Out of the Darkness and into the Light
928434
I really love this series.  Loved the chemistry between Reed and Cleo.  Totally combustible!!!!!  Eli and especially Obie stole my heart and Reed's.  It took the love of Cleo with the help of her boys, to bring Reed out of the darkness and into the light again.  Love how these children of these rock stars who grew up together and clearly had messed up childhoods and went their separate ways as adults, are now reuniting and forming an extended family.  Love Christie's Beach House #9 series and now loving the Rock Royalty series.  Highly recommend, but I'd start from the beginning, Book 1, Light My Fire.
3614365
Mary Potter Kenyon has been through incredible loss in a short period of time--her mother, a grandchild and her husband, David. Throughout this book, Mary shares her personal journals and the journey. How did she not only survive but flourished in the midst of grief? It's clear that she clung to Jesus and the Bible throughout the book. Her journey provides a road map for readers who walk through their own grief and loss. The writing is moving and personal.

The final paragraph of the final chapter summarizes Mary's experience and I believe captures the essence of REFINED BY FIRE. "In the midst of the darkness of loss, I found light. Admittedly, in those first weeks, it might have been but a single small spark, I sensed deep inside of me, but that spark guided me in the twisted, dark journey of grief. As I stumbled over the roots of hopelessness and despair, that light grew to illuminate my path, a path I sometimes felt very alone on. At some point in the journey I'd turned around, and there was God. That is grace."

I highly recommend this book. Whether you are going through loss yourself or you need a solid gift for a friend or you are a pastor or counselor, you will find reading this book a healing experience.
2850437
Joyce Schneider takes you on a journey of her most personal struggles with life and her most profound finding of her spirit.  She shares her pain and then rebuilds her life with the acceptance of God and His miracles of truth, love, and the powers to heal.  Her honest approach to her life's struggles sparks hope and lights a path to all of us who have experienced life's turmoil. It is a wonderful testimony of finding peace in a world plagued with pain and suffering.
2481158
I hadn't expected this book to be as strong as it is, or as willing to see the horror, agony and darkness some of us have gone through. Dee Henderson is clearly willing to see those things and how someone can hold onto God as she lives through them. God's comfort, strength and glory is surely present as the heroine, her brother and the man who learns to love her are trapped in darkness and must struggle to reach the light. It's a fraught and deeply moving journey, and I was in tears and praying when I finished reading. The best stories, overtly Christian or not, lead us closer to God. This one certainly does. Thank you, Dee Henderson!
459813
The author's courageous journey of love and loss leads the reader to a place of peace and healing. I felt the presence of a friend sitting next to me, offering a hand to hold and a hug when I needed it. Both as a mother who has lost a baby and a nurse practitioner, I would recommend this book to patients, colleagues, students, and those who may interface with families innitially, such as EMTs, ER staff, police, and funeral directors. It is a rare glimpse into the suffering of a family and the process of healing, as well as valuable insights and resources for recovery.
Margaret Lash,RN,MS,ANP
290272
Thank you for opening our eyes to see the dents of brokenness and restoration of wholeness!
Thank you for turning on the Light..Jesus!!
4891648
Reading this book is a great opportunity and blessing to experience the journey of 2 light beings in service to the light while also learning more about the human experience and how evolution plays a roll in our every day lives. It is a great example of how all dimensions and planes,energy, body, mind, emotions and spirit coexist and manifest into our reality. Great book with a lot of tools, great story and amazing couple; really grounded into this 3D reality while living out of a 5D love reality. Thank you Antera & Omaran.
2476075
Andrew shares experiences that shines a light on each of the 12 paths he chose to walk.  Some of the most common fears or misconceptions get the veil, not ripped away, but gently taken down to reveal the humanity that stands behind it.  You get a chance to peer through the heart of those that follow each of the 12 faiths, not just peek at them through a frosted window. I was expecting a good read when I picked this up, but I was not expecting to be taken into such personal levels of the journey.

It's more than just a journey about learning truth behind religions, he brings you along as he follows the path of finding himself and rediscovering his family.  Project Conversion isn't written like a text book or from a point of cool observation, it reads as if he's telling you a story over a hot cup of tea.  Andrew does more than an overview of what he learned about each faith path, he shares all of the inner struggles through just about every paragraph.  You learn how it effected his children, his wife, and his perception of everything around him.

Project Conversion is also left open to the point that it inspires thought and introspection, rather than trying to convince you what to believe.  There is no demanding voice during the book that insists you follow his path.  However, you can't help but be sucked into his experiences and feel pushed to broaden your own perceptions because of it.

This is a fantastic book for someone struggling with the idea of faith or prejudice, for others who are struggling in finding their own path, maybe even families who have members of other faiths.  Generally, there is something here for everyone.
2007992
In a world that is rapidly denying any idea, concept or truth which is in contradiction to that of personal gratification, it is so refreshing to find a voice from someone who has experienced both sides of the issue of faith in God.  It is comforting to find that out of the darkness of narcissism can come a clear call to faith in glory unimaginable through Jesus Christ.  Why will we die in darkness when light is available freer than government handouts and so much more fulfilling?
62178
A lovely story full of hope for all of us who have traveled from a place of darkness at some time in our lives to the light and freedom that forgiveness and understanding bring.
280879
Amazing book from an amazing author which changed my life from being dark to the place I can see the light.
4857995
This book contains amazingly powerful poems speaking of an arduous journey out of the darkness and into a spiritual light of hope and promise.  These words will touch every reader as we see glimpses of our own pain and hope.

The provocative words are edgy and authentic and truly encourage us to recognize the steps of our own despair on our own journey to hope and promise.  These poems reflect the depth of hurt of the writers and allow the reader to see the flight from the desperation of lost children to the light of understanding that there is a greater "family" available to all.

The voyages of both John and Belinda from darkness to light bring hope, strength and courage to anyone who is seeking guidance and growth through a spiritual path.
9019
A wonderfully written and illustrated children's book that brings tears, hope, and inspiration to all who read it. Abbie Combs tells the story of her lost boy who finds his way through the love, acceptance, freedom, and determined love that his family showed him during dark times. The author has a gift for "holding the light" for not only her family, but for all who are blessed to cross paths with her. I eagerly recommend this book to anyone who feels lost in the darkness or for those who have loved ones who do. I know the light I saw from her life lamp put me back on the right path and saved my life. Hope it do the same for someone else. So hold out your candle and light someone else's that has gone out. Pass this book along as quick as you can.
4342225
I was in a very dark, depressed in my life when I picked up this book. Immediately, the dark began lifting and hope settled in. Since then, I have bought and given this book to over 30 people who were struggling with life's hurts, disappointments and tragedies. They too, were able to gain a greater hope from God who desires to be our strength and comfort through every aspect of life. I am right now purchasing another for a dear friend struggling through illness. When life seems crumbling and there is no hope, God wants you to know He is there giving you "just enough light for the step you are on." Hope is a person, Jesus Christ, who imparts peace no matter your struggle.
3314105
This was a deeply personal book that did a fantastic job of providing perspective on the tragedies and pains of life. Inspirational and encouraging, I would recommend this book to anyone who has suffered loss or grief  and isn't that everyone?

The overpowering message of this book: You are not alone.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the dark times in your life, this is a manual for facing that darkness with the light of God surrounding you. Buy a copy for yourself, buy another for someone you love.
907266
This extraordinary book transports one back to a dark time in history.  A time during which some people were able to put their love of fellow human beings above their and their family's welfare.  One remarkable story, that of a Catholic woman who saves over 2500 Jewish children during the Holocaust, is brought to light thanks to small town history project that soon becomes a huge agent of change.  A story of heroes and heroines, a story about the saved and the unsaved, a story for all time.
2369227
Whether a skeptic or an intimate follower of Christ, this book is a must-read as it addresses the reality of pain and darkness.  Ortberg releases the preconceived notion that you are alone in your pain.  As I read this book, I was not only comforted by hearing the similarities of others stories of pain but also convicted that I do not have license to play the victim.  Instead, Ortberg reminds us that our darkness is not the end but rather the journey we must walk through to experience hope.  She gives her reader the freedom to be, to breathe, to accept the darkness, to embrace God in the midst of unbearable pain and loneliness. What I love about this book is that it begs the question, what kind of person are you? Who have you been in the midst of darkness?  What most stands out most is there is no room for excuses.  Ortberg addresses lifes darkness from every angle so that you don't have room to wiggle out with self-pity.