Author: Michelle

His Word, Kids/Parenting, Series

Paint

Michelle

This post is one that I’m republishing. It was originally published on April 11, 2014.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about my daughter painting and how I was simply exasperated when she got the set of brushes in the paint…it wasn’t because she was intentionally trying to make a mess, it was because she was just so excited at the brushes I had found.

Last week, I wrote about a sunrise – a true gift from God that day. I wrote about how the colors appeared as though the artist had carelessly just streaked his brush across the sky. When we know that THE artist is anything BUT careless.

I guess what I’m learning from these ‘paint’ scenarios is that not everything in life is going to be ‘perfect.’ And besides, who says that what I think is ‘perfect’ is actually perfect? If I’m not perfect – and I’m not – then how could I have even a remote sense of what perfect it?

When someone sits down to paint, or draw, or be creative and expressive in any way (by the way, I believe writing falls into this category), then there is no right or wrong. There is no perfect. There is no black and white. There are only shades of grey, and colors that blend and bleed, and words that may not fit ‘just so.’

So, from here on out, I’m going to take a step back and just be…be content for things as they are, without worrying that they’re not perfect. Because I’m not. So, how could I expect for things (and people) around me to be perfect?

Book Reviews, His Word

Untangled Book Review – and a GIVEAWAY!

Michelle

It has become such an honor to read books and share my thoughts with you all. I’m an avid reader and enjoy most of what I read, but I am rather choosy when it comes to what I read.

Perhaps some of you have seen the buzz on social media about a book called “Untangled: Let God Loosen the Knots of Insecurity in Your Life.” Let me let you in on a little secret….this. book. is. life. changing.

When talking of untangling the knots of insecurity in my (or your) life, Carey Scott talks with the authority of someone who KNOWS. She has lived it. She has clearly experienced the pain and trauma that breeds insecurity. And yet, here in her story, she tells us how she has walked with God to clean up this jumbled, tangle of knots.

Carey shares her personal stories of heartache. She pulls in relevant scripture to prove that the insecurities that keep women tied in knots are nothing but lies from the enemy. Carey is transparent and never once made me feel like she’s ‘arrived’ or that I should feel as though I’m ‘not enough.’ Her words and her story are a testament to the fact that the God of the universe cares for her and you and me. He can untangle what the enemy has tangled. I can tell that her faith is as authentic and genuine as her writing.

As I write this, I have a friendship with an amazing man that has the potential to turn into something more. And yet, I can relate all too well with Carey’s words from the first chapter, “My Tangled Mess.”

“I’ve struggled to trust that anyone could genuinely care for someone like me. After all, I was damaged goods – worthless. With all the girls in the world to choose from, why would any good man want me?…I didn’t trust the motives of men either. In my opinion, they would say the right words to get what they wanted…I was always waiting for them to hurt me again, because that’s what men did.”

My past is one of the tangles that God is so faithfully working on in me. Carey didn’t let her past abuse define her, and I won’t let my past (NOT one with abuse – thank God! But plenty of other issues.) define me.

Carey also mentions that:

“Truth is, I never really believed I was important to God. How could I have been? If I really mattered, He would have saved me from (__fill in the blank with your own issues__). God would have sheltered me from the hurt and the pain…In His sovereignty, God knew evil would find me that day. And while He could have stopped the enemy’s plan, He didn’t. That’s been a hard reality to accept…But maybe, just maybe, he allowed it to happen because His plans were to also give me… a voice.”

WOW! That’s a hard pill to swallow, isn’t it? That God could have saved us from the events that have us in a tangled mess. But in His sovereignty, in His plans, in His perfect knowledge and will for the world and our lives…He didn’t. And what we, as believers, have to understand is that we live in a fallen world. We live in a world full of sinners, just like us. We live in a world that has sought beauty, fame, riches, and our own way. In a place like this, there will NEVER be an absence of pain and suffering and hurting.

BUT GOD…is still on the throne. And His plan is bigger than any mistakes we have made, than anything we’ve done right, than anything we’ve done wrong, than any hurt we’ve inflicted or had to recover from.

God's Plan

We, as believers, have to remember that God’s plan is bigger than our mistakes. He knows what He’s doing. And in many situations, He allows evil to touch our lives so that we can remember who we are and WHOSE we are.

His plans for us are good and filled with hope and purpose. Nothing can separate us from His love. He works out ALL things, in ALL situations, at ALL times for our good. Before He formed us in our mother’s wombs, He knew us. Even the very hairs on our heads are numbered by him. He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. He loves us so much that He sent His only son to pay the cost of our sins.

In case you didn’t know it, friend, He is crazy about you. And He doesn’t want you to live all tangled up in knots. Knots woven by the enemy from lies told and believed.

Here’s the fun part! Carey Scott (the author of this wonderful book, in case I forgot to tell you) has created this survey…it’s not long…and the purpose is to help you find YOUR tangle. Take the quiz, and come back and leave a comment with your tangle. When you do that, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a FREE copy of her book. (Don’t forget to leave your email address, so I can get in contact with you.)

Here’s the survey: https://untangledwomen.com/whats-your-tangle/

You, my sweet readers, are so important to me. I don’t want you living in tangles either. Let’s follow the walk Carey has started for us and untangle those knots of insecurity.

The giveaway will be open until 5:00 pm on Friday, June 12.

Book Reviews, His Word, Soul Relationships

Heart Sisters Book Review – and a GIVEAWAY!

Michelle

I’m so excited to share with you, my awesome readers, about a book I read…it’s a book about being a good friend…being the kind of friend you want to have. It’s called Heart Sisters and it’s by Natalie Chambers Snapp.

It’s no wonder that in today’s world, women are catty and competitive with one another. What do we expect, when our minds and TV screens are filled with shows such as The Bachelor, in which 20 or more women vie for the love of ONE man…or what about The Real Housewives of wherever, in which women are concerned with materials things or their exterior only?

So, when this book hit my radar, I was ecstatic, to say the least. I mean, who couldn’t use some additional literature on how to walk through conflict in love?

In the introduction, Natalie says that her prayer is that “the pages of this book will encourage you to work hard for the other women around you. To love them. To cry and laugh and genuinely encourage one another instead of being threatened by the “fleshy” feelings of insecurity, jealousy, or comparison.” I have to say, her prayer has been answered.

Throughout the course of this book, I have been challenged to view the women in my life in a different light. After all, we are all on this journey together. We are ALL under the constant barrage of feeling like we are not ‘enough.’ Whether its from our own family {because, let’s face it, we all have family members who, with one look, can make us feel small}, or the media, or our other mom acquaintances; it doesn’t take much for us to feel ‘less than’ in today’s world.

What if, instead of subscribing to our society’s ‘disposable’ view of people and relationships, we actually began to invest in people and our relationships? What kind of lovely world would that leave for our children?

This book offers guidance on how to do just that.

Natalie candidly shares some of the lessons she’s learned in life with her girlfriends – past and present. She offers biblical and world-view perspectives on why, as women, we need girlfriends in our lives. We cannot look to one person, however AWESOME that person is, to fulfill all of our relational needs.

“…the truth of the matter is we need other women in our tribe. We need to lean on each other and hold each other up when it feels like we can’t walk…We need someone to speak up if the dark brown lipstick makes us look like a corpse. Simply put, God knew we would need all kinds of relationships to fulfill the desire He placed in each of our hearts to live in community.”

I have so many favorite things about this book, but I want to share two of them with you today.

First is that Natalie gives excellent insight on five reasons that keep us {women} from embracing authentic female friendships. She coined this neat acronym to help us remember the ‘Fearless Five’

Can’t Ever Imagine Being Friends

Comparison

Envy

Insecurity

Being Prideful

Fear

So many of our issues can be neatly slotted into one of these reasons for shying away from authenticity and transparency in our relationships. Natalie walks through each of these in detail and gives true examples of how these can kill relationships in one fell swoop.

The other thing that truly touched my heart is the list of the Super Seven Sisters. These women are the true heart of you and each one has a different role to fulfill in your life. Now, as she indicates, you may have one friend who fills multiple ‘roles’ or who fits more than one ‘Sister’ relationship. If so, that’s great!

Here are a couple of the Super Seven Sisters that Natalie covers:

* Rahab: This woman is bold and will speak for you when you can’t.

* Ruth: These friends are loyal and unwavering.

* Elizabeth: This friend possesses the gift of encouragement; always lifting you up.

Now, I have one friend who fits all of the above profiles, but I also have others who may only fit one of the above, and that’s ok too.

Ok…now that I’ve shared some of my thoughts on why this book is so awesome and so timely {I have a daughter going to middle school sooner than I’d like and I know she can glean insight from this book}, I want to give one away to one of my faithful readers.

In the comments, please answer this: which of the ‘Fearless Five’ above do you struggle with most? Is comparison your pitfall? Do you find yourself comparing your perceived failures to the successes of others? Or is Being prideful your thing? You don’t think anyone could do ‘X’ as well as you do it?

Whatever your ‘issue’ is {and please be honest ladies, we ALL have issues…that’s the beauty of it!} I would love to have an open discussion on how we can use this book and overcome these snares that the enemy uses to prevent real, true, and authentic relationships.

One of you lucky ladies will be chosen at random to receive a copy of Natalie’s book. For those of you who just can’t wait for the drawing and want to purchase your own copy {and I can’t blame you there!}, you can do so here at Amazon.

Please be sure to include your email so I can contact you if you’re the lucky winner! Also, the contest closes at midnight on May 31. The lucky winner will be notified the week of June 1.

Book Reviews, His Word

Book Review – The Heart of the Amish by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Michelle

The Heart of the Amish

“A warning: there’s a pretty good chance you won’t feel like the same person after reading this book.”

So starts the introduction to The Heart of the Amish, Life Lessons on Peacemaking and the Power of Forgiveness, by Suzanne Woods Fisher. And she was right! Not knowing what to expect when I turned the first page, I was quickly swept into the world of the Plain People.

Because the Amish prefer a secluded and private life, people like you and me aren’t typically exposed to the type of stories found within these pages. Fisher’s stories are short (3-5 pages) but they pack a powerful punch! From an outward perspective some of these stories may seem minor (Everyday Friction), when compared to the life-altering stories of the Nickel Mines shooting (Turning Points), but they are all impactful in a meaningful way.

Each chapter begins with an Amish proverb that ties to the story of the chapter. Fisher then tells each story in simple, easy to follow writing. The stories varied in content, but always featured the forgiveness that Amish are noted for having. At the end of the story, there is a section of the chapter which offers Reflections on Peacemaking, which features ‘what-if’ scenarios and thought-provoking questions to lead the reader on their own journey of forgiveness. Finally, at the end of most chapters, a ‘Plain Truth,’ or fact about the Amish faith and lifestyle, was offered.

I knew I had found a true gem of a book when I began underlining in the Introduction and didn’t stop until the Epilogue. Typically the pen doesn’t come out until later in my reading. We learn in the Introduction one huge area the Amish are different, as Fisher tells us, is that they expect life not to be fair, so when hard things come, the Amish have experience on how to manage them. Plus, their world view is not self-centered.

I will say that I never expected this book to impact me the way it has. I am looking at people and situations and relationships differently now that I’ve absorbed these words. For anyone who wants a light read that will not question their beliefs, then you need to pass on this book.

BUT, if you are looking for an easy read, told with the grace and simplicity of coffee and conversation with a good friend, that challenges you to your core, then this is the book for you. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I am now on the hunt for Fisher’s other books on the Amish.

You can read what others are saying about this book on Amazon here.

His Word, Link-Ups

Sunrise Abounding

Michelle

How funny that as I republish the post below, I find the same theme…my schedule doesn’t allow me the time to write as I would like to. Even though Jen Hatmaker posted this writing on her blog months ago, I just read it the other day. In it she says,

“You will not miraculously become a writer by carrying on exactly like you are. It’s a whole thing and you have to make room for it. Maybe that is in the earliest wee hours, which is when legions of writers make the magic happen…You don’t get to keep everything as is and also add writing. That is not how the time/space continuum works.“

Oh…so that’s my problem. I’m going to have to give up sleep. I was just having this conversation with my BFF today about how much I. LOVE. SLEEP. I do, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. So, having said all of that…here is the original post from April 6, 2014.

It seems my schedule hasn’t allowed for me to write in abundance lately. As I’ve discovered during this drought, writing is therapeutic for me…and I need it. So, yesterday morning, despite the fact that Elijah and six of his friends were slumbering in the basement and any one of them could have awoken at any time, I decided to sit and enjoy the gorgeous sunrise…and write about it…

I’m sitting on my bed – listening to “Hallelujah, Salvation, and Glory” and watching the sunrise as I drink my coffee. When I first looked out, the night sky was a shade of midnight blue and where the sun was beginning to come upon the horizon, there was a shade of magenta. Now, as I look out – only a few short minutes later – it’s a blazing orange with depth and shades of pink. The blue backdrop of the night sky is beginning to lighten up. I could see the silhouette of a bird in the tree branch.

The blue is really getting lighter despite the fact that the depth of the actual sunlight isn’t increasing. The words of the song strike me deep – ‘THE King of kings and Lord of lords.’

Everything is slowly growing more visible and the light is giving the trees more definition. I hear Jesus Culture singing to me now…’Your Glory surrounds me – and I’m overwhelmed.’

The sky is now a beautiful shade of sky blue – but still not what it will be during the day. Where the sun is rising – the color is a shade between orange and pink and yellow. The colors are rich with new beginnings and yet…the depth and width of the color has not overtaken the sky.

God's glory and splendor
God’s glory and splendor

Where the colors were so strictly defined before, they are now beginning to bleed into one another. The sky is now a very pale blue – almost greyish white.

The clouds in the distance are now becoming illuminated with the deep pink of the sun. It’s so awesome to see the contrast in the clouds. On the top, they are the shade of the sky, but their shape and the outline of the bottom is defined by the color of the rising sun. While I watch the beauty unfold before me, I think about how me and my shape would be defined by the rising ‘SON.’

Jesus Culture serenades me with the glorious truth that is occurring before me: ‘the winter has passed and the springtime as come.’

The sunrise that is blocked by the trees reveals a sky that is almost translucent. And now – the colors of the sunrise are so narrow and thin – it’s just a sliver of orange across the horizon – barely visible. As if all of the glory that was just seen is preparing me for what is to come.

I can see things in the distance that I couldn’t before. There’s a farm and factory that are illuminated by the light peeking through.

In my headphones, I hear Kim Walker describing exactly what I’m witnessing: ‘Heaven meets earth like a sloppy, wet kiss.’

The sky is now a dusty light blue – with white streaking across like an artist carelessly casting his brush across his canvas. But THE artist is far from careless. Every detail of this sunrise was orchestrated and meant for me this morning. And I’m basking in the awesomeness of it all. My God is the artist…and the world is His canvas.

It’s an oddity – complex and yet so simple – that the sky and the earth would be lit up – but the actual sun is still not yet visible. I suppose it’s the same in life – we can’t see the actual SON, but we can see His light in those around us.

As I hear children beginning to stir under me, I take a moment to thank God for this time that is coming to an end. I thank Him for these revelations. For these illustrations and demonstrations of His character.