I love Thomas Keating's positive encouragement throughout the book and would ...
921282
Got this book at the recommendation of a friend.  I love Thomas Keating's positive encouragement throughout the book and would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about centering prayer.
3878685
Dr. Tom Hill writes a beautiful collection of memories starting from the time he was a boy growing up on a turkey farm in Missouri to his success as a mentor to thousands of people. With many humorous anecdotes and life lessons in the pages of this book, it's hard to put down. He has a great desire to help as many people as he can to fulfill their own life goals.  It is adventure, laughs and love written about a life inspired.  I have so many highlights that it's more highlight than not and I loved the book so much that I bought it to keep on my kindle so I can share my paperback with my kids and grand kids. It is absolutely loaded with positive information and down to earth advice on how to live a life that is truly  "Blessed Beyond Measure."
4128289
Holly Fox Vellekoop does a great job showing the positive power of "encouragers" and the negativity of "defeaters" in the lives of the famous and the not-so-famous. This book provides motivation and a spiritual lift not only for those who were fortunate to have "encouragers", but to demonstrate how each of us can and do encourage others with a smile, a kind word, or understanding - many times unbeknownst to us. This book demonstrates the inner strength we each have to overcome and rise above those "defeaters" who try to hold us back.
2074794
I just finished this book and really loved it. I especially loved the author's use of scripture to remind us that God can transform our lives. It doesn't matter what our past may look like, or what we've been through. This book was an encouraging sermon for me. In many ways it felt like a great Bible Study guide. I would definitely recommend this book to Christians and non-Christians alike. It is a very practical read, with an optimistic message.
116586
A simple but beautiful book from an author who oozes positivity.  As an easy read, it is an easy source to refer back to when I need a boost in my affirming thought process.  I am a clinical therapist and this book is something that I can easily recommend as bibliotherapy for clients who are stuck and need a boost and a positive redirecting.  I enjoy the author's demeanor, his energy, his love for humanity, and his on-line presence for his readers.  His suggestion that "when our actions align with our passion and purpose, wonderful things begin to happen" rings true to me.  I look forward to seeing his positively affirming posts each day.  Thank you Paul!
1458148
This amazing author, Calvin Reynolds, was so gracious and kind to accept an invitation to read his book and speak to our third and fourth grade students. The theme of "bee-lieve to achieve" is such a powerful and encouraging message. Our youth need to hear it each and every day! I highly recommend anyone wanting to plant the seeds of encouragement buy this book. Mr. Reynolds was such a great inspiration to our students, We thank him for stopping by and highly suggest his book!! Graduation season is coming soon and what a great gift idea!
3881768
By the time I put Love Does down, I felt inspired to take a few leaps and maybe do a few crazy things with my own life.  Goff wrote in such a practical and encouraging way, leaving the reader feeling like this "secretly incredible life" he wrote about was within reach and not some far-off, unattainable way.  Love Does was simply about taking those small measurable steps to loving Jesus and others in very practical ways.  His anecdotes were refreshing and encouraging, and I often found myself laughing out loud at how absurd some were.  I love the idea of taking my children on a ten-year-old adventure some day.  I love the idea of having "really successful bake sales to get rid of the bad guys."  I love his stories of outlandish involvement in wedding proposals and trips taken around the world with his children to meet numerous  world leaders.  Goff writes in such a way that makes me want Jesus more and makes me want to "leak Jesus."  This book got added to my all-time favorites list by the time I got done.
3700213
This little book is up lifting and positive highly recomend
1894132
uplifting, encouraging, illuminating, challenging, brilliant
i am so thankful for this book
i have thoroughly enjoyed every page, photo, and word
3227853
I love this book, because it is both informative and positive.  I've had 3 children now, and I find that I want useful information, and I also want to freely feel the joy that comes with being pregnant.  Many books (and people, for that matter) seem to focus on the negatives.

Ina May Gaskin is a pioneering midwife as well as a student of words (she has a masters degree in English, I believe).  She writes in a way that is informative and entertaining.

One large section of the book is simply filled with stories of many different women and their stories of childbirth.  These stories offer encouragement and inspiration.  I found myself reading these stories over and over again.

I highly recommend this book as well as Spiritual Midwifery (also by Gaskin).
1545516
Straight away, this book spoke to me in a very personal way. I could feel the author's inspiring stories and advice really shift my perception about how I viewed and created my life. There was plenty of humour to enjoy in these pages and great examples for problem solving on a range of topics from kids to relationships to expressing myself creatively and being in harmony with the environment. Amazingly, all this great advice was colored with a realistic and engaging spiritual perspective, which I really liked.
I actually felt my sense of awareness change as I read this book. As I read the Chapter on Truth, I could feel the top of my head tingling, which was a kind of weird warm fuzzy! This author has a terrific ability to tap into human emotions and walk a mile in the shoes we wear. I recomend this book as one that will bring positive change and well-being.
4101715
I read the book cover to cover in one sitting but then went back and did a couple of chapters a day and have now finished my second reading.  You will smile at the west Texas expressions from your younger days.  The book gives encouragement and faith in the love the Lord has for us and how through our discouragements and life's valleys we come back to him stronger spiritually and a more useful vessel.  This book is a must read for those who have been in the ministry and then have been scarred by divorce or faced the challenges of single parenthood with no recouces.  The author gave me personally hope and satisfaction that our prayers for those we love are truly answered and we come out of the trials of life stronger spiritually.  Marshall Pryor has emerged victorious and a blessing to readers.  Read his book and  be blessed.
4373493
I really enjoyed reading Luci Swindoll's Simple Secrets to a Happy Life. There is nothing in the book that is especially profound, but Swindoll's writing is so positive and upbeat that I felt like I got a shot in the arm of optimism after each chapter.

This is saying a lot because I finished the last few chapters sitting on the couch next to my two-year-old who had spent the morning throwing up on me and various surface areas of our house and car. I feel like I can hear Swindoll whispering in my ear, "So what? You've got health insurance, you've got cable, you've got a working washing machine, and you've got time to spend with your daughter keeping her company until she feels better.  Look for the rainbows instead of the clouds."

In addition to being up-beat, this book is very life-situation-neutral. It doesn't zone in on any one gender, age, or family circumstance. It could serve as a great hostess present or graduation gift for somebody you didn't know very well, with the caveat that Swindoll is writing primarily for a Christian audience. I'm going to drop my copy in the mail as a surprise for my dad's cousin Barbara Jo. I think this book will make her smile too.

P.S. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.
4011512
Paul Boynton created a wonderful way for all of us to feel we can do the things in life to allow us to find our innermost desires for happiness. I am a performing artist and a clergy person, so I have hundreds of books on my shelf, most that deal with that age-old question "How do I find my life's purpose?" and "How can I access that part of my being to begin?". This book, this lovely conversation, is a fantastic tool and a great read.  It's the kind of book that you'll want to keep and refer to from time to time.  Thank you Paul, because of your book and it's very gently provocative encouragement, I feel my life on a huge up-swing!!
Ilan Kwittken
1500527
I've purchased all of Joel Osteen's previous books (and Victoria's book as well) and I've found all of them to be helpful, inspiring and uplifting.  Since there have been several recent books and because of some negative reviews on this site, I almost didn't purchase It's Your Time.  Fortunately I took the chance based on my past experience with his books and I'm glad I did.  I truly disagree with the negative reviews that state "it's a rehash" or that the book was "phoned in" rather than being written with care and dedication.  Yes there are references to previous books and previous anecdotes.  But the majority of the stories, examples and anecdotes are new.  Osteen makes numerous references to the current economic situation and how to weather the storms.  His concrete suggestions for dealing with adversity would be helpful even to an atheist, much more to a believer.

I realize he's seen as sort of an unsophisticated "Bible thumper" but he has a great way to demonstrating how adversity can be turned into a blessing and our enemies can inspire us to greatness.  As he commented in the book, if not for Goliath, David would probably have lived and died a simple shepherd boy.  It took adversity, a challenge and risk for the world to recognize David's talent and greatness.

My thoughts regarding the negative reviews is that some people a) resent Osteen's success and b) think that religious teachings need to focus on punishment and sacrifice to be credible.  In all fairness, if you are a Biblical scholar, the Osteen books are probably not your cup of tea.  But for the many millions of people who are mired in self doubt and afraid to act, I think they will find some insight and inspiration from It's Your Time.
2615161
I saw this devotional and what caught my attention was the title - "Surviving Religious Idiots: Discovering Personal Freedom", but the first part of the title caught my attention because I thought, well I have met many idiots before and I too have been one at times. However, the tone and flow of the book is positive, uplifting, and made me look deeper into this idea of being free from people's thoughts or expectations of me. The chapters are short and to the point, the author I think understands how busy we can be at times and offers some good insight for each day. I absolutely loved it and so did my wife. We will recommend this to others. Hope this author continues to write because it's some pretty rich content. Thank You!
3252698
Because it is a fun infectiously enthusiastic read and a short one at that I have already read this book twice. The author does a good job of taking his personal life experience and combining it with the lessons of Esther Hicks, Rhonda Byrne, Tony Robbins, etc.  It's informal but to the point. I also enjoyed the action steps he includes at the end of each chapter as well as the books/websites, You-Tube channels and other resources that he shares. While the tone of the book is simple and humble it presents clear and positive insight that anyone can apply instantly upon reading it. I keep it by my computer on the end table just to occasionally flip through it for quick insights or to simply change my state and "jumpstart" the moment with positivity. Lots of good things in such a simple little book. Highly recommended.