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.
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5 comments:
Ok Ana,I hope this is how we are supposed to do this. I couldn't figure out where else to post this to.
As I read through the Intro and first chapter I noticed that same issue that Ana did, and went thru pretty much the same thought process.
I was really pleased while reading to see the author continually point us back to the Bible for verification and using reference verses. At the begining of Chapter 2 (mid page 47) she reminds us that it is ok to take issue with some of the content and that she is just presenting her understanding of what she's found in Scripture. "Jesus and His Word are THE TRUTH" and she is just motivating us to search out the truth for ourselves. This was a very important thing for her to write ... without it I don't think I could have really been able to enjoy reading the book. I would have been skeptical that she was just another person shoving her opinion on God &life down my throat.
That being said... Chapter 2 was a bit of a surprise for me. Several of the LiesWomen Believe about God were a bit new to me. However, there were 2 lies that I did identify with. Things that I had thought about and struggled with before,and while I realize in my heart that these are lies my head is always trying to find the logic or reasoning. Thats always been my biggest problem is trying to fit God's ways into a "logical" sort of box.
It was good for me to be able to see that others also struggle with some of these lies. To often we do not share our spiritual struggles with each other and that really leaves us open to the devil's manipulations.
I look foward to reading the next segment of the book and hearing what everyone else thought.
Hi Everyone,
So far I have enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading all of it. I found some of the lies that women believe about God not to be new ones, I have heard some of it before but there were other points that were new and made me think. It struck home a bit how we say we don;t believe the lies but it is our lives that will reflect if that is true or not. The lie about God being enough, I know I say it but it is a lot harder to have the trust and faith to give everything to him. The thing that I struggle with though, is does that mean when I look for a new house am I not supposed to want one with a washer,dryer, dish washer?? Those are things that have become the "norm" in society, almost every house comes with it right? Am I wrong in wanting that as well? No, it is not a neccesity but it sure makes my life easier. Anyway, just my thoughts that are coming out now. Good choice on book Kate, and I am looking forward to the next part.
Rebecca
I feel like I'm way behind, but I'm thankful to say I have now read the first 2 chapters. The first area in chapter 1 that really hit me was on pg 30 about how Satan subtly trick, deceives and seduces humans by making an offer that appears to be reasonable, desirable and not entirely "anti-God". He offers us all kinds of benefits, but in reality he pays with the worst things. On pg 33 it was pointed out that if we as women buy into his deception, we will influence the men around us to sin, and our sinful choices will set a pattern for subsequent generations to follow. Wow! I have seen that in my own life, but never realized the truth of it until now. Also, on pg 34 I found it very interesting what it said about Christian leaders who are deceiving their followers... they "strengthen the hands of the wicked" by suggesting they do not need to repent. Their teachings help people justify anger, selfishness, irresponsibility, and infidelity. That is a very frightening thought! We need to be in the Word in order not to fall for these shady "truths". And to think all of this started by Eve listening to Satan's lie. Pg 37 states that there is a progression that leads to bondage, and it always begins when we listen to a lie. I hadn't thought of how bondage gets started believing a lie, but it makes total sense. May we all submerse ourselves in the Bible - God's truths every day, so we can differentiate between a lie and the truth.
Well I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments so far.
I really liked what she said on page 31. God had already told Adam and Eve what was right and wrong for them. I think Satan is the master at making us believe that we can think whatever we want or help us justify what we are doing. When in all reality God has already outlined things for us in his word.
On Page 37 she talks about Listening to the Lies. This is what causes the deception. I could not agree more with her. Over the next page she was basically thanking her parents for raising her in a protected home. Her parents guarded her from deceptions. I hope that one day my kids will do the same. I know that I can be viewed as strict, but I know that I am protecting them from outside things that they just dont need to see, hear, or feel. I think one of the Lies Satan tells us, well it is "not that bad".
Even for myself, I know I have often been viewed as too strict or "too spiritual"...that is really not the case. I just really try to protect my mind. I am a human being just like everyone and I have my downfalls as well. But when it comes to my mind, I am super careful. About 9 years ago I really had a bad self image and I was encouraged to go through and make a list of what I believed about myself and then go through the Bible and find scripture that showed me the truth about myself. I wish I could say that I memorized all those scriptures, but I did not. I would though pull that sheet out and look over it when I was struggling.
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