Friday, April 25, 2014

Rhinestone Jesus-A Giveaway



And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony 
                                                                                                                                                                             ~Revelation 12:11

Walking through a slum in Kenya, tears streaming down her face, Kristen asked God "How can you allow so much suffering?" He answered her, "Kristen, How can you allow this?" Kristen told this story on her blog We Are THAT Family and those words have stuck with me. They always linger in the back of my mind when I am faced with injustice in the world.

Kristen and her family founded The Mercy House a few years ago after she traveled to Kenya with Compassion International to visit her sponsored children and learned about the reality that young unwed mothers face in Kenya. This book, Rhinestone Jesus, is the story of her (and her family's) "Yes" to God after she returned from Africa.

She starts at the beginning and tells of wearing her sparkly rhinestone JESUS pin all throughout high school as a statement of her faith. She honestly tells about the struggles in her marriage and as a parent as well. Kristen and her family are regular people, just like you and me. They just chose to say "YES" in the middle of their mess. When that small YES was given God took them right out of sparkly, safe faith and led them into an amazing adventure.

One of Kristen's main themes is saying "Yes in your mess". So many of us are waiting for the "right time" to do God's work, for the finances to be right, for our kids to be grown, for the timing to right, to be "better" Christians, or maybe for God to send us a written invitation with explicit instructions (or maybe that's just me!?!)

But, you see, all that waiting for the "right" time and perfect conditions, that isn't faith. That isn't a real yes.

A real Yes is scary, it is following Jesus into the unknown and trusting He has the best for you. A real Yes is believing that God is in control and that He will finish the work He calls us to. A real Yes is hard. It is demanding, but it is so worth it. Just ask Kristen.

I really cannot recommend this book enough! Rhinestone Jesus is an amazing testimony of God's faithfulness. It is a heartfelt, honest, real life story of one family's "Yes" to God. It will certainly bring tears and some belly laughs too. There is at least a part of Kristen's story that we can all identify with. You cannot read this book and NOT be inspired!

I am so excited to be giving away 2 copies of Rhinestone Jesus!!! Enter on the form below and  I will choose the winners on Friday May 2nd. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A portion of the proceeds of Rhinestone Jesus benefit The Mercy House Kenya.

If you would like to learn more or donate to The Mercy House Kenya click here.

{I was given a copy of this book to review but all opinions are my own.}

18 comments:

  1. No I haven't...but I feel Him calling me for it!

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    1. That is exactly how I have been feeling Jen! I have just known in my heart that there is more and I am in the beginnings of whispering a weak "yes" to Him and my life is already changed! He meets us right where we are and gives us the strength we need! I know He has big plans for you, friend!

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  2. No, I haven't. I am working on listening as I realize I don't always pay attention. Hopefully I will be able to say "yes" soon to what He is asking of me.

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    1. Listening is soooo hard for me too. Sometimes I think my attention span is worse that Tanners! Laura, your heart is so sweet, I can't wait to see what your "yes" looks like!

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  3. Love that you are writing here again, Vicki. You have such a beautiful heart and it shows in your words. I understand that "yes" doesn't look ideal sometimes and we've got to have faith enough to step out, trying my best to do that and get comfortable with the outcome whatever it is.

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    1. Oh Tina! Thank you for your kind words! It rarely looks ideal does it? I know that I have spent so much time waiting for things to be "perfect". But I'm learning that isn't what it's about. We just need to be willing and God will take care of the rest!

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  4. No. I know He is prompting me for something. I need to continue to listen for clarity.

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  5. It seems this book is so timely for me as I just said Yes....FINALLY....to Him! It's crazy, too, how it always seems so hard to say yes. We look at this *impossible* journey He's asked us to do and it looks like we'll need to plow through the entire way....silly me...He always leads the way....we always follow. never lead....it's not as hard as we make it seem...

    (PS--best review I've read of this book yet, Vicki! Thank you!)

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    1. Nikki, Thank you so much! (Should I admit this is my first formal book review?!? I was a bit nervous about it!)

      It is so exciting when we can finally say YES and trust that Jesus has us in His hands! I can't wait to hear about your "Yes!" God is pulling me out of my "sparkly" faith right now and it is turning me inside out and it is so amazing!

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  6. Hello Vicki, It's been a while but nice to visit you today. I've heard so much about this book and you really share a great review. I'm learning to hear Him better and trust Him with saying yes. Right now they are smaller things I hear Him calling me to but it's still saying yes to Him. Blessings to you.

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    1. Hi Beth!!! Thank you for your kind words! This book has come at such a perfect time for me and it is such an incredible testimony! Hearing and trusting are so huge! And I believe that the smallest yes can be so important! We don't ever know how He will use us and our yes! Bless you too! Praying for you and your family! <3

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  7. I realize that when I say yes, amazing things happen. I need to say yes much more often!!

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  8. I have said "yes" to God this year and He is blessing in ways that I wouldn't have imagined.

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  9. Saying Yes to God can be scary, hard, amazing...so many things. Love hearing stories of others as they journey through following Jesus.

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    1. Me too! This is just so timely in my life right now!

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  10. I'm still working on it! I have give my yes to God in many ways, but I know I can still improve!

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