More by Tammie Head

More: From Messes to Miracles by Tammie Head is her story of how God performed the miraculous in her own life in spite of the mess. Her childhood was filled with neglect and abuse, leading to an "escape" at the age of 15 to sex industry. Life as a stripper and a marriage than ended in divorce at 18. Drugs and alcohol helped her to cope with the mess that was her life, but Tammie felt that there had to be more. She felt that God was calling her to hive her life to Him, but did not know how to do that.

Her boyfriend's mom was the catalyst to helping her see that she could be so much more than what she had settled for, but the birth of her first daughter is what led to a serious search for God. She found Him and was baptized, but spent a couple of years as a rule-follower and doing the right stuff that Christians are supposed to do.

Then she had an encounter with God.

Tammie learned there was more to a relationship with God than being a good church girl. God wants you to love Him and to spend time with Him to gain heart knowledge rather than just head knowledge. She also learned that He did not want her to keep silent about her past. Her "mess" brought a message of the miraculous works God will do when we abandon all parts of our lives to Him.

Her honesty about her fears, failures, and faults gives fresh hope to those who feel they have made too many mistakes for God to accept them. The heartbreak she endured as a child, including decisions she made as a teen, are proof that there is a new life to be found despite your circumstances. And that those experiences can be used to encourage others and to glorify God.

At approximately 150 pages, this is a fairly quick read. I did find some of it to be as bit repetitive, but liked the book overall. I would definitely recommend it to others, especially those who believe their past, or current life, makes them unacceptable to God.

I received a free copy of this book from Icon Media Group in exchange for a fair and honest review. They are also providing a copy for one of my readers at no cost to myself or the blog reader. Winner will be determined by a random drawing of those who commented on blog.
Drawing to be held, Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 3pm CDT.

 Tammie Head Q & A
1. What do you want readers to learn from reading your book?

People everywhere are looking for something more. Churched and nonchurched alike. They're in the grocery store aisle behind you, in the nail chair beside you, singing praise songs in front of you, and perhaps in the mirror staring back at you. People feel messy; plagued by looming feelings of ineffectiveness, indifference, depression, and purposelessness. However, all of us were made for more than surviving. Old stale religion never satisfies. Neither do the solutions the world has to offer. What all of us need is an encounter with God that reveals truth and sets our hearts ablaze. I have seen this in my own life as well as in countless lives around me.

2. Your life was a bit of a mess before you came to know Christ. How has He used your story to advance His kingdom?

I have watched God use my story repeatedly as a tenderizing agent for
hardened hearts toward God. People cannot believe what God has done
for me. In turn, I have also been privileged to lead many people to Christ, to the One who changed me. People are glad to know God loves and pursues even the messiest of people.

3. What encouragement do you have for men and women who feel like
their lives are too messy for God to use?

If God can use me, He can use anyone! But even more profound than "He can" is this: He wants to! God specializes in taking the most broken of lives and turning them around for His glory. The Bible is full of broken men and women who, after encountering the Lord, were used dramatically by God and for His kingdom.

4. What encouragement do you have for men and women who are
yearning to have more in their lives?

The more we're longing for, at the end of the day, is God. More of His
presence. More of His love. More of His power. And so on!What I want
men and women to know is God wants "so much more" of us than we
could ever want "so much more" Him. The deal is, we must risk making
more room for God. The key is sitting with Him, soaking Him in, allowing Him to minister to us on a deep level and, lastly, deeply surrendering our lives to Him day-by-day.

5. What are some resources for readers who are ready to take the next
step and start living for more?

I have written a Bible study called Duty or Delight: Knowing Where You
Stand with God. I think that would be a great resource for digging deeper into more of a relationship with God.

6. Where can readers connect with you online?

Readers can connect with me at several social media sites.
Twitter: @tammiehead
Instagram: @tammiehead
Facebook: Tammie Head
My website and blog: tammiehead.com

A Christ-Centered Wedding

A Christ-Centered Wedding: Rejoicing in the Gospel on Your Big Day by Catherine Strode Parks and Linda Strode

Wedding planning has spawned a major industry. The average cost of the occasion now exceeds $25,000, and societal pressure to create the “perfect day” is so strong that even Christian couples forget what God originally intended for the sacred marriage ceremony.

While paying attention to the good fun that follows that special proposal (the dress, the flowers, the cake, the gatherings, etc.), A Christ-Centered Wedding first serves as a guide to believers who want their wedding to portray the relationship of Christ with the church and to reflect the gospel to all in attendance.

From the start, this thoughtful book looks to the Creator of weddings for guidance in planning by emphasizing the sacrificial love of the Savior more than the modern world’s idealistic view of romantic love. There are chapters filled with practical information about everything from pre-marital counseling and choosing a wedding location to other resources like a planning checklist and timeline, music suggestions, guidance on potential issues of conflict, a listing of traditional financial responsibilities, sample vows, and other great ideas from couples who have successfully put together a Christ-centered wedding. (publisher's description)

My Review: If you are looking for a book that covers just about everything you can think of for a wedding, this is the one for you. My favorite part was at the beginning of the book when they went into more detail of Biblical betrothals, marriage contracts, and wedding ceremonies. It brought a greater clarity to some of the metaphors used throughout the Bible, especially with the church being called the Bride of Christ.

The rest of the book is divided up into easy-to-read chapters on various aspects from the engagement to the reception. There were several ideas that I really loved and would suggest to anyone planning a wedding. I did love the way that each focused on having Christ at the center of it all. It brought a deeper meaning to the commitment the couple are making to one another and to their commitments as followers of Jesus.

Honestly, much of it is more overwhelming than anything I would have wanted to do, but I tend to be overly pragmatic. But, I still found it interesting and helpful. There were even things that I wish I had done. All-in-all though, I felt that it covered areas that could handle most budgets. The thought of spending thousands of dollars on a ceremony is absolutely horrifying to me, so if I think something is doable...it is. So, whether you are planning a very low cost wedding or if money is no object, the important thing is to work together with your finances, your personal views, consideration of others, and most of all, sharing and celebrating the love of Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Shelton Interactive, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Shelton Interactive is offering a giveaway copy of this book. Please leave a comment no later than 8/14/14 7pm (CDT) to be entered in a random drawing. US & Canada only. 

Mended by Angie Smith

"The image of my life as a broken pitcher was beautiful to me, but at the same time, it was hard to look at all of the cracks. I ran my fingers along them and told Him I wish it had been different. How I wished I had always loved Him, always obeyed Him, always sought Him the way I should. I was mad at the imperfections, years wasted, gaping holes where it should be smooth. But God, my ever-gracious God, was gentle and yet convicting as He explained.

'My dearest Angie. How do you think the world has seen me? If it wasn’t for the cracks, I couldn’t seep out the way I do. I chose the pitcher. I chose you, just as you are.'" (from the back cover)

Mended: Pieces Of a Life Made Whole is the 3rd book written by Angie Smith. Many are familiar with her through the blog she writes, Bring The Rain. This book is a series of 31 devotions that share a portion of Scripture, along with a former blog post that has been redone in book format. Each chapter gives a feel of a good friend sharing what is going on in her life. There were times I laughed, cried, or was reminded of similar things in my own life. She definitely has a gift of tying it all together into a word picture that brings hope, healing, and help as the reader sees how to use her own cracks and imperfections to allow the light of Jesus to pour out. This is a book I will read again, but I was most impressed by a story called The Canvas in a section at the end called "Foundational Pieces". Make sure you don't just stop after the 31 devotions, but read on through the end of the book. (You know, in a film there are sometimes hidden gems in the closing credits! Same principle here!)

Angie Smith is the wife of Todd Smith (lead singer of Dove Award winning group Selah), author of I Will Carry You and What Women Fear, and one of the most popular speakers and blog writers in the country. She holds a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University and lives with her husband and daughters in Nashville, TN.