Fashioned By Faith- Rachel Lee Carter

As the mother of 3 girls, in a society that sexualizes even the youngest of girls, I was eager to read this book.  Rachel Lee Carter is a model who has decided to make a mark, by NOT being like the scantily clad models that we all too often see gracing the covers of our magazines.

Ladies, you can be beautiful while you're covered.  If a model can do it, so can you! Rachel presents her own thoughts on being modest all while being fashionable and gives us some insight from young men and how they feel about the matter.  The opinions from the young men in this book really impressed me.  Not all guys are looking for "one thing" and in fact many find it more attractive when they meet women who aren't baring it all.  It is an easy read, but yet gives you a lot to think about in the process. She shares a good amount of scripture to show how God views modesty for his daughters and each chapter has a "What Do You Say" section for reflection. At the end of the book, there is a section that can be used over the span of 45 days as you read each chapter for more intensive study. 

I will be using this book with my pre-teen girls to help reinforce what we've already set up as guidelines for our family on the issue of modesty.  I really appreciate Rachel's direct, to the point account and how she shows that you can be beautiful, successful and modest all at the same time.  A must read for anyone who feels a conviction to dress in a manner more befitting that of a daughter of the Most High King. 

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze®.com/> book review bloggers 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

Coming Out and then Coming HOME

Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son's Journey to God. A Broken Mother's Search for Hope by Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan is the story of a mother and son finding God and coming “home” to him in the midst of some really painful situations. For Christopher, it was homosexuality and drug addiction. For Angela, it was the pain of a near loveless marriage and the agony of Christopher’s revelation. The years that followed Christopher’s coming out would prove to be a true lesson in perseverance for them both. Each chapter rotates between the authors and their story is beautifully intertwined.

As I read the accounts of Christopher’s journey and Angela’s resolve to love her son no matter where he was at in his life, I knew I had fallen short in my own journey as a mother. As a parent, we often say “I would NEVER be ok with that”. That is, until you face it head on. If I took anything from this book, it was that God can forgive our sin, heal our hearts and make our lives new. That’s something I’ve heard all of my life, yet I don’t think I really understood it until hearing this very touching, personal story. Angela and Christopher found God, period. They were his to begin with, but didn’t realize it until they journeyed into the “far country” just like the Prodigal Son portrayed in Luke 15 in the Bible.

Life really isn’t about our sexuality as we define it (homo or hetero), but about HOLY sexuality, living a life that is pleasing to God. Christopher and his story of redemption gave me hope for the hurts in my own life and it also changed the way I look at those who identify with being “gay”. As a Christian mother, it challenged me to truly see my children the way God sees them, which is loved and cherished. It challenged me to see all of God’s children this way.

This book has a section with discussion questions that can be use in a personal or group setting. I would recommend this for anyone looking to find God on a deeper level, even if you haven’t had homosexuality or drugs touch your life in some way personally.

I was given a free copy of this book by Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.