Book Review: A Wedding Invitation

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Chris

 

Book Review: A Wedding Invitation

Author: Alice J. Wisler

A Wedding Invitation although usually not what I read, was a fun read.

Ms. Wisler does a good job with the dual storyline and it was interesting to see the Vietnamese one and get a mini history lesson.

The main storyline was interesting although I would have liked to see a little more of Samantha’s trouble with deciding between the two men. I personally was pulling for the stranger at the wedding and would have liked to see more of that relationship and why she ultimately chose the way she did.

I think there were also some untapped subplots that Ms. Wisler could have developed more fully along with some of the secondary characters.

This book is an enjoyable read. Kudos to Ms. Wisler for the mini history lesson and the little bit of romance. For summer beach read or a warm blanket, hot chocolate read I recommend this book.

 

May God’s Love Embrace You,

Christina Weigand

 

Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Book Review: Every Body Matters: A Must Read for all Christians

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Chris

 

Book Review: Every Body Matters

Author: Gary Thomas

We’ve all heard the saying Your body is a temple (well maybe not all, but a few of you have) Anyway how many of us really take that seriously, really think about it and how what we eat, how we exercise, even how we think and pray really does make a difference in us and how we respond to God’s calling. I know I didn’t, until  I read Gary Thomas’ book;  Every Body Matters.

Through his book I was able to see how important it is for me to be fit not for the sake of beauty or becoming more athletic, but to become in the words of St. Paul: “instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to da any good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

This book opened my eyes to the mistakes, to the wrong thinking I have had over the years. Mr. Thomas does this in a very powerful way, not by shaming, criticizing or judging, but through personal experience and stories of everyday people.

As the back cover blurb says he skillfully demonstrates how becoming physically fit can lead to:

~ increased sensitivity to God’s voice

~ renewed energy for God’s work

~ greater joy for living

~ a fortified soul better able and more willing to serve and love others

By looking at your body as an instrument rather than an ornament, we’ll find new and compelling motivation to embrace the kind of active lifestyle that fortifies our soul. (quote from back cover by Gary Thomas)

Our body is a Temple to God and should be treated as such. We should be prepared to step up and answer God’s call whenever it comes. Mr. Thomas shows the reader the how’s and why’s of this truth and it is up to us to take up the reins and truly become who God meant us to be.

Thank you Mr. Thomas for opening my eyes, now if I could quit procrastinating it would all be great, but you have planted the seed and God will nurture it.

May God’s glory embrace you,

Christina Weigand

Zondervan gave me this book free of charge, for the purpose of review.

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Michal: The Rejected Daughter and Wife

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Chris

 

David made preparations and sallied forth with his men and slew two hundred Philistines. He brought back their foreskins and counted them out before the king that might thus become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter, Michal in marriage. Saul thus came to recognize that the Lord was with David: besides his own daughter, Michal loved David. (1 Samuel 18: 27-28, NAB)

 

Introduction:

Michal was a naive teenager willing to go along with her father’s manipulations to marry the man she loves. Blinded by her immature love, she does not see her father’s lack of concern for her feelings or David’s disregard for her. As she gets older, her eyes are opened to the shenanigans of her father and David. She becomes bitter and disillusioned. She rejects God and her husband and spends her remaining days a very unhappy woman.

Read and Ponder

1 Samuel 18: 20-28

Michal is the younger daughter of King Saul of the Israelites. She has seen the feats of David the young shepherd and God’s next appointed king and fallen in love with him. Her love is an immature, hero-worshiping love and she is overjoyed when her father gives her to David in marriage.

 

Questions to Ponder:

  1. Do I only see what I want and blind myself to the maneuvering of others?
  2. Do I let other people manipulate me and us me to achieve their own ends?

 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to be less like Michal and more like Leah. Help me avoid bitterness and look toward you as I move through painful life events.

 

May God Embrace you in His love,

Christina Weigand

Excerpted from Women of the Bible: A Study by Christina Weigand

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Michal; The Rejected Daughter and Wife

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Chris

David made preparations and sallied forth with his men and slew two hundred Philistines. He brought back their foreskins and counted them out before the king that might thus become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter, Michal in marriage. Saul thus came to recognize that the Lord was with David: besides his own daughter, Michal loved David. (1 Samuel 18: 27-28, NAB)

 

Introduction:

Michal was a naive teenager willing to go along with her father’s manipulations to marry the man she loves. Blinded by her immature love, she does not see her father’s lack of concern for her feelings or David’s disregard for her. As she gets older, her eyes are opened to the shenanigans of her father and David. She becomes bitter and disillusioned. She rejects God and her husband and spends her remaining days a very unhappy woman.

Read and Ponder

1 Samuel 18: 20-28

Michal is the younger daughter of King Saul of the Israelites. She has seen the feats of David the young shepherd and God’s next appointed king and fallen in love with him. Her love is an immature, hero-worshiping love and she is overjoyed when her father gives her to David in marriage.

 

Questions to Ponder:

  1. Do I only see what I want and blind myself to the maneuvering of others?
  2. Do I let other people manipulate me and us me to achieve their own ends?

 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to be less like Michal and more like Leah. Help me avoid bitterness and look toward you as I move through painful life events.

 

May God Embrace you in His love,

Christina Weigand

Excerpted from Women of the Bible: A Study by Christina Weigand

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Ruth: The Loving Daughter-in-Law

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Chris

 

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next of kin and may his name be renowned in Israel. (Ruth 4:14)

Read and ponder Ruth 4:14

Ruth’s acts are rewarded when she is assured her son’s name will be famous in all ofIsrael.

 

Question to Ponder:

1.  Do I sacrifice what I want so someone else may benefit?

 

 

Conclusion:

The definition of duty is sacrificing what we want so someone else may benefit. This is what Ruth and Naomi did for each other. Naomi was downcast after the death of her husband and sons. Instead of focusing on her own sadness, she directed all her energy on the future of Ruth. Ruth followed Naomi’s lead. Her only motivation is her love for Naomi and that motivation is pleasing to God.

If we are focusing on our own happiness, we are getting in God’s way. Just because a need presents itself does not mean we have to respond to it. Like Ruth, we need to consider the needs of others through the eyes of love with God in our hearts.

 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Make me more like Ruth, willing to listen and heed my elders and extend a helping hand to those in need. Let me see past my own selfish needs to consider others. Amen.

 

All for the Glory of God,

Christina Weigand

Excerpted from Women of the Bible: A Study by Christina Weigand

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