Joyce shares how we can live in peace, above frustrations.
597406
This book was life-changing!  It showed me that God's grace is sufficient to cover my mistakes.  I found that I can live a fulfilled life, without wallowing in frustration and stress!
3894847
I love this book. The author puts the onus on us.

We can choose happiness as easily as we choose unhappiness. Yet most of us go around being unhappy about everything that is happening around us. It is so amazing to realize that when we are unhappy we have CHOSEN to be that way..how scary and freeing at the same time.
A must read..

Radha Singh Author of "Wisdom From The Heart"
1336447
I saw Judy Smith on a show a while back and was impressed not only by what she said but also her demeanor. She was calm and non-judgemental. Her comments were insightful but not arrogant. I bought the book not because I was in crisis but because after finding out some of the situations she has handled, I wanted her thoughts in case one does arise. She talks honestly about how we kid ourselves into thinking the crisis is none of our fault and there's nothing we can do to either avoid it or stop it. Again, no arrogance, she is quite humble but what she says, I think, is spot on. At least I saw some of what I have done in the past but was also able to give myself cudos for some good coping skills I've acquired over the years. I recommend this book fo anyone wanting to navigate life the right way
3799172
It's so easy to get stuck in a rut of our daily lives and I found it very refreshing to be reminded again that we're not here on this planet to struggle, but to life full and happy lives. There are so many bad things going on in this world that we forget how many good things are happening as well. The world is a great place and we need to make it better by making ourselves better.
2854248
A lovely collection of thoughts and actions for a happier life
694346
This is a good read:  a good self-help book for those interested in living with a little more inner peace.  Dan is authentic and also funny.  He really tells it like it is:  especially on how we are so attached to what we think should happen in our lives (and in any given outcome), the challenge of calming the voice in our head (especially the negative one),  and how sitting in daily meditation produces a happier life experience by opening the door of awareness and enabling us to respond responsibly, rather than react detrimentally.  Thanks, Dan......you've given me a seed to grow (my personal meditation practice).
457204
Because Joyce knows how to say all the right things, and make sure she gets her word out about God. Not to mention she had great ways to help you through a bad situation and  she knows how to say something and make it stick.
2081774
Brady Boyd explores the tragedy of continuing to live as spiritual orphans and the freedom that the sons and daughters of God find when they accept the truth that we are not fatherless but have a Father in heaven who will never leave us. The key is recognizing when we are living as spiritual orphans and then exchanging that life of dependence on self and others for a life of unyielding trust and dependence on One who can produce in us the joy promised to us through our life in Jesus Christ. Boyd reveals the peace that comes when we embrace a life of walking and talking with God daily, and he encourages us to share that peace with others. Spiritual orphans cannot lead others to a life they have not discovered for themselves. The book is scripturally based, and Boyd uses personal illustrations and anecdotes to make his message easy to understand. Reading it is much like sitting down to talk with an old friend. I highly recommend this book; readers will not be disappointed and will experience a measure of spiritual growth through the reading of Boyd's words.
1937917
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Luci Swindoll simple secrets to a happy life ~*~ 50 ways to make the most of every day

Luci Swindoll shares simple pleasures in a "complication" world. Not out there ~*~ but where I live. Do I complicate the journey, by keeping on heavy winter boots when I could be putting on spring waders to walk in the puddles that will surely come? When I was a young woman, I remember running down the sidewalk barefoot to get a quart of milk at the grocer on the corner. The response to me was, "We know you enjoyed every minute of being in the rain, with an excuse of being out of milk!"

Yes, that would describe me. I love fun, adventure, and indeed, simple pleasures, not complicated as I could make them. So, definitely, I was drawn to this title by Luci Swindoll, simple secrets to a happy life. I have had the blessing of being at a conference where Luci Swindoll spoke. I love her sense of humor and her timing! I had taken three of her books that I loved and had the pages marked that especially delighted me, saying, "Will you please sign here?"... and to my next little bookmark, "and here, and here, please?" And... she did.

Simple secrets to a happy life is so full of treasures. I could not hurriedly read this one, as is practical with all of her books, because of the wisdom and care in them. This is tried and true advice of one who has experienced life and enjoyed every moment of choosing to live as the Lord has provided for us.

Practical, attainable insight to what we can do and be to enjoy a happy life. Fifty times three equals 150 pages of snippets of a life well-lived and being lived. If you have ever wanted an older sister to help you along, in your quiet talks together, you may borrow Luci. Each topic is kept to three pages. So very full in three short pages. There are five sections; Beginning with the Basics, Developing Your Style, Achieving Balance, Living a Good Life, and Staying Connected, with ten topics within each section. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be reading it again more than once. There are notes on journaling, which I especially liked; letting others know you care in practical ways; treating yourself well to stay well; and experiencing God fully. Actively valuing God, others, self; a practical partaker in all of your life.

Thank you, BookSneeze, for providing a copy to me for this review in my own words. I am reminded of Colossians 2:2-3, "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Thank you, Luci Swindoll, for your simple secrets to a happy life of looking beyond ourselves, sharing who we are, truly listening to others, and the reminder to make scrumptious meals just for ourselves!
1662084
An honest account of the peace that comes with distancing yourself from humans
2276391
I am at heart the type of person that the author refers to becoming in  this audio cassette, but over the past few years I got down on myself for  being too passive and started making a big deal out of all of the small  things in life - blowing alot of stuff out of proportion - alot of the time  even things I could do nothing about.  I also, by  doing this, became  bitter and unhappy.  I've been listening to this cassette the past few days  (more then once) and besides learning to put things back into perspective  in the scheme of life, I am also learning that it is ok to be me.  He gives  more logic to things that people sometimes do not want to discuss, the  logic is what helps me to better understand instead of someone saying -  just don't worry about it.  I do wish that he, as well as speaking  generally as he did, would have hit on some topics closer to home - all in  all his advice is good and adaptable for many situations - just learn to  enjoy your life and don't get all wound up about the things that don't  matter and the things that you can't do anything about.  This all reminds  me of the serenity prayer - God grant me the serentiy to accept the things  I  cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to  know the difference.  The whole trick is to learn what things are worth  getting upset about and what things will not matter in the long run  "the 100 year perspective".  As the author puts it - "choose  your battles wisely".  You don't have to fight for or about  everything, just what really counts in the end.
4096690
I purchased the book three years ago and found it easy reading and very helpful. Joyce has "been there, done that" and has sound, reasonable advice to help you change your direction and attitude. I purchased several copies to give as gifts to friends.
1253550
The timeless relevance of patience and tolerance as antidotes to anger and hatred resonates in the words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  One's awareness of the confusion of these emotions is heightened to the degree that the mind calms in clarity.
3939007
I have a child who is often plagued by worry.  Even worse, I find that those worries are often spilling over to me.  So, when I was given the opportunity to review Worry Less So You Can Live More: Surprising, Simple Ways to Feel More Peace, Joy, and Energy by Jane Rubietta, I thought it might fit the bill as a source of encouragement for us both.

In this book, Rubietta invites you to set aside your worries about the future and take the time to delight in the Lord.  After all, He has your tomorrows under control and has even given his angels charge over you to keep you safe.  The covers several topics/tools that will help her readers live a life that is less filled with worry.  These tools include play, nurture, memory, movement, tears, empathy, trust and anticipation as well as several others.  Rubietta gives discussion questions and journaling prompts to help aid your reflection and even allow you to use this book in group discussions.

I found Rubiettas prose to be lyrical, gentle and encouraging.  Sometimes as adult Christian women, we err in that we consider that theres something virtuous in worry, like the person who worries is the person who truly cares about a situation.  Rubietta exposes these feelings and these feelings that we may not be worth all of the care of the Lord to find the heart of why we should take delight in our lives and in the joy of our relationship with God.  I recommend this for all of us who struggle with worry and with the feeling that maybe we cant trust in God.  Rubiettas gentle and lovely prose will encourage us into deeper relationship with God and into a life with less worry.

Disclaimer:  I received a complementary copy of this book from Bethany House publishers.
3211475
If we could live with these four things in mind, we would live and love more fully and die at peace
3495522
There are innumerable books written about how to live better and more meaningfully.  Some are strident in their tone.  Others offer complicated and sometimes confusing templates for overhauling ones life.  John Viscount does neither of those.  He writes in a disarming fashion, with stories and gentle suggestions born of his own trials and challenges.  He rightly notes that it is very difficult to see more clearly if ones mind is closed in on itself. It was in facing serious health problems and other adversities that he was challenged to open his own mind and search for more effective ways to cope and function.  This book is largely the result of those discoveries and how they helped him change his own life.  Using this learning he then offers the reader thoughtful suggestions on how to do likewise.

This is a relaxing but engrossing book free from excessive jargon and officious direction.  The chapters are topical and written in a storytelling fashion that makes their points very effectively.  Each is followed by Voices, a brief collection of quotes from well-known writers and teachers that reiterate his points. In this gentle fashion, he challenges the reader to look beyond the familiar and discover living more mindfully and enjoyably.  Indeed, his Chapter, Laughter Is The Sound Of Good Health injects a note of healthy humor that is meant to help the reader from falling into the trap of being too solemn about self-improvement.  His admonition to be careful how you dial the phone makes this point in a disarmingly amusing fashion. Those on a journey toward more mindful, enjoyable living would do well to explore this book.
349342
This book gave me a sense of the joy that I can experience if I truly live in the present moment. The humour of the author allowed me to see that I don't have to take my own spiritual journey so seriously.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in experiencing peace.