Monday, March 10, 2008

Book Review: Seeing Through the Lies

A couple of weeks ago, I began reading Vonda Skelton’s Seeing Through the Lies. Now, to be perfectly honest, I really didn’t know what to expect. I had seen Vonda in person last fall at the North Texas Christian Writers’ Conference. She is an adorable, hilarious, petite little woman with a warm smile and an even warmer personality.

She also writes children’s books, and she autographed one of her Bitsy Mysteries for my daughter. Then, when Charis e-mailed her to tell her how much she loved the book, Vonda e-mailed her back! Needless to say, I was already a big fan.

After reading this book, I am ready to start a fan club. Seriously, I found such relief in reading this woman’s zany descriptions of her own life! She’s not perfect! And do you know what she showed me? I don’t have to be perfect either! Through laughter and tears, she uses God’s Word to show me – and you – that Satan is the master of lies. And with these lies, he holds us captive.

He tells us we can do it all. That we can be thin. Beautiful. Organized. Excellent housewives. Perfect moms. He tells us that we can work a forty-hour week, run the kids here and there, feed our families perfectly well-balanced meals, have spotless homes, and do it all with gentle, soft-spoken voices and perfect hair-dos. And sleep? Who needs sleep? We superwomen just plow right on through, making the most of every moment. And we spend our lives chasing this myth of perfect, godly womanhood.

But through God’s Word, Vonda shows the reader that God doesn’t expect any of that from us. He loves us unconditionally, and He only wants our hearts. He wants us to love Him back. And when we give Him our hearts, something beautiful begins to happen. When we start loving God, spending time with Him, listening to Him . . . then He will begin His great work in us. Changing us. Transforming us. Making us like Him.

And being like Him? Well, that’s a whole lot better than being a superwoman.

Read more about the book, Seeing Through the Lies, at www.VondaSkelton.com .

Blog giveaway!!!! Leave a comment and win a gift from the author of Seeing Through the Lies!
(She is doing a blog tour, and will choose a winner from comments on one of the blogs reviewing her book! Learn more at her website, above.)

14 comments:

Alyssa said...

This sounds like such a timely book and a great read as well. I hope I win!

Unknown said...

Thanks Renae, for your review of this book. Any book and author recommended by you is sure to be a favorite of mine.
Will check it out.
And amen to calling out the superwoman myth/lie!
Jlo

Renae said...

Oh, I know you will love this book. Thanks for stopping by!

--r

Anonymous said...

Hi Renae--thank you so much for having me here at CoffeeTalk! And thank you for your kind words, BlueBonnet and Jlo. I do hope you enjoy the book. It certainly came from my heart and from my own struggles, even as a Christian woman who loves the Lord! If nothing else, I wanted us all to see the myths we fall for, face them, and announce, Enough is enough! Of course, that doesn't mean we'll always have our act together (that's actually one of the lies we fall for--that if we love God we won't fall!). Thankfully, God doesn't give up on us, and we can't give up on ourselves, either! ;-)

Blessings, friends!
Vonda
www.VondaSkelton.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks Renae!
Great review and interview! i can't wait to read it!

TJ Wilson said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks, R! :)

the mother of this lot said...

Renae, I didn't realise you had another blog! Ooh! Lots more lovely posts to read through!

Vonda Skelton said...

Hi Pam, TJ, and MotherOTL--
Thanks for stopping by and reading the interview. I do hope you'll find the book to be just what you need to get a good laugh, learn something about women in general and yourself specifically, and to share with your friends. I sincerely believe this book can make a difference in our lives as we share this common struggle together.

Oh, and if you need a good laugh, I hope you'll check out my new YouTube video, "Solomon's Beloved". You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEmhI8FL_ZI

Blessings to all my new friends!
Vonda
www.VondaSkelton.com

ChristyJan said...

Thanks for the reminder that God loves us unconditionally.

Congrats on the release of your new book, Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe ~ it sounds wonderful.

And ... oh my gosh! What a wonderful prize you are giving away in your blog drawing!

Vonda Skelton said...

Hi Christyjan! It's great to see you here!

I hope you'll encourage your women's study group to use the book for your study. And for every group that uses the book, I'd be thrilled to make a speaker phone visit to the group! ;-)

Hope to talk with you soon!

Blessings,
Vonda
www.VondaSkelton.com

Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience said...

Isn't it true?
The more transparent we are, the more others can see Jesus in us. He is revealed in our imperfections and brokeness....

Thank you, Vonda, for being real...

Vonda Skelton said...

You're right, Ann. I was at a conference one time when the keynote speaker was telling of the amazing transformation God had done in her life. She admitted to having had more than one abortion. Later, I overheard two women talking. One said, "Well, I don't think she should be up there speaking if she's had abortions!" Now, I would never, ever diminish the horror of abortion, but in all honesty, the first thing that came to my mind was, how many people did Paul kill?

We need to be like the woman at the well..."Let me tell you about the man who told me everything I ever did!"

Praise Him!

I pray you each have a blesssed Resurrection Sunday as we celebrate our Lord!
Vonda
www.VondaSkelton.com

Renae said...

Amen, Vonda! Preach it, sister!

And what about David, who stole a man's wife and then murdered the man?

And still, the Bible calls David "a man after God's own heart."

--r

Vonda Skelton said...

Yes, Renae. I'm so thankful that the God we serve is big enough and the blood of Jesus is powerful enough to overcome any sin!

Glory!
Vonda
www.VondaSkelton.com