strength through pain
598681
This is a powerful and poignant book to read. It is very easy to read, but a hard subject to deal with. I like the way the author allows the clergyman to reveal his character through his love letters to her.  You can tell by his writings what an intelligent and seemingly God-fearing man he is/was.  That's what makes his choices so hard to accept. The lesson for me from this book is of the importance of maintaining a vibrant and intimate relationship with the Lord.  As much as we should love our husbands, we should love God more. I plan to use this book to challenge the ladies in my Bible Study to do that very thing. None of us knows what the future holds and we need to be ready to honor our Lord by the way we handle the challenges and trials that come our way. The author has done that in this book.  Thank you for showing us how God can be our strength through the pain as He heals our broken hearts.
474074
Wonderful book for anyone who has dealt with pain in their life: whether pain from sin, pain from wrong decisions, or pain at no fault of their own this book is for you.  This book is ideal for anyone who is hurting and needing to deal with their emotional pain. Sharon Jaynes teaches how to forgive others and forgive yourself. She also teaches how to overcome shame, rejection and turn the bad of your past into a testimony by sharing your personal story with someone else.  Each chapter contains a real life story of individuals who have experienced hurt in some way, shape, fashion, or form, however the testify of love, forgiveness, joy and grace as a result of their pain.

I highly recommend this book for any individual who is hurting or harboring anger and unforgiveness from the past.
94656
Carolyn Jessop's journey as outlined in ESCAPE is a powerful reminder of how some always have it worse off than us. Imagine having to deal with someone trying to control every aspect of your life, including your body, and you are powerless to stop it. She gives us her story so that we can break this tragic cycle that is unfortunate commonplace in this world. ESCAPE: a testament of courage and the will to survive against all odds.
2203171
This memoir is an inspirational story of survival despite what trials came about.
Although it saddened me to read the pain Yvonne suffered, it allowed me to know that with hope and determination, anything is possible.
Yvonne shows her strength not only as an individual, bit as a writer. Her story is remarkable and will definitely give hope to those readers who may be suffering with the same abuse.
3091042
I have lived with chronic pain for 10 years, since I was 19 & suffered a car wreck on I-80.  I have been through multiple surgeries, years of physical therapy, medications, and much more.  None of these treatments have worked much more than to help me get through the day, not achieve much quality of life beyond survival.  Many of the treatments & examinations, scans, discograms or mylograms Western medicine puts pain patients through is torturous and horrifically painful.  While I have not received the same treatments as Nicole and her results are different, her story is inspirational and one of hope.  I am so thankful she was willing to share her story with people around the world, so society can better understand a life lived in pain.

Nicole points out how many individuals along the journey to find some relief for our pain blatantly disbelieve us, or question the severity of our pain as chronic pain sufferers.  I hope that if others read this book & spread the word about the epidemic of chronic pain in this country, and can increase knowledge in order to better support and offer greater compassion to those in pain on a daily basis.  Nicole's story doesn't pull any punches & explains the very scary & very real lives of someone struggling to survive in a world where people offer judgement instead of compassion.  As Nicole communicates very clearly in her book, if one has an "invisible" disability, whether it is anxiety, mental health issues, nerve pain or other problems that are not visible to the public, than there is NO disability, discomfort, or need for accommodations.  In society's eyes there is no need to offer compassion & support to those struggling with pain that cannot be seen:  we are either functional or not, in a cast, a wheelchair, deaf or blind, or not.  Where there is only invisible pain, it feels as if there is only an invisible person. I know this is a struggle I face everyday, but Nicole's story has made it easier to spread the word about chronic pain & its invisible population.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be inspired, who is in chronic pain, or knows someone that suffers with chronic pain.  This is an amazing book & will allow its reader to achieve a glimpse into the mind of those with severe pain every single day. It can change your mind & perspective -- give it a chance to do just that!
4725684
This wonderful book by Kent Roberts shows how one derives strength and courage through faith in dealing with circumstances where all reason points toward despair and hopelessness. The book discusses Kents painful but ultimately victorious journey through one of the worst situations that a person can face in society  to be accused of a crime  and how faith sustained and counseled him through those difficult times. The Strength of a Free Mind is one of the most calming books I have read in a long time. I read it twice and find myself re-reading parts of it whenever I am distressed, unsure or upset.
 Prabhat Goyal, California
4460022
Ermalou Roller's book is a powerful witness to the way in which one person's pain can be used for good.  Through her honest telling of her own story, she invites us inside, to see the painful collateral damage that many families are experiencing.  She does a beautiful job of weaving together the story of the church trial with her own rich story.  This book is a must read for anyone interested in one of the prominent issues in today's world.
4217375
I became aware of this one about a month ago from the author herself after having become Facebook friends.  I am writing my own book, and I was interested in finding out more about the authoring process and pitfalls.  She told me that it was a type of self-help, empowerment oriented book aimed mostly toward helping women help themselves.  But that it could also inspire men as well.  Needless to say I was somewhat ambivalent, and I waited a couple weeks to place my order.  However, upon receiving the book, I found it hard to put down, and I read it over the course of only a few days, which for me is lightning speed with my busy schedule.

The first chapter grabs you and holds you, as all good works do, and you cannot help but to feel empathy for Marian for being trapped in such an abusive, sad, detrimental situation.  Her story is one of survival and strength and perseverance.  I was quite taken with her drive, her love for her children and family, and her constant desire to look for positive things in her life.  If you want to know how to pick yourself up when you are feeling down, read this book.
2770497
Deeply vulnerable . Written wothease, tears,
And much soul-searching. M. Coleman's book shines . I could not put it down, and read the whole thing in one day. Thank you, Monica, for brining out what has been hidden and stigmatized for so long . It ultimately is an affirmation of perseverance, and the power that is built within us, even through life's most horrific experiences like rape.
688949
A beautifully written story about personal struggle and how God can bring healing to the deepest of hurts. I felt able to connect with the author's fears and anxieties, as well as with her victories through the Lord's power. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been bullied or has dealt with hurts that have led to low self-esteem and difficulties finding self-worth. God truly wants to free us so that we can fly!
206541
I was pulled into the pain and the depth of the strength of these people. I couldn't put this book down. Excellent.
2719603
A beautifully written book on a painful subject. This travelled journey outlines the burdens of neglected children, rising above the words others may have used to define us, persevering with the love and help of others. And, most importantly, that a family can weather any storm and rise to their highest potential. Excellent book by a first-time author!!
4577632
A poignant and powerful memoir about a woman who loses her leg in an accident as a teenager. Her identity shattered, Colleen struggles to adapt and begins to doubt whether she can achieve her dream of being a mother.

Colleen comes to term with her disability with grace instead of self-pity. She tackles romance, makes difficult life decisions, and excels at skiing and hiking.

The true challenge comes when she becomes a mother, with the realization that she literally cannot keep up with her son. For me, this was the most powerful part of the book, not the aftermath of the accident. The challenges of early motherhood have been explored in many memoirs, but here there is the added difficulty of a physical disability. The pregnancy itself is a challenge, because weight gain interferes with the fit and function of her prosthetic leg. An especially poignant moment comes when her son realizes for the first time that his mother isn't like all the other mothers, and names the amputated appendage a "baby leg."

I also was moved by Colleen's return to the site of the accident, both with a therapist and later with the driver of the car that hit her. Even more astonishing to me is that Colleen moved to the town near where the accident occurred, meaning she continued to drive that route hundreds of times throughout her life.

She is a very strong, impressive woman, and hers is an inspiring story.
4659294
As I read this book of such heart-breaking child cruelty and abuse, I wondered how the daughter managed to survive and how her father failed to see, notice, or react. But the strength and resiliance of the author are proof of the strength of God given  daily, especially to a child in pain. Every teacher and counselor should read this book and learn the signs of abuse.
1709162
"Our Ever-Present Help" by Diane McGovern is an amazing book.  It's a story about learning how to get through one of the most difficult times one can go through, the illness and perhaps impending death of a child.

This book shows the reader the pain, fear and total darkness when going through this kind of anguish.  What is amazing is we can see the family come through by using the scriptures found in the Word of God and the love of friends and family holding them up in prayer.  There were times when I had to put the book down and take a few deep breaths because I was feeling the pain and fear myself.  In the pages of the book I saw this family rely on God.  I also saw the different personalities being used by God for His purpose.  Those that needed strength became the strong ones, those that had to control their emotions learned to do this.

It shows how God keeps His word, holding us up when we need Him most.  The wealth of scripture is phenomenal and continues to bless and teach me.

It's a book that shows and teaches you how to go through suffering, pain, exhaustion, and being so afraid and how to come out the victor.  It's the highest form of praise to God to bear your circumstances bravely - this family did just that.

The basic theme I felt while reading was "Be still and know that I am God".  I was blessed by this wonderful book.
4758361
It's often been said that adversity reveals one's true strength. This book is the story of Ms. Ingalls's battle with stage 2 ovarian cancer. Amid the shock of the initial diagnosis, she is swept up in a world of increasing uncertainty, of doctors, of pills. Yet, despite everything, she pushes on. Her story is an inspirational one of courage and strength in the face of daunting challenges.

It was thoughtful -- and practical -- of the author to include ovarian cancer warning signs, risk factors, and resources in the book's appendices to help those battling the disease.
312439
Anyone would benefit from Apryl's story because each and every one of us has endured something  painful in our life that we need to work through. Her story and her strength is inspiring!