Darlene Marie Wilkinson is the wife of best selling author and motivational speaker Bruce Wilkinson. Darlene found her own voice adapting her husband's writing and teachings for women. She founded Women Who Make a Difference conferences and finds enjoyment through writing books to encourage women. Her latest work is Secrets of the Vine for Women.
Format of Secrets of the Vine for Women
This book explores John 15. The author delves into the teaching of this chapter in the Bible, where Jesus teaches his disciples using a vineyard analogy.
Each chapter opens with a portion of a story about a young woman and her father. They are vineyard owners in Tuscany. Through the illustration of the trials and successes of this woman and her vineyard a further understanding of the vineyard analogy is made possible for those of us not familiar with vineyards and their workings.
The author follows the story with the portion of John 15 that is being spoken to in that chapter. She explores the possible meanings in the words and makes them accessible for all of us. She challenges the reader with doing what is described in the section.
A personal antidote from another reader follows the exploration of the meaning of the passage of John 15. These antidotes give the current reader more strength to be successful in their desire to follow Jesus and have a harvest for him in the end.
The author challenges the reader to go from one level of "fruit bearing" for the Lord to another. She identifies the levels as: "No fruit, fruit, more fruit and much fruit." She says we all should desire to reach the much fruit level for the Lord. This level is the ideal where upon reaching Heaven the Lord would say "Well done!"
The back of the book includes a study guide. This guide gives the reader a chance to check her understanding of the words she is reading. The questions lead the reader to self discovery and further the teaching of both John 15 and Secrets of the Vine for Women.
Teaching of Secrets of the Vine for Women
Personally this book led me on a time of self discovery. The author challenged me to check which level I was at. I was glad to discover that I was at the fruit level. That being said, I found plans in the book for how to reach the next level and ultimately to reach the much fruit level.
I loved this book. I found Darlene Marie's teachings personal and understandable. She speaks with a voice that has been where the reader is. She gives the reader the strength to attain greatness for the Lord.
Secrets of the Vine for Women by Darlene Marie Wilkinson
Multnomah, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-60142-397-9
Kelley Huston - A reader of all kinds of books, Kelley is an teacher who loves crafts and scrapbooking. She is a Disney fan who loves all things Disney.
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