by Kimberly | Oct 3, 2017 | Books
There is such a danger in the life of a believer in focusing too much on themselves. My husband reminded me of this by sharing with me the other day that if a person is depressed, if he genuinely focuses on others, then that will help with the depression.
Sharon Miller, in her book Free of Me, gets more to the heart of the Christian Life and some dangers we, especially as women, face. In today’s society, we like to think about ourselves, boast in our social media, make the Christian life completely about ourselves.
The truth is that it isn’t. It is about a bigger God then ourselves. He is the Creator and over all things – we are not in charge. And when we learn this, life will be more about the glory of Christ.
Sharon tells her own story of self-preoccupation and then goes on to share truth about areas in our lives that we tend to focus too much on ourselves and how focusing on the truth of the Bible and God we can free ourselves of this damaging trend.
God isn’t about you.
Family isn’t about you.
Appearances aren’t about you.
Possessions aren’t about you.
Friendships aren’t about you.
Your “calling” isn’t about you.
Church isn’t about you.
Love how Sharon shares from her experience, the Scriptures, and a well-rounded theology and ministry depth, knowing God and knowing herself, and knowing other women – that life is more fulfilling when you focus on others more than yourself. Your dreams aren’t big enough. Sacrifice looks different when you get outside of yourself.
This is both a needed book for us as women, our families, our ministries, and churches. And it is a convicting one for our hearts as well. Thank you Sharon.
by Kimberly | Oct 2, 2017 | Books
This October marks the 500th anniversary of what marks the beginning of the Reformation: the day when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door at Wittenberg.
New Growth Press and Bob Kellemen have offered a book that highlights some areas that can help all of us in our daily lives and for those of us in the business of Christian counseling, this book will help as well.
But, I would say, after knowing the personal help this book has given me, its encouragement, and its strength, that we all need to be in the business of counseling others with the Word of God – therefore, rightly, making all of us Christian counselors.
If we use the Word in our counseling, in our friendships, in our marriages, in our parenting, then we will have stronger and truer relationships because the Word of God is sufficient. One of the marks of the Reformation was the 5 Solas – and one of them is Scripture Alone. (I won’t go so far as to say that we don’t need any other kind of psychological help, but I do think the Word needs to be the base for all of our counseling.)
At first glance, I thought this book was out of my league. But, then, as I sat with the table of contents, saw the method with which Bob tackled this topic, it was really quite user friendly and applicable. He shares personal stories and letters of Luther to illustrate how he counseled with the Word of God alone – in these four areas: reconciliation, guidance, healing, and sustaining. He broke up each one into the theology of Luther and then how Martin Luther put those theological ideas into practice with those he was in relationship with.
If you are looking for a new counseling book, or these topics (the 4 listed above) sound interesting to you, or you want to know more about the man and preacher and reformer, Martin Luther, then I really think this book will be helpful to you.
Thank you to Litfuse and New Growth Press for this book. All thoughts are my own.
by Kimberly | Sep 21, 2017 | Books
I guess sometimes it is hard on your heart to read books about people who get to travel when you don’t get to do it anymore that often (and would really love to).
But, I really enjoyed the Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay. Christian fiction without being sappy Christian-ese throughout the book.
A love of books and travel.
A family that has real problems – but not dismissing the problems but knowing that generational sin has an impact on us and what we do with it and its impact with shape our own lives.
Doubts with life and death.
And hope. Hope is always fitting in a Christian fiction. Not hope that all is going to work out perfectly. But hope in a God who does all things well. That’s of course where our hope lies.
I think my only thing I would do different in this book is not make the conclusion about 2 pages long. I wanted a continuation of this book based on where it ended. I would have liked that with her Dear Mr. Knightley too. So, I guess that’s a good thing! How about it Katherine Reay – sequels?
by Kimberly | Sep 14, 2017 | Books
The kids wake you up all hours of the night. Whether its night terrors, wet beds, loss of their stuffed animal, or maybe still night feedings.
You have an argument with your husband early in the morning that sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Your jeans don’t fit the way you want them to.
The car won’t start.
You burn the cookies.
You don’t love well.
You are anxious about meetings coming up in the coming day.
Whatever hits your world today, the Word of God is your hope. Christ is your hope.
That’s why I think Gracelaced is a helpful book, no matter the season you are in.
If you are female – this book will meet you were you are.
Ruth is a watercolor and lettering artist, mom of lots of boys, wife, writer, believer. I had the opportunity to meet her at the last TGCW conference. Engaging in every way, in person and on the page.
She writes a devotional book for women that is full of truth – just overflowing with it. I know many women who don’t think they can understand deep theology. Theology is just what you believe about God – the study of God. And this book will help you grip tighter to your solid beliefs about God.
This book will help you rehearse the truth of the Word that your soul, your heart, and your mind, so desperately need!
And its pretty!
Other Gospel-rehearsing books for anyone to read:
The Gospel Primer
Cross-Centered Life
by Kimberly | Sep 7, 2017 | Books
I think I might be becoming more of a fiction reader. As long a its good fiction.
With being a mom and a creative and a wife, sometimes I don’t have the mental capacity to read a Christian living non-fiction book. Its a lot of hard heart work.
And Christian fiction really doesn’t do it for me a whole lot because it is filled with cheesy loaded Christian-ese, and it is sorta predictable.
This is why I liked about Katherine Reay’s book Dear Mr. Knightley. About halfway through the book I looked on the spine to see Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher. I was surprised. I just thought it was a clean novel, chicklit, that was fun with a good story.
By the time I finished the book (2 days later), I had fallen in love with the author’s way of storytelling, loved her letter forms for this novel. and couldn’t wait to get my hands on her other books.
If you love non-overbearing Christian fiction, Jane Austen, books, literature, a good chicklit story without a bunch of sex and language – then this is your book.
What I loved about this book from a personal side : growth. I thought back to what I was like when I was 23. I had just started seminary. I moved away from everyone I knew. I was on my own. I was thin for the first time in my life. I could really choose to be anything I wanted. I was growing. I was growing in faith. I had finally come to realize that the world as I knew it wasn’t perfect.
And you know what, I keep growing. I keep going through experiences and daily life that make me think, ponder, and grow.
I like reading books that help me think about who I am – and make it entertaining too.
by Kimberly | Aug 28, 2017 | Books
When I was in high school I remember reading John Grisham books – like devouring them. I read all of this earlier work and still really enjoy him as an author.
Just Mercy reminds me much of Grisham’s work: rivoting, makes you want to keep reading, personal, you get to know the characters. Bryan Stevenson does an excellent work of drawing you in to his world and not just letting you sit on the sidelines. And this is, unlike most of Grisham’s work, a true story
This book will grip you in many ways and open your eyes to life in the south, life for those who need justice (which, by the way, is all of us). And will allow you to see Christ’s redemption for you in a new way as well.
Thank you Blogging for Books for a chance to read this book. All opinions are my own.
