Book Review: Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado

Product Details:
Format: Trade Paper
Trim Size: 5.40 x 8.30 x 0.90
Page Count: 220
Retail Price: $15.99
ISBN: 9780849947087

Book Description:
"Sweet spot." Golfers understand the term. So do tennis players. Ever swung a baseball bat or paddled a Ping-Pong ball? If so, you know the oh-so-nice feel of the sweet spot. Life in the sweet spot rolls like the downhill side of a downwind bike ride. But you don't have to swing a bat or a club to know this. What engineers give sports equipment, God gave you A zone, a region, a life precinct in which you were made to dwell. He tailored the curves of your life to fit an empty space in his jigsaw puzzle. And life makes sweet sense when you find your spot.

But if you're like 87 percent of workers, you haven't found it. You don't find meaning in your work--or you're one of the 80 percent who don't believe their talents are used. What can you do? You're suffering from the common life, and you desperately need a cure.

Best-selling author Max Lucado has found it. In Cure for the Common Life he offers practical tools for exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, motivation to put your strengths to work, and the perfect prescription for finding and living in your sweet spot for the rest of your life.

MY THOUGHTS AND REVIEW:
Are you happy with your job? Excited to get up and go to work everyday? If you're like the majority of people in America (and the world for that matter), the answer is probably "no". Do you dread work days? Bored with your "common" life? This book aims to help you navigate through your interests, passions, abilities, skills, and more to find your sweet spot (= the cure for the common life). Your sweet spot is the spot where you use your uniqueness to make a big deal out of God every day of your life! "If you aren't you, we don't get you. The world misses out...Live your life, or it won't be lived. We need you to be you. You need you to be you." (p. 33, 34) The first step to discover your sweet spot is to study your S.T.O.R.Y. (Strengths, Topics, Optimal conditions, Relationships, Yes!). "For fear of doing the wrong thing for God, you'll do nothing for God. For fear of making the wrong kingdom decision, you'll make no kingdom decision. For fear of messing up, you'll miss out...." (p. 60) Mr. Lucado invites readers to take big risks for God and use their gifts to make Him known. "God's ultimate cure for the common life takes you to a manger. The babe of Bethlehem. Immanuel. ...Weary of an ordinary existence? Your spiritual adventure awaits. The cure for the common life begins and ends with God." (p.65, p.70) This is a useful and practical book that helps readers explore their uniqueness that God packed in them on purpose for His purpose. It includes the Sweet Spot Discovery Guide (developed by People Management Internatinoal, Inc. and Steve Halliday) in the back of the book. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others. I especially love Chapter 15: Don't Be Too Big to Do Something Small. "God's cure for the common life includes a strong dose of servanthood...As you celebrate your unique design, be careful. Don't so focus on what you love to do that you neglect what needs to be done." (p. 131). In the book, Mr. Lucado provides these wise words: "Parents, tell your kids to do what they love to do so well that someone pays them to do it. Spouses, urge your mate to choose satisfaction over salary." Sounds great, doesn't it? However, in reality, it doesn't always work out. For example, my husband has always desired to be a full-time missionary to the unreached. He loves the Lord and wants to serve Him! Sharing the Gospel and talking about God and the Bible bring him joy. It's his "sweet spot". But one thing after another keeps preventing him from being a full-time missionary. His sickness. My mother moved across the continent to come live with us for a while. Our son's anxiety disorder (he refuses to move from our state). My husband is thankful to have a job (civil engineer) and he is being light & salt at his workplace but he still longs for his dream job. Also, for those living in third world countries who are starving...they do not have an option to choose satisfaction over salary. Survival must come first. Wouldn't our contentment and thankful heart honor God more than our fulfillment/satisfaction? I believe our sacrifice (putting others' need above ourselves) glorifies God more than our self-seeking desires (being too occupied with finding our sweet spot, being discontent until we find our sweet spot, etc.). It makes me wonder if our sweet spot is supposed to  mean "living in obedience to His will and being content", instead.

~ I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Prepare To Be Inspired!

Book Review: Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic
Product Details:
Hardcover: 238 pages
Publisher: Doubleday Religion
ISBN: 978-0307589736

Do you want to live a ridiculously good life?  Nick Vujicic lets you in on his secrets. Born in Australia without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic was a rambunctious kid :). Once a bully in school dared him to fight and he won!  He has not allowed his disabilities to limit his abilities. Did you know that he can swim, surf, scuba dive, fish, and play drums?  I sheepishly admit that I can't do any of those.  In this book, Nick shares about his struggles, his triumphs, and his faith in God.  The Lord has been using him as an internationally motivational speaker to share the message of salvation, hope, healing, joy, and life with a purpose, inspite of difficulties. Nick is blessed with the beautiful gifts of inspiring and encouraging others. Nick offers readers encouragement and practical advice regarding purpose, hope, love and self-acceptance, attitudes, courage, resilience, adaptability, relationships, opportunities, risk, and fun.  The book also includes 8 pages of color photographs of Nick Vujicic from his childhood to adulthood.  Nick concludes his book with the call for us to live for God and others by serving, giving, and reaching out to those in need.  He also includes links to various philanthropic websites at the end of the book. Don't you just love his heart?

I've found Nick Vujicic to be such a wonderful inspiration since I first knew about him a few years ago. I was so excited when I had a chance to review this book. Wow...what a gem it is! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. This book made me laugh out loud several times. Nick is funny and witty. He is also insightful and joyful. Nick is truly a blessing to the world. If you are discouraged or are going through hard times, this book will lift your spirit and warm your heart. With God on your side, life is definitely without limits and you can be an overcomer like Nick! Nick wants us to remember that if he can do it, we can, too :)!
"Live to glorify God, and don't leave an ounce of energy, a trace of your uniqueness, behind. Dare to be ridiculous, and you will be ridiculously happy." ~Nick Vujicic (p.211)

~ I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Please rate my review. Thanks so much!

You can purchase this book from Amazon.com or WaterBrook Multnomah.
Check out Nick Vujicic's website at http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/.
Keep up with Nick on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/NickVujicicFans .

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the videos.

Have a Christ-Centered Year!

I Know Christ (by Margaret E. Clarkson)

I do not know tomorrow’s way,
If dark or gladsome it may be;
But I know Christ, and come what may,
I know that He abides with me.

I do not know what may befall
Of grief or gladness, peace or pain;
But I know Christ, and through it all
I know His presence will sustain.

We do not know what 2011 will bring. But we know Christ and that's enough. While the politics is polluted, the economy is erratic, the culture is corrupted, Christ is our Redeemer, Rock, and Refuge. I'm excited about a new year of living for God, living in the light of eternity, serving Him, and sharing His love. To God alone be all the glory!!!

Have a Christ-centered year, everyone!

Friday's Fave Five #27

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story).

My Fave Five this week include...
1. I had a great time at the Women's Conference at my church last Saturday.  The theme was "Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God" (Psalm 51:10).  The speaker was Georgene Rice.  She beautifully shared what a pure heart looks like according to God's Word.

2. I set up a page on Facebook called "Living for God".  All brothers and sisters in Christ are invited to join. I would love to see all Christ's followers around the world live radically for Him! To know Him more and to make Him known! Let's help encourage one another to live purposefully for God...to live and love like Jesus! Once you join, please click the discussions tab to participate in our current discussion. Please feel free to invite your friends to join, too.

3. Last night, I attended the “Make A Difference Tour 2010” concert from my home (watching the live concert which was held in Texas on my computer).  It was wonderful!   This tour's goal is to make a difference for children by helping to raise up sponsors for 25,000 children through World Vision.  Max Lucado set the goal in honor of his 25th year of publishing in 2010; he is donating 100% of author royalties from all Outlive Your Life products to benefit children and families through World Vision and other ministries of faith-based compassion. Max Lucado along with Michael W. Smith, Third Day, TobyMac, and Jason Gray are part of this tour.  Visit here to see if the tour will be near where you live.

4. Session 1 of Beginnings DVD can be watched here for free.  Eric Hovind presents a case to show that evolution has nothing to do with science.  Both creation and evolution are religions.

5. My family and I are passionately pro-life.  I love what Gianna Jessen shared in these 2 videos (Part I and Part II).  Please take time to watch them.  The message is so powerful and true!
Note: Please turn off my music playlist before starting the videos.

Review: The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews

Product Details

Format: Hardcover
Trim Size: 6.40 x 6.60 x 0.50
Page Count: 112
Retail Price: $14.95
ISBN-13: 9781404187801
Author: Andy Andrews



My Thoughts and Review:
The Butterfly Effect is a motivational gift book. It is short but powerful. It gives readers a needed perspective on life and encourages them to live their lives with purpose. Your life matters because everything you do matters for all time. It talks about the butterfly effect: how one butterfly’s wing-flapping can move molecules of air in a chain reaction that results in a hurricane. The book gives an example of one man who made one move that still affects the world today. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was his name. What if he didn’t make that one move? Historical events and people involved would have not turned out the same. The ramifications are innumerable. Another example was Norman Borlaug who developed the special seeds that grew into supper plants that fed hungry people. His work has saved more than two billion lives from starvation. But soon you realize that several people were responsible for influencing Norman and his work. We can keep tracing back farther and farther into the past and see that each person’s action has far-reaching effects into the future whether he or she knows it or not. You were created by God to make a difference in the world. No one else is like you. Your actions whether good or bad will impact lives after lives in a chain of events. What you do with your life matters forever; therefore, choose wisely how you live. The Butterfly Effect is a beautiful book with an inspiring lesson.

~I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.