Are You a Plan A Woman in a Plan B World?

From the beginning of time women have dreamt about their “Plan A” - the perfect husband, cute children, immaculate home, size six wardrobe, prestigious job, fabulous friends. But it doesn’t take much of real life to set in before compromises, changes and disappointments manage to cloud those dreams. The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan encourages women to re-evaluate the Plan B route and discover the blessings of God’s Plan A.

Using nine landmines that often claim the God-given plan for women, author/speaker Debbie Taylor Williams helps women reclaim hope and teaches them how to manage those sabotaging thoughts that claim many minds. Sprinkled with humor, an obvious love for God’s Word, and discussion starters for small group study, The Plan A Woman promises to help woman believe that God does have special plans for her, even in this Plan B world.

About the Author:

Debbie Taylor Williams is the founder of Hill Country Ministries, an organization dedicated to spreading God’s Word and ministering to women. Best known as a passionate biblical expositor, Debbie uses humor and practical illustrations to communicate spiritual truths to women throughout the nation. She is the author of Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, Prayers of My Heart, and other books. She and her husband make their home in Kerrville, Texas. Learn more by visiting her popular Web site: www.debbietaylorwilliams.com

Interview Questions:

Q1. Your book focuses on living the Plan A life God designed specifically for you. What encouragement can you give for the woman who feels she's lived far too long on Plan B? Is there hope?

With God nothing is impossible! The Spirit who moved over the surface of the deep and created light and life is the same Spirit who abides in every believer. We can live the Plan A life God has for us because Christ lives in us and He is our hope of glory. Col 1:2

Q2. In your book you talk about hazardous landmines. What are a few common landmines women fall into?

Bitterness, discouragement, being fixated on the past, fear, feeling shaken by our circumstances, having expectations of how others should act are but a few of the land mines we can experience in a Plan B world. Left unattended, these land mines can cause devastating harm to us and others. God's Plan A is not for us to ignore these land mines, nor is it His plan for us to tip toe around them. Rather, He directs us to address and de-mine them. When we do, we can walk in bold assurance, confident of the ground upon which we walk. We're able to carry out the good works and plans God has for us; those that bring purpose and joy.
Q3. Talk about your P.R.A.Y. conferences and how women can learn more about your prayer ministry.

April 2, 2008 God woke me up at 4 a.m. and told me that I wasn't doing all that He wanted me to do. He then directed me to one of His Plans for my life: to take the principles from my book, Pray with Purpose — Live with Passion, to a church in every state in the United States. He told me to waive my speaking fee and travel expenses; that He had freely given me the keys to prayer that can change women's lives; and that I was to freely take them to my sisters. P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference was birthed as a ministry of my non-profit ministry. It has been a joy to see God powerfully open doors through women who hear about the conference and pass the word to their women's ministry leader or event planner. Women are coming to salvation. Spiritual breakthroughs and repentance is taking place among believers. A "pink hearts" club is spreading across America, one composed of women and men who come forward and receive a heart on which they write how God has spoken to their hearts. And God is speaking. If I haven't been to your church/state, contact lauren@debbietaylorwilliams.com ministries, call toll free 888.815.9412, or visit my web site for more information http://www.debbietaylorwilliams.com/

4. In your spare time, what do you enjoy doing?

I love being with my husband. Whether we go for a walk, watch the sunset, take a hike in the country, travel, play golf (sort of...I'm a beginner :), or go for a drive and breakfast on Saturday mornings, he's my honi and love of 35 years. Our two adult children and their spouses are so much fun to be with; as is our 17 month old grandson. Family, friends, sharing the Lord - for what more could we ask?

The Long View of the Big Picture

Life’s Too Short. How many times in your life have you heard that? My guess is that Steve Diggs heard it a bunch too and somewhere along the line, he began collecting the area for which life is too short to spend time and what life it too short to miss.


His book, Life’s Too Short To Miss The Big Picture contains seventy chapters of paradigm shifting thoughts and vignettes from Steve’s life. Each chapter is 2-3 pages long. Some of them will challenge you, some will make you laugh and all of them are designed to help you think about what is important.
Steve’s book is a timely reminder of some things we used to know, used to remember and things we used to do that we may have forgotten about. It’s light yet profound and serves as a gentle reminder that it’s never too late to become a better person, a happier, more loving person. It’s never too late to help others or start doing the right thing. As I read through the chapters, I found myself flipping to the next one.
This is the sort of book you could dip your toe into or take a long leisurely swim. I liked his chapter Stop Petting Piranha’s. I read the title and knew right away what he meant, having always been a bit of piranha petter myself. This chapter talks about destructive behaviors with some questions we might want to ask ourselves.
In the chapter Get Enough Rest he points out some of the pitfalls of being sleep deprived. It isn’t easy trying to get all the sleep needed to get through a day in this busy life. We are over worked, over committed and under tremendous pressure to excel in every area of life.
The wisdom contained is timeless and as refreshing as a cool drink on a summer day. It’s like a how-to manual for turning your circumstances around. A new direction begins with a single action, a step forward. If you read each chapter and implemented these changes gradually, you could be living a much different life by the end of the book.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my written review.

What's the Connection to Transforming Power?

Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson M.D. wasn't what I expected. I thought the book was going to be dry scientific data made mildly interesting through case studies. I thought it would be packed with information for scientists and pre-med students but not laymen. But the book is concise and easy to understand even though the soul and how it work not so easily summarized and worthy of the attention.


Thompson states: "No matter how fixed your thinking or behavior is, research tells us that you can make a significant change in the way you remember your past... even though you cannot change the events of your story, you can change the way you experience your story." He begins by asking, "How well am I paying attention, to what I am paying attention to?"

Because the brain is seemingly much more plastic than originally thought, we can form new brain connections. As Thompson explains the basics of brain function, regarding their affect behavioral change, in terms accessible to non-medical students, he presents seven key points: Being known, Attention, Memory and Emotion, Attachment, An integrated mind, Sin and Redemption and Community and how these are affected by events in our lives.

He expounds on each of the points showing how each successive step is necessary the one before. He underlines it with Biblical passages and repeats himself to a small degree. Through a few well-chosen cases, Thompson shows how most were able to change their outlooks on life through Intentional Change. He mentions keeping the brain active through regular intervals aerobic activity, focused attention exercises and novel learning experiences. Thompson maintains that each of our brains constantly affects the brains of those we are around, and that a person paying attention to God can literally create a new mind within.

I found this arresting book surprising and well expressed.The book would be of interest to anyone who enjoys reading about the way the mind works, how memories affect our daily lives and those who want to heal traumas from the past. I found the book deeply insightful with exercises that are easy to grasp and a section that lists chapter by chapter questions for reflection.

Anatomy of the Soul is worthy of not only a first read, but also a second. I feel certain that the re-read will be as rich and insightful as the first. I recommend this book to anyone who is tired of spinning their tires and wondering why they have had difficulty making changes that last or that lead to a healthier happier life.


Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my written review.

Do You Have What it Takes to Make Money from Home?

Let’s face it, times are tough. Who can’t use a little extra money to help make ends meet? Making Money from Home by Donna Partow is the breath of fresh air I’d been looking for. It revived my Entrepreneurial spirit that had been lying dormant for several years.

Entrepreneurs have been around since before America became a country, but that coupled with a faith in Christ was the life blood that made this country great. Donna refreshes the idea with all the new technology that makes marketing so much easier: e-Bay, Pay Pal, direct and indirect marketing. She covers the fundamentals of each facet of running your own successful business with web addresses for additional help. From carving out space for your home office to paying taxes, Donna’s book can take you from idea to working business in clear easy to follow steps.

Tips are sprinkled liberally through out the book. Donna rounds out each chapter with questions to ask yourself and an assignment. The questions will get you thinking about your business and sharpen your focus. There are assignments that will can be as easy as setting a date to open a PayPal account or coming up with names for your business to checking into zoning laws for your home based business. 

Donna also touches on multiple streams of income, an idea that runs counter to the mainstream mentality of one job for life or working for a large corporation. Donna has been on this track for twenty years. In order to make it that long, she must be doing something right. I have read quite a few aritcles and books on this subject, and this is definitely one of the best. Want to start enjoying the freedom that made this country great? Grab this book and you'll have everything it takes to launch your new business.


Tyndale has provided this complimentary book in exchange for my honest opinion of the author's work.

 

 

 

Where Do You Look for Comfort in Times of Loss?

If death is as certain as taxes, why are we usually so ill-prepared when a loved one passes away? What do we say to comfort those who have suffered a loss? What do we want to hear when we have lost our loved ones?

Words of Comfort for Times of Loss is a compass to those being tossed upon the tumultuous waves of grief. Co-authors Liz Allison and Cecil Murphey each share insights from their personal losses as well as words of wisdom from their journey.

Michal Sparks serene water color illustrations grace each page of this 64 page book. Twelve chapters cover such important topics as getting the help needed so one can grieve the loss, feeling alone, feeling the pain and the special days like Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries. At the end of each chapter is a short simple prayer that invites God into the process.

The book encourages all who are grieving to come as they are. The authors clearly understand that a sovereign God can meet us where we are, no matter what we're feeling or thinking. He can comfort us and begin healing the heartbreak we feel. He alone can fill that void such a loss leaves in our lives.

If you have lost someone dear to you, or know someone who has, I encourage you take a moment to consider this book. It could be the lighthouse you seek, welcoming you to safe harbor.