Branson Retreat

What a great group of women from Tulsa! We met together in Branson, MO in April 2008 to experience "The Intentional Woman Finds Relief" in an intimate setting. Then Women's Ministry Director, Christy Thornton, and several others read and "played" through The Relief of Imperfection and the "Relief Guides" during the summer months.

Comments following:

• "A read-again book”
• "This book was liberating”
• " It helped me to accept my own failures and mistakes, and to realize that others do too”
• “I have such high expectations of myself. This book helped me to go easier on myself.”
• The Lord ministered to me through "The Relief of Imperfect Churches and Culture section." I was reminded once again about the power and priority of forgiveness. When I choose to forgive through Christ’s strength, I am truly liberated. Thank you for that reminder!

March Book Winners!

Flowers in the Arizona Desert!

A few days ago my husband Richard snapped this photo while we took a Sunday afternoon drive into the mountains. The flowers in the desert this year are lovely. When they are brilliant like this, it always reminds me of a child pressing hard to color her page with all the bright crayons in the box. I think God loves to colorthe landscape!

I'm pleased to announce the winners of the MARCH book drawing. Today I'm mailing them a copy of The Relief of Imperfection. The winners are Kathy Bjorklund of West St. Paul, Minnesota and Linda Carlblom of Chandler, Arizona.

Kathy entered the "Relief" Give-away by sending me an email from the CONTACT US page on www.reliefofimperfection.com.

Linda entered the "Relief" Give-way by texting JOAN to 23907.

How about you? Want to win an autographed copy of my recently-released book, The Relief of Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It Just Right? YES? Okay, then send me an email via www.reliefofimperfection.com OR post a comment to this blog message OR text JOAN to 23907. Then you'll automatically be entered in the April FREE BOOK CONTEST.

Special congratulations to sisters Annika, Kirsten, and Lesia Rasmussen for winning the "Relief" Basket Give-Away during my recent book signing at Amazing Grace Christian Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona. Fellow-authors Marsha Crockett (www.marshacrockett.com) and Kitty Chappell (www.kittychappell.com) signed their new releases that day, also. Marsha is the author of Break Through from NavPress and Kitty is the author of Good Mews from Thomas Nelson.

FUN MEMORIES: Atlanta Women's Retreat

Hi!

I have such great memories of my time at Camp Pinnacle (in the near the Georgian/North Carolina border--lovely place!) with the "intentional women" from Gainesville, Georgia. I think of each of you and smile. At our Saturday night dinner in the beautiful old home, I snapped some photos and I want to share them with you all.

I know some of the women didn't come to the dinner, so you're not in these photos. Bummer. We missed you. But you were enjoying dinner somewhere else.

I hope you are all enjoying working through The Intentional Woman workbook with your groups. I'd love to hear from you. You can post a comment on this blog or send me an email via the CONTACT US page on http://www.reliefofimperfection.com/

Relief blessings,

Joan

Online Book Review of The Relief of Imperfection

Thank you to Deena Peterson, great online book reviewer for her recent glowing review of The Relief of Imperfection. Visit her at http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/ to view her A Peek at My Bookshelf site. Read her "fun" book review of The Relief of Imperfection. Here it is:

I don't know about you, but I enjoy reading books that help me see things more clearly, give me direction, and rely heavily on Scripture to guide me. I realize the Bible is more than sufficient, but sometimes reading an author's thoughts puts things in perspective. . .

I've spent so many years of my life, performing and obeying for approval. Working myself to death for a morsel of self-acceptance, delivered by someone else to me. Striving to put forth the image of the woman who has it all together.

Honestly, if I did have it all together, I'd set it down somewhere and forget where it was! Once that soaked in to my soul, the pretense was gone (for the most part) and real life settled in.

I still struggle with perfection, which was why I was so grateful to receive a copy of "The Relief of Imperfection" by Joan C. Webb. Joan uses real life anecdotes and Scripture to reveal the joy of our imperfection is His perfection revealed in us.

Her book is divided into multiple sections for personal or small group study, beginning with "Preparing for Relief...What's Wrong with Perfection"? Yes, dear reader friends...we have to prepare ourselves to be imperfect.

When you begin to read, you realize just how ingrained it is in us to put out the "June Cleaver" mom, the "Donna Reed" wife, and the "Martha Stewart" homemaker. But Joan's wisdom and insight slowly unshackles us from those heavy yokes and sets us free to be. . .

Well, us! And it feels weird at first, to just be yourself in Jesus...but you get used to it!

Joan's message is serious and intense, but her writing style is laced with humor. Just take a look at some chapter titles: "I Was Perfect Once, But I Didn't Like It Much"; "When Playing God Is No Longer My Best Role".

Now, I highly recommend that you read this book with your Bible, a journal and a highlighter nearby. Of course, you have total and complete freedom to read this book how it suits you...isn't that GREAT!!

So, I'm giving "The Relief of Imperfection" six out of five bookmarks, with a tiny mirror as a charm...it's time we got to know ourselves through Jesus' eyes, and not our own...or the eyes of others.

Thanks, Joan! You're perfectly imperfect!! LOL!! Love ya!

Happy Reading!

Deena

P.S. Joan has offered TWO copies of her book as giveaways. So visit my website, A Peek at my Bookshelf, at http://www.deenasbooks.blogspot.com/ and read the review for The Relief of Imperfection and I'll pick a winner on March 15th!!

Valentine's Day 2008

Happy Valentine's Day 2008!

It's Love Day! And my birthday. It's a BIG one for me, but I'm not telling which one. I had a great day today. It wasn't "perfect" because my husband was out of town, but it was wonderful. Sounds like The Relief of Imperfection! (Remember--Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful!)

Hey, I've been celebrating my birthday for weeks, ever since the "Relief" Book Launch on January 19 when my daughter Lynnette, son-in-law Adam, son Rich, and daughter-in-law Anne surprised me with a special memory book filled with notes, letters and well wishes from over 50 friends, colleagues, and family members sharing funny stories and birthday greetings. It warms my heart every time I read these messages. I'm a grateful woman!

Here's some photos of that celebration night.

Above photo: My daughter-in-law Anne Webb giving me the Birthday Memory Book!

The 2nd photo includes (right to left) our son Rich, then daughter Lynnette Rasmussen, then my husband Richard, me (Joan) in the middle, and my friend Patty Parker (we've been friends since grade school and she was in our wedding) and Patty's husband Frank Fara. Patty and Frank are in the music business (check out http://www.comstockrecords.com/).

3rd Photo: The Relief of Imperfection book table with my friend of twenty years Sue Theobald (on the left) who came all the way from Minnesota to Arizona to celebrate with us. On the right is Lisa Gifford (and her husband Bruce.) Lisa has one of the 35 stories of "relief" in The Relief of Imperfection. She and I are working together on some "Relief of Imperfection" projects. Kneeling down in front of the table with her back turned to the camera is Lynn Bragelman, the winner of the "Relief" basket give away.

Thank you to all of you who came out to The Relief of Imperfection Book Launch Celebration. And thank you to all of you who wrote personal Happy Birthday greetings for my Memory Book. You are part of the joy of my birthday this year. I'm smiling here!

He's In Love With Me!

Several years ago while enjoying a few days away on retreat, I listened to some background music while I ate breakfast. To the peaceful strumming of a guitar, the soloist sang the following words: "God is in love with his people. God is in love with me."

Tears filled my eyes. "What a relief-producing idea!" I thought. Immediately my longing heart felt bathed with hope. Then a disturbing question threatened my contentment: "But is this true?" When I returned to my room, I searched my Bible for an affirmation. "The Lord appeared. . . saying, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love,'" I read.

"It's true," I whispered. God is in love with me. And God is in love with you, too. Maybe you'd like to write these words on a sticky note and put it on your computer monitor, car visor, or bathroom mirror to remind you daily of God's constantly active love for you. For time immemorial He has loved you and me.

Winner of January Free Book Drawing: Karla Patrick

Congrats to Karla Patrick of Cambridge, Minnesota! Karla won the January Free Book Drawing for an autographed copy of The Relief of Imperfection.

When notified that she had won the January drawing, Karla said, "Wonderful!! Thanks so much. I look forward to reading it. I really need it this week! :-)

In the photo above, Karla and I smile at the camera when I visited Cambridge, MN. Enjoy reading through The Relief of Imperfection, Karla. May you find "glimpses of relief" in these pages. Thanks for signing up for this January drawing.

Maybe you will be the winner of the February drawing. Visit http://www.reliefofimperfection.com/ and send me an email request to be entered in the February drawing by clicking on the words CONTACT US on the left hand side of the HOME page. Then fill out the form and hit send and you'll be entered. I'd love to hear from you.