Saturday, October 30, 2010

Rick & Bubba's Big Honkin' Book of Grub


This is not a cookbook. That fact turned me off from the beginning. This is, in fact, a book about food. More accurately, a book about what Rick and Bubba think about food. There are about 20 recipes in the book and many funny quips about everything from barbecue to peanut butter.

Although I LOVE Rick and Bubba on the radio, reading their funny lines just doesn't have the same effect to me. It was funny but not my cup of "sweet tea." That said, I think some of the recipes included look YUMMY! I also love that they included a rundown of their favorite restaurants. Overall, if you like Rick and Bubba you will find this book at least amusing and maybe hilarious. Just don't buy it thinking it is a recipe book.

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

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Not Enough


"You are not enough," Satan hisses quietly in our ears. We may be trying to discipline our children, or do something pleasing for our husband, or even lay our lives out at the feet of Jesus. We can hear Satan's whispers, "You are not enough." We know in our hearts it's true. It is part of our greatest source of fear. We are not all that people think we are, and one day we will be found out for the lacking phony we really are. Our children will find out we don't have all the answers. Our husband will find out that homemaking isn't joyful at all to us. Our church will find out that {gasp} we aren't perfect like they are. So the enemy has us cornered. "You are not enough! No need to even try."

There is some truth to Satan's statement. We are not enough....... in our flesh.  Romans 8:8 says, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Also Romans 3:10 says, "None is righteous, no, not one."

What are we to do then? Satan says you are not enough and God says you are not enough. The logical action would be to give up as Satan suggests. Thank goodness God doesn't work on logic! Keep reading in Romans 8. Verse 9 says "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him."

The truth of the matter is that we are not enough on our own. As a mother, a wife, even as a child of God, I am not enough on my own, operating out of a fleshly mind, heart, and logic. If I have surrendered myself to the blood and sovereignty of Christ, that is a different story all together. Romans 8:26 says "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness." and verse 37 says"No, in all these things [ tribulation, distress, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword; v.35] we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

As Satan whispers "You are not enough, just give up," God in my spirit says, "On your own, you are not enough, but you, my daughter, are not alone. You are mine, bought with the price of the blood of my precious Son, Jesus. I have given you my Spirit and if you will heed the Spirit at work in you, you are more than enough! You are more than a conqueror, you are an overcomer!" Therefore, I must press on to take hold of that which God has called me to be: not perfect but my best in Him. First John 5:5 "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he (she) who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."(NIV)

I believe! ~ Do You?

(Scripture quoted from the ESV except where noted; itallics and additions mine)

Monday, October 4, 2010

Review of Do You Know Who I Am?

Do You Know Who I Am?: And Other Brave Questions Women AskI just finished Angela Thomas’s new book, Do You Know Who I Am? : And Other Brave Questions Women Ask. It, like the other books I have read by Angela, was life changing. The premise of the book is to state up front the questions that most women struggle with at some point in their walk with God. For each question asked, we are given “God’s response.” Taking God’s naming of Himself to Moses as I AM, Angela lays out God’s I AM response to each of our questions to Him. The answer to our question of “Do You Know Who I Am?” lies in whether or not we know who God is.

This book is well written and easy to read. Angela’s storytelling abilities make the stories of her life and the scripture references come alive to the reader. Her line of reasoning comes through clearly, as each question is asked and then answered. Each chapter could stand alone separately so the reader could pick up the book and begin at any question that is tugging at their heart.

I would highly recommend this book to any woman seeking a deeper relationship the God of Heaven. As we long to know Him and be known by Him, this book is a very useful tool to see that process and understand both our and God’s position. He most definitely knows who we are. Let us learn through studies such as this who He is.

I was provided with a complementary copy of the book for review.