gratitude | Julie Saffrin

Teacher Appreciation Day

May 7, 2013 • Julie Saffrin • Leave a Comment

Teacher Appreciation Day May 7, 2013 Dear Friends, In T. S. Eliot’s poem, Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, the narrator lived life all boxed in. Societal expectations and self-made cardboard sides prevented him from venturing out into the world. Near the end of the poem, the narrator asks tentatively, “Dare I disturb the universe?” There was a time when I was afraid to disturb the universe. But the sought-out advice of some good people encouraged me to finish my book and disturb the universe. BlessBack: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life released in February 2012. In February 2013, a year…

Free book download! Shelley Hitz’s new book, 21 Ways to Celebrate Gratitude

November 14, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • 1 Comment

Shelley Hitz and I both write about gratitude. I’m delighted to feature her today on the release of her new book, 21 Stories of Gratitude: The Power of Living Life with a Grateful Heart. Today she features her fifth way to celebrate gratitude by feeding families Thanksgiving meals. Welcome, Shelley! 21 Ways to Celebrate Gratitude Idea #5: Feed Families Thanksgiving Meals by Shelley Hitz Thanksgiving season is soon approaching and this year, I encourage you to take the opportunity to celebrate gratitude. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, take a moment (or two) to…

Time, effort, consistency

October 26, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • Leave a Comment

I have been a member for 21 years at Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, Minnesota. October is National Clergy Appreciation Month and marks 10 years that Pastor David Lenz has pastored our church. I can’t think of a better way to say thanks to him than to share his words with you about a recent trip he took to Lake Superior. May you be blessed by his words, as I have for the past decade. Thanks, Pastor, for always giving us God’s best. For those of you who would like some great suggestions of ways to thank your pastor, click…

A full circle of gratitude

October 13, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • Leave a Comment

Today I am privileged to feature a guest blog post by radio personality Gloria Plaisted. She is the founder of Faith@Work Break, a 60-second radio broadcast based out of Duluth, Minnesota. Feel free to stop by and “like” her Facebook Fan page at Faith@Work Break with Gloria Plaisted. Gloria’s story is featured in BlessBack®: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life and is a favorite among readers. Gloria’s story begins at chapter five. If you haven’t read the story, I urge you to download a copy of BlessBack at Amazon for $2.99 to your Kindle or download it to your Kindle Reader to…

“My Scripture Journal: Gratitude” – enter to win a free Kindle copy, leave a comment to win a print autographed copy.

August 24, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • Leave a Comment

I met Heather Bixler in an online writer’s group. She’s written a short Bible study. Today only you can download a FREE Kindle copy of her book, My Scripture Journal: Gratitude. Click here to download your free copy. Leave a comment about something you’ve learned about gratitude and you’ll be entered in to a drawing to win a print authographed copy. I wrote a review in July 2012 of Heather’s book. Here it is: For my summer devotional read, I am using My Scripture Journal: Gratitude by Heather Bixler and enjoying it. My Scripture Journal: Gratitude’s format is so simple that…

Shelley Hitz’s “21 Days of Gratitude Challenge”: Gift This Book to You and Others

August 23, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • Leave a Comment

Book Review 21 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Finding Freedom from Self-Pity and a Negative Attitude by Shelley Hitz “ . . .take simple steps of intentional gratitude . . .and watch and see what God does.” Shelley Hitz, from 21 Days of Gratitude Challenge Shelley Hitz’s new book, 21 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Finding Freedom from Self-Pity and a Negative Attitude uses the idea that if people practice a habit for 21 days, they can create a new pattern of thinking and living. Hitz chose to implement this strategy in her own life after a season of loss and…

Week of Gratitude Giveaways: FREE download August 22 only

August 22, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • Leave a Comment

I met Shelley Hitz through an online writer’s group. Shelley is the author of 11 books, including the newly released 21 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Finding Freedom from Self-Pity and a Negative Attitude. Book Description (Written by Shelley Hitz): During a season of transition in my life, I found myself overwhelmed with negative emotions like self-pity and a complaining spirit. It was as if a dark cloud had descended over me. I prayed and asked God for wisdom on how to overcome these negative emotions. And I sensed Him leading me to do this 21 days of gratitude challenge. Over…

Week of Gratitude Giveaways Aug. 20 to 24, 2012

August 20, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • 59 Comments

I, along with two other gratitude writers, are excited to bring to you a Week of Gratitude Giveaways, where you’ll be able to win prizes, get inspired and more! Join best-selling authors Julie Saffrin, Shelley Hitz and Heather Bixler for some great prizes. Monday – August 20 – enter to win print copies of BlessBack®: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life, by Julie Saffrin. Wednesday – August 22 – Download a FREE Kindle copy of 21 Days of Gratitude: Finding Freedom from Self-Pity and a Negative Attitude by Shelley Hitz AND enter to win a gratitude journal with thank-you notes. Friday…

A BlessBack Book Review From Tobin Wilson

August 10, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • Leave a Comment

“It is a poetic read, tethering together masterful storytelling, research, goodness, gratitude, thanks and activism in a world of brokenness that creates a powerful mosaic of Beauty.” from a review of BlessBack by Tobin Wilson, pastor of Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, Seattle, Washington. Pastor Tobin Wilson is one interesting person and I miss his weekly presence. He was pastor of my church Hope Presbyterian Church in the ’90s before he went to pastor Lake Burien Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington. His idea of offering “Barneys” on a mission trip is featured in BlessBack: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life which you…

Irene Christiansen – An Illuminator

August 9, 2012 • Julie Saffrin • Leave a Comment

They stand mostly abandoned now, these one-room country schools. But as the following story by Florence Smallfield reveals, they were places held in high esteem, where community happened and children of all ages received instruction in education and a way to go in life. Florence’s story of her family’s farm in Flandreau, South Dakota came to me through my mother. Both women attend church together. You can read her moving account of her family’s BlessBack in BlessBack: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life by purchasing a copy of the paperback version here. Or, if you prefer, the e-book version of BlessBack is FREE for…

Newer
1
2
3
4
Older