Your Marriage Masterpiece by Al Janssen

Book Description

A Transformational Picture of Marriage.

God created marriage as a beautiful work of art that reflects his glory to the world. But our culture has undervalued and misunderstood it, causing it to lose some of its luster. Like recent restoration projects on the Sistine Chapel and the Mona Lisa, it is time to return marriage to its former glory, and the only way to do that is to take a closer look at what the artist had in mind all along.

In this newly revised and expanded book, Al Janssen takes a fresh look at the exquisite design God has for marriage and brings to light the reasons this union was intended to last a lifetime. The chapters weave real-life stories with great teaching and biblical narratives in order to paint a complete picture of all that marriage can be. Readers will examine elements such as passion, adventure, and commitment that come together to make up the colors of God's design. They will also discover new ways to reflect God's love within marriage--revealing his plan for men and women from the moment he created us.

My Review

I believe you can never be too prepared, especially when it comes to something as precious and wonderful as Marriage. I’m single so when I first saw this book I though, “I probably have to be married to read or truly understand this book.”  Oh how I was I mistaken!

            From the first page the creative narrative captured me, begging to keep turning the pages. I read nearly 100 pages in the first afternoon. I’ve thought about what marriage means, what God intended it to be, but Al Janssen wonderfully illustrates and elaborates God’s true masterpiece when he created Adam and Eve and the world. Each chapter touches on a different piece of what marriage is and the very gospel God wrote in marriage when He created it. Not only what marriage is now, about a man and woman uniting as one, but how we are betrothed, promised, to God to one day be united forever with Him. What he did to show us that promise.

            One of my favorite illustrations and something I had not realized before was when God made a covenant with Abram and walked through the blood to seal it, he walked in it alone while Abram slept. He took on the whole thing so that even when the covenant was broken Abraham or anyone after him would not have to pay the penalty. God has already planned for Christ to pay that cost. Amazing.

            The book is filled with so much insightful looks at marriage and thought provoking illustrations on how we are to be and stand united when you do decide to join with that special someone. Filled with funny stories of his childhood and his own marriage, Al Janssen does a fabulous job telling the masterpiece God has created in marriage. Even if you are single for the rest of your life this book is more than worth reading. You get more than a glimpse at how much time and purpose God has put into us and whatever relationships we have with a spouse and our Lord our and Savior.

I highly recommend this book, whether you are married, want to one day wed, or even a confirmed bachelor(ette).

 

I give this book 5 out of 5!

 

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part Bethany House blogging for book program.

Spoken For by Robin J. Gunn & Allyssa J. Bethke

Cover Description

Say Yes to the Love Story of Your Life

A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?

In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences,   these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.

You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.

My Review

I was excited to read this book. I love listening to people's love stories and inspiring tales. It gives me hope for my future.

"If God can do that for them then I know he can do it for me!"

Little did I really know just how much he will do for me and why. Robin Gunn and Alyssa Bethke really helped open my eyes to what God sees in me rather than how others see me. To see him as the pursuer of my life and love, because of the love he has for me, brought a new sense of wholeness. Verses from Genesis all the way to Revelations showcase just exactly what God thinks of us. In chapter two there is a list of them in "What God Says About You", which I loved. Be sure to bookmark that page, you'll be making a few trips back to it throughout the book.

At the end of each chapter there are 5 questions called "What do you think?" which I found very helpful and revealing. In a good way! In the beginning, I wasn't sure I was going to do anything more than read and mentally answer the questions, but God told me I needed to write them down, that this was going to be a growing experience. So I prayed for that I might me completely open and honest with my answers. I learned a lot about myself and about God when I answered all those questions and wrote all those notes in between. Like that though I believed God loved me there was still some hesitation deep inside. Yes I believed God loved me, but did I truly deeply believe it? I believed the words that said he loved me but I didn't understand how he valued and saw me for me. I've always been a strong person, but not perfect. I've let people who were close to me hurt me with their words and views of me and believed what they said was true. Even though I knew God loved me, for the reasons most of us know: We are his children, He created us, etc,. But thanks to Robin and Alyssa, I found out so much more!

• I am of great value
• He knows everything about me and familiar with all my ways
• He has given me nicknames: Peculiar Treasure, Beloved, 
• He will never stop being good to me: Loving, Providing, Sheltering and Comforting, Peace,
• He delights in me because I am His

I understand better now how God loves us and truly wants us! He's invited us to the wedding feast and will one day come to pick us up on a white horse and carry us away like a fairy tale love story. But this is no fairy tale, it is real!

Both Alyssa and Robin were very relatable. One chapter I found really got to me. The end of chapter 8, one of the questions was "What lies do you currently believe about yourself?" My answer was: "That I'll be alone, no friends, no husband, no family. Everyone will leave me. I'll be alone because no one wants me." And with my track record of friends abandoning me over the years that lie has slowly rooted itself inside my heart. Despite how much I've said and tried to believe otherwise. I put the book down for a couple hours and when I came back to read chapter 9 I found a nice surprise. Robin tells a story about a time when she was so sad she couldn't do anything but sob on the floor. She too had insecurities that held no truth to them even after she was married for years but when her husband came and comforted and covered her, that when I learned something:

• GOD HAS ME COVERED! 

My insecurities are lies to hold me back from Him. And what I really loved was how Robin's husband loved his wife as Christ tells every man to do. It made me believe more that there is someone out there for me that will love me as Robin's husband loves her and show that same affection and patience that Christ shows me everyday and I pray Christ's light shines through Him just as brightly.

I wish I had this book when I was in my teens, but then, to be honest, I wouldn't have been able to relate to it as I do now. Or draw so much insight and encouragement from it. I believe this is a great book for any young or old woman. To see God and his pursuit of us as a love/romance story is uplifting and inspiring to any woman. Maybe the husbands of Robin and Alyssa should write a male version companion to this book *hint hint*

I highly recommend this book for yourself or perhaps you have a sister or friend. This would make a lovely gift!



I received this book for free from the publisher’s in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part of their Blogging For Books program.

Happy 25th Anniversary!

My parents celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary yesterday! Original plans were for them to set out for the beach for a couple days, but God had other plans. The weather turned out bad, the water heater sprung a leak, and turns out the beach is closed due to a bacteria levels (because of all the rain). I'd say God was protecting them! They stayed home and celebrated with us!

Dad, the Romantic

It's hard to believe its already been 25 years! God has blessed me with amazing parents. My sisters and I could not have been shown more than or cared for as much as they have. They've shown us the love of Jesus and shared that love with us. Guiding us through our walks and trials in life. Teaching us everything from the moment we were born, from talking to reading and writing. Making friends and being a friend. Sharing and loving others.
All the things the Lord calls us to be my parents have taught me. I couldn't be more grateful to them for that and showing me Love.

As we were out eating lunch today, the waitress heard that it was my parents 25th Anniversary and you know what she said?

"That is just wonderful!" A real awe in her voice and sincerity. "You don't hear that much anymore in this day. People come here to celebrate their 5th or 10th, but their much older and it be their 2nd or 3rd marriage. Congratulations!"

That really touched my heart to hear yesterday. I know my parents will be together until God takes one or both of them home or comes to take us all home. But until then, they'll keep celebrating each year for the next 25 years until the end. I love my parents for setting such a great example for me and others out there that marriage is not easy but with Jesus as their center they can walk hand in hand all the way to the end!

Until The End