"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."~from ISAIAH 61 Bible verse for this Blog

APOLOGY to READERS who followed a SEARCH to HERE & didn't find it

On July 18, 2017, I drafted almost 3000 blog posts that I had published since 2008 when I began blogging, rather than edit each one. So if you clicked here from somewhere else and ended up with the post unavailable or error, I am sorry but this is why. It'd be too much work for me to go back and fix them. There's an explanation on 7/19/17 as I'm still learning.

Monday, August 8, 2011

STAIN GLASS HEARTS: Seeing Life From a Broken Perspective

"I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."
Isaiah 45:3

Has your life struggles skewed your perspective and caused you to have
a "Stained Glass Heart"?
Reading this may help the prism shine more brightly through you!



Book description from the publisher:
Much like stained glass, life’s broken pieces become the prism through which God’s grace shines most brightly and beautifully.
Life is no doubt full of difficulties, but it is also filled with promise and possibility,” says best-selling author and WOF speaker Patsy Clairmont. In Stained Glass Hearts Clairmont guides readers to view the difficult experiences of life through the lens of God’s grace. Using art as a theme, and likening people to stained glass windows, she shares that it’s when we’re surrounded by darkness that His healing light shines most brightly within us. Encouraging women to step back and see life from this new perspective, Patsy offers help and hope for the dark places of life.

Along with character studies of women in Scripture, and modern-day, relatable stories, each chapter includes:
Chalice-memorable quotes
Mosaic-recommended music
Spires-scriptures and readings
Litany-sample prayers


In "Stained Glass Hearts" Patsy Clairmont helps to remind us through stories and personal illustrations how God takes the broken pieces of our shattered hopes and dreams and makes them into a beautiful mosaic – like a stained glass window! Sometimes that's exactly how I feel like a shattered 'stained glass heart' so as Patsy  related stories to us, I was encouraged and comforted as she incorporated her warm sense of humor at just the right time, yet equally was able to be serious and deep in the places without light... that need God's light to shine through to heal and brighten our brokenness. I love how throughout this book, as in two others by Patsy, she is able to intertwine the spiritual concepts of Light and Redemption beautifully. 

Reading "Stained Glass Hearts" was very timely for me, because Patsy reveals her 'heart etched in by loss' from a more solemn side. But she incorporated the arts: like music and art works, nature's display of God's glory as we dig with her into Scripture and enhance our faith. That is just what she does! Here is the first quote in which Patsy captured my heart:

"Just as light does, redemption brings hope. Really, it’s hard to separate the two, for wherever redemption is, the light of revelation abounds. And when light pierces the darkness, it’s with the proclamation of God’s redeeming loveRedemption is the rescue of humanity from sin by a sacrificial Savior, the restoration of the human heart, the reclamation of our dignity, and the revival of our purpose." ~ Patsy Clairmont 

Patsy even takes the time to explain why she chose "Stained Glass Hearts" although you may clearly see the usefulness with brokenness, it goes so much deeper.  She inspires us as she writes and releases her story until 'light touches the dark'. Since each of our stories like hers, are artistically designed; broken, sanded and soldered, because naturally we "didn't fit the redemptive pattern without holy repairs" and need to allow the light to transform us into another one of God's Masterpieces.

As Patsy walks as through chapters from our "achy breaky hearts", enlarging them, reflecting our hearts condition, to singing... stained glass poetry, prayer, books, puzzles, nature, garden, Rock of Ages to the final chapter of Redemption, we can see our lives have gone through some ongoing repair and protection with many lessons learned, etching on the windows of our hearts, a story highlighted with all the Spirit was able to do as He guides, leads, transforms and empowers us with intention, peace, love and JOY! That's just what I read and needed to hear.

 As Patsy wants to be like the stately church in her hometown, to own her corner well, including the history laden bruises, with cathedral confidence colored with the Risen Christ... the Good Shepherd and the soon coming King, and she breathtakingly sings and proclaims "He's Alive!", 
I, too, am in a place where I gratefully can join her... and I pray that any part of my heart that is stained or shattered, now is transformed as His light not only shines but is reflected in full color to break through and help others with "Stained Glass Hearts"... to behold Christ in their lives and see that Jesus Christ is alive! 

I give Patsy Clairmont 4 stars for "Stained Glass Hearts" and recommend this book not just for the broken hearted but for the strong hearted that need to reach out to others or open their individual perspective. It's also has excellent resource ideas from Patsy's Art Gallery at the end of each chapter. 



Disclosure of material connection:
I received this book free from the publisher Thomas P. Nelson through the BookSneeze.com book review blogger's program. 
I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the                                     Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255


Thursday, July 28, 2011

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME

Max Lucado reminds us that it's not about us, it's ALL about God. The world does not revolve around us nor are we the center of the universe. Misconceptions that we are taught by society throughout our lives. But the rest of the title " Rescue From The Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy" sets the premise for this non-fiction, once again wonderfully written book by Max Lucado. He has such a way with words and story telling with humor and wisdom combined. It's not hard to tell that he is one of my all time favorite authors, even if the last book I read of his was so long ago "He Chose the Nails"; I do receive his UpWords weekly and there is one available daily and MP3s of 1minute messages. So when the opportunity to select one of his books in e-book form came, it was a welcome and a blessing for me, which I read in one sitting. I have so many parts highlighted, I'm not sure where to best begin telling you what I like. Yet I will emphasize that this is a timely book for me and I boldly would say for YOU.


"It's Not about Me" is wisely divided into two parts: God Pondering and God Promoting. "We move through me-focus to God-focus by pondering Him. Witnessing Him. Following..." this centers us on a life that works: God centered and rescues us from the one that doesn't: self-centered, self-ish. Whatever "self" you want to add... works for us to leave this behind and behold God. 


I love how Max than distinguishes between "beholding" and "reflecting" God. This is even wisely carried over in the excellent, though provoking study guide included in the back, written by Steven Halliday. Each chapter is separated into two sections: Beholding and then Reflecting.


The reason these two words are important is because different translations accurately use this for "katoptrizo"... but you'll have to read his book to clearly understand.  Yet, I see that it is crucial
to know since it is our human job description to REFLECT GOD'S GLORY! This is summed up beautifully by Max in these words: "Beholding leads to becoming. Becoming leads to reflecting."
Then Max proceeds to show us that God's message we are to mirror through: our message, our salvation, our body, our struggles, our success - all proclaim God's glory. "God sends the message, we mirror it." This takes us through the God-promoting part with each of these mirrored parts toward upward thinking. We exist to give honor to God's Name and a cleverly written exchange of a discussion between him and a Jewish passenger with Max on a flight.


The ending brought a tear to my eyes and a sweet nod of HOPE preceded by this sound, BOLD statement that expresses the heart of many of us (I hope):


"MAY WE HAVE NO HIGHER GOAL THAN TO SEE SOMEONE THINK MORE HIGHLY OF OUR FATHER, OUR KING."


I strongly encourage you to get a hold of a copy of this book to BEHOLD HIM CHANGING US:
"Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, 
[we] are changed into the same image from glory to glory, 
even as by the Spirit of the Lord "
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

... and if at all possible, doing the study with a wonderful small group that will be blessed and changed in doing it together. I know that I'm considering it. Plus there is a bonus chapter of another one of Max's new books: "Outlive Your Life"... now I'm curious about that one, too... I can't get enough of Max Lucado's style of writing but you might of me reviewing his books. 


IT'S NOT ABOUT ME ~ It's ALL about HIM!!!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



To my faithful visitors;
all of you who spend your valuable time here with me
I do appreciate you so much!

Thank you for taking your time to visit!

Love, Sweet blessings & Hugs!

DIOS TE BENDIGA
GOD BLESS YOU

always

Peggy