Product Review – Gracewear Necklace

Product Review: Gracewear Collection Item: 38.5″ Pearl Rosary Bead Necklace Web Price: $88.00 I was contacted by Gracewear Collection late last year (2014). They asked me to review a product. As an accessory enthusiast, this was quite exciting! So, naturally, I jumped at the chance to review an item. After browsing their website, the pearl … Continue reading →

Guest Post – What Breast Cancer Takes From You

  Guest Post by, Rose Thomas – She returns for a second guest post on Words By Mara to share the story of losing her mom to breast cancer. The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month – which has affected many of us on a personal level. Read Rose’s story of loss and … Continue reading →

Book Giveaway – Ann Voskamp “One Thousand Gifts”

Sign up to receive a free copy of “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. I receive books in the mail to read and, unfortunately, I don’t always have the time. With the understanding of the publisher, I am happy to give this book away to a lucky reader. In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to … Continue reading →

Book Review – Shackled Lily by T.L. Gray

T.L. Gray contacted me in the summer about reviewing her 2nd book in the 3-part Winsor Series. If you missed my review on her first book “Shattered Rose”, please check it out here. One of the best features of a 3-part book series is that you get to learn more about these characters that you’ve … Continue reading →

Christian Blogging – Taking a Break

Grief. It can effect everyone in a unique way. Some cry. Some shut down. Some put up a wall. Others act out in anger or rebellion. We may not even be fully aware of how our words and actions can be reflecting on our image. Grief isn’t an excuse to behave poorly. However, I can … Continue reading →

How Do We Measure God’s Love?

Have you ever wondered… why do I say or do these things when I call myself a Christian? If we are honest, it’s tough to be a “good Christian” and, yes, sometimes it is really tough to trust God. But then again, what does that even mean? Can we even call ourselves “good”? I don’t always … Continue reading →

Tribute to Readers & Friends

  Confession:  I am feeling extraordinarily loved and blessed this week. Thank you to all the new friends and connections I have made through iBelieve.com and on Twitter.  It really has been a blessing to connect with fellow writers and sisters in Christ. When I started writing for iBelieve in January this year, I couldn’t … Continue reading →

Book Review – Shattered Rose by T.L. Gray

Several weeks ago I received an email from T.L Gray, a newly published Christian author.  She asked if I would be interested in reviewing her book.  And so I gladly began reading the 400 page novel. “Shattered Rose” was written from the perspective of an engineering college student, Avery Nichols.  The entire book highlights her very dramatic … Continue reading →

Success and Suicide

Guest Post by Haley Berg – she is an absolute delight! I met Haley 3 years ago when I was working for our former church. Haley and her husband were our small group leaders for about 2 years and it has been a joy growing in faith together. I have never met anyone with as … Continue reading →

Defeating Guilt and Fear

There are some moments in life that we won’t ever forget. It’s burned into our subconscious and carted around like clunky baggage. Sometimes this baggage can turn into unwanted and unfamiliar emotions. It took me years to get over the guilt of my motorcycle accident in 2005. In fact, I probably used this major life … Continue reading →