‘Living with Unmet Desires: Exposing the Many Faces of Jealousy’ by Shawn Lantz – Book Review

I have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted recently recently with a wonderful family – the Smith Family.  The offspring of Jim and Nancy Smith has done wonderfully well for themselves.  Todd Smith is a member of the Christian music trio, Selah.  Nicol Sponberg has a successful solo career after her departure from Selah.  Their little brother, Jack, is a worship leader at a church here in the Metro Detroit area.  I had the pleasure of attending a Women’s Tea for Jim and Nancy’s ministry, Laban Ministries, in January; you can read my blog post here.

The oldest sibling, Shawn Lantz, is successful in her own right.  I had the pleasure of meeting her at that Tea; she was a lovely lady!  She is the author of two books; the first is ‘Congo Vignettes: Stories of God’s Faithfulness to Three Generations in the Heart of Africa’ (you can see my review here).   Her second book is a Women’s Bible Study Workbook entitled ‘Living with Unmet Desires: Exposing the Many Faces of Jealousy.’  Here is her biography from the back cover of that book:

Shawn’s passion is to encourage women to develop a love for the Scriptures.  Shawn has had the privilege of sharing the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ through her daily blog, a weekly Bible study, and various women’s retreats.  Shawn and Rob have three children and reside in Nashville, Tennessee.  Her blog and contact information are found on her website at www.esengoministries.com.

Here is the description of this Bible study from the back cover:

Has living with unmet desires ever frustrated you?  Perhaps you have puzzled over the underlying cause of anger, bitterness, or strife within your personal relationships, not recognizing jealousy’s disguised face.  In a culture which tells us we must have more to be accepted, have you ever been a victim of jealousy’s lies, either as its perpetrator or its casualty?  Join Shawn Lantz as we explore this topic in an in-depth Bible study of the life of King Saul.  We will examine the downward spiral of an individual who has everything and threw it all away.  Hope abounds as we encounter individuals within the story of Saul who found a way to live victoriously with their unmet desires by making Godly choices along the way.

Shawn shares with us in Week One that there are four core issues of a jealous heart (p. 21):

1.   God, can I trust You?

2.   God, do You love me?

3.   God, are You good?

4.   God, are You just?

Saul’s story is a character study warning all of us where rebellion, disobedience and jealousy can lead.  Samuel, the judge and prophet, rebuked Saul in 1 Samuel 15:23:

“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

Bouncing off that verse, Shawn asserts:

The kingdom has been torn away, and Saul has failed to recognize that, “the wounds from a friend [Samuel] can be trusted” (Proverbs 27:6).  Samuel and Saul never saw each other again while Samuel was alive, although Samuel continued to pray for Saul.  Saul had lost his authority by refusing to be under authority.  The slippery descent into the pit of destruction, caused by Saul’s rebellion, had begun. (p. 99)

Fortunately, Week Nine focuses on ‘Antidotes for Jealousy’s Poison;’ there are Godly solutions to these character issues!  Shawn closes out the week by sharing with us this promise:

The freedom we will have to live at peace with our unmet desires will come as we allow Jesus to remove the veil of jealousy from our hearts, making us more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.  Now that, my dear friend, is something to be jealous for! (p. 240)

I really learned a lot from this study; introspection with the guidance of the Holy Spirit is always healing!  He showed me some areas in my life in which jealousy reigned – areas of which I was not consciously aware.  I think women in particular struggle with discontent, dissatisfaction and jealously; I know those are some of my personal internal (and sometimes external…) struggles.  Shawn writes in a warm and personal style; she comes across as someone you would enjoy spending time with over a hot beverage at a favorite coffee shop!  I thank Shawn for writing such an incisive and insightful study, which also is encouraging and loving!

Shawn taught this Bible study and the sessions were recorded; all nine session are posted online here.  I would encourage you to purchase the study to work through individually or with a small group, and use Shawn’s sessions as part of your study.

You can order this book here.

This book was generously provided by Shawn Lantz.

‘Congo Vignettes: Stories of God's Faithfulness to Three Generations in the Heart of Africa’ by Shawn Lantz – Book Review

I have been familiar with the Smith family for many years.  My first exposure to them was when I discovered two of the three members of the singing group Selah, Todd and Nicol Smith, were brother and sister.  Their soaring vocals and wonderful harmonies touch my heart – so much so that I played one of their songs at my mom’s memorial service in January 2005.  Nicol – now known as Nicol Sponberg after her marriage to Greg in 2003 – now has a successful solo career.  Nicol’s song, ‘Resurrection,’ is one of my all-time favorites!  I learned that Todd and Nicol had spent many of their formative years in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where their parents, Jim and Nancy Smith, serve as missionaries with Laban Ministries International.  Jim’s parents, Laban and Marcella, had founded that ministry in 1947.

The oldest child in the family, Shawn Lantz, currently resides in Nashville, TN with her husband Rob and their three children.  She has a ministry by the name of Esengo Ministries.  ‘Esengo’ is the  Lingala word for ‘glory;’ Lingala is the national language of the Congo.  Her passion is to encourage women to develop a love for the Scriptures.  She has written a book, ‘Congo Vignettes: Stories of God’s Faithfulness to Three Generations in the Heart of Africa,’ in which she shares her family’s legacy – both the triumphs and the struggles.  She provides an insider’s glimpse into life as a missionary kid (MK) in a culture so different from the one in which she was born. 

The family first moved to the Congo in 1979.  The children were all preadolescents; Jack would be born six months later.  There was a time of adjustment to living in Africa after having grown up in Michigan, but they all knew they were in the will of God.  Shawn is very aware that God is there with us in the good times and the bad.  She details a thunderstorm that raged as her father was traveling away from the family.  She compares that time to her life as an adult living through the storms of life:

“My ears, once so busy listening to the many distractions of life before the storm, are now able to hear Christ’s voice in a way I was not able to hear during my days of ease and sunshine.  A profound truth has been my realization of this paradox: It is when my world is most in turmoil and I have called out to Him to rescue me in the middle of the raging wind that I have heard Him in the secret place of my thunder.  Only after I have acknowledged my state of helplessness and fear am I able to trust that my God is with me in the midst of the lightning and thunderstorms of life.  I can watch the tempest safely, unshaken by the terror that cannot stand when my soul is still in His presence.  I am safe in my heavenly Father’s protection.” (p. 10)

Shawn goes on to tell us that God wants us to experience amazing grace and joy in this life:

“Did I always recognize God’s amazing grace as I was experiencing my life?  No.  Now as an adult, my heart wells up in love that my God is not a taskmaster who wants me to feel as though life is a drudgerous duty.  He delights in giving me the joy to serve Him.  If I miss the joy, I have come to realize, the problem lies in my perspective of the situation, not because the joy is not there.  He promises that in His presence there is fullness of joy.  I must give thanks to my Savior who allowed me to grow up in an adopted country, which allowed me to be the beneficiary of blessing after blessing as the result of His amazing grace in my life.” (p. 106)

I truly enjoyed reading this book that, time and time again, glorifies God and shows His faithfulness to a family that has given their lives for his work.  It was also fun to see photos of the Smith family throughout the years! 

In addition to ‘Congo Vignettes,’ Shawn is also the author of a women’s bible study called ‘Living with Unmet Desires: Exposing the Many Faces of Jealousy,’ in which she explores the life of Israel’s first king, Saul.  I will be reviewing that book soon – please stay tuned!

I had the privilege to meet Shawn in person at a fundraising event – a Ladies’ Tea - in January for Laban Ministries’ Women’s Literacy Center; she served as the keynote speaker (my blog post about the event can be found here).  She was as sweet as I expected her to be!  Her youngest brother, Jack, and his wife, Molly, who are worship leaders of a church here in the Detroit area, shared their musical gifts with us.  In addition, Shawn's parents, Jim and Nancy, were also in attendance.  It was a lovely afternoon!  I look forward to seeing how the Lord continues to lead and bless the Smith family!


You can order this book here.

This book was generously provided to me by Shawn Lantz for review purposes.

Laban Ministries Women's Tea - A Lovely Time Was Had by All!

So far, this year has been full of firsts.  Today's first was attending a Tea.  The Women's Tea, First Presbyterian Church in Trenton, MI, was to benefit the Women's Literary Center, run by Laban Ministries, International based in Congo, Africa.  The ticket was provided to me by my friend from church, Becky (thanks, Becky!).

The menu was tasty.  We had the choice of Earl Grey or Orange Spice teas.  There were lots of yummy tea sandwiches: chicken salad, cream cheese & pecans, ham salad and peanut butter.  A Tea would not be complete without scones - with clotted cream & current jam.  For dessert, we had carrot cake or pound cake.  The people at First Presbyterian outdid themselves with a lovely afternoon for lots of ladies who were blessed and very well sated!

Laban Ministries International, according to their website, was founded in 1938 by Dr. & Mrs. Laban Herbert Smith, who arrived in Congo as pioneer missionaries.  Dr. Smith served as the country's first oral surgeon. They served in Congo for 15 years, opening 90 villages, each of which was supplied with a pastor and a grade school after the Belgian Government granted permission to allow missionaries to teach national children only.  They had two sons, Jim and Jack, who were born in Congo. 

Continuing from Laban Ministries’ website, Jim and his wife, Nancy, began their married life together at a local church in Dearborn, Michigan, serving in various capacities of the church, including that of co-pastor for 13 years, after which Jim traveled as a music evangelist until 1977, when their home burned to the ground and God called them to the Congo. Jim and Nancy with their three children, Shawn, Nicol, and Todd arrived in the capital of Congo (Kinshasa) on December 6, 1978. Nancy was expecting their 4th child, Jack, who was born on the mission station of Vanga, where Jim and his brother, Jack, were also born. A Bible school was opened in January, 1979, with seven students, followed by an evangelism outreach, dispensary, and orphan care. 

Their four children continue to serve the Lord.  Shawn Lantz, their older child, is a women’s ministry speaker and the founder of Esengo Ministries, based in Nashville, TN.  She is the author of two books, ‘Congo Vignettes: Stories of God's Faithfulness to Three Generations in the Heart of Africa,’ and a bible study, ‘Living with Unmet Desires: Exposing the Many Faces of Jealousy.’  I will be reviewing those titles shortly; stay tuned!  Todd Smith is part of the Christian singing group, Selah.  Nicol, now known as Nicol Sponberg, was formerly a member of Selah and is now a successful solo artist.  The youngest, Jack, is the worship minister at Gilead Baptist Church in Taylor, MI.  And Jim and Nancy commute between Congo and the US to fund raise and to enjoy their beautiful family.  

Each lady at the Tea was given the gift of a purse, made by some wonderful ladies here in the USA, or a bead bracelet, made by the ladies at the Women's Literary Center in the Congo.  We then headed up the church’s sanctuary, where Jack and his wife, Molly, shared their vocal talents.  Then Nancy Smith introduced a video showing some of the women whose lives that have been affected by their ministry.  Finally, their oldest daughter, Shawn, came to share her heart about the ministry with which she has been involved her entire life.  She shared that the intent and purpose of the Women’s Literary Center is to add light to the lives of the women of Congo who have been kept in darkness. 

To addition to the Women’s Literary Center, other aspects of the Laban Ministries include evangelism, medical outreach, Laban Bible Institute, and Radio Nkembo (Radio Glory).  Radio Nkembo has a 300' tower and a 2500 watt transmitter. Christian broadcasts reach as far as 450 land miles, 8-10 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Thanks to the Smith family for their decades of service to the Lord.  Their lives clearly show that the Lord blesses His own!

I consider Laban Ministries to be very worthwhile.  If you feel led to contribute to an established ministry which has been helping people for over 70 years, please prayerfully consider this one.  You can contribute here.