I Took You

Bev Hislop

Description

The inspirational life story of a servant of God as she relied on His love and grace to carry her on an incredible journey from less-than-ordinary to an extraordinary purpose.

Just like many of us, Bev Hislop often wondered why she was not like others she saw through the cracks of her life, often feeling just less-than-ordinary. It was not until she reached the middle of her life that Bev discovered the lies she believed about herself and realized the amazing impact of embracing the truths of being one of God’s dearly loved.

In a candid memoir, Hislop shares insight into her personal experiences as she slowly overcame her obstacles and began peeking through the cracks to embrace the powerful realization that she could rely on God’s Holy Spirit to take her on an extraordinary journey to not only grow herself, but also influence others to do the same. Beginning with a childhood where she was an introvert who rarely stepped forward to speak and believed she was not enough, Hislop takes others on an inspiring walk through her life journey as she slowly emerged from an impoverished existence to ultimately learn to love herself, realize forgiveness and grace, and attain personal and professional fulfillment.

I Took You is the inspirational life story of a servant of God as she relied on His love and grace to carry her on an incredible journey from less-than-ordinary to an extraordinary purpose.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Living
• Personal Growth
• Inspirational
• Philosophie et théologie
• Broken (álbum)
• God
• Rejected
• Memoir
• Supernatural
• Broken
• Christian

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 14 février 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664289840
• Langue: English

Extrait

Cover Story
Haystack Rock
As I approach Haystack Rock my perspective changes. Every time! M y perspective of life, of God and me… The size of Haystack Rock is hard to fully embrace until you walk in front of it. 1 I was on the south side, walking north along the beach when I first notice a “little” opening, like a doorway into the bottom of this huge rock.
This was a life-changing visual of how God protects me.
I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold…. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:1, 2, 19)
These words remind me every day how strong and precious God is, and how he protects me, because he delights in me. Yes, every day I look at the picture on my wall of this huge rock and delightful sky over the ocean. And I am reminded, again.
Visits to Haystack Rock have blessed me with many life-changing encounters with our Creator, our good Shepherd. I have journaled multiple visuals, messages and confirmations God has given me regarding the new pastures into which he led me. Every visit to Haystack Rock enriches and deepens my relationship with my precious Lord Jesus Christ, my Shepherd.
Hopefully, this memoir will also enhance your encounter with our Shepherd, our Ro ck.


1 Haystack Rock is a 235 ft-tall (72 m) sea stack in Cannon Beach , Oregon . It is the third tallest such intertidal structure in the world. A popular tourist destination on the Oregon Coast , the monolithic rock is adjacent to the beach and accessible by foot at low tide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haystack _ Rock




I Took You
THE MAKING OF A SHEPHERD




God took a less-than-ordinary person on an extra-ordinary journey
Becoming God’s Dearly Loved
A Memoir
BEV HISLOP








Copyright © 2023 Bev Hislop.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.



WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
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Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8983-3 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8982-6 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8984-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023900999



WestBow Press rev. date: 02/07/2023












Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. TNIV®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.



CONTENTS
Setting the Stage
Preface
Introduction
1. TAKEN
1. The Cracks
2. The Next Queen of New Zealand
3. A Start Over
4. Pour Kool-Aid and Wear Nylons
5. The Guys Sat on the Left Side
6. Listen to this Piece of Music
7. In His Own Words
8. That Letter
9. Goodbye and Hello
10. Heavy Boots on the Steps
11. Over and Out
2. CHOSEN
12. Thanksgiving Baby
13. No Milk for the Kids
14. I Am Not Enough
15. I’m Too Excited
16. No Cockroaches or Alligators
17. The Landline Rang
18. No Umbrellas Here
19. Manpower and Womanpower
20. I Do Not Have Time Now
21. Introverts Do Not Speak
22. Stay on the Couch
3. BROKEN
23. The Door Was Slightly Open
24. The Door is Wide Open
25. Supernatural Invades the Natural
26. Only One Seat on This Flight
27. Welcome Home, Finally
28. Let it Go
29. Jitterbug
4. GIVEN
30. You Didn’t Bring Us This Far
31. Startled
32. I Have Something to Tell You
33. God, If You Are There
34. She Would Say
35. Farmer’s Daughter
36. New Pastures
37. Green Pastures

Appendices
Acknowledgments
Notes
About the Author



Setting the Stage

I TOOK YOU
The Making of a Shep herd

Ordinary me - - Peeking Through the Cr acks
Many of us wonder why we are not like others we see through the cracks of our lives. Often, we feel, well … just ordi nary.
This memoir tells the story of a person who felt less - t han -o rdinary most of her life. Yet in mid -l ife she discovered lies she believed about herself and the unbelievable impact of embracing the truths of being God’s dearly l oved.
Yes, there is a lot I am still learning about life, about relationships, and about God. But I understand and value more my precious relationship with God, even when it is not pretty or perfect, it is real. Your story is what you have and will always --- who you are and who you want to become. You have a ch oice.
A powerful realization for me was that God could use any and everything in our lives to grow us. Y es, even someone who feels ordinary . My prayer is that I will more fully embrace every moment of the life God has given me, for good—for eternal im pact.
Will you join me in this?
You are the reason I chose to share this part of my s tory.



Preface
God gave these two verses to me late in life.
I realized they outline my l ife story from the begin ning.
I wish I had understood them earlier in life.
But I did not.

T AKEN
I took you from the ends of the e arth, from its farthest cor ners
I called you. I said, ‘You are my ser vant.’
CH OSEN
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
BR OKEN
So do not fear, for I am with you
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
G IVEN
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41: 9 -1 0



Introduction
“We have gathered today to honor our esteemed colle ague.”
“In recognition of your twenty years of faithful service at Western Seminary we present this token of our heartfelt appreciation for your ministry of teaching, pastoral care to women and contributing to the academic and personal development of a generation of students who will forever be in your debt as their teacher, mentor, and fr iend.
Peter exhorted the elders of the churc h to
“Shepherd the flock of God among you”
(I Peter 5:2) NASB
You have graciously fulfilled this minis try and have modeled the shepherding gift for your students at Western Semi nary.
With love and grati tude,
Your Faculty Collea gues.
Dr. Beverly Hislop, Professor of Pastoral Care to W omen”
Would you please come forw ard to receive your a ward?

Who? That is my name. What? Am I dreaming? I mus t be.
How could I ever get here? I never ever imagined this.
Ordinary me? Canno t be!
A famer’s daughter? No way.
My family moved from the Indiana farm to ten acres in the country of central Florida. My DNA said fingers in the dirt, always. Loved it. That is until a poisonous snake showed up. I learned to chop snakes when they visited, and then ask what kind. All while attending grades one through twelve in a small public school in the cou ntry.
Life in town was an unknown. People looked at me funny. I did not realize at the time that I was poor, and I dressed that way. An introvert rarely steps forward to speak. She gathers and stores away inherent messages from ot hers.
You are not en ough.
You are worthless, despicable, ugly, unlov able.
You must meet our expectat ions.
We don’t want you. In fact, we would be better off without you!
I believed all of t hese.
“Bev, stay on the couch. Don’t cause work for us. Be q uiet.”
I never had a ch oice.
Or did I?
Popularity. Performance. Possess ions.
I tried to change people’s perspective of me, to meet their expectat ions.
Exhausted and defeated. It did not work.
Back on the c ouch.
From that couch I wondered what life was like “out there,” outside my small world. I began peeking through the c