Dena Dyer

Title: Love at First Fight (52 Story-Based Meditations for Couples)
Author: Carey & Dena Dyer
Pages: 192
Year: 2016
Publisher: Barbour
My rating is 5 stars.
I’m not sure how you approach books, but rarely do I read the reviews quoted at the beginning of the book. I may look to see who wrote them, but not much else. I want to have no one else’s ideas in my mind when I am starting a book, but I love to read the prologues or introductions to see how the story starts or in nonfiction what the author is sharing before I start the subject matter. In Love at First Fight, I was really touched by how transparent the authors are right from the start. They shared their humanness and how they aren’t experts in the marriage field, but they wrote in hopes that other couples would avoid making the same mistakes they did and that was touching.
I suspected that the book was going to be a mixture of stories that brought laughter and times of quiet contemplation. I love the cover and the title as most couples see marriage at times just like putting on gloves with one coming out of the ring as a winner and the other not. However, these stories show us that both can come out winners and neither mate should be considered an enemy.
Do couples agree all the time? No. Do they get frustrated with each other? Yes. So how can marriages last for a lifetime? As the authors share with us, the truth is that it can last if founded on Christ and both people work together on their relationship. We each have our stories, if married for any length of time, that we can share with others in hopefully a way that shows how God helped us stay the course.
Readers can use these devotion formatted stories in any order as the authors’ state. The goal is for both people to sit down and go through the short devotions together though they can be done alone.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.”… (más)

This book is a great tool or resource for women who are counseling other women that have hurts and struggles from their past that they need healing from. The book touches on the stories of Abigail (1 Sam 25), Dinah (Gen 34), Ruth (The Book of Ruth), Hagar (Gen 16), Jochebed (Ex 2), Mary & Martha (Luke 10, John 11), and even Jezebel (1 Kings 16) (have you ever considered her hurts?), Gomer (Hosea 1) and so many others from the Bible....

Each of the women chosen as an example mirror issues that are still alive in the world today. Tina & Dena share the stories of these women and then highlight powerful passages in scripture that can point us to to healing. Their writing is comforting and the stories of their own lives (and their own healing) is encouraging and supportive to those that need that hand reaching out to them.

This book is ideal for small groups, women being counseled by other women and even for those that perhaps aren't ready to reach out to another women. It would make a wonderful gift for someone you think is ready to receive it or perhaps you can leave it somewhere it will catch that friends eye.

Note: there is a wonderful Bible Study Guide in the back of the book. It's perfect for small group and bible studies too! There is a section of journal questions as well as a Hope for Healing Box with a few tips from the authors -

Disclaimer: I was offered a copy of the book to read in exchange for my honest review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to have a positive review and no $$$ exchanged hands. Thanks for reading!… (más)

I read Wounded Women of the Bible: Finding Hope When Life Hurts, in exchange for honest review from Kregel Blog Tours. I received a paperback book. The book was written by Dena Dyer and Tina Samples.

My Review:

I chose the book because it had a woman-focus. The book consisted of 13 chapter, discussing different women in the bible. Some of The women included: Abigail, Dinah, Ruth, Hagar, Jochebed, Mary and Martha. Each of the women went through a particular problem, which damaged and wounded them. For example, the first chapter discussed the two women in Solomon's court. The women were prostitutes and they both had babies around the same time. One woman accidently killed her baby, while she was sleep. She rolled on top of her. She panicked and went and stole the other woman baby. She tried to pass the other woman's baby off as her own. The living child's mother took her to court. Solomon said cut the baby in half and give a half to each woman. The true mother said no, let my baby live and give it to the other woman. The true mother got her baby back. The story discusses pain, heartbreak, death, life, and friendship. The story also showed compassion and love. The true mother did not want her baby to die. She was willing to hand her baby over to the other woman, so her baby will life. The two woman was best or close friends before the ordeal, but grief, panic, and lying, changed their dynamics forever.

Each chapter gives discusses a biblical woman, in addition to providing a relatable story by each of the authors. Each chapter also has discussion questions. The discussion questions are at the end of the book. Great for small group discussion.… (más)