Ever had deja vu? This haven’t-I’ve- been-here feeling came upon me as I read Carla McDougal’s bible study Reflecting Him. It was “Beth Moore-ish” yet
not.
The oversized book itself has a Beth Moore study feel and Carla connects the reader to Jesus through examples, even oil rigs. (Fascinating in light of the oil spill in the Gulf.)
Any woman going through this study will know Jesus more intimately. Carla’s details abound.
But. . .
I wanted more Carla. Getting to know the author’s heart means the world to me. Carla’s gives a peek. She says what makes her tick and why she wrote the study. I ate it up. Then it no more Carla. She’s there, of course, behind the scenes, in every sentence. Her passion plays well. I hope her next study shares more of her while she encourages us to reflect Jesus.
RECOMMENDED. And the next Carla study is doubly recommended.
About Reflecting Him
Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It is a ten-week women’s Bible study that uses familiar objects and situations, such as pottery, the human sensory system, and the sun-earth connection, to show women how Jesus works in their lives every day. Each week is divided into five days (lessons), supporting the central theme for the week. Read the first two chapters (or weeks) online.
The study also has an online component through a Reflecting Him Bible Study Group on Facebook. This means if you choose to work through the study on your own, you can still join in group discussion. More than 200 people are in the group already and the discussions are really taking off.
This fall a leaders guide, videos, and music will be released to accompany the study.
About Carla
Carla McDougal is the founder of Reflective Life Ministries and Share Fair, an annual conference for connecting, equipping, and encouraging women in ministry. She speaks at women’s events, retreats, and conferences in the U.S. and internationally. Carla married her high school sweetheart, Fred, and they have four children ages 16 to 23 and live in Magnolia, Texas. Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It (WinePress Publishing, 2010) is Carla’s first book, although she’s been involved in leading and teaching Bible studies for more than 20 years. Carla writes a Monday morning e-votional at her blog, Carla’s Corner.
An Interesting Offer
With every group purchase of 25 or more studies before August 1, Carla will lead a tele-lesson (over speaker phone) for one of your group meetings. Please email windy(at)reflectivelifeministries.org to purchase books. Mention the blog tour and tele-lesson at the time of ordering.
Life in Defiance, the third book in Mary DeMuth’s Texas Trilogy, hits truth hard. What is it? Where do I find it? What do I do when a man of God slithers, his forked tongue spouting lies as while sniffing its next casualty.
And there will be a next casualty.
This is the story of domestic violence and Ouisie Pepper, who wants to become the wife and mother her snake-pastor-husband demands. She tries
and tries
and tries.
She still gets punched and slammed and kicked by a well-polished pastor’s shoe. She numbs her pain with vanilla-spiked liquor kept in a flower vase.
This is the story of redemption.
While the adults hide and seek, I wonder what will become of the kids: Jed, whose best friend, Daisy, was murdered (Daisy Chain, the first book in the trilogy) and Sissy, a lisping little girl lost? I asked Mary. She said she might suggest a second book series on the kids to the publisher. I hope it happens.
I want the kids to break the cycle of abuse and find their own redemption.
Mary dedicated Life in Defiance “to drowning wives who want to fly.” Following her lead I’m offering a free copy of her book to you, whether you’re drowning, gasping or swimming strong.
A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher gave me dark circles under my eyes. I lost sleep as turned pages into the wee hours of the morn. Was the need for extra makeup worth it? Yep.
Here’s a summary: Dapne McKinley isn’t your ordinary heiress. She secretly writes dime novels featuring a nefarious villian known as Rawhide Rick.
Smart, confident, Dafne isn’t afraid to defy convention. Even if it is 1918.
Nobody in Bethlehem Springs knows the man behind the stories. . .except Daphne. But when newspaperman Joshua Crawford comes to town searching for the man who sullied the good name of his grandfather, Daphne finds herself at a crossroads, reassessing the power of her words, re-thinking how best to honor her gifts, and reconsidering what she wants out of life.
She chooses love.
About the Author:
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of sixty novels, including A Vote of Confidence, When Love Blooms, Wagered Heart, Return to Me and Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by Library Journal. Winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, two RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin lives in Idaho.
Psst. . .I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in order to review it. If you’d like me to pass my copy to you — no coffee stains, promise — leave a comment.
Francine Rivers hooked me on the first page of her novel Her Mother’s Hope, all about the intricate relationships of mothers and daughters. It goes to the heart of beauty and strength, adversity and love.
A quick description: Marty, a spunky and intelligent though homely girl, leaves her home in a small Swiss town in the early 1900s, where her father is abusive and her mother coddles her younger sister. She learns to make a way in the world, holding tight to her dream to open an inn, and eventually moves to Canada, where she meets a handsome man who sees
her true beauty.
Marta’s eldest daughter, Hildie, is her mother’s opposite. While Marta is forceful, Hildie shows compassion.
This novel prompted me to think about how my own mom influenced me and how I treat my daughters. Our pasts affect our present,
for better or worse.
Her Mother’s Hope is more than an excellent read. It makes you think about relationships that matter.
Francine,Can you tell us something about your Christian testimony?
I was reared in a Christian home. My parents were active in church, my father an elder, my mother a deaconess. I attended Christian summer camps, youth group and said grace at every meal. I thought being born into a Christian family and raised in the faith made me a Christian. It didn’t.
Each person makes their own choice, and it took me years to surrender to Jesus – not until after I’d gone through college, married, had children and started a writing career. Rick and I went to church, but came away dissatisfied and knowing there must be something more. We both had personal issues that brought us close to divorce several times. We wanted our own way and to have control over our own lives. Having control is an illusion.
Our marriage was on the verge of collapse when Rick started his own business. We moved to northern California to be closer to family. We made many outer changes, but no change of the heart. As we moved into our rental house, a little boy came over to help and said, “Have I got a church for you!”
We weren’t ready to listen. The lady on the other side of our fence also invited us to the same church. Out of desperation, I went a few weeks later. It was my first experience with “expository teaching.” The pastor taught straight out of the Bible, explaining the historical context, what the scriptures were saying, and what they had to do with me in the present. I drank it in! I took my three children to church. They loved it. Rick resisted (after having a somewhat disheartening experience with a denominational church in Southern California).
I asked the pastor if he would be willing to teach a home Bible study. He agreed — if Rick agreed, which he did. Studying the Bible changed our lives. Our hearts and minds opened to Christ. We both accepted Jesus as Savior and LORD and were baptized in May 1986. Since then, God has been changing our lives from the inside out. The Lord also healed our marriage. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this year.
Tell us about your current work.
I have just completed the second in a set of two books about mother-daughter relationship over four generations. This was intended to be one long novel dealing with the different ways generations have lived out their faith – but became so long it needed to be divided. Her Mother’s Hope was released on March 16, 2010. Her Daughter’s Dream will follow in September. There are numerous family and personal details woven into both books and I plan to share those things on my blog. You may find out more about my new book and more by visiting my web site at www.FrancineRivers.com.
Here’s the book trailer.
PLEASE NOTE: A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.
“If a preacher preaches with gusto and says something loud enough and strong enough, some people will believe it. We base our lives upon feelology and not theology. People ask us today how we feel about something instead of what we believe about it.
“It has become rare for doctrine to be the greatest importance in our churces. Experience cannot take the place of doctrine.
“Scripture tells us that the truth sets us free. We need the truth today. What we believe will change our lives and the lives of others.
“The world says that it does not matter what a man believes so long as he does right. That is a lie. The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 14:12 that there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is death. It is imperative we know the truth.”
Truly, knowing and believing His truth is the only way to disentagle ourselves from lies we believes, lies that hold us captive to depression and fear, addictions and unwise choices.
This is an excerpt of an interview with the author:
What do you think is the most important chapter of the book? In over 35 years of full time ministry, I have never heard anyone else teach about porters. In Nehemiah 10:39 it lists porters between priest and singers. I thought that was very interesting and researched porters. It is basically a janitor. So between priests and porters are janitors. Servants that do the basics. People who do ordinary things to keep ministries going.
God wants servants. That is a concept that is lost in the big time world of church ministries today. Jesus came to serve. I believe that we can make a difference in our community, our neighborhoods, and our world if we are willing to lay our lives down to serve God.
What do you hope to accomplish with your book?I hope that ordinary believers will recognize they have something to offer. We can bring our monies and touch the nations. We can bring our gifts and see the power of God touch people and their needs. We can offer our fruit and not wait for the pastors or elders, but be instruments to bring life to those around us who are seeking a relevant relationship with Jesus.
The five-fold ministries of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher were never supposed to do everything in the church. The church is supposed to be equipped for ministry. Everyone should be able to proclaim the message and everyone should have praise for the God we serve. That should not happen just on Sunday mornings between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. We should be able to give God praise in our homes and throughout the week. I truly believe this can be the church’s finest hour.
Ever had deja vu? This haven’t-I’ve- been-here feeling came upon me as I read Carla McDougal’s bible study Reflecting Him. It was “Beth Moore-ish” yet
Life in Defiance
A Matter of Character
Francine Rivers hooked me on the first page of her novel Her Mother’s Hope, all about the intricate relationships of mothers and daughters. It goes to the heart of beauty and strength, adversity and love.
PLEASE NOTE: A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.
