Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas
I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Hope everyone has a blessed holiday and that this next year be filled with many blessings.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Chapter 2 Musings
Hi ladies! Chapter 2 has been very challenging for me. Being a woman I find it so easy to let my feelings rule. On pg. 50 it says that "we trust what we feel to be true, rather than what we know to be true." Very interesting and insightful. When I think of God loving me it is difficult to think that He would love me without doing anything for Him. I guess it goes back to my wanting approval from my earthly father and when I did something he was proud of he showed it by letting me have or do something I wanted. Praise Him, I do not need to do anything to merit His love! On pg. 53 it says, "Discomfort and unrest are impossible to souls who come to know that God is their Father." As I grow older I can relate with that more because when I was younger I worried so much about so many things. As I spend more time reading God's word and memorizing it, I am learning that I truly need to cast my cares on Him and He gives me a peace that transcends all understanding. What peace to leave everything in His capable hands! As it says on pg. 55, "obedience is the pathway to freedom." It's wonderful and scary to live in the age of "grace". Wonderful because God does not punish us the way we deserve and scary because we can continue in disobedience and not stop, because we're not punished like we deserve. We are free to choose to disobey, but that will come with consequences, as the author says on pg. 56. On pg. 58 she states that "God is not removed or detached from our problems. He uses pressures and problems to mold and shape our lives and to make us like His Son Jesus, who "learned obedience from what He suffered." Isn't it reassuring to know that God has a reason/purpose for our problems? He sees the big picture and we need to trust Him. :)
Until Chapter 3! Joan
Until Chapter 3! Joan
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Chapter 3 of Lies
I am posting this early as I will be traveling back to Dallas tomorrow from a nice vacation in NM.
I really enjoyed this chapter and could identify with a lot of things the author wrote. The first lie that spoke to me was #8 I need to learn to love myself. Reading her words made me realize something I already knew but I just didn't want to accept. Now, I don't believe we need to take the truth/lie to the extreme and not spend any time to ourselves or for ourselves, but we do need to be more aware of others. We need to realize that no matter how much time we spend on ourselves or loving ourselves we will never be ready to fully help others. It's true we are selfish people and waiting until we love ourselves enough to be there for others is an unrealistic and foolish line of thinking. It will never happen. As she says, "...we need to give others the same attention and care we naturally give ourselves."
Lie #9 was more of a reinforcement of us being responsible for our own choices. This redeemed the author in my eyes since I had such a hard time with her previous comment about leading others to sin.
Lie #10 was confusing, I am not certain if it is because I have been so influenced by society and expect my rights. However, in my mind I don't think there is anything wrong with expecting your spouse to love you, or to be valued. Sometimes these things have to be worked towards but I don't feel we need to go through life settling for less and allowing ourselves to wallow in self doubt or low self esteem.
Lie #11 I really liked how she pointed out that no where in the bible does it say that outward appearance doesn't matter, but the excessive time spent worrying about beauty is the sin. I had also never thought of a lack of taking care/time of our physical beauty would embarrass our husbands. He's supposed to accept you no matter what but I can see how it would be hard for him to want to go out with you if you are an embarrassment.
Lie #12 about unfulfilled longing was also something that I can find applicable. Too often our society is about instant gratification. My weakness is wanting to buy that book right away and not wait to see if I can get it from the library or wait until the next check. However, I do realize this issue in my life and am sometimes successful with resisting the temptation and waiting until a better time to purchase the item. Learning to live and be content with unfulfilled longing will be harder though. I want what I want now.
I really enjoyed this chapter and could identify with a lot of things the author wrote. The first lie that spoke to me was #8 I need to learn to love myself. Reading her words made me realize something I already knew but I just didn't want to accept. Now, I don't believe we need to take the truth/lie to the extreme and not spend any time to ourselves or for ourselves, but we do need to be more aware of others. We need to realize that no matter how much time we spend on ourselves or loving ourselves we will never be ready to fully help others. It's true we are selfish people and waiting until we love ourselves enough to be there for others is an unrealistic and foolish line of thinking. It will never happen. As she says, "...we need to give others the same attention and care we naturally give ourselves."
Lie #9 was more of a reinforcement of us being responsible for our own choices. This redeemed the author in my eyes since I had such a hard time with her previous comment about leading others to sin.
Lie #10 was confusing, I am not certain if it is because I have been so influenced by society and expect my rights. However, in my mind I don't think there is anything wrong with expecting your spouse to love you, or to be valued. Sometimes these things have to be worked towards but I don't feel we need to go through life settling for less and allowing ourselves to wallow in self doubt or low self esteem.
Lie #11 I really liked how she pointed out that no where in the bible does it say that outward appearance doesn't matter, but the excessive time spent worrying about beauty is the sin. I had also never thought of a lack of taking care/time of our physical beauty would embarrass our husbands. He's supposed to accept you no matter what but I can see how it would be hard for him to want to go out with you if you are an embarrassment.
Lie #12 about unfulfilled longing was also something that I can find applicable. Too often our society is about instant gratification. My weakness is wanting to buy that book right away and not wait to see if I can get it from the library or wait until the next check. However, I do realize this issue in my life and am sometimes successful with resisting the temptation and waiting until a better time to purchase the item. Learning to live and be content with unfulfilled longing will be harder though. I want what I want now.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Eva Miedema
I hope and pray that everyone in the States had a wonderful American Thanksgiving. Don & I were spoiled by having Charles, Angela & Gabriel come to be with us for 4 days. However, I came down with a 48 hour stomach flu on Thursday, which Charles came down with last night, so they are still here, lol. We pray that he will recover soon, as they need to return to Willmar.
Liew Women Believe:
There wer many areas of bondage which Nancy DeMoss mentioned that I could identify with, if not in my own life, with those whom I am close to, but the one that struck me the most was the Bondage in relation to food. Can you believe that when I was sick, I was still thinking about food, and had to conciously turn my mind to other things?
I do agree with how the world feels that we should have an easy life, that is not fair if things are difficult or disappointments happen.
Pg. 18: Life is hard, but in Christ, we can walk in freedom and true joy, if only you will let Him. Pg. 32 Anytime we receive input that is not consistent with the Word of God, we can be sure satan is trying to decive and destroy us. How we need to be grounded in the Word, studying and mediating on it every day so we can see satan's lies.
Pg. 33 When we are not honest with each other, we actually do satan's work for him, acting as his agents, deciving and destroying each other. It is all too easy to paint a rosy picture, that everything is going fine, but we know that is not true. I find it diffcutl to share what I am honestly feeling, because I don't know the other person; because I don't know if what I confide will stay with them; or if they will judge me; or if they feel they need to solve my problem. When someone shares, it is a priveldge that we need to take to the Lord in prayer, right away, in front of them. Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work, not in or through me the listener, but to the person who is aching inside. And that I find diffiuctl to do too.
Pg. 35 Open your eyes: most people mindlessly accept whatever they hear and see. how true, even Christians when we listen to our pastors every Sunday. Do we challenge what is said, do we compare what we hear to scripture?
Pf. 36 What makes satan's offers os alluring and so deceptive is that they look so right. How true! for the sake of our marriages, we need to stand on guard, stand in the word and stand in prayer.
Enough of quotes from the book and what I think. I am learning from what Nancy DeMoss has to say and want to apply it personally to my life. I look forward to hearing from each of you in the days to come.
Love and prayers, Eva
Liew Women Believe:
There wer many areas of bondage which Nancy DeMoss mentioned that I could identify with, if not in my own life, with those whom I am close to, but the one that struck me the most was the Bondage in relation to food. Can you believe that when I was sick, I was still thinking about food, and had to conciously turn my mind to other things?
I do agree with how the world feels that we should have an easy life, that is not fair if things are difficult or disappointments happen.
Pg. 18: Life is hard, but in Christ, we can walk in freedom and true joy, if only you will let Him. Pg. 32 Anytime we receive input that is not consistent with the Word of God, we can be sure satan is trying to decive and destroy us. How we need to be grounded in the Word, studying and mediating on it every day so we can see satan's lies.
Pg. 33 When we are not honest with each other, we actually do satan's work for him, acting as his agents, deciving and destroying each other. It is all too easy to paint a rosy picture, that everything is going fine, but we know that is not true. I find it diffcutl to share what I am honestly feeling, because I don't know the other person; because I don't know if what I confide will stay with them; or if they will judge me; or if they feel they need to solve my problem. When someone shares, it is a priveldge that we need to take to the Lord in prayer, right away, in front of them. Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work, not in or through me the listener, but to the person who is aching inside. And that I find diffiuctl to do too.
Pg. 35 Open your eyes: most people mindlessly accept whatever they hear and see. how true, even Christians when we listen to our pastors every Sunday. Do we challenge what is said, do we compare what we hear to scripture?
Pf. 36 What makes satan's offers os alluring and so deceptive is that they look so right. How true! for the sake of our marriages, we need to stand on guard, stand in the word and stand in prayer.
Enough of quotes from the book and what I think. I am learning from what Nancy DeMoss has to say and want to apply it personally to my life. I look forward to hearing from each of you in the days to come.
Love and prayers, Eva
Lies Women Believe
First I would like to thank everyone for participating in this review blog. I really hope we can enjoy the books and learn a little more about each other. Secondly this has been set up as a book review, no one is required to share their personal struggles or personal walk through the self-improvement books.
Now that's out of the way, here's my personal review for the first bit of the book. :)
The first chapter of this book was hard for me to swallow or agree with the author on one point. She talks on pg 33 about woman buying into the deception of Satan and that we then influence the men around us to sin. For me, the way this is worded, implies lack or accountablety for ones own sin. It says, she sinned so I sinned and doesn't account for your spouses own accountablilty. I am not saying we don't influence those around us but in the end we are accountable for what we have done and can not blame others for our own actions. I then had to take a deep breath and just look at this statement as being written for a book to be read by women and is to be read as a statement to women and not men.
Once I got over that hurdle I began to enjoy the book a lot more. Despite the dramatics of the introduction, it was an eye opener to read the list of lies women believe about God. I have never sat down and pondered the lies I have allowed myself to believe and this was good for me. I haven't struggles with all the lies but the clear way she stated the reasons women believe these lies allowed me to empathize with those who would. I am by no means perfect, I hope I did not imply that with my last sentence. I have however been very blessed in how I was brought up, who I have married and most recently learning all over again to trust God.
I look forward to reading the rest of the book and have my eyes opened to things I had never thought about before. Next Sunday I would like to review chapters 3-4. If you are not able to read that much of the book please feel free to review on the portion you have finished. We have a great list of books to read and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the choices.
Now that's out of the way, here's my personal review for the first bit of the book. :)
The first chapter of this book was hard for me to swallow or agree with the author on one point. She talks on pg 33 about woman buying into the deception of Satan and that we then influence the men around us to sin. For me, the way this is worded, implies lack or accountablety for ones own sin. It says, she sinned so I sinned and doesn't account for your spouses own accountablilty. I am not saying we don't influence those around us but in the end we are accountable for what we have done and can not blame others for our own actions. I then had to take a deep breath and just look at this statement as being written for a book to be read by women and is to be read as a statement to women and not men.
Once I got over that hurdle I began to enjoy the book a lot more. Despite the dramatics of the introduction, it was an eye opener to read the list of lies women believe about God. I have never sat down and pondered the lies I have allowed myself to believe and this was good for me. I haven't struggles with all the lies but the clear way she stated the reasons women believe these lies allowed me to empathize with those who would. I am by no means perfect, I hope I did not imply that with my last sentence. I have however been very blessed in how I was brought up, who I have married and most recently learning all over again to trust God.
I look forward to reading the rest of the book and have my eyes opened to things I had never thought about before. Next Sunday I would like to review chapters 3-4. If you are not able to read that much of the book please feel free to review on the portion you have finished. We have a great list of books to read and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the choices.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Book Reading Order
Book 1- Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that sets them free, Nancy Demoss
Book 2- Grace (Eventually):Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott
Book 3- Now Your Speaking My Language, Gary Chapman
Book 4- Serve God, Save the Planet, a Christian Call to action, J. Matthew Sleeth
Book 5- Cultivating Contentment: Growing Through Life's Challenges, Jill Briscoe
Book 6- Captivating, John and Stasi Eldredge
Book 7- Romancing Your Husband: Enjoying a Passionate Life Together by Debra White Smith
Book 8- Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More by Joanne Heim
Book 2- Grace (Eventually):Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott
Book 3- Now Your Speaking My Language, Gary Chapman
Book 4- Serve God, Save the Planet, a Christian Call to action, J. Matthew Sleeth
Book 5- Cultivating Contentment: Growing Through Life's Challenges, Jill Briscoe
Book 6- Captivating, John and Stasi Eldredge
Book 7- Romancing Your Husband: Enjoying a Passionate Life Together by Debra White Smith
Book 8- Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More by Joanne Heim
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Angela's Choice
Would Like to read Romancing Your Husband: Enjoying a Passionate Life Together by Debra White Smith.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Katrina's Choice
Would like to read Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Heidi's Choice
I would like to read Now Your Speaking My Language by Gary Chapman. I am excited to see what everyone else chooses!
Ana's Book Choice
The book I would like to read and review is Serve God Save the Planet, A Christian Call to Action by J. Matthew Sleeth.
New Blog
This blog was created to be a place where the ladies from the Evans and Miedema families can gather and review books. The idea behind this blog is to allow each of the members to choose a non fiction book (Christian, insperation, self-help etc.)that will be read by the group during a decided time frame. By doing this I am hoping this will allow each of us to find new insight into the other people we interact with and are part of our lives.
Invitations to join the group and request for the book you would like to read will be sent out shortly. Books will be "put into a hat" and drawn to decide the order in which the books are read. Books can be purchased or borrowed from the library. Posting access will be given to those who respond to the invitations and the reading and posting time frame will be decided at that time.
Invitations to join the group and request for the book you would like to read will be sent out shortly. Books will be "put into a hat" and drawn to decide the order in which the books are read. Books can be purchased or borrowed from the library. Posting access will be given to those who respond to the invitations and the reading and posting time frame will be decided at that time.
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