"FOR THE LOVE ..."

"... Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards"

by Jen Hatmaker

Being that this is the first time for me to read a book written by Jen Hatmaker, I just had to take a little longer soaking in "For the Love ..." to grasp all that "... Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards" might have to say and why Jen is so popular and so "loved" by many. It did not take long for me to discover that clearly her gift is her humor and frank honesty of being REAL in her writing and world. Jen Hatmaker, recent release of "For the Love", is filled with her passion and compassion for the loves in her life, her family and others. Distinguished and known even on the back cover of this book as ... 

"The popular writer, blogger, and television personality reveals with humor and style how Jesus' extravagant grace is the key to dealing with life's biggest challenge: people. The majority of our joys, struggles, thrills, and heartbreaks relate to people, beginning first with ourselves and then the people we came from, married, birthed, live by, live for, go to church with, don't like, don't understand, fear, struggle with, compare ourselves to, and judge. People are the best and worst thing about the human life.Jen Hatmaker knows this all too well, and so she reveals how to practice kindness, grace, truthfulness, vision, and love to ourselves and those around us. By doing this, "For the Love" leads our generation to re-imagine Jesus' grace as a way of life, and it does it in a funny yet profound manner that Christian readers will love. Along the way, Hatmaker shows readers how to reclaim their prophetic voices and become Good News again to a hurting, polarized world."

Jen Hatmaker has raised the bar on "impossible standards", in my humble opinion. She clearly is a "people person" and she stretches herself to the limits in loving and invites us to do the same: "love others", yourself and God! She relates to the reader in a comfortable, conversational way with practical and spiritual truths without ever sounding preachy. Expanding throughout "For the Love" with GRACE: first for your very own self; next for "all these people who live in your house" (namely family); then going beyond to friends, neighbors, strangers and enemies and finally the Church: "Church people, Not church people, and God". Each of these 4 parts has 5-7 chapters and ends with hilarious "thanks you notes". "For the Love" covers a wide range of topics: from marriage, family issues, schooling to fashion, Haitian moms, supper clubs, poverty, even social media. Her 10 points of marital insights to "dear darling lamb wife" (new wives and moms) certainly had some endearing truths delivered with her wit. 

I was pretty sure that the chapter on "Dear Kids" was my personal favorite ... until I read on and found each chapter more and more love-able! So then the one that spoke most to me had to be "Poverty Tourism". Oh my, what profound points and wisdom Jen Hatmaker makes as regards "short term missions", the church, the community, the outreach. She hits the nail on the head with her perceptive, excellent questions for every missional conversation, beginning with local leaders, local families, local perspectives ... "when the minority voices say the same things, those with privileges should listen." She bars no holds as she shares what she's learned from the mission field from missionaries and her own. I appreciate her direct words and insights that inspire us to "indeed help instead of hurt ... a noble, necessary work". Awesome, heartfelt expressions throughout even when surrounded by humor, Jen Hatmaker is sure to convict and deliver a real substance message of giving and receiving Grace. Jen has the capacity to deepen the conversation in minutes from humor to serious. You will laugh and love this best-selling author and understand much better how to:

" Break free of guilt and shame by dismantling the unattainable Pinterest life.  Learn to engage our culture’s controversial issues with a grace-first approach.  Be liberated to love and release the burden of always being right. Identify the tools you already have to develop real-life, all-in, know-my-junk-but-love-me-anyway friendships.  Escape our impossible standards for parenting and marriage by accepting the standard of “mostly good.” Laugh your butt off.

"For the Love ..." by Jen Hatmaker, will actually make you want to do better and stand up and shout as we press forward and "...fight for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards" where we can join Jen Hatmaker saying:

"I hope the world sees a community with wide-open arms, which comforts and welcomes and seems determined to build one another up. I hope they find us kind and generous, committed and loyal. The church raised me, held me tight, and continues to be my steadfast family; and I haven’t the slightest idea where I would be without her. May we show love in big and small ways, and may that love reach people accustomed to being shamed or ignored. The bright stars shouldn’t get all the attention; let’s search for those whose lights are dimmed, because we are not a tribe of supernovas but of steady, collective light. ... May the world see a thankful, committed family who loves their God, adores their Savior, and can’t get enough of one another. This is a story that saves, a story that heals, and the right story to tell. ... You are writing a good story for your children. Your community and church need you, your neighbors and family need you ... Our generation will cross the finish line having loved God and people with all our might. We’ll have imperfect lives to offer, sure, but I dream of heaven, seeing millions of folks loved by our hands, where hopefully we’ll hear: “Well done, good and faithful servants. You sure were fun to watch.” ... I hope our community is marked by grace and affirmation instead of defensiveness and exclusivity. Sure, some wander down paths we don’t understand, but there is room in the neighborhood for all of us."

So many wise quotes from my highlights of "For the Love...", which defines love through every facet of Jen's fabulous fight for Grace beyond her own life into the world. "...Let’s fulfill the good work we’ve been commissioned to. Silence any voice that whispers “not enough” and stand in truth as an approved worker. You are. Jesus made you so." More than enough encouragement and so much appreciation exemplified by Jen. If you love humor and God's truth, I highly recommend you add this as a finishing touch to your summer reads! 
You'll laugh, learn and love so much more. Thanks Jen!
[image credit]

Thanks Book Look Bloggers for making this book available in ADE for me to read & review!

Disclosure of material connection: I received this book free from the publisher Thomas P. Nelson through their 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

GO HERE for an added BONUS of  Faith Gateway's BOOK CLUB for just 4 weeks with JEN HATMAKER and "FOR THE LOVE"
{perfect timing-this was in my email today-yeah}
Like I wrote --- Fun way to finish off the summer with Friends

HEAVENLY CELEBRATIONS & EMAIL 2 YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY !

Though it's been 18 years in November, since you left me here and went home to be with the Lord, I can't help but still miss you a great deal! I thought it may help to write you this letter to let you know how much I love you and have needed you here to share like we use to do! I can hardly believe that it's been this long because it seems like yesterday! I don't have any photo of you in my computer but I have some from the last Christmas we shared at our sister Carol's home. However, this is not how you looked your last days!

You looked so peaceful as you laid there in a coma! I shared all your favorite music with you that week and read the Word to you! I know that your spirit received all that I was sharing! I will never forget the last visit from Renee that day, the radiance of joy on her face as she spoke to you about being in heaven and holding her baby daughter and giving her a hug from her and her daddy. She was such a special friend to you and that's why she chose you as her baby's godparent! As you listened to her talk, you seemed to be smiling. She asked me about an angel pin that she had sent you with a recent card, so we looked for it in your mail. She wanted you to put it on as a reminder. It was my privilege to attach that angel as I told you that I was giving you this "angel" to accompany your spirit into heaven and in that moment, you took a deep breath as I grabbed dad's hand and placed it in yours, I saw your spirit leave and rejoiced with tears and much heartache. I will always treasure those moments with you and having grown up with you as my baby brother. I can hardly wait to see you again with mom & dad!

I have thought of you often and your mission trip to Haiti. They are in the path of many hurricanes and tropical storms these last few years. I wish I had your pictures with me! I think of those smiling children from Haiti and Jamaica often from your trips there. I hope many know Jesus because of the love of Jesus that you shared. I'm praying for them!

I cannot believe how old you would be today! 48 WOW! How the years have gone by, but not the pain...it saddens me that you were robbed of living all these years but I am filled with the HOPE and COMFORT that you are in a much better place! I'm sure celebrations of your earthly birth are nothing compared to your heavenly celebrations!

I found this beautiful graphic of heaven 

by David B. Holeman
and a poem by David M. Romano, but did not want to mess with copyright
so please read this at: http://www.angelrays.com/plain/heaven.html
[sorry it's no longer there] 11/2/13
"When Tomorrow Starts without Me"

This HEAVENLY poem certainly touches my heart!

It is as if YOU, Gary were speaking to me today to encourage my heavy spirit!

So after reading this today, I know that you and I, Gary are not that far apart because I often think of you and know you are in my heart! 

These words give me great hope!

 "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." Matthew 5:12a

 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16a

 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19

 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. " John 14:1-3

 "There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another ..." 1 Corinthians 15:40

 "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away ..." Revelations 21:1-4

IN ALL OF THIS, I FIND MY HOPE in CHRIST JESUS, the author and finisher of my FAITH!

My eyes are fixed on Jesus!

"Heaven is a wonderful place

Filled with Glory and Grace

I want to see My Savior's Face

'Cuz Heaven is a Wonderful Place"

(i wanna go there)

[words from a kid's song my kids sang 
when my mom was dying in '86]

MISSION of Mazes, Messes, Miracles...aMazing Grace

COME and JOIN THE BLOG TOUR...see other's BLOG MISSION by visiting

Becoming Me

I chose this Bible verse to be the Mission of my writing a blog:

Isaiah 61

The Year of the LORD's Favor

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,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,
3 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. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed."

10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

=========================================================

MISSION

You may have read Isaiah 61 thinking, how is she planning to do this as her

Blog Mission???

I am hoping that by sharing my life journey, the MAZES I have wandered...the MESSES that I have made or been through...would result in MIRACLES of Christ working in and through me to whomever would pass this way or whichever way I may be led to through this blog world. I would like to share an encouraging WORD along the way to touch others for Christ with the love and compassion that HE shows me daily and HIS GOOD NEWS: if HE can do this for me, HE can do this for YOU! There is HOPE in CHRIST JESUS through HIS aMAZING GRACE!

My original idea was to take one facet of my life journey and reach people going through similar circumstances but I decided that it was more important to share the composite of me, and my many facets just as they honestly are...day by day...experience of the past, present and future,

in hopes that I may do exactly what Isaiah 61 encourages me to BE and DO! For I have been in many of the situations of this chapter...and believe that His aMazing Grace has seen me through them and HE has used many people along my life journey to DO as Isaiah 61 says.

Allow me the humble honor to meet you along the WAY and share what THE LORD is doing for you & for me as we learn from each other! In this way, we will bless each other's life and encourage each other in Christ Jesus through tears or laughter, through pain or gain, through prayer and study of His Word and His transforming power and grace! This is not for me but HIM! I will seek HIM and pray each step along my way of "blogging"!

I would like to use this as an EVANGELISM tool for assisting others but it seems that it is more a Christian fellowship place for me to be blessed by others, as I am away from my HOME Church...it serves to keep me in touch with believing Christian women advancing the kingdom of God through journaling and finding ways to lift and encourage one another along the way through their words, songs, studies, prayers, teachings, and Christian ideas.

It is a venture and adventure together!

The seeds planted along my journey in me and by me will grow a garden I pray and be a sweet fragrance to my Lord Jesus Christ for His Glory! I hope either my writings or comments will do

this for whoever may read Mazes, Messes, & Miracles...aMazing Grace!

I pray that I may bless you as OUR LORD blesses me thru my Mission as we accomplish Christ's Mission TOGETHER!

My Purpose for Living

~Christ Jesus~

BE GLORIFIED

With ALL my LOVE and ALL of me...

I remain Your Servant, Your Vessel

...Use me Lord...

"Mazmagi"

Peggy

In closing of my Blog Photo at the top it reads:

REVELATION 21:4

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

What is YOUR Purpose for your BLOG?

You have all week from July 13th-18th to write one and join us

Be sure to visit BECOMING ME for info to Link your Blog & Mission!

and see the BLOG MISSION TOUR

IF JESUS CHRIST can DO this for me,

bring me through the many MAZES,

fix up or rescue me from the MESSES,

and allow MIRACLES

by HIS aMAZING GRACE...

HE CAN & WILL DO this for YOU!

Just TRUST Him!

or come along with me

through my Blog Adventure

and hopefully you will see-

HE is this & MORE!