{Book Review} Messy Beautiful Love by Darlene Schacht

Titus 2: 3-5

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

I have often been drawn to the Titus 2 woman.

I didn’t realize until recently why that is…

My mom (God rest her soul) told me the basics, obey your husband, do as he tells you, don’t argue and have sex when he wants (even if you don’t want to). There was no real teaching involved in any area as to how to actually do any of those things.

I certainly couldn’t follow her example…one husband she divorced and one she walked away from. Please understand that not one of these things makes her any less in my eyes, she never had the best example. From what I remember, from stories, my PawPaw (grandfather) was a hard man and made life difficult on my Nana (grandmother)…so, as you can see, this cycle was never going to end without some God intervention.

I have already been down the same road to some degree…I have been married once before. But now, I am married to my best friend and I aim to keep it that way.

Through much prayer and seeking out Godly women (my oldest sister being one of them) I have found some mighty Titus 2 women. Some of these women are online and some are in real life, all of them knowledgable in how God views marriage. And from these women I have gleaned much information.

Darlene Schacht from Time-Warp Wife is one of these Titus 2 women. I am always blessed by her words, the images she makes with Bible verses and encouraging words, and simply her…her life…her being exudes Christ.

In the last week or so, I have been reading her newest book Messy Beautiful Love from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Check out this amazing book trailer.

Without question…if you are married, you should read this book. Darlene lays out her heart about marriage and she reaches deep down in your soul and shows you what marriage is really about.

Marriage is all about God.

How He loves us so unconditionally that we as humans can never even come close to His all encompassing love.

How we, as wives, are to serve our husbands…and not in the way you have been told. Not the way the world have twisted and turned this amazing service of ones self…how God designed us to serve, just as Christ served the ones He loved.

How each partner is simply that, a partner. Marriage is not a competition. Marriage is not a fight to the finish and the best one wins. Marriage is a partnership, with God as the center of it all.

How marriage is giving and based on love but intertwined with faith, trust and honesty, and above all grace.

Darlene’s book Messy Beautiful Love is so full of goodness that I cried as soon as I read the first few lines. She makes me look deeper into my marriage and at times it was rough. No one likes to have the obvious pointed out to them, certainly not me. No one likes to see the path of marriage as prickly, steep, or dangerous…but truthfully it is.

The Devil prowls around, like a lion, seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8). This marriage thing is a big deal, not something you can (or should) just throw away. The Devil is constantly seeking to break up Godly marriages, or rather, marriages in general. Because marriage is based on Godly ideas, it is not something the Devil wants to see succeed.

In this book, Darlene shows us the messy side of marriage but then in a gentle and loving manner, she then guides us back the the Light of Truth. The Grace Giver Himself. Jesus.

Prickly – Messy – Down Right Hard

That is what marriage is, or can be.

But on the flip side, Darlene shows us much more.

Beautiful – Grace Filled – Christ Filled

She says dig deeper, hang on tighter to God and Pray. Always Pray and Seek God in every moment of your marriage. Because seriously, marriage is not for the faint of heart. Marriage is most definitely not easy when you have left out The Fundamental Centerpiece – Jesus.

You might think your marriage is good.

You might even say you have this marriage thing all figured out.

You might even go as far to say that you and your husband are right with God.

Then good for you.

But now, I say to you, you need to grab this book and read it.

Every marriage can be blessed, changed, fulfilled, bettered after you read this book.

I have been so blessed to review this Messy Beautiful Love and I now have an even deeper mission to make this marriage of ours a better one, one that is beyond blessed by God.

Thank you Darlene for letting me read your book, Messy Beautiful Love, but above all, thank you for being one of my Titus 2 women. I am truly blessed by your words…every.single.time.

In His Grace.

Callie

Stay tuned in…I’m giving away a copy of this amazing book very soon.

I received a free copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for my honest opinion and review. No other compensation was received. 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.”