April 30, 2014

Rhinestone Jesus - A Book Review & (another) Giveaway!


When I first heard that Kristen Welch was writing a book, I was in.  I really didn't know much about her, but my heart was already All In because I fell in love with the Mercy House a year or so ago. While we're not friends 'inrl' - I have prayed for her, and this ministry, and have popped over to her little corner of the Interwebs at We Are THAT Family often, so hearing that Rhinestone Jesus was coming soon stirred me up something fierce.  

I appreciate Kristen and her honesty... her realness and her ability to say it like it is.  I know, this 'gift' usually comes hard fought and battle worn and this book? This is the story of the power of saying Yes to God - not when you have your life figured out and all your ducks in a row, but right in the middle of your Mess. As the tagline suggests, it's a book about waking up, about taking a risk and saying yes to God, 'when sparkly, safe faith is no longer enough.'  (I know... you want it already, right?)


 So - this little book and I have been having coffee dates with White Chocolate Raspberry mocha's and a coral pen in hand... We have curled up on the couch together and laid down in bed to read.  When my husband said something like, "Is that another book?" my response was a nearly whispered, "Yes, but this one may send us to Africa!"

Ya'll... you don't even know.  Well - maybe you do.  But go to Africa? No... that was what, as a new Christian, I feared He would call me to do. However in the last couple of years, between bloggers and books and God simply stirring my heart and waking me up... my No is less emphatic. So... that's a start, yes?  But, here's the thing - at the heart of this book, of her heart for this book - is the assurance that we all have our own "Sweet Spot"... our own "one thing" and yours (and mine) may not be Kenya, most likely it may just be around the corner of where you live. But we are all invited in to say Yes... to do both small and big things, starting right where we are!



Kristen writes about real life... about how she set out to change the world and then life happened, and it drained, and it left her a little disillusioned.  She is achingly honest about marriage and parenting and how God redeemed and healed and began stirring her up towards being authentic and real and saying, as she puts it, #YesinmyMess.  All of that back story sets the stage for the miracle of Mercy House.


Mercy House captured my heart long ago, around the same time I was leaning in to the reality that as a Mama to an Only, my mothering years were coming to a close. (Ha... I know.  Well, I know now!)  So last year, I was honored to join in with a group of bloggers to help raise funds for The Mercy House.  Maureen, and Kristen and her family, and these teen girls and their babies and the real need pulled at my Mama heartstrings and I couldn't not do something... some small thing... to join in and make a difference; to make a dent.  So I took my small Yes and joined it with many others and all of our offerings added up fast!  In the book Kristen writes, "We are ordinary.  God is anything but."  A group of ordinary strangers bonded together with a God Who is anything but and we watched Him bring each Phase to a close, early, fully-funded!  "Fully Funded" became my new favorite phrase and with the release of Rhinestone Jesus officially set for tomorrow, in His divine timing, on the same day a reality of 'fully funded' is getting the keys to the second home purchased for The Mercy House so we can reach more girls... change more lives... one (or two) at a time!

I loved this book and highly recommend it! Some of the proceeds from Rhinestone Jesus will go to The Mercy House, and as much as I love that ministry, I love the message within this book: That you can change the world!  That your Yes matters.  That God has a plan and a purpose and when you step in and step up and find your 'one thing', your 'sweet spot' - God partners with you and takes your ordinary, and makes it Extraordinary!

I love how Kristen honors marriage and parenting and knows that those are priorities... how she encourages family prayer and devotion time while keeping it real and actually doable, how she encourages us to write out a family mission statement, serve together, and find out what our own sweet spot is!  This book will stir you up and give you courage to say Yes in the middle of your Mess... knowing that God works with us and through us; in us and for us.

One of my favorite quotes from the book, talking about your Sweet Spot, is:
"Your sweet spot isn't some elusive mystery that God dangles over your head just beyond your grasp. It's the collision of believing in who you are and acting on it because of whom you belong to."
She goes on to say:
"I believe we are all called to do something, just not everything.  Focusing on our one thing and doing it well to His glory is both liberating and life changing."
 At the end of each chapter, Kristen offers sections titled "Unpinned Faith" where she encourages some deeper reflections.  Digging deeper, along with reading her own story, just may show you what your one thing is and give you the boldness to say Yes to changing the world!



Rhinestone Jesus is available May 1st at these locations:

AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
DAYSPRING
CBD



Tyndale has been kind enough to provide two books for me to Giveaway! I hosted a Giveaway last week (congrats to Kim from One Rebel Heart!) but I wanted to save one for this post, after I'd actually - you know - read the whole book!  I finished it this morning and I want ALL of my friends and readers to get their hearts and hands around this book -around this message!

So - if you would like to win the second copy provided by Tyndale, Comment Below and let me know WHAT HAVE YOU SAID YES TO recently, or - if you know - I'd love to hear WHAT YOUR SWEET SPOT, YOUR 'ONE THNG' IS?

(The Winner will be picked on Monday, May 5th!)

Linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory

and of course, with Kristen Welch for #RhinestoneJesus


29 comments :

  1. I saw a quote earlier that someone had posted from the book, about giving whatever you had, even if it was small, and praying that God would multiply it... that really struck me, because I've been saying small yeses (actually letting someone in when they knocked on the door unexpectedly and not being frantic when they stood in my messy living room to chat for half an hour, gathering unused items to donate to tornado victims) and feeling like they *were* very small --- but they did lead me to a slightly harder, bigger yes (opening our home to someone I don't know well for a few days, while Adam's gone, which means that I have to cook the meals - not my forte). I need to remember the loaves and fish, and that God is big enough to take li'l ol' me and do big things for His glory!

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    1. Sarah Jo - I love this and I love how you are seeing - right in front of you - the power of your Yes! Praying for you, friend!

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  2. Anonymous1:51 PM

    Oh, I would love to win this book! It's on my list to read and winning it would be a budget blessing! LOL And girl, go to Africa? Never imagined in a million years that I might want to do that. But sponsoring my Compassion girl in Uganda may be the tipping point for me one day! Although I totally agree with Kristen that we don't all have to do everything. We just need to do the thing He has called us to do. When we do that and do it well, He is glorified. And I believe He is freed up to move on to encourage others to find their sweet spot and to respond in obedience. Great post, friend!!

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    1. Holly - I get you on the book budget! ;) We have sponsored kids in Ethiopia and in the Dominican Republic.... it DOES pull on your heart at the thought of meeting them in real life, right? Praying for you to settle in to your sweet spot!

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  3. This book is on my wish list too!

    I have said yes to God and am going on a new online adventure launching this fall!

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    1. NJ - How exciting! I can't wait to hear more! (Hint... HEAR more... Vox me with the deets!)

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  4. Anonymous5:21 PM

    Your tweet sucked me into stopping by to see what Rhinestone Jesus is all about. Yes I love giveaways but I really like that you took the time to personally share the heart and soul of what this book is all about. After reading "Restless" by Jennie Allen, I know that this book is the perfect segway into following through completely with my "yes". Where and when this "yes" is going to happen hasn't fully been mapped out but God has been working hard on me in the last year and He knows that when I retire from teaching in 2015, I am His and He is going to do amazing things. Karillee-I so appreciate you and your willingness to share with all this amazing book of faith!!! Blessings, Mary

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    1. Mary - LOL... well it's good to know those teaser tweets can work! ;) I am loving Restless and going through the DVD series in my small group... this book definitely flows from the same heart of finding your threads or your sweet spot and living out loud for Jesus! Praying for you as you lean in to what is next! How exciting!

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  5. I said "yes" to hosting an (in)RL Meetup- it wasn't convenient and it took time I didn't really have to spare, but God showed up and blessed us within the mess. I am so glad I didn't miss out.

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  6. Anonymous5:56 PM

    I have to said yes to God by getting up early to read my Bible! He wants me to start my day right before anyone is awake since it has a huge impact on my attitude for the rest of the day! Thank you for the giveaway!

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    1. Laura - that is an Awesome Yes! (And I get it... I am not a big morning person myself but it really does set the mood and make all the difference to start out our days with Him, doesn't it?) LOVE that you are doing this! Glad you stopped by!

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  7. I have a copy of the book so no worries with entering me to win...just wanted to chime in on the conversation. I've said yes to God in the mess of my life and my yes is everyday unfolding. It unfolds online in communities like #TellHisStory and in real life connections I nurture intentionally with family and friends. Congratulations to the winner. It's on my list for a May!

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    1. Lisha - my friend! I love you so! I love that you are in these communities and we are saying Yes together! (I will not add you to the drawing... and you are going to LOVE this book!)

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  8. What have I said yes to? Yes, to moving forward with connecting with others online and joining community. I love my little world yet God is calling me to step out of myself and into community. And I'm learning to say, Yes!

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    1. Rachel - Community is so good... and sometimes hard... and I am so glad you are braving Yes and joining in!

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  9. My "Yes" is to answer the call to serve in the Congo, even though I don't know how and I don't know the details.

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    1. Deanna - WOW friend - that is a big ol' Yes!!! How exciting and everything else too! Praying for you as you lean in to it all and the details become more clear! So glad you stopped by!

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  10. I have said yes to Jesus in an area where I want to cut and run. This area of my life has been a significant source of stress and anxiety. If it were my choice, I would say no immediately and move on. But God has confirmed that He has me in this place for a reason. And even though it's uncomfortable and hard, I am saying YES - to Jesus having control and the final say in my life.

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    1. Can I just say that I am so proud of you for staying and saying Yes in the hard parts! How often our flesh rises up and we find ourselves running before we even realize it! Staying is hard work... saying Yes in the Mess requires some braveness and a whole lot of trust - but He is trustworthy and always makes Beautiful Things our of us! Praying for you!

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  11. Anonymous2:18 AM

    I have said YES to the God Sized Dream of starting a Moms in Prayer group...this fall...and maybe even this summer! God laid it upon my heart two years ago...and it is happening now! Bless Him. Bless the mess of life and the beauty that beholds in us and around us when He is present.

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    1. Oh my Stars - I love this! I did this when my Only was in Kindergarten... I took the training and put my name on the list and it took about 2 years before I was matched up with another Mom - but we are still friends today and we prayed our girlies through elementary school and middle school before she moved away! Praying for your group and all the amazing answers to prayers that you will see!

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  12. I've been thinking a lot about being more intentional in creating community offline. I have said yes to reaching out to friends, new and old, to get together on a regular basis. Something so small, but important in my life. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book, I can't wait to read it!

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    1. Oh Laila... I am with you! I can so easily spend so much time online and in communities here - which I love, but I forgot to make my inrl community a priority too! I am reminding myself to be intentional with this as well! We can do this! We were built for Community!

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  13. I've said "yes" to continuing to homeschool my children through high school...first two are that age now and the younger 4 still up and coming, and yet as I hit 40 this year, I'm feeling a need to be much more purposeful about asking God, "What do you have for me to do, and for us to do as a family?" (outside of continuing the nurturing in our own family circle). This books seems incredibly timely to me, and I already love Kristen from reading her blog. Would love to win that second copy!

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    1. Christa... wow - that is a big Yes and I am tired just thinking of all you must do with 6 (not so) Littles! You will love this book... it deals with all kinds of issues and, since you read her blog you know Kristen is honest and open about it all! Good luck! We'll announce the winner on Monday! Have a great weekend!

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  14. The funny thing is: I always thought the "yeses" would be easier than saying "no". Like what God would always ask me to do would come easy because He's equipped me for them. I don't know where I got this flabbergasted idea because I've found it's the no's that are the hardest BECAUSE they're the easiest things to do! or is it just me?

    I'm finally getting all my things weeded out...those yeses I should have said no to. so I can focus my energy on the yeses I know He's asked of me. Those that will stretch me tight and make me bend lower...you know the ones;) The first being leading a women's ministry at my church I don't think I'm the one for! go figure...need God much? Um, YES! :)

    I can't wait to get my hands on this book one way or another ;) thanks, friend, for being so amazing! {HUGS}

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    1. Oh yes - learning the art of No (and Yes)... in order to not do it all - but do your One Thing best! Praying for you, sweet friend! How exciting! ...and nerve wracking and scary and ...just breathe! He has equipped you, Nikki! Hey - you already run a women's ministry on your blog,,, you've got this because He's got you! <3

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  15. Winner has been drawn and notified... if you did not win, there a few other chances to win today! Head on over to Kristens' blog (She's giving away FIVE copies!) http://wearethatfamily.com/2014/05/it-matters-giveaway/

    ...and you can go to http://www.incourage.me/2014/05/your-yes-matters-book-giveaway.html for 5 more chances to win!

    Good Luck!
    Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On.
    ~Karrilee~

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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