Becoming Sage by Michelle Van Loon

This is one of the best books I have read on dealing with midlife issues for Christians. The transition to the midlife stage is a process and as the author notes it is an invitation to become “sage – a way of life in which a person expresses experience, knowledge, insight and self-mastery.”  While it may look different for each person it is also a journey growing in wisdom through lifelong discipleship.

The first section of the book deals with what it means to become sage while the second section of the book addressed how one can develop spiritual maturity in the second half of life. Areas addressed in the second section include physical health, relationships, financial issues, church community as well as end of life issues. At the end of each chapter there are questions for both individual reflection and group conversation. This would be a great resource for individual as well as a small group study. I appreciated   this book as I am in the second half of life myself and found it as a helpful tool to look at some of the issues I am facing.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.   

Shepherding Women in Pain Bev Hislop, Editor

This is a valuable resource for any woman involved in ministry to other women. The first section is to help the reader understand the women in pain and what the woman in pain wants to know. Questions addressed include how can I stop the pain; when will life be normal again; what does healing look like; and where is God in pain. The second section addresses helping or shepherding the women in pain and what the shepherd needs to know.  Topics included in the section are depression, infertility, terminal illness, aging, addictions, domestic abuse along with many others. The last section of the book addresses communities in which healing can take place.

This book is a collaboration of many women who share their knowledge in helping women deal with specific areas of pain. This is not only a resource for women but for anyone in church leadership to understand how to help women in pain.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.