I’ve often wondered how can we live in a world with so much pain? People around you are hurting, they’re searching for relief from their trials. Are you suffering from a chronic illness and/or pain? Have you had a traumatic event happen to you? A death or some other major loss? If so, you probably have thought about how your life could be without the agony. Reading Finding Purpose in Pain by Stacy Williams helped me understand things like continuing to dream about the future, praying scriptures, focusing on the good in life, having healthy boundaries and balance during a difficult period and eliminating fear all while in the life trial. Finding Purpose in Pain gives complete and scripture based devotionals in 21 days that lead the reader to seek God in understanding their role in life’s difficult circumstances. Sometimes you are in the middle of the storm wondering, “Why God?” This devotional helps direct that question and points to God’s word for answers. At one point, there is a touching story that displays the importance of turning to God when you are going through a hardship, even if you don’t know what to say to the Lord! Williams puts it well by saying “And remember, sorrow is not the end of the story - not in your life or anyone else’s.” She points us to the hope we can all find in our storm. Maybe you’re not going through a deep struggle in life or experiencing a loss, this devotional would still be a useful tool to pray for those around you who are hurting. In the last few months it seems as if I have witnessed more people’s pain than ever before. I have a friend went through chemo for cancer, another who fell and hit his head almost dying and has now been in the hospital for over month, or my other friend who lost their baby. My heart has broken for all of these people, but I thought I was limited in what I could do or say for them. Reading William’s devotional helped me see an insider perspective to the struggles a person may have when in a trial. Most of all, I appreciated how much this devotional encouraged me to continue to live in God’s will no matter what my suffering looks like. To live in God’s will for your life requires to live by faith. It may not look like what I expected, but faith is knowing God’s will is best for me. Something I have always struggled with is worry. I worry about tomorrow, even when the Bible says it’s useless to! Williams tells of her own struggle: “My life is in God’s hands and I want to be in His will - and that means not worrying about the what ifs and the things I can’t control and focusing on living a life that pleases God.” Win a copy by entering belowAbout Hedy Hedy is a graduate of Fort Lewis College with a BA in Psychology. She is married with a son. She can't get enough of God and works for Master Plan Ministries at Three Trails Ranch in Durango, CO. Before coming to Colorado, Hedy grew up in Sitka, Alaska. Hedy loves to hunt and fish with her best hunting partner, her husband! Most recently she has been hunting in Colorado and Kansas. When she has a free moment or two, Hedy enjoys to knit and bake bread. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
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I have had the privilege of reading and studying alongside this book and I mean privilege. I crave books like this. Ones that intimately walk along side you as you read through scripture. It is as if I’m doing a one-on-one bible study with a good friend – except the friend is Beth Moore. I love seeing the bible passages referenced at the beginning of each chapter, so I excitedly grab up my bible, dive in and make all of the notes that the Holy Spirit brings to my attention through the verses. Next I get to pick up Beth’s notes. (Insert sheepish grin) I’m like a nerdy college student who after reading the assignment I can’t wait for class. Except we’re diving into the Word of God and instead of becoming overwhelmed at the work load and the upcoming test, I become overwhelmed with Him. Also, the passages that have always left me scratching my head she explains so clearly. She takes the text deeper into the context and the literal translations of some of the key verses. Many of her books are structured this way. There are many commentaries available by different authors, and maybe it’s a woman thing, but the way she writes hers are personal. She writes from the overflow of the Holy Spirit at work in her heart and that’s what I relate to. I would recommend this book to a beginner - one who has never studied the Word of God and also to an expert - one who knows every fact about the word of God but wants to take the bible back to their heart level. It is also great for helping someone bring structure to their bible study routine or lack thereof. J Her bible studies are best buds with my bible and I look forward diving into them every morning! Now you have the opportunity to win one for yourself About Melissa Melissa Bradley is married with two small children. She serves at a church plant in Hendersonville, NC. The passion of her heart is to live every day missionally. You can also find Melissa at Beautiful Mommy Feet, she and her husbands personal ministry page, a women’s ministry page -Radiance and on Facebook. Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs
There are some verses in the Bible that we try to ignore. Some are controversial. Some are confusing. Some are just plain convicting. Which category does this one land in for you? "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you ." {James 1:27}. For me, this verse is convicting. It reminds me that I need to think of others before myself, and that maybe, just maybe there are a lot of ways that I can make a difference in the plight of orphans around the world. This verse also overwhelms me with anxious thoughts. Where do I begin to make a dent in this global problem? Does this really mean that I need to adopt a child, although I struggle enough to parent the three boys I already have? In Johnny Carr's book Orphan Justice: How to Care for Orphans Beyond Adopting, these concerns of mine were addressed. Carr presents the sobering facts and statistics on what is definitively a global issue. Here are a few that took me by surprise:
With personal stories of his own experiences, Carr brings these statistics to life. As I read about Carr's experiences, I began to look more closely at my own community, recognizing that these realities are not far from home. In each chapter, Carr addresses an issue {poverty, HIV/AIDS, abortion, etc} and shares his personal experiences and research on the topic. At the end of each chapter, Carr provides a few ideas as to how a person, group, or organization can address the issue. Most importantly, Carr discusses the theological implications of orphan care. Our involvement is evidence of living out the Gospel in its entirety, not simply addressing a single verse in James. I was most challenged by the chapter on abortion, where Carr points out how our concern for life begins in the womb, but extends to orphans as well. Valuing children and adopting them into a loving family is fulfilling God's design for life and also living out God's adoption story. The first step to making a difference is becoming educated about an issue. If you're looking to make a difference in the plight of orphans around the world and in America, Orphan Justice will empower you with knowledge, understanding, and a vision for where to get started. Check it out here We are not being compensated in any way to post this review. About KeriMost days Keri can be found cruising in her Swagger Wagon, reading a good book, or laughing with friends over large cups of coffee. She finds great fulfillment in serving those who might not walk through the doors of a church, but still desperately need the Hope that only God can give. She also enjoys learning about God through unorthodox means, and occasionally blogs about it at Pop Parables. She also gets in touch with her creative side at BringingCraftyBack. Keri lives in the Greater Seattle area with her husband, their three boys, and 2 weiner pups. Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs.
I love my Woman’s Study Bible (Thomas Nelson Publishers). In fact, for the last 18 years I've loved it to pieces. Literally. While I was leading a women’s Bible study a few years ago, the front section of the Bible separated and broke apart in my hands. About a year ago, I discovered my table of contents was inexplicably missing. So, after almost two decades of cramming sermon notes in the margins and leafing through its pages for Bible study prep and personal devotions, I was finally forced to have it rebound. Could I have bought another Bible? Easily. So, why didn’t I? Because, in my opinion, The Woman’s Study Bible is the best study Bible available for Christian women. Here’s why I think so: * The study notes and commentary are written from a complementarian interpretation of Scripture (the understanding that while the genders equally bear God’s image and are equal in worth, Scripture outlines distinct roles for man and wife.) * The study notes are written by scholarly women! Not only is textual insight geared to women, it is written by women who have dedicated their lives to biblical scholarship and how it intersects with issues common to modern women. The result? Nearly 300 articles on what Scripture says about topics such as adoption, homeschooling, women’s ministry, infertility, divorce, motherhood, singleness, and more. * Almost every page is loaded with helpful charts and excurses that break apart the text according to topic, literary genre, and more. Especially helpful are the character profiles provided for almost every woman in the Bible. So, when I was asked to review the latest edition of The Woman’s Study Bible I jumped at the chance. I was eager to see how the newer version stood up against my well-worn and well-loved copy. Here’s what I discovered about the 2nd edition of The Woman’s Study Bible: * It has the same solid scholarly commentary & textual notes highlighting a modern woman’s concerns. Additional information is added to some notes such as the explanation of complementarianism in Ephesians 5 (see page 1598). * It has the same practical goal to help women apply difficult passages. A little disappointing , however, is the removal of first edition editor Dorothy Patterson’s fabulous exegesis of 1 Tim. 2:9-15 - a helpful piece for navigating potential interpretative errors in this important passage. * It has an even lovelier and modernized design. * It has the same user friendly indexes & charts. What’s new? The 2nd edition has additional devotional book excerpts by popular women’s authors like Stormie O’Martin, Kimberly Daniels, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and more. I recommend this study Bible for any believing woman – both new and wise in the Lord. However, I would caution any buyer to be choosy in selecting their choice of translations. The Woman’s Study Bible is now offered in the NIV, NKJV, and the KJV. (The first edition was available in NKJV only). The accessible language of the NIV is immensely helpful for breaking down difficult passages – particularly Old Testament poetry and some portions of the Pauline epistles (let’s be honest, Paul’s Greek isn’t for the novice). But I truly believe the latest version of the NIV to be textually inferior to the NKJV, ESV, or the HCSB. That being said, I would wholeheartedly suggest this Bible for a friend or loved one. In fact, I recently recommended a new sister in Christ purchase this very Bible. Currently, there is no other study Bible geared to women on the market that compares in doctrinal depth and or in desire to maintain the original author’s intention at the time of writing. Women's Study Bible Giveaway If you'd like to check it out for yourself or want to have an extra Bible to giveaway we have a chance for you to win one below. There are lots of ways to enter and some you can do everyday to increase your chances. We will pick a winner next Friday. We will email and display the winners name. About Melissa Melissa Deming is the creator of HiveResources.com–a site that helps women sweeten their walk with Christ through devotional articles, book reviews, and more. Melissa holds a Masters of Divinity in Women's Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. She and her husband, Jonathan, have four-year-old twins, Zach and Jonah. They are part of the core team of a new church plant in Pittsburgh. A copy of this Bible was provided free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs. For years I squinted at my reflection trying to believe I was beautifully and wonderfully made for the Bible tells me so, and then one day my mother got cancer and I realized, it’s not about how you view yourself. It’s about how you view life. As women, we suffer from an extreme case of Guilt, and many women believe the guiltier they feel, the better a person they are, but it’s a lie. All it’s doing is preventing us from effectively loving our children. Guilt makes us wallow within, versus allowing us to invest in others. And sometimes it takes something as hard as cancer to learn what we had in the beginning: An identity defined by something other than the past. When we believe we are loved, everything around us becomes, as Ann Voskamp says in One Thousand Gifts, grace. A hand-wrapped present from the father of the heavens, and once we start believing this, then, and only then, can we look in the mirror and see someone who deserves that gift. And it’s in this love that we find our true calling. A calling that rises above weight and numbers and dress sizes. A calling that says we are made in God’s holy image, and what does this mean? It means, we were created to give God a face. Maybe this is done in the way you serve a customer at Wendy’s, or through the way you mop floors or fold the laundry, or maybe it’s in the way you splash paint on canvas. However you do it, you are an extension of God on this earth. You are made to reflect his beauty. I believe that if we were to truly realize the identity we had in Christ, we could move mountains. We could show such extravagant mercy and compassion and gentleness, we would die for one another and to ourselves, while creating masterpieces of music and art and literature because we wouldn’t be. Instead, he would. God would be, within us. *** I’m giving away a copy of my new book today, Mom in the Mirror: Body Image, Beauty and Life After Pregnancy, co-authored by Dr. Dena Cabrera, and foreword by supermodel Emme. Here’s an excerpt from the book: Giving birth produces life in more than one sense. It’s the baby powder, milky-breathed spirit found in the softest limbs you’ve ever felt, and it’s the respect a man feels for his wife as he watches her give up her body for another. And it’s the deep-rooted soul satisfying feeling of knowing you were born for more than the mirror. That you were born to see the face of God in your child, and to know, you yourself are a miracle. I want to give you this book. Tell me one thing you love about yourself and you'll be entered in the draw. Otherwise, you can order it through the book’s website, here: www.mominthemirrorbook.com. Emily Wierenga is a mom to two beautiful boys, wife to a handsome math teacher, and author of Chasing Silhouettes: How to Help a Loved One Battling an Eating Disorder (www.chasingsilhouettes.com) and Mom in the Mirror: Body Image, Beauty and Life After Pregnancy (www.mominthemirrorbook.com). To learn more, please visit www.emilywierenga.com. So I'm picky. Dare I say really picky. And I love teaching God's Word and leading Bible studies. The Lord has given me many years of experience and ability so I have a tendency of being picky when I hear people teach. I often find myself thinking things like, "Oh, this would be a great place to talk about this", "Why did you illustrate that and not this?" etc. So when I was contacted about doing a review of Jennie's study I was nervous. What if I didn't like it? I couldn't lie on a review, so what would I write if I thought it was not that great? I said yes and the study arrived in the mail. Immediately I was hopeful, the design was great and it came with a DVD, leaders guide, study guide AND questions for discussion. As I began to dig through the treasure box, I kept saying, "Wow! This lady knows what she's doing." She has great knowledge of the Lord and His Word but beyond that she communicates in a way that's easy to understand, engaging and practical. The study isn't just a let's heap up a bunch of head knowledge type of study. It gets to the heart and yet doesn't bypass the mind. A beautiful combination! It is obvious Jennie has a gift of teaching and a passion for women to not just have information but for them to deeply connect with each other and with the Lord with the end goal of life change for the glory of God. And check these out... These cards alone are worth the price of the study. Leading Bible studies for 16 years I've come to realize the hardest part is getting women to connect on a deeper, here's my life and who I am, and what I'm going through right now, level. And what I've found is asking questions is the best way to draw women out. Jennie gets that. There is a whole box of questions, really GREAT questions I might add that will bring a depth of relationships in a group. I am impressed. Really impressed! And that coming from a Bible study snob. ;) So basically, you should get this study and see what I mean. It's really not that expensive, only $25ish for the DVD, study guide, leaders guide AND the questions. Amazing deal really. Here's what Jennie has to say about it. And here's a little bit about the study What are you chasing? We're all chasing after something, something that we think will make us happy—comfort, success, a bigger house, or someone's approval. But if we are all honest, it feels like trying to catch the wind. A man after God's own heart... As David's life weaves throughout the pages of Scripture, we see he was a man who spent his life chasing after God. Chase explores the events that defined David's life and the Psalms that flowed out of those experiences. Through David's example we'll discover what God really wants from us. The lessons in this study are simple yet deep and very interactive, offering Bible study, stories, and projects to dig into Scripture and deeply engage the mind and heart. God has carved out a space in each of us that only He can fill. So whether you are running from God or working your tail off to please Him, David's journey will challenge your view of God. God is invisible, and yet He is the only thing we can chase that won't leave us feeling more empty. Study Kit Tools: Study. The study guide uses projects, stories, and Bible study to engage the mind and heart. There are seven weeks of Bible study and an introductory session for your group. See. Eight short but deep videos provide a starting place for meeting God and for transparent conversations. Each video is 8-12 minutes long. Ask. Conversation cards offer questions for spontaneous and authentic discussion time. You choose the questions that speak to you. Lead. The leader's guide prepares you to lead this study and encourages you along the way. Available here CBD - http://zndr.vn/Rlliat Amazon - http://zndr.vn/Rllh6u Barnes & Noble - http://zndr.vn/RlljuR So, I really really would love to keep this study for myself. But since it really is so great I'll just buy my own so you guys have an opportunity to win it. There's lots of ways to enter, so good luck! About Laura Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has four kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 11 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 girls, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks 10-20 times a year. Laura is an award winning author of a 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, recently released Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest and youtube. Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs.
I love reading, coffee, and stories of God’s transformation in people’s lives and recently I had the chance to read a book by Tiffany Dawn called The Insatiable Quest for Beauty. I loved the raw honesty she brought to her book. Tiffany did a wonderful job of drawing you into her story by her personal approach of calling each chapter coffee dates. I was drawn to her personality and love of coffee and had an image in my mind through the entire book of sitting down with her in a coffee shop as if she was my best friend pouring her heart out to me; in fact, by the end of the first chapter I felt like she was my best friend. So what is an insatiable quest for beauty? As Tiffany puts it, “Insatiable is a longing that cannot and will never be completely filled.” When we are searching and longing to be filled up by a desperate unquenchable thirst for outward beauty, it will never satisfy us; the only thing that will ever satisfy us is the search and quest for God. Proverbs 31:30 puts it this way, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” I believe we all see the worth in inward beauty and as we read Proverbs 31:30 we know fearing the Lord is what we should be striving for. But if we are honest, it is a process and there is much to learn along the way. If we are looking for affirmation from the world through our beauty we will feel an empty hole in our hearts, a place that isn’t satisfied, and a place that longs for more. In our search for identity it is easy to think a relationship can fill us but, as Tiffany explains in her book, our confidence should come from the promises of who God says we are, not in having a boyfriend or being married or having people praise us for our outward beauty. Dressing up and putting on makeup isn’t what’s wrong; it is when we think our image is our identity and what defines us. I admire her creativity in her book and how at the end of each chapter she has a link to her website TheInsatiableQuestforBeauty.com, where both men and women share their own struggles and victories over body image, eating disorders, insecurities, relationships, and more. Tiffany also has a CD that she wrote to correspond to each chapter. I recommend you check out her website, CD, and book. |