Toddler Storybook

When I first saw this book on BookLookBlogger, I was immediately drawn to it for my 2 year old. And once I received it in the mail, I knew for sure it would be best for my two year old. The pages are all hard wood-like pages which makes it where she cannot rip the pages out (which she is prone to do because she's so rough and heavy handed). I love that she actually carries it around the house. When I say Gracie, what book do you want to read, this is the book she goes to get. 

The book has a few different stories within it with bright colorful illustrations to capture the interest of small children. It's a bit wordy but thankfully the pictures holds their interest enough to finish a story.

A Woman of Excellence

As a wife, as a mom, I strive to be the best version of me that I can be. 

I know it sounds a bit cliche but its true. I have daughters and their first impression of what a woman is and should be is me. So I try my best to be that for them.

I was recently given the opportunity by Tyndale Blog Network to review Becoming a Woman of Excellence by Cynthia Heald. I have the 30th Anniversary Edition, which has some added perks that the original does not have. 

And I cannot be more satisfied with a book. First, this is not a book you simply just read through. It is a literal bible study. While it has its portions that you read, you cannot read the book without writing in it, without being involved in it. It requires that you read the bible and interpret what you read and apply what you read. This book makes you memorize scripture because when I can memorize scripture then I can pray that scripture and that scripture becomes very useful to me.

This book calls for change. For improvement to the woman that you are. As a woman, I don't want to just exist. I want to be the best. And not by this world's standards but by GOD's standards.  God's standards of excellence is far greater than anything than I could ever image. It requires me to lay down my personal desires. To die daily to my flesh, which is saying no to what I want and saying yes to what GOD wants. When I choose to become a woman of excellence, I am choosing God's Will, God's purpose, and God's best for me and my life. And that inevitably affects my husband and my children. It teaches my son the type of woman he should want in his life. It teaches my daughter the type of women to strive to be as they mature.

So is this a book that I would personally recommend? Absolutely! Actually two private Facebook groups will start this bible study next week! 

Are you a fruitful wife?

As a wife my greatest goal is to be the best wife I can be.

Not only so that my marriage is enjoyable.

Not only so my husband is happy.

But because my marriage is an earthly example of Jesus' relationship with the church.

To be a fruitful wife is to embody the nine fruits of the Spirit. Or rather to cultivate the nine fruits of the Spirit.

• love
• joy
• faithfulness
• kindness
• self-control
• peace
• gentleness
• goodness
• patience

Haley DiMarco, addresses the need to be a fruitful wife. Her goal is writing this book is to answer the question: How can you be the woman God is calling you to be, a woman who bears the fruit of the Spirit in your marriage and in the daily grind of life?

She explores and unpacks the biblical significance of being fruitful. Many of us get married and we come to certain passages to help us understand our roles. Proverbs 31 is very popular. So is Titus 2. Ephesians 5 is getting there (although those who do not want to respect their spouses unconditionally may overlook or misinterpret that passage). But then we come to Galatians 5, where Paul gives us the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, how we will see it in others; how others will see it in us.

I like how Haley shares bits of her personal life in this book, so its not generic. So I, the reader, can feel like she's relating to my daily struggle as a wife and my daily goal as a wife.

I like that I have a visible way to apply the fruit of the Spirit in my life. And the greater beauty is that while I am seeking to improve myself in marriage, it will have a larger impact to extend to others as well. Because I can't truly cultivate the fruit of the Spirit and only use it some of the time, its all or nothing.

#Application is the key to change. It's one thing to read a book and like the message its another thing for that book to give application to reinforce change. Haley gives me meat for change. 

If you are married, get the book. If you are engaged, get the book.

If you are single, STILL get the book.  

This is applicable in ALL stages of life.

{FYI, I did receive this book from the publisher (Crossway) in exchange for my honest opinion.}