The random winner of Feminine Appeal is Jenny (jennyldodson@)! You should have an e-mail from Pierce My Heart in your inbox. If not, please contact us within seven days to claim your prize.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest by leaving a comment on our article. If you didn’t win this month, please check back in October, because we have a special offer coming up.

Congratulations, Jenny! We hope you enjoy your new book!

– Davonne Parks

This is the last day to enter to win our September giveaway. The winner, who will be announced on September 30, will receive a new book!

If you have any questions, please let us know, and we will respond to you as quickly as possible.

– Davonne Parks

I love to read books. I have often begun and finished a book in less than two days. And I have an ever-growing list of books that I’d love to read. However, I also have all the duties that a mother of 3, wife, and homemaker include. And so, I’ve recently realized that I need to be very selective with what I choose to spend my time reading. Of course, the Bible should be my top choice. I think it’s important to put aside the novels and spend time reading books by godly people who desire for others to have a real relationship with God, doing His will and living to please Him.

One such author is Carolyn Mahaney. In addition to having a website for women, written with the help of her three daughters, she and her husband, C.J., have written numerous books about God’s word and our relationship with Him and others. One of those books, Feminine Appeal has recently touched me in a very deep way. After the recommendation by several friends, I bought the book and couldn’t put it down. Although it’s an easy read, it’s no easy read! The Holy Spirit used this book to convict me to examine the kind of wife and mother I am. I realized that I have so much growing to do, especially when interacting with my husband and children.

Feminine Appeal addresses seven virtues of a godly wife and mother, including loving our husbands and children, self-control, purity, kindness, and submission. Mahaney does a wonderful job of interpreting God’s word, using Titus 2 to show how God commands women to conduct themselves. This is an excellent book, one that you will refer back to again and again. Pray that in addition to His word, God will use this book to help you examine your attitude and relationships with others.

Giveaway

Ready to read Carolyn’s book? We have a copy of Feminine Appeal to give away! To enter, leave a comment by September 29 telling us what you’d like to see discussed on Pierce My Heart, or tell us one of your favorite Christian books.

Comments are moderated, so they may take a day or so to appear. Make sure to include a valid e-mail address in your information (this will not appear in the post). The winner will be announced on September 30 and will be e-mailed with simple instructions on how to claim this prize. The winner must contact us back within seven days of our initial contact, or the book will go to someone else.

Thank you, Crossway Publishing, for donating a copy of this book to give away. May it bless other women and their relationships with God, their husbands, and their children.

By Lisa Grimenstein

“Fireproof doesn’t mean that a fire will never come, but that when it comes, you’ll be able to withstand it.”

Have you noticed how Hollywood seems to delight in marriage? But not a healthy, godly marriage––marriages that are broken and unfaithful. We are constantly informed of the latest news of a star’s ending marriage, or of some unfaithfulness going on. And most of the time, it’s with some amusement. That’s why it’s so refreshing to watch a movie that portrays a real glimpse of what marriage often becomes, and what it should be.

Fireproof is one of the best and most convicting movies I’ve seen. Produced and directed by a church in Georgia (who has also made several other movies), this $500,000 movie has brought in tens of millions. Although I was skeptical of the acting, which had been reported as being mediocre, I was blown away by the message.

Kirk Cameron plays lead character Caleb Holt, a firefighter whose seven-year marriage is burning to the ground. He has experienced the ever-common complaint of many married couples––he’s fallen out of love. And his wife, Catherine, played by new-actress Erin Bethea, feels the same way. They both individually feel as though there is no love left in the marriage and that anything good is far outweighed and overshadowed by the bad. The film is very honest in portraying some of the “parasites” in marriage. Caleb struggles with pornography (the movie is very subtle with this), and Catherine faces a temptation many women encounter––another man who attends to her emotions while her husband neglects them.

On the brink of deciding on divorce, Caleb is challenged by his father to try the “Love Dare.” He reluctantly commits to this 40-day challenge of sacrificially loving his wife, and struggles to remain dedicated as his wife rejects any effort on his part to save their marriage. In one moment of frustration, he argues with his dad, saying, “How am I supposed to show love for somebody who over and over and over constantly rejects me?!”

It’s then that the amazing truth behind a successful marriage is revealed––we can’t do it without God’s Spirit working in us. Jesus could have easily asked the same question to His Father––“How am I supposed to love them when they keep rejecting Me?!” As Christians, though, we are given this Helper. When we acknowledge that we don’t have the strength in us to love our spouses on our own, and allow God’s Spirit to work in us, that is when we are able to love our spouses the way God commands.

Fireproof does a great job of realistically portraying a deteriorating marriage that is void of God. It is also very straightforward in its message of what God wants a marriage to be. This movie is one that should be seen by any married couple, whether they are struggling or not, as it challenges us to evaluate our marriages and sacrificially love our wives and respect our husbands as God commands (Ephesians 5:33).

By Lisa Grimenstein

Moving away from home can be very difficult on family members – even though you’re busy with new friends, new classes, and new activities, their lives are basically the same as usual except you’re not there, and they are more likely to feel your absence (and miss your presence). While living far away, you can stay emotionally close to family members, and allow them to be involved in your life, in a number of easy ways.

Social network: A social network (such as Facebook) will allow you to leave comments on your family members’ pages in just a few seconds to let them know you’re thinking of them. You can quickly wish a sibling good luck on a test, or tell your mom you hope she’s feeling better after being sick. You can also upload pictures or videos of things going on around you to help them feel included in your life.

Phone: Whether a quick phone call on your walk to class, or a text message that says, “I aced my math test!” you can use your phone to stay updated on your family’s life without spending hours talking to everyone (although the occasional lengthy conversation is nice!).

Blog: If you love to write, consider setting up a blog on a website such as blogspot.com, xanga.com, or wordpress.com to write about your everyday happenings and thoughts. It will also be fun for you to go back through and read old entries later on.

E-mail: If you want to write, but don’t feel comfortable putting your words on the internet, consider sending an occasional e-mail to your entire family, updating them on your life and asking for an update on theirs.

Snail mail: Especially if you have younger siblings, this kind of mail will be eagerly received. For really young siblings, include a sticker sheet for them to play with. Birthdays and holidays are times that are great for sending snail mail even if you don’t normally write cards or letters.

Keep in mind

Remaining close to family throughout all stages of life is one of life’s greatest blessings (Ephesians 3:14-19). Although your family will be eager to hear from you, make sure your conversations aren’t one-sided. Ask them how they’re doing and be interested in their lives, no matter how big or small their news is.

By Davonne Parks

I really value good, clean music. First of all, who doesn’t love music? Music can be a great way to relax and unwind, and can be common ground between friends. But music can be very harmful too. There is so much out there that just pollutes the mind and causes us to develop an insensitivity to the things that hurt us spiritually. So, when I find a good song, it gains a spot on my mental list of favorites. I know how hard it can be for teens to stay away from the popular entertainment sources, but we are called to be different––and that’s an honor! Why should we be cautious to keep our minds pure? Read Romans 12:2, Matthew 5:8, 1 Peter 2:9, Philippians 4:8, and Colossians 3:2. Today I want to mention some of my favorites songs and groups, in hopes that you will always be in search of pure entertainment––to keep your thoughts pure, to be an example to others, and to please God!

I often wonder what expression would be on the face of the apostles if they were hanging out with the youth of today, and one of today’s “Top 40” songs came on. Not every song is bad, but for someone who has not been exposed to certain types of music (or someone who has made a commitment not to listen to impure music), it is a shock to hear some of the lyrics that are on the radio. The older I get, the more disciplined I get with myself about what I listen to. I can no longer listen to a single station on the radio without having to change it within a maximum of 10 minutes!

It seems like the world just accepts whatever message songs have, whatever vulgar lyrics, and whatever implication. We as Christians hear these songs (and know good and well that they do not please God) but continue to listen to what everybody else listens to. We cannot do this any longer. The quicker people run away from temptation, the quicker they can run into God’s protective and loving arms. He knows what happens when we fill our minds with sinful things––and He doesn’t want us to! So what can we do? How can a Christian teen get away from those songs that trash our minds? I have a few tips that I hope will help.

• Keep CDs of songs that have a clean, positive message on hand. (Make mix CDs!) If you drive, keep those CDs in the vehicle so you will not be tempted to listen to inappropriate songs that may be on the radio. (I Cor. 10:13)
• If you have an iPod, mp3 player, or CD player, load it down with music that makes you smile (and is clean!) and take it with you when you go places where you cannot control the music, so that you always have a backup.
• When your friends play songs that you know are not right, explain to them in a calm and loving way why you would like them not to play that music around you. If they don’t respect you, then you probably should not be running around with those people, because they will affect you in a negative way. (I Cor. 15:33; 2 Cor. 6:14)
• Talk to God about your concerns. Ask Him to give you the strength and courage to stand up for what you know is right! He will help you purify your mind, if you are truly seeking to please Him first. (Matthew 6:33; 1 Peter 5:7)

Some of my favorite artists who have a lot of good, clean music are:

-Red Shepherd (alternative/calm)
-Josh Turner (country)
-The Ambassadors, Cornerstone, Essence (acappella)
-Rascal Flatts (country)
-Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (bluegrass)
-Switchfoot (alternative/rock)
-Reliant K (alternative/rock)
-Diamond Rio (country)

By Hannah Smith

If you’re like me, you love good, clean, positive music, and whenever you find it, you listen to it over and over. But, like any song you really like, it eventually gets over-played. I’m always looking for new music that a young person in Christ can enjoy. However, I found something on iTunes that’s better than any song I’ve ever heard and it’s free!

The Memphis School of Preaching is one of the strongest Christian schools for young preachers that I have ever had the privilege to visit. (A friend of mine attended a training program last summer and I got to visit.) The men who work there are more dedicated to teaching the young men who go to school there than any other staff I have ever seen anywhere. I know that the students are able to get sound teachings of God’s Word, and I know they gain an in-depth understanding of it, as well.

Recently I visited their website and found podcasts! On iTunes, MSOP has 94 lectures available to download to your iPod (again–for free!). I only downloaded about fifteen to start out with; I’ve listened to three so far, each of which has been eye-opening, heart-warming, heart-wrenching, and completely and solidly based on God’s Word. If you have the time (and an iPod)–especially if you are a young person looking for something worthwhile to listen to on your iPod–I strongly recommend you check out the lectures available. I promise you, you won’t be let down.

To download if you already have iTunes:

-go to http://www.msop.org/
-click on “Podcasts” on the left-hand side near the bottom
-click on the “Click Here” beside “Already an iTunes user?”
-choose which ones to download!

If that doesn’t work, you can always:

-open the iTunes store on your computer
-type in “Memphis School of Preaching podcasts”
-click on the logo that appears at the top of your iTunes window
-choose what to download!

By Hannah Smith