When Kristen Welch contacted me about being part of the launch team for her new book, Rhinestone Jesus: Saying Yes to God When Sparkly, Safe Faith is No Longer Enough, I knew immediately that I was on board.
I’m fascinated by Kristen’s story. Her story could be my story…and it could also be your story. She’s a normal girl like you and like me. She’s a mess, she’s funny, she doesn’t get life right all the time. Her kids fight, her house gets messy, and her marriage has seen its moments in the valleys.
Her story is our story, and I wanted to know more. Because where Kristen’s story takes a sharp turn is at the very moment that she uttered a tiny word.
YES.
Kristen and her family felt a tug to help the struggling young women living in the slums of Kenya. With fear and trepidation, they took steps forward, saying Yes to this dream that seemed impossible, and out of their Yes, The Mercy House was birthed, offering freedom and grace for 12 girls, and 12 babies. The story is miraculous, awe-inspiring, and challenging. Kristen and her family are just like your family and mine. They’re a ordinary family who chose to say yes, and they are doing extraordinary work.
When I began reading Rhinestone Jesus, I worried that it would make me feel inadequate. I feared that maybe I would be more confused, more unsure of what my next step should be.
Instead I was reminded of that which I already knew, but I so quickly forget:
I am the mess, and Christ said Yes to me.
I am prideful, and judgmental. I’m the girl who yells at her kids, who grows idle with her time. I’m the girl who spent a decade wrapped in the ugly talons of an eating disorder, who was freed from that prison, but who can still look in a mirror and find too many faults to list.
I am the girl who will pass on the opportunity to help someone because it’s inconvenient.
I’m the girl with big dreams, who fears she won’t ever have the guts to pursue them.
I’m the girl who wrestles with God, who gets mad at Him, and pours out frustrations over praise far too often.
I’m the girl who struggles with the dichotomy of wanting to give away all we have, and longing to add more earthly treasure to my already hefty mound.
I am that girl, and I am a mess.
But the beauty of receiving Christ, of accepting His Yes of me and all my flaws, is this – Because of Christ:
I am humble and repentant when I fail. I’m quick to ask my children for forgiveness when I yell, and I fight the desire to grow idle with every fiber of my being. I am free from the confines of that eating disorder, and when the lies press down, I have the wisdom of the Spirit to help me fight back.
I look for opportunities to serve, and I long to give freely.
I’m confident that the dreams I have were given to me by God Himself, and I take steps toward them, even if I sometimes feel like I’m walking blind.
When I throw my frustrations at God, He meets me with Grace and Mercy through His Word, every. single. time. He takes my doubts, and He strengthens me in weakness.
I see, and embrace, the blessing that comes from giving, even when the giving is hard.
Because Christ said Yes to me, I am able to say Yes to Him. I could say Yes to adoption, even when it was scary and expensive, and our decision wasn’t fully supported by everyone we knew and loved. And when it all fell apart, I was able to say Yes to disappointment, to knowing God deeper through brokenness.
We were able to say Yes to hosting a child who needed love, to pouring our time and energy into her for a month, and sending her home with a piece of our hearts.
I say Yes every day when I fold my laundry, hug my children, serve my husband, live my life. My Yes isn’t always big – it’s a simple response, because the Big Yes was offered on my behalf with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
I write this today to encourage you. We are all broken. We all feel a hot mess, and I want you to know that Christ said Yes to you, for you. You can embrace that and cling to it on the days when you don’t feel like you’re enough.
I also have the privilege to give away TWO of Kristen’s books to two of you.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. If I could afford to give one to every single person I know, I would.
To enter for a chance to win one of two copies of Rhinestone Jesus: Saying Yes to God When Sparkly, Safe Faith is No Longer Enough, simply leave a comment. Let me know how God has redeemed you in your mess. Share how you are able to say Yes to Him in return. Tell me anything you want to share – one comment will enter you to win.
The comments will remained open until Thursday, May 1, when Rhinestone Jesus officially releases. You can, however, purchase the book already in pre-release. If you’re anxious to own your own copy of Rhinestone Jesus, you can purchase it at the following places:
This post was long. Sorry – I try not to do that too often. Thanks for sticking with me until the end. I am pleading blessings and grace over all of you as you enter into this weekend. I pray that you feel the power of Christ’s Yes to you, and that you, in return, will know the power of saying Yes to Him.
*The giveaway is now closed. Winners have been notified. Thanks everyone for entering!
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the book to review, and two copies to give away. All opinions expressed are my own.
Having been raised in a pastor’s home, I had no idea I was “playing church”…..I was just doing what we always did. It was the norm for my life. I discovered that I knew a lot about God, but really didn’t know Him! He showed up and opened my eyes and now I am passionate about teaching His Word to others! NEVER in a million years would have dreamed that …….
Yes. This sleepy mom reached for her phone and turned on her Bible App first thing, that was my early morning yes. Now I plod to the kitchen to serve another yes to my family with love. Saying yes isn’t flashy and sexy today, just real. And really where he has me. But like you I feel the call to the big yes’ too. But God knows and so I trust His by simply saying yes to today.
Thank you for sharing.
Just last night I had a church meeting to attend for my job in our Children’s Primary. I had too much to do, and I didn’t want to go, but I went anyway. I was also distracted (and I’m going to be painfully honest here …) because I had just found out that an ex-boyfriend from 16 years ago … is wildly successful and living in Austria (which is so close to Germany, where I lived for 1 1/2 years, and they also speak German …). I LOVE my husband, don’t get me wrong, but I couldn’t resist wondering what if … What if I had married this other guy instead? Then I’d be living in Austria.
BUT THEN … the speaker at the meeting quoted a hymn: It may not be on the mountain high, or over the stormy sea [um, Austria?] … There’s surely somewhere a lowly place, in Earth’s harvest fields so wide [rural Idaho!], where I may labor through life’s short day, for Jesus, the Crucified. So, trusting my all to thy tender care, and knowing thou lovest me, I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere, I’ll be what you want me to be.
That was my yes last night, to being happy with the life he has given me. I am truly blessed.
I have heard so much about this book and so badly want to read it! The Lord helped me say ‘yes’ to Him when He called me to South Africa more than ten years ago .. I thought it was going to be for six months, but He had other plans, and I’m so grateful for His goodness! Thank you for the opportunity to enter to win this book!
I’ve said yes to God when he asked me to do things I said I would never do. Move back to my husband’s hometown. Quit my job. Enroll my kids in private school. And every time I say yes, in this big moments and in the everyday moments, God provides and gives me fresh perspective.
Wow, one story? Hmmm…after an instense season of saying yes, which turned into many messes, He is still showing me His glories, His work & His redemption. Healing but soon to be saying Yes again I’m sure.
I would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks so much for the chance to win!
I am in the middle of mess right now… Trying to say yes even though nothing makes sense.
I never thought I would have the courage to say Yes to God when He required something too far outside my comfort zone. As I shared with you the other day, this preparation time for our next “adventure” has me WAY beyond comfort, stretched beyond myself, trusting Him to fill in everywhere I find myself inadequate (which is pretty much everywhere). Maybe if He had given us a glimpse we would not have said yes. So right now I am beyond grateful that we could only see right in front of us, because despite the difficulties, this is right where I want to be (interpretive dance in the works).
With scarves? Please say yes…
I love your review and can’t wait to read this book. I read a quote from Kristen that said she spent so much time trying to fit Jesus into her life instead of fitting her life into Jesus. I can so relate to that and God sent me on a journey to realize that was true in my own life.
Hey Kelli! I’m excited about reading this book! For me, right now is saying yes to homeschooling. Most days I feel highly inadequate and fairly frazzled but we feel this is what God has for our family right now…so every morning, I say YES.
And…I misspelled my own name…
Hmm, I am intrigued about this book and the concept. I can’t think of a specific example of saying “yes”, but I definitely want to learn more about this. Thanks for the long post, it is a lot to think about. 😉
Saying yes to Jesus by following where He leads and walking in faith. Right now that looks like leaving a job and ministry we’ve loved for 14+ years and spend the next year training for camp ministry. We have no idea what lies ahead but we are excited to see what God does, and more of who He is!