Chapter 3 Guest: Tam Hodge

This week's guest is Tam Hodge, who is a believer, mother, wife, friend and all around great woman to know! She broke Chapter 3 up into morsels of thoughts and questions, which we think is a great way to continue to digest this meaty chapter.

So, go visit her blog and read what she has to say about chapter three - and then stay awhile. You're going to love this woman.

Jess and Angie

Chapter 3 blog/video

I loved this chapter, and it got me into a mode of really reflecting on some things in my life that impact my relationship with the Lord. I became a Christian as an adult, so I might have a different story than some of you. How has your past shaped your understanding of the Lord?

Specifically, how is your relationship with your father? For me, I have a dad I can depend on all the time. If he tells me he's going to be at my house at 5, that really means 4:45. He never missed a game I was cheering at, never failed me in anything significant. I could ALWAYS go to him, no matter what. Even if I had done something I was really ashamed of, I still knew it could be trusted in his keeping, and I shared so much with him. There were times in my life that my mother was not able to be an active part of my life (I have never discussed this on my blog and don't really want to go into great detail here, but I love her dearly and maybe I will tell this story some other time...) and my dad really stepped up to the plate.

He was the only dad in the dressing room when I twirled around in 50 potential prom dresses.

He sat in the family room the night before cheerleading tryouts and watched me practice my routine until I cried myself to sleep, sure I would never be cool enough to make the squad.

He told me I was beautiful, talented, smart, special.

And so does my Lord.

For me, gratefully, he has modeled the way I should rely on Christ.

I know that this isn't the case with all of us. Some come from abusive backgrounds, shadows we can hardly crawl out of on our hands and knees, memories that stain the very fiber of our being.

If you are one of these women I want you to know that I am praying for you as I type these words. I am asking the Lord to show Himself to you as the father you have always wanted. I am so sorry that you have been where you have and I wish it had been different for you. They are deep wounds, I'm sure. Please know that there are many, many women here that have probably walked similar roads and would love to connect with you and I am praying that the Lord introduces you to each other.

Jess and I have prayed over this book club, and have been so blessed to see the fruits of relationship growing. If you haven't spent time on the forums or in the chat section, feel free to hop over and introduce yourself. And if you happen to be reading through other's comments and see someone struggling with something you have also dealt with, please reach out. We are sisters here.

Your Father loves you.

There is so much more I could say because I really felt like there was so much truth in this chapter but as I write I just feel that the Lord is saying to leave it there. If we can confront the things in our past that have kept us from putting our full weight into Him, we will transform our relationships with the Lord and with others. Be courageous and honest as you process this week's reading, and know that all the while you are loved and prayed for.

We are grateful you are here and we hope you fall in love with your Abba all over again...

(And just a heads up about the videos... we shot this week's on an HD flip camera, which caused the video to be too long to upload as one. So the total length is the same, just two videos!)

Crazy Love Chapter Three (Part One) from angie smith on Vimeo.

Crazy Love Chapter Three (Part Two) from angie smith on Vimeo.

Please join us in the ning community to discuss this chaper.

Many blessings,

Ang and Jess

Chapter Two Guest: Matthew Paul Turner

This week's guest contributor is my husband, talented speaker, author and humorist, Matthew Paul Turner. Angie and I invite you to visit his blog and read his post, inspired by chapter 2. As the one person who gets to experience Matthew as he writes, I can tell you that he invests so much of himself into his words. He spent a great deal of time preparing this week's guest post, and we hope it will urge you to continue to ask questions and delve into your story. I know it inspired us.

Be sure to then discuss Matthew's post and questions on the ning site.

We'll see you Sunday night with chapter 3!

Jessica and Angie

Chapter 2

Let's kick things off with our video for chapter 2. Ignore the fact that we are ghostly white - weird light. :) Be sure to have Crazy Love near you so you can follow along with us.

Crazy Love Chapter Two from angie smith on Vimeo.

Here are the lyrics to Nichole Nordeman's Legacy
I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...
Verses from Chapter 2
James 4:13-14
Phil 4:4, 6
1 Corin 10:31
Psalm 73:3, 13, 16-17
Matthew 10:32-33
Ecc 7:2
Rev 3:1
1 Corin 3:13-15

Here are this week's questions
How do you make it a habit to take your thoughts captive and offer your thoughts to God?

How do you bring glory to God in the "mundane" of life?

How do you reduce stress in your life?

What do you do when you catch yourself being selfish?

What thoughts do you have when you think about your legacy?

As always, join us on the ning site to discuss these questions, as well as any thoughts you have on chapter two!

Chapter One Guest

Please hop on over and spend some time with me (Angie) and my Pastor (Pete). He also happens to be a friend of mine, and has some awesome insights that I hope you all enjoy.

And also, I haven't watched it, so I don't know the level of obnoxious laughter yet.

Be inspired by the Lord this week!!!! He is THAT big!!!!

Love to you all,

Ang and Jess

Pete is an amazing Pastor, and if you want to watch his sermons online, please click here. This past week was the first in a series I think you will love! It is about Religion Lies, and will be the first one you see on the media page.

Intro and Chapter 1

Welcome! We are so excited to be starting Crazy Love this week. To start things out, take 15 minutes and join us as we discuss our thoughts from the book.

Chapter One of Crazy Love from angie smith on Vimeo.

As we mentioned, here are the list of verses mentioned in the intro and chapter one.

• Romans 1:20
• Psalm 19:1-4
• Ex 3:14
• Psalm 102:12, 27
• Psalm 139
• Hebrews 4:13
• Col 1:16
• Psalm 115:3
• Daniel 4:35
• Proverbs 8:13
• Rev 4
• Isaiah 6
  

We encourage you to read them in more than one bible translation. If you don't have a bible or have just one translation, check out Bible Gateway for access to dozens of translations.

Join us in in the ning community to discuss the following:

• How do you consistently remind yourself of God?
• What attribute of God is hardest for you to grasp?
• What struck you in this week's reading?
• Anything else you can think of!

We have turned off the comments on this post because we want you to come to the ning community. :) So join us. And, be sure to come back on Wednesday for our guest blogger's thoughts on the intro and chapter one.

xoxo
Angie and Jess