Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Journey by Debbie Johnson

Join us for this tour from August 10 to August 28, 2020!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Journey: A Traveling Companion Through the New Testament by Debbie Johnson
Category:  Adult Non-fiction 18 yrs +,  293 pages
Genre:  Memoir, Religious, Inspirational
Publisher:  Convenant Books
Release date:   2019
Content Rating:  G. No obscenity, violence, sexual content

“With the New Testament in one hand and Debbie’s guidebook in the other, you will experience the Christian journey to be an exciting venture–though not one for the fainthearted.”                              
Dr. William W. Klein, Ph.D. Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary         

Book Description:

At a time of unprecedented crisis in our lives comes an inspirational book, THE JOURNEY: A Traveling Companion Through the New Testament by Debbie Johnson, who has spent decades as a mission worker, and is the founder DenverWorks, a nonprofit dedicated to helping the unemployed find work. Whether you are a Christian, religious, or irreligious, Johnson’s contemporary interpretation of The New Testament will inspire all who read her book.

Years ago, Debbie took a glorious six-week backpacking trip to Europe. Now she takes readers on a metaphorical trek through the New Testament, filling her backpack with a year’s worth of inspirational items. For Debbie, her destination is love, plus the sense of “mission accomplished” in her life’s work.

“Maybe this is a time for homebound people (all of us) to read through the NT,” says Debbie who begins her journey as Christ began his, when he met two sets of brothers and said, “Follow me” and eventually there were 12 friends, the 12 apostles. Jesus was no longer by himself,” says Johnson and got to experience the strength of friends. “My best friends and I remind each other that we are never alone, even though some of us live hundreds of miles apart.” Here are some of her many useful and inspiring key insights:

• Love of God versus Love of Money. In Matthew 6:19-34, she quotes Jesus: “you cannot serve both God and money.” Johnson explains that Jesus did not say you can’t be materially wealthy, as some interpret that quote. He just said you can’t serve two masters, so you have to choose which one wins your heart. Johnson explains further that you should be responsible with money. “I never saw a passage that says, “though shalt not make money,” “she says. “It’s all about what we love the most.”
• Neighborliness Matters. Romans 13:8-14 tells us that how we treat our neighbors is essential to living fulfilling Christian lives. Half of the Ten Commandments address being a good neighbor. No killing, committing adultery, stealing, slandering, or coveting. We’re to love our neighbors as ourselves, meaning we need to love ourselves sufficiently enough to love them. If we can love our neighbors, even the unlovable ones, then we’ve fulfilled The Law as Christ commanded.
• What to Wear Today. We’re to put on, says Debbie, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We’re to bear with one another and forgive each other. We’re to put on love. We’re to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.
• We Are People of the Day. We’re people of the day, so we need to act like it, even in this long in-between time. We’re to be sober and faithful and loving and hopeful, encouraging one anther and building each other up. We’re to appreciate our coworkers and leaders. We’re to live in peace.
• The Journey with Our Partners. “My best friends and I remind each other that we’re never alone, even though some of us live hundreds of miles apart. And for all of us who believe God is real and in a relationship with us, we’re never apart from him either. Our beautiful challenge is to understand that fact more and more, experiential. Life takes an enormous amount of personal strength. Jesus spent a lot of time in conversation with God to gain strength. And if Jesus needed that, how much more do we need it! But we can also draw strength, counsel, wisdom, and emotional safety from each other.” (Matthew 4)
• Solid Foundations. Luke 5:12-6:49 is full of rock-solid teaching about building life on a firm foundation. Building a rock-solid life isn’t about sharing his words and then going about our business. It’s about acting on those words. Not intending to act on them, but literally acting on them. The words are powerful and life-altering, but not easy. Nobody ever said building a life on a solid foundation would be easy, just worth it.
• The Gift. Romans 3:23-24 just might be the best gift in the whole wide world, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” In other words, we can lay our burdens down—our guilt, regrets, little sins, big sins. The reason? The gift. The gift of unmerited favor. Some people spend their whole lives striving for approval trying to be good enough, when all along, God has said all we have to do is have faith. All we have to do is ask God for the gift.
• Practical Matters (1 Corinthians 16). Christianity is hard. G.K. Chesterton said, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” But we can do this. There is a way to follow Christ in good times and bad times, in heavenly matters and practical matters.

In trying times such as these, Debbie Johnson’s THE JOURNEY will brings readers daily inspiration and comfort for themselves and their families.

Buy the Book:
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About the Author

Debbie Johnson is the author of two previous books, A Pocketful of Seeds and Lessons Learned from the Bottom of the Stairs: A Story of Faith and Resilience with Randy Milliken. She graduated from Ouachita Baptist University (BME, MME) and has done graduate work in social work at the University of Denver. In 1995, she founded DenverWorks to equip the unemployed in her community. She led the organization for ten years before engaging in international ministry, first as the vice president of Programs at the Dalit Freedom Network and then as executive director of India Transformed. She grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Today she and her husband live on a farm in Colorado with two dogs and a bunch of chickens.

Connect with the Author:  website  ~ twitter  ~ facebook  ~  instagram  ~

Tour Schedule:

Aug 10 – Splashes of Joy – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 10 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Aug 11 – Over Coffee Conversations – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 12 – My Journey Back – book review / giveaway
Aug 13 – Sefina Hawke's Books - book spotlight
Aug 14 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 17 –Books for Books - book spotlight
Aug 18 – Books and Zebras – book review / giveaway
Aug 19 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 20 – A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Aug 21 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 24 –Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review
Aug 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 26 – The Epistles Of Mark Paul – book review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

 

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My Review:

The Journey: A Traveling Companion Through the New Testament was an inspiring read. I normally do not read memoirs or traveling type genres. However, just when I needed it most, I was able to find hope within the pages. I instantly found a highlighter and started marking many areas of the book. Especially, the Matthew 8:1-17 Physical Healing section. Just a beautiful reminder of who is in control. I enjoyed taking the journey with Debbie Johnson and I love that she was wanting to share her adventures. She helped me look at life situations in a whole new way. I want to thank her for giving me inspiration, faith and hope in her words.

I love the format of The Journey: A Traveling Companion Through the New Testament. It begins with the New Testament’s Matthew 1 and follows every book all the way to Revelations. Each section is only about a page long and makes for easy reading and allowing busy readers to read when they are able.  

I would give The Journey: A Traveling Companion Through the New Testament one hundred stars if I could. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading biographies and religious books. I know they will not be disappointed. I definitely was not and am so glad I had the opportunity to have it in my hands and read it. 

I received The Journey: A Traveling Companion Through the New Testament from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.