Review of Empty Promises by Pete Wilson

As soon as I saw that Pete Wilson had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it.  I'm going to be honest.  I loved Pete Wilson's book Plan B.  I listen to his sermons online when I get a chance.  I've even told my husband that if he ever gets an opportunity to move to Tennessee for work, that's cool with me, because I've got our new church picked out!  I have never listened to a message by Pete that left me wondering what God was wanting me to hear out of that message.  They always hit me right where I am.  They convict me and challenge me.

So, I was expecting his books to do the same thing.  I LOVE challenges.  I love for people to challenge my thinking.  I love it when something is explained in a different way.  So, the part of the back cover of this book says: "We all long for more of something in our lives.  In our endless pursuit to feel worth and acceptance we find ourselves sacrificing everything for the promise to be a little more beautiful, a little richer, a little more powerful and successful, a little more loved.".

I cannot tell you how many times in my life I have wondered, is this all there is?  Am I missing something?  I know that life is tough here on earth, but surely we should have some enjoyment and really be living instead of just existing.  As soon as I looked at the table of contents in this book, I knew Chapter Four: Addicted to Approval was going to be a really hard chapter for me to read.  When I was growing up, all I wanted from my family was to feel loved, wanted, approved of and accepted.  By the time I hit my teenage years, I felt like I hated them because they would not or could not give me that acceptance and approval that I so felt like I needed.  I realize now, after reading this book, that they could not give me the acceptance and approval that I thought I needed from them.  Only God can fill that void.  There were so many other chapters in this book that hit home for me.  Chapter Eight: Addicted to Beauty was one that I definitely did not see me in.  But I realized in reading that chapter that instead of trying to make myself beautiful, I tend to rebel by not wearing makeup, because of comments that my Mom would make about me leaving the house without makeup on as a teenager.

This entire book opened my eyes to idols that I had no idea that I had.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a deeper walk with God.  It is an easy read and very well written.  I received this book for free from Booksneeze in exchange for a review.  The thoughts on this book are all my own.

Getting to know the "real" me

This post is going to be transparent, which is something I have been terrified of being for as long as I can remember. If you are looking for feel good and fluff, you might want to look elsewhere for awhile. There's your warning. :) I thought my childhood was a pretty decent one when I was young. My parents were divorced, that part stunk, but I got to see my Dad for 24 hours every weekend, except for one a month. We didn't have much, but I don't have any terrible memories as a young child.

Then my Mom met my stepdad and my world changed. We never knew what kind of mood he was going to be in that day or even that minute. It seemed like every thing that I said was wrong, so I stopped speaking unless I was spoken to and had no other choice. When they got married, we went to a Justice of the Peace and I objected. At 8 years old, of course the judge told me that not liking the man wasn't a good enough reason to object. That was one of the very last times I remember voicing my opinion about anything growing up. If we stopped for a burger, even though I hated the veggies, it could not be made to order, because that would take too long. Or if my stepdad was cooking steaks, everyone had to accept a medium steak because that's how he liked his. In my mind, that was saying that my preferences did not matter at all. I was not worth waiting 5 more minutes for my steak to be cooked the way I liked it. The first time my husband's(then boyfriend) Dad asked how I liked my steak cooked, I had no idea how to answer. I was fifteen and had no idea that the way I preferred my steak was well done. All I knew was I didn't want it pink. I was almost in tears at that one simple question, because that made me feel like someone cared. Since losing my Dad at 13, I had not felt like another adult man had cared for me.

So, I closed down. I hid by reading in my room all of the time, only coming out when I had no other choice. I spent a lot of time in the bathroom sick and worried that something was wrong with me, because I had so many stomach problems.

Going to school became terrifying. If I was not allowed to share my thoughts and feelings at home, where I should be safe, how could I share them with people at school? I think I spent more time in the bathroom sick in junior high and high school than in the classroom and it was all because of anxiety. College was much of the same. I was terrified of just being me and no one liking me.

Then we had children and I put my first child in preschool. I mapped out every restroom between our house and his preschool and don't know how many mornings I would have to stop and get him out of his car seat and run into the store, hoping to make it before I got sick.

I have always hated this side of me. I hate talking about anxiety. I will never forget mentioning needing to see a doctor about depression and anxiety to my mother in law and she told me that I just needed to have more faith. That was all my problem was. I needed to read and study the Bible more and pray more. All I needed to do was trust God. That's easy to say, but my stomach does not hear those words.

Then we moved to Texas last July. My anxiety was out of control when I thought about finding a new church, a new doctor for me and most of all a new pediatrician for my children. I found a physician's assistant that I absolutely love. I explained to her that I did not feel like I had enough faith and that was why I was dealing with so much anxiety. It had progressed from stomach craziness to severe chest pains to feeling incapable of leaving my house some days. I will never forget my PA, Kellie, telling me that it's the opposite. It's not that I am facing anxiety because of not having enough faith, it is because God has a great plan for my life and the devil is trying to prevent those plans from coming to fruition.

A few weeks ago, I received Emily Freeman's newsletter in my inbox. I was just giving it a quick glance and saw a book mentioned by a name I had never heard of, Rhett Smith. I clicked on the link because it mentioned a book The Anxious Christian. All of my life, I have viewed myself as unworthy, not a good enough Christian and honestly disliked who I was, simply because of my anxiety. The tag line of the book says, Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good? When I saw those words, my first thought was no way! My anxiety paralyzes me. It keeps me from going and doing many activities, because of fear. What if I'm stuck in the bathroom sick and miss the whole concert or field trip or whatever I want to enjoy? How can God use that for His good? We don't open up our house and invite community in as often as we should, because of my anxiety. We were created to live in community and enjoy community, so how can my anxiety be something good?

Part of the back of the book cover says: "In our journey of faith there are particular moments that produce a certain amount of anxiety. Often anxiety and/or worry has been looked upon as an "un-Christian" feeling to have. But The Anxious Christian conveys the message that anxiety can actually be helpful in our spiritual formation, and that God can use anxiety as a catalyst to move people forward in their life of faith. In that movement, anxiety's gift is that it allows us to face our resistance and fears, understand where those fears come from, and then make intentional choices about important issues such as career, marriage, money, and our sprititual lives. It's time to get unstuck."

I have got to tell you that this book might have been one of the most life changing books I have ever read in my life. I have no idea how many books I have read, but I promise you, it is many. Just reading the foreword had me hooked. The first chapter had me in tears. I love that Rhett includes quotes from different authors in the book, also. It gave me some ideas of other books that I might enjoy reading. The best thing that I got out of this book is that I am NOT alone! The enemy wants to isolate us and make us ashamed of things like our anxiety and depression. No one likes admitting that they have issues with anxiety or depression, because some people do not believe they are that big of a deal. My mother in law likes to just say I'm a worrier and I just need to trust God. I do trust God. I know that He knows everything I am going to face. I know that He knows about my anxiety. I have a whole new outlook on anxiety after reading this book. I do believe that God can use it for my good. I do believe that that might just be the way that he is choosing to mold me and shape me into the person He wants me to be.

This entire book just felt like it was full of hope and encouragement. It was an easy read and I am a fast reader, but I found myself wanting to read this book slowly and really think and pray on each chapter of the book. I feel like God pointed me to this book during this season of my life. Anxiety is something I have seriously feared for at least 25 years. Chest pains have sent me to the ER, thinking I was having a heart attack. This book has taught me that anxiety is not something to be feared. God could very well be using it to call me closer to Him and to show me my calling. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that has ever worried or faced anxiety in any form. It is very helpful and might be just what you need. I purchased the Kindle version, but I will also purchase the print version, because I want this book in my hands to go through again and highlight and write in the margins.

Review of Simple Secrets to a Happy Life by Luci Swindoll

I had the opportunity to read and review Luci Swindoll's book Simple Secrets to a Happy Life and I have to say that it was one of the most encouraging and uplifting books I have ever read. I had never read anything by Luci Swindoll. I had heard her name through reading about Women of Faith, so I expected a good book, but it far exceeded my expectations. It was so easy to read. I laughed through many of the chapters. There were so many tips in this book that I wish every mom or grandmother passed on to their children. The description of the book states: Is it possible to stay full of life, laughter, love, and the Lord through eight decades in this crazy world? Is that even realistic? Yes! There is hope, and Luci Swindoll is living proof. With heart and humor, this best-selling author and beloved speaker lays out the truths that can help us all become a little more creative, organized, healthy, and happy. This is not a complex prescription for how to become superwoman. These are simple secrets, the wisdom produced by years of walking with God and living well. We don’t need more tips for “having it all,” but we could all use insight on “having what matters,” and there is no better guide than Luci Swindoll. Luci has spent eight decades accumulating the stories, memories, verses, and practical tips that make up Simple Secrets to a Happy Life. Whether traveling the world or building life-long friendships, singing in the opera or working for Mobil Oil, every step has taught her a little more about how to love God, love her neighbor, and love herself. The result is both personal and universal. Organized into fifty short chapters, her reflections form a simple and profound outline for making the most of the lives God has given us. We could all use a little more joy in our lives, which means we could all use a little more Luci. Visit her through these snapshots of wisdom. You’ll find yourself drawn back again and again. I loved reading every single word of this book. I think it is one that I will save to read again when I'm needing encouragement and a different attitude. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for encouragement or just wants to smile or laugh while reading a book. You will not regret reading this book! I received this book for free from Booksneeze, in exchange for an honest review.

Review of Radical Together by David Platt

When I first noticed the title Radical Together, I wondered if it was any different than the book, Radical. I read Radical as soon as it came out and fell in love with the book. My 13 year old read it as soon as I finished it. We were speechless. We started listening to some of David Platt's sermons and tried getting a feel for what he is doing in this world. I was concerned that I might find Radical Together boring, but that is far from the truth. The book was very well written and has a lot of detail not mentioned in Radical. If you are on fire for the Lord and are ready to stop pursuing the "American Dream" and do something for the world, I would strongly recommend this book! Here is a link to an excerpt of Radical Together: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601423726&view=excerpt. This book can change your life if you will let it. I received this ebook for free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange of an honest review. I read this book in it's entirety and did not have to post a positive review.

Review of God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh

I have to admit that I was super excited to see that this book was coming out by Sheila Walsh. I follow her on Twitter and have seen statuses about it coming out and I couldn't wait to read it! I requested the ebook from Booksneeze and I have to tell you that now that I've read the book, I wish I had the hard cover! I wanted to highlight so many parts of the book. I have faced some junk over the years making me a broken person and this book was so uplifting and encouraging! I did not want to put the book down, but at the same time, I never wanted it to end! I think I read it in three days. There are times that I look at the heartbreaking days of my life and wonder how God can turn it all around for His glory. This book helped me see that we are all here for a reason and everything we go through is for a reason. Maybe things won't be turned around for good for us, but if we can use what Satan meant as bad and help and encourage someone else, that is a good thing! I definitely think I will read it again! I would strongly recommend this book to friends. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Masks

Last night I owned up to the fact that I've been living behind a mask since I was 12 to my wonderful husband. I have been ashamed of some things in my past and terrified that he would leave, if he ever knew. Growing up, I was shamed for bad decisions and I have let that carry into my adult life. I am so thankful that God finally pushed me enough to tell him every last detail of my life. Growing up, there were so many secrets in my family. I accepted that as the norm, until I realized it was making me emotionally sick. We are meant to carry each other's burdens. There is a reason God wants us in relationships. My thankful list: 31. Grace when that is probably the last thing I deserved. 32. God tapping me on the shoulder and encouraging me, until I felt like I was going to explode if I didn't tell my husband everything. 33. The amazing peace I have felt today. I am not sure I've ever felt anything like it. 34. Hubby unexpectedly coming home early from work. 35. A contract on our house in Louisiana! 36. Hubby getting an offer on a permanent position here in Texas! 37. Only one more month of paying Cobra! 38. Our oldest having a fabulous time at a youth retreat this past weekend and making some new friends. 39. Trying out a small group from church and feeling like we belonged there. 40. Long talks with my brother.

Review for Bittersweet Surrender by Diann Hunt

When I saw the cover of this book, I knew I wanted to read it. There are chocolate, candles and a bath towel, some of my favorite things! I love long hot baths, scented candles and chocolate. I read the description of the book and was definitely hooked! It reads: Carly Westlake is living the dream. She spends her days at a spa (okay, so she owns the place), she's dating a hunk, and she's surrounded by chocolate—milk chocolate, her favorite—that she uses for the chocolate facials that made her spa famous. But when long buried secrets threaten Carley's business and her friendship with business-partner Tom, she fights like crazy to keep the dream—and the illusions—afloat. It takes a miracle of grace to get Carley to finally make that bittersweet surrender to love and real life. Growing up with a family that was all about secrets, I was really curious to see how the book turned out! You can guess what will end up happening in the book, but it's a great story. I loved every minute of reading it and was honestly sad to see it end! Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an electronic copy of this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their Blogger Review 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."