I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Just Read. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
More Than These: A Woman’s Love for God by June Kimmel Published by Ambassador International on May 11, 2018
Genres: Christian, Christian Life, Christian Ministry, Contemporary Women, Discipleship, Inspirational, Personal Growth, Spiritual Growth, Women's Issues
Pages: 160
Source: Just Read
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Lovest thou Me more than these?More Than These: A Woman’s Love for God addresses the question that every woman who desires to walk with God must face. How can a woman love God as she should and keep the rest of her life in its proper place? Innumerable responsibilities fill her life and seek to take control of her time, energy, and focus. In spite of her best intentions, these worthy concerns can slip into a place of prominence in her heart—a place only God deserves. These people and situations that capture her love can quickly become idols when priorities go unchecked.More Than These: A Woman’s Love for God addresses the issue of a woman’s love for God. Each chapter considers a different aspect of a woman’s life that can become an idol—family, friends, possessions, fears, accomplishments, etc. More Than These: A Woman’s Love for God clearly presents biblical truths and personal illustrations to teach why a woman must surrender these areas to the Lord for Him to remain her ultimate love.Women are searching for the secret to balancing their lives. More Than These: A Woman’s Love for God declares that loving God supremely is the answer.
John 21:15 (KJV): So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
Have you ever stopped and actually thought about all the things that you potentially love more than Christ? Or have the potential to love more than Christ? Those things that sit on your own private pedestal (or could be on it) that you love with all your being. Those things that if you don’t stop and do a heart check now and again could replace Christ as most loved. June Kimmel did. She stopped and thought. She found herself in a life changing situation that forced her to truly reevaluate her personal priorities. A golden opportunity, an offer for full-time ministry that was actively sought, a relocation half-way across the country. Grown children, grandchildren, friends. No longer within visiting distance. Full-time ministry. A calling from God. A family, a job, friends. No longer within visiting distance. ‘Simon, do you love me more than these?’ ‘June, do you love me more than these?” Have you ever asked yourself that question? ‘Fizzy, do you love me more than these?’
This book read with a very devotional feel. I am loathe to admit it, but I wish I had cheated and flipped to the back of the book and checked out the follow-up questions before I read. Broken down by each chapter they offer questions to think on, relevant scriptures to memorize, and even related prayer prompts. I love that as each chapter breaks down all the potential idols, distractions, and even excuses that we use to separate ourselves from a Christ first faith. With the added study questions I feel drawn to return to this book again in the future and truly dig into each chapter, dig in to the study questions that go with each chapter. Honestly, this is something that should be done more than once. As life changes and our environment changes and our family changes then our priorities change. Ensuring that the realignment includes the conscious decision to keep Christ above all else is essential to a faith filled life.
I’ll be honest, at times I got dragged down into the side stories and constant return to the family left behind. While I get that this was the catalyst for the inception of this book I feel like there was so much more that could have been thrown in. I know where she came from, what she left all for a ministry her and her husband felt called to do. However, I don’t know enough about what came with this opportunity. I didn’t get enough of what she got to embrace with their new opportunity. I feel like so much focus was placed on what was left behind and how they made it work for the good of all their futures that I didn’t get enough of what they embraced and how it turned out for good for all their futures.
John 21:15 (KJV): So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
When was the last time you stopped and pondered this question? When was the last time you stopped and evaluated your priorities? While a book can never be a replacement for scripture, this book breaks it down to relate-able, current life topics to help guide you through identifying your priorities and identifying your idols, distractions, and excuses.
About June Kimmel
June Kimmel is a pastor’s wife, author, mother of three, and grandmother of seven! She and her husband have been in ministry for over forty years. June’s greatest joy is teaching God’s Word to ladies of all ages and walks of life. She regularly speaks at ladies’ conferences and retreats, educators conferences, and other special events in the United States and internationally. Through their ministry, Training the Nations, June and her husband are training pastors, their wives, and Christian educators around the world.
