Sisterchicks "Take Flight": Devotional Review

A few years ago I found a site called "Blogging for Books."  It is a Christian publishing company that sends bloggers books for free with the promise of receiving a book review in return.  I love this system and am excited to begin using it regularly again.  If you are a blogger you should definitely look into this site!

I have reviewed lots of books before, but never a devotional, so I decided to take a step out of my comfort zone and do just that.  "Take Flight" is the devotional I picked out and am now reviewing.

"Take Flight" is the first of a series of devotionals called "Sisterchicks Devotionals."  Robin Jones Gunn and Cindy Hannan are the authors, or "sisterchicks" of the book.  They describe a "Sisterchick" as "a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you are acting like a brat."

The devotionals in "Take Flight" are based around this idea of "Sisterchicks" and makes the series great for a woman-to-woman bible study or friend-to-friend devotional time.  

Robin Gunn is the author of the "Christy Miller Series" and co-author of "Praying for Your Future Husband" (sounds like another book I'd like to review.)  Gunn has written around 80 other books, making her a best-selling author of 4.5 million books sold worldwide.  She now resides in Hawaii with her husband when she is not traveling the globe speaking to the masses.  

Gunn's partner in crime, Cindy Hannan has been by her side for more than 10 years.  Hannan and her husband, Matt have been married 31 years and have successfully raised two children.  

In "Take Flight" Gunn and Hannan take turns sharing lessons on topics ranging from hospitality and friendship to worship and wisdom.  The book is divided into four sections and 3-4 chapters within each section.  Each chapter is laid out into two parts.  First is a short story "From Robin's Nest" then Hannan ties in biblical meaning and application to the story in the second part, "From Cindy's Perch."

The devotional is careful to leave room for the reader to journal her own thoughts, or "peeps" as Gunn and Hannan call it.

Overall the devotional is quite clever, charming and comical.  While I didn't feel especially challenged in my faith, I did catch a glimpse of what biblical sisterhood is all about and how this can and should be a part of my everyday living.  I do feel that I would have pulled more out of it and enjoyed it more had I shared it with my own "sisterchicks."  Perhaps now that I know what the series is all about, I can start my own circle of ladies to share this with.    I suggest the same to other ladies looking for some great fellowship.  

"I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."

What I Learned by Asking Advice

So you're at a point in your life and you don't know where to go next or which choice you should choose.  What do you do?

Proverbs 11:14

"Without good direction, people lose their way;
the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances."

A little over a month ago I had a quiet time regarding this verse.  After much thought I decided it would be a good idea to get advice for my future from my pocket of wise friends and family.  What I learned was some great "life" advice that applies to anyone entering a new season.  After much messaging, texting and breaking bread with these "elders" of my life, this is what I learned:

• From a much older and wiser friend to a younger one-"Travel before a family comes along is the way to go, I'd say."  
• From a wise and godly cousin- "Where your great joy meets the world's great need is where you should be." 
• Find out what you want, what brings you true joy and ask yourself if you can get by
  (financially) doing just that...if yes, do it.
• It's okay to make wrong choices.
• It's okay if the world things you are crazy for following a dream.
• Another wise old cousin- "You can make money doing what your passionate about.  It may not be easy or a lot of money, but it's possible."
• Do whatever you want but keep in mind you have to be on your own insurance by age 26.

And my two favorite which I have heard most often and most repetitively from all sorts of faces:

1. Do what you want to do.
2. When you find it, you'll know it

Those two make me laugh because they are so simple and true, yet it's one of those things that happens when you aren't searching for it.  

I guess that leads to the advice I would give someone like myself:

Don't worry about it so much, God will work it out for you when he's ready. 

Easier said than done of course.  But that's where the Bible's steadfast truth comes in.  The following chapters are always comforting in times of uncertainty for me:

Philippians 4

Jeremiah 29

1 Peter 4

Psalm 3

And of course, if you're still stressed out, you can always put on some good ol' Otis Redding: 

That song always reminds me that it's okay to just chill sometimes.  

"I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin the tide roll away, ooh
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time."

So smile, relax, have some fun and trust that everything is really a lot more okay than you think it is.  With the big man in charge it can't be too bad in the end, right?  And...don't forget to thank him instead of complaining!

The Beauty in Blooming

This picture came straight from my journal a couple days ago.  It was great quiet time with my favorite (and only) Creator.  I was spilling my heart out to God about being "happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time."  I told him my hopes and fears and how desparately I wanted to get this crucial time in my life right.  

I thanked him and blessed him for all the opportunities presented to me.  I told him how fortunate I was to be graduating, and to be so well supported by loving friends and family.  I thanked him for his grace and mercy and his never-ending promise to provide and plan for me.  :)

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my all time favorite verses.  We read over this together and peace was restored to my soul.

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,
'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."

We should take such comfort in knowing that we don't have to have everything figured out and we definitely don't have to do anything but trust God to navigate us on our journey.

22 is scary.  It is a time of transition, and in between place.  We are arriving, but not there.  We are moving but not settled.  Happy but not content.

Hope Kronman puts it extremely well in her 22ish article in the Huffington Post.  

"This, I've realized, is because 22 is the age of in-betweens -- in between adolescence and adulthood, in between relationships, in between this job and that career -- and it's nearly impossible to know who you are when you are still "becoming."

I think the most important thing we can do is keep our focus on God and let him do the rest.  Matthew 22:37-38 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment."

Also Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."

That right there sums up what it's all about.  

I know it's tough.  I know you're striving and searching..but keep your eyes on my daughter, I have you in the palm of my hand, steady and stable.  Trust me to shape you and place you where I see best for us.  You are a beautiful bloom, but you aren't ready to blossom yet.  During this season you must trust me to take care of you and nurture you--feeding you all the sweet loves of healing and the Holy Spirit.  Don't force your bloom.  I have the water of life and I promise to care for you daily, letting you grow and become your best; and your best is more than enough for me.  I love you just as you are, with or without all the trimmings.  You are my child and I have created you for such a time as this...   --Jesus