Issue 27 - January 2008
New Year Greetings From
Shannon Ethridge Ministries!
Are YOU a Sexually Confident Wife?
If so, exactly what factors have contributed to your sexual confidence level? Does your husband regularly say or do something that boosts your self-esteem? Did your mother instill a strong sense of female sexual identity in you during your developmental years? Do you have a mental, physical, or spiritual routine that builds your sexual confidence or sense of well being?
If you would not call yourself a sexually confident wife, are you able to identify the reasons why? Do you have a tendency to be too self-conscious about your weight or your physical appearance? Do you feel as if your husband expects more in bed than what you’re comfortable with? Has a sexually abusive or promiscuous past lowered your self-esteem? Do you have deeply rooted fears of intimacy, or worry that God wouldn’t approve if you actually enjoyed sex?
Why all these questions about your sexual confidence level? Because we’ve got good news and more good news! First, we’re praising God that Random House is very pleased with Shannon’s first draft of her next book, The Sexually Confident Wife. However, the editor would like to see more real-life stories from women just like you! If you’d be willing to take a minute and share your thoughts about your sexual confidence level, your testimony might be the very thing that a future reader connects with and is encouraged by. (And gentlemen, female readers would greatly benefit from hearing your perspective on this topic as well!)
All emails received will be entered into a drawing where we’ll give away 25 FREE copies of The Sexually Confident Wife upon its release in September. The second draft deadline is February 10, so please email your personal thoughts to shannon@shannonethridge.com by January 31st.
Encouragement Corner: A Fresh, New Look at A Very Old Book
Taking off those extra holiday pounds… exercising regularly… paying off credit card debt… these are just a few New Year’s resolutions that may be on your list for 2008. While all of these are important, I want to encourage you to make an even greater commitment – to take a fresh, new look at a very old book, the Bible.
Several years ago, I was inspired to learn that my mom’s Bible study leader, Mrs. Della, has read the Bible from cover to cover each year for over 45 years, and she’ll be the first to tell you that she gets something fresh and new each time. That’s because she doesn’t just read. She listens. She hears the voice of God. Indeed, the Bible is God’s Word, “… living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword... judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
I recall the season in my life when the Bible first came alive to me and I heard the voice of God speak directly into my situation. I was wrestling with an inappropriate emotional entanglement very early in my marriage, and I cried out to God to save me from myself and my destructive desires. I felt so alone and fearful that no one could possibly understand my struggle, especially since I was a woman and sexual temptation was supposedly a man’s issue (ha!). But thankfully, God led me to 1 Corinthians 10:13:
“No temptation has seized you but what is common to man [and woman].
And when you are tempted, God is faithful to provide a way out from under it.”
I also found Hebrews 4:15-16:
“ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way,
just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us
in our time of need.”
These words from God were literally lifelines that kept me from drowning in my own sin.
I’m sure you have a few favorite passages of scripture as well, but do you realize how many more golden nuggets of wisdom and revelation are just waiting to be mined out of God’s love letter to you, the Bible? Maybe you know the gist of what’s in there, but are you looking at each biblical character and asking yourself what God may want to say to you through that story during this season of your life? It’s a delightful way to approach scripture – not just to read right past situations and events that seem to have no relevance to you today, but to look past the characters to what God is really doing behind the scenes, and what that activity says about His very nature. Ultimately, the Bible isn’t a storybook about saints and sinners that died long ago. It’s a timeless treasure that can teach us all about our heavenly Bridegroom and His desires for His beloved bride, the church, which means you and me.
It’s not too late to get started in 2008 with a daily discipline of diving deep into the scriptures and mining God’s riches for yourself. Don’t wait to be spoon-fed someone else’s spiritual leftovers. Feast at God’s table of delights for yourself. And if you’d like a little help developing a fresh, new look at the Bible, consider using the four devotionals in the Loving Jesus Without Limits series:
Completely Loved: Recognizing God’s Passionate Pursuit of Us
Completely Forgiven: Responding to God’s Transforming Grace
Completely Blessed: Discovering God’s Extraordinary Gifts
Completely Irresistible: Drawing Others To God’s Extravagant Love
Each 30-day devotional will walk you through a particular passage of scripture, inspire you with a daily reading to help you apply what you’ve read, and challenge you with questions for introspection. Watch for future PodCasts from each of these devotionals to be posted in upcoming e-newsletters.
Just imagine what God could do in your life if you dedicate 120 days out of this year for Him to speak directly to your heart through His Word! God is wooing and pursuing you throughout the pages of scripture, girlfriend! Turn your heart toward your Heavenly Bridegroom and develop a healthy habit of basking in His presence until you overflow with His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control!
Host Your Own Completely His Women’s Event
Using our newly released Completely His DVDs and ancillary products, churches everywhere can host their own Completely His Women’s Event! Click here to download our special “Host Your Own” Information Packet.
Or if you’d like to inquire about having Shannon speak LIVE at your event rather than using a DVD, click here.
NEW For Group Leaders!
Are you interested in leading a group of women through Shannon’s newest book, Completely His? Click here for our free gift to you – a list of Group Discussion Questions for each of the twelve chapters in the book! Enjoy! And let us know how your groups are enjoying the experience!
A Special Note of Thanks from Shannon to… YOU!
My 40th birthday in November was full of surprises! My husband whisked me away for a wonderfully relaxing weekend, and when we returned home my children and best friend had over 50 friends and family members hiding out in the living room to surprise the bajeebees out of me! It was an incredibly fun birthday that I’ll never forget.
Little did I know, however, that there was another HUGE surprise in store for me that same week – one for which I have YOU (my readers) to thank! WaterBrook Press informed me that between the Every Woman series and the new Loving Jesus Without Limits series, we’ve now officially sold over ONE MILLION books! Hopefully, this means one million lives, marriages, and families positively impacted, for which we give thanks to God who is so very faithful to take our lemons and make lemonade out of them!
SO, for every book you’ve read or recommended to others, we want to say a sincere THANK YOU for embracing the message of sexual integrity, sexual intimacy, and intimacy with Christ!
Also Special Thanks To...
- The 700 Club and Producer Kara Lavengood, who re-aired Shannon & Gary Jarstfer’s interview from last year, which resulted in 1,025 salvation calls! Way to go, God!
- Life Today with James & Betty Robison, who also re-aired Shannon’s interview about Completely His, which we appreciate so very much!
- Editoria Mundo Christao in Brazil for publishing Every Young Woman’s Battle in Portguese. For information on ordering this or other foreign translations of Shannon’s books, go to http://www.shannonethridge.com/faq.shtml#6
Mark Your Calendars - Shannon Is Coming To...
Sulphur Springs, TX – January 12, 2008 – Join us for a Mother/Daughter event from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Dixon Road Baptist Church.
For more information, contact Cris Millsap at millsapc@verizon.net.
Memphis, TN – February 1-2, 2008 – Women’s Retreat for Central Church of Collierville at the Holiday Inn at Memphis. Contact Carol Anderson for more information at carolanderson@centralchurch.com.
Tyler, TX – February 29 – March 2, 2008 – Completely His Women’s Event at Pine Cove Christian Camp, Tyler, TX. For more information, click here!
Langley, British Columbia – March 10-11, 2008 – Shannon addresses the student body of Trinity Western University at their chapel services.
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada – March 14-16, 2008 – Sunnyside Christian Retreat Center, Shannon speaks at a women’s retreat Friday evening – Sunday morning. For more information, contact Kendra LaPorte at kendralaporte@shaw.ca.
Sulphur Springs, TX – March 28-29, 2008 - The staff of Women Offering Women Support will be hosting a Completely His Women’s event benefiting the Chrysalis House, a local ministry providing assistance to women in need. For more information, email Tammy Pearson at tammy@chrysalishousetexas.com.
Charlotte, NC - April 8, 2008 – Young Adults & Singles Worship Gathering sponsored by CHARLOTTE ONE at First United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. Contact David Hickman at 704-650-0595 for more info.
Wichita Falls, TX – April 11-12, 2008 - Shannon address military wives Friday evening – Saturday afternoon at Camp Chaparral Baptist Center. For more info. contact Mimi Barr at GAL4GOD78@AOL.com.
Tyler, TX – Green Acres Baptist Church – April 14, 2008 – Shannon speaks at the Celebrate Recovery Support Group. Contact Marty at martyK64@aol.com for more information.
London, Ontario, Canada – May 2-3, 2008 – Girls’ Heart Point Ministry Conference at the University of Waterloo, 7-10 p.m. Friday, 9 am – 4 pm Saturday. For more information, contact Mike Mitchell at ghp@girlsheartpoint.ca.
Colorado Springs, CO – May 16-18, 2008 - Join Shannon and husband, Greg, for their “Taking Your Marriage Over the Top” conference at the magnificent Gleneyrie Conference Center. For more information, contact Hannah Larson at hannah.larson@navigators.com.
Big Bear, CA – May 30 – June 1, 2008 - Shannon will be speaking at a Ladies’ Retreat at Pine Summit Christian Conference Center for the Church at Rocky Peak Women’s Group. For more information visit www.rockypeak.org.
“Land Down Under” Speaking Tour – August 1 – 15, 2008 - Shannon and family will be touring the Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast area on a mission to impact Australian teens and adults! If you are interested in having her speak at your church or school, please contact John & Judy Bradford at jjbradford@westnet.com.au.
Sterling Heights, MI – October 16, 2008 – Ladies Banquet at Community Christian Church. For more info. contact terese.rea@cccsterling.org.
Saskatoon, SK– October 31 – November 1, 2008 – Women’s Journey of Faith Conference at TCU Place. For more info. contact jodi@wjof.com.
HOW COOL IS THAT?
We love hearing from you about what God is doing in your life as you read! Listen to these cool testimonies, and praise God with us…
“Thank you so much for this series of books you have written so candidly. I can’t tell you how much reading Every Woman’s Battle and Every Woman’s Marriage has changed my life. Though I’m not ‘fixed’ yet, I have learned so much and applied so much of what I’ve learned to make a much happier place for my husband to come home to. I’m so glad they’re titled “Every Woman’s…” because it makes me feel better to know I’m not the only one. As I read of other women’s struggles, I felt as if you knew me! I’d read and think, ‘This woman knows me inside and out!’ I believe your books have played a huge part in saving my marriage. Just know that you are doing God’s work to change people’s lives and IT IS WORKING!” - L.T.
“I just read Completely His and it was a true blessing. It was such a joy to read about someone else who talks to God, sits and has a meal with Him and walks hand in hand with Him each day. I often feel like I am a bit strange because I have this type of relationship with Jesus but as I read your book I broke down in tears when I realized that I was not the only one who loves Jesus without limits. Thank you so much for sharing your stories, for I am now less fearful to share mine. In fact, I just started a club at my high school called GLO (Girls Living Obediently) and we are studying your Every Young Woman’s Battle book each week. I’m blown away by the response from the girls who attend. They absolutely love it and are inviting their friends. Thanks for that awesome resource, for your honesty and open heart, and your willingness to listen to God’s voice and be obedient.” - C.K.
If God’s doing something in your life, marriage, or ministry as a result of reading one of Shannon’s books, we’d love to hear from you!
How Can We Pray For You?
We are so blessed to have a group of prayer warriors who read every request submitted and personally respond via email to those seeking the Lord’s guidance for their unique situations. If you have a prayer request we can lift to God on your behalf, please let us know by clicking here.
You can also click here to post prayer requests or connect with other readers on the Every Woman’s Battle Message Board.
We appreciate your prayers and encouraging support
for the staff and volunteers of Shannon Ethridge Ministries! |
