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"On the Bookshelf"
Our friends over at Ungrind webzine are giving away two copies of What Women Fear by Angie Smith. Don’t miss your chance to win this fantastic book!
Drumroll, please…
***UPDATE: Congratulations to two winners, Diana and Sarah! You each won a copy of MomSense by Jean Blackmer. Please email me your addresses and I’ll get your books in the mail! Thanks for commenting, and happy reading!
I’m so happy to offer MomSense: A Common-Sense Guide to Confident Mothering, to two readers!
And, since this blog boasts around six readers, well, your chances of winning are very, very good.
Giveaway details are below, but first, more about the book. MomSense offers practical advice and personal stories to moms of little ones. Author Jean Blackmer helps moms determine their own unique parenting styles and strengths. Her questions and quizzes throughout make MomSense an ideal choice for a moms’ group. Most of all, MomSense lets moms know that they do, indeed, have what it takes to mother the kids God gave them…much-needed encouragement because, moms, don’t we all secretly wonder if we can actually do this mother thing right?
Or maybe I’m the only one.
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) has generously provided two signed(!) copies of MomSense, so let’s do something fun. Leave a comment before Friday, November 25, and I’ll choose two winners. In the comments, tell me…the best OR worst part of mothering. For example, the best part of mothering is bedtime prayers. The worst part is…the puke. You get the idea.
Be sure to comment on this post (not on facebook, dear friends) before Friday! On your mark, get set, go!
I just read and enjoyed Greg Paul’s lyrical book, Close Enough to Hear God Breathe, as a part of Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program. Pastor of Sanctuary, a ministry in downtown Toronto, Mr. Paul tells the Great Story of scripture. That story, says Paul, is one of intimacy between God and His Beloved. With stories from his own experience in marriage, fatherhood, ministry and more, Paul explores God’s relationship with man from Creation, the Fall, Redemption, and Consummation.
A few highlights:
As the writer of the letter to the Hebrews put it, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last [most recent] days he has spoken to us by His Son”—or, as a literal translation would render it, “he has spoken to us in Son.” That is, in the language of “Son,” the language of intimate, familial relationship.
Two things are necessary for me to be able to hear someone breathing: I must be quiet and I must be close.
I want to “hear” the story God is telling me—the Great Story of his passionate love for all humanity and all creation. Wisdom is being able also to find my own personal little story within that big one. I want my spirit to vibrate at the same frequency as the Spirit.
[God's ultimate redemptive agenda] begins to take place in me when I finally hear what he has been speaking to me over and over again—that I am not truly a slave, a reject, or even one who sincerely but unsuccessfully tries to do the right thing, but his child, the heir to all his goodness and glory.
…the Great Storyteller is recounting his story to me, and whispering to me, personally, individually, those beautifully intimate words: my child, my love, my pleasure.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze Blogger program.
I finished two fantastic books a few weeks ago, and I can’t stop thinking about them. Andy graciously surprised me with a hotel room all to myself that weekend, and I took these books with me. I read and read and read, ordered room service, and read and read and read some more. Both books had messages so timely for me—so very obviously written for Amy Storms—that I want to call their authors and scold them for reading my Moleskine.
Pause to shudder at the thought of anyone ever reading my journals.
The first book, What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms was just released by Angie Smith. Her first book, I Will Carry You, is also a treasure, as is her blog. But if you know me at all, you understand why What Women Fear spoke my language. Fear is my thing. Angie discusses ten different fears, including the fear of rejection, the fear of death, and the fear of not being significant. I read What Women Fear through tears and laughter, and as I said, I read during my hotel stay. When the room service man arrived with my dinner, I opened the door with this book in one hand, and my cell phone in the other. I held my phone because I was afraid of him! I figured my phone would show Big Scary Room Service Man that I was ready to call 911, so he’d better not try anything.
With my other hand, I clutched my book against my chest. He carried in my tray, set it down, and nodded toward the book. “So, what do women fear?”
I laughed. “Um, pretty much everything!” Did he know I was afraid of him?
Anyway, Angie Smith discusses fear and faith so honestly and biblically that I—Amy Storms, lifelong chicken—closed its pages praying, “Okay, Lord, let’s do this thing.”
The second book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, released last year. I’m the last woman in Christendom to read it, I know. Many of you have emailed me about how good it is, and how I simply have to read it. My friend gave me this book several months ago, and I started it right away, but when I was already in tears by page two, I decided to put it away until just the right time.
My hotel weekend was just the right time.
(Except, I did get a few looks for crying over my omelet at the hotel breakfast bar while I read. Perhaps I shouldn’t read over meals anymore.)
One Thousand Gifts is a story of gratitude—Voskamp’s beautifully written journey to contentment, joy, humility, community, and more…all because she determined to be thankful. A simple list of one thousand gifts transformed her life. I’ve written previously about my own struggle with contentment—how long it took (is taking?) me to “learn contentment”, as Paul said in Philippians. Gratitude is key! Thankfulness, as Ann Voskamp discovers, changes everything.
And so, dear readers, please read these books. Go buy them. Right now, this very moment. You will be, as I am, so thankful for the humility, honesty, and giftedness of their authors. You’ll also thank God for life-changing lessons in faith and gratitude.
Recently, I read The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance, by John Trent and Gary Smalley. My mom and mother-in-law recommended this book to me years ago, so when I saw that Thomas Nelson released an updated version, I jumped at the chance to review it for their BookSneeze program.
The Blessing is based on the Old Testament concept of parents “blessing” children–specifically, Jacob and Esau in Genesis 27. Esau missed his father’s blessing, thanks to his conniving brother. Trent and Smalley discuss the heartache and hurt of missing a parent’s blessing…and the life-changing, life-giving effects of receiving it. They offer five elements of every blessing:
- meaningful touch
- a spoken message
- attaching high value
- picturing a special future
- an active commitment
What a blessing The Blessing is! I learned so much about my kids, and how I need to bless them better. But this book isn’t only for parents. I also learned the power of blessing Andy, and I was particularly challenged by the concept of “meaningful touch”, since I’m not a toucher-feeler by nature. A few great quotes from The Blessing:
“Gaining or missing out on parental approval has a tremendous effect on us, even if it has been years since we have had any contact with them. In fact, what happens in our relationship with our parents can greatly affect all our present and future relationships.”
“Many addictions…have their roots in the deep loneliness of growing up without a parent’s blessing.”
“For a child in search of the blessing, silence communicates mostly confusion. Children who are left to fill in the blanks when it comes to what their parents think about them will often fail the test when it comes to feeling valuable and secure.”
“Each of us should be keenly aware of the power of our words. We should also be aware of how powerful the absence of such words can be.”
For your kids, for your spouse, for your friends, and for the sake of your own healing…don’t miss The Blessing!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze program. But they didn’t make me say I like it…I just do. 
I found this jotted down in an old note, and it made me laugh:
“Uh, Mom. Why do you have a book called Child Training Tips? I don’t think we need trained.” -Molly Jane, age 5
I laughed because I remembered how offended she was! And because, she hasn’t changed a bit.
For the record, Child Training Tips by Reb Bradley was one of my favorite parenting books when my kids were little, just in case you’re interested. Because, like it or not, we all need trained.
Recently I read Eugene Peterson’s fantastic book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society. Many years after its first publication, A Long Obedience is based on the Songs of Ascent in Psalm 120-134. Israel sang these 15 songs as they traveled—ascended—to Jerusalem for the feasts of Passover, Tabernacles, and Pentecost, and Peterson uses them to teach 15 aspects of Christian discipleship.
A Long Obedience challenged me greatly. A few of my favorite parts:
“Feelings are great liars. If Christians worshiped only when they felt like it, there would be precious little worship. Feelings are important in many areas but completely unreliable in matters of faith. Paul Scherer is laconic: ‘The Bible wastes very little time on the way we feel.’”
“The Christian is a person who recognizes that our real problem is not in achieving freedom but in learning service under a better master. The Christian realizes that every relationship that excludes God becomes oppressive. Recognizing and realizing that, we urgently want to live under the mastery of God.”
“Joy is not a requirement of Christian discipleship, it is a consequence.”
“We can decide to live in response to the abundance of God and not under the dictatorship of our own poor needs. We can decide to live in the environment of a living God and not our own dying selves. We can decide to center ourselves in the God who generously gives and not in our own egos which greedily grab. One of the certain consequences of such a life is joy.”
“A Christian who has David in his bones, Jeremiah in his bloodstream, Paul in his fingertips and Christ in his heart will know how much and how little value to put on his own momentary feelings and the experience of the past week.”
“For obedience is not a stodgy plodding in the ruts of religion, it is a hopeful race toward God’s promises.”
“Many think that the only way to change your behavior is to first change your feelings. We take a pill to alter our moods so that we won’t kick the dog. We turn on music to soothe our emotions so that our conversation will be less abrasive. But there is an older wisdom that puts it differently: by changing our behavior we can change our feelings.”
“The Bible is not so much God telling us some thing—some idea, some fact, some rule—as God speaking life into us. Are we listening? Are we answering? Bible reading is prayed reading.”
This summer, I’m studying Tammie Head’s Duty or Delight? Knowing Where You Stand With God, published by LifeWay, and I’m really enjoying it.
Honestly, enjoying isn’t the right word. More like struggling through it. Really being challenged by it. Okay, I’m uncovering lots of insecurities and trust issues stemming from my terribly warped view of God, and quite frankly my heart feels completely raw from all the work that’s going on inside.
There, that’s more like it.
Perhaps I should’ve left it at “enjoying”.
In Week 3 of the study, Mrs. Head discusses two verses, written by two prophets. The first is Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Oh, how hard my heart can be. I wall myself off to guard against hurt, but all that self-protection turns to my heart to stone. Mrs. Head writes in Duty or Delight, “God uncovered in me that I not only had trust issues with people but deep down I also had trust issues with God.” Describes me perfectly. But, what if I trusted Him to lovingly tear down my walls? What if He gave me a new spirit…a spirit that believes, and hopes, and trusts? What if, instead of a heart of stone, He gave me a heart of flesh–a soft heart that beats with love for Him?
The second verse is Jeremiah 32:39: “I will give them singleness of heart and action….” A single heart, devoted only to Jesus Christ. I’m so easily distracted by books, emails, housework, even facebook. I hide in those distractions, and they keep me from the One I love most. Mrs. Head writes, “When the Holy Spirit starts nudging our hearts toward spending time with the Lord and we choose spiritual laziness by hiding in the distractions of this world, that’s when the breakdown in our relationships begin to occur.”
Ouch. I really should’ve left it at “enjoying”.
With all this in mind, I’m asking God for two things: a soft heart, and a single heart. And God wants to give them! I don’t have to strive after them, or work at making my heart softer or more devoted. God simply, gladly, freely, gives me a soft heart, and a single heart.
Lord, thank You for loving me enough to work on my heart. Will You give me a new spirit…a spirit that trusts? Remove my heart of stone, Lord, and give me a soft heart of flesh. And, grant me a single heart–a heart that isn’t distracted, but devoted to You and Your kingdom. Let my soft, single heart love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me. Amen.
- Click here for Tammie Head’s site, Totally Captivated Ministries.
- Click here for Duty or Delight? Knowing Where You Stand With God, published by LifeWay.
Recently, I read a fantastic biography about G.K. Chesterton. I’d only known Chesterton as an author who influenced C.S. Lewis, but Defiant Joy by Kevin Belmonte introduced me to Chesterton as the author of nearly 80 books, a poet, an apologist, and more. Belmonte’s biography left me interested to read more of Chesterton’s works, and inspired to develop the joyful character that was his.
A few great quotes from Defiant Joy:
“Christianity is the “philosophy in which I have come to believe. I will not call it my philosophy, for I did not make it. God and humanity made it; and it made me.” (G.K. Chesterton)
“We could use another Chesterton today, I think. In a time when culture and faith have drifted even further apart, we could use his brilliance, his entertaining style, and above all, his generous and joyous spirit. When society becomes polarized, as ours has, it is as if the two sides stand across a great divide and shout at each other. Chesterton had another approach: He walked to the center of a swinging bridge, roared a challenge to any single combat warriors, and then made both sides laugh out loud.” (Philip Yancey)
“Chesterton was one of the deepest thinkers who ever existed; he was deep because he was right, and he could not help being right; but he could not either help being modest and charitable.” (Etienne Gilson)
For more on the life and writings of G.K. Chesterton, pick up Kevin Belmonte’s great biography, Defiant Joy.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers’ BookSneeze program.
My friend wrote a book! Michael DeFazio, one of the pastors at Real Life (and husband to my sweet friend, Beth, and daddy to the cuh-yoo-test baby girl, Miss Claire) recently released Jesus in 3D. Michael wrote Jesus in 3D “to take a close look at Jesus as a real person—the real person you read about in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” Throughout, he answers seven questions:
- What story does Jesus fulfill?
- What did people want from Jesus?
- What did Jesus come here to do?
- What made Jesus angry?
- What did Jesus teach?
- Why did Jesus die?
- What difference does Jesus’ resurrection make?
A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
“Jesus isn’t auditioning for minor roles in the stories we’re already writing. He wants to re-story our lives as a whole.”
(On Ku Klux Klan leader Sam Bowers) “Not all who claim the name of Jesus look like Jesus. Sometimes, in fact, quite the opposite is tragically true. Now obviously this is an extreme example but it illustrates a sin we all commit in one way or another: thinking Jesus taught whatever we think is important and right and good.”
“I have a wife named Beth and a daughter named Claire. If you don’t love them, you don’t love me. Simple enough? In the same way, if we fail to love one another, we don’t love God.”
“We are resurrection people. We are not mere human beings for we are those on whom the culmination of the ages has come. We are new creation. We are, to reuse a metaphor, firstfruits of what the world one day will be.”
If you have a flat, two-dimensional Jesus…if you’re hungry for the whole picture…then let Michael DeFazio reveal Jesus in 3D.
And finally…here is the precious Claire DeFazio!
She likes her daddy’s book, too.
In fact, she eats it up.
Oh, sweetheart! I can’t stand it.
I’m hoping for more great books from Michael. And also, more cute babies.
