Feed Your Soul :: { Day 27 } Don’t Give Away Your Voice (Book Giveaway: Brennan Manning’s All Is Grace)
* Brennan Manning Memoir Book Giveaway *
It's been *20 years* since Brennan Manning wrote the grace
shattering book "Ragamuffin Gospel".
Brennan's final book is out and it's his memoir.
David C. Cook Publishers is celebrating Brennan's final book today
by giving away TEN (10) copies here on Faith Barista.
Enter the giveaway at the end of today's post!
“God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.” ~ Brennan Manning
I had never felt a need for a father.
That’s because since the age of five, I’ve grown up without one.
It’s what some people say about being born without an arm or a leg. How can you miss something that you’ve never had?
Now that I’m older, I can confess. I have carried a father wound.
I just never had the chance to grieve it, until my story went off script. Until a deeper grace found me.
There are the moments in life we all come to, when we say to ourselves, “There’s got to be more.”
It was during such a season in my life that I reached for a book called Abba’s Child, written by a recovering alcoholic priest named Brennan Manning.
When Life Goes Most Dark
At age seventy-seven, Brennan Manning (author also of Ragamuffin Gospel) has written his final book, his memoir All is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir.
All is Grace just released this month. It is a beautifully haunting memoir which brings us to walk into the soul of the author, where Brennan cries out, “There’s got to be more.”
It’s a phrase Brennan repeats throughout the book, as he opens doors into the most personal rooms of his story. Brennan’s earlier works that chronicle his encounter with God as Father have changed thousands of lives. He writes in a way that doesn’t hide anything because he really believes God’s grace speaks through.
But his memoir travels deeper beyond pearls of encouragement found in his previous books.
Brennan is a rebel for grace.
While most people write memoirs to spotlight their triumphs over trials, Brennan chose to focus his lens on the moments grace shone brightest: when his life went most dark.
Operating Room of Grace
By the time I finished the first chapter, I knew Brenna was leading me to the operating room of grace. He was inviting me to step up into my Abba Father’s lap and undergo emotional soul surgery.
“[My mother] would often come home in the afternoons between jobs and I would run and throw my arms around her, only to be pushed away. ‘You’re such a nuisance! Go sit in the corner and shut up!’
As I think back on my childhood, the word shame serves as an umbrella. It is the sense of being completely insufficient as a person, the nagging feeling that for some reason you’re defective and unworthy.
That’s how I felt all the time.”
Brennan made a vow to protect himself from life’s cruelties.
It was a vow I understood.
“I made a vow with myself… I would become a good boy… I had placed a muzzle on my emotional self. I had no feeling, no nothing.
It cost me my voice, my sense of wonder, and my self-worth for most of my adult life.”
The vow to be a “good boy” robbed him of his voice.
In A New Way
I couldn’t help but reflect on my own journey through childhood and it’s affect on me today.
How have held my voice back with God – and others?
Brennan turned to alcohol to numb the reality of his feelings, but we all turn to our own addictions, don’t we?
How did God speak into Brennan’s story? I won’t giveaway the ending or even the middle.
I can tell you this. There is no path that the love of Abba Father God cannot make beautiful.
Brennan’s memoir inspired me to look at grace in a new way.
Living out God’s grace means a lot more than using it to live a “good” life.
Each time we give ourselves permission to speak out of our brokenness, we say to each other: God’s grace is bigger than me.
Never Too Late
Not everyone who has lived Brennan’s life would dare tell it. But, Brennan tells it heart-breakingly well in his memoir, All is Grace.
It’s never too late to be loved by our real Father. It’s never too late to find your voice.
Our Abba Father has always heard your unspoken voice. He’s kept your whispers and cries close to his ears and He lovingly cherishes what others have not.
Those years we might have written off as wasted, God shows us He never did. He values us deeply.
Is there more to the broken pieces in our lives?
Yes. All is grace.
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Do you carry a father wound?
How has your relationship with God as Abba Father given you back your voice?
Pull up a chair. This is a topic tender to my heart. I’d love to hear your stories and your thoughts. Click to share a comment.
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** Brennan Manning’s Memoir Giveaway: All Is Grace **
David C. Cook is giving away the All Is Graceto TEN (10) WINNERS randomly selected here at Faith Barista (yay!).
To Enter:
1. Share a comment or blog post by Midnight Wed 11/2/11.
For Extra Entries:
2. Subscribe to Faith Barista and leave an extra comment letting me know.
3. Share this post on Facebook or Twitter (Click the “Share/Save” button below) and leave extra comments letting me know.
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** Don’t miss! ** If you are new to Faith Barista, I’d like to invite you to join me on my journey this month — 31 Days to Feed Your Soul. Click to subscribe by email and get each post in this series served up hot and fresh directly in your mailbox.
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To catch up and read the earlier posts in this series –
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*** NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN — FAITH BARISTA JAM! ***
Faith Barista Jam Thursdays – I serve up a topic of faith, you write the post. Let’s encourage each other. Add your voice. Swap our stories.
Share your post by clicking the blue button below “Add Your Link” or just comment directly.
Today’s Thursday’s Topic 10/27: All is grace.“
Approach it any way you feel inspired! Only required ingredient: keep it real.
Please place the “Faith Jam” Badge in your post and help build the Keep Fresh Fresh Community. Thanks!Grab the HTML Code For the Faith Jam Badge
Next Thursday’s Topic 11/2: A gift you’ve recently from God.
It’s a jam session. As time allows, say hi & drop a comment when visiting the community faith blends!
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Sheryl on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Vikki Sapp on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Vicky on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Debbie on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Katy on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Thank you for this recommendation as this is one I have not read. Your review makes me want to go out right now to buy it. I have a wonderful father and could not ask for different. Yet, even so, the words you and he have written have spoken to my heart.
Shanda Oakley´s last [type] ..A Call to Knit
Ragamuffin Gospel had a tremendous effect on my understanding of Grace — can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the review and mostly, thanks for sharing your father-wounds. Life here leaves us all wounded one way or another and sometimes we wound others; we are hopeless without grace. Blessings, Alyssa (I’ll be subscribing and fb-ing this:)
Like Brennan, I carry the Mother wound. I’m so thankful God gently and slowly heals me. I’m reading a few books right now and one of them is the Ragamuffin Gospel. Excited to share that we pick up my copy of All is Grace tomorrow evening adding book 3…lol. I’m freaking out to find that your post is about both these books.
I find healing here Bonnie. Lately, I find assurance that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be right where I’m at.
Jeri T.´s last [type] ..Refreshing Day 27 ~ They Shower Me with Grace
Oh, friend, this touches my heart so deeply today. He’s led me to See *Grace* in such different ways, and I’m all on it about how All. Is. Grace. — it’s so true. It’s so freeing to splash in that truth! And my heart cry is to talk about this, write about this, live this.
I’ve my own father wounds and it’s the life I’ve lived up until now–the years and miles in between–that have led me to See Him as my Daddy. Such. Grace. …even (ESPECIALLY) in my human weakness and perfect failings.
Rich blessings as He leads you to a richness in these coming days, bringing all of these posts together in beauty.
I turned to the credit card. That was my addiction though I didn’t realize it at the time. Dumping clothes and jewerly into that hole in me and using relationships to also attempt to fill the gap did nothing to ease the hurt. All it did was make it worse in so many ways. I took so many risks.
Wish someone had told me about my Heavenly Father. Instead, I played that role well, too, so that people thought I was a believer. I thought I was a believer.
Our Father is amazing. He’s the perfect Father and steps into the gaps and more.
Nikole Hahn´s last [type] ..Praying for My Heart
I needed a belief in the Heavenly Father to fill the human pains I carried with such shame. It was only when I started to embrace my Divine essence as one of His Children that I truly felt healing in my heart.
Louiseg´s last [type] ..Stopping and seeing
–Wow. This is SUCH a powerful post, and it rings true with me over and over and over again. I think because grace has become something brand new for me in this season….thank you for these words….
“While most people write memoirs to spotlight their triumphs over trials, Brennan chose to focus his lens on the moments grace shone brightest: when his life went most dark.”
–I wonder if I can allow grace to shine THROUGH me in this way….to give HIM the UTMOST glory….
and this one from the author….
“I made a vow with myself… I would become a good boy… I had placed a muzzle on my emotional self. I had no feeling, no nothing.
It cost me my voice, my sense of wonder, and my self-worth for most of my adult life.”
–I didn’t even know that I had done that until this year. Now I am learning to walk in new freedom, new life, the rhythms of grace.
Thank you so much, Bonnie!!
Lindsey van Niekerk´s last [type] ..{RE}discovering Him :: Day 26 – The Dream
Bonnie,
That operating room of grace—perfect. Lord, take Your scalpel to me…
I’ve closed myself up, too. It wasn’t healthy, but God did cause me to open those thick, locked doors. It is good!
Monica Sharman´s last [type] ..Python-Slaying Giants
Just posted on Facebook.
Monica Sharman´s last [type] ..Python-Slaying Giants
God takes his time with us. I find that I need to keep bringing my failures to him. It’s funny that I think, “No, I’ve failed one too many times. I’ve exhausted his grace and forgiveness.” There is a kind of persistence we need when we bring our sins to him and let him begin to work on us. I’ve learned that asking God to identify and remove the sources of my sins takes time, but there is real progress to be made. Who better to teach us about these principles than a recovering alcoholic?
Great words today Bonnie!
ed cyzewski´s last [type] ..Who Feels Like Rejoicing in Suffering?
I love Brennan Manning’s books. I am reading Abba’s Child right now. Ragamuffin Gospel rocked my world. Thanks for letting us know he has a new one out!
I have always loved Brennan Manning’s books. He has made a significant impact on how I see God and His grace.
Well,i’m still trying to find my voice,i know my heavenly father will always be there for me,His grace is sufficient for me…Thanks Bonnie for this reassurance.
Thank you for this opportunity. It will be a lifelong journey to receive more and more needed grace for this girl. Excited to read this book!
Awesome – thank you
I deeply desire to be a rebel of grace, too! I am reading my
first Brennan book right now, The Ragamuffin Gospel. He is a kindred spirit of mine for sure!
lovely giveaway!
I am a Faith Barista follower!
Alecia´s last [type] ..Blind to Sin….
I tweeted about the giveaway!
http://twitter.com/#!/alecia8
I posted this link on my Facebook wall.
You know what ‘s funny? I just added this to my 2012 reading wishlist yesterday. It’d be great to win it, but I plan on buying it anyway if I don’t. Thanks for this opportunity Bonnie.
I also have a father wound. God has healed that over the years since his death. But I was thinking about your comment “those years we might have written off as wasted”. God is using the experience of those years in my life now and it is such a wonderful thing to know that they were not wasted. He is restoring the years that the locust had eaten.
Thank you for this post Bonnie.
Stacy´s last [type] ..Doing Hard Things
I’ve always wanted to read Ragamuffin Gospel, and now I want to read his memoir!
Ah! I need to read this! I feel that I fit exactly into those words that you shared. I am slowly regaining my voice as I let Father God into my heart, but it’s a sloooow process. I can’t wait to be healed and whole! I have such a burning to be used by God, but the idea still scares me a lot sometimes. I can’t wait until I’m free from the fear of rejection
Thanks for sharing, Bonnie!
Thank You I do hope to receive a copy and I shared this with my facebook family
I just bought Ragamuffin Gospel last week. Would love to read this.
Amy Nabors´s last [type] ..A Day at Biltmore
Today is one of those days where I’m not even sure I have strength to type a reply as the tears cascade down my face. Yeah, one of -those- mornings. Thank you for your candid words, so eloquently collected.
Ragamuffin Gospel was my first introduction to the Abba Father, something this abandoned, fatherless child ached for. It was the first time I had seen what an UNconditional love relationship with our great God really looked like put to flesh. And having just finished Ann Voskamp’s 1000 Gifts, a book that also culminates with the understanding that “All is Grace,” that title plus Brennan Manning must equal… something life-journey changing.
As much as I love winning things (already a subscriber, I think, and posted to FB already!!), I too plan to purchase the book to read soon. So if I am chosen, I would appreciate it if you could choose another name. There are others who might need it more, and be less able to do themselves.
Thank you again, Bonnie. I’m really enjoying this series, and your posts as always.
What a wonderful post, I am going out today to get ragamuffin gospel. I have a father wound that began at age 5 when I was confronted with the reality of domestic violence. My father was very abusive to my mother and I always felt such a deep sense of fear and insecurity. It was a terrible time and it gradually became worse and worse. However, it was during this time that my Heavenly Father found me and came to me for the first time. As a 6 or 7 year old girl who feared daily that her father would kill her mother during the night, my Loving Father came to me personally and told me he loved me and not to be afraid that everything was going to be okay. I knew He was right and I felt a deep sense of relief and love that I have always trusted in. The wounds that I acquired as a little girl are real and at times interfere with my serenity, however the true Love I experienced has never left me.
There have been many dark hours in my life that only God’s Grace has helped me to get through. I would love to read this book!
I am a subscriber! Please enter me in this giveaway!
My father was an alcoholic and I also had that deep wound in my heart that ached badly. I used to say that I didn’t need an earthly father since my Heavenly Father was taking care of me, but truth remained truth that my heart was wounded and it was after I read Brennan’s “Abba’s Child” that God began to restore me and heal my painful childhood memories. I am so grateful to God for Brennan’s books, because it always seems to me that he was writing with me in mind. His books bring me peace and healing. Thank you for sharing this. And I subscribed to your blog and shared this with my friends on Facebook.
I have subscribed to your blog
Shared on Facebook!
I have shared this article with my friends on Facebook
This sounds like a wonderful book, and I’m adding it to my list of books to look for. I’m already a subscriber to the blog, by the way.
Amy´s last [type] ..What in the World is Kohlrabi?
“There is no path that the love of Abba Father God cannot make beautiful.” You speak truth, Bonnie! I have lived it as many others have. But we all need this encouraging reminder during those truly dark moments. Thanks for a wonderful post. It makes me want to order All is Grace right away.
Julie Sunne´s last [type] ..Noticing the Balloons (and other gems)
Thank you for getting the word out on this book. I can’t wait to read it and add it to my Brennan Manning collection of books.
Deanne Moore´s last [type] ..Faith Keeps the Door Open
I’m already a subscriber and enjoying every minute of it!
Julie Sunne´s last [type] ..Noticing the Balloons (and other gems)
This sounds like a beautiful and relevant book.
Ruthinthedesert´s last [type] ..Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Message
I am new to Brennan Manning’s work but what I have read rings God’s truth to my core. His writing makes me want to be able to sit and have coffee with him. It makes me wish I had him as a father/mentor figure in my life. Since I can’t I will continue to know him through his books!
Blessings
Shared on Facebook and Twitter!
Julie Sunne´s last [type] ..Noticing the Balloons (and other gems)
Having read several of Brennan’s previous books (Ragamuffin Gospel, Abba’s Child, Ruthless Trust) I’d love to read his final opus. Please enter me in the giveaway, if it isn’t too late.
Wow, that is all that comes to mind. The bravest ones, I believe, are the ones that hear God the loudest.
As I grieve and process at the end of one of my own “darkest moments” I am inspired and hope is relinquished reading this post… I certainly need to know that God is using such moments of my life that not all is hopless and although I may label it as “wasted,” it’s so much more in God’s eyes. Thanks be to God – that He knows all and continues to work in us and through us inspite of ourselves
The answer to your question is yes. But I learned as a teenager to view myself through my Father’s eyes. There have been times in the past when I’ve forgotten (and the eight years where I willfully looked away) but I know I am valued and loved as I am because He created me.
Brennan Manning is one of my husband’s favorite author’s. I’ll have to get him this book.
would love to win the book. It sounds wonderful.
Loving this series And love Mr Manning’s work.
Brought me to tears. Opened my soul, helped me see clear my own life muzzled.
I, personally, had a very loving Father, who loved God with all his heart. My husband, on the other hand, experienced some of the very things you mention that Brennan Manning also encountered. It takes years to overcome those very things sometimes and, with God’s grace, my husband has made progress in doing so. Only God can help heal those that suffer silently, much of the time, Thank you, Jesus, for your neverending grace.
I’ve been a Manning fan for several years. The first book I read, The Ragamuffin Gospel – took me ages to process. I had to take it bite-by-bite and work it through my heart and mind. I had been building my faith on a faulty foundation of the American church, and realized then that I was a ragamuffin through and through. Praise God He loves ragamuffins!!
I can’t wait to read this book. I know that it will minister to the times in my life that I hid my voice, allowed it to be stolen – or in my case – was only allowed to use my voice when it echoed my earthly father’s causes (not my heart).
Thanks for sharing, inspiring, indulging us!! Love your heart!! marina (still finding my feet after 10 days in Tunisia, and pseudo-blogging at another site while going through 1000 photos!)
Good morning, at least it is where I am. It’s a little overcast but the sun could come out later in the day. Anyway, I didn’t have a father problem although my sons did. My ex was horrible to my son from a previous marriage and his own son. My son Billy, sees him once a year and he is OK with that. The good thing from all this is he is a fantastic father to his son. It’s so good to see them together. God is good all the time and I know He has great things in store for my sons. God bless. Chris