{A Review and Giveaway}: New Devotional Film Helps Women Selflessly Navigate An "All About Me" Society

I was once again contacted by Lisa and Francis Chan's ministry, asking if I would like to be apart of their "Deny Yourself Blog Tour," to review the second film in Lisa's new devotional film series for women, True Beauty: Finding Your Identity in Jesus.

Obviously, I jumped at the opportunity. I mean, hello...when a best-selling author (Crazy Love, Forgotten God, Erasing Hell) asks you to be apart of something they are doing, you don't say no! Plus, I absolutely LOVED the first dvd in the series, Be Still. You can read my review of it here.

I don't know about you, but I have recently been struggling with my purpose in life. Maybe I am having a mid-life crisis of sorts! ;) Basically, I feel like I am constantly running from one thing to the next, always busy getting stuff done, but never doing any of it well. I wear myself out doing things that I think God wants me to be doing with my time, my family and my ministry, only to look back and realize that I never even consulted Him first about these plans of MINE. I continue to jump in head first without a life vest, not realizing it until I start drowning!

No wonder I live overwhelmed, beat down and flat worn out most of the time. My best is simply not good enough. It never will be. I need to quit trying to do everything in my own time, by my own strength, according to my own plans. Can you relate?

Deny Yourself was exactly what I needed to hear...a reminder to give it all up in exchange for a better life, the abundant life that Christ offers us if we will simply lay down our own lives, our own plans, our own dreams and follow Him.

I know you will be incredibly inspired, as I was, by the story of Irene and her husband, who (by the grace of God) overcame a struggling marriage due to his alcoholism and ended up with a marriage better than they could have ever imagined. She obeyed Jesus' command to forgive, even though she didn't want to, and was tremendously blessed by this changed man and the large number of orphans they welcomed into their home!

After hearing her story, I am beyond excited to see what God will do in my own life when I truly begin to deny myself on a daily basis, choosing Him and His will instead of me and mine.

Will it always be easy? Absolutely not. Jesus had to endure the cross in order to claim the victory. But His glorious resurrection was definitly worth the sacrifice! I know that what God has in store for me (and us) is better than I (we) could have ever imagined! I have already seen Him answer my prayers in amazing, unexpected ways when I forgo asking for specific things, but instead simply ask for His will to be done in a particular situation.

"Then he said to them all: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." [Luke 9:23-24]

What about you? Do you want to experience the abundant life that only Jesus can give? A life better than you could ever imagine?

Everywhere they turn, women are fed the message that self-indulgence and having-it-all is the end goal. Each season brings a new style, a must-have bag and a better-than-ever face cream that will turn other women green with envy. Sacrifice isn't applauded, but rising up in the ranks is but, as they climb, they realize that this way of life isn’t shiny and happy—it’s empty. In the second film of her new series, True Beauty: Finding Your Identity in Jesus (David C Cook/Flannel, March 2013), Lisa Chan–co-founder of the mega-church Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley—presents another option for women: Deny Yourself. In this impactful teaching, she demonstrates a way of life that is full of contentedness and joy.

I am so excited to giveaway one copy of Deny Yourself to one lucky winner...to be able to bless another with the same blessing that was given to me.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post!

For extra entries (leave the designated amount of extra comments for each one that you do)...

1. Tweet this giveaway (leave 1 extra comment)

2. Post this giveaway on your FB wall (leave 2 extra comments)

3. Pin this giveaway onto Pinterest (leave 3 extra comments)

4. Blog about this giveaway (leave 4 extra comments)

Winner will be announced Saturday, April 27th. 

If you would rather just purchase a copy, pre-order yours here.

Have a great week, friends! May God bless you as you give up everything to follow Him!

Our regularly scheduled {Hope for the Home} linky party will return next week, as planned.

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.