Well written with truth and honesty. Her story was a treat to read. Highly recommend it. Loved the how she wrote about her settings and how she applied Biblical teaching

Review run date was set for publication but life and studies was just as important as writing a book review on 31 Mar 2021 so now 03 October 2021 the review was written and posted on NetGalley,

Stay, meditate in prayer to unite with God as you process your thoughts and reflect upon your much exhaustion from emotions, stress, guilt and other major feelings from your life as a wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, mother and mother-in-law, work mate and many others in our lives as a woman. This book is a page turner with plenty of information and stories about the life of women going through similar issues to situations that you are feeling at the time. All you need to do is find the appropriate section and read with reflections and prayers to find on how to distress.

Wordpress blog and Facebook blog, Amazon.com.au, goodreads, kobo, googlebooks and iBooks. My WordPress blog is http://bluefalkon95adorationofallgenres.wordpress.com My Facebook reader blog page link, is https://www.facebook.com/BlueFalkon95-Readers-blog-104660277776984 I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Stay #NetGalley

I really like how this book was written as if we were sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee. Funny because that’s on the cover of the book.

The book had many things I wanted to highlight and remember or take away. I feel I need to just sit and think on all I read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

I downloaded Stay last year, but had a hard time getting into it. I picked It up again this week and related to it and started following the author on social media. Her story of her faith journey and overcoming doubts show that we need to "Stay" while we seek answers. The portion that spoke to me most was the story of giving up a fiancée whose life didn't match up with the plans she felt God was asking her to pursue. They went separate ways and God put them where he wanted them.

I received a complimentary copy of Stay through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

Stay: Discovering Grace, Freedom, and Wholeness Where You Never Imagined Looking

by Anjuli Paschall

A spiritual journey is such a personal adventure. Anjuli Paschall shares hers in the book Stay. She also reaches out to other women encouraging them to lean into God through the irritations of daily life and the times of actual trauma and to stay with the pain of hard places because you'll find God there. She suggests that, instead of building up walls of protection and withdrawing from the fray or working harder to force things to happen, we need to stay with Jesus and “drink life-giving water.” With intriguing chapter titles like “The Guard Shack: An Invitation to Make Mistakes” and “Old Spaghetti Factory: An Invitation to Hold On,” this book is filled with anecdotes and Paschall’s descriptions of how God led her to grow spiritually.

Paschal is a good writer and very effective at drawing the reader into her frame of mind as she navigates the various circumstances in her life. I highlighted many passages and agreed with most of the things she said. I am amazed at the number of turns in her life journey. She is the mother of five, wife of a pastor, photographer, founder of a social media site that helps other moms in truly desperate straits, and a spiritual counselor. Now add writer to that list.

Realizing that I am isolating statements that come from a rich context, I feel I must point out what I perceive to be a major conflict. Towards the end of the book, the author states “My one and only purpose in life is to be loved by God.” I disagree with that and she does too as earlier in the book she states: “We all have one calling. One deep, right, true, foundational calling in life—to love God and to love others.” That philosophy is found in the Bible in Matthew 22 in the New Testament and in Exodus 20 and Leviticus 19 in the Old Testament. Although, I have a few points of disagreement, in general I find this book to be refreshing in the author’s honesty and transparency. She doesn’t try to appear to have it all together. She shares her fears and vulnerabilities as she also shares her hopes and dreams. She encourages women to abandon shame over never being enough and stay the course resting and trusting in Jesus.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Bethany House for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Christian, Self-Help

Notes: Discussion questions are included.

Publication: March 31, 2020—Bethany House

Memorable Lines:

I’m learning to be okay with my mistakes. They don’t define me or determine my worth, but simply direct me to God.

I believe we all can be placeholders of heaven for others. We can create a seat at a table, offer a single cup of coffee, leave bread on a doorstep, or clear an hour in our schedule. God will continually bring us people who are desperately in need of home. If we can embrace each other’s differences, move toward the disabled, welcome the foreigner, laugh with a child, talk with the elderly, all kinds of heaven can burst open like a flower in bloom here on earth. Even the tiniest spaces can become a place for others to taste eternity.

No amount of getting, accomplishing, or achieving will ever satisfy the soul. The soul focused on gaining power, influence, and admiration will only grow hungrier.

This book was powerful. I read it start to finish in one sitting because I wanted to soak in all the good words that I was reading. Maybe it's because of the place I've been in life, or because I just struggle a lot, but I am just really grateful to have read this book. I am constantly trying to connect with God, but feeling like Im not reaching the place that I want to reach. It's been frustrating and hard, and this book came along at the right time.

I will be suggesting this book to my friends who I know struggle like I do, because I think it will encourage them so, so much!

One thing the pandemic has forced us all to do is stay put. Many of us have resisted this, but Anjuli Paschall teaches us that when we stay put in the hard places, we can learn the most about ourselves and our God.

This is a book of brief vignettes into Anjuli’s life, somewhat like a memoir. But it’s also intended to help the reader grapple with hard truths about spiritual identity, striving too hard, being too worldly, depending too much on relationships, and wanting to give up. With colorful metaphors, she describes her failures in plain view while also telling her personal story of redemption.

Young women will especially appreciate her openness. It’s an ideal book for newlyweds struggling with finances and new moms in the trenches of diapers and the daily grind. Her writing is relevant and raw, which holds great appeal for people wearing masks who long to be understood, affirmed, and led forward.

Quotes I’ve Enjoyed:
“This never-ending hurt for home is down there, deep inside of me. Even when life is falling gracefully as I hoped it would, the ache persists.”

“I think God moves into the little cracks and crevices and corners of our lives to surprise us with His delight.”

“Jesus turns all my bent-out, turned-in, twisted-around brokenness into this — goodness.”

“Every day, God is nudging my heart to stay awake and savor this one incredible life. There are love winks from the Lord everywhere.”

I received a preview copy of Stay from Bethany House Publishers.

I received an ARC from Bethany House Publisher, via NetGalley. This review is my personal opinion.

Anjuli Paschall opens up her heart in an honest and relatable way, for this be her first book I must say it looks promising her next books. Stay is an invitation to be real and let all the weight of being and let God be God. To start a process of healing and honesty with ourselves, God, and others. All do Anjulli Pashall talks of all the seasons she has being through and right now as a mom and wife, I know many can relate to the situations she mentions in her book. I believe this book is a must-read for everyone, even if you are single as myself. Because all do we may not relate to some of the situations she mention. In this busy and noisy world, we are living, we need to learn how to stay and not run; especially when stay means freedom and walking in the purpose God has for us. Grateful to Anjulli Pashalll for her courage in telling her story.

The author entices the reader with a detailed look at a unique aspect of life in and encourages the reader to find solace in simplicity.

The pretty cover caught my attention as I perused NetGalley, along with an interesting synopsis.
Since this was a 'Read It Now' selection I decided to give it a go.

I had no prior knowledge about Anjuli Paschall prior to reading Stay.
She did mention blogging, but I hadn't heard her name mentioned on social media.

To me, Stay was more a memoir than anything else. I went away with some knowledge of Ms. Paschall's life as she shared insecurities and experiences, in that chatting with a friend way.

Considering this falls into the Christian/Inspiration genre, I found it far from preachy.
It wasn't as Bible based as I expected nor did it push me to pick up the Bible.

There were times I wanted to stop reading. There were moments of oversharing, which made me cringe. Honestly, this continued {for me} to the 70% point until I decided to just finish it and be done.
I never felt that 'just one more chapter' urge to read.

My overall rating is more a 2.5... definitely, wasn't the worst nor did it knock my socks off.


I received this electronic book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this opportunity!

Anjuli’s book was made for such a time as this. “Yes, stay. Stay where you most resist being. This staying is a slow and painful sanctification, and it’s the place where God is growing us.” I read through this book as I entered motherhood in postpartum during a hospital stay. My heart ached to be home. What was worse is my heart ached to be with community, and giving birth during a pandemic doesn’t allow for that. It forced everyone to stay where they were. And for me that meant staying in the discomfort of a hospital to heal. It’s meant staying in my home to shelter. It’s meant finding new ways to forge community and rely on Jesus Christ for support, patience, and healing in this time. And Anjuli’s book has been a guiding light through the messy start to motherhood. A light shining grace and encouraging us to stay... Stay awake to love right where you are.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley to review.

Anjuli Paschall's Stay is a memoir. It in many ways feels like we are reading her journal. There are times I am looking for a book like that, this wasn't one of those times. I didn't have much exposure to her before this book and there are so many more currently available in which one will find more depth. I enjoyed her writing style which is incredibly easy to read and I will likely take away a few nuggets from here.

This might be great for a young adult trying to find their way and wrestle with their own thoughts and feelings and values in order to determine where the find themselves in their relationship with God, but most adults will have discovered what Anjuli is trying to teach us here, long before we picked up her book.

I liked that she encourages the reader to self reflection and the discussion questions would be engaging with a group or even to use as journal prompts.

If you are familiar with this author and enjoy her stories you will likely enjoy this book more than I did! I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest review.

"We know God loves us like we know there are fifty states. But knowing isn’t experiencing. Knowing the names of the states between California and Canada is nothing like driving the Oregon coast during the fall."

And so Anjuli Paschall invites us to stay, so we can know and experience. "Stay where you most resist being."

This book is a series of essays about Paschall's life journey, the ups and downs, the hard times and the good times. Through it all, she invites us to not only pull up a chair and hear her stories, but to pull up a chair and sit with Jesus in our own stories.

"He wants to hear our laughter, comfort our ache, ask us questions, and heal our hurts. God, in love, always welcomes us to stay and dine at the table with Him. He is cultivating a home within us. This is the sacred gift of staying."

Paschall reminds us that we don't have to be strong to stay. We just have to be willing. She offers no magical formulas on how to do this. But leads by example. To stay with Jesus. And to stay for others who come to our tables.

My thanks to Net Galley for the review copy of this book.

I can't word this any better than what is on the back of the book:
"This book is for anyone who longs for a connection with God and his people but can't seem to escape the haunting feelings of guilt, shame, loneliness, and fear. Through raw, authentic stories, (in)courage writer Anjuli Paschall invites you to stop running from your pain and to recognize that the deep end of your story is the way to intimacy with Christ."

STAY is exactly what I needed right now. Especially during this season of unknown during a pandemic and stay at home orders! Round of applause to Anjuli for sharing her heart with us! Thanks to the author and publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Anjuli Paschall’s book, Stay: Discovering Grace, Freedom, and Wholeness Where You Never Imagined Looking, is a lovely, flow-of-thought look at life as one woman grapples with identity within the context of faith. Plucking scenarios from her life, Anjuli creates beautiful prose to illustrate the importance of staying with the difficult emotions, the hard places, and the God who loves us in order to become the woman we were created to become.

The book is so lyrically captivating and emotive that it is worth the read.#stay #anjulipaschall CLICK TO TWEET
Ephemeral and airy, Stay is more philosophical and poetic than practical. It is inspiring, not empirical. There are no action steps, prayers, or points for consideration. However, the book is so lyrically captivating and emotive that it is worth the read. Anjuli will pull you into her world with rich, captivating words that cause you to explore the depth of your own pain, joy, and faith.

You won’t be disappointed.

https://tammykennington.com/2020/04/08/from-the-bookshelf-3

Even though Anjuli couldn't have known that she'd be releasing her book during a pandemic, it is actually the perfect time for her message. Quarantine means that people don't have the option of continuing to keep busy with outside activities and can practice the art of staying. The stories are personal, funny, and make you feel like Anjuli is a girlfriend opening up to you. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Bethany House for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

What a perfect book for the season we're currently in. Being under a stay-at-home order has not been easy, but with this book, I was able to see how I may look back on this time of staying with more fondness than I have now for it. In each chapter, Paschall tells of different events from her life that show fear, embarrassment, and other emotions as she tackles the new seasons in her life. I found that I could connect with a lot of these stories or at least elements of them, and she showed me how I can find and connect with God in them, even when I feel like He isn't present. I enjoyed the authenticity and vulnerability in this book.

In times like this when we are staying at home -- and possibly struggling with having to stay at home so much -- this book came with the right words. But to be honest, no matter whether I was quarantined or not, this book had the right words for my heart.

Stay, by Anjuli Paschall, is a beautiful read. It is a book for anyone who longs to be close to God, yet struggles with feelings of shame, guilt, or fear. It is a book filled with the authentic, real stories of the author -- yet all of these stories hold an eternal perspective, something to challenge and to change your mind and your heart. In Stay, Anjuli Paschall invites the reader to stay with the pain, weariness, guilt and shame. It is an invitation to stop struggling and instead to stay in the places that are hard, only to notice the hand of God even there. It is an invitation to let go of the idea of needing to be perfect, and instead grow closer to God in our imperfection. It isn't easy to stay where you most resist being. Yet staying there, is where we can grow so much.

Stay by Anjuli Paschall is such a beautiful book that will change the heart and perspective of the reader. I cannot recommend this enough, as it spoke to my broken and hurting places. Most of all, it changed my perspective on my struggles and hard places.

“We have to pull up a chair at the table of our souls and invite all of the fractured places within us (the memories, stories, and unpleasant feelings) back together and stay there with Jesus. Only then do we realize that Jesus is the kind host, inviting us to linger, spill the milk, break a dish, be known, and stay, not as guests, but as daughters.” - From “Stay” by Anjuli Paschall

Reviewing “Stay” by Anjuli Paschall is no easy task. The book spans, in bite sizes, her nearly forty years of life! It is complex, absorbing, insightful and wise! But it is also funny, poignant and tough to read. This book is a journey, once begun, you won’t want to stop but I enjoyed slowly, a little each night.

Each chapter is an invitation and reflection. It highlights a happening from Anjuli’s life, it’s impact and it’s broader connection to a Christian life truth. Some are brutal, like grief and pain, and others are fun and joyful. In each there is a call to stay. To pause in the experience, whatever it is, with God and find appreciation and healing in it. To work through it so that we move forward as whole and healthy people.

“Christ searches my heart, not as a reckless force knocking down my structures of sin, but as a kind shepherd, sitting patient and present. He isn’t about ripping up, breaking down, smashing, and managing my behavior, but comes quiet and gently. I am being replanted from a foundation of concrete, tangled cords, and shattered glass to a soil rich with nutrients. A ground that absorbs my neediness as a source for my growth and good.” - From “Stay” by Anjuli Paschall

In each chapter, Anjuli shares practical ways she’s tackled each invitation, where she’s gone wrong and she is beautifully honest. The reader feels one has found a friend, someone who gets how messy life really is.

“When fear presses down over me, I uncurl my chest and stretch out my spine. I pry back my body and open all of me to Him. I resist my tendency to defend, attack, protect, and panic. My soul’s discipline in surrender is to relinquish life on my terms.” - From “Stay” by Anjuli Paschall

The subtitle promises the reader a discovery of grace, freedom and wholeness and “Stay” definitely delivers! It is not a self help book or a how to book but rather a meditation book, an opportunity to, through Anjuli, pause and ponder one’s own life. As such, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended.