Customer Reviews

Who Speaks to Your Heart?: Tuning in to Hear God's Whispers

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I'll admit I'm not one who consistently uses a devotional in my private time with God, but that will no longer be the case. God has clearly anointed some of His people to bless us with accompaniments that stretch our spiritual muscles. Stacy Hawkins Adams is one of the anointed.

I have always enjoyed this author's fiction, and most of her novels have bought me to the brink of tears at one point or another, but Who Speaks To Your Heart had me reaching for my tissue box as I saw myself in every chapter, on every page, in every word. I felt like this book was written for me.

Ms. Hawkins Adams' writing is simple and honest, yet powerful and vivid. Often times I felt like I was having a conversation with her and the Holy Spirit about my human weaknesses and fragilities. I felt Ms. Hawkins Adam's desire for reader's transformation literally leap off the pages. Her words, the learning to listen lessons, and prayers were passionate and commanding, but the messages felt like whispers in your spirit that only the Holy Spirit could temper so gently.

My heart was captured in the Introduction where the author used one of the scriptures that guides my very life. "In all things God works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose." Romans 8:28. She stated "Our role is to discipline ourselves to be real with God"; from there the tears and the soul searching learning continued, until I closed the back cover.

Who Speaks To My Heart is proof that big things really can come in small packages. Like the author herself, Who Speak To My Heart, is a small wonder that packs a big punch. Please don't pass this book by and do remember to gift it to those you love.

Reviewed by Rhonda McKnight for Urban Christian Fiction Today

An Advance Copy was provided by the publisher.

I cannot remember where I first heard someone say "be still and let God speak to your heart." I have been doing that for some years now, especially, when I want to act in haste. Who Speaks to Your Heart? : Tuning in to Hear God's Whispers by Stacy Hawkins Adams is the confirmation I needed to know that I have been doing the right thing. Aside from the reassurance, Hawkins Adams supplied me with exercises that included a Bible verse to read and meditate on; or a journal writing exercise. Hawkins Adams delivers her message and the importance of quiet time with God through either her personal experiences or those of people she knows. There is not a better learning tool/device than that of someone's life experience.

Who Speaks to Your Heart? : Tuning in to Hear God's Whispers is a petite book with a big impact. I found myself doing head nods and talking out loud in agreement. I know this is not a daily devotional, but I intend to return to this book again and do the exercises and say the prayers when I need to. I recommend this book to everyone, because I believe we can all benefit from reading it.

I received this book from the publisher for review purposes.

Jennifer Coissiere

APOOO BookClub

Do you hear him? Do you hear that voice encouraging you and telling

you to be patient? Do you hear the person telling you that one day

everything will work out for the good; it's not your time yet?

Regardless of your answer, you need to be still, sit down, and read

WHO SPEAKS TO YOUR HEART?: Tuning in to Hear God's Whispers by Stacy

Hawkins Adams. God speaks to us constantly, but typically, we don't

know how to listen.

Sometimes great things come in small packages and this book is truly

an example of that. In this touching book, Adams opens up her heart

and gives us examples from her life when she didn't know how to listen

and her experience in learning the art of listening. She also gives

us scriptures and exercises, which will help us learn how to listen.

As I read this book and carried out some of the exercises, I found

myself seeking quiet time to just be still and listen. I thought

back on events in my own life where I, like Adams, didn't hear God

speaking to me and often ask myself why this and why that.

Eventually, I learned the answers to the questions but if only I had

listened earlier, I would have saved myself so much pain and stress.

WHO SPEAKS TO YOUR HEART?: Tuning in to Hear God's Whispers is filled

with memorable accounts but the one that sticks with me the most is

"Listening in the Valley". It's easy to trust in God's will when

things are going great with work and family but all peaks end in a

valley. The depth of the valley can be shallow or deep, and you may

think you'll never make your way out; you may think God has turned his

back on you. The valley shared by Adams is the death of her mother,

and I can't think of a valley deeper than that. The amazing thing is

during this pain she knew God was speaking to her and she was prepared

to listen in all the ways he manifested himself.

After reading WHO SPEAKS TO YOUR HEART?: Tuning in to Hear God's

Whispers, I am grateful Stacy Hawkins Adams took the time to put her

thoughts, feelings and experiences on paper because this book is a

keeper.

Reviewed by Tawana Price

of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

I am amazed and struck by the words on these pages, and from someone who is so young! I could barely put the book down, read it in four days. I am not a religious person, but I believe in the spirituality of man. I don't claim to have answers, yet Stacey moves through ever aspect of what it means to be a daughter, a sister, a spouse, a mother, an aunt, a grandmother and a cousin through her journey. This books lifts you up and ask that you take a chance on yourself to find out who you really are now and forever, Amen! I will pass this inspiration on to my eight granddaughters (ages: 2-19), My daughter, who works very hard as a single mother of four beautiful girls, yet never takes the time to stop and hear the whispers; and my two daughter-in-laws, who both have a lot of growing still left to conquer

I love this book! It's written in 4 parts, each with short chapters that make even a busy mom like me feel like I can conquer 1 a day.

Part 1: Preparing Your Soul

Part 2: Learning To Listen

Part 3: Be Real, Be Still and Be in Tune

Part 4: Hearing God

Adams' writing style is easy to read. She uses stories and illustrations to help get the point across in each chapter. She addresses some questions that many young adult women have such as "What does courage mean?" and "When God gives you a vision, do you map out your plan and create a timeline for making it your reality, or do you leave those steps up to him?" Great questions that got me thinking and helped initiate some great discussions with my friends.

If you are like most of us, you avoid silence. If you are religious, you may sometimes wonder what God wants from you. If you are facing tough times, when your survival is threatened or your emotional challenges are great, you may wonder where God is and why He isn't curing your ills or solving your problem. Stacy Hawkins Adams tackles many of the serious problems humans face and offer comfort. In "Who Speaks to Your Heart", Stacy discusses ways to have a real conversation with God.

"Who Speaks to Your Heart" asks if you hear God's whispers and whether each of us know how to have a conversation with our creator. This book, less than 200 pages, may be boring for those not interested in spiritual pursuits. But to anyone trying to walk a closer walk with the Lord, "Who Speaks to Your Heart" will be exciting and very useful.

Adams provides several noteworthy concepts. First is to find quiet time as we must have silence to listen to God. As scripture notes (1Kings ), God comes in a still small voice.

Second we must learn to listen to the "full Context". Sometimes a message seen in a simple verse communicates a far different meaning when taken in its context. Occasionally when looking for confirmation of God's will for a proposed action, we may notice a single verse that appears to affirm the action, but when viewed in the context of the chapter in which the verse resides, the meaning clearly is no.

Third, we can test the quality of our activity by using the "dancing with the Lord" concept. If your life and activity is full of peace, joy, generosity, and abiding faith in God, "you are dancing with the Lord." If not, you need to look for another way to dance based upon the talents God has given you.

A special activity that Hawkins Adams developed to improve her spirituality is foot washing. She relates that she had been volunteering at a church that gave free lunches to anyone at noontime. One day while working she recalled John 13:12-15, so she asked the minister if she could perform a ministry of foot washing. From that action she received many blessings, and the indigent felt more important and began to share their experiences while having their feet washed. The church expanded the foot washing ministry.

"Who Speaks to Your Heart" is an excellent book. I highly recommend this text.

MUST READ FOR THOSE WANTING TO HEAR GOD'S WHISPERS

Have you ever wondered what God was trying to tell you? Have you ever desired to hear His voice? Most followers of Christ have this desire on a regular basis but many have too much going on to really listen. Adams uses everyday examples of issues and problems to explain how we can hear "God's whispers". The uplifting tales rooted in scripture along with devotional ideas and prayers make this an exceptionally reflective read. Even though I read the book straight through, I took over 10 pages of notes so I can direct my private thoughts and time with God.

Adams reminds us in simple ways that we should pray and ask God for direction. The strategic way that she walks the reader through bible verses grounds her words and will speak directly to your heart. The example of a college friend of mine, Shon Gables, helped me realize that over working and letting people push you through life isn't the way to live. Adams uses John 10:10 to illustrate that the need for perfection is a ploy of the devil to distract you from God's purpose on your life.

Adams opens her heart and shares how she hears from God. The transparency of her own experiences along with several of her friends provides a loving platform to hear God's will for your life. The integration of scripture, recounting of biblical stories along with prayers will help you ask as well as answer the tough questions about your relationship with God. This thought provoking read is a must for all those wanting to open their hearts, minds and ears to what God has planned for them.

Note: Advance Review copy was provided by the publisher.

Deltareviewer

I'd been reading "Who Speaks To Your Heart?" chapter by chapter, but I found that it wasn't a book that I wanted to read straight through as if it were a novel, or rush through the pages for the sake of a writing a review. One of the most interesting things I found out is that Stacy and I are (were) a lot alike when it came to certain aspects of our lives -- such as dealing with being a perfectionist, trusting God's wisdom and direction instead of using our "head wisdom"...and some other things.

Who Speaks to Your Heart? has been a much-needed refreshment to my devotion time with God. Of course I love Stacy's novels, but this non-fiction book holds a special place in my heart.

Who Speaks to Your Heart by Stacy Hawkins Adams is filled with delightful rich and powerful nuggets of inspiration, wit, wisdom and the practical use of the Word to empower women, really anyone ,to seek to know God intimately. Want to receive guidance and answers about your choices, purpose and destiny? Who Speaks to Your Heart gently shares with you the necessary steps to recognize God's voice to obtain His wisdom. In Jeremiah 33:3 the Word states "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things thou knowest not". Hawkins provides loving practical and challenging strategies and tips as to how not only to pray to God, but to "LISTEN" with our hearts the messages He will truly whisper once you diligently seek Him and learn to listen when He speaks to you. Many forget that an important aspect of prayer and study is to listen.

I read a couple of chapters twice, such as "Letting Go of the Life You Imagined", not because the reading was difficult, but I needed to soak in the chapter to garner what the Lord was speaking to me through the wonderful chapters. Adams shares her personal journey of faith with interesting stories such as her need to have a hearing device and reluctance to face the fact, experiences with her daughter and much more as a model for how God can speak to you. Women will be encouraged to grow deeper in the Word to listen to what God is speaking to their heart, in a "non-preachy" manner.

I was given the privilege to participate in a social media tour for Stacy Hawkins Adams' book titled Who Speaks to your Heart? Tuning in to Hear God's Whispers. Over the past couple of months, I had been finding myself struggling to feel God's presence in my life. There is no doubt He is amidst in my life, I just had become too busy to notice.

When I received this book in the mail, I was excited to read it and find out how to tune in to God's whispers. I must say I have been amazingly blessed. Stacy has a wonderful talent for penning words on paper in ways that are easily read. However, the thing I enjoyed most about this book was the "Learning to Listen" sections at the end of the chapters. These little, but hugely, impactful exercises were just what I needed to rekindle hearing some of those whispers from God in my life.