Living Fully begins with Hope
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We all feel physical pain.  No matter what your age, this is a hope filled path to a more joy filled life.
May you be inspired to find your own playtime by diving into this toolbox of hope.
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Prayers for Hope and Healing came into my life at the perfect time. The book focuses on the struggles, pitfalls, and discouragements that come with health challenges, but the scriptures and themes of each chapter can apply to more than health trials, in my opinion. The author starts off with a short glimpse of her motivation for writing the book from personal experience; however, I did not see any reference to the author's circumstances in the remainder of the book. I could personally relate and see myself in each chapter. Having walked a journey of infertility for 8 years now, I felt God breathing hope and peace to me through the pages of this book.

I read the book cover to cover, which was enjoyable, with a good flow of topics. The layout of the table of contents will be great for future reference. It lists the topics as "when you're..." and can be a quick guide to finding comfort for the theme listed. The chapters are short, which I prefer because it refocuses my energy quickly and reminds me of Christ's unfailing love and presence. Each section starts with an applicable scripture, reflection on the chapter theme, and an open, transparent prayer to God worded in "I and me" being the reader and "You" being God-which makes it a personal conversation between you and God. I found the words on each page directed your focus to Christ for healing, peace, rest, strength, patience, hope, love, understanding, and more. Honestly, I found this book similar to "Jesus Calling" books, but the chapters in Prayers for Hope and Healing, while still short, had more relevance and depth.

The Physical Book: This book would make a great gift for someone struggling with uncertain times or even a lovely coffee table book. The book is small, has a beautiful purple floral cover, and has one of those ribbon bookmarks in lavender color.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone struggling to make sense of the trial before them, because that is when hope waivers and distractions steal your joy. Prayers for Hope and Healing helps restore that hope and confidence that is shaken in tough times.
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Self awareness that leads to freedom. Courage is one of the most needed aspects in coming to the reality that homosexual practice is a manifestation of seeking for wholeness. The journey of wholeness is a journey not to be taken alone. Every person who seeks wholeness needs to be in a community that will love you into the presence of Jesus. Honest hope and great insights are the foundation of this book. Hope is here in Jesus and His body!
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I am always looking for books to share that allow the reader to see how they can begin right now to live a different kind of life and break out of the box that keeps them from reaching their potential. THE GRATITUDE POWER WORKBOOK is one of those books that will help you begin right now to live more of a life of purpose and understand yourself.

Written by Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons, the book allows you to add to its pages, sharing your personal journey and what you are doing to begin not just talking about change but moving towards it. What it really did for me was remind me of the importance of identifying the little things in life and the things that we sometimes either take for granted or don't even recognize.

Meditation is also a part of the book, but it is with the purpose of living in the present, and not just always be so focused on what is ahead of us. We have a life to live today, and this book will help you to better appreciate it.

What a great way to begin the year or even to begin anew. This book will help you to put your life in perspective and begin truly knowing what it means to live.
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The Imposter was a well written, heartfelt guide of hope for those of us who have families that lie outside what most of society calls normal.  Drug addiction and juvenile delinquency is rampant in our society.  As a parent of a child who fell into these same challenges in his youth, I could relate with the problems and difficulties families face in such circumstances.  I remember wondering as a parent, when my son was going through this, will he ever change?  Is there any hope?  Will he be destined to live out his life in a prison cell?  This heartfelt life story, which is shared by the author, shows that even the most "lost" among us can change and be productive members of our society.  It is a book of hope.  It is a book of faith.  It is a book that every parent, grand parent and family member of such children should read.  Never give up. Sometimes we are all there is between our children and a prison cell or hope. The Author gives us all a roadmap to help change the lives of our loved ones who have gone astray.
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Jacqueline has offered a first person memoire of her walk through the storms of life (Euroclydons) as a woman of faith. Her language is encouraging and filled with hope while at the same time being straightforward about the moment to moment struggles that come with walking out the real challenges this world offers to the faithful.

While J.M. is bold in her proclamation of faith her prose are neither stilted nor preachy. For women struggling through difficult circumstances I would highly recommend a read through of Fearless In Euroclydon.

Further Jacqueline offers some very personal thoughts concerning the battle many in our culture face with weight loss. For anyone struggling with this topic Jacquelines journal section will offer an affirming nod about staying on the path through the daily ups and downs.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book were:

I am a farmers daughter. A farmers daughter! So why did it take 35 years to come to this

realization?  Although the soil cant do a thing to change its character, it does not have to stay hard or

rocky or thorny-p. 15

Praying for others always takes ones mind off her own troubles.  This is a truth.  Lois knew this. I did too, I had just temporarily forgotten.  If you are having difficulties of any type, particularly depression or other emotional issues, give it a try.  You will see what I mean.- p. 119

In your studies, you may come across other words and phrases such as taking up ones cross daily, living in Jesus, walking the walk, crucifying ones flesh, etc., being used to describe this concept. These are all Biblical and, as such, the truth. They all also describe an action which cannot be performed just once and then youve arrived. And they cannot be done without the help of Holy Spirit. p. 166

Fearless In Euroclydon  is not a how to book. You won't find three steps to liberation or seven steps to happiness in any of its pages. It is a testimony about the power of God which can flow through any life facing any difficulty no matter how severe. Please consider giving it a read through, particularly if you are facing a Euroclydon of your own.
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In this work the author, Shellie Anderson-Tazi opens her heart and shares with her readers the tragedies that life has  dealt to her.

Losing her baby, being diagnosed with breast cancer, and her husband walking out on her brought Shellie to a point in her life that she either gave in and accepted death and defeat, or fought back and battled for life.

She chose the latter.

In this work, the author  shares  8 steps  she used in turning her situations around. She shares her experiences, her emotions, her victories and her defeats, tucking it  all neatly together  with a gentle dash of faith. In an honest and clear way,  she opens her heart  and walks you through putting these steps into practice in your own life.

All in all a good self-help read. I think you will like this one.

Shirley Johnson
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I enjoyed this book. It was highly inspiring and hopeful. I am already a strong believer in longevity and have been practicing many of the tips for many years.
Here's
to a long life for everyone in the near future!
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Life is full of challenges; however, as long as one believes in the Lord these challenges become positives. Just Believe.
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As the title states, I found this book to be full of hope and challenge. While stating what I believe to be fundamental verities, Koontz clothes them in characters and scenes that draw the reader into a deeper spiritual reality that both moves and challenges one to live more fully with spiritual purpose and intent.
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Awsome start to being all that God wants us to be. Already put into practice at our church during an Angel Tree event. God bless you Kevin Harney!
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I loved this book!  I found new hope and inspiration for finding more joy, and for giving myself fully in the important relationships of my life.  Thanks for the fresh thoughts and the encouraging presentation of how to both see clearly what is, and to anchor into what can be.
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So alive is this book that I became each character, each fear, doubt, struggle, addiction, hope of redemption. Ms. Slotto takes us to the anonymous rooms of AA, the prayer cells of Franciscan brothers, the homeless haunts, soup kitchens, through the eyes of her characters. We run from our past, our family histories, our dreams, fears, and hopes as we turn pages hoping to find a solution to problems that seem too real life to solve. This book will make you stop, examine your life, know that all of this could happen to you but for the grace of God. Yet there is great hope in this story, a promise of better things to come if only we surrender to the truth with courage and faith that all we experience in life are lessons to help us become all we are meant to be. Ms. Slotto has done it again, created a book I did not want to put down and will never forget.
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An Imperfect Woman speaks directly to the discouraged and broken places in my life. The manifesto gives words of affirmation to replace the negative soundtrack that becomes a ment le record after times of defeat or failure. There is hope and healing in the pages of this heartfelt and hard won wisdom shared by Kim Hyland. Run...dont walk...to get your copy today.
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This heartfelt written book is a message of empowerment and hope.  A true lesson for perseverance of survival.  Ms. Cameron explains how the simple addition of carrot juice into her diet changed a bleak sentence for her life into one of hope.
She shares this process by her easy to understand writing of her feelings, questions and course of action leading to her cure.  Her journey is driven by questions she poses to the medical community and herself, by researching scientific data, and by listening to that inner voice that leads her to look outside the box for another way of cure.  She shows the reader how to use the tools of inquiry to find answers to more questions that the reader might have.
No one should have to feel helpless in a situation and system that has only limited answers.  Honest informed answers are the right of every health care consumer to make their own choices in the pursuit of wellness.  Ms Cameron's example has provided me with this goal.
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Prolific author and speaker Jill Briscoe sets a tone for robust, faith-driven hope against a backdrop of cultural despair, fear and uncertainty. She challenges all Christians to cling to this positive expectant-type of thinking as the only viable lifestyle in a world gone adrift.

Opening her text, Briscoe shares the tremulous moments she experienced on 9/11 while flying back from Russia to the United States. High above the Atlantic, writes Briscoe, our world entered the "new normal." It was at this moment (as she reached for the emergency procedure card in the seat before her) that the author had to revisit her faith and decide if she did indeed believe what she had for years professed both publicly and privately. Was God in control? Like so many other believers, Briscoe admits that her faith was tested and she battled to find her mental and spiritual footing.

Wrestling internally, Briscoe reaffirmed to herself some foundational key principles regarding her understanding of God and His character. She reminded herself that God is never caught off-guard and He cannot be shaken or moved, even when everything else falls apart. God is there (here), sustaining and supporting. Like so many in the world who ask why God would allow such tragedy, Briscoe also felt these questions rise. She considered life --- with all its pain, divorce, infidelity, disease, financial ruin --- and wondered how people would be able to cope with the added burden of this "new normal" and its substantially heightened level of uncertainty that gave rise following 9/11. People aren't coping well; society as a whole is experiencing more anxiety, depression, panic and pessimism across all classes, creeds and ages. Briscoe admits to some sleepless nights following 9/11 where instead of counting sheep, she was counting terrorists.

So what is the answer to regain a solid spiritual standing whereby Christians do not simply survive the next onslaught of terror, but reach out with compassionate care and courage? Briscoe believes Christians have two choices. They can head down the path of fear, thus paralyzing and debilitating any potential good that hope may offer an unbelieving world. Or they can deal with the fear factor with faith; the faith factor, says Briscoe, is rooted in the Father factor. Whom we place our trust in is paramount. Likewise, trusting God and His unfaltering love is essential because the Bible states plainly, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God..." (Deuteronomy 29:29). Meaning what? That on this side of heaven there will be countless "secrets" Christians will have to leave hanging in God's faithful hands --- not every answer will be given on earth. Briscoe tells Christians to remember that life is fleeting and today's opportunity to share the love of Christ with a terrified world is short. The author lovingly admonishes fellow believers to set aside mediocrity and get on with the business of evangelizing, seeing the brevity of life for what it truly is.

As is Briscoe's custom, she communicates with a gentle sincerity and her advice begs to be followed. Both the careworn and the apathetic will appreciate this message to live life boldly and with unconventional conviction.

  --- Reviewed by Michele Howe
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I have been searching for a way to come clean with myself for the last year.  I found this book and the title said what I'd been praying for, "Lord, I Want to Be Whole".  In Ms. OMartian's book I found the tools and the strenghth to begin the journey and to stay with it. (Its never-ending by the way)!  It pulled me out of anxiety, depression and gave me hope and faith.  God bless you Ms. OMartian.  Your childhood experiences were not in vain.