Becoming a Woman of Excellence

Cynthia Heald's Becoming A Woman of Excellence begins with Boaz's words in Ruth 3:11, "All my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence," to delve into a in-depth study of biblical excellence.  Heald starts by addressing why we should strive for excellence, then guides readers through a conversation regarding the cost of such an endeavor.  Part three-- the real substance of the book-- defines and expounds on several important characteristics of excellence.  The study ends with a short chapter exploring the results of a excellently lived life.  Each chapter includes plenty of scripture references, quotes from a diverse group of Christian authors, reflections from "older women," and a memory verse.  

While any woman can complete the study alone-- as I did-- I would definitely recommend doing it in a group setting.  Many questions would have yielded a much deeper experience with the added benefit of discussion.  Additionally, I would encourage readers to power through the first two sections of the book in without quitting.  While it's important to establish why we should pursue excellence, sections one and two can get a bit tedious.  The reader has already chosen to read this book, so we can assume that she grasps its importance.  Section three, which addresses discipline, discretion, gentle and quiet spirits, purity, and wisdom, however, will be powerful, applicable, and convicting to any woman regardless of age or experience.  

The scripture memory verses for each chapter are also well-chosen and edifying.  I've created free printables for each one here.  

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  

Rejoice Always, Pray Without Ceasing & Give Thanks in all Circumstances...

Here's a look back at a CBS devotion from 2015!

If there was a specific verse that could perfectly describe the last week at my house it would be:

Proverbs 19:21: Many are the plans in the mind of a man, 

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will prevail.

You’d think that after 8 years of being and Air Force wife, I’d have learned that lesson by now, but I still find myself making and depending on my own plans.  As most of you know, my husband got home from his latest deployment last October.  And following the current deployment cycle of his squadron, he was supposed to be getting ready to leave again right about now.  Well, several months ago, as the squadron was starting to plan for this next deployment, they decided that he would get to stay home.  I knew deep down that this could change at any moment, but as the departure date got steadily closer and closer, I really started to believe that for once we’d get to be lucky family that gets to skip a deployment.  

But, as some of you have no doubt heard, this wasn’t to be after all.  Last Monday, Hubby got the call that not only would he have to deploy this round, but that he’d need to leave in 9 days.  

After the shock and disappointment of this news wore off, I discovered that underneath it all, I was actually really angry.  Angry about a whole host of things, some of it rational... and some of it not.  

• I was angry about the timing of this mess.  Hubby wasn’t prepared to deploy, so he’s had to spend most of the last week scrambling to get things together at work instead of spending his last few days at home with us.  Nine days is also an extremely short amount of time to get my own mind wrapped around the idea of this deployment, much less getting a 5-year-old and 3-year-old prepared for Daddy to be gone for 3.5 months.  
• I was angry at the Air Force as a whole.  I mean, hasn’t my family sacrificed enough?  I felt like 8 deployments in 5 years was excessive, and that we deserved to catch a break.  
• I was really, really angry at the guy who Hubby is having to replace.  He didn’t get injured, his wife isn’t having a baby, there wasn’t a family emergency… he just didn’t have his act together, so my husband has to pick up the slack.  
• I was angry at Ryan’s commander for having made this call, and—here’s where we veer toward the irrational—I was angry at him for being the bearer of bad news.  
• Even more irrational, I found myself losing my temper with my boys because they (for some reason...) kept expecting me to feed and take care of them. When all I wanted to do was sit in a dark room moping and wallowing in self-pity.  

Once I admitted that this anger I was feeling was negatively affecting my attitude, I felt like I needed to re-read a chapter in a book I had read in our church in Florida a few years ago called: Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges.  Before reading this book, I never would have said I struggled with anger, but he painted this particular sin in a different light, and as it turns out, it was every bit as convicting reading it this second time as it was the first.  

While the entire book is great, and the chapter on anger was very personally enlightening, here are a few excerpts that were particularly poignant for me this week:

“Some people justify their anger as righteous anger.  They feel they have a right to be angry, given a certain situation.  How, then, can I know if my anger is righteous anger?  First, righteous anger arises from an accurate perception of true evil—that is, as a violation of God’s moral law.  It focuses on God and His will, not on me and my will.  Second, righteous anger is always self-controlled.  It never causes one to lose his temper or retaliate in some vengeful way.”

Later, Bridges quotes 1 Peter 2:18-20 which says, 

“For this is a gracious thing, then, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.”  

He then defines the phrase “mindful of God,” as 

“to think of God’s will and God’s glory.  How would God have me respond in this situation?  How can I best glorify God by my response?  Do I believe that this difficult situation or this unjust treatment is under the sovereign control of God and that in His infinite wisdom and goodness He is using these difficult circumstances to conform me more to the likeness of Christ?”

Then in addressing what to do about anger we feel, he writes, 

“To dissolve our sinful emotions, we must believe that God is absolutely sovereign in all the affairs of our lives (both the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’) and that all the words and actions of other people that tempt us to anger are somehow included in His wide and good purpose to make us more like Jesus.  We must realize that any given situation that tempts us to anger can drive us either to sinful anger or to Christ and His sanctifying power.”  

After reading this, I realized that I was, in fact, faced with a decision.  Like we studied in Romans 12:2: was I going to conform to this world, or be transformed by renewing my mind?

I decided that “renewing my mind” should start with finding something to praise God for in each of the things that had angered me in the first place, and this exercise didn’t end up being nearly as difficult as I thought it would be!

• As for the timing, even though we had little time to prepare for this deployment, the news came while my parents happened to be in town.  Not only did they offer extra support and sympathy during a rough few days, but they also watched the boys for a night so that Ryan and I could get away together.
• In regard to the Air Force, this was a great reminder to thank God for a job that firstly, allows my husband to be a pilot—which is what he always wanted to do—and secondly provides a regular paycheck that is sufficient to allow me to stay home with my children—which is what I always wanted to do.
• Coming up with a reason to be thankful for Ryan’s commander and the guy he has to replace was probably the most difficult for me.  The reason this man can’t leave with the rest of the squadron this week, is because he hasn’t been able to pass the required check flights to become an aircraft commander, in other words he just isn’t ready yet to be in charge of a plane and a crew on the other side of the world.  Three years ago, 4 men flying the plane Hubby flies crashed just outside the base he is deploying to, and everyone onboard died.  I’m not saying the aircraft commander was ill-prepared or unqualified-- because no one knows what happened that day-- but I do know that sending someone to do a job they aren’t ready for can have disastrous consequences.  So I can praise God for a commander who was willing to make an unpopular decision, and had the courage to put safety over ease or comfort.  
• Finally, as for my two boys, I can’t even begin to catalogue the joy and comfort they bring to me during deployments.  During the times in my life that can be the loneliest and most isolating, they provide hugs, smiles, and someone to snuggle with on the couch and watch a movie with.  I’m so, very thankful for my boys.  

Just before a deployment, I like to pick a verse, or sometimes a song, to claim while Hubby is gone.  So, after this exercise in thankfulness and purposefully changing my thoughts and attitudes, I’ll leave you with the verse I’ve chosen this time:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

A Heart Most Certain

When the Teaville Moral Society sends Lydia King to solicit a charitable donation from the town's wealthiest resident-- Nicholas Lowe-- she sees it as an opportunity to finally impress her beau's political family.  While Nicholas may appear to be a frugal miser to most of the town, Lydia soon discovers that he actually uses a surprising amount of his fortune helping others without bringing attention to himself.  As the unlikely pair works together serving the poorest members of their community, they not only learn more about each other, but uncover some dangerous secrets.  Will their shared passion, tenacity, and respect for one another be enough to overcome society's expectations of them both? 

In A Heart Most Certain, Melissa Jagears brilliantly tells a lovely story while also demanding her readers examine the meaning of true charity.  The love story is particularly refreshing-- as both Lydia and Nicholas must each learn something from the other.  As they each tackle their preconceived notions about sinners inside and outside of their church walls, readers must also search their own hearts and actions.  With plenty of historical detail, a good dose of romance, and just enough adventure, Jagear's first novel in her Teaville Moral Society Series is practically perfect.  This reader simply can't wait for the next installment!  

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  

To Follow Her Heart

When news reaches the Southold settlement that Captain Jeremy Horton's ship has crashed off the coast of Barbados, his devastated family and friends gravely accept the report of his death.  But Patience Terry has waited and prayed for years that Jeremy would eventually return and make her his wife, and can't bring herself to believe that Jeremy has actually died.  In a twist that no one-- except Patience-- expected, a British Naval gunship rescues Jeremy from the ocean and returns him to New England the very day of his memorial service.  

Without a ship to command, Jeremy finally seems ready to move home and settle down with the woman who has waited for him for so long.  Jeremy believes God has spared him for a particular reason, but can't seem to find contentment among the friends and family he has always loved.  Will Jeremy's reluctance to plan their wedding, and the delays he constantly produces finally force Patience to give up on her dreams?  

In To Follow Her Heart, Rebecca DeMarino concludes her Southold Chronicles series based on her own ninth great-grandmother's story.  DeMarino includes truly fascinating historical details and vividly portrays life in the New England of the 1660s.  While intriguing, the novel does not stand well on its own.  The relationships between the large cast of characters are well developed, but difficult to understand without having read the series' previous 2 novels.  

Jeremy's reluctance to actually marry the woman he professes to have loved for years is truly aggravating, and the reader can't help but feel deeply for poor Patience.  Unfortunately, DeMarino never sufficiently explains his reluctance-- at least in this novel-- which makes it difficult to root for Jeremy as a romantic lead.  His status as a dashing and dreamy ship captain just couldn't quite make up for his infuriating inconstancy.  This reader was ready for Patience to kick him to the curb and move on.

That said, the story of Jeremy's brother Barnabas and his wife Mary is beautiful and compelling.  As the subjects of A Place in His Heart, they surely make for a much more satisfying story.  Additionally, perhaps knowing more about Jeremy's history would help explain his otherwise frustrating behavior.  The conclusion, then, is that the Southold Chronicles is most likely only worth reading as a set.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

No Way Up

When a rockslide crushes ranch owner Chance Boden's leg, hired hand Heath Kincaid steps in an manages to save his boss's life.  Severely injured and bound for a hospital in Denver, Chance demands that his three grown children read his recently revised will.  The document-- Cole, Justin, and Sadie Boden soon discover-- requires each of them to live and work from their home for an entire year, or forfeit the beloved ranch to a despised cousin.  

Having read the will's contents, Heath suddenly finds himself in the middle of a host of complicated family squabbles... and increasingly drawn to his boss's daughter.  When Heath and the Bodens begin receiving threats and uncover evidence suggesting Chance's injury was no accident, the group must learn to trust one another to save the ranch.  Will these newly forged bonds be enough to overcome the obstacles keeping Sadie and Heath apart, or will they go their separate ways once Sadie's safety is assured? 

In No Way Up, Mary Connealy takes readers on another entertaining adventure.  This first novel of The Cimarron Legacy series picks up years after her Kincaid Bride's series ends and follow's Heath-- the youngest Kincaid brother-- to the New Mexico territory.  While Connealy's characters can often be a bit one dimensional, Heath, Sadie, Justin and Cole definitely have some depth.  But though their character development is interesting, it's also somewhat obvious and heavy-handed.  The struggles of belonging to such a tight-knit family, however, come across as real and believable.  The bits of New Mexican history, along with Connealy's trademark humor, make for a fast-paced, action-packed adventure in the Wild West.  

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  

PS

I just happened to spend a few days camping in Cimarron Canyon, New Mexico earlier this month, so here's a look at the book's setting: 

Honor Redeemed

When her mother dies after a long illness, Prosperity Jones finds herself unable to remain in Nantucket long enough to send word to her fiancé serving as an army engineer.  Despite their separation of two years, Prosperity has never doubted David Latham's love for her, and decides to use her remaining funds to meet him in far away Key West.  

When she arrives in the South, however, Prosperity discovers that the steadfast love of her youth has recently married another woman, and is expecting a child.  With help from some new friends, Prosperity finds work at the local hospital and attempts to rebuild her life.  When she discovers the circumstances surrounding David's hasty marriage, will Prosperity's path to forgiveness and healing lead her to accept the attentions of the kind Dr. Goodenow, or will tragic events force her back into David's life again?  

In Honor Redeemed, Christine Johnson tells a heart-wrenching story of honor, duty, and forgiveness. With a true knack for story-telling and character development, Johnson delves into the pain and bitterness that accompany a broken heart.  Without overly obvious preaching, Johnson shows readers how forgiveness is simultaneously difficult and necessary.  While the story had some pacing issues, and this reader wished Prosperity would make up her mind a little more quickly, Honor Redeemed is still a page-turning delight.  

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

An Elegant Facade

Selfish and socially ambitious Lady Georgina Hawthorne has planned for and practiced every aspect of her upcoming social debut.  Despite a few earlier missteps, Georgina has no reason to doubt she will successfully catch a rich and powerful husband.  Unfortunately, the only man's company she seems to enjoy is the charming and rich-- but title-less-- Colin McCrae.  While fighting his unexplainable attraction to the vain debutante, Colin begins to discover a hidden depth in Georgina's character that he never would have imagined.  Will Colin manage to convince Georgina to set aside her carefully sculpted facade and share her true self with those she loves?  

In the second novel of her Hawthorne House series, Kristi Ann Hunter takes readers on a heart-warming journey in An Elegant Facade.  This second installment actually begins before the conclusion of Hunter's previous work: A Noble Masquerade.  The opportunity to relive important events from differing perspectives and apply them to a new story-line is both interesting and entertaining.  While readers don't necessarily need to read the first book in the series to enjoy the second, they should anyway!  

Hunter's characters and plots are complex, compelling, and thoroughly enjoyable.  This powerful story of vulnerability, trust, and true love is much more believable than A Noble Masquerade, and is definitely Hunter's best thus far.  

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.