"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.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

"IN THE MIDDLE of the MESS ...

"IN THE MIDDLE of the MESS ...


... STRENGTH FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL, BROKEN LIFE"

by

Sheila Walsh

{release date 11/7/17}


is not just Sheila Walsh's story
but it's ours!

Sheila concludes her book
with this truth:

"No matter your circumstances ... You have a story, and that story has its own peculiar mess. You can confess that story to Christ and let go. You can let Him start a work of healing, even now, right in the middle of your mess. ... Together, we find strength for this beautiful, broken life." ...

"I believe one of the greatest miracles of all is ..." Sheila Walsh, "In the Middle..."
{you'll have to read her book to find out}


... however, Sheila weaves her story unwaveringly once again  (for some of us who are familiar with Sheila, or to capsulize it for those new to her life storywith complete vulnerability  throughout each of the 12 chapters with added recent updates in her life as well, that has brought her through a deep journey of (with) 'brokenness' that we can relate to in our own lives and 'messes'. Sheila has a personal style of writing and speaking that gently and compassionately touches our soul with hers while teaching us spiritual (biblical) ways that we too can apply and use to equip ourselves to connect with God and overcome our own struggles in life better through confession, community to share with closely, Scripture meditation (contemplation) and daily connection with Jesus in honest prayer (communication with Our Father). 

Midway through her book "In the Middle of the Mess", I discovered her first session of the DVDs that accompany her Study guide and this book, so I just had to order the Study Guide also. Although each chapter in the book ends with "Reflection", the Study Guide does so much more, breaking down the 12 chapters into 6 sessions of Brokenness (that was most helpful to me and well worth getting, but this is not a review of the Study Guide). Yet for me, it's a total package! The videos are so well done! 

I couldn't agree more with so many points that Sheila brings forth, chapter after chapter becoming my new favorite, until I was stopped dead-on with the following truth I read right before the middle of this book ... and then every line kept pouring into my own brokenness with more and more freeing, healing truth and deliverance.

"So many coping mechanisms, avoidance techniques, and lies. They kept me blind to where Christ was in the middle of my mess ... But this is the beauty:sometimes
even when we try to avoid the truth, God uses the smallest hands to invite us into the safety of deliverance."

There were moments of tears and moments of sheer delight as I continued reading through Sheila's words, Sheila's story and saw mine (though we hardly share the same past or story), each of us have gone through struggles that help us get the point being made, in such a relatable way. This is Sheila's gift to us. This is her lifeline to us (as Ann Voskamp wrote)! And it may be ours to someone else. 

This book is meant for everyone, not just those who have struggled with depression or deep hurts and messy lives ... it's meant for the weak and the strong to come alongside another human being waiting in the shadows, feeling isolated and alone, in need of a listening ear, a helping hand, an understanding, brave heart, willing to meet one another "in the middle" and find strength to overcome and go forward, changing lives for the better. Highly recommended read, church study, and for personal individual growth. I have much more to say but you'd be better off just getting a copy for yourself. Reading this book has given me a new found strength with God to deal with my brokenness and spiritual practices to put into use in my messes, and I know I will be rereading and turning back to this as a study again.


*{my actual book review is still coming}

I'm right in the Middle of the book - OK, just past that in

"Beautifully Broken"

which might be

the reason

for my

delay

but

my review 

is on its way

[After viewing Session One at Faith Gateway of the Study Guide for this book, I had to take a longer pause and view all 6 sessions available at Study Gateway because I couldn't wait. The DVDs that accompany this book and study are exceptional and so beautifully done! Sheila Walsh adds such compassion and understanding to her beautiful vulnerability of her own story used as a lifeline to help others facing overwhelming struggles with a new hope in allowing God into our dark places and hurts honestly.]


Book Description

"How do you turn your struggles into strengths? 

Beloved Bible teacher Sheila Walsh teaches readers how the daily spiritual practices of confession, meditation on God’s Word, and prayer result in fresh freedom in Christ. 

In her long-awaited new book, Sheila Walsh equips women with a practical method for connecting with God’s strength in the midst of struggle. From daily frustrations that can feel like overwhelming obstacles to hard challenges that turn into rock-bottom crises, women will find the means to equip themselves for standing strong with God. Using the spiritual applications of confession, prayer, and meditation on Scripture to form a daily connection to Jesus, women will learn how to experience new joy as a child of God who is fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted. 

In the Middle of the Mess, Walsh reveals the hardened defenses that kept her from allowing God into her deepest hurts and shares how entering into a safe place with God and practicing this daily connection with Him have saved her from the devil’s prowling attacks. Though we will never be completely “fixed” on earth, we are continually held by Jesus, whatever our circumstances." Thomas Nelson

*Posting before release in case you want to

PRE-ORDER
to
receive bonus gifts
{just click on link and pre-order at the top}
* written on 11/6/17
prior to my
review


Disclosure: I received this book free from Handlebar in return for an honest review. 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  FTCommission’s  16 CFR, Part 255



Monday, November 6, 2017

MIRACLES in my MESS On Monday

{Just in case I do not finish reading to review by release date Tues., Nov. 7, 2017, I am sharing this so you don't miss out on Sheila Walsh's newest book}


"In the Middle of the Mess -
Strength for this Beautiful Broken Life"

a definite must read
especially for me
with a blog
named
"aMazing Grace - Mazes, Messes, Miracles"



FaithGateway

You can find out more over at Faith Gateway for a sample of this
Study of Sheila's book
also
You Version reading plan
and of course
Sheila Walsh's website

I just happen to be blessed to receive 
weekly devotional emails from
Sheila Walsh

here's a personal note from her and this book

Sheila also appeared on
Life Today
for
Wednesdays in the Word
since Oct. 4th
Part 1
 Part 
Part 3
Part 4
also one on 
"Facing Depression"

Clearly, I am a bit biased and have found Sheila Walsh to be one of my favorite authors because I relate so much to her experience (not the same details) but close enough for the same "miracles in my mess" {which is probably why these words are part of this blog since its inception and before Sheila put her story together with this title - "In the Middle of the Mess"and we all have Messes that God uses perhaps with Miracles that become our MESSAGE too! 

In this month of ThanksGiving, let's reflect on and with gratitude of how God turns our Messes into Messages to encourage and bring life changes in others, as Sheila Walsh speaks from her heart and life experience to help us find peace and strength in God, as we too struggle with hardships (or messes) throughout our lives, but we can encounter God by being authentic {like one of the other books I reviewed not too long ago: "No More Faking Fine" by Esther Fleece} letting us know God wants us to be real! ... with our brokenness, with life, with emotions.

I love the Group Discussions (which must be part of the study guide, because each chapter in the book ends with "reflections") that Faith Gateway shares after Session One video from Study Gateway on their site that I linked above, but have chosen this one for here: 

"Sheila noted the six sessions of this study. Which of the following holds the most promise for you? Which one makes you feel anxious the first time you read it?


  • Brokenness is the beginning… the truth of our situation, as bleak as that truth may be, can set us free.
  • Brokenness is hard… even on the darkest night, we never walk the path of grief alone.
  • Brokenness is loud… even in our noisy world, we can learn to live in the stillness and quietness of God’s presence.
  • Brokenness is to be shared . . . there is strength to be found in confessing our sins to one another.
  • Brokenness is the path to healing . . . when we fix our eyes on God, we live a life of thanksgiving.
  • Brokenness is temporary . . . what you are facing right now will pass."

"Brokenness is the path to HEALING!"

{fits both questions as the answer for me}

2017
God gave me
HEALING
as my
One Word

although I am not completely healed
I have seen "brokenness" as I've
seen in years before
so that I believe it will lead
to my HEALING and
hopefully
HEALING
for others


I don't think it's fair for me to review this until I complete reading the full book ... although my impression being half-way through the book, is as always ... a book meant for me (and you) to find "strength for this beautiful, broken life" and there is no one better qualified with compassion and experience than Sheila Walsh to lead us to God as our Source. My stumbling block in finishing this is so much of this is needed by me, applies to me, which causes me to go back and reread to be sure I got it and didn't miss it, but after seeing the Session One video, I am sure that Sheila Walsh has another best seller to add to her successes. Looks like I'll need to add the study guide, the saving grace is I cannot post my review at Amazon, etc. until the book is released. So my review is forthcoming and will be in time. Not only is this the "Bible Study of the Week" with Faith Gateway, but it is my Bible Study of 2017 and the competition has been really strong; lots of favorites this year aimed to help me heal and grow.



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