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.
Thanks for creating this website. I love to read and with a small child have not made time for it lately. This is a great way to for me to find new books to read and an encouragment for me to start making time for some much loved reading again! I also enjoy the ways you introduce the authors to us…it’s nice to “know” them more personally.
So many times, I find myself in the situation of fear. Your devotional really helped me to realize that the things I fear are rubbed off onto my family and I didn’t even know I was doing it. I constantly hold the people I love back from doing things they want to do out of the fear I have in my head of it not working out and being what I call “realistic” about things. If I love them as God loves, then I would encourage them and not judge. I too would be more open minded to let the love shine through for them and others to see. Thank you so much Susan for a devotional that allows us to see into our souls and lives to make changes for the better.
Thank You!
I’m such a bookworm, and this would be an awesome prize! It’s hard finding time in your day for quiet times with the Lord, and then some reading “for fun.” Thanks for the extra bit of motivation to turn off the TV at night and delve into a good book =)
I am delighted to see this author and book listed on She Reads, I’m fairly new to this site but I love it already. I am a huge fan of Susan Meissner, I’ve been blessed to have enjoyed the Rachel Flynt series, and now I look forward to devouring these new titles.
Susan is a talented author and she does a wonderful job of doing what she sets out to do, she takes us places with characters we would otherwise may never see or meet. And every novel is a an opportunty to learn something about the grace of God and humanity.
I can’t wait to read this and other work by Susan.
Thank you for choosing her, you have truly made my day
Love this new P31 website. I already belong to a book club through our church but am also looking for good Christian fiction suggestions. With the days getting shorter and quieter (empty nest) , I am ready to curl up in a comfy chair with a good novel in the evenings.
As a Church Librarian, I am always looking to preview different and exciting christian authors. I especially enjoy this part of the church ministry because I’m am contributing to the Church and having fun at the same time.
The first chapter of The Shape of Mercy has already captured my attention.
I love to read christian novels.
I’m starting a book club at my church – first meeting is Oct 19th. It would be great to win these books to present to the club. I’d love to read them! I’m so thrilled with the “SheReads” club – it will be wonderful to have someone pre-screening all the books for me.
I have had two situations within the last year where I judged someone totally wrong. This devotional is a great reminder.
FEAR! Even the word brings anxiety.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7
Whenever fear comes into my life, I am reminded of this verse. It always help me get through whatever crisis is going on in my life.
Thank you for Proverbs 31….the daily devotions help me start the day asking God to take care of everything and everyone.
I would soooooo enjoy being the grand prize winner, and if not the grand prize winner then a book winner in gerneral. I enjoy reading so much and always enjoy feeding myself with godly material to continue on in my journey, growth, and witness to others. I did sign up for the newsletter in September but will sign up again since there was difficulties. Thank you for this opportunity!
In His service,
Michaela Romero
These books would be a lovely gift for my Mom, who loves Christian fiction.
I absolutely love the Encouragement for the Day devotions! They bless my life and encourage my relationship with God in wonderful ways. I had never heard of the She Reads website and am very excited to have found it. I love reading Christian fiction, but like many of the other ladies haven’t made much time for it lately. I am excited to learn of new authors and new books to get my hands on!
I have been impacted so many days with the devotionals on the P31 page! Today was a blessing and a great reminder that our fears so often cripple us from being who God wants us to be. “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”- these words from 2 Timothy 1:7 are a wonderful reminder that our fears do not come from our Father, God.
Thanks for the great devotional. A real faith builder!
I have really enjoyed the daily devotionals from P31. I just discovered the fiction website and I am looking forward to reading some of these books.
I hadn’t heard of Susan Meissner until the devotional this morning, but her books sound wonderful and I want to check them out. Thanks for the heads-up! I appreciate the words about fear vs. love as well…
I started reading 31 Ministries devotionals this last summer.. I came across it through a Christian radio web-site. THANK YOU ladies for blessing me every day. I love the content and the real life stories. They make me laugh and they make me cry. Being a Mom, student, and Sunday school teacher life can be really chaotic at times. These devotionals help me slooooow down and remember to put my heavenly Father first in all things.
This sounds like a wonderful book and giveaway. I’ve been looking to try to delve into Christian fiction, and this would be a great start =)
This book looks really good! I really enjoyed your devotion today, it personally ministered to me regarding fear. I am afraid of everything and have been praying hard to overcome this, I refuse to live my life in fear anymore! So thank you for your devotion!!
I am addicted to the P31 ministry and have sent the link to my daughters, daughters in law and all my girlfriends. I had a birthday on October 1st and truned 56! I wrote about this milestone and it all revolved around the P31 ministry and the woman I want to become. Thanks for all you do and I know I will enjoy reading all the books featured on “She Speaks”.
Please enter me in the contest. I would love to receive the free book and journal. I’m always looking for new writers.
Thanks for re-introducing me to reading. I have always loved reading, but over the years I’ve let other things get in the way. With the great book suggestions on your website, I can easily find “a good read”. I also enjoy getting to know the authors.
Susan,
Thank you so much for your devotion today at Proverbs31.org. I am 53 years old and still have to curb the fear thing often. We think it only affects us personally when we give into fear, but your devo helped me see how our sin can affect those around us. Made me think about it a much deeper way!
I would love to win one of your books. I love to read and I love to journal and would also put to good use the beautiful journal set.
Thank you for sharing and giving us a blessing,
Lee Ann
encouragement-is-contagious.blogspot.com/
I am truely blessed by this morning “Encouragement.” Fear of failure has been one of my great enemy on this earth. I find that the enemy always try to show me why I should’nt do or should’nt continue to do something that I know God has place on my heart. However, with persistence I’m gaining more and more strength to be consistent and fulfill the plan that God has destined for my life before I was conceived in my mother’s womb. Please continue to publish these God inspired encouragements. May God continue to bless your ministry.
I love your daily devotions.
They are very encouraging
Thank you for the P31 ministry and all that you do.
Thanks for the She Reads website & selections and thanks to Susan for the devotional today. It’s great to have a list of solid Christian books to read and share in a book club. This is the kind of stuff I want to read and ponder! Thanks Prov31…you guys rock! (or in southern vernacular, you girls are awesome!)
Susan, I wanted to thank your for your wise words in your P31 devotional today on fear. As a widow, I often have those moments with shadowy figures at night or things that go bump. It’s hard to set that fear aside and face the thing that is causing my heart to jump and run. Like you said, once brought into the light, the “problem” is often not a problem at all. I needed this reminder today. May the Lord richly bless your ministry!
Wow…I love this blog/website! It rocks.
I am hooked….. I wanna read that book. Love the pretty journal too.
Thank you for this amazing website. I love it. I am always looking for Godly websites to help me grow spiritually as a woman of God.
I’m looking forward to reading your new book(s). I’ve read your books “A Window to the World” and “Blue Heart Blessed” and enjoyed both.
I’m looking forward to checking out the books recommended on the She Reads site…but what I took from this devotional was something that has been bothering me for months now. I judge. I judge everyone, everything, everywhere, all the time. This is such a tremendously hard habit to break. It’s just so easy. I read the article in the P31 magazine, “I Judge People.” The author said how she was “a terrific judger…almost like a gift”. How I can relate to that. The verses in todays devotional just highlighted AGAIN to me that I need to stop. Holy Spirit, please come back to my dirty, filthy, black heart & help me scrub it clean. I want to stop judging everything constantly & just see the love that God has given to all of us. The more I love, the less I’ll judge.
I look forward to opening my email to see what words of encouragement are waiting for me each morning. What a wonderful way to start my work day.
I am so excited to have found this website! The Proverbs 31 devotionals are great! Waterbrook Press did a post on Facebook about the book and that’s how I found the site. I’ll be sure to visit frequently! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing on the P31 site. The devotions are a great way to start the day and they are such an encouragement to me. When I saw the books and information about the books, I was excited. I love to read but don’t have much time to keep up with new books to read. What a great resource to be able to check and get suggestions that I know will be ok to read. Thanks for another way to make things easier=)
I am just finishing The Shape of Mercy. I am crazy about this book and the author ‘s style of writing! Not only is it intriguing and an amazing storyline but it also holds many thought provoking statements that lead the reader to deeper thinking and comforting truths.
Thank you She Reads for introducing me to this book!
New to the site, I know I will love to visit frequently. thanks so much
I love to read Chrisitan fiction and upon completing a book I always marvel at the people God puts into my life with whom I can share the book. I found this website through Encouragement for Today. Thanks you for providing this resource.
I had no idea about this new part of P31! I love the idea that I can find out about new great fiction that’s available–I usually just go through what I see at the library. Now, I can put in a request, and they usually buy something new if they don’t have it. Think of how many lives these stories can touch. This is just another way P31 has touched my life!
Love you girls!
♥Susan
I read your excerpt. You are very talented.
This looks like a wonderful book! I was glad to find info from P31 about fiction since I now read instead of watch TV while on the treadmill. It’s both a energizing and relaxing way to spend time. Can’t wait to try this book!
I love Susan’s work! I have read several of her books and The Shape of Mercy was the best! I read it through our local library so I would love to own a copy.
Thank you so much for this new section of P31. I love good Christian fiction especially books that focus on a true believer’s walk. One that challenges my own walk or too share more of my faith with others.
This ministry is such a blessing.
Praying for you all hard!
Pamela
Great new site! Sounds like a really interesting book and I would love to read it. I really enjoyed Susan’s devotion for today as well…what a great reminder to love other above all else!
I wanted to stop by and say thank you for todays devotion by Susan. WOW! I cannot tell you how loudly GOD spoke to me through her words today. Thank you a million times over Susan and everyone at She Reads and Proverbs 31 for making this possible today.
Again I cannot tell you what perfect timing this was for me and my family today.
Bless you all,
Jerri
The devotional really touched home with me. I tend to judge some people before I even speak to them and I have been trying to overcome this, I am much better about it than I was, but I also still have much work to do before I will be completly free of this sin. Thanks, Mary
Your website is doing a fantastic job of giving us some great suggestions for our reading. I have not read any of Susan Meissner’s books, but her new release looks intriguing. Thanks!
I am excited about She Reads! I have a baby boy who keeps me busy, but finding time for Christian fiction is always a blessing to me. Thanks for your efforts!
When you don’t have much time for reading, it’s great to books brought to your attention by a website you trust to give the best.
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I’m already a subscriber, but I’d love to win that gorgeous journal:-)
thedeena63@hotmail.com
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com