Welcome to D-lighted by Grace! I hope you'll take a moment to sit back, take a deep breath and spend a moment with the Lord before you leave here...that's more important than anything I have to say!!! Be blessed and be a blessing!!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

One Call Away, A Memoir by Brenda Warner with Jennifer Schuchmann

One Call Away:  A Memoir
Answering Life's Challenges with Unshakeable Faith

For Brenda Warner it never seemed that there were easy options to the many hurdles in her life, but there were options. Two of those options were an unshakable faith in God and His plan for her as well as her family and her reaction in every situation.  Brenda guides the reader through great tragedies, great joy, uncertain times and those times that nearly everyone has experienced in searching for what it truly means to be a person of faith, especially in times of struggle. She also bravely broaches the topic of searching for our own identity in a world that has cookie cutter images prepared for us to fit into. 

   From the moment I picked up the book it seemed I was drawn in to the life of Brenda Warner. The writing style is easy to read and draws the reader into the room of each situation. I grinned, laughed, cried more than once but most of all I was affirmed of the significance of patience and perseverance in faith. Her insights into the world of an NFL wife were enlightening and gave such humanness to a place that is often thought to be perhaps off limits. Her candor and honesty is refreshing and grounding and offers the reader the chance to look inward personally. This was one of those reads that I had troubles putting down, I was entranced by Brenda's faith and the transformation God brought to her, her husband Kurt and their family. I already have a list of friends lined up to share this book with!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Passing Through the "Season"

Could it possibly be that the "season" we call summer is over? Wasn't it just last week that the kids crawled in and collapsed in the middle of the floor with a gigantic sigh asking not to be awakened until the 4th of July celebrations? Left in their wake were the tattered, zipper-less backpack full of broken crayons, stubs of pencils, leaking glue and sprung spiral notebooks with 3 pages each. Now suddenly, out of the blue, there is a shiny new, working zipper backpack full of 100 page spiral notebooks, unsharpened pencils, full boxes of sharp crayons and gym shoes that are a size too big that we hope will last through first semester, along with a full box of Kleenex that might help the class get through fall allergy season. The kids are in a buzz wondering which new outfit to wear each day the first week of the new school year, and if you have a girl they've called their friends to coordinate all their outfits together! How did this ever happen? Everyone is renewed and refreshed and ready to tackle the next step with new vigor.

Isn't it like that in the seasons of our faith also? We drag in tired, tattered, feeling alone and dejected.  We just want to sleep through the next mission project, the next Bible Study, the next Saturday or Sunday worship, we are completely devoid of what it takes to take that next step towards the One who can end this "season" and take us into the next. Then it happens...someone or something helps us reach out just enough, step forward just enough, to put our faith, trust and hand in the hand of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Suddenly, nothing is the same, everything has changed, maybe not overnight, but there is a difference! We are renewed, revived, we have new "outfits" and we can't wait to share them with our friends! We are ready to tackle the next step - bring it on! Watch out world we're in a new "season"!!

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17