WINNING YOU WITHOUT WORDS!

I'm honored to give a review of Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller's new book:
Winning Him Without Words. They have generously given me a free copy of this book to give away. If you are interested in entering for this drawing, please leave your comment and write "enter me".

I can't tell you how much it touched my heart and I know several woman in particular that I'm going to give my book to for the Holy Spirit to speak wisdom in to their hearts in the area of an unequally yoked marriage. If you are in this type of marriage.. Which I know from experience many of us made that leap without regard to what GOD HAD TO SAY ABOUT MARRIAGE... It is my prayer that you will read this book. It will change the way you look at your Spouse and will open your heart to be able to love him the way Christ loves him.

Here is a personal note from Lynn:
Thank you for having me over to your place today. I have to tell you that when I began blogging five years ago, I had no idea what a crazy and fantastic journey God had in store. It’s been a wild ride filled with rich blessings and you are one of them. Thank you.

Who would have guessed that God would take my little website and turn it into a ministry for the thousands of men and women who are unequally yoked? But indeed, our God has great plans and five years later, my passion to serve this community is stronger than ever.

My co-writer, Dineen Miller and I watched the Lord take this ministry a step further this year with the launch of our book, Winning Him Without Words. This is a book written from our personal experience and from a deep place in our hearts and it presents 10 Christ-centered keys to thriving in a spiritual mismatch. Readers are encouraged to commit to Christian community, to release their spouse to God’s capable hands, to believe their marriage is blessed, to pick and choose their battles, and to continue their pursuit of a growing faith and to love their spouse with fresh enthusiasm.

In the book I share, “It matters not how we came to be in our crazy, mixed-up and unexpected marriage situations. What matters is that God desires that we honor our marriage commitment and fulfill our marriage vows through His power and His strength. There were many years of confusion, sadness and unfulfilled expectations, but I discovered it’s possible to love, live and thrive in an unequally yoked marriage.”

Both Dineen and I are Christian women who continue to live and thrive in our spiritually unequally yoked marriages and we believe that God wants every marriage to exude peace and love.

Chapters include:

• Know You’re Not Alone: (Lynn) Recognizing that we aren’t the only person living in an unequally yoked marriage is a key aspect to restoring hope. Having Christ in our lives enables us to view our husbands as the wonderful man God created, regardless of your different beliefs.

• Don’t Save Your Husband – Save Yourself: (Lynn) The best thing I ever did was to get out of the way so that Jesus could be Jesus. I relinquished control and turned my man completely over to Christ and an unexpected, peaceful freedom emerged in our marriage.

• Trade Perfection for Authenticity: (Dineen) I came to understand that many of my disappointments had come from expectations I’d placed upon him to fulfill needs he wasn’t even aware of. In the end, all I really accomplished was a heart full of resentment.

• Keep Your Armor On-You’re at War! (Dineen) Instead of putting on the label of martyr in a spiritually mismatched marriage, we need to put on the label of missionaries. We need to think of ourselves as soldiers on the front lines of our marriages. Other chapters include parenting children in an unequally yoked marriage, praying into the life of your spouse and scriptures to encourage and strengthen you.

Winning Him Without Words empowers readers to create that environment in their homes and thrive as God works.

About Winning Him Without Words:

Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller. Published by Regal Books. February 2011. Trade Paper, 224 pages. $14.99.

You can find more information at our website and enter the drawing for the Marriage Trio. www.winninghimwithoutwords.com

Thank you for allowing me to share the hope I have for my marriage through the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Hugging you, Lynn Donovan

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

Why Should We Pray?

Today I have prayer on my heart. So many times I run to my friends and family when I’m hurt or need council for a certain area in my life. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in good, Godly counsel.

Today, However, I feel such urgency in my spirit to reach out to the final Authority in my life.

By Him, all things are possible. Jesus says in Mark 10:27, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible but not with God. Everything is possible with God."

I had a dear Sister in Christ call today in regard to her lost Husband. My flesh was thinking “Why don’t you just leave him!” Then I heard that still small voice.
Why not pray for his soul……………………….OH MY!
Why not? Why wasn’t that my first thought. Each and every day I’m confronted with a moment where I see my heart of flesh!

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!

Daniel 9:18 tells us: “We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.” (Mercy means showing favor, compassion, and kindness.)

I didn’t DESERVE SALVATION. It was a gift. Just as this wayward Husband doesn’t DESERVE MERCY, KINDNESS OR GRACE! BUT GOD…………………………

Help me Father to love all people. Regardless of who I THINK THEY ARE. Help me see them through the blood of your Son just as you see me! Forgive my heart of flesh and help me to have a heart of Christ!

In Jesus name I pray,

SON-SHINE NEEDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROMANS 14:1-3
14:1 Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions. 2 One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him.
Ray Stedman wrote:
The story has often been told of the culprits who entered a department store at night and stole nothing—they simply switched the price tags. Refrigerators sold for $9.95 while candy bars were $500.
While I was attending seminary several years ago, the most amazing realization of my study of the New Testament was that someone had switched the labels on the strong and the weak. I had always been taught that the strong Christian was the one who knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t smoke, drink, dance or go to movies. And she couldn’t wear lipstick or make-up. The strong Christian is “… someone who lives in mortal terror that someone, somewhere, is enjoying himself.”114 The weak Christian was the one who spoke of liberty.
Have you ever felt as though your Christian Character was under fire? How do we respond when this happens? I believe that we should respond in love. At times however I have felt my hair stand up and I feel the need to defend myself. That isn’t always the right way is it?
While two Christians may disagree over whether or not a Christian should drink wine or eat only vegetables, no Christian should dispute the fact that lying, stealing, and immorality are sin. These are biblical and moral absolutes!
So in the end we must make a stand. To stand on the inerrant word of God, pray for wisdom and guidance to make Godly decisions and choices and to pray that others see Christ in our lives. It is my prayer that others will see Christ before they see Me.

God will bring you up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up."
Psalm 71:20 (NIV)
One of my morning devotionals started with this scripture! It spoke to my heart today.

How many of us have had a life that has been free of trouble? Not mine for certain.
I’m sure many of you can reflect back on your childhood, your marriage, your family
life and recall times that weren’t so pleasant.
I walked through periods in my life when my Dad and Mom weren’t serving the Lord but
they would still allow me to ride the bus to Sunday school every Sunday. My Brother
and I were still hearing the word even during seasons of our lives when we weren’t
seeing a righteous life displayed.

God’s word is always TRUE! Even though we walk through many troubles and they seem
Bitter……. GOD WILL RESTORE OUR LIVES AGAIN.
In the end…………..My parents came to know the Lord. My Mom became my 4th
grade Sunday school teacher and my Dad attends and serves his local church as well.
Even in our adult lives – My Brother and I may not have walked a life without sorrow
But I have watched God restore life many times in both his life as well as my own.

Thanking God today for his word and the fact that he is with us through all trials
and testing in this life. Preparing us for his glory and his work to be done here
on earth!