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.

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.

12 Pearls of Christmas: Gifts of Purpose

Too Precious to Wear
by Sarah Sundin

One Christmas when my mother was a girl, she received a string of pearls from her father. Since her parents were divorced-an unusual situation in the 1950s-she treasured the pearls as a sign of her father's love. When he passed away her senior year in high school, the pearls took on even greater significance.

When I was growing up, my mother talked often about the pearls, but my sister and I never saw them. Mom kept them safe in their silk-lined velvet box tucked in her jewelry box. For dressy occasions, she wore other nice jewelry, but never the pearls.

The pearls were too precious to wear.

What if the strand broke and even a single pearl was lost? What if the clasp broke and she lost them forever? She couldn't risk it. Better to keep them cocooned in silky security.

When my mother offered to let me wear her pearls on my wedding day, I was deeply touched. This was more than "something old" or "something borrowed," but a sign that she trusted me and loved me.

A few days before the wedding, my mother pulled the box from seclusion. My sister and I watched with curiosity and awe.

The pearls had turned a deep grayish-yellow, they were flaking, and some had fallen apart.

They were fake.

For over thirty years, my mother nurtured a piece of costume jewelry. All that time she could have worn them and enjoyed them without worry. Her father gave them to her for a purpose-to wear them and feel lovely and ladylike and special. He didn't mean for her to hide them away.

On our wedding day, my husband gave me a strand of real pearls. They symbolize my husband's sacrificial love for me-they were expensive for a graduate student with half-Scottish blood.

I vowed never to tuck them away but to wear them often. Yes, I'm careful. I inspect the cord and knots and clasp, and I plan to have them restrung when necessary. But I wear them and enjoy them. That's why my husband gave them to me.

Our heavenly Father gives us gifts too-brilliant and costly. We should cherish them, but we should use them. Whether our individual gifts involve serving, teaching, encouragement, evangelism, or even money-they have a purpose. The Lord wants us to use our gifts to bless others and to spread the message of His love.

While pearls make women look lovely, using our God-given gifts for His kingdom makes us even lovelier. And just as pearls grow more lustrous with frequent wear, our gifts from God grow in beauty and strength the more we use them.

This Christmas I plan to wear my string of pearls, a sign of my husband's love-and to display my pearls from heaven, a sign of my Father's love.

Have a lustrous Christmas!

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Sarah Sundin lives in northern California with her husband and three children. She works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. Her first novel, A Distant Melody, historical fiction set during World War II, will be published by Revell in March 2010. Please visit her at http://www.sarahsundin.com/ or her blog or find her on Facebook.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Pencil with a Purpose

This week, I'm sharing something different than usual :).  I wrote "Pencil with a Purpose" (see below) two years ago to encourage people to participate in the Operation Christmas Child (a project of Samaritan's Purse founded by Franklin Graham).  My kids get excited every year around this time. Why? They get to pack shoe boxes!!! Their boxes along with boxes from others will be given out to children around the world who are living in extreme poverty, in constant fear because of wars/fighting, or in disaster-struck areas. These simple gifts will brighten up the children's life with God's love, joy, and hope. These shoe boxes are also evengelistic tools; they give local believers the opportunities to tell children about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, through Gospel literature and evangelism programs.

This is a wonderful project to get your kids involved in. Kids in America have so much to be thankful for, yet many take their plenty for granted. This is one of many ways we can share with others in need. For details (including how to pack a box and the location of the collection center near you), please visit https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/ or call 1-800-353-5949. The collection week this year is November 16-23.  If you choose to make your donation ($7 for each box to help cover shipping and other project costs) online using a credit or debit card, instead of putting your donation in an envelope and placing it in your box(es), you will receive an EZ give label (one for each of your boxes).  The barcode on the label enables OCC to track each gift. You will receive an e-mail telling you the destination of your gift, along with information about Operation Christmas Child in that country.  Isn't that cool?  I was always curious about where our boxes traveled to.

By the way, there are so many ways we can give, especially near Christmastime. Many Christian organizations (ex: Samaritan's Purse, Gospel for Asia, World Vision, etc.) have gift catalogs available from which you can purchase lambs, cows, chickens, pigs, goats, fishing boat, Gospel literature, VBS material, wells, etc. for native missionaries and needy children/families. These kinds of gifts touch lives and make a significant impact. Giving (especially secret giving) is such a joy!

"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain." Emily Dickinson

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord JESUS Himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35
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Pencil with a Purpose

     Pick me...pick me, please! Yes! A 7 year old girl picked me and put me in a clear plastic box next to sweet-smelling candies and a beautiful rag doll. There are more things in this container: a box of crayons, a sharpener, Bible activity pad, a writing pad, bouncy balls, a yo-yo, a jump rope, a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a purple comb, a washcloth with heart shapes all over it, several glittery hair clips, a pair of pink socks and a pair of white socks. Before the girl closed the lid, she placed an envelope addressed to Samaritan’s Purse, and a letter on top. Then her mom and she bowed their heads and prayed for the child who would soon receive this special gift.
    
     I have to admit...it’s a little crowded in the box but I’m glad it’s a clear plastic box. I can look out and see the world while having a fantastic adventure. First stop was a local church which was one of 2,000 drop-off locations nationwide. I could see rows and stacks of all kinds of shoe boxes and plastic boxes. Christmas music was being played in the background. I felt festive all of a sudden. From there I traveled in a huge semi-truck to a regional processing center where boxes were inspected and prepared for shipment overseas. Volunteers cheerfully checked each box to make sure that there were no used or damaged items, war-related items, chocolate (which can melt), liquids or lotions (which can leak), breakable items, medications or vitamins (no-no items). A lady looked in my box and she smiled at me (wasn’t she sweet?) These volunteers also took out the envelopes with the donation. Then they secured the boxes by using rubber bands. I was thankful for that because I didn’t want to risk falling out of the box and getting lost. Oh...what a nightmare that would be.
    
     Ooh...my next stop was at an airport. I got to be on a plane for the first time. Millions of box gifts were loaded onto ships and planes and delivered to more than 90 countries. I wondered what country I would end up in. How exciting!!! I was so excited and bewildered that I didn’t realize we were in the sky for over 10 hours. Finally, the plane landed and boxes were transported to a rural orphanage by a pick-up truck and by a motor boat, respectively. People speak a different language here. They speak Thai. I’m in Thailand...can you believe it? Tons of children gathered in a small room. The room was filled with excitement and anticipation. How lovely those smiles were! The National Leadership Team explained about the Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse and told the kids that these gifts were packed by caring people from several parts of the world who wanted to share the love of Jesus with them. They introduced the children to God’s greatest Gift of all–Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Then the team members distributed boxes along with Gospel booklets written in their own language to the orphans who were beaming with joy.
    
     I was anxious to see who would receive the box I was in. Then the moment came...when the box was handed to a long, black-haired 8 year old girl. She said, "Kawp Koon Kha" (thank-you in Thai). She quickly opened the lid and took out the items inside one by one. When she picked me up, she looked at the words on me: "Jesus is God’s Greatest Gift." She wanted to know what they meant so she asked one of the team’s staff. The man took the opportunity to share with her the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. She listened attentively. The man invited her to join in the children’s Bible study program after school. She said yes and was so happy (I could tell because she couldn't stop smiling). She also asked that same man to translate the letter she found in the box. She then sharpened me and started to write a letter to the girl who wrote her. She asked the man if he could translate her letter into English and send it for her. He assured her that he would. Now...do you understand why I’m a pencil with a purpose? What better purpose is there than to be used to share a message of God’s amazing love and to spread His joy? I know...my life is short but it has been well spent. Don’t you think? :)
                                                               
~Written by Urailak Liljequist
Copyright 2007
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Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts.
Please visit here for the links to other blogs that are participating in the Operation Christmas Child Carnival.
Have a blessed week in the Lord, everyone!