Moving from artificial faith to the real thing….. that is what Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch is all about and what I feel God is leading me toward. Let me explain…
I have been a fan of Kristen Welch for about 6 years, reading her blog, We are THAT Family. I always felt a connection to her writing. But, I think all of her readers feel that way. She has a way of drawing you in and making you feel as if you are sitting across the table, sipping coffee and sharing life together. That is exactly how I felt as I began Rhinestone Jesus :Saying Yes to God when Sparkly Faith is No Longer Enough. Once I picked it up, I have not been able to put it down (except to go get a Kleenex to wipe away the tears). Kristen is real and she shares the ups and downs of her life and marriage. The depth of pain she has experienced through infertility struggles, a church ministry that left she and her husband running from service instead of to it, and hurt and betrayal in her marriage which most couples do not survive. Through it all, she has kept her eyes on Christ, and when the time was right, the Holy Spirit put a deep desire to say YES to God and let go of the superficial christian life. She and her family were ready to truly act in obedience to change the world, letting go of what the world tells you is important and grasping what only Jesus can give.
Kristen said, “I was broken, then mended together by Him and ready to be used. I was exactly where He wanted me.” And then God moved in her in an awesome way and has used Kristen and her family to better the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:6 says, the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. And love she did!
Kristen shares how her “YES” led her to a place where she fell in love with the people of Kenya. She began a non-profit maternity home, Mercy House Kenya, for homeless and impoverished women in Kenya. KENYA! Not close to her home in Texas, or somewhere in the the United States. She saw the need and the hopelessness and let God work through her to make a real difference for these women and children. Expressing her faith through love for these women, she set out to change the world, one YES at at time. In the middle of her messy life, being a wife, mother, sister, daughter…. she said YES to God and began, in obedience and love, to make a difference.
This book challenges you. It has challenged me. I found myself highlighting sections with my blue highlighter and underling ideas and writing notes in the margins with my red ballpoint pen. You will not be the same when you are done reading the last page. I was changed only three chapters in. You will be inspired to say YES to God right in the middle of your messy life and then stand amazed at how your life will shine!
Your YES does not have to look like Kristen’s. We all have different dreams which God places on our heart. We have to say YES to whatever God is calling us to do and act in obedience. Otherwise, we are just living a shiny walk with God that doesn’t cost much and where we will lose very little. Or we can accept God’s call and shine for Him and live the life He has waiting for us all.
I am still not sure what my “YES” looks like. What needs to change in my life and in my heart? What has God put on my heart to do? Honestly, I am not sure. So, I am praying and asking Him to show me. But, I do know this, I need to step up and stop living an easy, comfortable life with no cost for the Kingdom. That I do know.
I hope you will get this book. HERE is a LINK to the book on Amazon. If you have a book club or bible study group, consider this book for your next study. HERE is a LINK to the Book Club discussion questions.
Kristen also shares a companion e-Book Saying Yes to God as a Family – 30 Lessons for the Table from Rhinestone Jesus.
What is God asking you to do? What is the “YES” He has been waiting for you to accept? Do you know? Now is the time to “say yes in your mess”. I would love for you to tell me what your “YES” is.
#rhinestonejesus #yesinmymess
