My Favorite Quotes from Calm My Anxious Heart

I love a good quote. I used to have journals just FILLED with quotes, some written by me and lots found on the internet. I recently read and reviewed Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow and that book was full of amazing, inspiring, encouraging quotes. I highlighted so many different quotes in this book that I knew I needed a whole separate post for them. I hope someone finds encouragement in these!

"What we are on the inside, what we continually think about, eventually shows in our words, actions, and even on our countenances."

"...she had lived a life of contentment when her circumstances would have caused the hardiest to complain."

"Her eyes were fixed on eternity. Her tomorrows belonged to God. She had given them to Him. And because all her tomorrows were nestled in God's strong arms, she was free to live today."

"Because Carol constantly compares her personality to those of the Sallys of this world, she has missed her own individual beauty." ... "She's too busy focusing on what she doesn't have instead of what God has given her."

"If we want to be women of contentment, we must choose to accept our portion, our assigned roles from God."

"When a woman looks for contentment in material possessions, the 'things' she wants pull her deeper and deeper into discontent. That for which she longs gradually becomes that to which she belongs."

"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least."

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."

"When we worry, we're saying 'God can't.'"

"When we spend precious time worry about what might happen, anxiety becomes negative baggage that weighs us down, saps our energy, and leaves us ineffective."

"Worry never changes a single thing except the worrier."

"We are to entrust all our tomorrows to Him and live just today."

"It's when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear."

Review: Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow

Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow

Publication Date: June 29, 2007

"True contentment is separate from our circumstances. Contentment is a state of the heart, not a state of affairs.

This is a very convicting book. A Bible study friend picked this book out for us to read and I hadn't heard of it before, but dang, it was a great read. I highlighted something on almost every page and plan on doing a whole blog post of my favorite quotes from this book.

Linda has seen a LOT of the world and she shares just a glimpse of her stories. She was a missionary for a very long time and saw the good, bad, and ugly. In this book she dives into contentment and worry and so much more. I personally struggle with contentment and thinking the grass is greener somewhere else. This book really explains WHY we need contentment and HOW we can get it.

This book covers a lot more than just contentment and it has questions at the end for each chapter. It will really make you take a step back and look at your life and thoughts, but it will benefit you to make positive changes! 💗

Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

  

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Publication Date: May 23, 2017

★★★★

Wait, what? That's what I found myself asking through a lot of this book. This book was not what I expected at all and for that reason I'm unclear on what to rate it. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂 That's kind of a good thing though, right?

This was a quick, clever read that took me by surprise and had me guessing the whole time. I read some other E. Lockart books in high school and loved them, and as far as I know this book was very different than her other ones, but it was done well! It really gets you thinking and made me start flipping back, trying to get clues and put the whole puzzle together. Definitely check this one out for a quick story where truly nothing is as it seems!

Review: The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay by Kelly Harms

The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay by Kelly Harms

Publication Date: August 9, 2016

★★★★

I love a good small town read, and this book did not disappoint! Lily is a starving artist who realizes she never signed the annulment papers from her one-night-stand-turned-wedding in Vegas 10 years ago. She of course has to track her "husband" down and finds him in Minnow Bay, Wisconsin.

Lily finds more than her husband in Minnow Bay. She finds an adorable town with kind, hard-working people who turn to friends. And not to be cliche, but she finds herself there too. Lily has a very tell it like it is personality, and I liked the banter between her and her friends and her "husband", Ben.

I thought I knew exactly how this story would go based on the title, but there's so many surprises along the way that made for a fun story! If you're like me and love small towns (or just reading about them), definitely check this one out!

Review: The Good, The Bad, and the Grace of God by Jep and Jessica Robertson

The Good, The Bad, and the Grace of God by Jep and Jessica Robertson

Publication Date: June 23, 2015

★★★★

This book surprised me in the best way! I haven't seen all the Duck Dynasty seasons (someday I'll binge them) but I loooooove reading about the Robertsons. I didn't know too much about Jep and Jessica going in to this book, but I loved reading their stories from their upbringings and early married days.

Jep and Jessica are definitely proof that you can't judge a book by its cover. When we "meet" people on TV after they've reached success, it's hard to remember that they started from the bottom. J+J both have been through a LOT in life that I would have never guessed! From health issues to marriage struggles, these two have a ton of experiences to share, and they've come a long way! They really have seen the good and bad in life and I appreciate their transparency.

This is a great, honest read about the youngest Robertson brother and the surprising twists and turns his and his wife's lives took!

Review: The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks

The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

★★★★★

Shoot dang, this was the book I needed to rekindle my love for reading Nicholas Sparks! It had been far too long since I had read one of his books, but it definitely won't be long before I pick up another story of his!

This story is an interesting mix of romance and thriller and I am here for it! 🙌🏻 As always, I'm immediately drawn to the small North Carolina town filled with cute places and good people. Except for creepy stalker Richard, of course. 😝 I felt connected to the main character Julie and felt nervous FOR her throughout the entire story. It kept me on edge the whole time!

As per usual with pretty much all Sparks books for me, I cried while reading this book. 😭 I highly recommend this book if you're in the mood for a good "hiding in plain sight" small town thriller!

Review: Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes by Jessica Pan

Publication Date: May 28, 2019

★★★.5

This was an interesting read. Admittedly, I was drawn to this book because of the pretty cover and colors 🙈 I would classify myself as a selective extrovert (lolol). Meaning I do get my energy from being around CERTAIN people, not just any group of people. At the same time I love being at home and being with my little family unit.

Ramble over...this book surprised me. I knew the author Jessica was going to work on being more extroverted and saying yes to things, but I feel like her journey was extreme. I did not expect her to do some of the things she tried, like stand-up comedy or having a surprise trip booked for her. Those are two things you will not find me doing. Ever. 🤪

I enjoyed reading about Jessica's experience taking an improv class, and all the people she met during her extroverted year. I love that a common theme throughout her journey was that a lot of people are more introverted than they may present. It kinda makes you think!

I recommend this book just as a funny read about someone stepping out of their comfort zone, just know that some of her experiences are a little unrealistic (at least to this midwest mama!) 🌻