a little southern grace : daughter of a king

I have been following Jen Smith from Unveiled Wife for years. Her encouraging prayers & stories helped Jacob and I through some really trying months when I was rotating. A few months after I started A Little Southern Grace, she even gave me the opportunity to do a review for her 30 Day Wife After God Devotional last year. So, when I found out she was writing a book about her entire story - I just couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

A few months ago - I had the honor of being picked to help Jen launch the most genuine, stripped down, emotional marriage book I've ever read. From the get go - she shares her unmet expectations of marriage to eventually the unmet expectations of their wedding night. Christians don't like to talk about intimacy but in Unveiled Wife Book Jen bravely embraces this platform to heal other broken marriages.

Every couple has regrets, ugly fights, their own set of crosses to bear. But social media leads us to believe that we're different. That OUR marriage is the only one that faces these types of problems. That OUR marriage isn't good enough. That OUR spouse isn't spontaneous enough. That OUR life isn't what WE deserve. That OUR marriage couldn't possibly come back from this...because didn't you see on Facebook that so & so got divorced?? This. Is. Toxic. And the most heartbreaking thing is; sometimes we are the most lonely surrounded by other Christians.

The lack of transparency within friendships, marriages, families is nothing new. No one wants to talk about the problems in a marriage. No one wants to address the sin in the darkest places of our hearts. When we feel our "secret sin" is about to be exposed - we retreat; from our spouse and from God. We avoid God out of guilt, out of shame & many times lack of faith. In her book, Jen not only talks about her problems, she conquers them & grabs your hand to start down the path of transformation with her

. How lucky are we to ride that roller coaster with her??

She had me on the edge of my seat, seeking to put together another piece in the Aaron & Jen puzzle. She exposes her heart in it's rawest form. She strips away the shame & makes marriage problems seem fixable...with Christ. She intimately shares the transformation of her heart and what it truly means to be unveiled.

Visit http://unveiledwife.com for more information on ordering and ways to learn more about Jen's marriage ministry.

About Jen:

Jennifer Smith began UnveiledWife.com, a web-based ministry for wives, in March 2011. She publishes weekly marriage articles including encouragements, devotions, and prayers of the day. She authored The Unveiled Wife, Wife After God, and 31 Prayers For My Husband. She is passionately devoted to encouraging wives all around the world to develop God-centered marriages. Jennifer and her family reside in Central Oregon.

Social media is a large part of Jennifer’s ministry for Unveiled Wife via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, where she serves a community of over 450,000 wives. Connect with Jennifer on social media @unveiledwife!

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xoxo,

Amanda

Day 11

What brings a woman more peace than knowing she has a man that is always protecting her? For me - not much. Knowing that I've got my strong, tough husband makes me feel like I little kid with a superman cape on!

I've recently stumbled upon John 17. The prayer Jesus said to God before he was arrested. Particularly John 17: 9-19. Read below -

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth."

Wow, how amazing is that? This incredible protective plea from Jesus to his father about US. That's right - you & me. I'm humbled to be the daughter of a king who loves us with a more magnificent love than we can even comprehend.

For now, I'll leave you with this beautiful song to pray on.