Captivating & Wild at Heart

I can't say it enough - I just loooooooooooove sneak peaks.  We are working with a bride now, a very dear lady, who has sent us pics of her dress and other details of the wedding that we may be able to help out with.  The best was that she sent us pics of the dress from the designer and then a few pics of herself IN the dress.  She was absolutely magnificent!!!  I am convinced more and more each day that unconditional love brings out the best in us.  Women were made to be cherished and a woman will never look more beautiful than when she feels the most cherished.  As a very insightful book pointed out (and I'm paraphrasing): Isn't that why brides look more magnificent than ever on their wedding day, when they were chosen above all others to be cherished and celebrated?!

Now, for this next part, please keep in mind that I am not a book critic...

I recently read the book Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge.  And now I'm reading Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge.  If you want to understand yourself or your significant other, I recommend these two books.  I've been told since I was a child that I was made in the image of God.  Something that I thought I understood, but these books dive deep into the heart of God, man, and woman.  How we were made intricately, with different aspects of God's character.  And most stunningly, how society has lost sight of that.  We try to turn men and women into who they are "supposed to be" instead of who God made them to be.  There is a very distinct difference and it is easy to get them confused.

A friend recently told me that reading Captivating validated her, her thoughts, her feelings, her actions.  Personally, I felt like I was reading about myself.  The cover might as well have said: "Here's why Carolyn Gregory does what she does, especially when she's completely unreasonable!"  Some chapters pierced clean through my heart, and sometimes the knife twisted.  It was not an easy read; but it was incredible.  And I understand more about myself now than I ever thought I would.

Ladies, you have been made by an incredible God who cherishes you... and He wouldn't have it any other way.