The dialog is very realistic and I like that the story ending isn't the conventional happily-ever-after stuff that you read all the time. Most importanly, it was fun and enjoyable to read and it's definately not too preachy. If you've ever wondered what you would do if cheated on and you are a Christian you should read this book.
I wish I had read the first book before reading the sequel. Not because I felt as though I had missed something, but because Rouse's writing was so inviting and realistic. Rouse used Jerome Thomas and Taylor Belle's adulterous relationship to touch on a subject that many families in the world deal with on a daily basis. Jerome and Taylor tried to move on with their lives after their affair ended, however, faith has a different idea.
Once Jerome realizes that his reoccurring dream is God's way of telling him he needs to do what is right, he has to make some serious decisions. Each choice will affect his life in a different way. How many lives will be changed forever by the action Jerome believes God had placed in his heart? For Taylor life after Jerome has its ups and down, but she is a praying woman and believes God will deliver once she straightens out the unfinished business between her and Jerome.
Will peace finally be delivered into her life? These characters were so realistic to me. The character development allowed me to believe the plot could happen to any family today. There is an outcome that even though I did not see it coming was understandable. It made me think about how often we test the ones we love. Rouse was not preachy in her writing.
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I recommend Someone to Love Me to those who enjoy Christian fiction and true-to-life stories. I look forward to reading more books by Rouse. Jerome Thomas has made many mistakes, which affected his family. But the one mistake he has the most trouble coping with is cheating on his wife. After his wife forgives him for the affair, through prayer they begin to strengthen their marriage. Although he displays love and true devotion to his wife and family, Jerome harbors a secret which begins to affect his relationship with God and could destroy his family. Taylor Belle has asked for God's forgiveness for her part in the affair.
A few years later, she marries, raises four children and is a proud owner of a consignment shop. She still feels burdened by the affair and wants to contact Jerome to bring closure, so that God will free her from her oppression. Many years have passed since the affair and an unresolved issue has brought Jerome and Taylor back together again. Will this destroy their families or bring them closer together?
Secrets don't always stay hidden forever and because they didn't heed God's warnings, their sinful past may hurt the ones they love. How much guilt can one bear? How much forgiving can one do? Someone to Love Me by Nicole Rouse is a must read. Listen for phrases or themes that come up for you while hearing the story. Picture the action sequence in your head. After reading the passage twice, we will share with a partner what we thought of the passage, what stood out, and how we experienced the story.
Leader instructs Lectio Divina: I invite you to close your eyes. Take in a few deep breaths together. Leader or someone else facilitates Lectio Divina: Leader reads slowly twice: Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer. I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.
And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Ask the group members to slowly open their eyes.
Instruct people to partner up into groups of two or three. What did you think was most important? God cares about economic justice. For several weeks your group will practice a spiritual discipline together allowing the Holy Spirit to move in the midst of group sessions.
闡苓・ｒ繝輔か繝ｭ繝ｼ縺吶ｋ
Sometimes spiritual practices take several attempts before one experiences a spiritual encounter with God. Leader introduces Breath Prayer: Breath prayer is historically traced to the sixth century and is often associated with Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches. It can be practiced silently or with one leader repeating a phrase. We will pray this short prayer twelve times together, while collectively inhaling and exhaling. Leader instructs Breath Prayer: Roll your shoulders back and sit up comfortably.
Place your hands on your knees or in you lap. Relax your face and take in a few deep breaths. Then slowly exhale as a group in silence. Leader facilitates Breath Prayer: Repeat practice 10 more times. God gave us the gift of sex and sexuality. But what does that mean? And, how can we make the most of it? Join us as we explore dating, healing, love, and sexual ethics as followers of Jesus. Discover something beautiful about finding and fostering love in your life. BBreath prayer is historically traced to the sixth century and is often associated with Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches.
Breath prayer can be historically traced to the sixth century and is often associated with Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches. It can be practiced silently or with one leader repeating a scripture passage over and over, leaving off the last word of the phrase until there is only silence. We will collectively inhale as I repeat the psalm, leaving off the last word.
Then we will collectively exhale again. We will repeat this practice until there are no more words left of the psalm and only silence remains. Be still and know that I am God. Leader pauses for group to exhale. Be still and know that I am…. Leader pauses as group collectively exhales. Leader introduces Prayer Labyrinth: A prayer labyrinth is a lot like a pilgrimage. Pilgrims visiting holy sites has been a part of the Christian tradition for a millennia.
However, you can also take a pilgrimage without spending money or even getting out of your seat. Some labyrinths are made of grass and stone and for walking along the path. Today we follow the path with our fingers.
Navigation menu
A prayer labyrinth is not a maze, but a symbolic pilgrimage of a slow, meditative journey towards God. While moving through the labyrinth you are invited to set aside your phone. There is no need to hurry through the labyrinth. Instead the labyrinth helps you remember to move slowly through life, to breathe-in for moment of peace and rest in the presence of God.
This peace and rest provides fuel to move beyond fear and anxiety and into the deep work of discernment. Leader instructs Prayer Labyrinth: Begin the the entry point of the labyrinth, which is printed in your handout. Follow the path with your finger while taking a long, slow inhale. As you reach the first turn, pause, exhale, and say one word silently to yourself.
Take another long slow inhale as you continue to trace your finger along the path. At each turn repeat that one word, the same word, every time. If you reach the center, before the timer goes off, you can begin retracing the path to make it out of the labyrinth with the same inhale, pause to silently repeat your word at each turn, and exhale. Leader sets a timer for two minutes. Pray at conclusion of the practice: Living one day at time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as the pathway to peace, taking, as Jesus did this sinful world, not as it is, not as I would have it, but trusting that you will make all things right.
Happy ending
We surrender to your will. May we be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with you in the next, forever and ever. Before school starts and as summer winds down, UVC is preparing our people to engage the anxiety of a new year and the stress of life. We will do this by reading several Proverbs and using the Serenity Prayer, popularized by AA, as a guide. Urban Village Church home. Connect With Us facebook twitter you-tube. How does the understanding of Cesar Augustus and the history of the census impact your understanding of the Christmas story?
Have you ever experienced or suspected you were experience the silencing of your voice by an outside force? Have you ever felt you were forced to contribute or suspected you were contributing to the silencing of other individuals? God enters into the world via a poor, young, and marginalized woman and family. Besides Jesus, who do you like best in this story?
繧ｭ繝｣繝ｳ繝壹・繝ｳ縺翫ｈ縺ｳ霑ｽ蜉諠・ｱ
How did it feel to set aside any distractions and be present with the group? What moment in your life have you experienced the most peace? What moment of your life have you experienced a loss of peace? In the song, God did all of these radical things in the past. God was actively just, filled the hungry with peace, and kept promises. How do you know peace and justice are real? What are your sources of peace? What are your sources of justice? Who in your life exhibits peace in their life? Fasting Leader introduces Fasting: For Clarity Ask the group to collectively — not singling anyone out — answer the following questions for clarity from the reading.
Who in your life needs a symbol of hope? John was wildly popular and proclaimed repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Why do you think his audience wanted to hear about repentance and forgiveness of sins? How are repentance and forgiveness forms of resistance to the Roman empire? How is repentance and forgiveness threatening to the Roman empire? From what do you wish to repent?
From what do you wish to ask for forgiveness? Repentance and forgiveness are also forms of preparation.
For what do you wish to prepare this season? Generosity and Risk Discussion Guide Spiritual Discipline — Group Exercise For several weeks your group will participate in a spiritual practice together allowing the Holy Spirit to move in the midst of group sessions. Lectio Divina Leader introduces Lectio Divina: Who are the children of the light v. For Conversation With whom do you sympathize in this story?
If Jesus is a peasant carpenter and a radical leader of a new movement, with whom do you think Jesus sympathizes in the story?