She Did What She Could: Five Words of Jesus That Will Change Your Life

by Elisa Morgan

Most of us care. We really do. We care about poverty and injustice, about orphans and the sick. And yet, weighed down by the everyday load of bringing home a paycheck, putting food on the table, and taking care of our family demands, we question our ability to make a difference. Bombarded by one celebrity help-the-world-athon after another, we shrug our shoulders in futility and do absolutely nothing. Enter SDWSC. Based on the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume in Mark 14, SDWSC provides overwhelmed, yet service-seeking, significance-starved readers a realistic response to the seemingly unmeetable needs around us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality, Faith

144 pages, Hardcover

First published August 22, 2009

About the author

Elisa Morgan was named by Christianity Today as one of the top 50 women influencing today's church and culture, and she's a sought-after author, speaker, and leader. She has authored more than 25 books on mothering, spiritual formation, and evangelism, including The Beauty of Broken, Hello, Beauty Full, She Did What She Could, and The NIV Mom's Devotional Bible.

For 20 years, Elisa served as the CEO of MOPS International (www.mops.org). Under her leadership, MOPS grew from 350 groups to more than 4,000 groups throughout the United States and in 30 other countries, influencing more than 100,000 moms every year. Elisa now serves as president emerita of MOPS.

Elisa received a BS from the University of Texas and an MDiv from Denver Seminary. She served as the dean of women at Western Bible College (now Colorado Christian University) and on the board of ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability). Currently she serves on the board of Denver Seminary.

Elisa is a cohost of the syndicated radio program Discover the Word (www.discovertheword.org), a daily 15-minute real-time conversation around the living Word of God. She is married to Evan (the senior vice president of global ministry efforts for Our Daily Bread Ministries) and has two grown children and two grandchildren who live near her in Denver, Colorado. Wilson and Darla, her two rottweilers, take her on walks in the open space behind her house.

Connect with Elisa at www.elisamorgan.com. You can sign up for her blog, Really, at her website or by texting the word REALLY to 22828.

You can keep in touch with Elisa in the following ways:

Instagram: Elisa Morgan, Author
Facebook: Elisa Morgan, Author
Twitter: @elisa­_morgan

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had just read a devotion with those five words when I saw this little book sticking out of a shelf in a used bookstore. The book was just what I needed and went along well with the current Bible study I'm doing. The relief of thinking we're not meant to have to do it all, but to do what we can with what we have. I loved it!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read that will encourage you in your own faith walk. Too often we make compassion difficult and complicated. This book looks at the simplicity of compassion by focusing you on what you could do with what you have right now at your disposal. It's beauty is in its simplicity. I don't consider this the end game for compassion but it is a decent starter. It can open the heart to the possibility of generosity which can usher in a generous spirit. The caveat here is that if this is not grounding in a relationship with God, it could lead to a works mentality. Compassion demands action is the basic principle of this book, and that goes without argument. However, striving to be compassionate enough or to do enough with what you have to earn a reward is not the goal. Nowhere is that implied but the values of our cultures could lead someone down that path if they are not careful.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief but impactful book focusing on the story Mary who washed Jesus' feet and his response. A great reminder that God has gifted us all in different ways, instilled various passions, and given a variety of opportunities. While the content isn't necessarily new, the approach and the life stories shared are encouraging. A great gift book for others.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the beginning of this book and the whole idea of embracing and acting on what you can do is encouraging and liberating.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A relationship with Jesus results in a response.”
This book shines the light on why we do what we do in our Chicktime chapters.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiring book!

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and short but a good, encouraging exposition into the story of the woman with the alabaster jar, and what it might mean for us today to do what we can.

[Lee Nienhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read. Simple and profound.

[Amber Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good message.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book and I want to begin my review with a question...okay...a series of questions.

Have you ever watched a program on TV about a situation or group of people in some sort of need and just felt your heart breaking for them? Have you sat through a special speaker at your church or an event who reaches out to people who are sick or living in poverty beyond our comprehension? Have you walked away with a passion to help only to have it fizzle out when you realized how overwhelming the task of helping truly is?

In this book, Elisa Morgan will grab your heart stings and show you how you CAN help...you CAN do something to change the world. It all begins with a simple story of a lady in the Bible who did what she could.

She Did What She Could is all about doing the simple things to help others out of the love you have for Christ. My favorite quote in this book is found on page 64: "Let even your deficits be your offering."

So many of us can come up with a long list of why we can't do anything or why we are not good at some many things. But the point of this book is not about becoming a better person, learning new skills...but rather using the ones we do have...or even as stated above, the ones we don't have to do what we can do. Love others. Serve Christ.

You will put this book down with a renewed sense of hope for what you can do to reach out in simple, little ways. If you have ever wished that you could change the world then this is what you need to read today!

[Lori Henrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

She Did What She Could. Five very powerful words. Elisa Morgan uses these five little words to show all of us that it doesn't take grand gestures to accomplish what God wants us to do. First we need to give ourselves a break. Lay off of the self criticism. We are adequate enough to accomplish what God wants us to do. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Maybe just getting a meal for a homeless person. Giving a little extra tip for a waiter or waitress. Offering to do some simple task for someone in need. It doesn't take alot to make a difference.

If I do what I can; if you do what you can; if we do what we can, imagine what changes could be made in this world. A couple cans of food for a food pantry is something pretty easy to do and is a tremendous help. This book and the examples amongst it pages, challenged me to do more. It is so easy for me to tell myself that I couldn't possibly make a difference, or that I can't do certain things. But I can. I just can't imagine how this world could change if we thought outside of ourselves more and reached out in simple ways to show God's love for others.

It won't take long to read, and it isn't a very expensive book. It does have a very powerful message to everyone. I plan on do my best to do what I can!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved this little book. I received this in the mail from my Mothers of Preschoolers organization (how I love to get a book in the mail!) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The first part of the book the author breaks down this simple sentence that Jesus spoke. He said "she did what she could" to his disciples as they criticized Mary for washing His feet with expensive perfume. I could have easily read over this statement and thought little about it. But it's amazing to understand what it meant in the context of when and where He said this and what it means to me, 2,000 years later.

Which is what the second half of the book is about- doing what you can do, not all you can do or doing it perfectly. I appreciate that the author makes the distinction between merely being a good or moral person and doing something for Jesus. It's not simply doing random acts of kindness for no reason or to feel guilt free, but about believing God loved us so much that you want to love Him back by doing what you can do.

I sometimes have a tendency to not do something because I don't think it's enough or good enough. This book made me think otherwise.

[Becky Littlefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and found it to be an inspirational book that provides motivation to "do what we can" to make a difference in the world and in people's lives. It emphasizes that our efforts do not have to huge and complicated to make a significant impact. We should pay attention to the opportunities we are given each day to lift others and "do what we can" no matter how seemingly insignificant.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So often we think we aren't enough and that we can't really make a difference. This book has challenged me to make a difference where I can...even in something super small (like giving up a close parking space for someone else). I'm going to work on learning to listen more to that instinct from God about what I could do in my day to show love to someone else. This especially starts within my own home.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and sweet but could have been shorter. Interesting and motivating, though...basically, the author dissects the verse about Mary of Bethany who annointed Jesus' feet. She then applies that to modern women and exhorts us to do what we can to make a difference in the world, however small it may seem.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work was totally accessible. The message shared by the author is easily applicable to life as a Christian. Too often, I try to do way too much and am easily tired out and just physically unable to complete all I would like to complete. The words in this book speak to listening for where God is leading, doing the manageable tasks He has for you, and trusting Him for the bigger stuff.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspirational. A quick read. All I need to remember about the book comes from the back cover:

But what if we did...
Something?
Just one thing.
The thing that matters more than anything else in that one solitary moment.

What if we did just that?
What if?

[Nancy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent meditational guide, this little book is packed with a lot of good advice for living a good life and making a difference in the world. It is a Christian guide, but many of the principles of doing good and of helping others cross many religions.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast, thought-provoking read. Makes you want to go out and do something...big or small...just something!

[Jeannette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good concepts; poor delivery

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking and inspiring. Makes you question if YOU are really doing what you could.

[LuAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple but profound!

[Meghann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is good...

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read. A simple book and yet quite profound. If you have an inkling if altruism in you, then you must read this.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea prompting this book was good, but I did not enjoy reading it. Repetitive and choppy.

[Mickey Beerens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life Changing...

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this little book. This is a must read for anyone who gets discouraged because they feel like in order to do something they have to do everything. life-changing material here!

[Jo Kadlecek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great concept for anyone feeling overwhelmed but still wanting to care. We do what we can!

[Coleen Hamilton]

This is an excellent short read book that will change your life on how you view yourself through Christ's eyes. It will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart!