Blessed by New Hope

Due to a Championship Swim Meet on Sunday, we decided to join our sister church- New Hope Ashland- for their Saturday night service this weekend.  It is a small church still struggling to survive - they don't even have their own building.  But this little church blessed me in a huge way.  I got to sit with and worship alongside my husband.  I didn't have to wonder what the offering was going to be and if it would affect my husband's job.  I didn't have to volunteer.  I wasn't distracted by various people in the room - I could just be.  And in doing so, I was able to lift my voice again to my God, letting Him know how much I need Him. 

Thank You, New Hope.

The Whole-Hearted Wife by the Smalleys

How can we have a marriage full of life and vibrant love?  The Smalleys' say "it doesn't come by living on autopilot.  No dream or worthy goal comes easily.  We must intentionally pursue what matters most in our lives and marriages."  That's why I picked up this book...to learn some strategies for being the best wife I can be.

There are a lot of topics covered in these pages: showing honor/respect, understanding gender differences, communication, connecting spiritually, sex, resolving conflict/anger, forgiveness, and perspective.  For someone who does not read much on marriage, this book touches on many important topics and may be very beneficial.  However, I have read many marriage books.  In order to keep my interest I need information to be presented in an engaging way - helping me to look at things from a different angle.  I had a hard time staying focused because this book just seemed to summarize things I'd already read in other sources. 

One theme that can be found throughout the book is that in order to create a better marriage, a woman needs to start with the one thing she can change - herself!  In all of the "keys" mentioned, the authors talk about how a woman can apply the topic to herself, how she can help her husband, and finally how it impacts the marriage as a whole. 

This book is a collaborative effort, written by a married couple (Erin & Greg), and Greg's father, Gary.  The benefit of having multiple authors is being able to present a variety of perspectives.  However, this got to be very confusing for me.  I like to know who is writing.  While the authors tried to indicate which person was writing, there were many times I wasn't sure.  I would have preferred reading a book from Erin alone (seeing as she is the only wife out of the bunch). 

Even though I didn't connect well with this book, it does contain some great information over many topics that impact marriages.  Give it a try - it might be right for you :)

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

God's Heart

My Bible reading plan has me reading through the prophets at the moment.  It all seems so repetitive to me.  The people sinned. They worshipped other Gods, even as far as sacrificing their own children.  There was injustice, selfishness, and pride.  And so God was going to allow them to be conquered by their enemies.  The description of their punishment is so brutal.  It could be easy to see God as some cruel dictator, taking pleasure in the punishment of a people who had turned on Him.

But as I was reading today, a few words stuck out to me.  Isaiah 15:5 starts off by saying "My heart weeps for Moab...".  His heart weeps.  Other versions say his heart cries out, or grieves.  The prophets are warning the people of what will happen and letting them know the reason this punishment will come upon them.  Yet God is not happy about this news or looking forward to vengeance.  Maybe He still hopes repentance will occur.

If God's heart weeps over a nation getting ready to suffer the consequence of their sin, then can't we reason that He feels the same way about us?  Maybe you messed up and are suffering the consequences right now.  Do you think God is taking pleasure in it?  This verse tells me that He is not.  His heart weeps along with yours. 

And if God's heart weeps with those who deserve their punishment, how must he feel towards those who are suffering simply because of the world we live in?  This year suffering has hit many people dear to us.  A young couple who had to bury their child, and another who is facing that possibility soon.  Marriages that are falling apart.   A friend diagnosed with brain cancer who is facing an uncertain future.  Others grieving from the death of loved ones.  Surgeries. Depression.  So much suffering.  Yet many of them will testify to the presence of God being there in their midst...comforting them, strengthening them, and guiding them through.  Their testimonies strengthen my faith, reminding me that God is enough and he does care for us deeply - especially in our suffering.

Snap Decision by Nathan Whitaker

I am the parent of an 11 year old sports nut!  My oldest son is constantly doing something sports-related whether it's playing the game, watching clips on ESPN, playing sports video games, or reading!  Sports fiction is mostly what he's been reading recently.  As his mother I sometimes get concerned what "additional content" he's getting exposed to in the books he reads.  What are the characters teaching him about values and life?  It is through this lens that I decided to read Snap Decision.

This fictional story centers around an 8th grade boy during a season of football.  The plot is fairly simple, containing issues that many boys will have to face.  It makes them think about balancing schoolwork and sports, maintaining integrity on and off the field, and navigating through tough spots in friendships.  I really like how one of the main characters, the varsity quarterback (who all the boys look up to), demonstrates great values and leadership.  There are boys out there who get good grades, play sports well, and make Godly decisions....these are the types of characters I want my son to aspire to be become.

I think my son will really enjoy this book because it contains so much football!  He can learn about practice techniques, get the play-by-play on several football games, get a glimpse into what scouting as a profession might be like, and learn about some of the dangers of playing the game.  I, as a parent, appreciated the respectful language, good role models, and proper respect for authority shown.   Bottom line: This is a book that boys will find interesting and that parents can feel good about them reading.  It is a book that encourages personal integrity and doing what's right in all areas of life. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for an honest review.

I Get To

Normally I am not one who likes change, but the summer months are an exception.  My days of substitute teaching are now filled with driving my boys around (keeping them active) and finally getting back into a routine of exercise and cleaning (which has been severely lacking the past several months!)  I get to watch lots of ball games, swim meets, and even some concerts (thanks to my husband's role in the Jimmy Warner Band).

 

 

I get to help take care of a garden - resulting in fresh veggies and canned goods for the winter months.  And of course prepare a year's worth of strawberry jam for my family and friends to enjoy (lots of work but totally worth it!).  I also look forward to a trip to Washington D.C. in July to visit my brother.  Lots of activities to enjoy and memories to make!

 

My prayer is that each day I can wake up with an "I get to" attitude, instead of "I have to".  Those few little words make a huge difference.   Even when I'm doing tasks that I don't enjoy, I want to remember that I "get to" do them.  My free taxi service can be a pain until I remember that because I have children who are healthy and active, I get to take them places to burn off their energy.  The constant need to keep up with housekeeping, laundry, and meal prep can be a chore until I remember that they come as a result of having a family I get to take care of.  Not everyone has that.  Some of you might get to work a job and earn needed income.  Or maybe you get to spend priceless time with loved ones who need your care.  Or maybe you get to volunteer and show God's love to those around you.  I challenge you to be thankful for all you get to do, no matter what your circumstances happen to be.

 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snack Girl to the Rescue! by Lisa Cain

I am in a cooking rut!  I picked up this book because I needed some inspiration to eat better, and get some new ideas on what to fix.  Was Snack Girl able to help me?  Read on to find out...

Lisa Cain has a website devoted to sharing the information she has learned and encouraging others to eat healthy while on a budget.  She understands that time and money often limit our cooking choices, and that some people haven't received good culinary training.  That's what the first section of this book is all about.  She explains what a healthy weight is and her experiences with various diets.  She instructs on some easy cooking techniques and warns women of common temptations and emotional eating habits.  She focuses on the impact of exercise.  And she breaks down nutritional labels, explaining how to make good choices at the grocery store. 

This section definitely makes me want to eat better!  I learned some new information and plan to make some small changes in my eating habits.  The only discouraging chapter was about nutritional labels.  Sometimes ignorance is bliss, right?  I am now aware of how much added sugar and salt is in the processed food we regularly eat, but I feel too overwhelmed to make any changes.  Ugh.  Be aware that your eyes will be opened!  I decided that it's most beneficial to focus on one small change (such as increasing portions of fruits and veggies while decreasing portions of meat) than to try to change everything all at once.  And I think Snack Girl would agree.  One step at a time...

The 2nd section in this book contains many recipes to try!  I really like how each recipe starts out with some dialogue.  For example, the recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts starts out like this, "This recipe is a game changer for me.  My dad boiled Brussels sprouts into smelly, mushy, ugly blobs.  No wonder I used to hate Brussels sprouts; now I love them..."  This is followed by some tips on how to serve them, a detailed recipe, and nutritional information.  I myself have not had good experiences with this vegetable.  But....I may try cooking them this way once before writing them off for good :)

I enjoyed this book because it was down-to-earth, informative, and encouraging.  The recipes use ingredients that I have actually heard of (at least most of them), and could afford to make.  I won't be making a total 180 in my diet, but I will make some better choices and experiment with some of these recipes to prepare some healthy meals and snacks for my family.

Stay tuned...if I find a really good one, I'll post it on this blog!

*Blogging For Books provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lost & Found by Sarah Jakes

Some people may assume that growing up in a Christian home with a well-known preacher as a father would guarantee life is easy.  In her new book, Sarah Jakes reveals that struggles and insecurities hit us all - no matter who your family is.  She is very vulnerable in sharing her own struggles (including a teen pregnancy and poor relationship choices) in order to give other women hope that they too can be found.

What I liked:  Sarah is very open with her struggles and takes responsibility for her choices.  Throughout the book she is continually sharing what she "wished she had known" at the time.  Those words of wisdom may be just what some young woman needs to hear.  Her story also reminded me of how we as the church need to be accepting and show grace to those who mess up.   She found more acceptance and less judgment and condemnation outside the walls of the church...and so that's where she went looking for fulfillment.   Jesus came to save the lost, heal the sick, and free the prisoners.  May our churches become places where the wounded come to for healing instead of running the opposite direction.

What I didn't:  I felt like the majority of the book detailed her dysfunctional relationship with her boyfriend/husband.  Someone in a similar situation may find this helpful.  However, I would have liked to hear less about "Robert" and more about other areas of her life, such as her relationship with her son or her faith journey. 

It takes courage for anyone to share their story, especially when sharing things they are not proud of.  I think it's inspiring that Sarah risked judgment in order to help others.  If you know a young women who appears to be wandering, especially in regards to relationships with men, she may find hope in Sarah's story.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.