I think I may have mentioned this book before, but I absolutely love Devotions for a Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. That book is like vitamins for your marriage. I read the following portion earlier this week and have been wanting to share it with everyone.
From “A Soul Filled with God” on p. 9:
Personal worship is an absolute necessity for a strong marriage. It comes down to this: If I stop receiving from God, I start demanding from others. Instead of appreciating and loving and serving others, I become disappointed in them. Instead of cherishing my wife, I become aware of her shortcomings. I take out my frustrations with a less-than-perfect life and somehow blame her for my lack of fulfillment.
But when my heart gets filled by God’s love and acceptance, I’m set free to love instead of worrying about being loved. I’m motivated to serve instead of becoming obsessed about whether I’m being served. I’m moved to cherish instead of feeling unappreciated.
If you looked in my book you’d see furious underlining and a big OUCH! scribbled at the top of the page. Isn’t that good though? I would definitely recommend this book to any married couple. It gives you one reading a week for a year.
Another book I’m excited about is my mom’s devotional on John that I didn’t know about until I saw it in the LifeWay catalog! (It’s called John: 90 Days With the Beloved Disciple.) I was a happy girl when I saw it. I don’t have my copy yet, but I’m anxiously awaiting its arrival. I really enjoyed the ones on David and Jesus. (FYI, these devotionals have been adapted from the Bible studies.) Mom gets really uncomfortable when I talk about her books on the blog, but I’m a grown woman and I can talk about it if I want to! Plus, she’s in Las Vegas for the Deeper Still event and by the time she sees it, it will be too late! Muah ha ha ha ha!
Sorry, I got a little carried away there.
Changing topics to another kind of book – if you’re wishing you had one of the Siesta Fiesta cookbooks that Holly/Crownlaiddown put together from recipes that have been shared on this blog in posts and comments, there are still some available. If you’re interested, please send an email to Holly at Chrishollysmith at msn dot com. They are very well done and part of the cost is going toward drilling a water well through Life Outreach International (an organization my parents have partnered with on two mission trips to Africa).
That’s just about it for today! I enjoyed getting to hear what y’all are up to this fall. You girls are awesome! The Lord adores you!
The quote is such a great & true thought! I agree with the other siesta that said it applies to singles too – I am forwrding it to my single daughter! Also loved what Ashton said about the advice she got from her mentor regarding spending time with God!
Gary Thomas spoke at a marriage seminar at our church last year — I went into it with a VERY prideful heart, thinking, “There is NOTHING new under the sun in marriage seminars; how good can it be?” Man, he blew me away. I didn’t know there was a devotional book — I’m on it!
Nor did I know about your mom’s devotional book about John — she led me to fall in love with that man (in a Biblical sense, of course! 🙂 through Beloved Disciple. He became the ‘disciple whom Sarah loved’! :-)I may need that book!
Thanks for sharing good info with us!
It is so easy to make others esp your man an idol yet we so don’t see it that way at times. ONLY, God can be our true husband and fill us the way we need. Like your mom wrote in Praying God’s word The Lord is the great soulologist and only He can meet our deepest cavernous needs.
Amanda, I have not read this devotional yet (A Sacred Marriage)…I will have to get this for Colin and myself. Love you, Sister.
Amanda:
Thanks for the reminder.
Kim B. in Az
Does anyone know the name of the devotional that Beth mentioned months ago that she was going through with her church in Houston?
Yes in Titus 2:5 it says we are to love our husbands and be subject to them ,” so that the word of God will not be dishonored”. Now there is some motivation for the hard days!
One of my favorite books of late is ‘Our Lord Prays for His own thoughts on John 17″ It is by Marcus Rainsford. Mr. Rainsford died in 1897. I can sure see why his writing has stood the test of time.
Go hug your husband
Amanda – this sounds like a wonderful devotional – Sacred Marriage. It is on my list! Thank you so much. I hope you are feeling well. Praying for continued health during your pregnancy!
Have a great weekend, Siestas!
That marriage devotional really does sound “meaty”.
Thanks for the recommendations. 🙂
I love that you wrote about this. My hubs and I will be wrapping up our current devotional very soon so this recommendation came at the perfect time! Thanks for sharing!
P.S. I for one, love hearing about the new stuff you mom has out, so keep it coming sister! 🙂
I was happy to read about the devotional book. My husband and I teach a newlywed Sunday School Class and this will be a great resource for us. Thank you.
Lorie
WOW!! I just saw the trailer for Esther. I am so excited. Isn’t it amazing that this comes out as a woman is being nominated for VP…………
“Muah ha ha ha ha”
The visual of you doing this slays me!
I was at Lifeway today buying 4 more Living Beyond Yourself workbooks and saw John: 90 Days With the Beloved Disciple. I wanted to buy it so badly, but since I was laid off this week, I decided I should not buy the book. I will ask for it for Christmas. Thanks for the the book recommendations. Blessings to you.
When talking about marriage vitamins, it spurs me into different thinking. I am 26 and my husband is 32 and has to take 3 pills a day so that he does not have another stroke. That is the first time I have completely said that. Why? Because God is in control, hearing the scares me a little, and I don’t need to be scared. God kept my husband here on earth! I have much to rejoice. There are some prayer concerns with vision, reading, and comprehension, so please do that. You mom actually helped me in more ways than she will ever know. I was doing Believe God, and Andy had his stroke on a Saturday, the Sunday meeting was about miracles. I was inwrapped into a Bible study in an unknown hospital bed, hotel beds, but had my Father’s words to give me comfort. It was amazing! I wanted to share the link so that you can pray for my husband and see how things are going. Please share it with your mom if you can too. Thanks! 🙂
[email protected]
Thanks! :
Amanda – I am in the final 7 days of the Jesus 90 day devo book and it has been an AMAZING journey! It was perfect to keep me on track for the summer! Can't wait to pick up David & John, too!
The marriage book sounds wonderful, and just like something that my husband and I might enjoy together!
In Him,
GG
I need that devotional! I’m working on 90 days with Jesus the One and Only. It’s taken me more than 90 days….but I’m loving it!
Thanks Little Momma! I am so glad you all give reading suggestions. I’m always up for a book that I can apply to real life:) That quote is soo true! Love it! We need to keep that perspective always:) I just recently saw an ad or something for that John Study. I also saw an add for the Looking Up book. Had no idea that stuff was published:) I was wonderin’ where to get that cookbook:)…Well, you are awesome too, and the Lord loves you bunches!!!:) A saying I like to say to my man: “The Lord thinks we’re cute.” The Lord thinks ya’ll are the cutest things:)
Love in CHRIST,
katiegfromtennessee
Your Mama’s books rock. I am telling you, as someone who is probably constantly about 2 feet away from jumping back into the pit…I don’t know what I’d do without your Mom’s books, workbooks, teachings, etc. I even bought “Get Out Of That Pit” on CD and put a copy of the files on my flash drive so I can have it in my posession at all times…just in case I need it when I worked in a computer lab as a grad assistant last year. And I used it quite often.
Thanks for the shout-out girl. I might be on a good start with this one and my MUCH needed cookbook (grin!)
I’m pretty sure you couldn’t have found a more appreciative set of recipients – both he and I 🙂
The study is “An Ordinary Day with Jesus” – not “In Jesus’ Name”.
Thanks for sharing the paragraph at the top of the post. I needed to hear that today! (and, I’m sure, everyday!)
Warm in Alaska.
We have the Sacred Marriage book but haven’t read it yet. I keep hearing great reviews.
This man is coming to my church in a few weeks….he will be doing a special presentation for singles the first night and for married couples the next night…so, I’ve never heard of him or read anything by him but thinking that I maybe should go…hmmmm, decisions!
Marriage is the topic of the day today… Bro. Perry’s serman, topic of discusion @ work, and now your post…
Lord, make me/mold me into the worthy woman (Proverbs 31:10-31) so that I can be so blessed, if it be Your will!
Um, Mama Beth, I saw you Ms. Shirer rapping some G-O-D on a video somewhere. That was cute!!!
Amanda,
Thanks for sharing. My baby brother just got married in May, so I’m always on the lookout for good Christmas/birthday presents for him and his bride.
I’m new to the blog, but know you are all being prayed for in KY.
Ouch – that has my name written all over it. It is so true!! I will get the book. I can’t wait until Ester comes out – I love all of your Mom’s stuff. My sunday school class just started “In Jesus’ Name” by John Ortberg and Ruth Haley Barton. It started today with what living in Jesus’s name might look like in your life as you do everyday things (waking up, eating breakfast, driving, working, watching TV, worrying, etc.)
Please ask for a miracle. Visit and encourage at:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/coleruotsala and http://www.coleruotsala.com
We are desperate for prayers.
Anonymous–The devotional book, I think, is “Streams in the Desert” by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
It is a good ‘un, too! She has walked me through some of my most difficult paths, and I am so encouraged by her devotional.
I started the 90 days with Jesus the one and only and I lost it (but thats how i do things) which i was really bummed about BUT it got me to be alot more consistent and prepared me for things to come…well LIT is almost here and i couldnt be more excited!!
I have bought the John study but haven’t been able to start it yet. I am super excited about ie. I LOVED the Beloved Disciple. It is probably one of my favorite bible studies ever!
I know I’m not married, but that was a great excerpt for me to read, also! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this post. I needed a marriage pick me up.
John was indeed an awesome devotional book! I would imagine it is getting hard to keep up with all your mom’s books! 🙂 I love every one! Besides your mom, of course, let me recommend the book entitled Choosing Forgiveness by Nancy DeMoss. This book changed my life… almost as much as Breaking Free! Also, I am currently doing Priscilla Shirer’s study Discerning the Voice of God and it’s amazing as well.
Can’t wait for Esther!
Could I also post a prayer request here? I am going to Rwanda Sept. 20-30 for a mission trip. The part of our team that I will be involved with will be teaching pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders how to counsel biblically. With all of the trauma the people of Rwanda have experienced, this is indeed a daunting task. Our team has already been experiencing the attacks of the enemy, but we know that our God is much bigger than anything he may try! Thanks for all the prayer cover!
Blessings!
I got the David devotional journal from my best friend for a birthday present. When I finished that one, I bought the Jesus one and will be finished with that one in the next month. While we were evacuated from Gustav – in a know where town (sorry) called Pell City, Alabama – we were in a Walmart and I saw the new John one! I didn’t know anything about it either! Thanks for the post about vitamins for marriage – we all need to take those.
Amanda, I am a first time blogger but have been a blog reader since April. Your devotion touched my heart deeply. My husband of 27 years left me and our 3 girls on Friday. He needs to go “figure out how to get happy”. He is a believer and a former church leader, etc. This man knows God and the Word. Yet, he has drifted so far away… I wish he were here to read the devotion. Please pray for wisdom for me. He has left 2 other times to be with another woman. I have been a stay at home mom for more than 20 years, serving God, serving my family. I feel my life has crashed..I have great godly friends to be a support around me and I know God is right here with me. I also know that when the Siestas pray, things happen. Love to all the Moore girls and siestas
Just finished reading his book entitled Sacred Marraige! The best marriage book that I’ve read. Great tool to focus you on purpose of marriage!
To anonymous who asked for prayer for Cole:
Please know that prayers are being offered up for sweet Cole and his precious family.
Love,
Mary Lee
York, PA
This is great, Amanda. really liking that excerpt from "Marriage Vitamins" (amen & OUCH) Re: new John devo…those pregnancy hormones make'n you bolder than you normally dare, eh? 🙂
I love all of Gary THomas’ books. Sacred Parenting I re-read every couple of years.
And the book (vs the devotional) Sacred Marriage, I have read twice, even though I am single. Quite a few of the princples apply to any family relationship, as well.
I too cannot wait to get the John Devotional. I have down the other two and given multiple copies away as gifts. This new one just knocked off a couple items on my Christmas shopping list,early.
Our Life Group is going to be reading through _Sacred Marriage_ by Gary Thomas together this Fall. We have to protect our marriages because satan is out to destroy our families! I think it’s going to be a great discussion for us on Sunday nights.
When looking on the Lifeway website as to when Esther was going to be released (Nov 1, 2008) I found out about 2007 Deeper Still on David: “Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed” being available Sept 1. My samll group was most interested in experiencing the teaching of Kay Arthur and Priscilla Shirer so they said go for it. And I did, picking up the Leaders Kit and 12 study guides in Las Vegas at Deeper Still 2008.
Although we don’t plow straight through the lessons, we allow Selah Weeks periodically (usually every 2-3 lessons) we hope to start Esther just before the Christmas Break or right after the New Year.
What a curriculum! Thank you, Beth and thank you Lifeway for making such wonderful teachers and material available to all.
Ouch.
Thanks.
Dare I mention the Bible study we’re doing at my church this Fall? I dare…We’re doing Priscilla’s, Beth’s, and Kay’s new Deeper Still Bible study–Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed and had our first session yesterday. Talk about a Word! I’ve never heard Priscilla before but I’d swear she and Beth are cut from the same cloth. (An old saying of my generation.) I can’t wait to get to Beth’s part–in a few more weeks–and then Kay’s. This certainly looks to be a unique study.
P.S. I’m reading Beth’s devotional, Jesus the One and Only, and am having a loving time getting to see my Saviour up close and personal. I love the pace of this Personal Reflections series. This is one case where less is “Moore”. LOL!