About the book: Say goodbye to insecurity. It's time to change how we think about ourselves. We
have more ways than ever to compare ourselves to others--who are all
prettier, thinner, smarter, more successful, and more put together than
we are--and our sense of self-worth takes a serious beating on an almost
daily basis. It's not what God wants for us, and it's not what we want
for ourselves. So why is it so hard to stop?
Drawing from her
twenty years of experience counseling women, professional Christian
counselor Donna Gibbs says enough is enough. In this practical book, she
exposes the vulnerabilities and lies that produce insecurities in us
starting from a young age, explores the result of letting those
insecurities get the best of us, and, most importantly, shows us the way
out of insecurity--for good.
My review:
This is an amazing book I think every teen girl and woman should read! In the first section Donna talks about identity thieves such as appearance and comparisons or approval and rejection. She explains how we might have bought into the lie that our identity is based on how we look or on whether we have people's approval, etc. There are many different things we can base our identity on rather than on where it should be, which is who God says we are. He says we are His masterpiece, his child and He loves us and will never leave us. The next section talks about problems insecurities can cause, from mental patterns we might fall into to emotional issues to relational or developmental ones. Are you thinking negative or positive thoughts towards yourself? The third section talks about how to fight the thieves and that's by trusting what God says about us and not listening to the lies. She shows what characteristics a healthy sense of self-worth will have and illustrates her points with Esther, a great example from the Bible. Each chapter has a victory verse and questions, making this ideal for a group study or on your own. Some things she pointed out I had heard before and I try to examine what I'm telling myself but there was just so much vital information in here that I needed to read and so many others do, too.. I highly recommend this life-changing book!
I received this book from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
The Author
Photo by: Leigh Beddingfield
Donna Gibbs
Donna Gibbs is author of Becoming Resilient and a
leading Christian Counselor recognized on the referral networks of Focus
on the Family, Christian Care Network, r3Continuum, FINDINGbalance, and
Samaritan's Purse. She has been providing women and their...
About the book: For these two broken hearts, the first step toward love will be a huge leap of faith.
Jessica
Mason isn’t looking for love when she meets Ridley Chesterfield.
Instead she is still reeling from the tragic, unexpected loss of her
husband and daughter—and awaiting the arrival of her unborn child.
Harboring the secret of her husband’s betrayal, her pain is deeper than
anyone knows.
Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs,
Idaho, avoiding a political scandal and the barrage of false media
headlines that have tarnished his good name. The last thing Ridley wants
is a relationship—but when fate leads Ridley to form a friendship with
his reclusive and pregnant neighbor, he wonders if this small-town
hideout might be more of a long-term destination.
When Jessica
begins to read her great-grandfather’s Bible, she finds a connection
with a man she never knew. Somehow the verses he marked and the words he
wrote in the margins open her heart to healing. And as Ridley and
Jessica help each other forgive the people who have wronged them, they
must decide if the past will define them or if they will choose to love
again.
Who I Am With You weaves together a modern-day
romance with Jessica’s great-grandfather’s story from the 1930s,
reminding us that some truths can cross generations and that faith has
the power to transform families forever. My review: This was such a wonderful, satisfying story! I really liked the modern-day characters and admired both of them for how they handled trying circumstances. The historical plotline following Jessica's great-grandfather was fascinating as we see him navigate the Great Depression, along with some family issues he came up against and how his faith in God saw him through. He had such a spirit of gratitude and trust in God but it was definitely something he worked at, meditating on Scriptures all of the time and praying. This book had such a wonderful spiritual message, about forgiveness and choosing to be grateful in all circumstances; it was definitely a reminder to me to count my blessings and not throw a pity party! There's always something to be grateful for and always someone who has it harder than you. I can always trust that Robin will give us a great story with a great message! There were sweet romantic moments and I could just picture the gorgeous mountain setting. This felt like such a cozy, comforting read. I just love the dual story lines. Books that have a modern and a historical plot are some of my favorites! I highly recommend it! I received this book from the author. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
About the book:
Reading isn't just a way to pass the time--it's a lifestyle. Books
shape, define, and enchant us. They are part of who we are and we can't
imagine life without them. In this collection of charming and relatable
reflections, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads you to remember
the book that first hooked you, the place where you first fell in love
with reading, and all the books and moments afterward that helped make
you the reader you are today.
My review:
I absolutely loved this book! There were so many moments in this book that I nodded and exclaimed, "That's me!" For instance, I've had certain books that seem to find me just when I need them and I could totally relate to her obsession with 'You've Got Mail,' my favorite movie of all time! I could relate to being so engrossed in a book that I couldn't stop reading (my most extreme circumstance was staying up until 5 in the morning when I had to work the next day!) I, however, really wish I had a book twin and I think I'd been searching for one and not even realized it. To have someone with your exact taste would be amazing! There are so many books she mentioned that I've wanted to read but haven't yet or some I've never even heard of that are going on my to-be-read list! As for the ones I'd read, it was fun to see what she thought of them or how they impacted her and to remember how I felt about them, too. It felt like we were sitting in a cozy library somewhere surrounded by books and discussing our favorite reads. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who loves books and it would make a great gift for the book lover in your life!
I received this book from Baker Books. I was not compensated for this review; all opinions are my own.
The Author
Anne Bogel
Anne Bogel is the creator of the popular blog Modern Mrs Darcy and the podcast What Should I Read Next? Her
popular book lists and reading guides have established Bogel as a
tastemaker among readers, authors, and publishers. The author of...