Our church has just begun the adventure of searching for a new pastor. It’s a daunting job when you look for the perfect pastor. Basically, because there are no perfect pastors because pastors are people, too.
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
NOTE: I received this book at no charge in exchange for writing this review. These words are my own opinion and I have not been compensated to say them.
Dare to Hope again
Have you been losing your hope lately? What is it that is pulling you down into
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
I was given this book, The Pain Companion, as a gift. In return, I am writing this review. I am not otherwise being paid and the thoughts on this post our my own.
Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
What if there was no pain.
For some of us that would be like heaven. But really? Do we want there to truly be no pain? We might want to rethink that. What if you touched something hot but felt no pain. What if you kept pushing yourself to work, run, play without feeling pain? Not exactly a good thing, right? Continue reading →
Mandy Farmer writer/speaker desires to support you in whatever storm you a facing. She has “Been there done that”. Like the Farmer’s Insurance, “We know a lot because we’ve seen a lot”. Mandy married a widowed pastor with two pre-teen boys. She became their mom and then they added another son and daughter to the mix. A 21st Century kind of family. Mandy served as children’s minister for 25 years followed by serving as women’s minister for 5plus years. In 2011, Chronic Pain became her constant companion which led to job loss for both her and her husband. Then this led to home loss and financial loss. But God is faithful and has brought them through these storms. Mandy would like to come alongside you to encourage you, help you, uphold you. Deut. 31:6
I heard a radio interview the other day with Gary Thomas, the author of Sacred Marriage, and it really caught my attention. What especially drew me in was the subtitle, “What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?”. I had to purchase the book to get “the rest of the story”.
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. However, the views are my own personal thoughts about this book. Links to purchase are my affiliate links.
Go out and grab it because life will all too soon get full and busy and the next thing you know your 20’s will be twenty years ago. I waited till I was 28 to start planning great vacations and fulfilling dreams. No sooner did I plan a trip to Taiwan, then I met and married my husband. Never made it to Taiwan.
Excellent Resource for Your Life
I found this book chock full of excellent advice for any of us. Possibly, even those who are looking back and wondering what has happened to all your hopes and dreams. It’s never too late to take a turn for the better. And this book can help you do it, so purchase this book today. Dog-ear the pages that are important to you and start taking stock in your life. Store this book on a convenient shelf so that you can go back and read next year, and the next year, and the next. You will find ways to improve your life every time. Continue reading →
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
I have been waiting years for a women’s mentoring resource like this.
ADORNED
Living out the Beauty of the Gospel Together
by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
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{I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review}
As a pastor’s wife, I have tried different times to encourage our ladies to live out the Titus 2 woman model. I used Bible Studies on the topic but I never seemed able to really get the point across. I could never explain it all well and why we should live this kind of life. Partly, I had older women I respected questioning the principle and I didn’t know how to answer them. But mainly, I didn’t have the right mentoring resource to help me.
Today, we have millennial women begging for help to find their way. But the situation is worse, the older women believe that the younger women do not want their help nor do they want to hear their message. This really isn’t true.
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
Is your marriage getting a little dull in the romance department?
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Have you lost the passion you once had for each other?
Sharon Jaynes has written a little book that I’m sure will help you ignite the fires again. In 14 days she can help you spark that fire. She will take you step by step, offering little things you can do to reignite the fires.
Add a spark a day for 14 days
In just a page or two a day, Sharon talks about the things that will get the passion ignited for your guy. She explains what’s going on in his head and what you need to do to get his fires going. Each day she offers 3 or 4 little things you can do for your husband each day. It could be as simple as sending a sweet text or some a bit hot and sexy. She offers testimonials from women who tried them and from the men who received them. These will certainly, be an encouragement to you to try them out.
Each day she offers 3 or 4 little things you can do for your husband each day. It could be as simple as sending a sweet text or some a bit hot and sexy. She offers testimonials from women who tried them and from the men who received them. These will certainly, be an encouragement to you to try them out.
One Act of Romance a Day
Each day she challenges you to do one small act of love. She offers 3 or 4 little things you can do for your husband each day. It could be as simple as sending a sweet text or something a bit more hot and sexy. She offers testimonials from women who have tried them and from the men who received them. These will certainly, be an encouragement to you to try them out.
The Best Little Romance Reference Book
In the last third of the book, Sharon includes some great addendums.
150 additional Ways to Romance Your Husband
10 Ways to Romance Your Husband According to His Love Language
14 Tips for a More Romantic Bedroom
10 Easy steps to Writing a Love Letter
Even if you don’t complete an act every day, you will find the passion in your marriage escalating. This is a book you will want to keep in your bedstand as a reference for whenever you need to add a spark to your relationship. Go out and buy yours today!
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
So many of us find ourselves BROKEN. But God can make all things BEAUTIFUL if you will let Him.
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I picked up Gwen Smith’s book from a pile of books I have purchased and never finish reading because I am writing a series of devotionals on emotional trauma. I wanted to find out how others dealt with their own traumatic events and how God helped them recover.
We have all found ourselves broken and unable to fix it. Only God can restore our hearts and make us whole again. Gwen brings to mind how this life can beat us up and break our tender hearts. Each chapter tells of someone she knows personally and links her together with a Biblical woman. She then shows us that “God can use each and every person who surrenders her brokenness into His hands…no matter what.” It doesn’t matter if we are broken from past sin. Sometimes, we ourselves have sinned. Other times, those around us have sinned and we became the object of the sin. Either way, God CAN use the brokenness and turn it into something beautiful. The key is our own surrender of the heart. We must allow God to do the work in our hearts and lives. Then and only then will the beauty shine through.
Gwen reminds us that Satan would like to take us down for the last time. He wants to defeat us and convince us that God does not care. These crafty lies of the evil one can hold us back and keep us struggling in the hurt. We must let the lies go. Stop believing the lies and begin believing in the God who created us. Gwen tells us that “when we invite God into our circumstances, He will faithfully respond to our needs”. And then we will experience His peace, his presence, His power!
At the end of each chapter, Gwen leaves us with lyrics to one of her songs
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
I picked up this book because I had enjoyed some of the author’s blog writings. Little did I know that I would connect with her immediately because we are both experiencing a similar time in life. We are both the wife of a pastor who has recently resigned his position and still in the “waiting on God” moments in life.
The Speed of Fast
In this world of everything in the speed of fast, Emily Freeman, encourages us to enjoy the small things, to slow down and enjoy life. She says, “Small is an invitation to participate in something greater than ourselves.” When we take the time to sit, watch and listen we find the beautiful again. We are refreshed and we see what God is doing … in our own lives and in the world. We see how our small part is significant in the whole wide scheme of things.
“Never despise small beginnings”. Start by picking up this book and be encouraged!
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
We tend to think that God’s servants are protected against being wounded, but that is just not true.
As a matter of fact, I would venture to say that most ministers of the Word are hurt at least once in their ministry. I so appreciate Anne for being vulnerable and opening up to us about her own life while she teaches us through the life of Hagar on how to deal with hurt.
It is in the story of Hagar, that we find the name of God, El Roi, The God Who Sees Me. He cares so much about each one of us and the plight in which we find ourselves. AND he is watching over us.
What I learned was the God Who Sees Me cares deeply for His own. He sees each and every one of us. The love that He has for us is unfathomable. He has a plan for us but He also allows us to make our own decisions. So He waits for us to call out to Him to rescue Him.
Studying the plight of Hagar has helped me face my own situation.
It has taught me to look at where I may have failed. I have been warned against wounding others in my hurt. It has taught me to forgive regardless of what the other party may or may not do towards repentance and reconciliation.
This book would help anyone who has been hurt not only by the church but by anyone.
In this age where we seem to think everyone is bullying everyone else. I think we need to start looking at how Jesus handled those who bullied Him. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
If you have ever been hurt by someone, read this book.
Below you will find an affiliate link to purchase this book and Nan Jones book Perils of a Pastor’s wife. Nan writes from experience about being rejected congregations. Thank you.
ATTENTION PASTORS AND SPOUSES
Have you felt abandoned by God in the lonely fires of ministry?
This Group is expressly for men and women trying to find Joy in the Wilderness after losing
their pastorate. Please share this with others you know who are struggling with the transition.
This is a place for support and encouragement. No judgment, just a shoulder to lean on.
Writer/Speaker sharing about how to make it through anything. I married a pastor with two boys who just lost their mom, I homeschooled my own children, led children’s ministries and women’s ministries in the church, and founded and led a homeschool support group. Had to give up much of this due to chronic pain. Like the Insurance, I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot.
