Review: Unafraid: Be you. Be authentic. Find the grit and grace to shine.

Unafraid: Be you. Be authentic. Find the grit and grace to shine. by Carey Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unafraid is a call-to-action for women in the trenches to be who they were created to be: Jesus-girls with the grit and grace to shine. Carey Scott builds a case for how we are already equipped to live unafraid by allowing the light in us to escape the walls around our hearts.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.

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Review: Unbroken Faith: Spiritual Recovery for the Special Needs Parent

Unbroken Faith: Spiritual Recovery for the Special Needs Parent by Diane Dokko Kim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It would offend my sensibilities to give this book any less than five stars.

I wanted to underline every word of Unbroken Faith. Diane Kim doesn’t waste words. She crafts each sentence with meticulous skill; there is no fluff. Sometimes when authors include scripture passages in their text, I skim over them, thinking, “Yeah, I’ve read that one before.” With Kim’s book, I hung on every word because it’s so relevant and affecting. She weaves scripture into her text in a way that makes it come alive in a fresh way.

Another aspect of the book that stood out to me was the masterful way she intertwines her point of view as the parent of a child with special needs, biblical figures who struggled with the same questions she faces, and the perspective of God as he views us as his children with special needs.

Throughout the book, I saw how the questions she asks apply to my own experience, specifically regarding areas of hurt, devastating losses, and difficult diagnoses, among others. I knew she truly understood the overwhelming feelings I have experienced in those situations, even though I have never experienced life as the mother of a special needs child.

This realization gradually rose as I read until I suddenly saw myself as a child with special needs and God as the parent who longed to do everything in his power to care for me. I was completely undone when I read how she tried to get her child to speak to her. Despite her own to desire to simply give him what he wanted, Kim encouraged her son to practice the communication skills he was learning to request the item. Reading this exchange left me in a puddle of healing tears. The abuse and trauma I experienced growing up made it difficult for me to figure out how to talk to God. I imagine he is just as overjoyed every time I speak to him.


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Review: Sunlight Burning at Midnight

Sunlight Burning at Midnight by Jessica Ronne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jessica Ronne's story is real, raw, and relevant to anyone who is praying for the healing of a loved one.

I sped though the 142 pages in three sittings, waking up on the last day in the wee hours of the morning to finish the final chapters because I wanted to find out what happened. The photos included allows the reader to emotionally connect to the family.

The author does not candy coat her life and even tells about times when her faith and her actions appeared incongruent, leaving the beauty of her humanity on full display. The spiritual growth she experienced and conveys to the reader during the time period covered by this memoir was well worth the time spent reading.

I received my copy of the book from the author.

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Review: The Dream of You: Let Go of Broken Identities and Live the Life You Were Made for

The Dream of You: Let Go of Broken Identities and Live the Life You Were Made for by Jo Saxton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book from Waterbrook, the publisher, and read it as part of the launch team.

As I read, I doubted that I was the target audience. I thought I had already "let go of broken identities," as the subtitle reads.

The closing chapter helped me see that there were still some broken identities that I was hanging on to. Then the epilogue had me crying beautiful tears of recognition that who I am, right now, is the person I was created and redeemed to be. Even with all my flaws and areas where I am still a work-in-progress.

Jo Saxton gave me permission to live my life.

Her parting words reminded me of a prayer I prayed almost 18 years ago as I finished Beth Moore's Breaking Free Bible study. That prayer has been answered in ways I could not have imagined then. I am healed, free, and my life has been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Like a liberated oak tree, I am a strong, mature display of God's splendor, just as I prayed to be all those years ago.

Somehow, I thought I had to have every aspect of my life all tidied up in a neat little package with a bow on top before I could claim my spot in His Kingdom. I still felt like I needed to earn my place at His table, to earn my keep. That belief was the root of the broken identity I needed to shed so I could live the life I was made to live. Who knew? HE DID, of course, and this book couldn't have entered my life in a more timely season.

Thank you, Jo Saxton, from the bottom of my heart. I saw myself in the mirror today and I LOOK JUST FINE! I found the keys and I'm ready to go.


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Review: Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23

Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23 by Dallas Willard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the book my heart and soul needed in this season of my life. I literally finished the last chapter and went to my knees with a heart full of gratitude and knowing that I was experiencing God's presence and peace. This book reconnected me with the Shepherd-heart of God and forever changed the way I read and understand the 23rd Psalm.

There's depth to Dallas Willard's teaching style, but the way he builds one concept on top of the other makes it easy for anyone to follow along.

I have loved Dallas Willard since I discovered him in the book, The Divine Conspiracy, back in 2000. I truly feel like he has mentored me spiritually through his work.

This book is based on a series of talks given by the late author and was edited by his friend, Larry Burtoft and his daughter, Becky Willard Heatley. Having read so many of the authors other books, I felt they did a really good job of re-creating the written "voice" of Dallas Willard.

I'm delighted to have received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.

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Review: Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Still making excuses for why you haven't done __________ (fill in the blank)?

Girl, Wash Your Face is a swift (but very sweet) kick in the pants for any woman that struggles with why they are not pursuing their God-given dreams or are not utilizing their strengths, talents, gifts, skills, and abilities to improve their lives and the lives of those around them.

The chapter about grief helped me immensely and the last chapter left me ready to take on the world.

I received an Advance Reader's Copy from the publisher.

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Review: Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals

Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am delighted that Michael Hyatt's "Best Year Ever" program is now in book form!

I have used his program for five years in a row to set goals for each year and then accomplish so many of them, year after year! This has been a game-changer for me. Actually, a LIFE-CHANGER! Since I began using these proven methods I have become a published author and started a new career!

Imagine setting goals and then actually following through and doing the work required to reach them! How would that change your life?

Michael Hyatt will lead you though his "5-step plan for achieving your most important goals".

In doing so you will discover:
* What's holding you back right now
* How to overcome your past setbacks
* The seven attributes of effective goals
* How to quit-proof your goals
* The role of habits in personal achievement
* What to do when you feel stuck

I recommend that you not rush through the reading of the book. Instead, read it thoughtfully, and invest the time to complete each Action Plan as you go through the book. I also highly recommend doing this with a friend. Having someone to celebrate your achievements with makes the rewards of accomplishing your goals that much richer!

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