I remember the first time I heard the name “Elyse Fitzpatrick.” J.D. and I were on a trip celebrating (that we made it through) our first 10 years of marriage. He had his requisite 14 different books he was going to read – a beautiful – no, obnoxious – tradition that was begun on our honeymoon.
After a couple of days he told me he really liked this book he was reading called Comforts from the Cross, but he was surprised, because it was written by (gasp) a girl. Over the next few days he continued to rave about this book, which turned out to be a devotional. Now listen, y’all, at this point this book had a minimum of two strikes against it for both of us. Right or wrong, in our experience, VERY few, if any, books escape being a “devotional” written by a woman unscathed. Too much fluff, one too many “beloveds,” and no good sarcasm, and we are out. But J.D. kept telling me I needed to read it, so finally, I gave it a glance (not even in my time with God, mind you. I mean, this was taking time away from my People magazine). I read straight through from Day 1 to something like Day 9. It was SO good.
Ever since, we have both been fan club members for all of Elyse Fitzpatrick’s books (Hereafter, she will be referred to as Elyse, because typing out her 15-syllable last name is killing me!)
If you are not familiar with Elyse, you NEED to be here the weekend of November 9 and10 because she is coming to speak. Seriously. Elyse majors on grace in real and practical ways. If you sometimes feel like, “Okay, okay, I get that the gospel is the key to all that is wrong in my life, but what do I do with [my screaming child, my screaming conscience, my screaming voice of anxiety, or any other thing that is literally or figuratively screaming at you--fill in the blank],” then she has some words of God for you. She certainly has had them for J.D. and me.
If you haven’t read her stuff, let me give you the first three to start with: Comforts From the Cross, Because He Loves Me, and Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety. That third one in particular for women. Get to Amazon or Barnes and Noble or iTunes for your Kindle or iPad and order at least one of them pronto.
And finally, COME AND SEE HER IN PERSON NOVEMBER 9-10, here at our very own church. You will not be sad you did.