The Weaver

Penelope Phillips

Description

Did you know there is a plan for your life?
The Creator of All loves you and has that plan.
Let the journey begin.


The threads of our existence are unique patterns we weave as a legacy on our journeys through life. It’s our story. In The Weaver, author Penelope Phillips tells the story of her journey from the perspective of the experiences God provided for her, a weaving of his creativity.



Her experiences speak to women who have chosen—or feel called to—the career of homemaking and being a wife and a mother. It’s a lifestyle that can be filled with adventure if one appreciates and accepts the challenges offered. Phillips communicates that God has an amazing plan for those who want to know him and take the challenge to be an influence in this world.



From a Christian wife’s view, The Weaver shares the spiritual keys to unlocking the challenges, the fulfillment, the contentment, and the joys of this life of adventure.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Living
• Inspirational
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 29 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664277786
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Weaver
A JOURNEY OF GOD’S CALLING
PENELOPE PHILLIPS


Copyright © 2022 Penelope Phillips.
 
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
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
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.
 
Scripture marked (NIV) taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
 
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) 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
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7777-9 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7779-3 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7778-6 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022916783
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 09/29/2022
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Introduction
 
Chapter 1There Is No Such Person as an Oops
Chapter 2We Are Loved
Chapter 3The Calling
Chapter 4The Mystery of Marriage
Chapter 5The Users’ Guide
Chapter 6Response to the Word
Chapter 7How to Raise Parents
Chapter 8When People Disappoint You
Chapter 9Qualified
Chapter 10Gifts from God
Chapter 11The Beginning
Chapter 12The Rest of the Story
Chapter 13A New Journey
Chapter 14New Threads
Chapter 15A Life of Adventure
 
Discussion Guide
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to Richard, my husband, for encouraging and helping me to write my journey and to my family and friends, who taught me about relationships.
I am eternally grateful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me wonderful parents who taught me so much about LOVE.
INTRODUCTION
The threads of our existence are unique patterns we are weaving as a legacy on our journeys through life. As I continue through the years, I remember many of my family and friends who have passed on and how they felt about their own lives. I now understand their feelings and emotions because I am now walking in their shoes. I am a happy individual with an abundance of good friends, family, and experiences, some of which were very hard and some of which were very good. But all those experiences made me the person I am today. As with all of us, it is a journey.
In this life, God has a plan for us. It is a tapestry of the journey. Long ago, in my readings, I came across a statement someone made about tapestries and quilts. The fronts of the works are beautifully creative, but the backs, which no one can see, can be confusing with crisscrossing threads, knots, and mistakes. When we belong to Christ, He will transform the work and make it beautiful. Ultimately, we are a work in progress until the day we arrive at our destination, by pure grace, into the place He has prepared for us.
One of my friends always said, “Everybody’s journey is their own.” We can learn from our experiences, celebrate our common experiences, or stay on a merry-go-round in the midst of hurtful experiences. There are many hurtful things I have chosen not to share in this book because as another friend asked me, “Would the sharing of those experiences hurt others or benefit you?”
I am writing the story of my particular journey from the experiences God provided for me. Each one of us is unique. Many of our experiences may be common, but they have been processed differently, according to our perceptions. God has a plan for each one of us who are willing to let Him have our lives. For me, it was a hard journey because I had so many wonderful dreams that I thought would never happen.
My experiences are for women who have chosen—or feel called to—the career of “homemaking.” It is a lifestyle that can be filled with adventure if one appreciates and accepts the challenges offered. The job description is a prodigious one. Contrary to the worldview that a homemaker is a “nobody” who sits home all day and eats bon-bons, she can be one of the most important people involved in world affairs. She can be a positive and encouraging influence in the lives of many.
There are spiritual keys to unlocking the challenges, the fulfillment, the contentment, and the joys of this life of adventure. I wanted to find the keys from a Christian wife’s perspective.
This quest led me to my journey. My name is Penelope, and this is my story.
CHAPTER 1
There Is No Such Person as an Oops
“We will always love each other. We won’t be like all those other couples. Our love will always be there. We will be committed to each other forever.” Those were the words we spoke to each other before we were married. We said those words in all sincerity, believing them wholeheartedly as we started our marriage, but after several years, things started to change. We noticed we were not as excited about each other. We developed different interests. It became harder to talk to each other. So what happened? Did we each change? Did we still love each other? Where did the magic go?
“It was a dark and stormy night.” The wind was in a rage of fury, the windows rattled, and the walls and floors creaked. Jack watched television, and I was buried in another book. I was on an adventure. I was totally gone to everyone and everything around me. I had escaped reality and was in my own exciting world. Then I heard my husband and children calling for me.
“What?” I said. I reluctantly put down my book with a great amount of grumbling and impatience. Again, I had to take care of everyone’s needs.
I was becoming tired of everyone around me, and I wished they would all grow up. I was not being a very nice wife or mom at the moment. And the worst part was I didn’t care. At least at that particular moment, I didn’t care. It was as if I always had to take care of everyone else’s needs. Can’t I get some help here ? As awful as that sounds, they were real feelings—and I didn’t care up until the time I went to bed.
While lying in bed and trying to go to sleep, my day would flash before me, and then I did care. I cared so much that I couldn’t sleep. I would pray to God, asking for help to be a better person. All of my guilt would surface. I wanted so much to be more patient and loving. Self-pity would set in, and I would imagine all sorts of sad scenarios involving how much I would be missed if I were not here. Fear and denial would follow. I have given everything up for this man and these children, I would think. Each morning, I would try to change my reactions. This lasted until the first upsetting thing occurred. I felt like I was living in a soap opera, and I hated it.
Then I found some books that would help me become a better person. I even read a verse in the Bible about how a woman should be. I said, “Are You kidding, God? I could never be that woman. It’s easy for You to say because You’re God, but me? Who do You think I am? I’m just a little person down here on earth, and even when I try, I can’t be that woman. I want to be so much, but is she for real?”
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good not harm, all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:10-12 NIV)
This book is about finding that woman in each of us. Is it possible? Yes, it is possible—but only because there is someone who wants to make it possible, the Lord God, our Creator. With God, all things are possible, and only through Him. I know this because I asked that question and have watched how God has done things with me and changed me so much. It overwhelms me to see all that He has done and is still doing!
It has been quite an adventure! It has been like living in a mystery or an adventure story. I needed to find out who I was and where I had come from. What was my life to become? Who was this person I had married? I could have titled this book Get Real or even better Get Smart, Girl . I became Penelope, PI, and my quest was to find that woman.
I am writing this to my daughters, my daughter-in-law, and my granddaughters in the hope that they can avoid the many mistakes I have made. Perhaps the only way we can learn is by experience. In that case, they will know they are not alone.
I would like to share some nuggets of wisdom I learned through my many years of marriage. Some of them I learned from personal experiences, and some I learned from dear friends whom God put in my path. I was so thankful that I was able to remember their wisdom when Jack and I were going through hard times.
To those who are married or about to get married, I must be honest and say it does take time and