Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

An Imperfect Woman: Book Review

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This is it. The year I turn sixty. The BIG 6-0.

For the most part, it hasn’t bothered me. Except for that one time I realized I had only maybe 25 or 30 years left. And the older you get, the FASTER those years go by!

Immediately, my brain went into overdrive:
“I need to do this! I’ve got to do that! I’ve got to do these things NOW, before it’s too late! I’ve got to fix this, manage that and control the other.”

And when I do all these things in my Year of Sixty, I should feel great and totally fulfilled, shouldn’t I?

Thankfully there was a divine intervention, before I went into full blown manic mode. My book arrived in the mail.

It’s a book I have been waiting on: An Imperfect Woman – Letting Go of the Need to Have it All Together, by Kim Hyland. I’m honored to be a part of her book launch team.

I put everything on hold (all those things I had to plan and do before it was too late), and dove right in. Chapter Two stopped me in my tracks.

Kim revisits the story found in Genesis 2 and 3, when Eve ate the forbidden fruit. It’s an age old story that we’ve all grown up knowing, but Kim’s telling in An Imperfect Woman added a new dimension for me. Here are a few tidbits from this chapter:

  • Eve believed if she ate the forbidden fruit, she would have what she needed…but Eve’s disobedience cut her off from the One who was more than enough. Eve believed the lie that she needed MORE than God. (Page 38)
  • Imperfection has become a trend…We can breathe again, and we’re learning to enjoy life as is…Until we forget and find ourselves chasing a newer and better promise for soul satisfaction.
  • Why is it so easy to slip back into perfectionism? It is because we were made for Eden. Our heart are forever longing to return to that place of perfection. (Page 39)

  • Perfectionism is paralyzing. (Can I get an AMEN to this quote from Page 44?)
  • Only Jesus can satisfy our hearts longing for perfection. (Page 46)
  • Jesus wanted to bring us “back to Eden” by restoring us to his Father. (Page 47)
  • A humble spirit isn’t just thinking a a lot about self. It’s also saying “Yes, Lord,” with a submissive heart to God’s sovereign will as He reveals it day by day through our circumstances. (Page 48)

Perhaps my frenzy to find soul satisfaction in the doing and being of 60, is the same lie that Eve believed: that I need MORE than God. Perhaps the longing to strive for perfection, is actually my longing to return to Eden.

I haven’t yet finished the book. But I KNOW that the last chapter will be my favorite. The title? Heavenly Minded.

Kim had excellent discussion questions at the end of each chapter. I can see this being a great book and study for a group of heavenly minded, former perfectionists to read and discuss over coffee each week!

If you pre-order the book by clicking the graphic below, you’ll get lots of extra goodies.

So tell me, are you ready to let go of the need to have it all together?? Me, too! Let me know in the comments, and your name will be entered for a chance to receive a FREE COPY of Kim’s book!

He said to him, “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.” Genesis 2:16-17 (GNT)

Grace be with you,

Four Years and Counting: Books, Books and More Books!

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You know the old saying: Always a bridesmaid, never a bride? I feel like that sometimes as a writer. Always on other people’s book launches, never writing my own book!

Please note – there is not one iota of bitterness in that statement! I’ll tell you why: The women who wrote the books, and on whose launch teams I’ve served, have a message. God placed it on their hearts. Beautiful messages. Important messages. Messages of His faithfulness and His provision and His love for each of us. And each of these books is written for His glory alone.

I have been honored to be a cheerleader for a number of books that have been published the last four years. Let me share them with you:

Over It – Conquering Comparison to Live Out God’s Plan by Kristine Brown. Well, now, if we’re honest, haven’t we all struggled with comparison from time to time? I have. In her book, Kristine teaches us truths about comparison and what can do to overcome it. She encourages us to find contentment on our God-given uniqueness. This is a wonderful book for you or for a young teen girl who may question whether she’s good enough.

Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengston. Michelle is a board-certified neuropsychologist, and has seen first hand the devastation of depression. When she experienced depression, she realized the treatments she was recommending to others was lacking. In this book, Michelle blends her medical expertise and faith to offer readers hope grounded in God’s love and grace. This is a must read for anyone suffering from depression.

I have had the privilege of serving on launch teams of three writers from Proverbs 31 Ministries. All of these books (in my UN-BIASED opinion) are must haves on your book shelf!

Listen, Love, Repeat: Other-Centered Living in a Self-Centered World by Karen Ehman
Doing Busy Better, Enjoying God’s Gifts of Work and Rest by Glynnis Whitwer
Come With Me, Discovering the Beaty of Following Where He Leads by Suzanne Eller

Because I am a Bible geek, there were two books that were my particular favorites:
Everyday Obedience: Walking Purposefully in His Grace by Katie Orr. Katie created the FOCUSed15 Bible study method. In as little as 15 minutes a day, this book will take you deep into Colossians 3. For the busy woman, this is a wonderful study process!

Deeper Waters: Immersed in the Life-Changing Truth of God’s Word, by Denise J. Hughes. Part memoir, part Bible study how-to, Denise has a love of God’s Word that will overflow into your life, as you read her book. She wants to share with others the many things that have helped in her study of God’s Word through the years. She wants to mentor us and minister to us through her book.

Y’all, seriously. Go get one or two or all of these books. You will be blessed!

Grace be with you,