Holy in the Moment book cover
Book Reviews,  Christian Living,  Giveaway

Book Review: HOLY IN THE MOMENT {& Giveaway!}

by Sally Matheny

“What difference is holiness making in your life?” If you’re wondering what that means, and what it looks like, you’ll enjoy this week’s book review: HOLY IN THE MOMENT by Ginger Harrington. Plus, there’s a giveaway!

Don’t click away thinking this is about impossible-to-follow rigid standards encased in hard-to-understand theological terminology.

I give you my word, it is not.

In fact, there are many insightful passages in this book, stated in a way this ordinary mama can understand. I’ve wanted to highlight something on every page.

But, since I promised to offer this book as a giveaway on my blog, I could not mark in it.

So, I ordered two more copies, one for a friend, and one for me. Now, I can relish it again, and put stars by all the wonderful words that spoke to me.

Nonetheless, I understand how certain words cause people to freeze. Do the words pray, surrender, or obey ignite an internal struggle for you?

Or maybe confusion arises when you hear about living a life of faith and holiness.

Let’s take a more in depth look at HOLY IN THE MOMENT: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life. I think you’ll find this book helpful and refreshing.

The Author

The author, Ginger Harrington, is an award-winning blogger, speaker, and ministry leader. She’s a military spouse and mom of three. And, like the rest of us, she has issues.

Harrington humbly shares about her past with anxiety, especially during the times when her family had to make necessary moves associated with the military.

She’s transparent about a few negative attitudes she’s dealt with as well.

However, her style doesn’t pull you down. It draws you in.

“I indulge in negative thought as if it were hot fudge on ice cream, yet the taste is bitter to my heart.

Frustration fights with peace until I finally turn.

Lay it down.

Let it go.

Repentant, I ignore the dust, opening my Bible with an apology on my lips instead of a prayer. God’s encouragement reminds me of what I have known but forgotten. He speaks kindly to my self-condemning thoughts.”

-From Holy in the Moment by Ginger Harrington.

She had me at “hot fudge.” What about you?

A little humor tops a mound of truth. Whether you like hot fudge or not, we all encounter the temptation of negative thoughts.

With that kind of heartfelt writing, Harrington builds a genuine sisterhood among Christian women.

Holy in the Moment Contents

Through Biblical insights, personal stories, and applicable ideas, Harrington helps us discover how our choices in the daily moments of life can promote growth in holiness.

“Holiness inhabits the small things, faith for our moments, simple and short. Added together, holy moments change lives and steer destinies in God’s direction. But it all comes down to attitudes and choices made . . . one moment at a time.”    

Holy in the Moment by Ginger Harrington

The 327 pages are divided into three parts which include sixteen chapters.

The three parts are:

Part 1: Loving God in Every Moment (includes chapters on moments to believe, to choose, to love God, to abide, to surrender, and to rest)

Part 2: Embracing Truth in Every Moment (includes chapters on moments to pray, to listen to God, to thank, to feel, and to obey)

Part 3: Enjoying Life for Your Best Moments (includes chapters on moments to choose good attitudes, to love one another, to bless your children, to be a good friend, and to work)

Each chapter closes with a bulleted list of simple reminders.

Woman praying.
“Living in layers, my heart seeks holiness, but my flesh relies on the old ways of worry, discontent, complaint, envy,
and self-pity . . . One simple thing–that’s all I can handle today. Help me choose holiness in the simple things . . .
Holy in the Moment by Ginger Harrington.

Scattered throughout the book are other practical and helpful lists. A few of those are:

Ten Simple Ways to Find Rest for Your Soul

Simple Prayers for Every Moment

20 Scriptures of Who You Are in Christ and by the Loving Grace of God

8 Questions to Process Feelings and Situations

Simple Ways to Overcome Negative Attitudes

The Scripture References

This book is rich in God’s Word with scripture references throughout. Most are from the New American Standard Bible©, but other versions are used as well.

My Recommendation

I think Harrington summed it up well when she wrote,

Given a choice, we would prefer to jump from sinner to sanctified in one quick leap, skipping all the mundane moments and difficult times. But day-by-day, God works to heal our hurts, restore our vision, lift our emotions, guide our steps, and fill our lives with the indwelling Christ. Jesus is the saver, the Savior, of our souls.
Especially in our toughest experiences, holiness is found in each small-but-significant choice to trust God one more time.

Holy in the Moment by Ginger Harrington

Perfect sanctification (holiness) doesn’t arrive in an instant, or even in this lifetime.

Harrington’s book encourages us by pointing to the Holy Word of the perfect God and reminds us of how we can choose to live holy in the moment.

I highly recommend this book.

The Giveaway of Holy in the Moment

Would you love to win this book? I always pay all the shipping fees so there is never any cost to the winner.

I’ll randomly draw a winner on July 7, 2019.

You have three chances to get your name in the drawing. You’ll get your name in the drawing once if your name is on my list of email friends.

You’ll have your name placed in the drawing another time if you leave a comment below about anything you like, or simply say, “I’d like to read this book!”

And, finally, you’ll get your name in the drawing again if you hop over to Ginger Harrington’s website, then come back and tell me something you read there!

(*Also, enjoy Ginger’s guest blog post here on this website, One Holy Choice: Reset Your Worry Meter.

WINNER ANNOUNCED: Congratulations to Kym T. from Maryland!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

857805: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life

Enjoying life (zoe) in Christ comes in the choices we make moment-by-moment. Ginger Harrington invites women to discover how intentional choices made in the moment can become holy habits. With a refreshing perspective, she shows that holiness isn’t a rigid standard to keep but a gift to receive through a vital relationship with God, who makes us whole.

Holy in the Moment explores the practical power of choices to grow in holiness without the pressure of perfectionism. Through gentle encouragement, biblical insights, and applicable ideas learn to discern feelings and overcome distractions and shame, adapt God’s equation for obedience, live a praying life, discover methods for practicing holiness in parenting and the importance of rest, embrace biblical love and forgiveness, and understand how work becomes holy.

Re-energize faith with simple choices to love God, embrace truth, and enjoy every moment of life with practical ways to be holy by choosing to trust God, rely on his wisdom, and live from his resources.

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22 Comments

  • Cathy Biggerstaff

    I enjoyed your review so much that I hopped over to Ginger’s website and watched her video about the book. I love her excitement about her subject. Hope I win a copy. Blessings to you, Sally!

    • Sally Matheny

      That’s wonderful, Cathy! Be sure to come back for a visit the first weekend in July when Ginger guests posts here. I’m eagerly looking forward to that. 🙂

  • Ginger Harrington

    Thanks you for such a lovely review, Sally! What a joy to be a part of the wonderful things God is doing through your work and website. Thanks so much for sharing about Holy in the Moment!

    • Sally Matheny

      Ginger, I’m glad God introduced us at Blue Ridge! It is my pleasure to share your wonderful book with the world. I look forward to you guest posting soon! 🙂

  • Suzanne

    I would love to read this book. We are not active duty but hubby always works for the military so we move around and have been overseas. Sounds great.

    I learned on her website that she has been in ministry for 10 years.

    • Sally Matheny

      Hi, Suzanne. I’m glad you stopped by here and that you popped over to visit Ginger’s website as well. She has lots of interesting things over there.
      Your name is in the hat for the drawing, Suzanne!

  • Patti P

    I was so interested by what I read here that I hopped over to Ginger and found her article about restoring our souls and focusing on whole-hearted living for the summer.

    • Sally Matheny

      That’s wonderful, Patti! Thanks for taking time out to find refreshment for your soul. 🙂
      Your name is in the hat several times now. Maybe you’ll win the book and receive even more!

      • Kristi

        I’m so happy you two met! Two great writers and such an amazing conference! The book sounds like a message we all need and Ginger’s site is fabulous!

        Praying sweet blessings for you both!

  • Jennie

    I just checked out Ginger’s site, and I see a book club for the book!!! Reading through those… and this quote… “Holiness inhabits the small things, faith for our moments, simple and short. Added together, holy moments change lives and steer destinies in God’s direction. But it all comes down to attitudes and choices made . . . one moment at a time.”

    • Sally Matheny

      Jennie, thanks for taking time to comment here and for visiting Ginger’s website, too. Got your name several times in the drawing now!

      And, yes! I underlined that quote as well.
      “. . . attitudes and choices made . . . one moment at a time.”

      I’m so thankful I have Jesus to help me!

  • Sally Matheny

    Hi, Annette! I’m glad you enjoyed the review. I’m always on the lookout for well-written books to encourage us in our journeys.

    Thanks for stopping by. Your name is in the hat as well. 🙂

    • Omoruyi Efe

      I just visited and bookmarked Ginger Harrington’s website. I read a post titled “5 ways to restore your soul this summer”. Quite an insightful post. Simple, yet powerful.

  • Omoruyi Efe

    I would really live to read this book. It is coming at a time where I’m struggling to in my relationship with God. Where self condemnation has pulled me down.

    • Sally Matheny

      Hi, Omoruyi Efe. Welcome. I’m glad you found encouragement at Ginger’s website during this difficult season. We will be praying for you as you seek God’s wisdom, peace, and joy.

      Your name has ben added to the drawing for the book.