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Messy Beautiful Love: Hope and Redemption for Real-Life Marriages
Messy Beautiful Love delivers an incredible testimony of grace that offers hope for today’s marriages and a spark for rekindling love.
Love gets messy.
Financial problems, sickness, aging parents, a chronically unhappy spouse . . . trials will inevitably come that threaten your marriage. No matter how long you’ve been married or how strong your relationship is, sooner or later you are going to have a mess to clean up.
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.
When you surrender your relationship to God, then and only then will you experience the blessing of marriage as He intended. This is the blessing of obedience.
Messy Beautiful Love is an invitation to that obedience. The cynical world says marriages don’t last, but God knows better. Tune out the world and tune in to Him. When you do that, a beautiful marriage is not only possible, it’s inevitable.
Love gets messy.
Financial problems, sickness, aging parents, a chronically unhappy spouse . . . trials will inevitably come that threaten your marriage. No matter how long you’ve been married or how strong your relationship is, sooner or later you are going to have a mess to clean up.
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.
When you surrender your relationship to God, then and only then will you experience the blessing of marriage as He intended. This is the blessing of obedience.
Messy Beautiful Love is an invitation to that obedience. The cynical world says marriages don’t last, but God knows better. Tune out the world and tune in to Him. When you do that, a beautiful marriage is not only possible, it’s inevitable.
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2014
54 people are currently reading
498 people want to read
About the author
Darlene Schacht
65 books71 followersDarlene Schacht is known by her readers as The Time-Warp Wife. She's an Evangelical Christian whose number one priority is to serve Jesus Christ in every area of her life. She and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada. Married 26 years, they have four children, a bird and two pugs. She's an award winning and New York Times best-selling author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 16, 2014
Messy Beautiful Love is a delightful book. Darlene gives a real look into her marriage & life. Instead of presenting a perfected family, she shares real struggles, mistakes, & feelings. That takes a lot of guts & I admire Darlene for that.
Her book is saturated with Scripture, prayer, & God's grace. Each chapter ends with a challenge for the reader to implement in their life. Her book has tough challenges on giving up your right to be right (chapter 4), stepping back and allow him to lead (chapter 6), praying for your marriage (chapter 15), and many more.
This is a good book on marriage & I recommend it.
Her book is saturated with Scripture, prayer, & God's grace. Each chapter ends with a challenge for the reader to implement in their life. Her book has tough challenges on giving up your right to be right (chapter 4), stepping back and allow him to lead (chapter 6), praying for your marriage (chapter 15), and many more.
This is a good book on marriage & I recommend it.
October 18, 2024
A quick listen with reminders you know but need to be reminded of occasionally.
December 3, 2014
When I first discovered there was a whole new world of blogging encouragement, Darlene's blog, Time Warp Wife, was one of the very first blogs to enter my feed. Several years later, and I still find encouragement there. When I learned she was writing a book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!
I think most of us know the general rules when it comes to marriage. Putting them into practice is the hard part! Books like this one is the extra boost of guidance I need sometimes(always!). Messy Beautiful Love is a large part memoir, but there are many pages of encouragement for married ladies, too. There's also a few question and answer sessions, consisting of letters from readers and answers from Darlene. She makes it very clear that there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, and things get messy. She tells of her affair at the start of the book. This took me by surprise, but I appreciate her honesty! Sometimes it's too easy for bloggers to hide behind an image of perfection, and I appreciate the ones that step out of hiding.
I really DO think this is a great book for marriage encouragement. I can almost guarantee you will get a boost of marriage encouragement by reading it. But, there were a couple of things I wasn't so fond of. When an author proclaims that God told them to write something in their book(spoke, not led), a big giant flag starts waving in my mind. As with everything on my blog, you're free to take or leave that, since something like that may or may not bother you. It's at the beginning of the book, and honestly after reading it, I put the book down for a good long while. Also, there was a comment concerning divorce(in a round about way) that I wish was expanded on a bit more. *Ultimately*, I think I agree with her, to an extent, but I believe that women will read her advice and possibly make an un-Biblical choice, since it wasn't expanded on, nor do I know exactly where the author stands on the issue. Based on the letters within this book, it proves that women highly value her opinion and advice. God's Word is always the most important, though. (I say that kindly! :) *I* have gleaned lots of encouragement from her myself, especially with this book.)
Other than my couple of issues, I greatly enjoyed reading Messy Beautiful Love! Also, it's a quick read, which is just what I needed right now.
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I think most of us know the general rules when it comes to marriage. Putting them into practice is the hard part! Books like this one is the extra boost of guidance I need sometimes(always!). Messy Beautiful Love is a large part memoir, but there are many pages of encouragement for married ladies, too. There's also a few question and answer sessions, consisting of letters from readers and answers from Darlene. She makes it very clear that there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, and things get messy. She tells of her affair at the start of the book. This took me by surprise, but I appreciate her honesty! Sometimes it's too easy for bloggers to hide behind an image of perfection, and I appreciate the ones that step out of hiding.
I really DO think this is a great book for marriage encouragement. I can almost guarantee you will get a boost of marriage encouragement by reading it. But, there were a couple of things I wasn't so fond of. When an author proclaims that God told them to write something in their book(spoke, not led), a big giant flag starts waving in my mind. As with everything on my blog, you're free to take or leave that, since something like that may or may not bother you. It's at the beginning of the book, and honestly after reading it, I put the book down for a good long while. Also, there was a comment concerning divorce(in a round about way) that I wish was expanded on a bit more. *Ultimately*, I think I agree with her, to an extent, but I believe that women will read her advice and possibly make an un-Biblical choice, since it wasn't expanded on, nor do I know exactly where the author stands on the issue. Based on the letters within this book, it proves that women highly value her opinion and advice. God's Word is always the most important, though. (I say that kindly! :) *I* have gleaned lots of encouragement from her myself, especially with this book.)
Other than my couple of issues, I greatly enjoyed reading Messy Beautiful Love! Also, it's a quick read, which is just what I needed right now.
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 17, 2014
If you are a wife (or are planning to become a wife) you need to read this book.
In this book Darlene (aka Time-Warp Wife) takes us on a journey that could easily be described as our own marriages at times. The newlywed phase is amazing. But then real life takes over, schedules get crazy, kids get added to the mix, money gets tight. All these things work together to damage the relationship we have with our husbands. "Messy Beautiful Love" reminds us that our relationship with our husband is the most important relationship we have on this earth. It's the relationship that we should work on the most, and the one we should hold dearest to our hearts.
Through this book Darlene addresses everything from communication to affection, and friendship to conflict. She reminds us of how the Bible leads us through marriage and how we are to handle our relationships with our husbands. She reminds us of the Biblical role of the wife and how to make that work in our marriages. Most importantly, she reminds us to pray for our husbands, our families, and for our marriages.
I read this book with a bright blue highlighter in hand and found myself marking all over the place. "Messy Beautiful Love" was such a great reminder of the importance of the wife in a marriage. It has challenged me to look at my role in my marriage and given me a desire to be the kind of wife God always intended for me to be.
I received a copy of this book from Family Christian in exchange for my honest review.
In this book Darlene (aka Time-Warp Wife) takes us on a journey that could easily be described as our own marriages at times. The newlywed phase is amazing. But then real life takes over, schedules get crazy, kids get added to the mix, money gets tight. All these things work together to damage the relationship we have with our husbands. "Messy Beautiful Love" reminds us that our relationship with our husband is the most important relationship we have on this earth. It's the relationship that we should work on the most, and the one we should hold dearest to our hearts.
Through this book Darlene addresses everything from communication to affection, and friendship to conflict. She reminds us of how the Bible leads us through marriage and how we are to handle our relationships with our husbands. She reminds us of the Biblical role of the wife and how to make that work in our marriages. Most importantly, she reminds us to pray for our husbands, our families, and for our marriages.
I read this book with a bright blue highlighter in hand and found myself marking all over the place. "Messy Beautiful Love" was such a great reminder of the importance of the wife in a marriage. It has challenged me to look at my role in my marriage and given me a desire to be the kind of wife God always intended for me to be.
I received a copy of this book from Family Christian in exchange for my honest review.
December 9, 2014
What stood out the most to me in Messy Beautiful Love was the transparent honesty which Darlene Schacht used to tell her story. In the opening chapter you quickly find out that she had an extra-marital affair. I'm not sure that I would be brave enough to put that on paper for the world to see, but Darlene followed the lead of Christ and is using her story to reach those in similar situations.
The title of the book is very appropriate. If you have been married for any length of time you already know that some of the magic fades and real life enters in. Darlene shares about the struggles in their early married life with a candor that is to be admired. It would be easy to say "it was his fault" and go on, but she tells her story in a way that allows you to relate to the whole situation. I can almost guarantee that we've all been there. If you've not had a fixer-upper, or a home-based business, or more than one kiddo under the age of three then you may not relate to how things took a nose-dive. But if you are like most of us you can envision how discontent can settle in.
While the beginning of the book deals with the fallout of the affair the middle to end are all about the hope we can have in building a loving and lasting marriage. This isn't your typical marriage book, but it is one that I think you will benefit from reading if you are married for any length of time at all.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
The title of the book is very appropriate. If you have been married for any length of time you already know that some of the magic fades and real life enters in. Darlene shares about the struggles in their early married life with a candor that is to be admired. It would be easy to say "it was his fault" and go on, but she tells her story in a way that allows you to relate to the whole situation. I can almost guarantee that we've all been there. If you've not had a fixer-upper, or a home-based business, or more than one kiddo under the age of three then you may not relate to how things took a nose-dive. But if you are like most of us you can envision how discontent can settle in.
While the beginning of the book deals with the fallout of the affair the middle to end are all about the hope we can have in building a loving and lasting marriage. This isn't your typical marriage book, but it is one that I think you will benefit from reading if you are married for any length of time at all.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
September 21, 2014
“There’s a saying that goes like this: ‘The world doesn’t read the Bible; it reads Christians.’…What does your marriage say about your relationship with the Lord?”
I read this quote in Darlene Schacht’s new book, Messy Beautiful Love: Hope and Redemption for Real-Life Marriages. It’s a powerful quote, isn’t it?
Because I don’t know about you, but my marriage does not always say a lot of great things about God. It should…but it doesn’t. At least not all the time.
Messy Beautiful Love is a marriage book that doesn’t gloss over the difficulties of sharing your life with another person. Each chapter shares a different tip for wives to put into practice that will help their marriages thrive.
Some of the tips include:
Walk in compassion and grace.
Be patient when the going gets tough.
Give up your right to be right.
Appreciate him for who he is (not who you want him to be).
Allow him to lead.
Handle conflict wisely.
Communicate with loving respect.
AND MORE!
If you want your marriage to be a reflection of God’s glory (but are struggling to make it that way on your own), this book is a must-read!
*I received this book for free for review, but all opinions are my own.
I read this quote in Darlene Schacht’s new book, Messy Beautiful Love: Hope and Redemption for Real-Life Marriages. It’s a powerful quote, isn’t it?
Because I don’t know about you, but my marriage does not always say a lot of great things about God. It should…but it doesn’t. At least not all the time.
Messy Beautiful Love is a marriage book that doesn’t gloss over the difficulties of sharing your life with another person. Each chapter shares a different tip for wives to put into practice that will help their marriages thrive.
Some of the tips include:
Walk in compassion and grace.
Be patient when the going gets tough.
Give up your right to be right.
Appreciate him for who he is (not who you want him to be).
Allow him to lead.
Handle conflict wisely.
Communicate with loving respect.
AND MORE!
If you want your marriage to be a reflection of God’s glory (but are struggling to make it that way on your own), this book is a must-read!
*I received this book for free for review, but all opinions are my own.
September 8, 2014
Reading this book was like talking honestly over tea (no coffee, thank you very much) with the author. It was easy to read in that sense, though the subject matter wasn’t light and fluffy. I couldn’t wait to read the next chapter to see what relationship lesson she would share, some I knew from experience and some I have yet to work through.
I really think I needed to read this book. I needed to hear that marriage takes work and grace, that it’s both messy and beautiful to love your spouse enough to stay committed to your wedding vows. I think every wife could use that message, on good days as well as bad.
I’m looking forward to Darlene’s other books and keeping up with her blog (The Time-Warp Wife) as well.
**This ebook was provided by the author for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.**
I really think I needed to read this book. I needed to hear that marriage takes work and grace, that it’s both messy and beautiful to love your spouse enough to stay committed to your wedding vows. I think every wife could use that message, on good days as well as bad.
I’m looking forward to Darlene’s other books and keeping up with her blog (The Time-Warp Wife) as well.
**This ebook was provided by the author for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.**
September 16, 2014
Throughout Darlene’s book, Messy Beautiful Love, you find authenticity. You’re not merely reading words on a page, you’re drawn into her life, it’s like sitting down and drinking a cup of coffee while chatting with a lifelong friend. You delve into topics that break your heart because of bad choices or wrong paths you’ve chosen along the way, you discover what an amazing gift marriage is and you learn how to be the woman and wife God created you to be. You can read the rest of my review here --> http://www.mistyleask.com/messy-beaut...
September 17, 2014
not my cup of tea.
December 29, 2014
Check out my blog and other reviews at CalledHis.com
Title: Messy Beautiful Love: Hope and Redemption for Real-Life Marriages
Author: Darlene Schacht (Blog) (Twitter) (Facebook)
Pages: 308
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishing
Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Marriage & Couples
Via Goodreads: "Messy Beautiful Love" delivers an incredible testimony of grace that offers hope for today's marriages and a spark for rekindling love.
Love gets messy.
Financial problems, sickness, aging parents, a chronically unhappy spouse . . . trials will inevitably come that threaten your marriage. No matter how long you've been married or how strong your relationship is, sooner or later you are going to have a mess to clean up.
"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.
When you surrender your relationship to God, then and only then will you experience the blessing of marriage as He intended. This is the blessing of obedience. "Messy Beautiful Love" is an invitation to that obedience. The cynical world says marriages don't last, but God knows better. Tune out the world and tune in to Him. When you do that, a beautiful marriage is not only possible, it's inevitable.
.-._. My Review ._.-.
The Good: I don't even know where to start with Messy Beautiful Love. It's absolutely wonderful, and it's been reviewed in detail all over the blogosphere lately. There's a reason for the hype - not only was it written by well-known blogger Darlene Schacht, but it is also a fantastic book! If you are married, or like me, planning to be married, this is a must read. Darlene really opens up about her past and some of the biggest struggles she's ever faced in her 25+ year marriage. The level of honesty nearly brought me to tears at times. Darlene has a talent for emotional, realistic writing, while also being very funny in parts.
This book is challenging. It doesn't feel like some platitude of marriage where if you just pray every day everything will be fine. Of course, that's a part of it, but it's so much more than that. Preparing for my marriage is very scary, and in a way this book scared me more about what we will go through. But at the same time it gave me hope. This book promises a mess. But it also promises a biblical and wonderful love. Darlene fills this book with scripture readings, prayers, and lots of specific things to think about throughout the chapters.
This book will be on my shelf for years, I feel like ten years from now when I want to throw Justin through the roof, I'll pick it up and meditate on how Darlene brings the biblical view of marriage to life. That's pretty awesome :)
The Bad: As a writer and blogger, I tend to be semi-critical. I fully admit I'm a pretty tough reviewer and I tend to think EVERY work can improve. This book is honestly hard to fault. The writing is wonderful, the message is sound, and I did not notice a single spelling error. The ONLY thing I can really say is that this book in my opinion is too short. I didn't want it to end :)
Content Warnings: This book talks of an affair and of real struggles, it does not shy away from anything, but of course it's handled very gracefully. Obviously the book is suited to adults anyways.
Recommended for: Every wife, every mom, every woman preparing for her marriage and knowing what to expect!
Final Word & Rating: I loved, loved, loved this book. Is anyone surprised by my rating? :D Buy it on Amazon. It's a really nice paperback and I love the cover :)
5 Stars! See my Review Policy for more information on ratings, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!
I ❤ connecting with my readers. I'd love to chat with you on Twitter, Facebook, Google +, or Pinterest. If you want to make sure you see all of my new posts, consider following on Bloglovin. :)
July 12, 2024
I didn't expect the book to start the way that it did, however, I think it very brave of her to write her testimony. I love how she adds scripture truths as well as little stories to help with giving practical and spiritual advice. The challenges at the end of each chapter are a nice touch. I will say next time, I would like to read a physical copy because there were times when I didn't quite catch everything that she said. Overall, it was a nice fast read.
December 10, 2025
Idk how I felt about this one…
October 13, 2014
About the Book:
"Messy Beautiful Love" delivers an incredible testimony of grace that offers hope for today's marriages and a spark for rekindling love.
Love gets messy.
Financial problems, sickness, aging parents, a chronically unhappy spouse . . . trials will inevitably come that threaten your marriage. No matter how long you've been married or how strong your relationship is, sooner or later you are going to have a mess to clean up.
"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.
When you surrender your relationship to God, then and only then will you experience the blessing of marriage as He intended. This is the blessing of obedience. "Messy Beautiful Love" is an invitation to that obedience. The cynical world says marriages don't last, but God knows better. Tune out the world and tune in to Him. When you do that, a beautiful marriage is not only possible, it's inevitable.
About the Author:
Darlene Schacht is the original founder of Christian Women Online Magazine and The Internet Café Devotions and writes the popular blog Time-Warp Wife. She is coauthor of Candace Cameron Bure’s New York Time’s best-selling book, Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness. Darlene has been married to Michael Schacht for more than 25 years. They have four children.
My Review:
Marriage can be so very complicated but it doesn't have to be if we handle it the right way and the right way and best way is to have God at the center of it all. In Messy Beautiful Love, the author shares with us her marriage struggles and strengths along the way and the way she and her husband resolved them. There will be issues that come along in every marriage, and God needs to be at the heart of any problem we face. It is when we fully rely on Him that our spiritual lives, marriages and overall love for each other can and will reach new heights.
The author is able to convey and inspire those of us that are struggling in our marriage and looking for a way to restore it. Her best found way is through God's grace and she shows you how to have a Christlike love so that your husband will get to experience self-sacrificing on a God level. It is a very humbling love when you experience that type of love from your spouse. At the end of each chapter the author gives you challenges to help you on your goal of loving your spouse.
The book is a real eye opener to those of us that have let our marriage falter under the weight of our every day lives. Learn to rely on God to show you just how unfair you may have been and allow Him to do an extraordinary work in your marriage and in your family.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Look.
"Messy Beautiful Love" delivers an incredible testimony of grace that offers hope for today's marriages and a spark for rekindling love.
Love gets messy.
Financial problems, sickness, aging parents, a chronically unhappy spouse . . . trials will inevitably come that threaten your marriage. No matter how long you've been married or how strong your relationship is, sooner or later you are going to have a mess to clean up.
"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.
When you surrender your relationship to God, then and only then will you experience the blessing of marriage as He intended. This is the blessing of obedience. "Messy Beautiful Love" is an invitation to that obedience. The cynical world says marriages don't last, but God knows better. Tune out the world and tune in to Him. When you do that, a beautiful marriage is not only possible, it's inevitable.
About the Author:
Darlene Schacht is the original founder of Christian Women Online Magazine and The Internet Café Devotions and writes the popular blog Time-Warp Wife. She is coauthor of Candace Cameron Bure’s New York Time’s best-selling book, Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness. Darlene has been married to Michael Schacht for more than 25 years. They have four children.
My Review:
Marriage can be so very complicated but it doesn't have to be if we handle it the right way and the right way and best way is to have God at the center of it all. In Messy Beautiful Love, the author shares with us her marriage struggles and strengths along the way and the way she and her husband resolved them. There will be issues that come along in every marriage, and God needs to be at the heart of any problem we face. It is when we fully rely on Him that our spiritual lives, marriages and overall love for each other can and will reach new heights.
The author is able to convey and inspire those of us that are struggling in our marriage and looking for a way to restore it. Her best found way is through God's grace and she shows you how to have a Christlike love so that your husband will get to experience self-sacrificing on a God level. It is a very humbling love when you experience that type of love from your spouse. At the end of each chapter the author gives you challenges to help you on your goal of loving your spouse.
The book is a real eye opener to those of us that have let our marriage falter under the weight of our every day lives. Learn to rely on God to show you just how unfair you may have been and allow Him to do an extraordinary work in your marriage and in your family.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Look.
September 16, 2014
Without question…if you are married, you should read this book. Darlene lays out her heart about marriage and she reaches deep down in your soul and shows you what marriage is really about.
Marriage is all about God.
How He loves us so unconditionally that we as humans can never even come close to His all encompassing love.
How we, as wives, are to serve our husbands…and not in the way you have been told. Not the way the world have twisted and turned this amazing service of ones self…how God designed us to serve, just as Christ served the ones He loved.
How each partner is simply that, a partner. Marriage is not a competition. Marriage is not a fight to the finish and the best one wins. Marriage is a partnership, with God as the center of it all.
How marriage is giving and based on love but intertwined with faith, trust and honesty, and above all grace.
Darlene’s book Messy Beautiful Love is so full of goodness that I cried as soon as I read the first few lines. She makes me look deeper into my marriage and at times it was rough. No one likes to have the obvious pointed out to them, certainly not me. No one likes to see the path of marriage as prickly, steep, or dangerous…but truthfully it is.
The Devil prowls around, like a lion, seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8). This marriage thing is a big deal, not something you can (or should) just throw away. The Devil is constantly seeking to break up Godly marriages, or rather, marriages in general. Because marriage is based on Godly ideas, it is not something the Devil wants to see succeed.
In this book, Darlene shows us the messy side of marriage but then in a gentle and loving manner, she then guides us back the the Light of Truth. The Grace Giver Himself. Jesus.
Prickly – Messy – Down Right Hard
That is what marriage is, or can be.
But on the flip side, Darlene shows us much more.
Beautiful – Grace Filled – Christ Filled
She says dig deeper, hang on tighter to God and Pray. Always Pray and Seek God in every moment of your marriage. Because seriously, marriage is not for the faint of heart. Marriage is most definitely not easy when you have left out The Fundamental Centerpiece – Jesus.
You might think your marriage is good.
You might even say you have this marriage thing all figured out.
You might even go as far to say that you and your husband are right with God.
Then good for you.
But now, I say to you, you need to grab this book and read it.
Every marriage can be blessed, changed, fulfilled, bettered after you read this book.
I have been so blessed to review this Messy Beautiful Love and I now have an even deeper mission to make this marriage of ours a better one, one that is beyond blessed by God.
Marriage is all about God.
How He loves us so unconditionally that we as humans can never even come close to His all encompassing love.
How we, as wives, are to serve our husbands…and not in the way you have been told. Not the way the world have twisted and turned this amazing service of ones self…how God designed us to serve, just as Christ served the ones He loved.
How each partner is simply that, a partner. Marriage is not a competition. Marriage is not a fight to the finish and the best one wins. Marriage is a partnership, with God as the center of it all.
How marriage is giving and based on love but intertwined with faith, trust and honesty, and above all grace.
Darlene’s book Messy Beautiful Love is so full of goodness that I cried as soon as I read the first few lines. She makes me look deeper into my marriage and at times it was rough. No one likes to have the obvious pointed out to them, certainly not me. No one likes to see the path of marriage as prickly, steep, or dangerous…but truthfully it is.
The Devil prowls around, like a lion, seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8). This marriage thing is a big deal, not something you can (or should) just throw away. The Devil is constantly seeking to break up Godly marriages, or rather, marriages in general. Because marriage is based on Godly ideas, it is not something the Devil wants to see succeed.
In this book, Darlene shows us the messy side of marriage but then in a gentle and loving manner, she then guides us back the the Light of Truth. The Grace Giver Himself. Jesus.
Prickly – Messy – Down Right Hard
That is what marriage is, or can be.
But on the flip side, Darlene shows us much more.
Beautiful – Grace Filled – Christ Filled
She says dig deeper, hang on tighter to God and Pray. Always Pray and Seek God in every moment of your marriage. Because seriously, marriage is not for the faint of heart. Marriage is most definitely not easy when you have left out The Fundamental Centerpiece – Jesus.
You might think your marriage is good.
You might even say you have this marriage thing all figured out.
You might even go as far to say that you and your husband are right with God.
Then good for you.
But now, I say to you, you need to grab this book and read it.
Every marriage can be blessed, changed, fulfilled, bettered after you read this book.
I have been so blessed to review this Messy Beautiful Love and I now have an even deeper mission to make this marriage of ours a better one, one that is beyond blessed by God.
December 17, 2014
Marriage is challenging and filled with unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes those twists and turns create messy situations that we never thought would happen to us. Darlene Schacht writes from the experience of a messy marriage and she created that mess. After having an affair her husband decided to love her with the love of Jesus Christ and offer forgiveness and grace. That model of love would launch her web site The Time Warped Wife (www.timewarpwife.com) and begin her on a journey to help women not make the same mistakes she did.
Describing love as a feeling that can come quickly and disappear just ask quickly the challenge is roll up our sleeves and get to work when the going gets tough. Marriage isn’t about keeping score and keeping records but about the loves that heals even the wounds of the heart. When we allow ourselves to be drawn away with our lusts we open the door for Satan to use that to drive a wedge in our marriage and he is willing to deceive us to open that door a little wider. The way of God is not a common way of life in our world and we must be prepared to do things God’s way.
Do you have a tendency to have to be right all the time? Love means we give up that right to be right. Love is patient, kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor other, especially when they are not around. Love is not self-seeking, easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs or delight in evil. Love rejoices in the truth, always protects, trusts, hopes and preservers. Ultimately love never fails.
This book is written for women that want to have a healthy relationship with their husband and be sure they are solid in their faithfulness as well. You will be challenged to love your husband for who he really is rather than what you want him to become. That might be the fastest way to get the husband you want. She takes a look at leadership roles, handling conflict and communicating with respect. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “Marriage is a symphony of grace orchestrated by an almighty God, reflecting His love to mankind.”
The real challenge is always if you are willing to be the kind of wife your husband needs you to be. Respect, affection and friendship will give you the opportunity to seize the day and capture the joy God wants you to enjoy in your marriage. The book closes with some interesting reflections on Psalm 31 and a challenge to pray for your marriage.
Though the book is sure to be challenging at time it is written with the wisdom of experience through the valleys and mountaintops of marriage.
Describing love as a feeling that can come quickly and disappear just ask quickly the challenge is roll up our sleeves and get to work when the going gets tough. Marriage isn’t about keeping score and keeping records but about the loves that heals even the wounds of the heart. When we allow ourselves to be drawn away with our lusts we open the door for Satan to use that to drive a wedge in our marriage and he is willing to deceive us to open that door a little wider. The way of God is not a common way of life in our world and we must be prepared to do things God’s way.
Do you have a tendency to have to be right all the time? Love means we give up that right to be right. Love is patient, kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor other, especially when they are not around. Love is not self-seeking, easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs or delight in evil. Love rejoices in the truth, always protects, trusts, hopes and preservers. Ultimately love never fails.
This book is written for women that want to have a healthy relationship with their husband and be sure they are solid in their faithfulness as well. You will be challenged to love your husband for who he really is rather than what you want him to become. That might be the fastest way to get the husband you want. She takes a look at leadership roles, handling conflict and communicating with respect. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “Marriage is a symphony of grace orchestrated by an almighty God, reflecting His love to mankind.”
The real challenge is always if you are willing to be the kind of wife your husband needs you to be. Respect, affection and friendship will give you the opportunity to seize the day and capture the joy God wants you to enjoy in your marriage. The book closes with some interesting reflections on Psalm 31 and a challenge to pray for your marriage.
Though the book is sure to be challenging at time it is written with the wisdom of experience through the valleys and mountaintops of marriage.
October 21, 2014
"Messy Beautiful Love" delivers an incredible testimony of grace that offers hope for today's marriages and a spark for rekindling love.
Love gets messy.
Financial problems, sickness, aging parents, a chronically unhappy spouse . . . trials will inevitably come that threaten your marriage. No matter how long you've been married or how strong your relationship is, sooner or later you are going to have a mess to clean up.
"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.
When you surrender your relationship to God, then and only then will you experience the blessing of marriage as He intended. This is the blessing of obedience. "Messy Beautiful Love" is an invitation to that obedience. The cynical world says marriages don't last, but God knows better. Tune out the world and tune in to Him. When you do that, a beautiful marriage is not only possible, it's inevitable.
-- My review. If you have NEVER ever heard Darlene's story you MUST. Not because you need to be nosy. Because it is amazing what God can do, if you let him work. Darlene is one of the neatest ladies I know. This book is SUCH a blessing! This is going to be a book club in November on Women Living Well (www.womenlivingwell.org) and I encourage you to get your copy and join in! I know I am.. I have already read the book, but I know I can go over it and over it.
I could tell you what she says in here, but there would never be enough time in the day. I cried, I laughed, I couldn't get enough. At times I had to put it down, get on my knees and say thank you God for sending me this book, or confess something that I knew God was sending me this book to convict me of something at that moment.
Yes, please do read it. Join in the book club. Give copies! Read it over and over! Be blessed!
I received a copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
Love gets messy.
Financial problems, sickness, aging parents, a chronically unhappy spouse . . . trials will inevitably come that threaten your marriage. No matter how long you've been married or how strong your relationship is, sooner or later you are going to have a mess to clean up.
"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.
When you surrender your relationship to God, then and only then will you experience the blessing of marriage as He intended. This is the blessing of obedience. "Messy Beautiful Love" is an invitation to that obedience. The cynical world says marriages don't last, but God knows better. Tune out the world and tune in to Him. When you do that, a beautiful marriage is not only possible, it's inevitable.
-- My review. If you have NEVER ever heard Darlene's story you MUST. Not because you need to be nosy. Because it is amazing what God can do, if you let him work. Darlene is one of the neatest ladies I know. This book is SUCH a blessing! This is going to be a book club in November on Women Living Well (www.womenlivingwell.org) and I encourage you to get your copy and join in! I know I am.. I have already read the book, but I know I can go over it and over it.
I could tell you what she says in here, but there would never be enough time in the day. I cried, I laughed, I couldn't get enough. At times I had to put it down, get on my knees and say thank you God for sending me this book, or confess something that I knew God was sending me this book to convict me of something at that moment.
Yes, please do read it. Join in the book club. Give copies! Read it over and over! Be blessed!
I received a copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
September 26, 2014
I was given the wonderful opportunity to be a part of christian author, Darlene Schacht's launch team for her new book "Messy Beautiful Love". I was given her new e-book and pre-order freebies complimentary for blog and social media review.
I have learned so much with what I've read so far in her book-Messy Beautiful Love. I am not perfect and neither is my marriage, but I know if I read this book slowly and apply it; I can have a different approach and attitude to my marriage and can make it better and stronger.
I love how Darlene shares personal experiences-good and bad-to make her points clear and to use as examples. I love that at the end of every chapter she offers CHALLENGES.
Here is one of the challenges as an example:
"Learn to follow the voice of wisdom and tune out the cries of the flesh. The next time that you are feeling angry, pouty, or frustrated, resolve to handle your emotions in a way that is pleasing to God. Be willing to walk in humility when it's required of you, and make choices that will unite you and your husband as a couple and draw you closer to God."
This book can help you grow stronger as a couple and as a christian individual if you allow it and if you open your heart to positive changes and forgiveness. I know it's hard! Sometime I feel very negative and feel like giving up when I feel justified in my anger towards my husband, or feel like I'm the only one that's trying to help our marriage or grow more spiritually. But I keep going forward every day and books like this one help me want to be better and help me stay more positive and make better life changes.
I have learned so much with what I've read so far in her book-Messy Beautiful Love. I am not perfect and neither is my marriage, but I know if I read this book slowly and apply it; I can have a different approach and attitude to my marriage and can make it better and stronger.
I love how Darlene shares personal experiences-good and bad-to make her points clear and to use as examples. I love that at the end of every chapter she offers CHALLENGES.
Here is one of the challenges as an example:
"Learn to follow the voice of wisdom and tune out the cries of the flesh. The next time that you are feeling angry, pouty, or frustrated, resolve to handle your emotions in a way that is pleasing to God. Be willing to walk in humility when it's required of you, and make choices that will unite you and your husband as a couple and draw you closer to God."
This book can help you grow stronger as a couple and as a christian individual if you allow it and if you open your heart to positive changes and forgiveness. I know it's hard! Sometime I feel very negative and feel like giving up when I feel justified in my anger towards my husband, or feel like I'm the only one that's trying to help our marriage or grow more spiritually. But I keep going forward every day and books like this one help me want to be better and help me stay more positive and make better life changes.
September 17, 2014
Every marriage goes through peaks and valleys. We have all know joy and experienced heartbreak on some level. It's only by grace and forgiveness that we solider on but there are many that choose not to weather the tough times as demonstrated by our high divorce rate. Some say certain things are unforgivable but often marriages that survive the unthinkable come out on the other side even stronger. Darlene Schacht is very candid about her own struggles in Messy Beautiful Love. The title alone adequately describes real marriage!
I was actually taken by surprise in the beginning when Schacht was so forthcoming about her own shortcomings and contributions to her marriage issues. I'm so used to reading things where it's always the other person's fault! It's really unique to read from a perspective of someone saying "here is where I failed and this is what I did about it."
I am impressed by how open she is an that immediately drew me in and made me want to read more. Sometimes it's hard to be that open but when you show such vulnerability and honesty, people want to hear what you had to say. Chapter one sucked me in and I could not put this book down.
I loved Schacht's perspectives and takes on marriage and it's natural problems. It's all in how you handle them and not JUST how your spouse handles them.
Messy Beautiful Love is a really wonderful story about the ugliness of marriage but also it's beauty, when you are willing to do the work! It will inspire you, encourage you and make you want to work on your marriage!
I was actually taken by surprise in the beginning when Schacht was so forthcoming about her own shortcomings and contributions to her marriage issues. I'm so used to reading things where it's always the other person's fault! It's really unique to read from a perspective of someone saying "here is where I failed and this is what I did about it."
I am impressed by how open she is an that immediately drew me in and made me want to read more. Sometimes it's hard to be that open but when you show such vulnerability and honesty, people want to hear what you had to say. Chapter one sucked me in and I could not put this book down.
I loved Schacht's perspectives and takes on marriage and it's natural problems. It's all in how you handle them and not JUST how your spouse handles them.
Messy Beautiful Love is a really wonderful story about the ugliness of marriage but also it's beauty, when you are willing to do the work! It will inspire you, encourage you and make you want to work on your marriage!
September 17, 2014
Messy Beautiful Love is a real, authentic look at what it takes to make your marriage work in a Christ-centred way. Steeped in personal experience and snapshots of Darlene's life, this book is funny, charming and challenging all at the same time.
One of the most powerful aspects of the book is its honesty. Darlene starts with a story that is straight from her own real life- a situation that may well have fallen completely apart had it not been for the transforming power of forgiveness and God-given grace. Darlene's personal tale shows that anything is possible with God, but that doesn't always come easily, especially when there are emotions and other people involved. However, the point of the book is to show that obedience to the Lord is worth it, and there is nothing outside of God's redeeming grace.
This book is for you if marriage is anywhere on your radar. If you are married, engaged, hoping to be married, praying for a husband, then this book is for you.
If you are in a marriage in trouble, this book is for you. If your married life is presently content, this book is still for you.
Because, life is hard. And even though we have good days, and weeks, and months, we do not live without trial. Some days, we need all the help we can get.
This book will bring you biblical insights, challenges and prayers to help strengthen your marriage. It’s food for thought and it’s an urge to change and to keep Christ at the centre of marriage.
One of the most powerful aspects of the book is its honesty. Darlene starts with a story that is straight from her own real life- a situation that may well have fallen completely apart had it not been for the transforming power of forgiveness and God-given grace. Darlene's personal tale shows that anything is possible with God, but that doesn't always come easily, especially when there are emotions and other people involved. However, the point of the book is to show that obedience to the Lord is worth it, and there is nothing outside of God's redeeming grace.
This book is for you if marriage is anywhere on your radar. If you are married, engaged, hoping to be married, praying for a husband, then this book is for you.
If you are in a marriage in trouble, this book is for you. If your married life is presently content, this book is still for you.
Because, life is hard. And even though we have good days, and weeks, and months, we do not live without trial. Some days, we need all the help we can get.
This book will bring you biblical insights, challenges and prayers to help strengthen your marriage. It’s food for thought and it’s an urge to change and to keep Christ at the centre of marriage.
September 3, 2014
Love isn’t always pretty. It can be messy, stressful, and heartbreaking. But God can clean up the messes you’ve made and turn your marriage into the beautiful thing He designed it to be.
The author, well known for her blog Time-Warp Wife, has written from the heart to bring wives a message of hope. She shares candidly of her own experiences and failures, but also of her triumphs and faith. The style of writing is like sitting down with a friend or mentor. It’s honest, funny, convicting, and inspiring. I loved the stories she shared about her own family. It made the points more real for me. Each chapter focuses on a common issue that marriages have. The scripture and personal aspects make the topics easier to grasp and relate to. Even though I don’t struggle with some of the points she made, I was able to take a lot from the book and would highly recommend this book.
I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review.
The author, well known for her blog Time-Warp Wife, has written from the heart to bring wives a message of hope. She shares candidly of her own experiences and failures, but also of her triumphs and faith. The style of writing is like sitting down with a friend or mentor. It’s honest, funny, convicting, and inspiring. I loved the stories she shared about her own family. It made the points more real for me. Each chapter focuses on a common issue that marriages have. The scripture and personal aspects make the topics easier to grasp and relate to. Even though I don’t struggle with some of the points she made, I was able to take a lot from the book and would highly recommend this book.
I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review.
September 20, 2014
As a culture the world tells us that as long as we haven't committed any so-called huge sins against our spouse (or even just in how we live our lives) that we're okay. We can just skimp by, especially when our spouse isn't holding up their end of the bargain.
This book is written by a woman who has been transparent enough with “painful honesty” to share her sin, and remind me that there is so much more to daily honoring my husband in ways that the world may see as little but God sees as obedient and sacrificial.
Is this book perfect? Maybe not. But a perfect book would just bring us to shame. I think instead the author is asking us to come to our knees and seek the One who sees the best in us, in our spouse, and in a marriage He wants to be a picture to the world of Christ’s love for the Church.
This book is written by a woman who has been transparent enough with “painful honesty” to share her sin, and remind me that there is so much more to daily honoring my husband in ways that the world may see as little but God sees as obedient and sacrificial.
Is this book perfect? Maybe not. But a perfect book would just bring us to shame. I think instead the author is asking us to come to our knees and seek the One who sees the best in us, in our spouse, and in a marriage He wants to be a picture to the world of Christ’s love for the Church.
September 16, 2014
I didn't know what to expect before I "opened" this book. There are so many Bible-based books about marriage out there! Would this one be honest enough for me? Would it convict and challenge me?
Messy Beautiful Love is different. Beginning Chapter 1 I knew I could trust Darlene. She writes about the low point of her marriage. It's raw and vulnerable. I loved this. By sharing something so personal with her readers Darlene has made me feel like she is a real person with real feelings and struggles.
Another part of the book I enjoyed were the challenges. It's one thing to read about what a good marriage should look like, and quite another to try it out for yourself.
I really enjoyed experiencing, Messy Beautiful Love. I look forward to reading it again, more in depth this week! I will update this review once I read through it again.
Bottom line: highly recommended!
Messy Beautiful Love is different. Beginning Chapter 1 I knew I could trust Darlene. She writes about the low point of her marriage. It's raw and vulnerable. I loved this. By sharing something so personal with her readers Darlene has made me feel like she is a real person with real feelings and struggles.
Another part of the book I enjoyed were the challenges. It's one thing to read about what a good marriage should look like, and quite another to try it out for yourself.
I really enjoyed experiencing, Messy Beautiful Love. I look forward to reading it again, more in depth this week! I will update this review once I read through it again.
Bottom line: highly recommended!
September 30, 2014
**I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review**
I've been a fan of the Time-Warp Wife via Facebook and her blog page for a while now, and reading this book cemented that fandom. I will now be her fan for life!!
When I read the first chapter, where her husband confronted her and she confessed her affair, it was like reading my own story--including knowing that, with the grace and forgiveness of God,they worked through it and stayed together, stronger than before.
Every chapter in this book is filled with great advice and insight into being the wife God wants us to be. My copy is full of blue highlighter marks where things touched my heart. While I was aware of the Bible verses she quotes, her take on how to live them is often fresh and informative.
I would recommend this to any woman who wants to have a God-centered marriage.
I've been a fan of the Time-Warp Wife via Facebook and her blog page for a while now, and reading this book cemented that fandom. I will now be her fan for life!!
When I read the first chapter, where her husband confronted her and she confessed her affair, it was like reading my own story--including knowing that, with the grace and forgiveness of God,they worked through it and stayed together, stronger than before.
Every chapter in this book is filled with great advice and insight into being the wife God wants us to be. My copy is full of blue highlighter marks where things touched my heart. While I was aware of the Bible verses she quotes, her take on how to live them is often fresh and informative.
I would recommend this to any woman who wants to have a God-centered marriage.
April 8, 2015
It doesn't matter if you have a strong marriage or if your marriage is having problems. This book is worth reading! I love the way Darlene wrote this book. Sharing what she has been through in her own marriage and reminding her readers about what the Bible says about marriage. She has made me think about the kind of wife I want to be towards my husband. A loving wife. A forgiving wife. The kind of wife that is willing to say "I'm sorry". The kind of wife that a husband looks forward to coming home to after a long day at work. A Godly wife. Her book has been a remind of what love really is in a marriage.She taught me the difference between Agape love and Phileo love. Since the start of her book I have been trying my best to be a better wife for my husband. To be there when he needs me. To be an encouragement to him. I'm thankful for this book and for Darlene.
February 12, 2015
Only novels and movies make marriage happily ever. The truth is far from it. Marriages are often rough rides through uncharted badlands interspersed with valleys of great beauty and peace. The rough spots can be made a lot smoother when you follow God's recipes for husbands and wives.
Darlene begins her book with a shocking admission, one that could have torn her marriage to Michael Schacht but instead lifts it into the realms of God-given grace. It wouldn't have happened if the two of them hadn't been listening to God--especially Michael. His reaction was anything but the expected one.
It's a challenge. Doing things God's way isn't usually easy. A radmap through the badlands would be a good thing. Amazingly, this book does a pretty fair job of providing just that.
Darlene begins her book with a shocking admission, one that could have torn her marriage to Michael Schacht but instead lifts it into the realms of God-given grace. It wouldn't have happened if the two of them hadn't been listening to God--especially Michael. His reaction was anything but the expected one.
It's a challenge. Doing things God's way isn't usually easy. A radmap through the badlands would be a good thing. Amazingly, this book does a pretty fair job of providing just that.
June 5, 2016
Perhaps written to wives, but enlightening to husbands--a great read.
When I acquired this book, I didn't realize that it was a book on Christian marriage written to WIVES. But having started to read it, I couldn't put it down. It was instructional, enlightening, motivating and uplifting to me as a husband. It was great to read about the importance of marriage--particularly one centered on God--from the perspective of the wife. The book conveyed an honesty and humility that gave its author and her work credibility. I consider my time reading this book time well-spent. I recommend it to anyone who seeks to be a better spouse and to improve his or her marriage relations.
When I acquired this book, I didn't realize that it was a book on Christian marriage written to WIVES. But having started to read it, I couldn't put it down. It was instructional, enlightening, motivating and uplifting to me as a husband. It was great to read about the importance of marriage--particularly one centered on God--from the perspective of the wife. The book conveyed an honesty and humility that gave its author and her work credibility. I consider my time reading this book time well-spent. I recommend it to anyone who seeks to be a better spouse and to improve his or her marriage relations.
September 17, 2014
From the moment I picked up “Messy Beautiful Love” and began reading, I could not put it down! Chapter after chapter provided new insights and learnings about what it means to have Christ at the center of marriage and truly love one-another unconditionally. In Darlene’s new book, she pulls back the curtains of false perfection, leaves the mess out and invites us into the reality of being a Christian wife in a society which is striving every day to redefine the very meaning of marriage. Darlene is open and honest and transparent as she shares with her readers the messy beautiful love of her own marriage. Truly the most real marriage resource I have read, and will read again and again.
February 17, 2015
I love Darlene's brutal honesty in this book. Marriage and relationships are messy and take a lot of work, but they are so worth it. During the craziness of life we as humans and sinners have no problem making things worse when we become disenchanted with our spouse or expect miracles that only God can grant.
Darlene's book gives us a glimpse into her marriage and life with honesty that is so forthcoming. She gives us practical and Biblical guidelines to help us work through and appreciate the spouse and marriage that God has blessed us with no matter how mundane or messy it might be on a daily basis.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more from Darlene.
Darlene's book gives us a glimpse into her marriage and life with honesty that is so forthcoming. She gives us practical and Biblical guidelines to help us work through and appreciate the spouse and marriage that God has blessed us with no matter how mundane or messy it might be on a daily basis.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more from Darlene.
October 17, 2014
A must read for all wives!
I was presented with a thirty-one day prayer challenge, with this book being the focus... I decided it couldn't hurt after all prayer is a must in all areas of our lives...
I began reading and was pleasantly surprised at the challenges, the mistakes, the feelings, the thoughts... so much like my own. so ladies if you're struggling in marriage or if you're in honeymoon bliss this book is a must....
I was presented with a thirty-one day prayer challenge, with this book being the focus... I decided it couldn't hurt after all prayer is a must in all areas of our lives...
I began reading and was pleasantly surprised at the challenges, the mistakes, the feelings, the thoughts... so much like my own. so ladies if you're struggling in marriage or if you're in honeymoon bliss this book is a must....
November 25, 2014
I read this as a part of Women Living Well's book study. The study guide was helpful but the blog wasn't so much. It was nice to share but not many people responded to the posts. I sometimes felt like the posts and the readings weren't connected. I did enjoy the book though and it has really led me to look at my marriage differently. I hope to continue using what I've learned to support my marriage even more.
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