My Review of Downside Up - Transform Rejection into Your Golden Opportunity By Tracey Mitchell

I loved this book.

It was very easy to read and hard to put down.  I am someone who has often struggled with the fear of rejection and the repercussions of rejection.  For many years, I became a recluse.  I was afraid to meet anyone for fear of being hurt and rejected/abandoned again.  If and when I dared have a friendship or interpersonal relationship with someone, I would leave them when I felt the slightest hint that I was going to be abandoned or rejected again.  No matter how much I wanted to be with someone.. just to be accepted and loved, I seemed to magnetically draw the wrong people to me, who, inevitably, would leave me.

Downside Up has caused me to look at rejection, not as a punishment, nor the people who reject me as my enemies, but rather, I can now look at rejection as an opportunity for change and advancement, and the people who reject me as stepping stones to bigger and better opportunities and adventures.

This book taught me that I had to forgive and release a lot of pride.  I also had to embrace God's image of who I am and let go of needing the acceptance of people (who are always fallible).  I'm not there yet, but I am learning to see myself as God sees me; fearfully and wonderfully made.  I know that He doesn't make junk.  I'm learning to embrace myself, flaw, rejection, abandonment and all, and learning to keep using those stepping stones to get me closer and closer to God's purpose for my life.

I look forward to continuing to put the principles I learned in this book to practice.  I'm sure I will read it again and again.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Review of when God Makes Lemonade - True Stories that Amaze & Encourage

I truly enjoyed reading this book.

It is filled with a vast collection of short, concise stories that speak of the mercy and grace of God in some of the most unusual, inspiring, and trying situations and circumstances.

I especially enjoy knowing that all of these are true stories.  I tend to be more inspired by Non fiction than by fiction.  It truly helps to grow my faith from that of a mustard seed into that of a mustard plant.

I enjoyed the fact that the stories were short and the chapters easy to read.  I could easily get through four or five stories while riding on the bus and not have to worry about having to stop reading in the middle of a chapter and having to, perhaps, start reading over again because I forgot where I had left off.

Some of the stories made me laugh, others made me cry, but all of the stories gave me hope and made me realize that, even on my lowest days, there can be silver lining found around the clouds in my world, giving credence to the old adage, there is always someone in this world who is worse off than you are.

Whether you want to reminisce with an elderly person about days gone by, or whether you want to see the world through the eyes of an innocent young child, there's something for everyone amongst the pages of this book.  It's a book that I'm sure I will return to and read again and again.

Since this book is not actually a 'story' per se, there is no particular order in which the pages have to be read.  I read the book from cover to cover but not from one chapter to the next. I looked at the titles of each chapter and chose whichever one or few that suited me for that day or for that moment.

I enjoyed reading the accounts in this book and would recommend it to people who like non fiction, true life stories, and inspiration.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Review of Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson

I have already read some of the 'Circle' books by Mark Batterson and enjoyed them because they issued challenges to the reader.

When I saw this book, I was of the assumption that it would be another 'challenge issuing' book.  It was not. It was formatted more in the style of a devotional.

I enjoy Mark Batterson's books for the most part though I'm not sure how I feel about this one.  I appreciated reading the excerpts from Mr. Batterson's other book (one of them), The Circle Maker as it served as a refresher for material of his that I had already read.

Although more of a devotional than an actual challenge, I enjoyed reading this book.  The chapters were very short and readable.  I could relate to almost everything written on the pages and didn't feel lost and/or confused as I sometimes will when dealing with scripture.  I cheated in a way because I did not take 40 days to read one chapter per day.

I rate this book as fairly high in terms of a thinking style of book and would recommend it for people who may not have the time to read long chapters of books during their busy days.  These short chapters fit easily in to the daily schedule and are not at all overwhelming.

If you enjoy a good Devotional, this would be a good book for you.  If you are, however, looking for more of a challenge, then this book might not be for you.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Review of Grace - by Max Lucado

I LOVE Max Lucado so my review will likely be a bit biased.

Grace was a very easy read and, as usual, Max's words pierced right through to my heart.  I've been a Christian for 20 years and still haven't captured the meaning and / or the significance of GRACE.

It's not just about God's grace towards us.  It's about our grace towards others.  It's about forgiving AND forgetting.  It's about giving to someone what they don't deserve and ACCEPTING God's free gift of grace that He gives to us.

Grace, unfortunately, is thrown around as somewhat of a 'catch' word in the Christian world today.  Most of us, myself included, aren't getting it.  We aren't grasping the true meaning of the word 'grace'.

Jesus.. the Son of God.. the Creator of the universe.. the ONE so worthy of our praise and adoration stooped down.  He came down to the level of sinners to show them forgiveness.. to show them understanding.. to heal them... to show us grace.

I am inspired by this book to live my life differently... to breathe in God's grace like the oxygen I need to survive.  I am inspired to find the positive in everything and the mercy of God in the smallest of gestures.

I truly enjoyed this book.  Again, I'm somewhat biased as I LOVE anything written by Max Lucado.  He has a gift from God and writes with words that pierce right through to our souls.

I will read this book again and again.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”