The Story of Your Life

I usually try to keep my reviews over at Sunflowers at Home's Book Reviews 4 U 2, but since this study led be back into some charity crafting that I talked about here, I wanted to fill you all in on the study that prompted it.

Last year I read and reviewed a devotional by Matthew West and Angela Thomas entitled The Story of Your Life (you can read about it here).  In a nutshell, I really liked it.  And if you have been listening to contemporary Christian music stations you have probably heard many of Matthew West's songs from his album, The Story of Your Life, released in 2010.  The album was a unique project in which Matthew West asked his fans to submit stories from their lives as inspiration for his upcoming album.  His previous songs were written based upon his own life and he wanted to try something different.  (You can read about it on his blog here.)  The response was huge and led to the CD (obviously) and the devotional (Matthew and Angela's responses to many of the letters) and to this study.

I don't really know how to begin describing this study to you.  I did it with several of the ladies at my church.  We began by meeting every other week and we grew so much and were so anxious to see what was next we began to meet weekly!  It was amazing how these five chapters and journal changed us.

Each chapter focuses on a different area.  From start to finish we looked at how we view our lives, to look past the highlights reel and begin to really examine our whole story.  Once we begin to look at our lives as a whole story we have to determine who the author is.  Next, who are and how many supporting characters do we allow into our story?  (That was the chapter that sparked the compassion project!) The last two chapters focus on the hard parts of our stories and how to begin healing.

The overwhelming theme is obviously to view your life as a story, and in each session you will read about portions of other people's stories as they relate to that theme.  Many of them were very personal and resonated with at least one of us in the group.  The study never felt "preachy", but it felt like hanging out with a good friend who was sharing with you what they had learned.

What I loved:  The DVD that accompanies the group study is set up so that you watch the video session AFTER you have completed the chapter.  This was great for us because it helped us to get back into a similar frame of mind as the one we were in when reading the chapter.  It also highlighted portions that we may not have "got" when we read it.  What I really liked though, was seeing some of the real life people who shared their stories. 

The workbook is all in one.  Once you buy it you really have all you need, the study, the questions and the journal.  While I HIGHLY recommend having either the CD, DVD or both you can still grow with just the workbook making this a very economical study.

Works great in a small group environment, but would also be good as a personal study.  In the small group setting we were able to share our chapter responses with each other.  Many of us "got" one thing while others "got" another.  This led to great discussions and increased understanding.  While my group has always been great about opening up and sharing EVERYTHING with each other, it was still nice to have the personal journal sections that allowed me to delve into my own story on a very personal level.  That is what makes this great as a stand alone study also.  My sister did the study at the same time as my group did but was unable to attend out weekly sessions due to her schedule.  She said that she didn't feel like she had less of an experience because of that.

I loved that there was a song that went with each chapter.  I would download the song and listen to it all week long.  Now I can't hear the song on the radio without being reminded of what I learned in the chapter associated with the song.  It's great!

What I didn't like:  It was short.  We all felt like there should have been one more chapter.  The last session helps us to remember that we need to surrender all of our life to God and allow Him to finish writing our stories.  We would have liked to see another chapter about beginning that process.

Overall, I really enjoyed the study and feel like I grew closer to God.  I know I was able to let go of a few of my broken chapters and I am now more conscious of letting God write my story instead of me.  Still, don't take my word for it.  Here is what a few of the gals in the group with me said.

I really liked the study for several reasons.

1. I think we should all realize the hurt around us.

2. Even if we have such blessed lives that we don't experience much pain, there are others who struggle each day.

3. But mostly, likely almost all of us, we have to deal with some painful thought, habit, character trait, etc. on a regular basis.

4. The study helps us to know God is always with us.

5. And that He loves us.

6. He can bring peace.

7. Most importantly, the study helps me realize this is not my home.

~Brenda 

I loved how the book, dvd and cd tied it all together. The songs kept the stories fresh in my mind; the journaling forced me to dive into areas I never thought or wanted to submerge. The deep look into how my life is what I allow God to do through me was a wakeup call to many of us. It’s too frequent a choice we make to do our will, and not God’s. When I let go and allow God to truly be the author, the story is amazing; and I want to shout it from the mountain tops. When I try to write my own story, nothing seems to go right; and I want to lose myself in the deepest valley. To know that God is writing my story makes me feel like my story is worth sharing. 

~Stacie 

Sound like something you might be interested in?  You can find the book and CD at your local Christian store or you can order below:

Small Group Kit available August 1st, pre-order now.  This contains the workbook, CD, DVD, devotional and leaders guide

The Story of Your Life: An Interactive Journey workbook available now

The Story of Your Life: Inspiring Stories of God at Work in People Just like You devotional available now

Story of Your Life CD also available now

Still not sure?  Check out the introduction portion of the DVD below

I want to thank Harvest House publishers for graciously providing this study for the purposes of review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own unless otherwise stated and there was no compensation for this review. 

Until next time,

Please note that this post does include affiliate links

In the mail

My mailbox lately hasn't really been a pleasant place to visit.  Mostly just junk mail and bills.  Not fun!  Especially since in my neighborhood we don't receive our mail at our front door or even at the end of the driveway.  I have to walk about 1/2 a block down a hill to a metal box, unlock my assigned box to retrieve my mail, and then walk back up the hill.  To be honest, some days it is just to hot or to cold to make it worth it so I leave it sit.

This week though I have been watching out the window for my mailperson to arrive.  You see, I have been following Jill over at Enchanted Homeschooling Mom for a while now.  Okay, so I am not a homeschooler officially yet.  Princess A and I were playing school last year, but this fall we begin officially to homeschool preschool.  Still, Jill has lots of great crafty projects as well as free printables, DIY projects, book reviews etc that even a traditional school mom would love.  What does this have to do with my mail?

A few weeks ago she had a 7 Days of Giveaways party.  She gave away some awesome stuff and I WON!!!  I got this really awesome book:

full of some neat ideas like making a worm or ant farm, cooking only using the sun (fried eggs anyone?) sunlight photography and so much more!  And I finally got it!!! 

I would tell you more about it but the princess and I are off to explore nature.  Thanks Jill!

Until next time,

Compassion

For the last two months the ladies at my church have been participating and reviewing Matthew West's new small group Bible study The Story of Your Life.  It has been phenomenal and has really caused each of us to grow.  My projects this week are a direct response to one of the study directives of chapter 3 concerning compassion.  (You can look for a review of the Bible Study in the near future, but seriously, consider doing the study when it becomes available in August!)

If you have been listening to contemporary Christian music for any length of time then you have probably heard Matthew West's song "My Own Little World".  that is what this chapter in the study was about.  "What if there's a bigger picture?  What if there's a greater purpose?" and we looked at what compassion really is, being willing to reach out to others, to suffer with them.  Our assignment for the week was to choose a specific compassion project for ourselves.

Crocheting and knitting for charity isn't a new project for me.  Those of you who have been following this blog remember the projects I made during Lent, and the many posts concerning God's Tiny Angels.  What I was reminded of during this part of the Bible study is that compassion "is not just an emotional response.  it is a choice."  I had to recognize that I needed to be intentional about compassion and not just create when I felt like it or because it was a time for compassion.  I realized that I had let helping others slip farther down my to do list until it sometimes dropped off completely.  Not a proud moment for me.  So my compassion project this past week was to create 3 items to be donated.

 

The Knot Hard to Do! Baby Bootie designed by Salena Baca

 The Mini Moogly Sweater by Tamara Kelly

and the Ripple Baby Gown by Peggy S Besco & Jessica Esterly

with a butterfly motif designed by Chie O'Briant

I am committing today to make at least 1 item every week for donation.  "If we can have a positive impact on even one life we are doing the kind of work that Jesus did." ~Matthew West.  I want to be able to say I am doing that!  Won't you join me?  Please comment below and tell me what you commit to do to positively impact people in your own little world.

Until next time,

Leap Frog Summer Camp

I have to admit, summers around my house are pretty lazy.  We set up the little kiddie pool in the backyard, buy a sprinkler or slip and slide for the kids and after about a week my kids start the whine.  You know the one.

"I'm booorrreeeeeddd!  There's nothing to do around here."

I can only in good conscience let them play so many hours of video games before I have to say stop.  Now my older children can always go read a book or hang out with some friends.  The princess, however, can't read yet and is still a bit to young to turn lose on the neighborhood!  So we try board games.

Hi Ho Cherry-o isn't to bad the first 15 times a day.  After a while though I start to stuff those little cherries between the couch cushions until we just don't have enough to play anymore.  And seriously, how many times can two people play old maid before one really starts to FEEL like the old maid looks?

This summer, I hope, is going to be different.  The family splurged on summer passes to the local Wave Pool park.  (We went for the first time last week and 3 of us got sunburned!  The only one who didn't was my son, who refused to use the spf 70 sunscreen the rest of us used.  Go figure!)  But I wanted something slightly, sneakily educational for the princess to do too.  Leap Frog to the rescue!

I LOVE Leap Frog toys.  Princess has the Imagination Desk (which we were fortunate enough to get free from our local FreeCycle group), the Scribble and Write (which was also free with loyalty points from our bank), the Leapster 2 and about 10 games (which we picked up at our local Goodwill for $8.00 total!) and of course her friend Scout that she got as a birthday gift.  In case you haven't picked it up yet, I also love bargains.  Leap Frog must have had me in mind when they created their Summer Camp program!

Now, I have never done one of these before, so all I have to go on is what they advertise, but it's free so I am willing to give a brand I trust a shot at that price!  It's a program set up for ages 4-7 to help keep them learning all summer long through fun, weekly projects and themes.  "Enjoy 8 weeks of printables, crafts and fun projects while exploring geography, writing, science, art and more!" the site claims.  Sounds fun to me, how about you?  It begins June 4th and all you have to do to get involved is visit their site here and sign up.  You will get bi-weekly emails and get special discounts on LeapFrog items as well!

Maybe this will at least keep the princess from being "boorrrreeeddd" this summer!

Until next time,

 I have not been asked or solicited to endorse LeapFrog or their products in anyway. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. This post contains affiliate links.