This Read-Along couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for me (you too perhaps?). For whatever reason, the enemy’s lies are coming at me loud and strong, and I’m sorry to say that I’m believing a good percentage of them.
“Your bad attitude ruined Christmas for your family.”
“Once again, you failed to truly honor your Savior’s birth this season.”
“You’re doomed to another year of falling further and further (farther and farther?) behind. In EVERYTHING.”
“You will never, ever remember the difference between ‘further’ and ‘farther.’” (that one might actually be the truth)
“You’re a rotten mother, a mediocre wife, and a lousy friend.”
Have you believed any lies lately? Already this morning maybe?
I’m excited to read this book with all of you, because I think it’s going to be a catalyst for change, for healing, for renewal and restoration and a host of other great re- words. I want so desperately to do great things for the kingdom, to empty myself on behalf of the poor and hurting and lost.
But I get so bogged down with my own junk.
I’d love for us to deal with some of this crap, if you will, and move on and into the amazing plans God has for our lives. And I don’t mean plans to make us rich and happy and fat and famous. I mean God’s big plans to bring glory to himself through us.
I don’t want to get in the way of those killer plans.
How about I start us off with a prayer and we get this show on the road?
God, thank you. For your faithfulness when we’re unfaithful. For your love when we think we’re unlovable. For your new mercies and fresh starts and grace that never runs out. Thank for you for this online community, for a group of people we can read with, learn with, grow with, seek your face with. Thank you for this book you had Kary write. Thank you for all the stories flooding in from guys and girls who are finding healing and wholeness in you through this book. Please help us to seek you with all of our hearts, because that’s the only way we’ll ever discover who you created us to be. Bless our time together. May we edify each other and bring you glory with every word we write. We love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Okey-dokey, artichokey! Here we go!!
Here are some things we’d like to know about YOU today!
1. Your name. (full name, first name, nickname, pseudonym, whatever)
2. Where you are. (city/state, just state, country, general location, exact GPS coordinates, whatever)
3. A one-sentence bio. (again, as little or as much as you’d like to share)
4. How you knew God wanted you to read this book and/or what you’re hoping will happen as a result of reading it.
5. Your given name(s) if you feel comfortable sharing (you can find a list here).
Don’t feel overwhelmed by these questions. If you just want to say, “Hi, I’m Mary from Spring, TX, and you’re making me nervous,” that’s perfectly fine. The important thing is that you take a step of faith and commitment and say, “I’m in. Come hell or high water, let’s do this thing.”
*REMEMBER: we’ll be meeting back here next Tuesday, January 4th to chat about Chapters 1 and 2. If you want to write your own post, please do! You can link it up here (thank you, Mr. Linky!), and you’ll be entered to win an awesome (trust me on this one) book from Zondervan.
Your Secret Name Facebook Page is another place you can chat with your Fellow Readers-Along and get news and stories from the author.
Take it away, friends! I can’t wait to meet you!!
1. Teresa
2. Harrod, Ohio
3. Wife, mommy, daughter, teacher, friend, that is ready for some positive change in life. believer that believes!
4. I know God has a plan…I just need to more in tune! Truly felt drawn to this.
5. Insecure,….which leads to soooooo many others!
I’m Britt of Cbus Ohio!
I guess your questions did overwhelm me because I’m not sure how I want to answer your them! Or to be honest I guess I’m not sure what I want to put out there in the open. So I guess that is what this experience will be all about for me. Discovering my true identity in Christ and being proud and comfortable to share it!
Thanks for being straight up with where you are at Britt. This is a major step in the journey of discovering Your Secret Name.
1. Shalla
and came home
2. Columbus, Ohio
3. Wife, Mother of 4 (5 and under) 3 wildly sweet boys and
1 precious baby girl. Enjoy reading and scrap-booking
when I can!
4. Looking for some guidance and clarity! My husband had
lunch with the author (thanks Gabe
talking about the book – was very interested then and
now is a perfect time to pick it up!
5. Overwhelmed..Tired..
1. Becky
2. Norfolk, VA
3. 35, been living within my Plan B since May 2002, blogger, seminary student
4. A deeper discovery of who I am in Christ…and because of Christ..
5. Fearful & Single Woman
Hi, I am Sharon. I live in Dublin. I had heard of this book from you, Marla and my friend Mindy. So, I figured that God wanted me to read it if He mentioned it to me twice. I bought “Radical” with every intention of doing the read-along… but school got in the way and I have yet to finish it – but I will! School is over for now (I graduate with my Assoc in January – yippee!!) So, I am in! I just got my copy of Your Secret Name today…
1. Ellen
2. columbus ohio
3. 55 with 2 grown ‘kids’ – one now a college graduate — married for 31 years
4. God always wants us to learn more about Him and thus ourselves. This looks interesting especially to someone with a psychology bent.
5. Wife, mother, daughter — child of God– strong able
1. Amy
2.Winsted, MN
3. 34 year old SAHM to 3 children. I love to read, write and run.
4.I knew when I read the description and into to the book that this was something I needed to do. God has some work to do in my life as I’m walking through recently (3 years ago) losing my mom.
5.Angry, selfish, forgotten, alone
1. Lisa
2. Ohio
3. Wife, Mom to 3 little boys, nurse, enjoy reading, scrapbooking, cooking, spending time with family
4. I’m looking forward to growing stronger in my faith and seeing what God has to show me through this book.
5. many names describe me… indecisive, impatient, tired, overwhelmed, stuck…
1. Sharon Meekins
2. Titanyen, Haiti
3. Single, loves the Lord, and loves cats!
4. The Lord wants to remind me of my true name.
5. Broken.
sharon, where is titanyen – I will be in ouanimoth (?) in March with my daughter and her church.
!. Grace(alittlebitograce)
2. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
3. Wife, momma to 3(7, 5, almost 3), working on my doula certification, lover of reading, video games, food and people.
4. After beng part of various Bible study or Christian women’s groups for years, I found myself without any such community this fall. God brought me to the Radical study, which He used in my life powerfully. I want to continue joining with this community for growth and change. I definitely need some encouragement. I am cautiously optimistic and hopeful about reading YSN.
5. Failure, Worthless, Rejected, Broken.
Don’t forget to give me an addy where I can send the book you won.
1. Sheree
2. Grand Saline, TX (rural east TX)
3. 40 something, single-mom to 2 fab children (6 and 10), full-time student
4. God is calling me and I feel incredibly unequipped. I am using this book as a way to prepare for what He has for me and my family.
5. Awkward, divorced, failure, single woman, stressed, used, and many, many more.
1. Megan
2. Milwaukee, WI
3. Girl in her late 20s. Designer—turned missionary to Africa—returned to America, awaiting God’s direction for future plans.
4. This past year I began to realize the importance of names, as they hold great significance in East African culture. Heard about the read-along through a recent conversation with Kary. Figured it might be beneficial as I’ve felt a recent need to redefine myself since returning to America. Looking forward to going through that process with each of you!
5. Cutter, Depressed, Forgotten, Single Woman
I am praying for you Megan. This is going to be an inspiring journey. Thanks for helping our African friends.
1. Connie
2. Central Ohio
3. Wife, Mom (to 3) Gram (to 9)
4. First read-along…seems like an opportunity to gain clarity and confidence in who I really am… in Christ.
5. Given names: unable and invisible (among other given names)
It’s late (and I’m late in posting this) so I’m going to make this quick. Laura – 40 year old wife and mom in Michigan.
Reading -that word isn’t really an accurate description of the process of going through the book – the book again.
I always appreciate when God lets me be aware of His timing and this read along is one such instance.
Looking forward to this.
[...] If you’re joining our next Read-Along, don’t forget to introduce yourself on yesterday’s post!! No Comments| Posted by Marla Taviano under Friends Read [...]
1. Jamie
2. Bluffton, OH
3. mother of 3 boys that all start with the letter “E” and pregnant with a boy or girl that will also start with the letter “E”.
4. I’ve lost myself in motherhood lately since I had my 3rd child. I am looking for a way to grow more and have some accountability, and ALSO, I feel so disconnected with one of my bestest friends that this way….I KNOW I will keep in better contact with her!
5. Given name? Overwhelmed.
Megan in Oklahoma – a 33 year old wife and mama.
I feel drawn to this book because I feel like I am on the cusp of some things that God has planned for me, but I cannot seem to break through to them because I’m constantly reverting back to life in some of my Given Names which include a lot of UNs like Unbalanced, Unfaithful, Unproductive, and Unimpressive. (also, Lazy)
Can’t wait, Marla!
1. Laura
2. Upstate NY
3. 30 year old married to a hunk mom of 2 (7 and 9), full time legal assistant, bargain shopper.
4. I always, always need more faith. And guidance. And God. This is perfect for me right now.
5. STRESSED, fat, unimpressive, exposed, spineless, tense, unlucky, unfaithful.
1) Claudia “Buttercup” Porpiglia (even my Bible has my nickname on it)
2) Central Florida (although my roots were first put sown in Ohio)
3) Daughter, wife, mother, aunt, friend, caregiver, minister to families, worshiper, encourager, chaplain and daughter of the King of kings!
4) The minute I learned the title of the book, I knew I needed to read it…just a “feeling” in my spirit.
5) Given name: Chosen
1. Joel
2. Columbus, OH
3. Almost 40 parent of a boy with Asperger’s and husband to a beautiful wife who is a geek, loves to cook and of course loves God (not in any order).
4. God wants me to grow deeper. I intend to start the new year off right and be the man God wants me to be. I can only do that with lots of study.
5. Average, broken, battered and one I am actually proud to have that isn’t on that list: geek