Centré sur Dieu!

Ann L Beaulieu, Blogueuse, auteure et conférencière. Déterminée, expressive, colorée et persévérante dans la foi à cause de Dieu!


2 Commentaires

Ainsi la vie continue – Thus life goes on

 

 

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Ainsi la vie continue…

Déjà rendu au milieu du mois de juin, il me semble que je n’ai pas vu passer le temps! Bref, comme mon cher mari me le dit, est-ce possible que je fasse trop de projets à la fois? Hum…

Enfin, semble que l’été est finalement arrivé au Québec. Malgré que la température varie beaucoup d’un jour à l’autre. Il fait 20 Celsius une journée et presque 30 le lendemain! Mais ça, c’est le Québec! Avec le taux d’humidité, c’est très chaud. Mais, après notre long hiver, faut pas se plaindre.

Je travaille présentement beaucoup sur notre terrain avec mon mari puisque depuis nos rénovations nous avons dû faire beaucoup de ménage autour de la maison. Ah, nous n’avons plus la même capacité et je me rends compte combien j’ai vieilli!!!

Je suis contente de pouvoir dire que là au moins je n’ai plus à jongler avec le projet du livre et tous les trucs de maison ensemble. Ça commençait vraiment à faire trop pour moi. Enfin, je trouve que là c’est un peu plus calme… si on peut qualifier cela de calme.

Cet été, je prévois lire un peu moins de livres pour des critiques littéraires. Du moins, c’est mon objectif! J’aimerais faire davantage de lecture pour me faire plaisir. Me changer un peu les idées. Je me suis commandé deux livres qui devraient arriver bientôt. J’ai hâte! Je ne sais pas si j’aurai le temps, car ils sont longs. Mais enfin, j’ai le désir… Hé hé hé. J’ai commandé la série complète de Jane Austen et le livre Jane Eyre. Question d’enrichir mon anglais!

Le Seigneur est aussi en train de nous reconstruire (moi et mon mari) après une période de grande difficulté dans notre vie spirituelle. Nous avons dû prendre une décision qui nous afflige beaucoup émotivement et les conséquences nous peinent. Mais, parfois dans nos vies, Dieu trace un chemin qui nous dépasse. Nous agissons par conviction de la Parole, en obéissant. Cela semble simple à écrire, néanmoins très difficile à faire dans la réalité!

Mon plus grand encouragement est qu’à la fin du mois, je vais partir pour Gospel Coalition. J’ai tellement de joie, surtout après les derniers mois que j’ai passés! Le thème est « Reconstruction »! J’ai l’impression que le Seigneur l’a fait juste pour moi. C’est magnifique de voir encore une fois comment Dieu connaît tous nos besoins. Ça me jette par terre chaque fois. Je vais être reconstruite par la main divine de mon Dieu à travers cette fin de semaine par des enseignements de sa Parole divine. Amen! Il est en train de préparer le terrain présentement…

Merci Mon Dieu tout puissant.

Ann L Beaulieu

 

Thus life goes on…

 

We are already middle of June; I have not seen the time go by! Is it possible that my sweat hubby is right when he tells me that I take on to many projects at a time? Hum…

At any rate, it would seem that summer is finally arrived in Québec. Despite that the temperature varies a lot from one day to another. Some days it’s 20 degrees Celsius and other days its 30! Oh well, that’s Québec for you! If you add the humidity factor, it’s even hotter. Yet, with our long winter, I guess we (I) mustn’t complain too much.

I’m presently working in our yard with my husband because since we have renovated our home we have much cleaning up to do around the house. Ah, we realize that we are not young anymore and do not have the same capacity we had… we are growing older!!!

I am glad though to say that at least I don’t have to juggle with the book project and the house cleaning outside at the same time anymore. This was getting to be a bit too much for me. Finally, things are getting just a bit calmer… if we can qualify this as calm.

This summer I am planning to do a bit less reading for book reviews. Well, that’s my goal! I would like to take advantage of my reading time and do some leisure reading. Change my ideas somewhat. I have ordered myself two books that should arrive soon. I can’t wait! I don’t know if I will have the time to read them all because they are long. But anyways, I have the inspiration to try… ha ha ha. I have ordered the complete series of Jane Austen and the book Jane Eyre. A question of perfecting my English!

The Lord is reconstructing me (and my hubby) after a long period of difficulties in our spiritual life. We had to take a very hard decision that has caused us great distress emotionally and the consequences are grieving us terribly. Yet, sometimes in our lives God traces a road that is beyond what we can imagine. We are acting on the conviction of the Word and obeying. This seems so easy to write down; nonetheless it is more than hard in reality!

One of my greatest encouragements is that at the end of this month, I am going to leave for Gospel Coalition. I have so much joy. Especially after these last few months I have been going through! The theme is “Rebuilding” and I have the impression that the Lord did this just for me. It’s marvelous once again to see just how God knows all our needs. This knocks me down every time. The divine hand of my Holy God will rebuild me during this weekend by many wonderful teachings of the Word. Amen! He is presently preparing the soil …

Thank you my Almighty Lord.

Ann L Beaulieu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


2 Commentaires

Book Review on Active Spirituality

 

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Book Review

Active Spirituality 

By

Brian Hedge

 

I actually do not know how or where to start my book review and I have done a few. So it’s not that I don’t know how there done! The thing is I’m overwhelmed in about what I need to say because almost all the Book is highlighted. This is an outstanding book to say the least! I am speechless or rather “wordless” about how I should bring forth to you my readers what is most important, because it seems that everything the author talks about is relevant. The thing is he touches on so many subjects and all of them are so brilliantly expressed in an articulate manner based on Sola Scriptura that it’s amazing and encouraging to read. It also reveals to the reader all that they may be struggling with and unsure of in certain issues in his or her life.

The format Hedges uses in the book is of writing as a pastor and answering back to a young man in letters, which makes for a wonderful read. The chapters are short and yet packed with insightful information all at once. I love how he blends his letters with some Puritan quotes along with Bible passages. It enriches the essence of our understanding of each subject, which encourages us to come to grips with them if we haven’t already understood them well.

This is a book that helps you be even more convicted of some biblical foundations and be rooted strongly in them more than ever. Or, it might just help you understand all your misconception if you have any, and nudge you to come to a clearer conviction based on the passages that he develops and then gives a clear explanation that is so well articulated. Nothing fancy just plain and simple!

I believe all Christians should read this book. Whether it is to reaffirm their faith or just to be encouraged in their spiritual walk. It would be a wonderful gift to offer a new Christian that’s for sure. He does admit to being a Reformed Baptist close to the end, yet somehow I found that this in no way came in contrast to my own personal biblical foundations or faith, and did not keep me from appreciating all the truths that Hedge so clearly exposed from the Scriptures. If we keep our minds focused on the truth of the Word then we can only be swayed from the Word! Putting aside the author and letting the Word speak is what is most important and that is what this author has been capable of doing in this book. I absolutely loved this book, really. So far I’d say it’s my number 1 of 2014 … but the year isn’t over yet!  But this is a really a GOOD one, REALLY!!!

Let’s see here are a few subjects he touches on that I really enjoyed:

Grace verses works

Here’s a quote from the book that I loved.

« While grace is opposed to works in any kind of legalistic sense of earning favor, it isn’t opposed to our action and effort. Rather, grace produces our effort and sustains it.  »

Brian Hedges. « Active Spirituality.»

Is salvation unconditional?

He also talks about how « our culture tends to equate love with tolerance. » « But true love is not always tolerant. »

Another subject he touches on is the biblical metaphor of the Christian life being a fight and the need for us to put on God’s armor.

Our need for developing a Spiritual Growth Plan

These are just a few things that are in the book and frankly these are only the just the ones you actually would expect to find. I keep the others silent leaving you to discover them for yourself!

I want to leave you with a quote from his book and I am overwhelmed as to which one because as I said the book is almost all highlighted. But I must make a choice…

« First-century athletes ran in the nude, so that clothing wouldn’t entangle their feet, and Christians must metaphorically strip from our lives anything that keeps us from Jesus. »

Brian Hedges. « Active Spirituality. »

Something to mediate one while your waiting for your book to arrive!

 

Here is an interview with Brian Hedge that you can listen to of a discussion on his book done by Shaun Tabatt at http://BibleGeekGoneWild.com/100 or just click here;

http://biblegeekgonewild.com/?powerpress_embed=9175-podcast&amp%3bpowerpress_player=mediaelement-audio

Enjoy!

Ann L Beaulieu

*I have received a free copy by Cross Focus. However I am under no obligation to write a positive review. These are entirely my own personal opinions and thoughts expressed according to my own discernment.


3 Commentaires

Wonderful tool for teaching young girls about intimate subjects and more! Un livre de grande qualité pour les jeunes filles entre 9 ans à 14 ans

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Book Review

Growing Up God’s Way for girls

 

I admit from the start that I really chose to read this book out of curiosity. I wanted to see how these two doctors would write about such delicate subjects as puberty, marriage, and physical intimacy, among others. Being as this is written with a Christian based perspective. Growing up in a Christian home myself, I know that these subjects where not something we discussed when I grew up. But then, I’m a grandmother now! Fortunately things have changed and we now educate our children with values and principles from the Bible about these realities of life, before the world reaches our children, or at least that’s the desires of our hearts. One thing is certain, if we don’t teach them they will learn from the world and will be attracted by the world, and we certainly don’t want that.

Dr. Chris Richards consultant Pediatrician and Dr. Liz Jones a retired Community Pediatrician, have written an excellent piece of work for young girls between the ages of 9 to 14 years old. I found this book to be very complete about what a young girl actually needs to know about issues she’ll be facing in the near future or what she’s actually living. They did an excellent job of explaining simply but precisely what the Word of God says about many of these important issues. Here as some examples they write about:

– Marriage

– Living together before marriage

– Our roles as men and women

– Puberty

– Menstruations

– Hormones changes and how it affects our bodies, mind, and humor

– And some major differences between boys and girls.

More subjects were covered and in each case I found them to be exact, precise, simple and clear. I appreciated how the Word of God was woven in so appropriately to every subject.

Interestingly, I found myself thinking somewhere in this small book of 77 pages, that many young or older women I know would actually learn a few things from reading this book. Despite that it’s for a younger audience! Now that’s proof to me that this book is good in its content. This surly is a book a mother would want to read and study with her own daughter.

I found nothing to be disrespectful or dishonorable despite the fact that certain issues are sensitive. I’d say quite the opposite! Many issues of great importance have been brought out into the light of the Gospel and strengthen with the grace of God to be respected and honored like God had ordained them from the beginning.

I am thankful that this little book exist and I do hope that moms and dads will take advantage of this good quality of writing based on the Bible to teach their children of important matters in life. It is also illustrated to help along for those that are more visual. But once again, it’s just enough not too much. All is well dosed and brings everything into equilibrium!

Ann L Beaulieu

*I have received a free copy by Cross Focus. However I am under no obligation to write a positive review. These are entirely my own personal opinions and thoughts expressed according to my own discernment.

 

Critique littéraire

Growing Up God’s Way for Girls

De Dr Chris Richards et Dr Liz Jones

Je vous avoue qu’au départ lorsque j’ai choisi de lire ce livre ce n’était que par curiosité. Je désirais voir comment ces docteurs allaient écrire à propos de sujets aussi délicats que la puberté, le mariage, et les relations d’intimité entre autres. Surtout que ceci allait être écrit dans une perspective chrétienne. Ayant grandi dans un foyer chrétien moi-même, je sais très bien que ces sujets n’étaient pas discutés beaucoup. Mais je suis une grand-maman maintenant! Heureusement que les choses ont changé et que nous éduquons nos enfants aujourd’hui sur les valeurs et les réalités de ces choses, mais avec les principes bibliques avant que le monde réussisse à les toucher. Du moins, c’est le souhait de notre cœur. Une chose est certaine, si nous ne les atteignons pas, le monde va sûrement les attirer et les convaincre et nous ne voulons pas cela.

Le consultant pédiatre Dr Chris Richards et Dre Liz Jones, une pédiatre retraitée, ont écrit un livre de grande qualité pour les jeunes filles entre 9 ans à 14 ans. J’ai trouvé ce livre très complet en ce qui concerne ce qu’une jeune fille peut vivre ou faire face à ce moment de sa vie, ou qu’elle ne tardera pas à vivre dans un futur immédiat. Ils ont fait un travail colossal, excellent et dans une grande simplicité. Tout en restant précis et fidèles à ce que la Parole de Dieu dit sur ces propos si importants.  Voici quelques exemples sur lesquelles ils ont écrit :

– Le mariage

– Vivre ensemble avant le mariage

– Nos rôles comme homme et femme

– La puberté

– Les menstruations

– Les changements hormonaux et comment cela nous affecte dans nos corps, pensées, et humeur?

– Ainsi que les différences majeures entre les garçons et les filles.

D’autres sujets sont couverts dans le livre et dans chaque cas, ils sont justes, précis, simples et clairs. La Parole de Dieu a été tricotée de façon appropriée à travers chaque sujet.

Curieusement, je me suis retrouvée quelque part parmi ces 77 pages de lecture à me dire que je connais plusieurs femmes jeunes et adultes qui seraient grandement bénies de lire ce petit bouquin. Cela malgré le fait qu’il cible un jeune public. Cela me confirme que le contenu de ce livre est vraiment bon! Un parent et sa fille pourraient facilement prendre le temps de l’étudier ensemble.

Je n’ai rien trouvé d’irrespectueux ou de déshonorable. Malgré le fait que certains propos soient très délicats à discuter. Je dirais plutôt le contraire. Les éléments qui ont été apportés ont une grande influence dans une vie. Ils ont été faits de façon à mettre en lumière l’Évangile en soulignant la puissance de la grâce de Dieu et l’importance de le respecter et l’honorer, car Il l’avait déclaré et ordonné dès le début.

Je suis pleine de gratitude pour ce petit livre. J’espère que les mamans et les papas tirent profit de la qualité de cet ouvrage bien écrit, basé sur la Bible, pour enseigner leurs enfants sur des éléments aussi importants de la vie. Le livre est aussi illustré pour aider ceux qui sont visuels, mais pas trop. Juste assez bien dosé avec un bon équilibre!

Ann L Beaulieu