A Confident Heart - what I didn't want to share!

Honestly, I didn’t want to write this review. You know how when something hits a little TOO close to home, you want to run? You want to escape? Thinking, if you do, you will be able to FORGET. Well, if you’re like me, God will NEVER let that happen! He will put it (whatever IT happens to be) in your path over and over and over – until you have no choice but DEAL with it. I love AND hate that!

As I attempt to put into words how I felt about this book, I would love to thank the author, Renee Swope, for her honesty and courage. You see, this book is more than just a great book – it’s a journey. It’s a personal journey, if you’re brave enough to make the trip! Renee shares her own life, which resonates with my own in SO many ways (Sorry Renee, I’m not THAT brave yet).

The author shares deeply of the events in her life that led her to Christ. She, like me, KNOWS; we have a never-ending faith due to the constant care of our GREAT God, over less than desiring circumstances! Now, don’t kid yourself into thinking we WANTED to travel this road! We didn’t! As a matter of fact, we DREADED every step! But, that NEVER stops our God from placing us on the journey HE has created for us! Thank GOD we were both obedient in following Him! We were blessed beyond words (Renee explains this much better than I do)!

What I love most about the book is the author’s creative writing and the way she helps YOU through the pain. She shares a little of her embarrassment, and challenges you to ADMIT your own (but I have to tell you Renee, it’s a LOT easier for us – we are all alone in our own homes. You, however, are there for EVERYONE to see – You are truly an inspiration to me). She says things like – go on, you know it’s true. She comforts you by sharing Biblical stories of how our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, forgave everyone – and He still does today! WE are all forgiven. For EVERYTHING: doubts, anger, bitterness, behaviors…the list goes on and on. That’s why He came. That’s why He died. For our forgiveness.

WE are ALL truly blessed!

Thank you - Yahoo News - for these photos

Our Country WILL stand! We will fight!! We are AMERICANS!!!

Our great President gets the news while sharing with an elementary school in Florida.

The United States Pentagon in Washington, DC

Is that ANOTHER plane??? Headed straight at the Tower??? It CAN'T BE!

I can't imagine what it must have been like to stand in New York and watch this happen...

Our Brave Fire Fighters in action....thanking God for these courageous men!

Horror and Disbelief....

From the Ground....

Tumbling Down....

From the Air....

What Remains.....

Unimaginable....

The Tenth Anniversary of 9/11

As I sit quietly in our home this morning, husband at work, oldest daughter at a friend's house, youngest daughter still asleep, I can't help but consider the events of 9/11/01. I, like everyone old enough to remember, can picutre where I was the moment the news hit the airwaves. I remember watching the television screen in disbelief; unable to digest what my eyes were seeing. I also remember going back to my desk and getting back to the work at hand. I did NOT want to think about it. I did NOT what to believe what had just happened to our great country!

2011-2012 Middle School Year - Day 1

To say I had bitter-sweet emotions about the new school year would be a complete understatement. Last year had to be one of the MOST CHALLENGING years of my entire life (okay, well not really THAT bad...but pretty darned bad!).

After the girls went to Open House last week, I was discouraged. As a mother (part tiger), I HAD to make a couple of calls/send a couple of emails - and as of 3:00 pm this afternoon, everything "appeared" glorious!

We have a few new "home rules" in place, and to be honest, tonight was SWEET! It was peaceful, quiet, educationally stimulating and full of joy!

I am thanking God for His many blessings; mostly His friendship!

Follow up to Sunday Morning's Post....

rethink Group, Inc.

‎"When your parents split and you doubt God cares, where will you let your doubt take you? When your friends leave you out, turn their backs on you and you doubt God hears your hurt, where will you let your doubt take you? When you sit in your science class and hear your teacher rail on your faith, and you start to doubt whether belief in God is relevant at all, where will you let your doubt take you?" Stay tuned....

“This is where we have to learn to embrace the doubt and allow it to lead us to belief.”

We have a choice to make (whether we realize it or not). We can both walk away from our faith/beliefs (as many people do) or stay and persevere. When referring to BOLD Christians that made the choice to stay and persevere, “That is where they are different from a lot of people. Yes, they doubted, just like you, but doubt did not dictate their lives and their actions. Belief did that. Like them, we need to learn how our faith and our doubts can reside together in your relationship with Jesus Christ, and mine.”

As humans, we will always have doubt. “Our doubt can be part of the process in the path towards deeper belief. Life is learning to make as much as possible of the doubt and the faith-knowing that where we choose to put our faith, doubt will appear to some degree.” I don’t know about you, but this provides MUCH comfort for me! I have worried, in times of doubt, if anyone else feels this way too. Rather than feeling ashamed of the feelings, I can take advantage of the opportunity to deepen my faith in Him.

“Doubt is not bad, not even when it comes to Christianity….Doubt can actually deepen our faith. It can test it and try it and ground it in ways that blind acceptance never can.” I don’t know if you have encountered a season of doubt; I know I have. As a matter of fact, my season was LONG (approximately 10 years). I am here to confirm this statement – my doubt became a way for God to confirm His presence in my life. I was given an understanding of life that I never thought possible-I was given peace beyond understanding. Had I not walked the path of doubt, I would not have experienced His deep, abiding, love, and peace.

“We would be misled if we thought God fears and flees from our doubt. And we would be missing out if we let doubt have the final word when it comes to our relationship with Jesus.”

(While searching for a graphic for this post, I came across the most amazing article - please read it here: http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/faith-and-doubt/#more-6167)

A Confident Heart memorable quotes....

"From the time we are kids, we look to people: parents, friends, teachers, bosses, boyfriends, ministry leaders, or whoever else is in a position of importance to us. We long for their approval because it gives us a sense of significance, but then we feel like we are only as valuable as our last accomplishment."

"Our schedules are full, our minds are full, our stomaches are full, our refrigerators are full, our closets are full, our lives are full. Yet we find ourselves with so many empty places."

"Is there pain from your yesterdays or disappointments in your today that have caused you to lose your confidence and hope? When you have been wounded, the risk of getting hurt again seems more costly, and perhaps even more likely, doesn't it? The things that hurt us are as varied as the lies we believe because of them...."

"Worry...... robs us physically, leaving us exhausted; robs us emotionally, leaving us anxious; robs us mentally, leaving us scattered; robs us spiritually, leaving us depleted."

"You are....Emmanuel, El-Channun, El Hanne'eman, El Roi, El ha-Gibbor, El Shaddai, El Sali, El Olam, El Elyon, Elohim, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Shalom, Yahweh Tsuri, Jehovah Rohi, Jehovah Shammah, Abba"

"Remember, God is not looking for a woman who is perfect. He is looking for a woman who wants to walk with Jesus and find her confidence through her daily dependence on Him.

Chapter 12 contains Powerful Promises from God. One example...

When I say, I can't figure things out, God says, I will direct your steps.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Book Review - A Confident Heart, How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security in God's Promises

Renee Swope is a popular national women's conference speaker, radio show co-host, and the executive director of radio and devotions at Proverbs 31 Ministries. She's also a contributing author to three additional books, including a Gold Medallion finalist and a People's Choice Award finalist, as well as several online and print magazines. Renee is featured writer for Encouragement for Today online devotions that currently touch over 450,000 lives each day across the world. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children.


Step out of the shadows of self-doubt to live with a confident heart

Ever feel like you're not good enough, smart enough, or valuable enough? Renee Swope understands. Even with a great family, a successful career, and a thriving ministry, she still struggled with self-doubt. Sharing her own personal story, Renee shows you how to rely on the power of God's promises to find the security you need and the confidence you long for!

Exchange fear-filled thinking with faith-filled believing
Fail forward when life or sin sets you back
Embrace your God-given purpose, passion, and personality
See beyond who you are to who you are becoming in Christ
Powerful Scripture-based prayers are at the end of each chapter, along with Bible study questions and a chart with thirty-one promises to replace our most common self-doubts.

Endorsements:
"You'll never be the same after you read this book!"--Sheri Rose Shepherd, bestselling author of His Princess and His Princess Bride
"I felt like A Confident Heart was written specifically for me. Renee's depth, wisdom, and willingness to be real while sharing the real of Jesus blessed me beyond measure!"--Abby Rike, Biggest Loser, Season 8; author of Working It Out
"A Confident Heart is a captivating, story-driven book that provides real solutions to the real doubts and fears we all face."--Jennifer Rothschild, author of Me, Myself & Lies

Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group