Read Online Praying Circles around Your Marriage Joel Schmidgall Nina Schmidgall Mark and Lora Batterson 0025986354886 Books

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51I39QCYouL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Product details Hardcover 240 pages Publisher Zondervan (February 5, 2019) Language English ISBN-10 0310354889

Praying Circles around Your Marriage Joel Schmidgall Nina Schmidgall Mark and Lora Batterson 0025986354886 Books Reviews

• When I initially signed up to be on the Launch Team for this book, I thought it was going to have a lot of input by Mark Batterson. I knew it was written by Joel & Nina Schmidgall (both marriage counselors) with Mark Batterson. I appreciate Batterson’s writing and was looking forward to his input for my own spiritual growth. I’m not blaming that on anyone but myself for not paying closer attention to the actual authors of this book.
  
  The Schmidgall’s have provided readers with some excellent steps to help those who are just starting out in marriage, struggling in marriage or wanting to strengthen their marriage. As I stated above, both of them are marriage counselors so they have the knowledge and experience to back up what they’ve written about. They want you to understand “What your marriage will become is determined by how you pray.” They teach you Seven Key Prayer Circles for your marriage Vision Circle, Romance Circle, War Circle, Dance Circle, Support Circle, Storm Circle & Legacy Circle. There is absolutely nothing more important or more lasting that you can do for your marriage than praying for it and praying with your spouse about it. I was provided an ARC of this book by HarperCollins Publishers. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
• I’m a big fan of Mark Batterson’s book The Circle Maker, and have enjoyed his other books based on the “circle” theme, including Praying Circles around your Children; so I was interested in another praying circles book.
  Joel and Nina Schmidgall have defined several circles of influence in a marriage, and done an admirable job of explaining each of those circles Vision, Romance, War, Dance, Support, Storm and Legacy in their book Praying Circles around Your Marriage. (Zondervan, 2019). Since the authors are both marriage counselors, they collectively bring a wealth of information about the subject. And then they add in the importance of prayer, so what’s not to like?
  They discuss each of the circles in layman’s terms, and share a lot of how each of the circles, coupled with prayer, has played out in their own marriage.
  Overall I would recommend this book to engaged or recently-married couples; however, I think the cover is slightly misleading. The authors are listed as the Schmidgalls, with Mark Batterson. I really struggled to find much of Batterson in this book other than some references to the authors’ relationship with him, and a few quotes from some of his other books. Then to top it off, when I went to a major etailer to look at info about the book, Mark Batteson is listed as the author. I don’t regret reading the book, but might not have signed up for the launch (and had to purchase the version myself) if I had realized how little of Mark Batterson I would be getting.
  4/5
• Joel & Nina are the real deal. I love the transparency of this book and the practicality of it as well. This wasn't just another book with theories on how to make your spousal relationship incrementally better. It was practical steps you can implement today. Even 18 years into my marriage, this content was helpful and enlightening. Get this book, you won't regret it!
• Praying Circles Around Your Marriage by Joel and Nina Schmidgall with Mark Batterson was the perfect balance of suggestions, tools, and application through stories and prayers.
  
  This couples insight on marriage and prayer will meet and empower you wherever you are in your marriage journey - starting out, struggling, or needing to strengthen. Each chapter is dedicated to the seven prayer circles - vision, war, romance, support, storm, and legacy.
  
  My husband and I read this book simultaneously and discussed as we went. We are now rereading it with our small group at church. I am sure that we’ll read it again and again. This will now be my new go-to wedding {book} gift!
• This is a very well written book IMHO. It is not a quick read, rather it is a workbook-type exercise and immersive guidebook to strengthen a couple's marriage. Both partners need to be willing partners and it is not a quick-fix. While it is a effective guidebook of working through joint goals, expect to work through the chapters over weeks or even months. There is a lot of ideas and concepts that require extensive personal thought, joint discussions and a willingness to pray. If both partners are committed to this process, then you will be similarly rewarded and blessed. ALL couples will find this book helpful, even if you think/assume you already have a good marriage relationship.
• Praying Circles Around Your Marriage isn’t just another marriage book that talks about communication, making time for each other and the importance of listening, though it includes that. Praying Circles Around Your Marriage will meet any couple right where they’re at in their current season of marriage whether seasoned veterans looking to renew their genuine sharing of life or a couple just starting down the road of what marriage is and can be. The Schmidgalls have years and years of pastoral leadership of couples who have experienced everything in marriage and now they share their hard-earned wisdom about prayer in marriage with all of us readers. The stories, recommendations, practical tips and “circles” they devote to the realities of what marriage is and also the potential for what marriage can be make this an extra powerful book to help couples through the adventure of sharing life with someone else. My wife and I are very thankful to have come across Praying Circles Around Your Marriage and encourage all couples to consider how these circles of intentional prayer can help a marriage to grow.