The Renewing of the Mind Project BOOK REVIEW

I’m so excited to share with you Barb Raveling’s new book, TheRenewing of the Mind Project: Going to God for Help with Habits, Goals, andEmotions. 

 

Barb has quickly become one of my FAVORITE Christian Authors and I’m thrilled she has published this book. It has the power to transform your walk with Christ by showing you how to Biblically Renew your Mind in the Word of God.

Seems to me there are three major groups of Christians: 

1.        One’s who rest so much on GRACE they ignore the need to root sin out of their lives. In fact, they think that if they have to “work” on anything they are not honoring the mercy of God.

2.       One’s who place too much emphasis on WORKS and thereby undervalue the precious blood of the Lamb and the grace freely given to all how call upon the name of the Lord.

3.       One’s who either don’t want to do the work it takes to grow closer to Christ or they don’t know how to so they ignore or downplay their sins. 

Barb Biblically shows readers the need for the combination of both GRACE and WORKS and she provides the tools necessary to break the bonds holding you back from a deeper relationship with God.

The Bible tells us in Romans 12:2 NIV, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

But HOW do we renew our minds? We can’t do it in our own power. So how do we apply this Scripture to our lives?

Excellent question!

In The Renewing of the Mind Project you’ll learn how God intends for Christians to address all sorts of weaknesses of the flesh. From emotional strongholds that prevent us from walking in the Spirit to breaking bad habits (sins) and to forming new habits (daily devotional), Barb covers it all. 

This book is meant to be used with your Bible and a Journal. 

It’s a book that can be used over and over and over again.

I’m currently using it to help me break the habit of being discontent and forming an attitude of praise in all circumstances just as Paul says to do in Phil 4:11-13. Memorizing this passage of Scripture isn’t enough to ensure that I know how to be content in all situations. I must learn to RENEW MY MIND. 

By using Barb’s questions I see how my point of view and feelings are sometimes contrary to the Word of God. Her questions have helped me identify patterns in my life where I’m holding back from God and holding onto things that are preventing me from praising Him.  She’s helping me gain a Kingdom world View instead of a ME-centered world view. 

Her book also teaches how to dig into the root causes of  sins/strongholds. 

I’m learning my discontentment is connected to my need to be perfect. And when I’m not ‘perfect’ I tend to feel frustrated. I worry about what others think and I don’t want to let them down. I feel insecure and try to cover it up by performing to the best of MY abilities instead of focusing on what God wants of me and finding my value in who He says I am.  

All this is connected to my pride. When I perform well, without realizing it, I am taking credit away from God because I think I did it! And when I fail, I tend to shrink back from God instead of seeking His face. 

Her book has helped me with all this.

I know it can help you too…if you’ll just give it a try.

I really can’t recommend this book highly enough.

If I could purchase a copy for all of my followers (and everyone I know) I would. But since I can’t afford too, you can pick up your own copy by clicking here.

Here are ways you can follow Barb:

Blog: http://barbraveling.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbraveling

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/barbraveling/

 

Bio:  Barb is the author of four books, including Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study. She blogs about breaking free from habits and strongholds at barbraveling.com. After homeschooling their four kids for the last 22 years, Barb and her husband are now enjoying the empty nest life in their clean (but far too quiet) home.

 

Disclaimer: I did not have to give a raving review. I am a proud supporter of Barb's books and happily wrote this review. 

Are You Like Peter?

Following up on my post, Are You Like Judas, I’d like to ask, Are You Like Peter?

Peter and Judas shared many of the same experiences with Jesus. They both walked with Him, talked with Him, prayed with Him, learned from Him, watched His power flow in both healing and grace…in short, they both were followers of Christ.

Yet they handled their mistakes in two completely different ways.

As previously discussed Judas handled his sin as many people do—he sought human solutions instead of God’s grace.  When he couldn’t correct his mistake, when his guilt wasn’t eased, he again reacted as many Christians do—he sought relief outside of God.

Peter, however, is the example Christians SHOULD follow.

You remember the story; Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times (Mark 14:27-31). 

Despite this warning, Peter is seen shortly later sleeping in the garden while Jesus prays. 

Again, Jesus tries to tell him and the others to WATCH and PRAY because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38). 

But Peter couldn’t stay awake.

He didn’t take Jesus’ warnings as seriously as he should.

He didn’t prepare his flesh by being alert to temptations and praying.

So when Christ was arrested, Peter wasn’t ready. 

Even though his spirit wanted to follow Christ until death, his flesh took the easier route and he ended up denying he knew his Lord three times…just as Jesus predicted.

When Peter realized his mistake/sin, he wept. (Mark 14:66-72).

He couldn’t believe what he’d done.

You’d think that after the first two times of telling people he didn’t know who they were talking about and that he wasn’t a follower of Jesus that he would have remembered Christ warning and changed course.

But he didn’t.

He was human.

Just like you and me.

And like all of us, when we do something wrong, we feel bad. 

But here’s where we have the choice of being like Judas or Peter.

Judas tried as hard as he humanly could to correct his mistake of betraying Jesus…but he failed.

Peter however couldn’t wait to get back to Jesus. 

God knew Peters heart. He knew Peter was feeling bad and needing reassurance that he was forgiven.

In Mark 16:7 an angel instructs the women to not only tell the disciples, but specifically Peter, that Christ is raised and will meet them soon.

In John 21:1-19 we see their encounter.

Jesus stands on the shore line as the disciple’s fish. When they realize who He is Peter doesn’t hide below deck, too ashamed of his betrayal to see Jesus. No, Peter jumps in the water, swimming to shore. He couldn’t wait for the boat to get to Christ. He NEEDED to restore his relationship with his Savior. He needed to repent. 

Jesus doesn’t berate him; He puts Peter to work hauling in the fish. Then Jesus feeds His followers. He provides for Peter’s physical need at that moment.

Next, Jesus addresses Peter’s heart by asking him three times if he loved Him.

“Do you love me?” Jesus asked Peter.

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks us.

If our answer is like Peter’s, YES, then pay attention to what Jesus says next.

GET TO WORK!

Jesus gave Peter a job to do—feed and tend His sheep.

God has a job for you to do as well.

So if you love Him, accept His forgiveness, let go of the past mistakes, and GET TO WORK!

The past will chain you down and keep you ineffective in serving Christ. That’s where satan wants you.

So he will try hard to tie you up with the guilt and shame of your sin. He will entice you to try to fix the problem using human solutions. This is what happened with Judas.

It doesn’t have to happen to you.

You can choose to run TOWARD the Savior. Admit you’ve messed up. Accept His forgiveness and then be about His business (1John 1:9).

Let the past go.

Move forward (Phil 3:13-14).

There’s work to be done for the Kingdom, but first you must address your sin.

So I ask you: Will you respond to your sin like Judas or Peter?

Blues to Bliss Book Review

I’m happy to announce my blogging friend, Ngina Otiende, has released her new book—Blues to Bliss:  Creating Your Happily-ever-after in the Early Years.

I wish I’d had this book before I got married (or shortly after I was married)…it would have hugely impacted my life, and marriage, in a GODLY way!

Our world, and society, view marriage from a vastly different standpoint than God does.

No matter if you grew up with a Christian example of marriage in your home or not, this book is for you because worldly standards for marriage influence us all too some degree.

The first few years of my marriage were rocky for two main reasons:

1.       I didn’t have a Biblical understanding of marriage. In fact, I liked to skip over passages of Scripture that dealt with marriage because I didn’t like to think about being “submissive” to my husband. My view of marriage and love was skewed by the world. I felt wives were undervalued in the Bible. This came because I didn’t understand God’s love for me.  Therefore I didn’t understand the love a husband and wife have and how our roles are to relate.  MY relationship with God was off and this made my relationship with my husband unstable.

2.      I wanted my husband to fill a place in my life that only God is meant to fill. I unknowingly placed on my husband a burden he was never meant to carry. He is not my savior and he cannot fill the role of God in my life. Again, MY relationship with God was off and this affected my marriage.

All of this confusion and heartache could have been avoided if I’d read Ngina’s book.

She does an excellent job of helping women realize these truths. Her book aids them in seeing their life with God, and with their husbands, from GOD’s POINT OF VIEW.

Whether you’re looking to be married soon, are a newlywed, or have been married 50+ years, this book has something to offer the Christian woman. 

As a bonus, if you purchase Blues to Bliss between February 2^nd - February 6th 2015, you will receive two free gifts (in digital format) as thank you from Ngina Otiende:

1. A brand new 7-day Devotional for Wives 

2. A Love Check List - Scriptures on areas of struggle for earlywed wives.

To get the Devotional and Check List, simply email Ngina your receipt on blog@intentionaltoday.com and she will send you information on how to access the gifts. 

This is book would also make a great gift.
You can pick up your copy on Amazon by clicking here!


 "The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”" Gen 2:18 NIV

"Ngina Otiende is the Author of the newly released book, "Blues to Bliss: Creating Your Happily-Ever-After In The Early Years". In the book she talks about her early marriage challenges and how God transformed their relationship through intentional effort and grace and how wives can change the dynamics of their marriage. Ngina blogs at IntentionalToday.com where she equips the early-wed wife with tools and resources to create intentional happily-ever-afters. Connect with Ngina on Facebook, and Pinterest "

Disclaimer: As part of the launch team I was given this  book and asked to give an honest review, which I have.