Designer Women

Designer Women
by
Ruth Tuttle Conard

Ruth Tuttle Conard states that she has always been somewhat confused by the roles women were expected to play within the confines of the modern church. Using Biblical texts, male leaders have placed highly talented and motivated women into very small roles or silenced their wisdom so completely that they have felt lost or have even walked away from the church completely. Is this what God intended?

Using the examples of ten women of the Bible, Conard examines the way God designed us, our spirituality, and our roles in his kingdom. She looks at the way Eve was designed to be loved, how Ruth was designed to take charge, and how Zelophehad's daughters were created to speak up in a time when women were expected to remain silent. The New Testament demonstrates how women were designed to worship, to embrace, to persevere, and to serve.

This book encourages the reader to evaluate her unique design and to determine her gifts. How has God designed her to uniquely serve this generation? Is she living up to that expectation?

I would highly recommend this book for any woman in the church who isn't sure how she fits in, what her gifts are, and if she fits into the mold that the church expects. It helped set me free from man's mold and to understand that God's mold is the only one that I should seek to fill.

You can purchase this book at Amazon.

MUST READ: Clutter Free Christianity

Clutter-Free Christianity

by Dr. Robert Jeffress

MY THOUGHTS:

This is one of the most thought-provoking books I've read in a long time. It has definitely been a key in my growth process and will be for a long time. Dr. Jeffress asks seemingly simple questions that can haunt you all night! Such as, do you really want to be like Christ? At first thought our answer is "Of course I do!" But think about it . . . if that's the case why aren't you spending your time and money the way He did?

By focusing on connecting our hearts to God's power, this book addresses the key elements of our faith: forgiveness, obedience, trust, contentness, service, and prayer. And instead of just telling us what we should do, Dr. Jeffress helps us create a specific plan that will help change our lives.

This book has been the focus of my daily devotions at Faith Builders Dailies. Check it out if you are interested in more thoughts from and provoked by the book! I would definitely recommend buying this one -- it is one I'll schedule to read at least once per year. You can purchase it here.

BOOK SUMMARY:

When did the Christian life become so complicated?

Your greatest desire is to please God, but with each passing week, your spiritual to-do list grows longer. As you strive to fulfill a never-ending inventory of requirements for being a godly parent, spouse, voter, employee, and more, you feel increasingly disconnected from the God you’re trying to serve.

It’s time to cut through the clutter and get to the heart of what it means to please God. In this liberating look at the core principles of faith, Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals the truth about what God really wants from you–and what He wants to do for you.

Through solid biblical teaching and practical insights, Dr. Jeffress points you toward a revitalized faith centered on becoming more like Jesus in action, attitude, and affection. You’ll learn how to partner with God in the process of spiritual transformation as you choose to follow Christ in forgiveness, obedience, trust, contentment, service, and prayer.

Through a renewed focus on experiencing the kingdom of God right now, you’ll find your to-do list shrinking and your spiritual life deepening. It all comes with embracing Clutter-Free Christianity.

Includes a Bible study guide for personal growth and group discussion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Robert Jeffress is the senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, one of the most historic churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. The author of sixteen books, he is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, live broadcasts of Dr. Jeffress’ weekly messages reach millions of listeners and viewers each week, while his daily sermon series airs on 1,100 television stations and cable systems nationwide. Dr. Jeffress and his wife, Amy, are the parents of two adult daughters.

The Echo Within

In th emonth of March we will be looking at ways to understand God's calling and His will for your life. We'll start a little early with

The Echo Within -- Finding Your True Calling
by
Robert Benson

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Echo Within is a profoundly affecting, honest look at the myriad ways we are drawn into our life’s best work.
Written out of his own lifelong search for and response to the calling voice of God, Robert Benson recounts his discovery of the meaning of vocation, work, and purpose through the ups and downs inherent in family life, professional choice, and spiritual experience. With clarity and insight, and in the elegant prose for which he is known, he gently invites and encourages readers to find such deep truths for their lives as well. In particular, he illuminates the way for readers to explore:

· ways to sense the Holy in our pursuits, both in the pursuits themselves and within ourselves.
· how to fall into our vocation and chart a course toward it at the same time.
· how to love the work we do, and the process of doing it.

For anyone beginning a new career or sensing a needed change in their life or wrestling with a transition suddenly thrust upon them, Robert Benson delivers wisdom, humor, and heart in what he’s learned about listening for The Echo Within—and how it can help us discover our calling.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert Benson has written more than a dozen books about the discovery of the sacred in the midst of our ordinary lives, including Between the Dreaming and the Coming True, Home By Another Way, and Digging In. His work has been critically acclaimed in a wide range of publications from The New York Times and USA Today to Spirituality & Health and The Benedictine Review. He is an alumnus of The Upper Room’s Academy for Spiritual Formation and was recently named a Living Spiritual Teacher by SpiritualityandPractice.com. He lives in Nashville , Tennessee .

MY THOUGHTS:

The chapters in this book are short, but there is a lot of material to comprehend. It's not a studious book, so don't be frightened off! Robert Benson includes stories and unanswerable questions he's received from others, then he provides his experiences and impressions on how to find the answers to those questions.

The pictures Benson paints with his words are beautiful (as is the cover!). He provides a lot to ponder in his opinions, and he is transparent about the struggles he's had to find his true direction.

You can purchase the book at:

- www.Amazon.com
- www.ChristianBook.com
- www.FamilyChristian.com