THE JOY MODEL— A Step-By-Step Guide To Peace, Purpose, and Balance

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

THE JOY MODEL
 A Step-By-Step Guide
To Peace, Purpose, and Balance
By Jeff Spadafora

OVERVIEW: In The Joy Model, Jeff Spadafora shares, step-by-step, the path he took (and had coached hundreds on) from smoldering discontent to a sense of joy and purpose in everyday life. From creating margin in our schedules that allows us to breathe easier and think more clearly, to discovering our true selves and going deeper into our relationships with God and other people. Spadafora shows how the interaction between our being and our doing provides the key to opening up a life full of joy, purpose, and fulfillment.

AUTHOR: Jeff Spadafora is the director of Global Coaching Services and Product Development for the Halftime Institute (www.halftime.org), where he trains and manages the global Halftime Coaching staff. Earlier, Spadafora was a management consultant for twenty years with a focus on executive education and development for Fortune 500 companies. He lives with his family in Evergreen, Colorado.

MY REVIEW: Most of us think about joy a lot. Especially at this time of year. We even sing about it, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come...". Thinking and singing about joy doesn't necessarily mean we are experiencing joy. At least, not in the way Spadafora talks about it."Drawing on his years as both a successful businessman and a Christian life coach, Spadafora has developed a concrete, practical model to show the path from joyless to joyful. Using his Joy Model and the steps in his M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan, he clearly describes how to move from frustration and weary service to an over-arching, all-pervading joy of life in Christ.

I was especially pleased that Spadafora makes it clear that this joy he talks about is found in Christ.
However, knowing that doesn't mean that we automatically experience joy. There is much smoldering discontent and frustration in life and we all need help finding out way out of it. I promise you, these eleven chapters will provide a step-by-step guide to peace, purpose and balance. I agree with author Bob Buford, "The Joy Model maps the full route, providing a fully integrated pathway to deep and lasting joy and to greater peace and freedom, regardless of your age, gender, or income."

( I received this book from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

FIND YOUR MIRACLE

Friday, November 18, 2016

FIND YOUR MIRACLE
How The Miracles Of Jesus
Can Change Your Life Today
By Kerry & Chris Shook

OVERVIEW: In Find Your Miracle, New York Times best-selling authors Kerry and Chris Shook take a fresh look at nine of Jesus's most incredible times of healing and supernatural intervention. The Shooks unpack these moments in modern language to usher you into the pain, desperation, breakthrough, and miracle of each encounter. Plus they reveal a "miracle map" that connects that moment long ago to our needs today for revelation, transformation, and restoration.

AUTHORS: kerry Shook and his wife, Chris Shook are New York Times best-selling authors of One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life and Be the Message. They founded Woodlands Church in 1993, and it has since grown to be one of the largest churches in America. Kerry and Chris have been featured on NBC, ABC, PBS, Fox News, Life Today, and USA Today; and they have a television show that goes to more than 200 countries. The recent establishment of Woodlands Seminary came out of their desire to train the next generation to make a local and global impact. Kerry and Chris live in Woodlands, Texas.

MY REVIEW: What pastor, Mark Batterson said about this book is the main thing I like about it. He said, "As Chris and Kerry unpack the miracles of Jesus, they show us that miracles are not the focus. They are just the road signs pointing to God—to a real and personal relationship with Him." That's it! That's what this book is about. I also agree with pastor, Jack Graham who said, "Let's face it. At times we all need a miracle. Whether you are overwhelmed, feeling alone, or afraid, God is able to meet your needs. Every single one of them."

This is a good book giving an exploration of nine miracles of Jesus weaving the biblical narrative with contemporary real-life application, The sub-title is How The Miracles Of Jesus Can Change Your Life Today. I believe in miracles. I hope you do. This book will help you see HOW Jesus can change your life. I encourage you to read this book,apply the principles and watch God work in your life as maybe never before.

(I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

ANGELS

Thursday, November 10, 2016

ANGELS
Who They Are, What They Do,
and Why It Matters
By Jack Graham

OVERVIEW: Pastor Jack Graham walks you through Scripture, revealing the truth about angels and what they offer us: encouragement, counsel, confirmation of God's will, strength, protection, wisdom, companionship, and more. Focusing on practical application, Dr Graham separates fact from fiction and demonstrates that the main role of angels isn't to draw attention to themselves, but to point us toward Christ.

AUTHOR: Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation's largest, most dynamic congregations. He can be seen and heard across the country and throughout the world via PowerPoint Ministries, broadcast weekly on TBN, Daystar TV, and hundreds of radio stations around the country. Dr. Graham has a master of divinity degree with honors and a doctor of ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Deb, live in Frisco, Texas and have three grown children. Learn more at www.jackgraham.org.

MY REVIEW: In this book Dr. Graham chapter by chapter lays out fifteen key aspects of Christ's sufficiency made manifest by angelic dealings in the biblical account. I agree with Dave Stone, pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, "Jack Graham has done it again. His treatment of the topic of angels will move you from confusion to curiosity and on to clarity."

Graham uses stories to teach you a great deal about angels. After reading this book you will be on the lookout for angels. These stories told from a biblical worldview will help you experience a great connection to the unseen world. What attracted me to this book was the sub-title, Who They Are, What They Do, And Why It Matters. He doesn't disappoint. Believe me. After reading this book you will know much more about angels.

ANGELS is divided into four parts of equal value. My favorite or most needed is Part Two: The Protection of Angels as You Sustain Life's Blows. The chapters are: COMFORT When You Are Afraid, COURAGE When You Are in Danger, ADVOCACY When You're Excluded or Despised, SHELTER In the Midst of the Storm.

I like the words of author Christine Caine "This book is classic Jack Graham—great biblical teaching, wonderful stories, and terrific applications for readers."

(I received this books from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)