N R. (Moonpie) reviewed When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams: Hope for Today from 12 Women of the Bible on + 1175 more book reviews
Whether we admit it or not, we have all have an unconscious script written in our heads about how our lives will progress. This is more than dreams of setting goals; it is also a dream because we cannot know all the details of our future. When life takes a different course, we are shocked, hurt, and disheartened even if it is due to our own bad choices.
Ms. Smith looks at 12 different women of the Old Testament whose lives did not follow their expectations and plans. She helps us see that these ladies weren't just Bible characters but real flesh and blood women just like us. They had the same emotions and feelings as any woman. Each faced disappointments, difficulties and made mistakes just as we do. God wrote about them that we might learn from their examples good or bad.
I was delighted that the author not only wrote about well-known women from the Scriptures but several you wouldn't have thought of studying in this way; Adah (Noah's wife), Melah (Lot's wife) and Aneksi (Potiphar's wife). All very interesting! If God included them in His Word, they are important too!
The author does an amazing job of bringing each of these women to life. I was able to put myself in their place and time, seeing events from their perspective. The next part of the chapter is entitled In Our World;. Here I was able to realize how what happened to a woman who lived 1000's of years ago can be applied to my life today. I really liked this part. It helped me see that though time and customs may be different today, who we are as human beings never changes. Imagine with returns to that particular woman seeing through her eyes the impact of her experience on the rest of her life.
I found Ms. Smiths in sights on the lessons that can be learned very interesting. She went past the obvious and brought out things I would not have thought of. The questions at the end of the chapters really aided me in looking deeper at myself, thus gaining even more from the study. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.
Ms. Smith looks at 12 different women of the Old Testament whose lives did not follow their expectations and plans. She helps us see that these ladies weren't just Bible characters but real flesh and blood women just like us. They had the same emotions and feelings as any woman. Each faced disappointments, difficulties and made mistakes just as we do. God wrote about them that we might learn from their examples good or bad.
I was delighted that the author not only wrote about well-known women from the Scriptures but several you wouldn't have thought of studying in this way; Adah (Noah's wife), Melah (Lot's wife) and Aneksi (Potiphar's wife). All very interesting! If God included them in His Word, they are important too!
The author does an amazing job of bringing each of these women to life. I was able to put myself in their place and time, seeing events from their perspective. The next part of the chapter is entitled In Our World;. Here I was able to realize how what happened to a woman who lived 1000's of years ago can be applied to my life today. I really liked this part. It helped me see that though time and customs may be different today, who we are as human beings never changes. Imagine with returns to that particular woman seeing through her eyes the impact of her experience on the rest of her life.
I found Ms. Smiths in sights on the lessons that can be learned very interesting. She went past the obvious and brought out things I would not have thought of. The questions at the end of the chapters really aided me in looking deeper at myself, thus gaining even more from the study. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.
Molly (Buuklvr81) -
I don't often review non-fiction books. It's just not something I like to do. I'm a fiction gal. I love reading a book where I can lost and escape reality for a few hours a day. But, when I have a favorite author, such as Jill Eileen Smith, I will give even a non-fiction book a try. And, I was actually rather excited to read this one, because let me tell you. My life, definitely does not match my dreams. Sure, I have a wonderful husband and two amazing children and a loving father and two gorgeous sisters. But, my health is not great, and my dreams? I dream so much more than this. I fell like I'll be like this forever and never accomplish anything.
Smith has done a wonderful job with this book. It brings us the stories of 12 women of the Bible and how they dreamed for so much more, but it didn't match up to what God had in store for them. You see, He is the creator of us all and He is the one that can see our future, know our plans, know what our lives will be like. And, through the tender words that Smith uses, along with the 12 women and phenomenal research she incorporated into the book, we see how life can be when we are disappointed that our dreams are following into line with our life.
Through this devotional, I was able to better understand my own life. I know what I want, I know what I wish I had, I know that I'm going to be disappointed because I'm not fully relying on God to help me with that. If I trust in Him, if I seek out his love and guidance, I won't be so disappointed when a hope or dream falls short. Smith has once again used her incredible talent to hook me on a book. Her research is exquisite and her writing is filled with emotion and raw feelings.
This is a 5 star devotional book I would recommend to all the women out there. Get lost among the pages, see how these 12 women made mistakes, made choices that effect them and their families and see what God had in store for them. You may find the same hope and encouragement I did. Definitely a book for the keeper shelf and one I'll share with my family and friends!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Smith has done a wonderful job with this book. It brings us the stories of 12 women of the Bible and how they dreamed for so much more, but it didn't match up to what God had in store for them. You see, He is the creator of us all and He is the one that can see our future, know our plans, know what our lives will be like. And, through the tender words that Smith uses, along with the 12 women and phenomenal research she incorporated into the book, we see how life can be when we are disappointed that our dreams are following into line with our life.
Through this devotional, I was able to better understand my own life. I know what I want, I know what I wish I had, I know that I'm going to be disappointed because I'm not fully relying on God to help me with that. If I trust in Him, if I seek out his love and guidance, I won't be so disappointed when a hope or dream falls short. Smith has once again used her incredible talent to hook me on a book. Her research is exquisite and her writing is filled with emotion and raw feelings.
This is a 5 star devotional book I would recommend to all the women out there. Get lost among the pages, see how these 12 women made mistakes, made choices that effect them and their families and see what God had in store for them. You may find the same hope and encouragement I did. Definitely a book for the keeper shelf and one I'll share with my family and friends!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
