The premise of this book is that we as Christians are not living and serving to our potential because our theology is limited or non-existent. It talks about the fact that many women steer away from "theology" because it has been presented as something only for men, or is so stuffy and academic as not being of any value to us women who live day-to-day in "real life." As I started reading this book I really liked it too.

The author starts out in the introduction talking about how she was in the first class to allow women into the PCA seminary (not sure how many years ago this was) and in her theology class was hit with a back handed comment that there were no great women theologians. Implying that theology was not a subject for women. This irked her, but at the time she had nothing to combat that with, because she truly could not think of any women theologians. As she began to grow and learn, though, she came to determine that theology "is really a matter of knowing God." She goes on to say that "Since Theology is really about knowing God, then anyone who believes anything about God is a theologian of sorts." She goes on to say that theology is at the heart of what it means to be a woman (particually because this book is about her journey in discovering that theology is essential for women and not a topic to be feared and avoided by women) but truly theology -- knowing God -- is essential for every Christian.

When we are in a spot where we are asking "Why? Why me?" that is when our theology is being tested. What we believe about God is going to carry us through and make us stronger or we are going to be cast by the side of the road, bloodied and bruised and turning our backs on God. OR we will plod forward, like a whipped pup, saying "I must have deserved that," and seeing God as a stern disciplinarian that is not approachable, or not one you want to approach.

One thing that stood out for me in the introduction to the book was when she commented that her journey into discovering theology (true theology) for herself showed her that she had lived her life interested in God for what He could do for her and not simply getting to know Him. That hit home. What is my prayer life like, but too often taking my wants, needs and concerns to Him to fix. How much time do I spend simply being in His presence and getting to know Him better?? How many of my relationships would last if I only went to that person when I needed something from them? If I had simply "used" my best friend in high school and not spent loads of time with her just being with her for who she was and enjoying her company, would be still be talking, visiting and calling each other "sisters"? NO! No one likes to be used.

Are you simply using God?

The author goes on to talk about how theology is too often presented academically, and it doesn't meet people where they are at. Women's lives are so full (of course in our day and age it is not only women who are busy) that they don't have time for something that doesn't seem to meet them where they are at and have any relevancy to their daily living. Amen!

She also warns that there is no quick or easy way to deepen our relationship with God. Like with any relationship, it takes time, devotion and sacrifice. I immediately thought of marriage. You spend time getting to know someone before you agree to marry him. No matter how much time you spend, though, you don't truly get to know someone until you are married and living with him. Isn't it amazing that someone you thought you knew so well turns out that you hardly knew them at all once the wedding is over! But at that point it takes choosing to love, stay in love, work and sacrifice to build that marriage into something that will hold up. AND it takes that effort on both parties. One can't do it alone, but two can't do it without God. I look at many marriages and I wonder about their relationships. I guess it works for them because they are still together, but sometimes I wonder if they aren't just comfortable with the situation and would rather not be alone or starting over. My marriage hasn't always been easy, but in sticking through the tough times we have arrived at a spot where we are comfortable and content. We see things much the same, have the same goals, though not always agreeing on how to accomplish them. We have the same interests. We prefer spending time together than with others. We do enjoy spending time with close friends together (other married couples that we are largely in agreement with). Hubby has taken up golf in order to stay connected to me and our son when we took it up a few years ago. At first he wasn't interested and resisted, but eventually I think he began feeling left out. I wasn't interested in trapping at first, but by going to the Trapper's Convention I caught an interest too. There are still individual interests that we don't share -- hubby does woodworking and I do journaling. But there has to be some individuality or it isn't a healthy relationship. When hubby was working, he made choices that meant less money or less opportunity because he didn't want to take any more time away from our family. He took vacation time so we could do things as family and some more time for just him and me. It takes work to keep feeding a relationship.  It means choosing to put the other person first.  There are times I'd rather be reading or cross stitching or crocheting, but when it's important to hubby that I do something with him, I lay those things aside.  It means choosing to stay in that relationship and keep loving that person.

How much time do you put into your relationship with God? A quick prayer in the morning? A prayer you fall asleep in the middle of before bed? Arrow prayers during the day when you find yourself in trouble? It is not enough to know about God. You must know God in your heart. This means learning about Him and experiencing Him, experiencing the truths of His Word.

I'd like to close with a quote from the book.

"Real theologians are those whose hearts are captivated by God Himself, who cling to the truth in life, who humbly kneel to adore Him, and whose lives are transformed by what they have learned."