- Matthew 5:43-44 NIV
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” - Mark 12:29-31 NLT
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ - John 13:34 NIV
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. - John 15:12-13 NLT
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - Romans 13:8 NLT
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. - 1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. - 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - Ephesians 4:2 NLT
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. - Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” - 1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. - 1 Peter 1:22 NLT
Picture by Just2Shutter, 123rf.com
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
- 1 John 4:7-8 NIV
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. - 1 John 4:11 NIV
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. - 1 John 4:19-21 NIV
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Tag: women’s’ Bible study
Nourished, Book Review
Nourished: A Search for Health, Happiness and a Full Night’s Sleep
by Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph
You can’t keep filling up and feeding others if you’re undernourished and starving yourself. That’s what mother-daughter writing team, Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph, say in their new book: Nourished. They’ve packed their book with humor, honesty, a 
chatty writing style, and practical tips everywhere.
A lot of their advice was basic; however, it’s nice to have a collection of tips all in one place. I loved some of the word-pictures and metaphors they use to bring their points home. My favorite is the idea that all of us have a favorite pillow style. I like mine soft. You might like yours super-stuffed. The same is true about our schedules—the activity level that is comfortable for me might not be comfortable for you. That’s why our lives need to be unique and God-directed, not copycats of what works for someone else. They cover everything from how to dress your body type, to how to organize your schedule, to how to enjoy family meal time, and how to get your home in order. I would have loved to see a little more of an emphasis on nourishing faith and a relationship with God, perhaps, but ultimately the book is an all-around healthy heart, mind and body makeover.
Usually, I’m the kind of reader who loves to hear the personal stories and perspectives of the author. Not so much in this book. I think part of that was because I loved Becky Johnson’s tips and input, but Rachel came across as nice and enthusiastic and ‘young.’ I’m a mom with four kids living in a house half the size of Rachel’s, so her perspective felt a little simplistic. She seemed to send a lot of time trying to justify why she doesn’t have a lot of time…..when I think she might have been better off ‘fessing up’ to the fact that the majority of women reading the book probably have more kids than she does. I remember having one toddler, a ministry, a work-at-home job without any childcare, and a busy husband and thinking my life was crazy then. Now, I really wish I had that much free time again! I’d appreciate it if at least once in the book she said, “I know I only have one child, but this is what works for me right now, and this is what my friends with four kids and a job say works for them…..” I get how hard that is to confess. I’ve had to say it myself—-“my life is crazy and it feels like no one else’s could be any crazier, but I know I don’t understand what it’s like to have 9 kids, or home school, or parent a special needs child, or have a husband in the military or be a single mom.” When your own experience is limited, maybe getting some ideas from others with more experience would have been a plus and, at the very least, admitting that you don’t know what it’s like to juggle as much as someone else goes a long way to set a tone of humility. Perhaps that’s why I loved that Becky Johnson chimed in with talk about raising four kids in a log cabin.
This isn’t a Bible study and it’s really not meant to be. They talk about faith in a cursory kind of way, with a lovely emphasis on how God sees us as His beloved daughters. My personal preference would probably have been for less references to their friends’ or fellow bloggers’ books and more dependence on Scripture, but the book seemed to be more of a ‘blogging community’ kind of end-product, which many women will enjoy.
I loved that they included a chapter at the end of the book on how to be nourished when life is hard. For some women whose lives are taking them through trauma and pain, things like organizing your junk drawers or buying a new outfit aren’t going to help much. The authors were wise to meet that head-on and share with love, grace and encouragement on how to pursue hope.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
25 Bible Verses and a Prayer on Forgiveness
God’s forgiveness of us:
- Psalm 32:5 ESV
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah - Psalm 51:1-2 ESV
Have mercy on me,O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin! - Psalm 103:11-12 ESV
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us. - Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. - Isaiah 1:18 HCSB
“Come, let us discuss this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
Photo by Ruud Morijn; 123rf.com
though they are as red as crimson,
they will be like wool. - Isaiah 43:25
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” - Daniel 9:9 NIV
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him - Micah 7:18 HCSB
Who is a God like You,
removing iniquity and passing over rebellion
for the remnant of His inheritance?
He does not hold on to His anger forever,
because He delights in faithful love. - Matthew 26:28 HCSB
For this is My blood that establishes the covenant;it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Acts 2:38 ESV
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receivethe gift of the Holy Spirit. - Acts 3:19 HCSB
Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord - Acts 10:43 HCSB
All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins. - Ephesians 1:7 ESV
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace - Colossians 1:13-14 NIV
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Hebrews 10:17 ESV
then he adds,“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” - 1 John 1:7-9 HCSB
But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 2:2 HCSB
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
Forgiving Others:
- Matthew 5:23-24 HCSB
So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 6:14-15 NLT“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
- Matthew 18:21-22 NLT
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! - Luke 6:37 HCSB
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. - 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 ESV
Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. - Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. - Colossians 3:13 NLT
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
If I Put a Spoon Under My Pillow, Will It Snow?
“This is it.”
My kids are desperate for snow. More specifically, they are desperate for a snow day.
Apparently, so are their teachers.
In early January, the tiniest picture of a snowflake appeared on my weather forecast. The details said wintry mix overnight, no accumulation, yada yada yada, blah blah blah.
My kindergartner arrived home from school that day with specific instructions from her teachers.
Place a spoon under your pillow.
Wear your pajamas inside out.
Flush an ice cube down the toilet.
Her older sister calls out, “And do a snow dance! You have to do the snow dance.”
It was simple math to them. Do this + this +this + this = guaranteed snow day.
It did not snow.
This week, snow was again in the forecast. My Facebook filled with chatter and pictures of weather maps all foretelling the great snowstorm of 2015.
It snow-dusted, just enough to turn the world a little white. Not enough to cover the grass even. Not enough to delay anything, much less close it down.
I don’t mind really. I enjoy snow well enough, but only when it’s outside and I’m inside with a book and a cup of cocoa.
But my kids mind. A lot. They are Virginia girls, desperate for at least a few sizable snowfalls a season.
Every single time there is a whisper of a snowflake or two falling in the night, our town is abuzz, the Wal-Mart shelves clear out of milk and bread, and my children brace themselves for a real and true snow day.
“This is it.” That’s what they think.
Maybe Joseph felt the same way.
All those years, he waited and waited, holding on perhaps to a distant memory of those visions from God of his family bowing down to him.
He waited in a pit while his brothers plotted his death, and then settled for selling him into slavery.
He waited as an Egyptian slave, working faithfully and with integrity for his master.
He waited when he was falsely accused and thrown into an Egyptian jail.
So many times, he might have thought, “This is it. This is my big moment of rescue and redemption!!”
But it wasn’t.
There was the night in the Egyptian prison when Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker came to Joseph with dreams they couldn’t understand. Joseph interpreted the dreams, but then asked for help, saying to the cupbearer:
But when all goes well for you, remember that I was with you. Please show kindness to me by mentioning me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison. 15 For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should put me in the dungeon (Genesis 40:14-15 HCSB).”
This is it.
That’s what Joseph thought. “Here’s my chance!”
Then the cupbearer forgot about Joseph for another two years.
Waiting is hard enough. But getting your hopes up and then discovering disappointment, is even harder.
Joseph could have given up. Maybe he did.
Years later, though, that cupbearer finally did remember Joseph. And, perhaps when Joseph least expected it, God came through.
In God’s perfect timing. In God’s perfect way. God came through.
Had the cupbearer remembered Joseph years before like he had promised, Joseph might have made it out of prison. Maybe. Perhaps. We’re not really sure. Pharaoh could have just dismissed the cupbearer’s story as little more than a novelty.
But in this precise moment, the Pharaoh needed someone to interpret his dream, and Joseph was the one to do it.
Interpreting that cupbearer’s dream had seemed like a wasted opportunity, yet years later that is what God used to rescue Joseph from prison.
What we do today might not seem to matter, but God doesn’t waste our faithfulness.
His timing is precise and perfect, even when it doesn’t feel like it in the moment, even when disappointment presses in, and even when the waiting feels like it can collapse your heart.
We can’t place our hope in circumstances or people like a forgetful cupbearer.
We can’t always decipher God’s plans and predict when “this” really is it.
We can’t make it snow despite all of our snow dances and inside-out-pajamas.
We can, however, live God-glorifying lives day-in and day-out, being faithful even to the most mundane tasks that earn us no worldly recognition or honor.
Our hope, after all, isn’t in circumstances or people or ‘connections’ or our own abilities. They will take us on an endless emotional roller-coaster of misplaced expectations and inevitable disappointment.
Our hope, though, can be rock solid, unshakeable and steadfast when we place it in Him and Him alone.
“Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him” (Psalm 62:5 HCSB).
Heather King is a wife, mom, Bible Study teacher, writer and worship leader. Most importantly, she is a Christ follower with a desire to help others apply the Bible to everyday life with all its mess, noise, and busyness. Her book, Ask Me Anything, Lord: Opening Our Hearts to God’s Questions, is available now! To read more devotionals by Heather King, click here.
Copyright © 2015 Heather King
12 Bible Verses and a Prayer for When You Need to be Refreshed
- Psalm 19:7 NIV
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple. - Psalm 23:1-3 NIV
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake. - Psalm 68:9 NIV
You gave abundant showers, O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance. - Proverbs 11:25 NIV
A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
- Jeremiah 31:25 NIV
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” - Acts 3:19 NIV
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, - Romans 15:32 NIV
so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. - 1 Corinthians 16:18 NIV
For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. - 2 Corinthians 7:13 NIV
By all this we are encouraged.In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
- 2 Timothy 1:16
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. - Philemon 1:7 NIV
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. - Philemon 1:20 NIV
I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
Overcoming Fear of a New Year
Afraid.
That’s how I feel. Maybe it’s pessimism or a sort of realistic pragmatism, but pulling out that blank calendar for the new year, all those empty spaces soon to be filled to overflowing with notes, events, appointments, due dates, and reminders, makes me nervous in an awkward and embarrassed kind of way. 
It’s the kind of fear that you want to hide and cover over with nervous giggles and by abruptly changing the subject.
I’m no believer in superstition, and yet I battle this one mysterious fear-mongering belief that if the first few weeks of the new year begin poorly, I’m in for doom and dismay for the next twelve months.
Like the year I threw up on New Year’s Eve as a teenager. Even I knew that seemed like a bad omen.
Truth be told, I don’t look at that empty dayplanner with excitement and anticipation about all the unknowns in the coming year. I don’t like surprises and the unexpected makes me nervous. I’d rather see the pages filled out in advance so I can brace myself for the ride with all its twists, turns, high rises and low points.
I guess I’d be a failure as a mountain climber or an adventurer of any kind. I’d never really look forward to what’s over the next peak or around the next bend in the road.
Instead, I’d likely be trekking backwards, always back. Even if the ground were difficult, at least it’d be familiar.
It’s a foolish thing really, this fear of mine coming so soon after Christmas. The consistent message of the Christmas story, heard in the prophecies of Isaiah, the announcements of the angels, the pronouncements of Almighty God, is “Do not be afraid.”
All year I flip open my Bible to these words, returning again and again to take comfort in the promise of an angel to a virgin and the host of heaven to shepherds keeping a night-watch in the fields. God with us. Fear Not. Do not be afraid. Emmanuel has come.
And then I sit just days after Christmas staring at this white-paged calendar, worrying and fretting anxiously, preparing for the worst instead of expecting the best.
How quickly I forget the promise and stumble into this now-familiar pit.
And I need to stop.
I don’t want to be a backwards-traveler, confined by foolish superstitions and held captive by the sin—yes, sin—of fear and worry, refusing to trust my Almighty God who carries the the whole world in His palms and who loves me so passionately and lavishly that He’d sacrifice His Son to spend eternity with me.
It’s uncomfortable at first, awkward like a baby stumbling through those first few steps. Maybe it’s even unnatural, me learning slow to walk by faith, letting go of the comforts of the known within my white-knuckled grasp.
So I’m choosing this week to meditate on a verse that reminds me to be excited about the new work of God in my life, the blessings and beauty He has in store for the year ahead. I’m reminded to take joy in the promise of a new year in His presence and in His care.
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland
(Isaiah 43:18-19).
Originally published December 29, 2012
Heather King is a wife, mom, Bible Study teacher, writer and worship leader. Most importantly, she is a Christ follower with a desire to help others apply the Bible to everyday life with all its mess, noise, and busyness. Her book, Ask Me Anything, Lord: Opening Our Hearts to God’s Questions, is available now! To read more devotionals by Heather King, click here.
Copyright © 2013 Heather King
365 Pocket Devotions, Book Review
365 Pocket Devotions: Inspiration and Renewal for Each New Day
by Chris Tiegreen
This little book, 365 Pocket Devotions: Inspiration and Renewal for Each New Day
The devotions in this pocket-sized book are shorter than most and aren’t necessarily the deepest of in-depth Bible studies. Yet, I do find they often provide more insight and things to think about than many other devotions you could choose. Often, he’ll look at a passage or concept in enough of a fresh way to stir me into deeper thought, deeper study, deeper prayer—and that’s the beauty of a well-written devotion. It’s not utter fluff that leaves no impact. It’s a stirring of the heart and mind to seek for more of God and His Word.
I love that the entries in this book are not firmly linked to the calendar. Instead, they simply are marked as “Day 1….Day 2….etc.” That means you can start any time you feel like it rather than waiting for January 1 to roll around. It also means if you fall behind, there’s no need to catch up. You just keep going where you are left off. Days one through five in each week are regular devotions with extra short offerings on days six and seven (presumably when you might hit on a weekend day if you are reading Monday to Sunday).
Perfect for that first moment with God every morning or the last thing you read before sleeping at night, these pocket devotions could really fit in any time of the day, slip into a purse or car easily, and bring a little fresh inspiration into your Christian walk.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Seven Men: And the Secret of their Greatness, Book Review
Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness
by Eric Metaxas
Eric Metaxas’s biographies of William Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were some of my favorite works in any genre. I found them inspiring, full of information while still being readable, and actually theologically educational. I learned so much about these men and their faith. Even my eight-year-old daughter has become a fan of Metaxas because she loved his biography of Squanto for kids. So, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review his new book, Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness
The introduction is compelling. As a woman and a mom with three daughters at that, I haven’t really given much thought to the crisis facing boys in our modern times, when ideals of chivalry, strength of convictions, and moral confidence are scoffed at, mocked, denied, and often ripped to pieces by the media and other cultural influences. Metaxas’s goal, then, in writing this book was to address the question of ‘What is a man?’ by looking at seven men he believes represent a model of manhood.
As always for Metaxas, the writing style is readable and easy to follow. The stories he tells are engaging and interesting, and the biographies become more inspirational than just the cold, hard facts with Metaxas’s commentary and presentation. He chose to write about: George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles Colson. Some of these biographies were more familiar to me than others. In particular, I learned the most and was surprised the most by the biography on Pope John Paul II.
After reading the longer Metaxas biographies, I have to confess I was a bit disappointed by these extremely small, fast-paced, and superficial looks at the lives of seven incredibly complex and historic men. I shouldn’t have been surprised. It makes sense that he’d only be able to give a cursory overview of their lives in the amount of space available.
So, while I wouldn’t consider this book an adequate study on any of these individual men, as a brief introduction to these biographies, this book works. As an exploration of the concept of manhood and an attempt to inspire us to value chivalry, self-sacrifice, and standing up for what is right, this book succeeds. Perhaps more importantly, I’m now intrigued by the lives of the men I didn’t know much about and I can’t wait to read longer, in-depth biographies of their lives.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Grace, Book Review
Grace
by Max Lucado
Each of our testimonies is unique and our God-story always carries that personal touch. We all can share with others the story of what God did for ME. But at the core, no matter what God has done, no matter where He found you or where He’s taken you, your story is about grace. It’s true for all of us.
All of our stories at their bottom line are about grace. None of us, after all, deserve one half-second’s notice from a God so holy, and yet He humbled Himself for us, came here for us, died for us. It is surely “much more than we deserve.”
Maybe because this grace is so universal, we often overlook it, forget it, stop being thankful for it, recognize it in name but not in deep-down life-changing everyday reality. We slip into self-condemnation and falter into works-based faith, propelling ourselves into performance and busyness and standards we can’t ever meet.
So, an inspirational book on grace may be a healthy reminder for all of us, and Max Lucado’s book on Grace is pure “Max.” He’s an artist with words, painting inspirational chapters, each one a quick and simple read that stirs the soul. It’s not a theological treatise. It doesn’t really claim to be. It’s more like sitting at the feet of a storyteller while he embellishes on a single theme.
The study guide that accompanies the book serves as a tool for individuals who want to dig deeper or for group study. While the book itself mostly revolves around stories (Biblical and otherwise), the study guide walks through Scripture.
If you’re a fan of Max Lucado’s style or if you’re in need of some inspiration or if you’ve recognized in your own life the habit of forgetting grace rather than embracing it, this book may be just the refresher your spirit needs.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist, Book Review
Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist: Learning to Be Free
by Amanda Jenkins
Amanda Jenkins is a list-maker, so she had my attention from page one of this book, Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist: Learning to Be Free
She starts each section being as vulnerable as you can get, sharing whatever listed expectation she made for herself. and how she measures up to her goals. Her weight, her bank account, or how many Diet Cokes she’s had so far today, it’s all fair game in this book. Ultimately, her light-hearted and gut-honest storytelling walk you through authenticity and grace in areas of your life like obedience, vanity, coveting recognition, making plans and then having God change them, and depending on anything other than God to fill us each day.
She’s no perky, pasted-on-smile Christian, there to motivate you without being honest about the down-and-dirty problems in life. She talks about her family’s international adoption and dares to tell the hard things and how God transformed her in the process. She talks about the shocking death of a friend’s young husband and the financial struggles of loved ones and other times that she found God, met with Him and was blessed to see Him even when life got ugly.
Ultimately, the book is about finding grace. It’d be an encouragement and challenge for any woman (whether she thinks she’s a perfectionist or not) and even perhaps teen girls. The appendix includes Bible study notes that could work well for any women’s small group, as well.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
To read a sample chapter, you can click here!
For a Q&A with Amanda Jenkins, you can click here!
About the Author . . .
Amanda Jenkins attended Northwestern Bible College and graduated with a degree in biblical studies and communications. She has
worked in sales and marketing for a number of Christian retailers, as well as in visual communications and advertising. For the past 14 years she has taught Bible studies for women of all ages and is passionate about communicating truth in a culturally relevant and humorous way. She lives just outside of Chicago with her husband, Dallas, and their four young children, including their newly adopted son.
Heather C. King - Room to Breathe 