by JP Esq | Jul 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
My Mr. has a way of speaking so much life into my world. The hard truths are shrouded in love and through that process I have a growing self-awareness. Here are a few things I’ve learned about myself this year:
I’m not the rock in my relationship; I am the kite in the wind. I have always held some inflated sense of pride in being the solid rock in my relationships. The one who has it all together, knows all the answers, makes all the right moves. I’ve learned that I am the exact opposite of that. I’m the one who freaks first. When the storms roll in (and they always do) I am thrashed around in brutal fashion. But more than the acknowledgement of this is the acceptance that it is ok, as long as I commit to growth. I don’t have to always have it all together. I don’t have all of the answers. My Mr. somehow harnesses my energy (as he puts it) and finds a way to root his feet soundly in God’s Word and Way and keep me tethered close so I don’t fly off into the winds of trial. When he’s flailing, I hope to do the same for him.
I have to rely on God for my supply of patience; it is not something I posses. Perhaps we all have that list of ideal qualities we think we should posses. At the top of my list was patience. I’m supposed to be patient, so when my patience wanes I see failure in my dashboard. Grace absent. Initially, when My Mr. pointed out my penchant for impatience, I was hurt and felt a grandiose sense of inadequacy. What I learned was that I needed to be ok in my weakness to give God’s strength the opportunity to be perfect over me. Listen, I’m not patient. Everyone moves too slow, thinks too slow, talks to slow. And I’m sorry. But I’m working on it and learning to give myself grace in the process.
I have decision paralysis. Whatever the source, this is the one thing I’m trying to change post-haste. I could write a book on the origins of my current paralytic state when it comes to making decisions (and perhaps some day I will), but not today. I labor over making decisions. Big and small. Insignificant and life-changing. And by labor I mean a painstaking, soul-swallowing, tear drying intense overwhelm. It is a prison in which I no longer wish to dwell. I bought into the illusion that I was actually deciding NOT act when I wasn’t sure what to do. In other words, if I’m not 100% sure that it is a perfect right decision, I don’t do anything. Not ok. Not continuing. Must change.
There are others, but these are the three that present themselves most today. I am grateful for the 14 years of friendship I have behind this growing relationship and for someone who delivers the truth of what I need to know in a way that is loving and soft (most of the time). He understands my fragile interior, but loves me enough to desire and encourage continuous personal growth from me, by making me aware of who I am. He wants to see me do better, grow, and be more of who God created me to be. I don’t deserve the gift that he is to my life, but I humbly receive him.
by JP Esq | Jun 20, 2014 | Uncategorized
Listen, I have grown weary of reading books about searching for your purpose. Frankly because I don’t believe “purpose” is what you’re intended to search for, but that’s another rant for another day. Anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy Jennie Allen’s books, mainly because her style of writing is approachable, fun, and has an element of breath-of-fresh-air whimsy to it.
Restless was no different and was an appropriate read at a time in my life when I felt (and still feel)…well…restless. Jennie’s intent for this book is to give the reader tools to dig deeper into his or her personal story, unwinding the threads that lead to the divine and set apart purpose God has prepared well in advance. Jennie seemed to discern the potential danger in laying out a one size fits all formula to “finding your purpose” and encourages readers against that mindset. This is not a formula, but is a healthy exercise for those who have a burning curiosity about the more for which they are made. Even in this search for personal purpose and the highlights of our own stories, Jennie stresses the most important thing that is often absent from many “find your purpose” reads: that really this isn’t about any of us. Jennie balances this personal search with the ultimate reminder that this is about God, about His glory, and about His ultimate agenda.
I’ve never made it fully through any of Jennie Allen’s writings without crying tears of affirmation, confirmation, or enlightenment at least once. The book is approachable, easy to read and digest, yet full of enough depth to whet the appetite of the lost in search for more.
The publisher provided me with a free complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review. I was not required to post a positive review and my opinions are my own.
by JP Esq | May 22, 2014 | Uncategorized
As of this moment I have 71 Post-It tabs sticking out of the side of this book. Those tabs are my way of tagging what I call GoldenNuggets of information that give me pause, cause me to ponder, give me a lightbulb, or force a loud “Oh Em Gee YOU TOO?!” to slide out of my face.
Humorous one-liners to be sure, Steven Furtick is a master craftsman of the GoldenNugget. This book is Furtick’s way of giving you the support, knowledge, and momentum you need to learn how to silence negative Enemy chatter, which he refers to as the Chatterbox, and draw in to God to hear His voice above all others.
My brain is my greatest asset and my greatest challenge. I have often battled with discernment as to who’s voice I’m hearing, if I’m understanding correctly, and how to correctly identify the lies from the truth of who God says I am. This book is not a “read this and be cured”, but it is definitely a useful weapon in the fight.
What I appreciate most about this book perhaps is Furtick’s posture as a brother in Christ, fighting it out with the Chatterbox just like the rest of us.
“I’m learning how to overpower the shouts of the Enemy by bending my ear to the whisper of God’s supernatural truths about my identity in Him and His strength in me.”
Furtick’s writing offers no delusion that this is somehow a skill we can learn one time and never encounter again. Explaining it as a lifetime battle that gets tougher as we climb higher, Furtick offers strategies for pushing through as we move through the levels of our faith.
Read the first chapter of Crash the Chatterbox,
here.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for a review. I was not required to post a positive review.
by JP Esq | May 22, 2014 | Uncategorized
What a breath of fresh air Tsh Oxenreider brings with Notes from a Blue Bike. As a 30-something who cringes at the idea of doing things because “culture says so”, this book was a sigh of relief for me to know that there are people who do things in ways that breathe life into them and that work for their families even though it may be just left of convention.
Told in a series of short chapters that read like fond memories of Tsh, the book alternates between flashing back to her time living abroad in Turkey to life in Bend, Oregon and other places in the U.S. The book is divided into seven parts {Awakening, Food, Work, Education, Travel, Entertainment, and Revival} throughout which Tsh draws a picture of the life she and her family have chosen: one of unhurried simplicity. Tsh is not preachy or otherwise coming from a position that would alienate the reader into believing they are inferior if they do not live the way she has chosen to live. Her words are light and her tone is approachable. She invites readers to dig into to the depths of their souls and truly live out life the way that works best for them. She is authentic and honest about challenges that might arise through the art of cultivating a life that is moving in contrast with the majority of the world around you. Tsh is clear that this is an intentional practice that will take time to master, but the resulting joys are never ceasing.
If you’re the type of person who desires a slower life, a life that allows you to pour into your family the things that matter to you, then Tsh’s book is a must-read. It is not a practical “how to” but rather a journal of sorts of how Tsh’s family accomplished it for themselves. Her invitation to you will remove the intimidation and allow you to exhale as you start creating the life you want in order to focus on what matters.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for my review. I was not required to post a positive review.
by JP Esq | Apr 1, 2014 | Uncategorized
Can I be honest for a minute? It took me quite a bit of time to make it through this book. This is heavy content and if you want to get the most out of it, your best option is to approach it as a study.
In three sections, Neil Cole reimagines the original purpose of the spiritual gifts as articulated in Ephesians 4:11. Cole believes that we, those in the body of Christ, have “all the gifts of Ephesians 4:11 at least latent within us…”. As he describes the gifts as present in Jesus, Cole is sure to address the common perspective that some spiritual gifts are considered more desirable or better than others. Cole spends the first section of the book addressing this and other theological misunderstandings that have plagued Christians for years. His stance isn’t pretentious, but rather of a servant attempting to free the minds of Christians so that they can serve with a new found fervor.
The meat of this book though is in section two, where Cole breaks down each one of the APEST (apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher) gifts through Scripture, anecdotes, and analysis. You will begin to understand the ways that God has intricately woven together each thread of your being and gifted you for service in the body. There is a sense of freedom in knowing that you are the way you are ON purpose and FOR a purpose.
Honestly, this book was overwhelming for me. There is so much information, albeit useful, that I think you are best served tackling it over the course of a few weeks. This was not a weekend read for me, but it is definitely a book that will become a resource and reference tool for me to which I will refer often.
If you have not taken an assessment to understand your APEST (apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher) gifting before this book, I would highly recommend that you do.
Read the first chapter of Primal Fire here.
Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review. I was not required to post a positive review.
Recent Comments