Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa TerKeurst is one of the books I had wanted to read ever since it was launched. Let’s admit it, we’ve all come unglued (given in to our emotions) at various points in our lives. My problem was that my unglued moments were taking a toll on my family. I knew I needed to change, and this book had just the information I needed.
The book starts off with a positive phrase, Imperfect Progress. I love that term! That’s how any lasting life change can be made – by progressing, even though we fail at times. The author’s own experiences of coming unglued, her imperfect progress and lessons she learned in the process are very inspiring.
The author has identified four categories of unglued reactions – none of which are good:
Exploders who shame themselves
Exploders who blame others
Stuffers who build barriers
Stuffers who collect retaliation rocks
For each of our earthly relationships, we fall under one of the above categories. For example, with my husband, I might be a stuffer who collects retaliation rocks; with my kids, I might be an exploder who shames herself. Identifying which category I fell into helped me take note of what I was doing wrong, and take the first step to transform my reactions.
What I loved about the book is the abundance of Scripture. The author goes deeper into familiar verses, teaching us how God’s Word can reverse our tendency to become unglued. The book has several practical tips to help us remain emotionally stable, even in situations where we’re most likely to fly off the handle!
I don’t think I have highlighted this many passages in any other book/ebook (save my Bible)! Here are a few quotes from the book that encouraged me:
“Could I trust God and believe that He is working out something good even from things that seem no good?”
“I can face things that are out of my control and not act out of control. I am not a freak-out woman.”
“He (God) allows the unglued moments to make us aware of the chiseling that needs to be done… Let God chisel.”
“Do not check in with the screaming demands of the world before you exchange whispers with God.”
“Regardless of the stress I’m under, I am capable of displaying God’s gentleness because the Holy Spirit is in me.”
We all experience potholes as we journey through life, but we have the ability to choose how we respond. If your natural reaction is to stuff your emotions or take it out on those around you, this book has biblical wisdom and practical tips to help you overcome it. It sure has been a much needed resource for me!
Disclosure: I received a free Kindle version of this book from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.
—————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up hereto have new blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox. You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
Every week (more or less), I share on the blog all the good things (and bad) I am grateful to God for. If you’d like to know more, check out these blog posts on why I do it and how to get started. Care to join me on this journey of intentional thanksgiving?
1371. Six years of being a triplet mom.
1372. Three red bicycles.
1373. The bruises that come along for free!
1374. Finding the perfect spot to park the cycles.
1375. Good health this season.
1376. The trio joyfully belting out “Joyful, joyful we adore Thee” in the car.
1377. The end of the kids’ exams (at least for this year!)
1378. Going deeper into God’s word.
1379. Singing a (childhood favorite) country gospel song in church.
1380. The upcoming holidays!
Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?
—————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up hereto have new blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox.
You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
At times, we go through phases in life where we see only darkness all around us.
The kids are sick.
Work piles up.
The house is a mess.
You’re on an emotional roller-coaster. You don’t have time to do what you really want to do… you’re just surviving on a day to day basis.
Can you relate?
Not too long ago, I went through such a phase. I really wanted to give in, give up and have a good cry. {Well, perhaps I did have a good cry ;)}
I came across a song during that period, which God used to speak to my weary heart. It truly encouraged me and pushed me on at a time when I felt I couldn’t take another step further. I realized that when darkness is pressing in all around, I do have a choice…
Do I let it engulf me, or do I push back the dark?
It’s definitely easier to give in to feelings of discouragement and despair. But we have a God who’s on our side, who’s willing to fight on our behalf. And with Him, we can conquer the darkness that threatens to overwhelm us.
Today, if you’re going through a dark phase in your life, I pray this song ministers to you as well.
One million reasons why, you shouldn’t even try.
After all you’re just one heart, a single candle in the dark.
And there are shadows here, feeding on your fears,
That you don’t have what it takes – who are you to make a change?
But oh, oh, don’t underestimate the God you follow.
Whatever you do, just don’t look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark.
The city on a hill, it should be shining still.
Every sinner saved by grace, has a purpose, has a place
Inside the bigger plan, we might not understand.
But if we just keep walking on, we will see the Kingdom come, yeah.
Whatever you do, just don’t look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have. Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark.
(Let your lights all shine…)
Oh, oh, don’t underestimate the God you follow.
He is the light that burns inside your soul,
So keep on shining ’til the whole world knows.
Whatever you do, just don’t look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Just keep on pushing back the dark, dark.
Whatever you do, just don’t look back.
Cause somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart. Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark, yeah
(Let your lights all shine)
When you feel like you’re too small
(Let your lights all shine)
To do any good at all
(Let your lights all shine)
Like a sunrise through the window
(Let your lights all shine)
Like a symphony crescendo
(Let your lights all shine)
We are waking up again, we are rising from the dead
(Let your lights all shine)
We are shining like the stars, we are pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
Yeah, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
We are pushing back, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
Just pushing back, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
—————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up hereto have new blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox.
You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
Every week (more or less), I share on the blog all the good things (and bad) I am grateful to God for. If you’d like to know more, check out these blog posts on why I do it and how to get started. Care to join me on this journey of intentional thanksgiving?
1365. The street kids around the corner who wave and say, “bye” every time I pass by.
1366. Playful puppies.
1367. Time – a gift!
1368. The way the boys pronounce, ‘Malayalam’…
1369. …and ‘Deodorant’.
1370. Fasting prayer week at church!!!
Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?
—————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up hereto have new blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox.
You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
It’s my husband’s birthday today! And in keeping with what I wrote last year and the year before, here are 33 things I love about him :).
To my husband, my lover, my best friend… here’s what I love about you:
Your eagerness to minister for God’s glory.
The post-it love note you stuck on the showcase.
The way you patiently say “Bye” to the kids over and over again.
Your determination to balance family, church and work.
The encouraging words you scribbled in my planner.
The way you check on the kids after they’re asleep on Saturday nights.
For taking the kids’ homework off my hands.
Your dedication in training the choir.
For using your talents to glorify God.
The intensity with which you play the guitar (and keep breaking the strings!).
For giving up Saturday morning football just for me.
The way you discuss super heroes with the sons.
For taking a day off to take us all out.
The 2 movie dates you took me out on, this year.
The joy on your face after you bought the kids Transformers.
For being the primary bread-winner in our family.
Watching late night movies with you.
For setting aside what you want to do, for what you need to do.
The 3D & 5D theater experience you took me to.
For being a generous giver…
…but a careful spender.
For allowing me to take a day off once in a while.
The way you hold me together when I’m falling apart.
For patiently listening to the stories of my past.
Your support as I began working from home.
For taking over when I’m burnt out.
For teaching the kids how to spell…
…and what the different food groups are.
For putting up with my emotional highs and lows.
For being my best friend for the past 7 years.
The ease with which you sing various parts.
For attempting to be home early this evening :).
For making sure our family is taken care of, in the midst of your commitments at work and church.
{I’m so proud to be your wife!}
To all the married women out there…
Go ahead, write a note, a text, an email.
Let your husband know all that you love about him.
You’ll be glad you did!
—————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up hereto have new blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox.
You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
I’m not sure why there’s always a Jim Reeves song playing in my mind when I see the 5 Minute Friday writing prompt. {See here and here}
Well today, the song was…
I’ll fly away, oh Glory I’ll fly away When I die Hallelujah, by and by I’ll fly away
Songs of heaven always make me feel homesick for my ever-after home. But this song also reminds me of something else that’s flying…
Time.
You see, life is fleeting… the days are flying by.
Sons who were once smaller than my forearm, now come up to my waist. I remember the terrible 2’s and 3’s when each day would drag on… and now they’re moving swifter than I can catch my breath.
I remember ringing in 2012 at church as if it was just yesterday… and already we’re winding up the year!
Somehow, in the hustle of getting the kids ready for school, my work, cooking, cleaning, teaching… there is so little time left to just sit still.
But I suppose that is something we can’t afford to not make time for. I’m sure a few minutes of sitting still in the heat of the day will do wonders for our stress levels.
I’m reminding myself again:
Less hurry,
Less worry,
Less stress…
More stillness,
More enjoying each moment,
More life…
—————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up hereto have new blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox.
You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
