moms ... read this with your daughters

I had no idea what to expect when I received the book Fierce Beauty by Kim Meeder, but I can tell you that by the end of the book, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book and what I have taken away from it.

In a world where young girls are taught that how they look is everything, they need to hear that "true beauty is not about how you look but how you live."  And that is exactly what this book does, using simple, easy to read stories, the author leads the reader to consider how she views her own self worth, through the eyes of the world or through the eyes of the Savior?

Each chapter in Fierce Beauty tells a different story from the life of the author and her friends, some people and some animals.  She uses these stories to point the reader to a deeper understanding of the disconnect between true beauty and worldly beauty.  Even more importantly, she uses these stories to convey the truth of the source of real beauty.

"Do you wish to be beautiful...?  It's not so difficult.  Authentic beauty is not based on what we're wearing or how we look.  It flows out of our hearts and is a form of worship of our King.  This beauty grows when we open our eyes to the hurting souls around us -- our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends, our husbands, our children -- and ask, 'What can I do today to show them the love of Jesus?' The simplest act, even a kind word, is the first step toward a radiant beauty that will endear us in the eyes of the One who matters most."

I would recommend this book especially for mothers of young girls to read with their daughters and for older teens or young adults to read on their own.  We cannot ignore the importance of giving our daughters a godly understanding of who they are and what it is that makes them beautiful, and I think this book could be a useful tool in doing just that.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange this honest review.

Just for the pleasure of reading ...

Anne of Green Gables ~ Anne of Avonlea ~ Anne's House of Dreams
Author ~ Lucy Maud Montgomery

My original plan was just to read the first book of this trilogy, but since I enjoyed it so much and I already owned all three, I decided to read them all. So I guess I'll review them all at the same time.

The basic facts about the books are very simple. A young orphan girl, adopted by an elderly brother and sister, neither of whom had ever married or had much contact with children. Anne (with an "e") provides a breath of fresh air for Matthew and Marilla and they give her a stable home and love, two things that she had never truly experienced before. The first two books tell about her growing up years and the adventures she creates for herself and her playmates. The third book is about her marriage and the first few years after she moves away from Avonlea.

These books appeal to me because they are from a much simpler era. I always wanted to live like those men and women who lived simplistic lives without all the "things" that take up so much of our time today. I enjoyed reading about children who could roam the town and countryside of Prince Edward Island in Canada without anyone worrying about them unless they didn't come home for supper. As a young girl, I dreamed of times just like these, being free to enjoy the simple things of life without the demands or fears of modern society.

I loved these books. I had read bits and pieces of them before, but never all in one sitting, so to speak. I have seen all of the movies, and best I can remember, the first two movies were pretty close to the books, but the third was totally different and I think it even had a different name. Anyway, back to the books. There is one simple reason I loved these books: I can totally relate to Anne. No, I am not an orphan and I wasn't the child always getting into "scrapes" but I was the child who read all the time and could spend hours daydreaming and creating elaborate stories about people and places that didn't exist. Even as an adult, I still enjoy an occasional escape from reality.

I cannot say that these books were life changing, but they provided exactly what I was looking for at the moment. Well written, pleasant reading that would not leave me angry or questioning the world around me. Sometimes, it is okay to read good literature just for the pleasure of reading. Now that I have finished reading the books, I am looking forward to reading them with my daughter, who is definitely a kindred spirit in the realm of daydreaming.

Book Review ~ Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

First ... I want to congratulate Kingdom Mama on the birth of her healthy baby boy. What a great blessing.

Second ... I need to add a disclaimer before reviewing this book. I do not feel qualified to review any book, much less this particular book. I don't figure I'll do it justice, but maybe I'll be able to interest you enough to read it for yourself.

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala with Dean Merrill

"What Happens When God's Spirit Invades the Hearts of His People"

This book was a late add to my spring reading list. It was in the house because the men of our church are reading it for their Wed. night Bible study and Ronnie picked up a copy. He teaches the kids on Wed. nights, so he isn't trying to read it along with the other men. I picked up the book after church Wed. night and read about half of it before going to bed. I had never heard of Jim Cymbala before reading this book, but I would guess that most everyone has heard of his church and their choir. He has pastored the Brooklyn Tabernacle for more than 35 years. His wife, Carol, directs their famous choir. This book tells the story of how God took a struggling congregation of about 20 people and an untrained pastor and transformed them into what they are today.

I was a little skeptical at first. You see, I go to a church with less than 100 active members and I love it. Although I grew up in a much larger church, I don't think I would be comfortable there now. I love the intamacy of a small church. We are truly family and some of them know me better than my biological family. So if this book was going to be about creating a mega church - I was not interested. I am not trying to be negative about large churches, they just aren't for me.

But that is not what it is about at all.

Pastor Cymbala spends much of the book talking about the early church. How did God use them to turn the whole world upside down? And, why is the church today so stagnant? He finds his answer in the New Testament church. God used those ordinary people because they were available to be bothered by the need around them. They begged God to use them to show HIS power to those they encountered. They weren't satisfied to simply attend a service and hear about God, they wanted, no they needed to experience this fresh wind and fresh fire that Cymbala is talking about. They were given a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit for whatever task God had set before them. With this fresh fire they boldly proclaimed the gospel in the face of impossible odds. The result ... lives were changed then and we are still building on their foundation today.

So, what is the answer for the church today? Pastor Cymbala reminds us that God hasn't changed, we have changed. He encourages the church to return to the foundation of our faith: the Word of God and claim the promises found there through fervent prayer. We don't need a new program for the church, we need fire from heaven to come and ignite our souls desire to reach the world around us for Christ.

My final assesment? Read the book. It is well written and easy to read. If nothing else you will find a great look at the early church and get the opportunity to evaluate your own prayer life and church in the light of their fire for God's work.