That Girl's Bookshelf....A Perfect Mess.

****COMMENTS NOW CLOSED!****


Well kiddies, for those of you who didn't win the last giveaway and felt like Donald Duck at the Mickey Mouse Parade, I have some really great news for you! I am giving away another book!





A few years ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down to dinner with Lisa Harper. Honestly, I had never heard of Lisa before, but upon meeting her I learned that she had been an intregal part of Focus on the Family's Renewing the Heart conferences for women.



It was one of those That Girl Moments.



I was still in High School and had not yet heeded the call for ministry. A friend's mom planned a conference, and in doing so had asked her daughter's cohorts for some assistance. The night before we were invited to dinner at Raffi's in Evansville. By the way, the was the one and only time I have ever eaten at Raffi's, if that tells you anything. That place is QUALITY.



Dinner blew my mind and I had to pick up my jaw off the floor when Rita Springer rolled in.



RITA SPRINGER, PEOPLE.



holy colitis. I was outta my league. Like Donald Duck at the Mickey Mouse Parade. Like Baby's sister performing that Hawaiian song right before the Big Lift Dance with Johnny. Like the Miss America runner-up. I sympathize. I do.





Then I was introduced to Kim Hill and the Raffi's staff had to get the defibrillator at that point.



KIM HILL, PEOPLE.



It took everything I had not to ask them to do a duet of "You are Still Holy" intermixed DJ style with "I Want the Joy" but you would have been proud of me. I was workin' that self-control like it was my job. So when they finally said oh lauren you must meet lisa, my eyes looked as glazed as the chicken.



Dang it.



You see, Lisa travels and speaks all over the world. She's a Harley mama. And she loves the Old Testament.





THE OLD TESTAMENT, PEOPLE.



I found myself so ridiculously tongue-tied that I didn't know where to begin with her. To be fair, I was not as in love with the OT then as I now am. Thank you, Dr. Douglas Low. I wish I could have those moments back in order to form a more perfect sentence or question or something intelligent versus the "Uh, hi. Nice to meet you" route.





for the love of Moses.



Forbid it that I would get to meet her when i actually realize what she has accomplished for women in ministry and have an intelligent conversation about what it was like to work for Focus, or what kind of motorcycle she has.







I can't change the past and my chicken-glazed eyes, but I can introduce YOU to her so in case you do ever meet her, you will know how totally awesome she is and you can tell her That Girl says hi.



My publisher friends asked me to read her newest book and see if I might like it.



IF. IF?



An entire book based on Psalms for That Girl who can't even get it right in front of Kim, Rita, Lisa and the gang sometimes, let alone for Jesus?



It's safe to say I liked it. A LOT.



Okay, I loved it. Not the way I love tacos or but the way I fell in love with Kate g's doggy, Tanka.
(So so so sorry, I just had to mention the dog, you know, because I am getting jiggy with the birthday list thing and you just never do know who might be reading like a generous benefactor or someone like that. whew. that was a lot of justification for a picture very few of you will look at.)





So the Book...

It's called A Perfect Mess and it's paperback.



If you have ever wondered if you are doing enough to make God happy and to win His affection, Lisa has something to say to you:



God is not looking for perfection. He is looking TO PERFECT.



Now be like yours truly and say that last sentence out loud.



I know many of my readers have had the same struggle as me: we've been trying to earn God's approval when we already have it through Jesus Christ. And He is more than willing to take a MESS and perfect it into something beautiful.

"Caught up in the self-imposed pressure to do and be all the things they
think a Christian woman ought to do and be, countless women are working
desperately to convince everyone, including God, that they have it all together.
Few have any idea that the Creator of the universe looks at them with delight
even when they yell at the dog, drive a minivan littered with French fries, or
think bad words about that rude clerk at the store." from the summary

Is that you? That description is sometimes me, too. I gotta tell you, this book was an imporatnt one for me. I read half of it in one sitting and the readability (that's different than Rock-A-Billy, Keyly) is high. Basically Lisa takes several Psalms and devotes a chapter to exegeting them (don't be afraid of the word exegete, it just means she goes back to the context of the times, does research, and explains it in Everyday That Girl terms.)

She tells Biblical truths in a sensible, down-to-earth way which allows for everyone to understand, even those of us who have very little knowledge of the Bible or those of us who don't think we like reading our Bibles. There's also a great section at the end of each chapter where she asks discussion questions and gives space to fill it in. It would make a great quick Bible study resource for moms on the go or for busy college students, yet the material goes deep enough and cuts to the heart to force us to ponder tough questions about ourselves and our relationships (or lack-thereof) with God. It would make a great gift for a friend or relative. in fact, I am thinking of giving a copy to Toots--the 83 year-old dynamo grandmas would love it, too, I am convinced. I very rarely come across material written by a woman for women that is so informing yet concise. I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book.



If I haven't bought them all yet, that is. Until then, here's the link to purchase your very own. See, I even made it oh-so-easy for you to get. it is also available at your local Christian bookstore. Like Blessings, for instance.





Even easier is when That Girl ships it to ya fo' freezy. If you didn't win Barbie Queen of the Prom yesterday, it's your time to go to the ball, sister!! I have one extra copy to give away, and I would sure like to share this book with you. Gimme a holler in the comments with your favorite Psalm reference and you'll be entered to win a free copy of A Perfect Mess!


because I want you to be prepared when you meet Lisa Harper at Raffi's someday.