An Imperfect Woman - Ellen Chauvin

What’s Your Story?

March 8, 2018 by Ellen Leave a Comment

“Did I ever tell you about the time me and Steve went FISHIN’?” my old Uncle Hubert asked in his “I don’t have my hearing aid in” voice.

He had cornered – er, taken my hubby aside – to regale him with fish tales of days gone by. I’m pretty sure John even felt the “splash” of fishin’ water, since Uncle Hubert was almost nose to nose with him.

My uncle loved to reminisce and retell his old stories. And why not? Everybody loves a story, and everyone has a story to tell. What’s yours?

The word story is derived from the Greek word meaning knowing or knowledge. Your story is what you know, what you have experienced first hand.

The Apostle Paul’s story is told three times in the book of Acts (Acts 9, 22, 26). In Acts 22:3-16, he gives his testimony: what his life was like before he met Jesus (he persecuted followers of Christ, even to the death), and the day he met Jesus. Saul (as he was known then) was heading to Damascus to capture more Christians and terrorize them. Suddenly, a bright light from heaven surrounded him, blinding him.

“and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
“And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’” Acts 22:7-8 NASB

Blinded by a bright light, Saul heard the voice of the risen Savior! His story sounds like a tall tale that would rival most fishermen’s. But it is true. It is Saul’s remarkable testimony. Meeting Jesus changed Saul’s life. He became know as Paul, and instead of being zealous to kill Christians, he became zealous for Christ. A complete 180 degree turn! But that’s what Jesus does for us, doesn’t He?

This was Paul’s conversion experience. It was dramatic, wasn’t it?

Was your salvation experience this exciting? Mine wasn’t.

I grew up in a Christian home. My faith grew slowly over time, from a steady diet of hearing God’s word. I was eleven when I knew it was time to ask Jesus to be my Savior. No flashing lights, no triumphal fanfare.

Not all conversion experiences are as dramatic as Paul’s. BUT…

[tweetthis]ALL stories of meeting Jesus are life-changing![/tweetthis]

“God has a grand, eternal destiny for each of us. He has written an amazing story. No one ever before or ever after will have your story.” (An Imperfect Woman, Kim Hyland, page 209 Kindle Edition)

If you know Jesus, you have a story to tell.

Own your story.

“As my story has unfolded, I’ve been tempted to question God’s timing. There are chapters I would like to rewrite, but then I remember who the author is.” (An Imperfect Woman, Kim Hyland, page 193, Kindle Edition)

So, what’s your story?

Send me an e-mail, I’d love to hear it!

Grace be with you,

An Imperfect Woman: Book Review

February 1, 2018 by Ellen 6 Comments

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting Soaked and Sprouting!)

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,