Thursday, December 19, 2013

Book Review: Real Life and Faith

Moody Publishers provided a complimentary copy of the featured book in exchange for an honest review.
     Every time I open up a book I never know what to expect. Sometimes I am disappointed and at others I am pleasantly surprised. As I opened Live Free: Eliminate the If Onlys and What Ifs of Life by Kendra Smiley my expectations were completely wrong, and gladly so in this case. Smiley does not attempt to give you a one-two-three-and-check-it-off-your-to-do-list method. Instead, she offers you the stories of people that have been through harrowing, faith-testing trials that have instigated these women to face their problems with a heart of faith and openness to new possibilities.
     Life is going to hand us adverse circumstances, from meager financial resources to major health problems, from soured relationships to broken dreams. We always have choices in the midst of the storms. What sets believers a part is our hope we have in Christ. Are we willing to trust and believe that He is working things for our good? Or are we going to allow the circumstances to dictate our life, our dreams, our joy?
    Live Free doesn't just present examples of miraculous healings, though those are there, too. But, she takes care to present stories that have had outcomes that are far from ideal according to our fleshly desires. However, the women involved have chosen to see their circumstances in light of Christ. There is real power and hope in these pages.
    I also really appreciated how Smiley incorporated theology, application and the story into one, comprehensive reading in each chapter. Some times the three are written separately and loose their cohesion and power. I would recommend Live Free to any woman wanting to live free from the constraints that life places on us and live freely in Christ.

 

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