Shine: How To Walk The Talk

by Nancy Segovia

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16

The Bible tells us we need to “shine before men,” but what does this mean and how do we do it? In Shine: How to Walk the Talk, Nancy Segovia lays out a series of simple steps you can to take to walk the talk: to love God above all and your neighbor as yourself. Using parables, folk tales, and struggles from her own life, she provides uplifting insights into the Christian walk that can make your first steps easier. She examines scripture for clues on what it means to shine, how to reflect God’s love, and what to do when the muddy messes of life blot out God’s light in you. You will relate to her failings, those "Duh!" moments when spiritual understanding begins to dawn. Most important, you will learn how to apply that understanding―you will learn how to turn your talk into your walk and how to help others to do the same.

112 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2003

About the author

Nancy Segovia has been a professional writer for over 20 years. She has achieved publishing success in the fields of adult fiction, children’s literature, newspaper journalism, feature magazine articles and poetry. She is happily married, and has five daughters, five granddaughters and one, adorable grandson. She loves to fish and is a prize-winning cook.

Her other published works include “When You Wish Upon A Star” and “Benjamin’s Bride” both of which are scheduled to be released later this year from Faith and Reason Publishing. She also has several other completed works which will also be published by Faith and Reason Publishing over the course of the next few years.

Nancy Segovia has a Master of Arts Degree in Religion from Northwest Nazarene University, and a Masters of Liberal Studies in Creative Writing from the University of Denver. She currently writes and teaches college-level English classes.




Faith must be enforced by reason. When faith becomes blind it dies.

Reviews

[Virginia Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book, about 100 pages and 13 chapters, contains basic truths about serving God, all of which are backed by scripture. In Ms. Segovia's plain, candid style she relates how God taught her to live so that others can see his love in her life. She deals with deeply rooted character flaws, old hurts, troubles with relations, misunderstandings, dealings with difficult people--in short, she examines the dirty parts of life, her own in particular, that God must cleanse to enable us to shine. She uses the simile of the buttercup, which reflects sunlight, to explain how God is looking to shine his light through our lives onto others. She compares our wrong responses to life's challenges to mud that inhibits the light-reflecting magic of the buttercup.

Ms. Segovia is unsparing in sharing her personal struggle to develop character traits that enable God's love to pour through her, which could have resulted in a heavy read. But she has made it into an easy read because her word choice is simple, her chapters are short, and her message is focused: You can shine for Christ so that others are drawn to Him. You can walk the talk.

Shine makes an ideal gift for a new or struggling Christian or any believer who longs to have greater influence for the Kingdom.

[Jinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught principles that replace and transcends some aspects of the law of Moses. This self help book focused on one of those teachings, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16). The author thus wanted to show how to "walk the talk" as the title states. In other words, if one says he's a Christian then his actions should reflect so. She went through this process of practice what you preach and so she was speaking from experience. She candidly shared personal revelations that strengthen her testimony in God that aided her in how to live according to his teachings. Her "Duh!" moments were plenty and that made her human to me. She made several excellent points through analogies (buttercups, cracked pot, etc) that can inspire one to understand God's love.

I'm not one for highly preachy Christian talks or books (ones clearly giving lip service). This one did not come off that way. Instead it was motivated by desire to uplift. It made for a pleasant read. Well done, Ms Segovia!

Before I go, the author quoted Mahatma Gandhi that I thought spoke volumes about what she wanted her readers to ponder ...Gandhi was once asked about Christianity and his answer, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ". Yikes, great reminder to shine and truly walk the talk! Ergo, this book is a decent source to show you how.

Jinky is Reading

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shine How To Walk the Talk
…Is a well written book, an easy read, her chapters are short and she gets to the point. I highly recommend it to anyone who is need of God in their lives.
This book couldn’t have come to me at a better time. As I started to read the book I felt like God was sending me a message I found myself in the author’s shoes. We all long for something in our lives not realizing that that something is God and letting his light shine through us. Nancy Segovia tells us how God taught her to live so that others can see his love in her life. I kept reading & by the time I was in chapter 3 I found myself crying, not because the book is sad but because I finally understand.
I was very inspired.
Five stars for this amazingly inspiring little book.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent & Enlightening - I'm glad I downloaded this novel. I found it to be enlightening, well written, and full of wisdom. The author has a clear grasp of faith and the New Testament. Ms. Segovia has written a intelligent and meaningful book. Really enjoyed it!

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shine: How to Walk the Talk: Nancy Segovia

There are many lessons that we learn as we go through life. It all depends how we deal with them, which ones will help us grow as adults and how our decisions and these lessons impact our relationships with others. Shine is a unique book filled with many important lessons that author Nancy Segovia shares with readers. These are lessons that she learned in life as she struggled with many issues that impaled her judgment and hampered her spiritual growth as she looks inside her own personal mirror, reflects on many encounters and shares them with readers all in the hope of getting closer to God.

Wanting to understand God better, learning how to become closer to him, love and not disappoint him she begins her journey and shares it with everyone as she states he is her light. Let’s follow that light and travel the darkness, the dim, the brilliance and finally what leads us all to Shine. By comparing this spiritual light to the “natural process of photosynthesis, in which a buttercup absorbs sunlight to help it grow,” she explains that it does not know that is what it entails for it to flourish and grown and without that ability to absorb the light it will not live. She elaborates on this and explains that if the buttercup or we does not face the sun to receive the full impact of the light we will not gain its full benefits and taking it further we must also face the Son.

There are many important life lessons learned and shared that I will impart to readers. She speaks about studying the New Testament and how and why it is worth the effort. Most people love chocolate cake, new cars or computers and they love them because of their positive attributes and qualities. So, too you might say we can learn to love and cherish the same in God.

How many times have you heard kids say or even you say: You can’t make me or he can’t make me do it? The author shares that she learned that God, in his great “faithfulness,” allowed her to suffer the consequences when she was obstinate like Jonah and the whale. Relating the story to readers at the start of Chapter 2. She elaborates how our poor behaviors impact God and that he often weeps over his children like any loving parent when we follow the wrong path. There are many other lessons within this chapter that she shares and she includes one of her required readings for a class in Philosophy that helped her greatly: The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux. One statement within the text has greatly impacted her until this day: God doesn’t want our hard work- He wants our love and obedience. The main point that she states many times throughout this book is that she wants to show God how much she loves him and she must and should worship him for who He is. She gives more examples throughout this chapter and she elaborates on obedience and how her rebellious and stubborn streak often got and still gets in her way. In Chapter Three she explains an important lesson regarding imperfections namely ours. “God can use our imperfections to help others and ourselves in ways we can never imagine.” Think about this and read the rest of the chapter, which includes verses from the Bible and references to God. At the start of each chapter the author begins with a special Prayer, which sets the stage for what she is trying to teach and share with readers in that chapter.

Chapter three focuses on how the author or anyone can pray to love God without being selfish or seeming self centered. This is a very powerful chapter as it shows how the author dealt with a serious issue when she and her husband were both unemployed and hoped and prayed that they somehow something good would happen. What happens when you realize that your power might be turned off and not only will you be in the dark but you will be cold in the dead of winter? Find out the miracle that that happened and what aided her to realize that she was and still is finally ready, willing and able to “Walk the talk,” to let his Spirit, His light, shine through her.

Chapter five elaborates and explains Walk the Talk as stated in the title of this book and then Part Two begins with Walk A Mile in My Shoes, which focuses on lessons that everyone including young children and young adults can learn. Everyone makes mistakes and if we do not take ownership or own up to them and refuse to acknowledge them you become as she states:” an accomplice to guilt.” The chapter elaborates more on how this affects your relationship with others and the story of David and eating the showbread from the altar. How do we forgive someone? If you excuse the offense or wrongdoing then there is nothing to forgive and the forgiveness she states has no purpose. Bottom line: we must all try to understand the reasons and the actions behind someone’s guilt and then forgive the person. But, she continues with a valid and important point that we are responsible for our own actions. If you want your buttercup to “shine brightly in the Son,” you have nothing to worry about but if you chose anger, jealously, pride and greed or fear read on page 58 what will happen. Chapter 9 focuses on how people perceive us and how we are responsible for that perception. Chapter 10 once again includes information about the New Testament, the Bible and verses from Matthew. The main points discussed deal with compassion and how combined with understanding results in action of mercy-love in action.

What happens when friends need favors, deadlines are coming up for our next book and things start to overwhelm you? Deadlines have to be met and studying done and the world seems to be overcrowding you. The author relates what happens when things like this take over her life, when she did not take the time to stop and make others more important than the daily stuff and why she needed to take a few steps back and reflect. What about her children? What about her family? What about those who needed her? Page 86 explains what she learns and how she found a way to solve the problem. The final chapter titled the Bottom Line relates many verses from Matthew and how different teachings related to trying to teach her youngest daughter colors and why children are so special and how they have so many unique qualities. This is an important chapter for parents to learn many important things regarding dealing with their children, how what they explain to them must be according to the way children view the world and their parents and the rest like any mystery or good novel you need to learn for yourself. Take the journey with author Nancy Segovia making sure that you have enough light, water, faith, love and let her light shine through you and others. Like the buttercup that requires light: you are hers and maybe she is yours and let your buttercup shine in her Son.

A truly inspirational book with many important life lessons.
Fran Lewis: reviewer
Open your eyes wide and let the light SHINE!

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book is about Christianity and its beliefs and sights example with in the Holy bible versus.

[Joyce Gilmour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shine: How to Walk the Talk is for anyone on any part of his/her journey. Author Nancy Segovia uses the analogy of the buttercup, a wildflower that can be easily overlooked in our world, and seen as a weed by many, but each has a “glorious light that draws the eye.” Segovia references John 8:12 reminding us that “Jesus was and is the light of the world.” Each of us should be striving to be a light, which draws the attention of others, to glorify God. This is a paragraph from Shine that was a great reminder and encouragement to me: “But always His light survives, waiting like the buttercup for a moment of sunlight to reflect its glory. Finding that Sonlight, protecting it, nourishing it, and letting it shine through us onto others is a lifelong task. But unlike the buttercup that gives only momentary joy, when we let His light shine through, the joy it provides lasts for eternity.”

Oftentimes, when reading a devotional book, an author can come across with knowledge that makes the reader almost feel hopeless to be able to “walk the talk.” What I appreciate the most about Nancy Segovia’s book, is that she shares her struggles, and gives insight regarding what she learned when processing situations and her reactions. Her suggestions as to how to walk the talk are practical and Bible-based. She includes prayers that can be used by those of us wanting to walk the talk. A number of years ago, I learned that I could use other people’s words…as long as what I was praying was sincerely coming from my heart. Often it takes reading the prayers of others to find oneself growing closer to God, and then the words can begin to flow from our own thinking.

Thank you, Nancy Segovia, for sharing Shine: How to Walk the Talk so that many people can benefit from your learning, the Bible verses and prayers that you’ve included in the book, and the wisdom you have regarding walking closer to our God.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shine:
How To Walk The Talk
By
Nancy Segovia

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
The Bible tells us we need to “shine before men,” but what does this mean and how do we do it? In Shine: How to Walk the Talk, Nancy Segovia lays out a series of simple steps you can to take to walk the talk: to love God above all and your neighbor as yourself. Using parables, folk tales, and struggles from her own life, she provides uplifting insights into the Christian walk that can make your first steps easier. She examines scripture for clues on what it means to shine, how to reflect God’s love, and what to do when the muddy messes of life blot out God’s light in you. You will relate to her failings, those “Duh!” moments when spiritual understanding begins to dawn. Most important, you will learn how to apply that understanding―you will learn how to turn your talk into your walk and how to help others to do the same.

I just LOVE this book….
I LOVE the way Nancy uses the story using the Buttercup as an example !!!!!!
This is a fun yet, very convicting book. I was so surprised as how much I needed to read it to awaken me. I can only so “Thank you, Nancy, for helping me to cry out to God for help”
And thank you for sharing with me through your book that I am not alone in my struggles in life and that I CAN OVERCOME anything with JESUS and the importance of sharing HIS LIGHT to a lost and dark world!

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone…..really anyone!!!!!!!

I ask our Father God to always SHINE HIS LOVE through you all the days of your life. In Jesus Matchless Name Amen

Shine is currently available through Amazon here

Also for a fun video that will give you a feel for Shine’s message you can watch the trailer at: HERE

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reads win! For my first try at this style of book, I really did better than I thought. I got it done and could relate to it. First it was hard for me to follow the book, I was confused and had to reread the same pages a few times before I got a hold on the book. When I finally got into reading the book, I found it to be good. There are "Duh" moments and things that I think women would love to read. Hey some things I could relate to! Something I didn't think of, when I first got this book. I did have many questions and wonder about this book. At the end the book was better than I thought of. Besides this was a quick read and can easily be done in a day. A good hour should be the most you need for this book, it really is that short. This is a fun yet, very convicting book. I was so surprised as how much I needed to read it to awaken me. I can only so "Thank you, Nancy, for helping me to cry out to God for help" And thank you for sharing with me through your book that I am not alone in my struggles in life and that I CAN OVERCOME anything with JESUS and the importance of sharing HIS LIGHT to a lost and dark world!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
As someone who has struggled with Christianity and accepting Christ, this book has made it even that much harder for me, but I still thought it was a good awakening. The whole idea of surrendering to His will is a hard pill to swallow. I think there is only so much where one can throw their hands up in the air and expect that a solution will naturally arise. I do think you need to take some action, but saying or believing that the action you a person takes is not your own free will but that you were guided to it is also hard for me to believe. The prayers are wonderful and selfless, as a good prayer should be and I got a lot of inspiration from this book. I guess I just need to put some of these simple examples into action and know His love will guide me.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through the Goodreads First-reads giveaway site.

I loved this amazing little book. There is so much knowledge packed into this slim tome of 102 pages. I especially loved the prayer that ended each chapter.
This book will make you take a good look at yourself and stop and think about how you are wearing your Christianity for the world to see.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who doesn't just want to talk the talk but walk the talk as well.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The author has crafted a thought provoking book on how to walk closer with the Lord. She uses spare, but powerful language. I liked how she used her own struggles with faith as examples. I also liked how she used the theme of buttercups as a metaphor for letting your light shine. I found it to be useful and entertaining without beating me over the head with religion.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really give this a higher than 3. But not a 4. I enjoyed most of this book. While I didn't agree with everything the author said, most of it wasn't a big issue, and I was still able to enjoy the read. Especially in the beginning. The reason I rounded to a 3 instead of a 4, is by the end of the book, I found myself skimming and just ready for the book to be over.