to relax.
18. Read a magazine article.
19. File or buff your finger nails.
20. Do isometric exercises; tense and relax your abs, for example.
21. Gather all of the sippy cups, empty water bottles, tissues, and loose pieces of paper in the back seat.

When you’re talking on the phone:

22. Set the table.
23. Sort laundry.
24. Iron.
25. Lotion your legs.
26. Sit with your feet up.

Before bed:

27. Get out the clothes you’ll wear in the morning.
28. Put the dishes in the dishwasher.
29. Get the first load of clothes ready to wash.
30. Talk—really talk, and listen—to your husband.
31. Read a short devotion or chapter of Proverbs.

In the living room:

32. Straighten out the DVDs.
33. Turn over and fluff the couch cushions.
34. Water the plants.
35. Pick up everything off the floor so it’s easy to vacuum.
36. Play a game of Chinese Checkers.

At your desk:

37. Write a thank-you note, or note of encouragement.
38. Look at your birthday and anniversary list for the next month and check your supply of cards for those occasions.
39. Jot down ideas for your next project.
40. Check your supply of paper clips, pens, sticky notes, etc.

Through the whole house (or at least several rooms):

41. Empty all of the wastebaskets.
42. Pick up all of the stray coats, shoes, socks, towels, etc.
43. Collect all of the glasses, dishes and silverware.
44. Spray air freshener in every room.
45. Have a tickle fight!
46. Call a friend just to say, “I’m thinking of and praying for you.”

For your health:

47. Jump rope.
48. Learn to take your pulse.
49. Walk around the block or go up and down the stairs.
50. Stretch.
51. Eat a piece of fruit.

With your kids:

52. Talk about the day.
53. Say a prayer together.
54. Play tag.
55. Hug!

 You can see from this list that there are many things you can accomplish in just a few minutes! Change your mindset; rather than thinking “It’s only a few minutes; I can’t get anything done!” challenge yourself—“What can I accomplish in five minutes?”

  

(Excerpted from Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom’s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home. For ordering information, click on the link in the sidebar.)

I’m also blogging at Nebraska Family Times. Today’s post is titled “Good Friday?”