Completely His: Loving Jesus without Limits [Hardcover]

Shannon Ethridge (Author)

Book Description

Series: Loving Jesus Without Limits | Publication Date: June 19, 2007

Let your soul be stirred by an extraordinary love.

What would it be like to know without even a glimmer of doubt that you are loved–truly, passionately, deeply–just as you are? Can you imagine your heart being completely entwined with one whose every word to you reveals tender affection?

When an unimaginable accident forced then-sixteen-year-old Shannon Ethridge to consider if such an intimate, meaningful soul connection was even possible, she discovered this incredible truth:

The Creator of the universe woos and pursues you
with unimaginable passion.
He longs for you to be completely His.

As she reveals, for the first time ever in print, the details of her dramatic, face-to-face encounter with the Lover of her soul, Shannon points the way toward a satisfying, vibrant relationship with Jesus.

Completely His and the companion devotionals in the Loving Jesus Without Limits series combine practical insights with powerful personal stories from women just like you to help you embrace your true worth and lead you into a life of greater joy and purpose than you’ve ever thought possible.

As you catch a glimpse of Christ’s unfathomable love, your own spiritual passion will be awakened and you’ll be inspired to embrace your role as His bride, fully and completely His–without limits.

Why settle for less than the lavish love relationship you’re designed to enjoy?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ethridge, bestselling author of the Every Woman's Battle series, begins this book on God's limitless love by recounting the horrific moment when she accidentally killed a woman while behind the wheel. Ethridge's vivid memory of the sorrow she caused as a new teen driver doesn't stop at the tragedy's harrowing details but focuses on the amazingly gracious forgiveness and affirmation she received from the victim's spouse. So sets the stage for this guide where Ethridge uses generous portions of scripture to convince doubt-ridden, wounded women of their intrinsic worth to God. To demonstrate, she draws upon the spiritual metaphor of a love relationship: falling in love, a tender proposal, the forsaking of all others, love languages, wedding surprises and the tossing of the bouquet. Particularly poignant is when she shares her personal epiphany that God had transformed her greatest stumbling block—that of her previous sexual sins—into the vehicle for demonstrating how God had changed her. Ethridge challenges women to accept the "wedding" gifts from a loving God who offers redemption from the past, resurrection power for today and a heavenly home in eternity. While the book is engaging and soulful, many of Ethridge's personal accounts have been published elsewhere and might feel stale to some loyal readers. (June 19)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Praise for Completely His

“Shannon Ethridge’s life exhibits God’s transforming power.  Her response to tragedy will guide others who struggle through dark valleys, to find the light of hope that is in Christ.” 
–Max Lucado, bestselling author

“When the worst has happened, only time can bring perspective and turn trauma into triumph. Shannon Ethridge is an incredible  woman who has a story to tell and a passion to share. Through experiences that would level most, she has risen as a Lover of Jesus who can speak to the heart of every woman. Completely His calls even the most timid or scarred to a place of deep, sweet relationship with the One who patiently waits for His Beloved to lean in and trust Him. I loved the book. I love Shannon’s heart.”
–Jan Silvious, author of Foolproofing Your Life and Big Girls Don’t Whine

“Insightful and daring, Completely His so challenged me to look at myself honestly and ask ‘Am I all yours, God?’ Shannon is completely vulnerable as she shares a longing for God in every area of her life and a step-by-step example of how to walk with Him in all aspects of daily living. This message is encouraging, life-changing, and much-needed by every one of us.”
–Shaunti Feldhahn, best-selling author of For Women Only and For Men Only

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (June 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400071100
• ISBN-13: 978-1400071104
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.8 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,477 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shannon is a million-copy best-selling author, speaker, lay counselor, and advocate for healthy sexuality with a master's degree in counseling/human relations from Liberty University. She has spoken to youth, college students, and adults since 1989 and her passions include: Challenging adults and teens to embrace a life of sexual integrity, encouraging married couples in their pursuit of sexual and emotional fulfillment, counseling women who have looked for love in all the wrong places and equipping parents to instill sexual values in children at an early age.

Her passion for healthy sexuality actually began in mortuary college. Her first career choice, becoming a mortician, led Ethridge to work on dead bodies. Many she embalmed were young people who had died from AIDS or committed suicide as a result an HIV positive diagnosis. Because of her own promiscuous teenage years, she knew it was a miracle that she was standing over the embalming table rather than laying on top of it. These experiences inspired her to begin speaking boldly and bluntly to teen, college-age, and adult audiences about the benefits of sexual integrity. She has taught and counseled thousands of young singles and married couples over the past decade. She is the author of 18 books, including the best-selling Every Woman's Battle series, the 5-book Completely His series, and her new book for the mainstream market, The Sexually Confident Wife.

Shannon has been featured on the cover of Today's Christian Woman Magazinee, and is a frequent guest on international radio & television shows such as The 700 Club, Life Today with James & Betty Robison, FamilyLife Today with Dennis Rainey, and New Life Live! with Stephen Arterburn. She has also been published in numerous magazines such as Focus on the Family, Brio, and LifeWay and is the winner of a Gold Medallion Award for Excellence in Publishing.

Although grateful for the opportunities to influence this generation as a writer and speaker, Shannon remains most passionate about her role as a wife and best friend to her husband of 18 years, Greg, and a mother and cheerleader to their two children, Erin (17) and Matthew (14).

Shannon Ethridge, M.A.
Author and Advocate for Healthy Sexuality & Spirituality
www.sexuallyconfidentwife.com
www.shannonethridge.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful message, August 18, 2008

By 

FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Completely His: Loving Jesus Without Limits (Paperback)

The lead title in the new Loving Jesus Without Limits series by Shannon Ethridge invites women to connect with God through a personal relationship. COMPLETELY HIS is written to remind readers that God loves them lavishly and irrevocably. He treasures them beyond measure and chooses them to be connected to Him.

The book opens with a personal story of killing another woman in a car accident while still in high school. Ethridge shares the feelings that she should have been the one killed, though she didn't receive even a single scratch. She was further shocked when she found out that the husband of the deceased, Gary, was concerned for her and wanted to meet her. His warmth and kindness were almost too much for the young Ethridge to handle. On that fateful day, Gary told Shannon, "I am passing [my wife's] legacy of being a godly woman on to you. I want you to love Jesus without limits, just like Marjorie did. I want you to let Him use you for His glory, Shannon."

Those words have never left Ethridge. And the experience still reminds her that nothing is beyond God's redemption. He can take the ugliest of situations and turn them into something beautiful. In fact, she describes the accident as a "burning bush" experience that welcomed her into a deeper relationship with God. She no longer desires to "do the minimum" to get to heaven, but instead wants to love Jesus without limits.

Throughout the book, Ethridge tells stories from her own life and experiences. Some are tender and serious, while others are funny --- like the time she discovered Miss E, the family cat, in the dryer. She also draws from other women who have shared their stories.

Ethridge says that she pursues the presence of God each day. In the shower she'll thank God for clean, hot water. While driving to school she'll pray out loud for protection and blessing with the kids. On the way home she'll sing songs of praise or share what's in her heart --- imagining God beside her in the passenger's seat. She prays on her way to the mailbox, as she writes, and as she climbs into bed. God's presence is welcome all the time.

The author also recognizes God as a gift giver. Our God offers redemption from our pasts and resurrection power for today. As we are recipients of God's gifts, we are invited to give and even multiply our influence.

Interspersed in the book are little notes or lists in lovely two-page spreads. They offer tips on how to read the Bible and discovering the dreams God wants to bring alive inside you.

One of the most tender moments in COMPLETELY HIS is found in the Afterword. It is an entry by Gary Jarstfer, the man who lost his wife in the car accident when Shannon was a teenager. This precious letter is full of compassion, love and hope. And it's a beautiful demonstration of the message of this book --- that nothing is beyond God's redemption, so we are free to love Him with everything we have.

--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I would have read it sooner!, January 18, 2008

By 

Ursula (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Completely His: Loving Jesus without Limits (Hardcover)

This book has awoken my heart to the intense love that God has for me and His endless pursuit to aid me in becoming completely his. The author uses great analogies and personal testimonies to drive relevant points home. It has inspired me to fall madly, deeply, and completely in love with the One who loved me first and will love me last. It is well written and hard to put down until I was done, then, it left me craving more!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Lori Plach, July 31, 2007

By 

Front Street Reviews www.frontstreetreviews.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Completely His: Loving Jesus without Limits (Hardcover)

How could someone ever love me after I destroyed their life as they knew it? Perhaps these were Shannon Ethridge's thoughts after her life took a dramatic turn as a high school junior. A car accident which she was involved in changes her life and that of another family. In her book "Completely His Loving Jesus Without Limits," Shannon tells the story of how she felt when she met face to face with the widower of the woman who she killed. This becomes a major turning point in her life and the start of a very encouraging friendship.

When Shannon experiences the unconditional love that Gary Jarstfer shows her even after killing his wife, shows her a love which she has never known. Gary's example of a Christ-like love is very notable. This love should be a parallel to the love which Jesus Christ had for us. John 15:13 states "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

It is not without many struggles that Shannon comes to terms with her life changing experience. Shannon clearly states that she has gained a deep understanding of God's character and the impact of Christ's passion on our life. He died so we may live! This is a very inspirational book in which God has taken a very dark period in her life and changed it into something very beautiful. I feel that everyone who has ever struggled with a difficult period in their life or is dealing with it currently, could learn much about their Savior through this book. Shannon notes many Scripture references to bring her points across and make it much easier to understand what she intends to convey. Gary Jarstfer did not only show her unconditional love and forgiveness but also was very instrumental in her knowing that she is completely His!