Here are a couple of books I’ve recently received to review. I’ve definitely enjoyed things about both of them.
First up is The Storm-Tossed Family.
Family and relationships. We all have them. And they mean a great deal to us.
As I’ve said, over and over and over and over……………. 😉 I really like reading books about family or marriage or relationships or home and on the list goes……because I’m always inspired, to aspire to go further up and further in, in whatever area the book is about.
The Storm-Tossed Family by Russell Moore covers a wide range of the challenges and questions and things we are faced with in marriage and family life. It recognizes that life is real and messy at times and we are imperfect people who need the strength of the Lord to fill in our weaknesses.
The Storm-Tossed Family is relatable and has a hearty dose of humor dashed in. It talks a good bit about marriage since this is where family starts. It offers wisdom on parenting and it contains a chapter titled, “Family Tensions, Family Traumas”.
The subtitle says. “How the Cross Reshapes the Home”.
I appreciate the depth and insight penned into the pages of this book.
I really, really liked this paragraph from the second chapter……
“We have a different sort of freedom, a crucified freedom. Our families are important, but not ultimate. The devil doesn’t mind marriage experts or parenting experts. The devil doesn’t mind class valedictorians or a mantel full of trophies. The devil does, though, tremble at the cross. The end result of our mission as families is not to impress our peers that our kids are well-behaved enough not to keep us awake at night, but that they are, like us, crucified with Christ. To go back to Jesus’ cross-hymn from Psalm 22, the end result is to be that “it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” ~ Psalm 22:30-31 That He has done it; not that we have done it. Family humbles us. Family humiliates us. Family crucifies us. That’s because family is one of the ways God gets us small enough to fight the sort of battle that can’t be won by horses or chariots but by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Speaking of family, this post from last week is a bit of my reflections about home and family and living and embracing each day!
Next up……….The Seven Deadly Friendships by Mary Demuth.
This book gives us a look at relationships and friendships and some of the scenarios and people we may meet in life. And further, sometimes we may see in ourselves the behavior that is detrimental to healthy friendships.
It’s good to grow in awareness of behavior in ourselves or in others that is not worthy of promoting growth in Christ and growth in positive ways in our lives. When someone is consistently dragging us down instead of building into our lives, there is a time and place for healthy boundaries.
This book offers experience and the voice of a friend to help you if you are facing a rough relationship. It pulls from the Proverbs and the wisdom they provide about the company we keep.
Mary Demuth gives the seven deadly friendships each a name.
We meet Narcissist Nolan, Unreliable Una, Predator Paige, Conman Connor, Tempter Trevor, Faker Fiona, and Dramatic Drake.
They each get their own chapter and at the end of each chapter, she gives us a few paragraphs to consider if WE are leaning towards this sort of behavior. Am I a Narcissist Nolan? Am I a Predator Paige? Am I a Faker Fiona?
A couple of my recent projects have been editing wedding pictures I took for a friend and prep for a birthday celebration for a long-time dear friend! These are my extra things at the moment and throw in the dailies of life and my time is filled! How the days race! October ran out on me and I haven’t quite adjusted yet! I am always grateful for things to fill our time, though.
I love the turning back of the clock November brings and the whole extra hour and the week afterward, where morning doesn’t feel like it comes quite as quickly. And I greedily just want an extra hour every single weekend, though I have it from reliable sources that it isn’t possible nor would it work too well.
Ah well. Isn’t part of the gift of life found in anticipation and the looking forward to and the revelling in an especially wonderful happening, hope or time-honored tradition?
What have you been reading or working on, friends, as November begins?! I’d love to hear!
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I just picked up a copy of The Storm-Tossed Family. Glad to know it’s worth the read. 🙂
It contains a lot of good words! {in my opinion} 🙂