by Sheila Wray Gregoire
If sex is supposed to be so passionate, and reflect "the promises and pleasures of our covenant relationship" with Christ, then why is it so blah for so many couples? Or why is it almost non-existent in some marriages?
More Music to Celebrate the Season
by Kimberly Amici
Nothing helps us savor the Christmas season like the sounds of holiday cheer coming from the speakers in our home or car. You would be hard pressed to find us listening to anything else during the month of December. We have a diverse musical library that we try to add to every year.
Susanne Says - How can I reduce my holiday stress?
by Susanne Ciancio
How can I reduce my holiday stress in this most joyful yet overly busy and chaotic season?
CDs to Celebrate!
by Elise Daly Parker
We are a family steeped in tradition who loves Christmas, with all its trappings and trimmings. So what better way to kick off all the merriment than with the beautiful, sometimes corny, but wonder-filled sounds of the season. We have one solid rule: No Christmas songs fill our home until after Thanksgiving Day
Book Review - I Blame Eve By Susanna Foth Aughtmon
From the onset of the book, the transparency and realness of author Susanna Foth Aughtmon is clear. Her authenticity translated well, causing this reader to relax. Her personal accounts dispel any and all judgmental tones, replacing them instead with a sense of "I'm there, too." The reader is welcomed in, affirmed, validated, and loved through.
The Talking Snake
Inside perfection, evil roamed. The evil one took form, purposing "to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10, NIV) Eve (and Adam), thus putting an end to the pureness of God's creation. The author develops this idea beautifully, giving our mind's eye a deeper look into how Satan lured Eve with GREAT intention.
Eve's luring is our luring. Satan's tactic, the one that brought down Eden, remains in his arsenal. He's intentional, yet subtle. As the author writes:
"It begins with the voice of doubt and chaos, the voice that invites us to wonder if we don't deserve more than we've been given. It begins with the thought that no one can tell us what to do. It begins with a hiss and a mirthless laugh as we wander far away from the heart of the One who breathed life into us. It begins with the snake." (Aughtmon, 2012, pg 29)
It is in the luring we can learn a valuable lesson. Let's face it, as a child of the KING, we'll be tempted. Our soul is secure, but how we live our life for Him, the choices we make, the life we choose, can sadly still be in play. Eve had a choice: run or stay. I love how the author puts it:
"The problem was that Eve didn't turn on her heel and walk away. Eve paused a moment and gave his words credence. She weighed them against her own logic and what she recalled God saying to her. She did what so many of us have done on way too many occasions. Eve listened to the enemy of her soul." (Aughtmon, 2012, pg 33)
Like many of us, Eve took matters into her own hands. Instead of dropping and running to her Father, she began buying into what the snake had to say. Now, I truly don't believe Eve realized the fallout from just listening to the snake. I also don't believe she imagined the consequences, the generational consequences, from her one action. I do believe her pause changed everything. She paused to listen instead of running to the Father. As the author writes,
"It is important to invite God into the snaky conversations that take place in our minds and the niggling doubts that dig into our souls, because this is where the battle begins." (Aughtmon, 2012, pg 35)
Throughout the book, the author addresses "fallout" from the fall.
Chapter 6: I Want to Hide from God
Chapter 12: I Am a Perfectionist
Chapter 14: I Have Control Issues...Big Ones
Chapter 17: I Am a Little Self-Centered
But then, she beautifully writes the closing chapters that give us hope:
Chapter 21: I Need a New Idea of What Perfect Looks Like
Chapter 22: I Am Not in Control
Chapter 23: I Need a Paradigm Shift
Chapter 24: I Am Ready for a New Out-of-Control Me
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, giving it a 5/5 stars.
Stefanie Brown began writing after an encounter with the Lord during the summer of 2010. It was in that moment she knew writing was her ministry, her calling, her element. Her blog, UpLIFTing Words www.upliftingwordsonline.com was birthed out of the encounter. You can find her on Twitter: stefanieybrown; Facebook: Stefanie Young Brown; or contact her via email: stefaniebrown.skylift@gmail.com.
Book Review: The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Someone took the time to tweet this quote they read in a book:
"God isn't offended by big dreams; he is offended by anything less."
Once I read this I couldn't resist, I had to know where it came from. You see, I used to be a big dreamer. I believe in power of prayer but somewhere along the way my dreams and my prayers became safe. [Continue Reading...]
Book Review - The Power of A Woman’s Words by Sharon Jaynes
By Phyllis Doerr
“We are shaped by the words of those who love us or refuse to love us.”
It’s a powerful concept. One that piqued the interest of ten women gathered at my home for five Tuesday mornings recently. We used Sharon Jaynes’ book, The Power of A Woman’s Words. From the very first paragraphs, we were all amazed at the truth of the title – and how much we needed to learn about using our words wisely.
Personal Connection - Diana Jones
At age 16, I was pregnant and desperate for the love of a father. A family friend invited me to church and I accepted Jesus into my heart as Lord and Savior. Even though I was sincere in my acceptance, it was a struggle, so I didn’t fully come into my faith walk until my early 20s. [Continue Reading...]