Tag Archives: Christian living

Monday Motivation: Isn’t It Romantic

18 Monday Feb 2019

Posted by in Monday Motivation, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The new romantic comedy Isn’t It Romantic might parody the genre, but it also hints at a truth behind a detail to which Rebel Wilson’s character Natalie initially scoffs. Though arguably unrealistic, romantic comedies remind us of the magic surrounding us. Sure, we may see more of the dull, hard work the movies don’t show, but we do possess a hope to find what we seek. Those desires for romance and fulfillment come naturally, and we have the power to step forward and progress those goals (with some reflection and work of course). Ultimately, we see that life offers more than what we notice everyday.

Natalie wakes up in a romantic comedy where her surroundings seem too good to pass as real. She comments how New York no longer stinks and how it looks as thought it had a beauty filter over it. Flowers surround her as she walks the streets, and people look her in the eye because they notice her. These details can happen outside a romantic comedy. Maybe actual flower arrangements don’t adorn every doorway and table, but beauty exists around us; a stranger or even a loved one can reflect God’s face as they take the time to notice and listen to us. Sometimes a potential love or job we want might stand right in front of us, simply waiting for us to recognize it and step toward it. Looking through a positive lens of hope rather than one of disappointment allows that.

We all desire romance, and that doesn’t mean we live with our head in the clouds. Our hearts naturally long for intimacy, and we see proof of that beauty throughout the bible. Song of Songs expresses the more physical side, and numerous New Testament passages demonstrate the benefits of marriage union and community. Like Natalie eventually discovers in Isn’t It Romantic, we can accept these desires rather than scoff at them. Perhaps the acknowledgement leads to fulfilling them. We possess a hope that brings a romantic comedy like magic to our ordinary lives.

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, especially with its Valentine’s Day timing. It proved my philosophy that love does surround us in all its cheesy and intense ways, whether culturally accepted as realistic or not.

 

For further reading, I recommend this Christianity Today article that describes a hope often overlooked in romantic comedies.

The Great American Reader: The Count of Monte Cristo – Gossip Disguised

30 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in books, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

After Edmond Dantes escapes prison, and by extension his wrongful sentence, his identity becomes more complicated. So does the plot. Two men staying in Rome make arrangements to witness an execution, a spectacle that has attracted audiences all over the world throughout history. Tablets arrive informing them of the condemned and their crimes. The details have prominence on signs throughout the area, and they get this visibility under the guise of getting those who see it to pray that the guilty parties repent.

Like those signs pose a positive interest of restoring the guilty parties while really drawing the crowd for entertainment, we too spread not so flattering information about people. Sometimes we share the story with a slant that we want to pray for them too. Maybe sometimes that really holds truth. However, we need to challenge our motives. Are we helping this person in some way by telling their crime? Or do we want to make this person look bad, perhaps making ourselves look better at the same time? Let’s evaluate our speech before it leaves our mouths. We can seek to build others up rather than tear them down to feed our pride. In reality, we all stand guilty. God gives us grace, and we can extend that to others.

 

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” 

Proverbs 18:21

 

 

 

Book Review: Every Piece of Me

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in books, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

I received Every Piece of Me: Shattering Toxic Beliefs and Discovering the Real You by Jerusha Clark from Baker Books in exchange for a review.

 

This book covers topics every woman needs to reflect upon. Our thinking processes require constant supervision and adjustment, and these chapters remind us what to observe and how to take action. Jerusha Clark takes common struggles and explains how they work, how they affect us, and how we can better align those thoughts to the perspective Jesus teaches. Despite these representing issues most people experience in everyday life, they don’t exactly hold the everyday applicability. The writing style comes off a little dry and slightly inaccessible. However, the message still holds clarity and strength. It even goes a little deeper than some of the more accessible books, so that makes a nice contrast. I recommend this to someone who doesn’t need the warmth other titles offer.

A Rainbow Reminds Us of Promises Fulfilled

20 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Genesis 9 picks up the story of Noah’s ark as the water finally recedes. Noah and his family get to set foot on dry land, leaving the giant boat at last. God speaks to Noah and makes a covenant with him; the rainbow would serve as a reminder that God keeps His promise.

I’ve read this part of the Bible on a rainy winter day. I too can use a reminder that God fulfills His promises. My days, heart and mind feel foggy and dark, but He maintains His presence with me and shares peace.

These days I read a scripture truth (index) card during each of my prayer and bible and Christian living book reading times. The cards focus on a biblically founded truth to counteract the opposing lie the sinful nature or the devil wants me to believe. Before and after I read Genesis 9 this afternoon, I read Deuteronomy 31:8: “the LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” I may not see a rainbow today, but I can rest assured that God follows through on His promise to stay with me.

 

If you feel alone or lonely this Christmas season, hold close God’s promises. He stands in your presence, and I pray for you to experience peace.

Book Review: Fiercehearted

16 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in books, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

I recently read Holley Gerth’s Fiercehearted: Live Fully, Love Bravely with my friend Stacie.

I now feel like Holley Gerth is a kindred spirit even though we’ve never met. This book has short chapters that all share a vulnerable, authentic voice and a unique light. Gerth has a perspective on her life that allows her to see God in the seemingly ordinary details of her life, and this allows her to learn from her experiences. As she invites readers into these situations, they too can grow closer to God and recall similar times in their own lives. Gerth’s unassuming openness welcomes readers into a life lived in the light. Now I feel like I can walk with a more confident step.

I highly recommend this book and highly look forward to the next book of hers I read. Fortunately, I’ve got a few on my shelf waiting for me!

Book Review: Developing Emotionally Mature Leaders

13 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in books, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

I received a copy of Developing Emotionally Mature Leaders: How Emotional Intelligence Can Help Transform Your Ministry by Aubrey Malphurs from Baker Books in exchange for a review.

This book covers a lot of technical information. It carries more the cold feel of a textbook rather than the welcoming warmth of a typical Christian living book, which I partially expected upon starting. I appreciate the effort of explaining the history and definitions of this complex subject. Malphurs describes in-depth without making the information inaccessible to the average person. While this targets church leaders and likely benefits them most, laypeople like myself can make use of this knowledge as well.

While the information remains accessible to the average reader, I find myself wanting more application. An extra insight as to how to use this knowledge properly would have been beneficial. The several appendixes in the back give a good starting point for this with quizzes and extra information. However, an epilogue or something similar with more steps on how to move forward might encourage readers truly to apply this knowledge. Considering “developing” starts the title, it seems like the book hints at going beyond textbook knowledge.

Book Review: Becoming Mrs. Lewis

08 Saturday Dec 2018

Posted by in books, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I received a copy of Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan through BookLook Bloggers.

 

After hearing some ladies in Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club discussing Becoming Mrs. Lewis, I knew I would enjoy it. A new friend of mine and I decided to read it, so I eagerly selected it as my first choice after joining BookLook. This historical fiction novel broadened my knowledge of C.S. Lewis, introduced me to his wife Joy and did not disappoint.

As Joy points out everything starts with words and acknowledges even the bible shares this truth, and her deep friendship with C.S. Lewis, who goes by Jack, begins no differently. She seeks his advice as a new Christian convert, and their letter writing turns into a regular correspondence and later a personal friendship. As a Christian unsure of how to trust God amidst difficult circumstances at home, Joy captures a feeling many have experienced to some extent. She feels lost and unsure how to move forward while still honoring God’s expectations for her. Of course she also desires to feel loved and understood. Both Joy and Jack find a depth to their friendship than broadens their understanding of theology, themselves and life. This grounds their work together as well as the family they ultimately bond.

This story delivers all I anticipated for a good novel about a historical figure who I wanted to know more. The inclusions of letters throughout the narrative gives it a personal feel, and that matches the closeness Jack and Joy feel to each other as they become best friends and work partners on books. Joy’s backstory gives a good understanding of her life and allows me to empathize with her plights. She makes a relatable character, and I find myself dreaming of going to England for some healing and writing inspiration myself. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to live in England during that time, as Lewis regularly meets with Tolkien (Tollers to his friends) and other notable writers and periodically meets with Sayers, not to mention share his literature knowledge at Oxford and Cambridge. I would love to spend a day amongst such great minds! This book gives me a glimpse into two very neat lives and makes me appreciate their writing contributions.

 

I recommend this book to anyone interested in C.S. Lewis. The writing might not hold the same level as Lewis’s, but the story does have depth that can add to your knowledge bank on such a neat figure. This isn’t my first read revolving around Lewis’s work, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Book Review: Shaken

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by in books, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

I recently read Tim Tebow’s Shaken, 2017’s Christian Book of the Year, with my friend Stacie.

After initially hesitating to read this book, I find myself glad for Stacie’s suggestion and interest in Tim Tebow. His stories may come across simple at times, but he shares a lot of his personal struggles along with his triumphs. I hear strong doubt in my head every day and that occurs mostly privately, so I can only imagine what it feels like to have your life broadcast and know the general public doubts your abilities. Yet Tebow stays focused on his mission and pushes forward. He sets a good example for making good choices.

In addition to generally modeling high ethics and the importance of prioritizing your values, Tebow demonstrates how seemingly small actions can reach a lot further than we imagine. So we can all follow his lead to listen to God telling us to take an extra step to show God’s love and truth even when it seems unlikely to help, unimportant in that situation or unpopular to the scrutinizing crowd. That gives me a nudge to follow through on sharing my gifts despite any doubt I face.

 

What can you do to share love and truth with someone this week?

Monday Motivation: Specifics

29 Monday Oct 2018

Posted by in Monday Motivation, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

After reading Max Lucado’s Anxious for Nothing (review here), I have contemplated a bigger picture lesson of his insight to request help and to specific clear requests. Numerous people have offered their help when they’ve noticed I’m struggling, but neither I nor them end up making specific requests or offers in most cases. As numerous articles about how to help someone fighting depression point out, sufferers tend to not ask for help. So while the person offering to help does so with good intentions, those might not land anywhere without specifics from either party. This also happens in recovery of mental illness and substance abuse if issues remain vague rather than specific.

Much like with relational communication, when it comes to anxiety and depression, vague and unclear assessments make it difficult to move forward. Unfortunately, these symptoms create a cloud that makes clarity difficult. As we can recognize the symptoms and go further to acknowledge the roots, we can make it possible to specify causes, needs and goals. We can recognize anger, acknowledge it and then specify the cause. That makes it possible to deal with it and move on rather than bury it and let it grow roots of bitterness. It also allows us to communicate specifically in prayer. A named person and sin lifted in prayer gives us an opportunity to see grace at work as we forgive and experience peace. We can even learn to specify what triggers anger, anxiety, depression, etc. to face each one with detailed goals rather than a vague hope for improvement. Once we know what ails us, we can work with managing the details.

Anxiety, depression or any other mental health issue has a complicated and difficult journey for healing and management. Yet as we seek more understanding and can see details, we can make specific adjustments and requests. Acknowledging a need for help makes it possible to request it, and recognizing each issue makes it possible to manage it. An experience, feeling or thought noticed, specified and managed rather than buried makes it possible to diminish it rather than grow its own roots and negative fruit rather than let us stay grounded in truth. We have access specific insights into the truth. Therefore, we can conquer specific issues and meet specific goals.

Book Review: Anxious for Nothing

26 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by in books, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Max Lucado’s recent book Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World offers a biblical starting point for understanding and handling anxiety. Though he doesn’t delve into the science or psychology angle much, he does provide scriptural evidence for how we can handle it, and most importantly recognizes that it exists.

At times I found the book too simple, but it does at least acknowledge that anxiety does not have a simple solution. Lucado describes, “This business of anxiety management is like pulling stumps out of the ground. Some of your worries have deep root systems. Extracting them is hard work. In fact, it may be the toughest challenge of all. But you don’t have to do it alone” (76). Most of the book seems to better apply to worry, a much more common affliction and one with a simpler solution. Yet this reminds readers that anxiety goes deeper and involves hard work to conquer old roots and then develop new ones. Lucado also reminds us that we need not face worry or anxiety alone.

With a loving community providing extra support, it makes it possible to conquer anxiety. As we navigate the roots on this journey, we can learn how to communicate specifics about our concerns as we pray, whether related to anxiety, worry or any other topic. When we can acknowledge our request or difficulty, we can start to put an accurate description on it. Then we can seek help from God as we voice it as well as communicate our needs to others. In turn, we can all support each other in the details of our everyday lives as we pursue the bigger picture of our purpose. Peace can replace this anxiety as we acknowledge concerns, voice specific requests and focus on the truth.

I recommend this book as a starting point for acknowledging worry and anxiety and starting to confront those thoughts. Anyone can benefit from double checking what occupies their mind. We can all use a little more peace, and we all have access to it and the ability to adjust and develop our roots.