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abzhozay's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a great reminder of letting go, opening up to God, casting all your cares upon Him, and beginning again when life gets too hard. Not going to lie, there were some fluff chapters I was just “meh” about, but overall I thought it was such a refreshing read. I also love that Leeana is a fellow San Diego resident 😉 highly recommend if you’re looking for a quick, uplifting Christian self-help book!
hollyhandal's review
5.0
This book came to me at the *perfect* time. She’s a beautiful, vulnerable writer and I tore through it in one day. She has the most beautiful revelations here, one of which made me cry because it was so pertinent to my situation. I was so encouraged and bolstered up by this book, and would highly recommend it for anyone going through a hard time in life.
rachelm31f6b's review
4.0
This book came into my life when I needed it, then I put it aside and slowly finished it. The main point was when things get crazy and overwhelming and you feel like a failure; take a pause and begin again. As she says, Breathe and begin again!!! I read a lot of this in the Lenten Season and it was like a straight message from God to me to hold on and move forward. God has plans He is reaching for you. A very God focused book, there were a few parts that drug on a bit.
"God's story is a narrative of emancipation. Here's the heart of it: what we thought was an ending may very well be a beginning. When the hissing in our ear tells us it's over. God whispers an opportunity. Here's a place we could start from, he says. Here's a rock bottom. Hooray. Let's see this for what it is: a possibility"(p.18).
"He says: You do not need to do more, fix yourself, or hold anything together. You just need to fall back into my grace, trade your trying for trust. Where you are broken and bruised is exactly the place, not in spite of that place, that I want to show you you're beautiful"(p. 35).
"It is just so much easier to cover, compensate, and control than to look right at the discomfort"(p. 49).
"I want someone else to validate my perception and my plan of action because, after all, I am not a reliable observer in my own life"(p. 55).
"You and I have an opportunity to offer something to ourselves that no one else can offer us. We get to decide if we will pick up the most unwieldy and needy parts of ourselves and bring them to God. Daily. Over and over again. And open ourselves up to his healing work. It is our decision. We decide if we will respond to his invitation or not"(p. 58).
"This is not about fixing ourselves. Alchemically, God will use our brokenness. He will come to us when we are hiding and scared. We don't have to be 'fixed-up' for God. He will come to us. And if he is coming to you, if he is putting a gentle pressure on your soul, what would it be like if not turn him away? That's all. Just turn toward him and be still an breathe and listen. That's all"(p.73).
"I feel embarrassed and exposed. Sometimes we don't jump right to naked and unashamed. We start with naked and ashamed and let God meet us there"(p.76).
"Grace is this: you have nothing to prove. Can you even imagine? You have nothing to prove. You have nothing to prove"(p. 119).
"Here's what it means to be human: I cannot see everything, I cannot know everything, I cannot be awake to everything. And it's OK. It doesn't mean I'm lost or worthless. It means I will forever be in need of God, of a guide (or two), of a great cloud of witnesses (in Target), of coffee in the kitchen table at 5 a.m. (also known as 'waiting for faraway things'), of surrendering to the invitation- even if it doesn't all make perfect sense (see the entire story of Gideon)"(p. 135).
"No matter how beautiful and epic and glorious life is right now, the sun goes down. And no matter how ugly and rejecting and hurtful life is right now, the sun comes up. Something about this saved me then and saves me now"(p. 165-166).
"God's story is a narrative of emancipation. Here's the heart of it: what we thought was an ending may very well be a beginning. When the hissing in our ear tells us it's over. God whispers an opportunity. Here's a place we could start from, he says. Here's a rock bottom. Hooray. Let's see this for what it is: a possibility"(p.18).
"He says: You do not need to do more, fix yourself, or hold anything together. You just need to fall back into my grace, trade your trying for trust. Where you are broken and bruised is exactly the place, not in spite of that place, that I want to show you you're beautiful"(p. 35).
"It is just so much easier to cover, compensate, and control than to look right at the discomfort"(p. 49).
"I want someone else to validate my perception and my plan of action because, after all, I am not a reliable observer in my own life"(p. 55).
"You and I have an opportunity to offer something to ourselves that no one else can offer us. We get to decide if we will pick up the most unwieldy and needy parts of ourselves and bring them to God. Daily. Over and over again. And open ourselves up to his healing work. It is our decision. We decide if we will respond to his invitation or not"(p. 58).
"This is not about fixing ourselves. Alchemically, God will use our brokenness. He will come to us when we are hiding and scared. We don't have to be 'fixed-up' for God. He will come to us. And if he is coming to you, if he is putting a gentle pressure on your soul, what would it be like if not turn him away? That's all. Just turn toward him and be still an breathe and listen. That's all"(p.73).
"I feel embarrassed and exposed. Sometimes we don't jump right to naked and unashamed. We start with naked and ashamed and let God meet us there"(p.76).
"Grace is this: you have nothing to prove. Can you even imagine? You have nothing to prove. You have nothing to prove"(p. 119).
"Here's what it means to be human: I cannot see everything, I cannot know everything, I cannot be awake to everything. And it's OK. It doesn't mean I'm lost or worthless. It means I will forever be in need of God, of a guide (or two), of a great cloud of witnesses (in Target), of coffee in the kitchen table at 5 a.m. (also known as 'waiting for faraway things'), of surrendering to the invitation- even if it doesn't all make perfect sense (see the entire story of Gideon)"(p. 135).
"No matter how beautiful and epic and glorious life is right now, the sun goes down. And no matter how ugly and rejecting and hurtful life is right now, the sun comes up. Something about this saved me then and saves me now"(p. 165-166).
thelifeofbookishmartha's review
3.0
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. The author uses much of her stories about her kids and being overwhelmed with them. The problem…I don’t have any kids unless you count my 2 cats who I refer to as my kids.
The author writes about though how when life gets hard, we can begin again. I can so relate to the book in that way because life has been really hard for me. I’ve been juggling a full time job, my home life, being my mom’s primary caretaker and trying to take care of myself and then adding in my summer job starting in 2 weeks. I know that when I get overwhelmed. I can begin again.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
My rating is still up in the air.
The author writes about though how when life gets hard, we can begin again. I can so relate to the book in that way because life has been really hard for me. I’ve been juggling a full time job, my home life, being my mom’s primary caretaker and trying to take care of myself and then adding in my summer job starting in 2 weeks. I know that when I get overwhelmed. I can begin again.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
My rating is still up in the air.
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