Book Review: The Imperfect Disciple.

The Imperfect Disciple: Grace For People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together

By: Jared C. Wilson

OH YAY! A book on how to love those crazy people who can't get their acts together... and about 12 pages in, I realised I am that person.

I am so excited to share this book with you, I love when I get to read a book and it impacts my life in a positive way. Take a gander below at my review. I love this book. I think you might too!

Share the love,

M.

Ever thought you’re the only one who doesn’t have their act together? Can’t get their lives figured out? Well the great reality is you are not, I am not, we are not. We are the norm, we are the ones who fall short, the ones who suck at stuff, and the ones who are sensitive enough to realize by ourselves we will never measure up. But thank goodness we don’t have to do it by ourselves. 

Many people view discipleship as, chilling with a laid back, berkenstock clad, Jesus while he tells stories … But is that really what discipleship is? 

This book moves into the messiness of discipleship, not the Sunday school version of what we’ve been taught. It’s deep, it’s profound, yet simple. Maybe it’s just that it’s never been laid out this way for me before. 

When I first read the title of this book, I thought, “oh perfect, skills and grace for loving those other people who can’t get their acts together”… only to be gently guided into realizing I am that person. I’m the one who can’t get there act together, I’m that girl. I’m the one that needs more grace than anyone, and it’s true. Maybe I was just afraid of saying it out loud, I’ve known all along that I need Jesus… but which Jesus do I need? The Sunday School version of Jesus or The Jesus At The Well, prodding, questioning, loving on purpose. I’m in need of the one who pursues me, not someone just timidly waiting for me to let Him in, I’m in need of the one who is knocking, not just a docile, “well maybe she isn’t home” knocking, but a persistent, relentless pursuit knocking…

This book hast taken me on a journey into the depth of discipleship, relationship, and grace.If you are that person, the one who falls short, feels like they suck at stuff, you are not alone, you are in good company. I’d encourage you to take a read…

** Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Beloved Mess... a book review.

Have you ever read a book that came to you at the perfect time, in the perfect moment, packaged perfectly to speak into your life? This is Beloved Mess for me. Just when I needed it most, I started reading it. Just when I was confronted with a situation in which I needed to show grace, I was in the middle of it. Just when I feel like a failure at giving grace... I read the final words, and grace floods over me... soaks me, and I just melt into it and know... that I am ok. All is ok.

I can't recommend this book enough, for everyone... everyone who ever felt they didn't measure up, for everyone who ever felt like somehow you were just not good enough, for anyone who ever thought that grace is great for others, but I just don't deserve it... for those covered in shame, hurt, heartache... this book is for you, this book is full of hope,  overflowing in love, and just absolutely dripping grace... from every page... it's ok to not measure up, none of us do, and we never will...

I have been blessed over the years to be able to read and review books, and I tell you the honest truth, I was never really that interested in sharing my thoughts about them. But this one, I can't say it enough or loud enough- you need to read it! I needed to read it. I need to reread it. I need to get it into my heart... it is a simple explanation of the most complicated yet most simple concept ever... grace... how did I miss this all these years?

I've created 2 prints to stand as reminders that you are His Beloved... His Beloved Mess... and you are just perfect in His eyes...

My official review... It doesn't even do justice to the impact this book has had on my heart...

Have you read this book?

Share the love,
M.

Beloved Mess: God's Perfect Love for Your Imperfect Life 

Kimm Crandall

Grace. What’s so awesome about Grace? How about the fact that we don’t deserve it, yet our entire lives are enrobed in it, dripping with it, and yet some of us still don’t see it.  Kimm’s book, Beloved Mess, is just what the doctor ordered, it’s the unveiling of this truth, this grace, it’s the peeling away the layers of the most mysterious, yet most simple concept ever. Grace. We don’t deserve it, we can never earn it, it is given to us because of Jesus. Period. 

This book is a small, yet powerful book, with chapters and questions that lead you into a discussion- either with others in a group, or with yourself. Answering the guided questions helps you come up with a personal understanding of just how amazing this grace is. 

Personally this book for me was an eye opener, it talked about what we think we know to be true, versus what is really true. 

Now, just because we have this knowledge, doesn’t mean -by any means- that it will all of a sudden be implemented in our lives. It will be a journey, maybe a journey that we suck at… but the amazing thing is this; the knowledge that we are all a mess, and we will never live up to the the Law, and there is nothing we can do to earn it… we are complete and utter mess-ups… and that is exactly why Christ came to die.  He wasn’t a mess-up. He is perfect, and when God looks down on us, He sees us enrobed in all of the love and goodness that is Jesus… and showers us  little mess-ups with His grace. We can’t get away from it, even if we try. We are soaked and slathered in it every moment of every day. No matter how far you try to get, how far you run, you cannot outrun the love and the grace that abounds towards you.

I read the digital version of this book, and I cannot wait to get a hard copy, the hubby and I are living abroad and so getting the physical book is a little difficult. But this is one book that I will be adding to my personal library, and sharing with my friends. It is a book that I feel everyone needs to read. I loved it, and I will be rereading it, and hopefully starting a book club so I can share it with others.

Beloved Mess unravels the beauty of this amazing grace that we so desperately need in our lives, that’s slathered over us daily, and yet we still don’t see it, or feel it… this book helps peel away the blinders we put on either by personal expectations and or the expectations of others. 

Read this book, get lost in the simplicity of grace, let it roll over you and flood every area of your life, swim in it, soak it up, and share it with others… 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN
Beloved Zephaniah 3:17
personal use only

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN
Beloved Zephaniah 3:17
personal use only

Grown Up Colouring- Giraffes

I'm thinking of taking all of my designs and turning them into a colouring book. It would be a complete labour of love, because I don't know if I have the time to figure this out at the moment- I guess it would be the passion project that happens early in the morning, and in the wee hours of night, when I ought to be sleeping.

What are your thoughts about me creating a colouring book?

In the mean time, I hope you are finding peace and rest while colouring these pages. That is my hope and prayer for you <3

Share the love,
M.

Note: If these seem overwhelming, feel like they will never be done? Consider this : I consider my personal grown up colouring sheets like a puzzle. I colour all of the pages that I create, I don't necessarily sit and complete an entire image at one time, I do it in stages - take this one for instance... I have only coloured in a few of the top leaves... so don't be overwhelmed.... take your time, all the time you need... relax... enjoy... breathe.  M.

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Chocolate.

Sometimes the only answer to any question asked is chocolate. Would you like to go out? Chocolate.
Should I clean the basement or go for a walk? Chocolate. You catch my drift.
I'm reading through the book, "One Word that will change your life"*  by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton and Jimmy Page (yup, three guys to write one teeny tiny little book-) with my hubby (well he's reading it to me- cause that's my favourite). We just started. It has been a crazy beginning to the year, and I feel like I'm behind already and we've barely just begun. But today I plan to take some time to look inward and quiet myself. If I had to guess at this exact moment what my word would be, I'm going to go with Chocolate.  It's just that kind of day :)

So in honour of Chocolate that magical concoction unearthed by the Mayans and perfected by the Swiss, this one's for you!

Share the love,
M.

*embedded link to amazon.com up there :) 

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