Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away by Diony George-Blog Tour Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jul 182013
 

 

 

 Product Description

  • Title: Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away
  • Author: Diony George
  • Paperback: 112 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (July 9, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1462111890
  • FTC, FYI: I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

 
Book Description
Before we came to earth, we lived in heavenly realms. We knew our Heavenly Father. We walked and talked with Him. We heard His voice. We felt His love. In Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away, beloved author Diony George teaches us how to reestablish that relationship with Him here on earth. 

With the help of this book you will…
• Learn that nothing is too small or unimportant to discuss with Heavenly Father
• Find peace and contentment through daily communication with God
• Gain a better understanding of why some prayers seem to go unanswered
• Develop a greater knowledge of the power of prayer
 
The inspirational and enlightening experiences found within these pages will change your life forever by strengthening your relationship with God and filling your life with peace, teaching us that heaven really is just a prayer away.

Excerpt:

Repeatedly through prayer I’ve received wisdom to handle situations in my life I wasn’t dealing well with on my own, especially in my role as a Mother.

 

My bedroom was quiet, and warm from the afternoon sun, but I didn’t find it comforting as I shut the door behind me. I was exhausted, filled with so much frustration I wanted to scream. I started to cry instead.

 

My son had lied to me again.

 

I had tried to do everything I knew how to get him to stop. Nothing worked. Not losing friends, video games or television. Not writing sentences, or doing dishes for a week. And none of the many talks or family home evening lessons we’d had about honesty. My discouragement ran deep and I had run out of ideas. How could I get him to understand the immense value of this principle? How could I believe anything he told me?

 

I’d prayed about it many times, at least I thought I had, in a general way, but the problem persisted and my discouragement and feelings of helplessness to change it increased.

 

I knelt down by my bed. The filtered rays of sunshine coming through the bedroom window warmed my back and I started another prayer. I felt tired, sad, and at a loss of where to go next. “Father in Heaven, I don’t know what to do. Please help me…”

 

I told him all of my concerns until my knees were sore. When I finished, I opened my eyes and grabbed a Kleenex to wipe the tears off my face. I got up and sat on the edge of my bed. Releasing the emotions helped lighten my heavy heart, but I still didn’t know what to do.

 

It wasn’t long before a thought entered my mind.

 

Really, Heavenly Father, I questioned. You want me to do that? How can that possibly work? What about the next time and the next time he tells me something?

 

I was to tell my son I was not going to look back anymore at the times he’d been dishonest, the times he’d covered the truth with excuses or denials. That was over and done with. From then on, I would believe he was telling me the truth. I was going to trust him.

 

I called my son to my bedroom so we could talk and I told him right then I was drawing a line, separating the past from the future. I watched his eyes grow bigger as he listened. With parted lips, he searched my face.

 

 “Unless you do or say something to break my trust, I am now giving it to you completely.” Heavenly Father are you sure, I questioned again, feeling afraid.

 

His answer was a warm feeling of peace.

 

My son’s eyes watered and he hugged me. “Thanks Mom, I love you.” He turned and left the room.

 

My tears fell again.

 

 Over the next several months I saw my son change. The first few times I asked if he was sure he was being honest or telling the truth, there was hesitation. Occasionally he changed his answers. As time passed the hesitations disappeared and his responses were strong and firm.

 

I would never have thought to handle that situation the way I did, on my own. That inspiration and guidance came directly from Heavenly Father as an answer to my prayers.

 

 

 

 

My Review

 

 

This is one of the most beautiful books I have read about prayer. I loved reading the simple stories of Diony’s life showing how prayer can bring peace to our lives.

I loved this message from the book…

” Modern day leaders of the Church have also taught us to pray always.
        
      ‘Carry…the spirit of prayer throughout every duty that we have to perform in life.’

We can pray when we are seeking safety or facing temptation, when we need guidance and inspiration-anytime we need help with anything.”

This really brings so much comfort to our souls knowing that we can pray in any situation. Some of the chapters in the book are entitled:

  • Pray Always
  • Pleadings for Peace
  • How He Answers
  • His Timing, Not Ours
  • Draw Near Unto Him
  • Prayer Changes Things

 These are only a few of the thirteen chapters included in this uplifting book about prayer. If you want any questions answered about prayer, you will find those answers in this book. If you want to improve your quality of prayers that you give, you will find scriptures giving you answers of how to make your prayers more meaningful. Regardless of where you are spiritually right now in your life, Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away will give you strength and encouragement, and help you draw closer to Father in Heaven by remembering to pray several times a day. He is there and listening waiting for you to call out to him. Thank you Diony for writing another book that will influence many people for the good.


Meet Author Diony George   
Diony George is a wife, full-time mom of seven, grandmother of three, and a published author of uplifting women’s fiction and inspiring nonfiction. She is also a regular contributing writer for Deseret Connect and FamilyHow. Originally from Alaska, she currently lives in Salt Lake City with her family. Besides writing she loves to read, especially romantic suspense, bake, sew and craft.
Her current fiction WIP, Inside the Heart, is based around the kidnapping and disappearance of four-year-old Emma. Her newest nonfiction book, Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away was just released by Cedar Fort, Inc.

 

 

A Sisterhood of Strength by Diony George – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews, Special Features
Aug 072012
 

A Sisterhood of Strength

Author: Diony George

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published Date: August 2012

Paperback; 128 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1-4621-1076-6

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

President Monson has repeatedly expressed that even in our busy, bustling lives, “it’s the service that counts.” And no one knows that better than the quiet, humble women of the Relief Society. Working together, faithful women form a sisterhood of service, selflessness, and ultimately strength to share with each other and the entire world.

On each page of this remarkable book, you’ll find words of wisdom and beauty that are sure to encourage and uplift you, whether it’s your turn to serve or be served. Told with heartwarming sincerity, A Sisterhood of Strength will have women everywhere rejoicing in the friendship of their own dear, loving sisters.

Review

As women we often expect too much from ourselves, think that the things we do don’t matter that much, and that we are failing in our efforts to be good daughters of God. Stories like those shared in A Sisterhood of Strength are proof that the little things we do make more of a difference than we realize.

A Sisterhood of Strength is a quick read, great for a Sunday afternoon or for those days when we are feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. Each story is only a page or so in length yet powerful in the message of the importance of listening to the Spirit and reaching out to each other every day, not just in times of obvious trial.

Find A Sisterhood of Strength here:

AMAZON | BOOKS ‘N’ THINGS | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS

You can purchase a personalized autographed copy HERE.

Heather Justesen & Diony George – Countdown to Christmas 2009

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 132009
 
12 Days until Christmas!


Heather Justesen’s recently published book, The Ball’s in Her Court, is her first novel. Heather’s second book, Rebound, featuring secondary characters from The Ball’s in Her Court, will be released in May 2010.

The Ball’s in Her Court can be purchased at Deseret Book, www.amazon.com, and www.barnesandnoble.com, as well as in stores at the Sandy and Orem locations of Barnes & Noble.

Learn more about Heather on her website: www.heatherjustesen.com and her blog: Heather Justesen.

LDSWBR: What favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in every year, and will you be starting any new traditions this year?

HEATHER: Every year when there are kids around we hide the presents all over the house with one package for each kid in each spot. Then one of the adults makes up a really lame rhyming clue about where the presents are and the kids race to find them. This takes what could otherwise be a ten-minute orgy of wrapping-paper ripping fun into a slower-paced hour or more of exciting discoveries. Our family has done this since I was in elementary school and now the grand kids love it as much as we did. Unfortunately, there will be no grandchildren in town this year as all of my siblings have opted to stay home for a change.

LDSWBR: Heather, what books are on your Christmas wish list?

HEATHER: I’m dying to read Jessica Day George’s Princess at the Midnight Ball, Julie Wright’s Eyes Like Mine and Michele Paige Holmes’ All the Stars in Heaven.

LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase for loved ones this Christmas? (Don’t ruin any surprises!)

HEATHER: I picked up Mormon Mishaps and Mischief for my mother-in-law and I plan to pick up James Dashner’s Maze Runner for my husband. I’m still waffling on a few others.

LDSWBR: Thank you, Heather. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

****************************************

Diony George’s first novel, Torn Apart, had it’s second edition release in February 2009. She is currently working on a book titled Shaded View, the story of a wife and mother who thinks getting a divorce will fix everything wrong in her life. She learns the answer is changing herself.

Torn Apart can be purchased at Seagull Book, Deseret Book, www.amazon.com and on Diony’s personal blog: The Sun Always Returns After the Rain and website: tornapartbyporn.com. She is currently offering signed copies on sale for Christmas.


More about Diony: Author Diony George is a dedicated wife and mother of seven. Originally from Alaska, she enjoys traveling, cooking, applique quilting, and spending time with her family. Through personal experience she’s become passionate about helping those whose lives have been drastically affected by pornography addiction. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband Daryl, and their children.

LDSWBR: Diony, what favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in each year? Will you be starting any new traditions this Christmas?

DIONY: Every Christmas Eve we have a special program in the evening with our family by candlelight and the lit Christmas tree. Everyone participates by sharing a story, a song, a skit or a poem. We sing carols around the piano, ending with my husband reading the Christmas Story from the Bible found in Luke. We have homemade cookies and treats, as well as warm spiced cider afterward and the children can choose to open one gift.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

DIONY: Women of the Old Testament by Camille Fronk Olson and Elspeth Young; Saving Madeline by Rachel Ann Nunes.

LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase for loved ones this year?

DIONY: Worldwide Ward Cookbook by Deanna Buxton–I can’t say who for!

LDSWBR: Thanks for sharing with us, Diony, and thank you so much for donating a signed copy of Torn Apart for our drawing! Best Christmas Wishes to you and your family.

Is your Christmas Morning one big free-for-all, or do you take turns opening presents? How do you control the chaos? Or do you even try?

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite 2009 books by LDS authors for Whitney Awards by December 31! Can’t remember what you read? Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of books published by LDS authors in 2009.



***Countdown to Christmas Contest***


LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.
  • Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

  • Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena
  • Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
  • Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
  • A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele’s Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
  • Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
  • MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
  • Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
  • Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
  • Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
  • Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
  • Shudder by Jennie Hansen
  • Mormon Mishaps & Mischief by D. N. Giles & C. L. Beck
  • Dawn’s Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
  • The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington
  • Torn Apart (signed copy) by Diony George
  • Pursued: A Maggie McKenzie Mystery by Lynn Gardner

Thank you so much!