“We have to slow the rhythm of rush in our lives so the best of who we are can emerge.”
-Lysa TerKeurst
I’m reading The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst right now. Kevin found it at Lifeway and surprised me with it for Christmas.
It’s about making wise decisions in the midst of endless demands, and I have enjoyed it SO much. Goodness, that woman has such a way with words! I’ve been Instagramming some of my favorites snippets lately:
I picked up an extra copy at the bookstore this week because I thought it would be fun to host a giveaway here today. If you’d like to enter to win it, just leave me a comment below and I’ll (randomly) select a name tomorrow night before I head to bed. 🙂 (I’ll include it at the end of Friday’s post.)
Kevin and I had the pleasure of meeting Lysa in Virginia Beach several years ago, and we guest posted on each other’s blogs shortly thereafter. I went back and read the post Lysa shared here on my blog this morning. I had forgotten how much it gleamed…
Warm Icicles
by Lysa TerKeurst
Last year my husband and I traveled to Vermont where I woke up one morning to stare at what an overnight snow storm brought us. I had never seen such snow in all my live long day. But what really caught my attention were gigantic icicles hanging from the roof line. They were perfect. As I stared out at them, suddenly a memory flashed across the screen of my mind. It was about my Dad. My biological Dad. The one who abandoned me a long time ago and who knows nothing about my life now. I don’t have very many memories of him, and the ones I do have aren’t that great. If I let my mind dwell on the gaping hole he left in my heart, I get sad even to this day. God has been so good to help me see that I am not the child of a broken parent any longer- that I am a child of God. I am loved. I am treasured. I am wanted.
But sometimes, this nagging thought sneaks into the crevices of my heart and I start wondering, why didn’t my Daddy love me? That’s why this icicle memory brought such joy to my heart. It is a good memory of my Dad. It rushed into my mind that morning in a way that brought a fresh, gleaming perspective.
I grew up in Florida which meant no snow- ever. But I remember praying for snow. Praying like a revival preacher at a tent meeting I tell ya. If ever there could be snow in Florida, surely a passionate little girl’s prayers could open up those heavenly snowflake storehouses.
One night, the temperatures dropped surprisingly low, and the weather man called for a freeze. This was a rare thing in our area. How tragic there was no precipitation on this particular cold night. It was the one night that snow might have been possible. It broke my little snow bunny heart. But the next morning I awoke to icicles everywhere. Gleaming, dripping, hanging, light reflecting, glorious icicles were all over the trees in our back yard. It was magical.
We were the only house on the block with this grand winter display because I was the only girl whose Daddy thought to put out sprinklers on the one night it froze.
I don’t know where this memory has been hiding for too many years, but what a gift. Somewhere in the deep, mysterious, broken places of my Dad’s heart, there was an inkling of love. I pray wherever he is today, he too remembers the night of the icicle wonderland. For it is a common thread of hope that ties too very distant hearts together…and that makes me smile.
That segment you included from her book touched my heart. Very healing. This would also help heal my daughter’s heart. Very soothing and very true.
Thank you for offering this! I have been working lately on my calling and the top three priorities that support that calling. When something does not line up with those three, at this point (with five children at home), I am trying very hard to say no. I would love help and support from this book!
Love this!
Thanks so much for this post, Layla. I, too, know that feeling of being unloved by a biological father. Even though I know my Heavenly Father has always loved me, sometimes that “pit in the stomach” ache for your earthly father arises. Lysa has such a way of stating what is in many of our hearts.
Love, love, love this post! What a sweet memory.
I need this book.:(
Yes, please. 🙂
Oh Layla, if I were to win this book I would send it, tied up with a bow, to my friend at the other end of the country whose husband lost his job and they are very worried about losing their house they have lived in most of their married life. Thanks for the snippets. Very inspirational.
Thank you for hosting this giveaway. I just recently heard of Lysa and her book and hoped to add it to my 2015 reading list.
“a common thread of hope that ties too very distant hearts together…and that makes me smile.”
How absolutely beautiful…I would love to read her book.
Thank you for bringing this to us Layla.
You’re a gem! : )
Love It!!!!
Would love love love to read this book!!!
This sounds like a book which speaks to the heart. I am sure I would enjoy its messages.
Love the quotes and pictures! You write beautifully and really inspire me to think above the small things in my life.
Thank you.
Just the type of book I’ve been searching for!
During this “season” of extra crazy in my life I think this book would be a huge blessing to me. Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful story. Thanks so much for the give away and the opportunity to win!
I am the mother of two girls whose Dad left their lives years ago and reading this made me hope they both have their own “gleaming icicles” to remember…….one now has children of her own and the other is pregnant for her first child and so very excited…..I think this book would be a great read for me and one to surely pass on to both of my daughters…thank you so much for the opportunity to do so and can’t wait till your little bundle of joy is home with you…..
I keep hearing great things about this book! Sounds like something I would love to read!!
Thank you for sharing your ‘joy’ with us, Layla. Sounds like a great inspirational book!
I would love to win a copy of this book! My life would benefit greatly from such a read right now! Thanks for the wonderful story and the opportunity to win a copy of this great book.
Oh, please! Love every thing about the concept…
Thanks for the chance to win!
Beautiful story..
Such a touching story – I’d love to read more of her work!
You are such an inspiration of life and always have an insightful message to share. I love being able to follow your path of life thru your blog. I have seen other passages from Lisa’s book and would love to read the entire book. Sounds like great message to live our lives by.
I saw a friend on FB was getting ready to read this, too. Looks great!
By the number of comments for this book, you better head to bed early! I hope the person who needs the book the most wins it.
Would enjoy reading this book!
That looks like a wonderful read!
Thank you for the opportunity, this books sounds wonderful !
definitely will be checking out the local library great reads!
I loved following this study, but I couldn’t add the book to our budget. I would love to really dig into this with the real book!
Sounds like a great book! Something we (especially women) need to be reminded of.
What a great book to start a new year with! Thanks for the opportunity to win it! I am so hopeful that 2015 is your year and that the beautiful little boy’s bedroom will be occupied!!
Only yesterday I heard Lysa speaking on Focus on the Family, and she touched my heart. Her words rang so true and clear in my current spiritual state. I would love to read more. Thank you!
This book sounds amazing and fits right in with my goals for this new year. I find myself taking on too much and then living a stressed life. I love all of my adventures, but I need to be more thoughtful on how they affect my world, family and soul. I love this blog so much! It gives me a cozy feeling every time I read and offers me a quiet moment to relax and dream. Thank you!
This book sounds like exactly what I need in my life right now! Fingers crossed!
The book sounds like a wonderful read filled with awesome learning lessons.
Another book on my reading list when I retire!
Sounds like a great book…what a sweet story. I would Lovett! God bless you today, Layla!
Holy comments-for-a-chance-to-win Batman! 😀
One thing I like about your blog is the learning I get to do on a regular basis. My word-of-the-year is open. I smiled to myself as I read your blog this morning as it looks like I’ll be opening my awareness to a new author this month. (I’ve been on a real Louise Hay kick as of late, she’s another gem.)
I could choose to feel out of the loop in never having heard of Lysa, but instead I think I’ll find my way over to Google and learn about her and her books. Your IG posts (seen only here) make me wish I was on InstaGram – but I’m glad I’m not. We all need to have time to disconnect from electronics every day – as many blessings as they can bring, we need time to be with our souls / our energy fields and Nature.
Thank you for this post. I am so grateful you and Kevin embarked on this blog-venture how ever many years ago you did. I appreciate it immensely.
Have a blessed day!
Maryjane
from MB, Canada
Please include me in your drawing…sounds like something I need to read. Life can be overwhelming if we let it. I am a people pleaser and say “yes” a lot more than I should. Thank you for sharing this post.
I remember reading Lysa’s post on your blog. I just love her, and love what God has done in and through her. Thank you for the opportunity to win The Best Yes!
It looks like a good book full of wisdom.
I would pass this book to my daughter in hopes that one day she will have an “Icicle Moment”………
Such a heartwarming memory from your childhood. The icicles do look magical! Love the quotes from the book. It definitely looks like it would be an inspirational to read. Thanks for sharing…….
I have never heard of this author. If the snippets you listed are any indication of the wisdom contained in the book, I need to read it! Thanks for exposing me to her work on your blog. I will have to look for her books the next time I am in Lifeway!
I actually bought this book on Friday at Lifeway. I had lunch by myself yesterday at Dickey’s BBQ and brought it with me. I had to wipe the greasy spots off the front and back after I finished lunch, but that’s OK. The book was too good to leave in my purse, where it would have been safe from smudges.
I had highlighted your top two Instagram pics when reading yesterday, and I must say, even though I’m not far into the book yet (only on page 44), Chapter 3 hit me between the eyes. Oh, my soul… I think she wrote that chapter just for me. I feel like I need to memorize that chapter – NO, I need to act and do my “soul thing” so that I might bless whom. This is some good stuff!
The book sounds like a much needed read.
I would love to enter this contest. I could use a little motivation and inspiration these days!