Secrets of the Vine for Women by Darlene Wilkinson

Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge from the publisher but I am giving an honest review.

Most books I receive from the publisher aren't very helpful. Usually, they are boring, overly lengthy, full of useless stories, and don't teach me anything about life or God. Nothing more than a Sunday sermon, at least. But I really enjoyed this book. It is very short, simple, sweet. You can finish it in an hour or so. And you come away going "Wow" what a neat book. You actually GET something from this book. So I would strongly recommend this book and also recommend it as a gift to give other Christians.

Author Darlene Wilkinson is the wife of famous author Bruce Wilkinson, who wrote: "The Prayer of Jabez" and also "The Secrets of the Vine". The Prayer of Jabez took a lot of heat from critical Christians because of its similarity to the "name-it-claim-it" crowd and the properity gospel. This book by Darlene is along the same lines: creating abundance for yourself with a godly spin.

Darlene is teaching on John 15, about how God wants us to have an abundant full life and if we aren't careful and don't understand how God works, we can actually work against God's good hand in our lives. You will learn how God intervienes when sin is holding you back. How God responds when your good intentions lead you astray. How much God longs to be your friend and how to make that friendship happen.

Samples:
Pg 13, I like one analogy the author makes, when she relates our lives to a puzzle. How matter how the pieces don't seem to fit, the beautiful box picture reminds us that our individual pieces were made to fit together.

Pg 21, God has a plan of abundance for us. Just like in John 15, God has planned the biggest most beautiful harvest possible! And you are invited to be apart of it!

Pg 22, Jesus is the vine. God is the vinedresser. And we are the branches - parts of the vine. Essential parts of the vine - the parts that allow fruit/grapes to grow! Without Christian believers like you and me, there would be no harvest. We are an essential part of God's vineyard!

Pg 38, If you do not bear fruit, and you fall off the path, God will not forsake you, whom He has chosen. He will interviene to discipline you and bump you back onto the track, so that you will bear fruit.

Pg 46, You might be just one step away from a fresh start with God.