EMBRACING SILENCE

I guess I should have shared this before the day that it starts

which is today - sorry, I'm late

October 1st

 

through

October 5th

{but it's been done before and hopefully will again, 

however, you could do this anytime and continue...}

5 Minutes with Jesus

This challenge is with Sheila Walsh's devotional bundle through FaithGateway

YouVersion also has 5 day reading plans:

5 MINUTES WITH JESUS: MAKING TODAY MATTER 5 MINUTES WITH JESUS: PEACE FOR TODAY 5 MINUTES WITH JESUS: A FRESH INFUSION OF JOY 5 MINUTES WITH JESUS: QUIET TIME FOR YOUR SOUL

...when you sign-up, you receive free downloads, one of which includes:

"Quiet Time Strategies and Prayer"

and

midway through this pdf

I read this:

"... Embracing Silence ... "First we need to get comfortable with the silence! For just a few minutes each day, unplug. Turn off anything that makes background noise. You might be surprised how threatening it feels at first! If it helps ease your mind, set a timer and remind yourself that it is very unlikely that anything will occur in that five minutes that cannot wait. Then take a few deep breaths, and sit quietly with God. Read a psalm. Say a prayer. Sing a hymn or song of praise. Read a devotional like one of those in the 5 Minutes with Jesus series. How you spend your time with God is up to you!" ...

the rest of this is just as valuable

HOWEVER

I pause with those first words

EMBRACING SILENCE

even when I try

my mind

does

NOT

my mind needs to be rewired

to learn to stop 

any whirring

of

thoughts

and

noises

{both exterior and interior}

to be void and quiet to listen

to hear the small

whispers

of

God

and

BE STILL

it's quite the struggle for me

and

a real learning process

I spend much time trying to be in silence

and unlike others; it's not the phone or tv or social media

that disrupts my silence

I won't even try to explain the details of all this personal deal

but the first devotion by Sheila Walsh

in another free download of

5 days of Quiet Time devotions

to get started

with perfect words

"Noise Pollution"

which of course, is about those other sounds

You might think that being a person

with newly discovered hearing loss

and 

learning to get accustom to my

hearing aides

mainly

to train my brain

I am keenly aware of sounds

Many times I take them out

with the hope of not hearing sounds

but it doesn't work

Upon first learning of my hearing loss,

I thought I would treasure all noises

and be grateful that I can still hear

even without using them

but it's a matter of

retraining your brain as to what sounds

are important to hear and those that you don't need

{like hearing myself chew or my dog's nails on the floor}

So

I am trying to

EMBRACE

SILENCE

and

plan to get away from home alone

later this week until a special day next week

{actually for this day to make it special for me}

going up north

with the

cold

not as enjoyable

but

I was hoping to capture the

fall colors and nature

with

God

so

I'll be taking my bundle of

Quiet Time

with me

Since I am in the habit of spending my waking moments

with

Jesus

in the quiet of the morning

and

ending with His Word & Him

in the evening

this is not the part that is the challenge for me

{I do know however that this challenge is for me (and you) if you let it}

Hope you can find some

Quiet and Rest

in the days ahead

also

Peace be with you

in

Jesus Christ

"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 story) with 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

"The Longing in Me - How Everything You Crave Leads to the Heart of God" By Sheila Walsh

"The Longing in Me - How Everything You Crave Leads to the Heart of God" By Sheila Walsh 

To me, one of the marks of a good book, an exceptionally good book which this is, seems to be how well does it resonate in your soul and changes something within you as you read, and as in this one, "leads you to the heart of God". It not only inspires you and strikes a chord deep within, but reading the book helps you "change the way you respond to life's stresses" {boy, do I need this} or life in general, and your perspective is awakened in a fresh way. That's what Sheila's "Longing ..." book is ...

Sheila Walsh not only states in her intro that this is part of her prayer for this book, but that it helps the reader (me, in this case; or you, if you're bold, brave and bright enough to read it) "find the one true Source who can meet your deepest longings so you can change..." and "give you tools to heal from the past and find joy today." And no one can do this as well as Sheila, with her honest and vulnerable style of writing, weaving her own personal life story and testimony, with a well known biblical figure of a man "after the heart of God" - as she walks us through David's life and worst choices, her life and the life of other women, like me and perhaps you, to study the "Longings" and "learn how to channel those to know God more" and help us "determine what to do when we lose our way", as often we do and have yet realizing that "Longings are part of life." ... not just good or evil.

... "We long to be seen. We long to be chosen. We long to be loved. We long to know that we matter." "When those longings are left unmet, what do we do? Where do we go?"

Sheila shows us in 10 chapters that she "believes it is a sacred ache, a longing for the very heart of God" and I couldn't agree more. In fact, Sheila's life story is one I can relate to ever so well and I find myself reading and rereading the parts that sound so familiar and have to pinch myself trying to remember she is writing about her life (or David's) not mine, still she tells it so remarkably well "I get it", which is why it resonates with me every step of the way and each longing or vignette touches my heart in a way that changes me, awakens me and illuminates a light in what use to be darkness or dark moments. So I nod as I read along, knowing that this book is making an impact and a difference in me in ways that only God knows. 

Those 10 chapters touch on our longings: the longing to be chosen, the longing to be protected, the longing for what use to be, the longing for control, the longing for your rights, the longing for that one thing you think you need :) - the longing to make everything right, the longing for what would glorify God, the longing to share the grace and mercy we've received from God and the longing for God alone. Each chapter starts out with a Scripture verse and of course, elaborates on a portion of King David's biblical story with the sharing of Sheila's own life experiences, some parts never written about before this book. "The fact is, your longings are built from the blueprint of your needs: for protection, for love, for God. And those needs aren’t going anywhere. You vowed you’d never repeat the same mistakes—yet you find yourself right where you started. What is it that keeps drawing you back into the same old traps?" Sound familiar? well, it sure does to me ... "If you keep reaching out to the wrong people at the wrong times in your own life, "The Longing in Me" will help you understand that your cravings are not the problem. It’s where they lead you that makes all the difference." (parts of the actual book description)

"It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them." - George Elliot

Both the DVDs and the Study Guide enhance this book greatly!
I so enjoyed watching Sheila in the beautifully chosen scenes of these DVDS and listening to her speak with us in the 6 sessions that Study Gateway made available to us during the online study at Faith Gateway.
However, just reading this book alone will help anyone but especially those hurting from their past and trying to fill the voids in your life with anything or  leading you to long for the wrong thing; to fill what only God can fill and He will as you read this book
Great for individual or small group studies with the Study Guide. {although I prefer the Study Guides included in the book}

Sheila Walsh "is known as a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and bestselling author" however she goes far beyond this  in this newest release of heart-wrenching life experiences as she is gifted in the art of  retelling parts of the Bible, especially about King David  and making each one come alive and become real for us today as she applies the lessons to her and our own life LONGINGS in a fresh, honest and eye-opening way that touches your heart and brings  everything you crave to lead you to the heart of God
I can never say enough about Sheila Walsh and this book the lessons that Christ continues to teach her and me on our life journeys especially how her honest words help me become more aware of my "longings" in the past and even now with a kind healing and peace that only God can give and has as is/was Sheila's prayer to receive healing and find joy which helps me as it did her to "understand the past", "fully engage in the present"  and "find hope in the future" with this truth:
THAT "NO MATTER HOW GREAT YOUR LONGING IS FOR GOD
IT WILL NEVER COMPARE TO HIS LONGING FOR YOU!"

I will treasure this book and quite likely return to it often!
especially when I long for God and need to be reminded of how  He longs for me. {another mark of a good book "returning to read it again",  besides the turned down, well worn pages,   which in a Kindle ebook converts to bookmarks and highlights}

" Disclosure: I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers and Thomas P. Nelson Publishers 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 Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

And if you are not totally convinced that this is the book for you to read yet, see this and you can even check out some others linked below that are longer...
"The Longing in Me..."
"The Longing in Me Small Group Bible Study by Sheila Walsh - Session One"
"The Longing In Me Online Bible Study Kickoff "with Sheila Walsh


The images all belong to Sheila Walsh {and she has more images with really wonderful quotes on her book's page  down at the bottom}