book review: "living whole without a better half" by wendy widder

"For many, "single" is not just a filing status on a tax return but a public declaration that they are disappointed, discontented, and waiting around to start life. Whether single by choice or circumstance, they may find, like Wendy Widder did, that well-meaning advice and platitudes about God's care are less than helpful when they're just trying to figure out - like everyone else - how to live life well. 

Singles will find the unvarnished truth here. Instead of cherry-picking biblical "promises," Widder turns to Hebrews 11. She examines the lives of biblical heroes such as Abraham, Moses, and Jacob to show readers how to embrace singleness as a God-given gift that can provide abundant life. Wendy has learned, relearned, and then learned yet again that God's plan for us is better than any we have for ourselves and she makes her case with wit and a wry humor. Now with study questions and a new preface, Living Whole Without a Better Half makes a great Bible study or small group resource."

I really liked this book! Just being able to relate to someone who understands the desire to be married but still waiting for that guy to come along can't be overstated. And, one of my favorite things were the quotes at the beginning of the chapters - apparently we have similar taste in movies! I liked how she pulled out stories from the Bible, showing how some of the great men of faith trusted God despite their circumstances. And she also shared from her own life. I think we sometimes feel as though we need to be with someone but my life is good right now! Marriage is something I definitely want but not something I'm putting my life on hold for.

"I want to press on because I'm so in step with the Creator of the universe that walking a difficult road is an opportunity to sidle a little closer to Him, to hold His hand a little tighter." There are a lot of weddings going on around me right now and while I am super happy for all of these couples, I can't help but wonder when my walk down the aisle will come. Reading this book in this season of my life was definitely a God thing. I needed to be reminded of God's timing. 

"The unpopular truth is that God often does His greatest work while we wait." I think about what all I've been able to do while single - especially in this last year. I've been able to invest in an amazing group of middle school girls at my church, I went to Guatemala last summer and am going back this year, I made it through my first year of teaching and the long hours it required. All of these things would've been hard if I was balancing a relationship as well.  

I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publications for my honest review.

 

book review: "a bridge unbroken" by cathy bryant

"Letting go to build a bridge...Dakota Kelly wants her painful past to disappear. A plan to start afresh is derailed when she co-inherits her late grandfather's farm with Chance Johnson, the man responsible for the scars on her heart. But Chance isn't the only ghost from the past. Someone else is out to get her and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Will Chance and Dakota lay aside their grudges to restore the old farmhouse and bridge, or will evil forces sabotage their attempt at forgiveness?"

I liked Dakota and Chance's story! Their relationship was a journey - both of them letting go of past hurts so they could move forward. It didn't take me long to get pulled into the story, wondering and hoping Dakota and Chance would end up together. It was very sweet how protective Chance was of Dakota - even when he didn't fully understand why. I laughed at the banter between him and Matt when he spent the night in his truck to keep an eye on Dakota. I also liked the other characters in the story. Chance's friends welcomed Dakota into their lives and at times it seemed they sided with her! This was a story full of love, action and forgiveness. I haven't read any of Cathy's other books but I may have to check them out! 

I received a copy of this book for my honest review.

 

crash the chatterbox!

I'm currently reading Steven Furtick's book, Crash the Chatterbox. And wow, it's such a good book! It's about drowning out the lies the devil will try to tell you and to focus on who God says you are instead. You can also listen to his related podcast on Elevation's website. Here are just a few things I've highlighted:

- "Winning the war of words inside your soul means learning to defy your inner critic."

- "When lies are not confronted, callings are not fulfilled."

- "The voice you believe will determine the future you experience."

- "When we link a biblical understanding of God's authority with our personal experience of His intimacy, it melts down the mainframe of the chatterbox."

- "And she [Mary] demonstrated how an understanding of God's favor makes God's children unstoppable in the face of situations that seem impossible and obstacles that seem immovable."