Messy Beautiful Love Giveaway with Darlene Schacht…aka Time Warp Wife

NOTE: Winners to announce!!! Rebecca D. won Lynn Cowell’s book MagneticJulia R.  won Shari Braendel’s book Help Me Jesus, I’ve Got Nothing to Wear and Katherine won the color swatches. Congrats to all three of you. You will be getting an email from us at the address you left when you commented asking for your mailing address so we can get your prize to you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~messy beautiful loveAre you suited up with the armor of God for whatever life throws your way?

I’m so excited to have one of my favorite people to hangout with doing online ministry, Darlene Schacht. You may know her as the Time Warp Wife. Darlene’s new book, Messy Beautiful Love is about cleaning up messes God’s way, exchanging your ideas for His, and being prepared for both the best and the worst that marriage has to offer. {Who wouldn’t want some cleaning advice}?  Leave a comment for a chance to win one of 3 giveaway books.

Now meet my friend Darlene.

darleneDarlene’s an Evangelical Christian whose number one priority is to serve Jesus Christ in every area of her life. She started Time-Warp Wife in 2010 out of a place of grace, with a passion to encourage women in their marriages.

She and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada. Married 25 years, they have four children (three still at home), a bird and two pugs who are everyone’s babies, especially hers! Their lives are basically surrounded with three things: faith, music and everything books. She’s an award winning and New York Times best-selling author who is nothing without the grace of God.

I’m Riding Beside My Husband In Battle…an excerpt from Messy Beautiful Love

Can we pause for a moment to talk about one of the most beautiful portions of scripture? It brings us back to that day in the garden, when God completed the work in which He had begun.  And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. – Genesis 2:18

Here we see the term, “help meet,” which in the Hebrew text is translated, What’s interesting to note is that the same word is found several times throughout the Old Testament when describing God as our helper.  But the fascinating part about this is that in nearly every reference where this term is used, God is coming to the rescue where He protects His people and How does that relate to my role as a wife?

Reading these passages I couldn’t help but wonder if my purpose in being a help meet runs deeper than merely doing the dishes, looking for keys, or folding his socks. Could it be that my purpose is to fight alongside my husband in battle? Could it be that my role as a help meet is to pray for him, to encourage him in his walk of faith, and to exemplify a strong faith of my own?

Don’t get me wrong, Titus chapter 2 calls women to be good keepers of their home, so don’t put down the duster just yet! But being a good keeper of the home includes watching over the affairs of your family–in other words “guarding the castle from harm.”

messyWhat I’m suggesting here is that we make a conscious effort to nurture our husbands spiritually through prayer and encouragement. So that we are the helper that we were created to be. Let’s suit up for battle by putting on the armor of God in accordance with Ephesians chapter six. Here are two of the verses that particularly stand out to me as I consider the ways in which our families come under attack. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. – Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)  

Our husbands, our children, and we ourselves are constantly faced with negative messages. When we stand strong in faith, we are prepared to quench each and every one with wisdom and strength from the Lord. This is why it’s so important that we stand guard over our heart and those that we love.

What a great teaser to learn more about guarding ourselves with God for the daily battle of life.

Now for the giveaway.

Leave a comment below telling when or how equipping yourself with the armor of God {His word} has helped you stand strong in faith.  Or tell us why you would like Darlene’s book on marriage.

Three fabulous winners will win a copy of Messy Beautiful Love.

66 Comments

  1. Several years ago when both of my children were sexually abused God placed on my heart Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Without that verse I don’t know how I would have made it through that process of helping my children heal. Trusting Him is a daily process for me but that verse was my life verse that I had printed on index cards and had around the house and read them continuously.

  2. I would like to win a copy of Darlene’s book because several women I know are struggling in their marriages. I’d like to read it and share it with them.

  3. After being married before and striving to be the wife God wants and ask me to be. I still find it so difficult at times when. As I am sure most all wove would say. I would love this book solely to as a help guide to help guide myself in my marriage. And for my best friend who is also struggling in her marriage right now.

  4. 1) it appears the Hebrew translation for “help meet” was left out of the article above. I’m curious about the translation. 2) I would love to win a copy of the book! Fresh perspectives for a 35 year marriage!

  5. I would love to win Darlene’s book because I will be getting married within a year and am looking for all the resources I can find on marriage. I want a marriage which honors the Lord!

  6. I would love to win Darlene’s book because it would provide insight for me as a newlywed to help build a strong marriage foundation with my husband.

  7. After 33 years of marriage, 7 children, the loss of a child, 2 career changes for my husband and coming to the brink of our marriage ending last year, I can unequivocally say that without the Word our family would have not been able to stand. My faith was at mustard seed size and clutched so tightly before YAHWEH/God moved according to His will. I was worn down and worn out, but giving up on Him is simply not an option for me. He is good and worthy to be praised in all things. His timing is perfect and He brings beauty from ashes. Never give up, no matter how much you may want to, how strong the storm is raging around you and how much the enemy is whispering in your ear to do just that. Cling to the Life-bringing and Life-changing Word and wait. Miracles still happen, restoration comes and so does newness. Our children have seen first-hand the struggles, the destruction the enemy had meant for our marriage and family and they have seen the victory and newness we have been blessed with. With 3 of them married and facing their own marriage development and storms, they have no excuse from us to not make theirs a shining example of the beautiful Covenant it is. They also have our love and encouragement to continue guiding them with Wisdom when they ask for advice. We have everything in our marriage that I have always prayed for. The daily prayer together, the transparency, the communication and the intimacy in every way is a visible and profound showing of Adonai’s love for us and that He will bless immensely what He is at the center of. Looking forward to reading more from you and for being directed to your site. Shalom!

  8. Equipping myself in God’s word brings me peace in times of struggle. I have found that the verses learned as a child are the ones that stick the best!

  9. I’d love Darlene’s book! This is a topic which is woefully lacking in the church-especially in women’s groups.

    My husband and I want to provide a solid example of Godly intimacy to our teens, so they see the “real deal” and settle for nothing less. Thank you for your maturity in Christ and for your boldness.

  10. Nearly 5 years ago, my husband went on Disability due to a work related back injury. I have continued to work at a job that I truly believe was God given. I really want to leave that job now to stay home and help him with the daily chores of keeping up our home and farm. He does WAY too much daily and pays for it in the high amount of pain he endures. I would LOVE to find a way to balance this crazy life God has given us of reversed rolls!

  11. I would like to win Darlene’s new book because my marriage has been a bad example for my children for over ten years. thx

  12. I would like to win Darlene’s book because for over ten years now my marriage has not been very good nor an example to my children of what/how God wants a marriage to look. I’ve been praying for so long. I would appreciate and help….like the new book and prayers. thx

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