Choosing to SEE

I'm not sure what it is with me and books, but I had a gift card for the Church Bookroom to use for our church Library and decided Tuesday after work I would go and see if I could find anything of interest. Amongst several things I found (and more I will be going back for) I saw "Choosing to SEE" by Mary Beth Chapman. If you are not familiar with that name maybe her husbands name will be - Steven Curtis Chapman - the famous, award winning, very gifted Christian musician.



I was interested right away for a few reasons.
1. How do you go through something like that (I will let you read it to know more about their tragic yet amazing story) with such strong faith?
2. What got them started in adoption and how has that process worked for them?
3. How can you be a mother of 6, wife to a non-stop husband and run your own ministries?

So I picked it up Tuesday night once I was done my to do list and couldn't put it down. Such an amazing read - this woman is so gifted! As well I loved that Beth Moore wrote the prologue. So by Wednesday evening I was finished the book. I spent that afternoon crying and rejoicing with this family I have only heard of. But their story, and even more so Mary Beth's story touched me - and I could learn a lot from her life struggles and triumphs, their adoption process/calling and they way she learned how to discern God's voice through all they had and are still going through.

Mary Beth struggled with clinical depression and still to this day is dealing with that. I appreciated when she said "All I had to do was the hardest thing possible for a person like me: I just had to be willing to give up control and give in to Him, and let Him use this cross in my life".

There is so much I found inspiring and encouraging in their story. Mary Beth is so honest and open about their struggles - she is very transparent and I admire that. I love that the book is centered around the word "SEE", the word their daughter Maria left for them. It reminds us to look and SEE God's glory and greatness all around us. This family shows us that there is hope in Christ through the dark and hard times.

Go to her blog to see her video about the book, then go out and buy it (or sign out from the library :) http://marybethchapman.com/?page_id=74

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Can it be?

I think it can....as you can see from the side bar of books I have read.........

I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore! Man was it an amazing book! I can't tell you exactly why it took me so long to ready. It could be that I'm addicted to fiction and have a hard time focusing on non-fiction books. But I knew I needed to read this book. The title alone had my attention, as well as the author. Beth Moore brings such a personality to a book - she herself is so transparent in it that you know she understands what you are going through.

I strong advise every women - of any age - to read this book. For me I now have to go back through and grab tidbits that I want to focus in on and work on.

Now I am on to another.....non-fiction book - and hopefully it doesn't take me as long to read this one. I heard of Priscilla Shirer from Beth Moore - the two do women's conferences with Kay Arthur.

However there is a fiction book that I am dying to get my hands on (currently on back order at Amazon) by Francine Rivers -- the second in her latest series. So excited about these great authors.

Happy Reading