The Friends We Keep/40 Minute Bible Studies Blog Tour

During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

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The 40 Minute Bible Study series from beloved Bible teacher Kay Arthur and the teaching staff of Precept Ministries tackles important issues in brief, easy-to-grasp lessons you can use personally or for small-group discussion. Each book in the series includes six 40-minute studies designed to draw you into God’s Word through basic inductive Bible study. There are 16 titles in the series, with topics ranging from fasting and forgiveness to prayer and worship. With no homework required, everyone in the group can work through the lesson together at the same time. Let these respected Bible teachers lead you in a study that will transform your thinking—and your life.



Titles Include:

•The Essentials of Effective Prayer
•Being a Disciple: Counting the Cost
•Building a Marriage That Really Works
•Discovering What the Future Holds
•Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past
•Having a Real Relationship with God
•How Do You Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk?
•Living a Life of Real Worship
•How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret
•Living Victoriously in Difficult Times
•Money & Possessions: The Quest for Contentment
•Rising to the Call of Leadership
•How Do You Know God’s Your Father?
•Key Principles of Biblical Fasting
•A Man’s Strategy for Conquering Temptation
•What Does the Bible Say About Sex?

Visit Random House for more info.

A New Venture

I've recently mentioned a new ministry opportunity, but I haven't been able to give more information. Now I can.

It's a church blog, and you can read my first post here.

This has come as a surprise. We don't have all the details worked out, but I'm genuinely excited about sharing my journey of faith with my church family.

Womanly Dominion: Introduction

Recently I learned that the Girltalk gang had chosen Womanly Dominion: more than a gentle and quiet spirit for the latest book club selection. This post by Carolyn Mahaney piqued my interest, so I ordered the book.

We're starting with the Introduction and Chapter 1 this week.

I've read many Christian books on being a godly woman. Most tell us that we need to be little more than doormats for the men in our lives. The submissive wife is seen as meek and weak. Author Mark Chanski disagrees:

He insists that the Bible teaches a woman to take dominion of her God-assigned role as wife, mother, and church helper. No, not in a feminist way, but in a God-glorifying way that speaks volumes about who she is and why God created her. (back cover).

As Chanski points out, Scripture encourages women to be strong and dignified (see Proverbs 31:25). Yet clearly we are do exercise those traits within the boundaries of our God-given roles as women. Chanski uses his mantra for his girls' soccer team, "Play your postition!" and "Win it!"

Play your position means just that - stick to your assignment. God has certain expectations for me as a woman, wife, mother, daughter and sister. I am not to try and fill my husband's shoes or usurp his roles. Likewise, I don't need to concern myself with what God has for other people to do. I am to focus on what He wants for me, and stay in that position. Am I the only woman who has trouble in this area?

Godly women, made in the image of God, must repeatedly remind themselves, "Play your postiion!" They must loyally resolve to stay at their God-assigned posts, to the glory of God, despite the shouts from the misguided cultural sidelines.(pp. 22-23)

Win it is Chanski's code for going after it (whatever it may be) full throttle. Play to win. Don't sit back and be a doormat. Put forth the effort to actually accomplish what you set out to do. Stake your claim for Christ, and don't give in. We are to run the race to win the prize (see 1 Corinthians 9:24). We can't do that if we don't have a win it attitude.

Interested in finding out more? You can click here to read the Girltalk post, and here to order the book. There's still time to join us, so come on!