Welcome to those of you stopping in after reading Susan Meissner’s devotion today! We are delighted that you’re here and hope that you will visit again.
And your timing couldn’t be better. The wonderful folks at Waterbrook Press are giving one lucky reader the journal and pen pictured below in honor of Susan Meissner. That winner will also receive a copy of Susan’s novel, The Shape of Mercy, and her new release, White Picket Fences (which releases tomorrow, October 6th).
But don’t despair. Even though we can only have one grand-prize winner, four more lucky readers will receive copies of each novel.
To be eligible for the giveaway, simply leave a comment below or sign up for our monthly newsletter. The winners will be randomly selected on Wednesday, October 7th.
***(As an aside, if you signed up for our newsletter during the month of September, technical difficulties prevented us from saving your contact information. If you have not already done so, would you consider signing up again? Trust us, you don’t want to miss our winter newsletter!)
To read the first chapter of The Shape of Mercy, click here.
Susan has also graciously provided She Reads a variety of book club resources, including recipes, discussion questions, and activities. You can access those here for free.
Book Summary – The Shape of Mercy
Leaving a life of privilege to strike out on her own, Lauren Durough breaks with her family’s expectations and takes a part-time job from eighty-three-year-old librarian Abigail Boyles. The mysterious employer asks Lauren to transcribe the journal entries of her ancestor Mercy Hayworth, a victim of the Salem witch trials.
Immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. As the fervor around the witch accusations increases, Mercy becomes trapped, unable to fight the overwhelming influence of snap judgments and superstitions. Lauren realizes that the secrets of Mercy’s story extend beyond the pages of her diary, living on in the mysterious, embittered Abigail.
The secret of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to the truth, will Lauren find herself playing the helpless defendant of the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and see who she really is?
Susan Meissner believes that books take us to places we have perhaps only imagined and introduce us to intriguing people – both real and invented – whose lives inspire, teach and sometimes transform us. She knows that books entertain but they can also enlighten and educate; they can motivate us to attempt great things. That is her goal as a writer, that the stories she pens will always leave readers with a message of hope after they have read the last page.
Susan has penned eleven novels in addition to The Shape of Mercy (2009 ECPA Book of the Year winner). Some of her other works include: Blue Heart Blessed (2009 Inspirational Readers Choice Awards, winner for Long Contemporary Novel), White Picket Fences, and Why The Sky Is Blue.
Susan Meissner has been feeding her love of writing all her life. Her first novel, Why the Sky is Blue, was released in 2004, after she resigned her post as editor for a local newspaper in a rural Minnesota town. Since that time she has had several books published and moved to San Diego, where she lives with her family.
If you are interested in The Shape of Mercy, would you consider purchasing it from Proverbs 31 Ministries? All proceeds from book sales go to support this powerful women’s ministry.
About Ariel Lawhon
Ariel Lawhon is the co-founder of She Reads, novelist, blogger, and life-long reader. She lives in Texas with her husband and four young sons (aka The Wild Rumpus). Ariel believes that Story is the shortest distance to the human heart.
I read the devotion today. It caught me off-guard a bit because it was on the exact same subject as our guest-speaker’s sermon last night at church. Love God, love others… God might be trying to get me to pay attention to something here. Thank you for sharing, Susan and thank you Proverbs 31 for sharing Susan with us. Even if I’m not one of those blessed enough to win, I hope to pick up the book and read it.
I have always been a lover of good books and of the creative process! Thank you for creating “She Reads” as an addition to P31! I’m looking forward to some great recommendations!
Blessings!
Jennifer
Hi, thank you for the opportunity to enter the contest to win Susan Meissner’s books – White Picket Fences and The Shape of Mercy, as well as the journal and pen set. I hope to hear from you soon.
Today’s devotion was great! Thank you for sharing that! Fear is battle I fight often and I love the encouragement and tools!
I am always looking for great fiction to put in the school library. Thank you for drawing my attention to this site.
I loved to day’s devotion. I would love the opportunity to win copies of Susan Meissner’s books and the journal/pen set. I just filled my currrent journal and have been on a quest to find a new one and this one is beautiful! Thanks.
I admire anyone who can write something more than a grocery list! Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about these books.
Thank you for the devotion today and the opportunity to win these books and beautiful journal. I love reading christian fiction! Anytime I can read something enjoyable that draws me closer to God I consider it a blessing and time well spent. I have already signed up for the newsletter and look forward to the first issue.
What a wonderful devotion today! So true, we must remember that God gave us a spirit of power, not fear
AND by loving others, rather than judging them, we are reminded that despite our flaws, God loves US!! Please enter me in the giveaway 
Have a super blessed day!!
thank you so much for the devotion today! i fight against fear daily, and as my husband is deployed to afghanistan right now and being a mommy of two, it is a constant struggle. however, i am grateful for the Lord using devotions like this one to encourage and point me to Him. Thank you!!
I was a little surprised to see Susan Meissner as the writer so I was pretty much hooked with today’s devotion from the beginning. And it is so true. Sadly, I’ve done that before, and it was one of those learning to let go of fear moments for me too. Also, I liked the expectations of Jesus part. Every now and then I’ll remember that out of the blue and it is definitely a good basis for life. Just like when Paul talks about love binding everything together for perfect unity of all the virtues. That pen and journal set look great, and I’ve already seen Meissner’s new release which looks interesting as well. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thank you for the wonderful devotional. I love to read them daily and they always seem to hit the spot for that day. I love forward to reading more of Susan Meissner’s books.
So enjoyed your devotion today and thank you for the opportunity to enter the contest to win one of your books or even a journal and pen set.
Blessings ~ Becky
This devotional was so timely for me today. Just last night my husband and I were praying with our son who was under attack, the manifestation was fear. The devotional encouraged me because much of what was written was the advice and our prayer for our son. Go God!!!!
Came over from the devotional. Signed up for the newsletter – really looking forward to it. Thanks for the chance to win these books in your contest.
I really enjoyed the story of the bat on the ceiling. I too have have made assumptions or judgments far too quickly only to find out how wrong they were. If we only try love and caring first, what a difference it can make.
Thank you for this opportunity and God Bless you.
Hi. I read the devotion today and it came at just the right moment. I am a stay at home mom with a six month old. My husband and I lost our house and moved back in with my parents while we renovate an old mobile home that his grandparents bought for us to live in mortgage free on their 72 acres of land. As much as we view this as a blessing, we miss our home. We have had some financial difficulties, and it has been a true sacrifice, but we both felt it important for me to be home with our child, especially since my husband’s job keeps him away from home every third night as a fire fighter. Recently, I have considered returning to work because my career provides us with greater income. I am 25 and about to complete my BA in English. My dream has always been to write and I wish so desperately I could find an opportunity that would enable me to work from home and have the best of both worlds. My fear gets in my way of both. Fear makes me believe that I could never succeed as a writer and that I lack the talent. Fear makes me not want to leave my child with anyone else for lack of trust. Then, when I consider returning to work, I feel guilty for leaving her and fear she will feel abandoned. I am afraid I will make the wrong decision, no matter which path I choose. My heart longs to be home with her. But I want to be sure that I am following God’s instruction for my life and not just my own feelings. The devotion spoke to me and showed me that God places the desires within my heart for a reason and that finishing is better than starting, and patience better than pride. If I just sit back and wait, the right opportunity will come for me and God will bless my family. Thank you for your devotion and for touching so many lives through your words. God is using you to speak to women all over and that is something to be proud of! God bless and take care, Brandi
I very much enjoyed today’s devotional. I hadn’t thought of fear as influencing others so easily. Thank you.
I really enjoyed the devotional today. I sometimes let fear get the best of me. I can really relate to your story. Thanks for a chance to enter your contest.
Thanks so much for the devotional, Susan. I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading your books.
Debbie
Thank you for today’s devotional. I truely look forward to reading the daily P31 devotions. I would love to read more from Susan Meissner.
I almost didn’t read the devotion today because I was in a hurry; I’m very glad that I stopped a read it. I could so relate to being fearful about what I think I see, when the real picture is totally different. Thanks for asking Susan to write the devotion today.
Susan’s devotion was just what I needed to hear this morning. I would love to read her books.
Enter me into the drawing! The devotion today was great; thanks!
What a great devotional Susan had for us today! I appreciated her insight into one of the many faces fear can have in our lives. I’m so excited about the book club here! I would LOVE to win the prize pack
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I always joke that I was never fearful before I had children. Now, unfortunately, there are days when fear reigns. I needed this devotion today. Thanks for sharing!
I am looking forward to reading this book. There is nothing more exciting than reading Christian fiction. Usually there is a message in them that affects my life. Thanks also for that message. It hit home to me.
As I read your devotion this morning from The Shape of Mercy, my thoughts immediately went to a person I struggle with in passing judgement upon. Why is it that no matter how vibrant our own personal walk with the Lord may be, He still brings one or two people along in our lives whom we find difficult to love? Though I have asked forgiveness from impure thoughts and prayed for my relationship with this person, I still struggle occasionally with judgement. Perhaps I need to ask the source of all Truth if He can shed His Light upon my dilemma and guide me in some action steps to gain victory . I was reminded that Jesus encountered many different types of personalities but evidenced His love in some way into each life.
Today’s devotion definitely struck my heart. I have really struggled with being very discontent lately which is something I have not experienced before. The devotion was both encouraging and convicting. I’m very excited about getting started with the book club!
I’ve already subscribed to the newsletter and I am looking forward to reading some of the recommended books.
Like Bonnie, we just had a similar message at church as that in today’s devotional. Maybe God is trying to get my attention?!
Thank you for today’s devotion. It was beautiful and so very true. I cried out to God just last night about my fears and loving others when I really don’t want to. I believe that many times God speaks to me through the writings of others. The devotion today was my confirmation. I am excited to read both of Susan’s books.
I just want to thank P31 Ministries for their daily devotionals. It is the first thing I look at each morning. I am excited to find new fiction novels out their for our enjoyment. My daughter (15) has just completed the Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury and thoroughly enjoyed them. I can’t wait to get this one for her to read as well. Thanks again.
I love the P31 daily devotions. Keep up the good work!
It’s so great to hear from the authors, both through this blog and through the P31 devotions. Thanks so much for starting SheReads. I have already read Daisy Chain and am almost finished with the sequel, A Slow Burn. Can’t wait to read the other picks too! I love reading Christian fiction and am always looking for new books so I am so excited to be a part of this!
I have been wanting to read Shape of Mercy. It sounds so good! I would love to win either book.
Thank you for sharing Susan’s devotion today and a chance to win her books.
She Reads sounds like a great way to connect authors and readers! Thanks so much for launching this new idea. I enjoyed Susan’s devotional very much. I will be looking for her new book White Picket Fences. I loved Shape of Mercy and Blue Heart Blessed.
Thanks!
Carrie
carrie (at) turansky (dot) com
This hit me hard. I’ve been going through a separation and been forced at times to see the unreal as I thought it was, not as it actually was. I am trying to not let judgement rule my thoughts. Thanks for the inspiration.
I could not believe when I read this devotion this morning. Last night I heard a mouse in our bathroom wall and I am so not liking it so I have been praying and fearful all day. I had to laugh when I read the devotion…so on target for me today I have to wonder if God is smiling too!!!
I really enjoyed the devotion today on fear. I myself struggle with allowing fear to dictate my decisions. Currently I am really trying to allow GOD to reset that way in me so I am able to enjoy the fullness of life to which CHRIST has called me!!! I am very excited about the She Reads book club, I really enjoy reading christian fiction and I like to invite my non-believing friends to read books along with me. Sometimes I am nervous when I invite someone because I am not sure if the book will be any good, but I can now use this as a great resource. Thank you so much!!!
I have only recently become interested in Christian fiction after reading the novels by Francine Rivers. I would love to read this book. I think I’ll check out some of the others listed also. Thanks for sharing God’s message of love with the world.
Nothing thrills me more than good fiction – a to find good Christian fiction – what a treasure! thank you!
I would be truly blessed to receive your book. Thank you for offering it to one of us. Shirley
What a great devotional!! Often times I feel like most people concider me a fool for loving some of the “unlovable” people and trying to give others the benefit of the doubt. Devotionals like this remind me that I’m not a fool, I’m obeying my master! I would love to win the drawing and read more of Susan’s work.
I love reading uplifting Christian fiction, as well as the devotionals you send. Thank you for having this drawing.
Just read the first chapter excerpt. The book sounds amazing!
Why is it that no matter how hard we try to walk with the Lord, He still brings someone along in our lives whom we find difficult to love? At the moment it seems to be my husband. Though I have asked forgiveness and prayed for my relationship with this person, I still struggle with not being able to forgive. Perhaps I need to ask God to shed His Light upon my situation and guide me in what I need to do to gain victory. I was reminded that Jesus encountered many difficult personalities but yet He was able to show His love in some way into each life. Thank you. Your devotions on many days is just what I need to correct my path.
What a great devotional this morning – and I truly enjoyed Susan’s book The Shape of Mercy, as I just completed it this week, after seeing it on this She Reads a few weeks ago. Thank you for the opportunity to own my own copy (as I took it out from the library) as well as of her new book!
I read all sorts of books and would love the opportunity to try Christian fiction. Thank you.