Book Giveaway: 101 cups of water

In addition to whatever Bible study I’m working through at the moment (recent ones have been the CBS Bible study and a study from Sandra Glahn’s Coffee Cup series), I like to keep a few devotionals on hand. Sometimes, the day starts out with a crying toddler at 5:30 a.m., followed closely by an appliance disaster or other such calamity, and things don’t calm down until somewhere around 11:00 p.m. On days such as those, it’s nice to have a devotional on hand, offering me short takes that point me toward God. Sometimes, I’m feeling overwhelmed or understudied or inadequate or searching, and I appreciate the words of wisdom that authors have taken the time to write. Devotionals are good to have around on those days, too.

When I am up for a heart-challenge or want someone to really make me think, I often turn to Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest. But what about the days when I am at the end of my rope, disgusted with myself, weary, despairing? There’s certainly nothing wrong with pulling out My Utmost on those days too, but lately I’ve appreciated the brief essays in 101 cups of water.

C.D. Baker has put together this book of encouragement, grace, and peace — refreshing water for a soul that’s parched. On each page, he manages to take a situation that seems disheartening or hopeless and refocus the reader on God’s truth.

Each little essay begins with a statement of brutal honesty, sentiments of the heart and mind that we might hesitate to express to any but our very closest friends. Thoughts like: God seems silent in my life, Worry is a companion I wish I could get rid of, or Prayer is a struggle. Things we’ve all felt at one time or another, and probably more often than we’d like. Baker then writes through the issue in a very conversational way; he takes the reader from that feeling or statement, right through the (sometimes ugly) thick of it, and out the other side to where God’s word reminds of what is true about the situation.

Each essay is short — a couple hundred words at most — and easy to read through in the midst of a hectic or heavy day. And each flows from C.D. Baker’s statement: “I’ve been a believing Christian since childhood, but it’s my personal failures that have led me to the deep well of Grace.” That grace is evident on every page.

Are you in need of some refreshment? I have one copy of 101 Cups of Water to giveaway. If you’re interested, just leave a comment on this post. You don’t have to be a blogger to win, but you do have to make sure that your comment includes a way for me to get in touch with you — either a link to your blog or your email address.

UPDATE: Oops! I completely forgot to mention when this giveaway ends. I’ll choose a winner Sunday night, so feel free to keep those comments coming until then.