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HAPPY FRIDAY, FRIEND! I’m super excited because it’s GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY DAY!
Today I’m honored to introduce you to my friend JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD. Many, many moons ago I read Jennifer’s book, Lessons I Learned In The Dark. {LOVED. That. Book!} I remember being blown away by her down-to-earth writing style and by the depth of content she had to share. When I finished the book I felt like Jennifer and I were friends. Personal, fleshy, text-me-after-your-workout friends. Like if we ever met, she would know me just as much as I felt like knew her… And THEN we met… and she really IS that warm, relatable, deep and gentle-spirited!!! #truestory
You guys… I’m so excited for you to read an excerpt from her newest book today. From ME, MYSELF & LIES, here’s Jennifer Rothschild…
Two Ways You Can Experience Peace in the Midst of Chaos
The Old Testament word for peace is based on the Hebrew greeting shalom. This peaceful-sounding word is really a prayer that asks God to secure a person’s well-being. You can still and quiet your soul by speaking shalom to yourself. It’s like inviting wellness to your soul — to your thought closet.
Experiencing real shalom seems nearly impossible in our chaotic lives, though. Peace, calm, and tranquility seem just beyond our grasp. And let’s face it, we all have times of stress, feel overwhelmed and have telephone conversations that are… well, less than peaceful.
But peace is a quality that can characterize our inner world, even while our outer world goes crazy. Here are two ways I’ve learned to speak shalom to my soul in the midst of chaos.
Loosen the Grip
Do you realize how difficult it is to be a blind control freak?
By nature, I am a planner. But add blindness to that equation. I can assure you that what was once pretty difficult is now practically impossible.
A long time ago, I had to reconcile myself to the fact that I wasn’t in control and really could never be in control as I wished to be. The real reconciliation wasn’t with the disappointment that blindness had taken away my control. It was with the realization that ultimate control was never mine to begin with.
Did you catch that? Blindness didn’t take away my control. It simply exposed that I never had ultimate control in the first place! And, my friend, neither do you. As you loosen the grip on the illusion of control, your soul will begin to find peace.
Recognize What You Do Control
Control over the events of our lives is a pleasant daydream at best and a cruel fantasy at worst. Even so, God has left a few very vital aspects of life under our control.
We have control over our own attitudes.
We have control over our responses to circumstances.
We have control over our choice to seek God.
We have control over our determination to be still before Him.
We have control over our choice to acknowledge that He is God — and we are not!
Even though we have the power to choose in those situations, making the right choice can still be terribly difficult. Yet we know that with God, all things are possible.
So, how do we experience peace in the midst of chaos? We loosen our tight grip and begin to hold the precious things in our lives with an open hand. We trust His plan, His ways, and His goodness more than we trust our own.
That kind of acknowledgment and trust has ushered ultimate peace into my thought closet.
And I believe it will do that for you, too.
Congratulations to our giveaway winners- Carol Joy Collins & Crystal Hawkins!
Jennifer is giving away two copies of Me, Myself & Lies! That’s right! TWO! To qualify for the drawing, you need to do TWO things:
#1. LEAVE A COMMENT to win by CLICKING HERE.
#2. SHARE THIS POST on social media.
That’s it! Once you do both, your name will be entered into the random drawing. Be sure to tell your friends so they can sign up too. The drawing will take place on Monday, May 22nd, so don’t delay! {Contest is limited to US and Canada readers only.}
Jennifer Rothschild is a recovering perfectionist who has learned to live beyond limits ever since her life drastically changed at the age of fifteen, when she lost her sight. Now, more than 30 years later, she boldly and compassionately teaches women how to find contentment, walk with endurance, and celebrate the ordinary.
She’s the author of 15 books, including the best-selling Lessons I Learned in the Dark, the popular Me, Myself and Lies Bible study, 66 Ways God Loves You: Experience God’s Love for You in Every Book of the Bible, and her soon to be released books Me, Myself & Lies: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself and Me, Myself, & Lies for Young Women: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself.
Jennifer and her Dr. Phil live in Springfield, Missouri, and have two sons Connor and Clayton and a lovely daughter-in-law, Caroline.
This is SO exciting… and YOU are INVITED!
Today, I am overjoyed to share a FREE online event I’m confident you’ll love – The Journey Together Summit, June 5-8, 2017.
I’m joining hands with 34 leading authors with the sole mission of helping you discover new bravery. Whether you desire to be brave at home or at work, in your marriage or with your children, in ministry or in the mess of the day, dealing with a surprising life or just organizing it – this is the event for you. There is something for everyone with over 34 topics of fear covered (wait till you see them all!).
What’s more? It’s FREE. See the agenda by clicking here.
I can’t wait to see you there!
Your sister on the journey,
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUMMIT
Comments 97
Well said my friend. I once had told a friend of mine that we all are arrogant because we believe we can control the world around us. Our families, our friends, our co workers, our bodies. I am a control freak, neat freak, organizational freak.
I had a surprise pregnancy at 38 years old. My husband and I had been married for 14 years. We had decided when we married we would not have children. ( when you finish laughing read on) That was the first big wake up surprise blessing God gave to me.
Trust me a neat freak plus a toddler do not mix well. The battle of will began and continues to a point to this day. I have had Psoriasis most of my life two years ago I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. I slowly lost my stamina and having constant pain I lost my ability to work. It took me 50 years to truly embrace the complete true that I am only in control in my attitude, my response to others and as you so eloquently said my acceptance of Christ as my savior.
I’d love to receive this book. There’s so much negativity in my life right now. Lies being told and it drives me crazy. Pray for me and my family please.
I would love to receive this book. I really love Jennifer because of her positive outlook on life. When I saw her in Whiteville,NC at the Women of Worth conference she was so inspiring and did it in a way that was funny and interesting at the same time.
So needed! Thank you Jennifer
I’m definitely a control freak! Thank you for the chance to win this fantastic giveaway!
Shared on Facebook & Twitter
I would so love to win her book to help me in changing my pattern of what I tell myself and the thoughts in my head.
I have heard of Jennifer Rothschild and think she is a beautiful woman. I was at a conference a long time ago, a Beth Moore conference and Jennifer was there. I am blind myself and understand challenges that Jennifer goes through. I was born with a retinal eye disease that effected me when I was 10 years old. I had normal sight up until my 20’s and after that it went down hill. Now I only have light perception, can see light and dark and shadows some times. I am grateful for the sight I do still have and I wait patiently and faithfully for the healing of my eyes by Jesus because He is God and can do anything! I would love to read the book, I know it would help my self esteem.
With all that is going on in my life I sure could use this
My life is spinning and this book sounds like I can learn how to understand and help me.
Thank you
Thank you for the opportunity to win this book.
This book would be a Big help
To me right now . Always looking for a good read and someone who’s books I’ve never read.. would Love to receive one❤️
This is awesome!! I can’t wait to do this study!!
Sounds like a book that I should read as I can be quite the control freak at time.
This is a book that I need to read. I have had problems with trying to control people, situations, everything. I would love to win.
I am so looking forward to reading this book. I am going to be enjoying it in a ladies group online.
I would very mush like to read this book I feel it would be a great help to !
This sounds like I book I would love to read…thanks for the chance to win one!
My entire family has been told several times we are control freaks. I will concur that I see it in my siblings but struggle a bit seeing it in myself. I am sure others see it in me very clearly but I am working on me to see if I do have the tendencies and if so, how to correct them. So this book was written just for me!
Too bad we can”t all win this book . I have had control issues all my life but my granddaughter is even worse than I am. She has had several broken relationships due to this problem . I think she and I both could benefit from reading this book. Thank you fo .r the opportunity to try to win
What an exciting giveaway!
This looks like a great book.
Would love to read this book.
I would love to read this book. Thank you for a chance to win this book
Excited for this opportunity
I would absolutely love to receive this book as a free gift!
That’s really true and it really hit where it hurts most. The truth I don’t want to rest on the knowledge of knowing His mercy is sufficient
I am a vessel in progress misshapen and incomplete but living with hope that I will lose pride, perfection and lack of control over control exchanging it for Jesus humility, His glory in my imperfections, and absolute obedience to the power of my God who is Sovereign. Darkness is my nemesis but in the dark of night He is fanning the flames of His light within me. Only in His grace. I would share the books to those I know God will lead me to. He always does. Thank you
Thank you for sharing Jennifer and an excerpt from her book.
Really enjoyed hearing her speak at Women of Faith! Would appreciate the book being given away.
Hi, my name is Fay, and I’m a recovering control freak!! 🙂 I love the mini teachings I get each day and week from Gwen and the gals and would love to read this book by Jennifer–sounds just like something that will bless me so I can be a blessing to others like me (my daughter!!!)
Blessings!
I would love to win this book. I have all of Jeniifer’s books, well did have, I lent them out to women in crisis and never received some of them back. But I believe they are being used to help heal someone else just like the helped heal me. I am entering into a new, scary season of life with a husband out of work and me facing going back to work at the age of 70. Definitely a time to tell myself only truth about who I am in Christ and Who has control over my life. Obviously, it is not me.
Thank you so much for this opportunity. I already have someone in mind that i would love to give this book to if I am chosen to win.
Just by reading the exert I can see how loosening our grip on things we have no control over can take away from experiencing God’s goodness in our lives. Would love to continue learning and reading your books.
I would love to receive this book from Jennifer. My sister-in-law has pancreatic cancer and the doctors say “No it won’t shrink enough to remove it” but our God says “YES! With Me all things are possible!” I would love to share this book with her as she struggles with the lies of the enemy of her soul. Thank you
Could use these.
Sounds good, I’m intrigued! Would love to win.
Sounds good, I’m intrigued!
Peace. Shalom. Don’t you just wish you could wrap it up in a box with a bow and give it to each loved one you know needs it? I sure do! It’s also something I’ve found so difficult to personally attain because of my tendency to play God in my own life and want to control everything. I would really ❤ to win and read this book. Thanks for the opportunity!
I really needed this today, it really spoke to my heart. I would love to win a copy thank you for a chance
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I would love to read this book!!! The past year has brought major changes to our family, job loss, 18yr daughter having a baby, and a son starting the Patrol Academy. Talk about lots of changes and lack of feeling any peace! I think this book can help me get it together with Gods guidance!
Really need this book right now!
Sometimes We tie Gods hands.By trying to do it Ourselves.We must Get out of Gods way and untie His hands.God Controls it all.Showing God that no matter the Chaos that goes on around us.We Must Trust God and Live our lives here on earth till He comes to take us Home to be with Him forever.Thank You for this eye opening Message.And May We Always trust God and Live according to his Promises.God bless every woman reading this
Such a timely message for me. My life seems so chaotic. Need to remember what I can control and what I can’t.
I really feel this would help in my daily walk with the Lord as a single Mommy of 4
Thank you for Friday Friends. It’s an extra treat. I needed this one as reminder that God has ultimate control and I need to rely on His strength and promises for what I am going through. He has left me with His peace not the worlds. This book sounds like an excellent read that we all should be reading. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Thank you for sharing this book! I can’t wait to read it!! The last few years or so have been really tough, with multiple hospital stays, being put in a rest home/rehab center twice at the age of 38 because I was unable to walk, 3 surgeries & a 4th next month, etc… I would love to have this book so I can read it, and share it with my mom and my daughters. We all love & trust God, but it is hard to try not to feel the need to be control of what’s going on… to remember that God is in control.
sounds like just the book I need to read……would love to win a copy
sounds like a book I need to read. Thanks for your encouraging words.
I am a Ladies Bible study leader and would love to share this with my students.
Sounds like something I need to read. Thanks for your encouraging words.
I am such a control person it freaks me out not to be one of the hardest things I am having to learn is to let go and let God! Can’t wait to dive into this book.
Sometimes it really is difficult to trust our Creator, especially when it feels like the world around us is crumbling down. Realizing that God is truly listening to us and hears our every prayer can be difficult, but I’ve learned that HE always come through.
I would love to win this book.
I am so excited for a chance to win this book. It will help me to continue to grow and to let go of self negative talk.
I have lost control due to mental illness. How hard it is to be still before God, trusting, waiting. I believe this book may help me find that again
IT IS QUIT A TIME LETTING GOD BE IN CHARGE OF WHAT YOU DO SAY AND EVEN THINK AT TIMES BUT I FEEL THIS BOOK WILL HELP ME WITH LEANING MORE ON GOD THANK YOU
This book sounds wonderful. I would like to learn more
Thank you
Terry prescott
Great devotion today and I would love to read more of Jennifer’s writing!
(The link to this site did not work from my e-mail)
The little I have read already have me quite intrigued. Control is one attitude I am overwhelmed with. This book seem simple to read and seem more from the author’s own experience. Oh how I would welcome a practical way of letting go and experience the peace of God.
2 words: I Need
Wow.
You hit the nail right on the head.
If your book has much “good stuff ” as this single excerpt, you have a
classic on your hands!
Thanks for the insight!
Shalom!
I would love to read this book and share it with my friends!
I need to learn to speak shalom into my life! Teach me please! I’d love to have a copy of this book!
Boy, do I need to read this book!! Control issues are a big problem for me and I am afraid I passed it along to my children.
I subscribed to Jennifer’s Blog in 2012 and excited for her new book! She helped my distorted vision
I truly enjoyed what I read. There was a lot of seeds for thought. When you think that you are doing well,you find out that you are not alone at all. Thus is very comforting to know. God continue to bless you in all that you are doing.
I,too, was honored to meet Jennifer at a woman’s conference here in VT. She is a ray of hope and love. Her books are amazing. ❤️
I really liked the post this morning, and Jennifer seemed to be speaking to me directly (I know just like everyone else who posted here, right?). Why do I feel the need to control – lack of trust, huh???? Thanks Gwen for another great start to my day.
I would love to read this book and put and end to all my negative self talk!! Thank you for sharing!
I want that peace, that trust, that hope. I think I have it and then something bad happens and it takes me a while to remember who’s in control and that His promise is that good will come no matter what Satan throws our way. I want to share Jesus peace with those who don’t know him as I do…and the more I can show them my trust, then they’ll want it too. Please help me grow in faith so that I can share it with others. I want to be strong in my love of God and others. I would love an opportunity to win the book.
I would love to read this book.
I would love to read this book!
Whether I win or not I will definitely be ordering this book! Thank you so much for the continued inspiration from your devotionals and books that I am reading! You are an amazing inspiration to us all fighting to be better Christians and loving God and ourselves! Thank you so much!
I am one to hold tightly to things, and try to be in complete control when it’s not mine to begin with. It’s God’s. He loaned it to me to take care of. I am one who has a difficult time of wanting to be in control of everything. Apparently, it’s all about me, or I think it is. There, lies the problem. I’m constantly in prayer about it.
Thank you for sharing with us. I would love to receive your book.
Perfect message for this new “Gigi” in Des Moines, Iowa. After nearly 3 years of mountains of paperwork and International Adoption hoops and craziness my daughter and son in law brought home 2 beautiful boys from Ethiopia on April 11…..they were there in the government “jungle” for 28 amazing days watching God move mountains. But now I have to WAIT for His timing for the boys to get to know me. I have met them – just 3 1/2 weeks after coming home , but they are still really cocooning as a family and establishing “mom and dad.” I have to wait my turn and sometimes I listen to lies that it will never happen – this grandma grandchildren thing that I want so much. So I will loose my grip……and pray.
Thanks for a great giveaway!
This morning the Girlfriends in God post was titled Buried and was about burying God’s word under a bunch of junk. The writer encouraged the reader to clean their spiritual house. Then I read your post which further convicted my spirit of having my priorities in the wrong place and believing I actually have control of my life. Your exhortation to control the things I actually DO have control over convicted my spirit to repent of my misplaced priorities and I am encouraged to do some spiritual housework so I can move forward in my walk with the Lord and be more effective in being his hands and feet to a lost and dying world. Thank you for your words of encouragement! I would love to read more of what your book has to say!
I am getting ready to read this book and do the study through Proverbs 31, and I am so excited! I would love to win a copy of this book to bless my daughter. She is in her 30’s and loves the Lord. But her life has thrown her some hard curves over the past 8 months or so. She has been dealing with some pretty serious health concerns, having a mate that she is not equally yoked, and a couple of weeks ago one of her very best friends was shot and murdered in cold blood. She has made some comments recently about being angry and upset with God, unable to pray, and she is just having a terrible time being able to process his death and grieve. She fell apart in my arms on Mothers Day, and I truly think that was good for her. I have been able to get through to her, but I think this book would be perfect for her right now.
Shalom to both of you!
I hope you win the book.
I have been praying for God to take control and for me to trust him more. It is a great feeling to give it all to God.
What a great message. And such God Timing, because my friend and I were just talking about this the other day.
I say this one phrase to myself, my family and I said to me friend:
“You can only control yourself; you can control others choices, but you can control your attitude and response to their choices.”
This is more about the fact that we need to learn that we simply cannot control someone’s elses actions, thinking, or not so nice things they might say. But your message elaborates on what we can control in ourself to experience peace.
Thanks so much!
Love Jennifer R! Oh my! Control is something I used to think was an issue for “other people.” Ha! We all want it! But, after many, many years, I am learning that I dont need to control, and surely cant control things. The Lord knows waaay better what is best for me!! With each day, as I trust him more, peace is mine. Would love to read more of Jennifers material!
I read the first chapter that was provided and would love to receive the book
Would love to win a copy of this book!
I read the first chapter that was provided and I’d love to have the book.
the first chapter alone set a spark in my spirit. I need to read the whole book for the entire flame!!! Have a good day!
Wow sounds great after reading the first chapter that she offered as preview to the book this is a must read for the summer
Oh, how a couple of my girlfriends could use this book in their lives….one has a lot of chaos currently as she’s trapped (her words, not mine) in an emotional empty & verbally abusive marriage while struggling hard to hold onto Jesus and the other one doesn’t know God so therefore doesn’t know real Love, she’s is an ugly situation as an young single mom of 2 while being “played with” by the man who fathered her kids….I pray I win so they can each get a copy.
This is great. Thank you for sharing. God has used you in a magnificent way to reach into others lives and share his truth. How amazing. I needed to be reminded today of the control we do or do not have in our lives. I needed to be reminded of the peace that only comes when I rest under the King. Peace totally beyond my understanding but one I thrive on to pass this truth on to my husband and children. Thanks again!
Thoroughly enjoyed the devotional – and losen up is not something I can easily do neither letting go of control. I pray constantly about this and the busyness can become a trap by the enemy.
Looking forward to reading more from Jens book.
This book sounds amazing! I know I personally struggle with believing things that aren’t true about myself or others. So, I love how your focus is on focusing on what we do have and what is true. I would love to read this book!
I absolutely LOVE Jennifer! I saw her in person at her Fresh Brewed Faith a long time ago. She’s an incredible speaker, author and woman of God. I’ve read her books. Very eye-opening! I, too, am a recovering perfectionist!
Me, Myself and Lies has really caused me to realize some truths about me.Thank you Gwen for sharing and Thank you Jennifer for giving us a piece of you so that we may grow thereby and become more mature in our service to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I read the first chapter that she offered as preview to the book and I am hooked.itwould be awesome to win.thank u for giving us this opportunity to win.shared on fb
What a great title for these books! We go through life believing so many lies because of what society tells us. Just reading the exert from Jennifer’s book helped me realize I need to let go of being a control freak if I ever want to truly experience the peace only God can give.
I would love to receive this book