Showing posts with label Rachel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel. Show all posts

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bathsheba bathed in Grace

I read Bathsheba, bathed in grace: how eight scandalous women changed the world, in exchange for review from BookSneeze. The book was written by Carol Cook and Published by Westbow Press

I chose the book because I loved the cover and the description. I wanted to learn more about Bathsheba and the other 7 scandalous women. I heard about all of them, except Tamar before. I also liked how the book was written from a women's point of view. The book discussed the husbands, but did not focus on David (Bathsheba), Isaac (Rebekah), Abraham (Sarah), Adam (Eve), Jacob (Leah and Rachel), Onan (Tamar).

The book told the stories of Eve, Tamar, Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Sarah, and Bathsheba. It is part ficitionalized and part based on the bible. The stories came to life. I really enjoyed this book, starting with Bathsheba.I am not a bible scholar. I have to start at the table of contents to find a chapter in church because I have no idea where each book is located, except Genesis, Exodus, Revelation, Psalms, and Proverbs. I knew David watched Bathsheba bath from his window. I also knew he orchestrated the death of Uriah, her husband. I did not know she had a miscarriage. That touched me deeply because I know how that lost feels. The lost, the guilt, the hurt. The story had voyeurism (he watched her from the window), adultery, murder, miscarriage, marriage, guilt, grief, pain. After reading Bathsheba's story, I wanted more. I read the stories of Sarah (Sarai), Rebekah, Rachel, and Hagar next (not in that order). I learned more about their lives than I read in the bible (which is sad, I know), but at the end of each story, Carol lists the bible chapters and verses, to read the full story about these amazing women.

Tamar had survived two dead husbands (the sons of Judah), one of which defiled the marriage bed. She was also promised another husband from the house of Judah, once he was old enough.  Sarah laughed at God. Rebekah and her son helped deceive Isaac. Eve hid from and lied to God. Leah and Rachel were both promised to Jacob. He wanted Rachel, but received Leah at first. Had to work another seven years for Rachel. Leah was also the most fertile. 

The book is available in kindle, hardback, and paperback. 



I review for BookSneeze®

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Getting Better in Parenting Two

Getting Better in Parenting Part Two










  • Troubled Kids is an ancient problem


  1. Jacob (Israel) had four wives. Rachel had trouble conceiving. Jacob did love Rachel. 
  2. Adam and Eve had to bury a child. 

  3. Troubled kids have been around forever. God been helping parents forever. We run to everyone else but God. We need to know what God wants us to do with our kids. 

  4. Drinking, fornication, and dis-respectfulness occurred in biblical days too. 



  • Trouble in the house don't have to ruin the house. 
  1. Reuben had sex with father's concubine
  2. Simeon and Levi were mass murderers. 
  3. Jacob's sons started the 12 tribes of Israel. 
  4. Don't let troubled child influence the other children
  5. Porn, drugs, and alcohol usually introduced by family members. 
  6. Don't let anything foreign or domestic to hinder home. 
  7. Example: If you go to the store to buy pork chops, and there are maggots on the chops, do you still buy the chops? No, you want fresh chops, instead of maggot (sin-filled) chops. 
  8. Make strategic decisions concerning kids. If you know your child drinks, don't leave him around the youngest. 
  • Trouble should be addressed
Part A: Addressing the truth
  1. Tell children the truth about themselves. The unadulterated truth. No ballerina, tip-toeing around the truth. 
  2. Jacob went from general to specific, when addressed his kids. he was transparent. 
  3. truth with love can be liberating
  4. Remember the three B words: Bad, Belt, Bottom. Leroy was bad. He needs a belt on his bottom :-)
  5. Tell kids their behavior is bad and unacceptable. 
Part B: Truth about consequences

  1. Tell them what they aint gonna be if they do wrong. 
  2. It's a sin to know the right thing and do not do it. 
  3. There are different paths to being a bum. What are we going to do if we see kids on that path?
  4. Parents are scared to tell kids what's coming. Let them know what happens if they don't change lives. 
  5. People should help with the kids, but there is no replacement for the bible.