A Radical Change

The past few weeks I've been reading the book Radical by David Platt for the new college group my boyfriend has started called Scope.

Wow.

If you haven't read this book, I recommend that you do. It really puts some things in perspective.

Like how small this life on earth is in comparison to eternity. How we (Christians) have made God more suitable to us according to our own comfort, focusing only on his love for us rather than the fact that we were created to live for and to love Him.

Reading this has made me realize how selfish we really are.

"Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"

~Luke 9:23

The group is currently doing a two week fast from social media as well as television. I'm really excited about it. Instead of getting on Facebook during my free time, I can spend more time with God. I have a feeling it'll really put my priorities in order. I'll be able to get more things done as well as draw closer to God during the process.

I'm so ready for a radical change. To live this life for God... not for myself. No more wasting time but instead live each day like it's really my last.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

~Matthew 7:21

Book Review: "Beyond Talent" by John C. Maxwell

Back Cover Blurb:

New York Times best-selling author John C. Maxwell shows that talent is just the starting point for a successful impact in any organization. It's what takes you beyond your talent that matters.

People everywhere are proving him right. Read the headlines, watch the highlights, or just step out your front door: Some talented people reach their full potential, while others self-destruct or remain trapped in mediocrity. What makes the difference? Maxwell, the go-to guru for business professionals across the globe, insists that the choices people make--not merely the skills they inherit--propel them to greatness. Among other truths, successful people know that:

Belief lifts your talent.
Initiative activates your talent.
Focus directs your talent.
Preparation positions your talent.
Practice sharpens your talent.
Perseverance sustains your talent.
Character protects your talent. . . . and more!
It's what you add to your talent that makes the greatest difference. With authentic examples and time-tested wisdom, Maxwell shares thirteen attributes you need to maximize your potential and live the life of your dreams.

You can have talent alone and fall short of your potential. Or you can go beyond talent and really stand out.

My Thoughts:

Beyond Talent by John C. Maxwell provides step-by-step motivating principles to help one become a “talent-plus” person with extraordinary results. If you’re looking into buying this book, be sure that you have a pen and/or highlighter around as you begin to read, as this book is packed full of useful strategies as well as quotes relating to each method that Maxwell provides. In every section he also gives real-life stories to help the reader see clearly as to how and why these principles work. Beyond Talent is in an easy-to-read format with application exercises at the end of each chapter to help the reader apply what they have read. I very much enjoyed this thought-provoking book and feel as if I should go back and read it again just to make sure that everything has sinked in.

Final Comments:

I would recommend Beyond Talent for teens and adults alike. This book will inspire you to stretch and challenge yourself as well as your talents, whether you're a student or already involved in a career. This is the first book that I’ve read by John Maxwell but definitely will not be the last!

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers Group as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.

~~~
Has anyone read Beyond Talent
or any other books by John C. Maxwell?
If so, what did you like or dislike about them?

Book Review: "Praying For Your Future Husband: Preparing Your Heart For His" by Robin Jones Gunn & Tricia Goyer

Back Cover Blurb:

“From when we were small girls, most of us dream of ‘The One,’ our future husband. We think about what it would be like to be a bride. We wonder who that special guy is and when we'll find him. The great news is that what you do now can make a difference in your life and the life of your future husband!

Authors and good friends Robin Jones Gunn (Christy Miller series) and Tricia Goyer (author and former teen mom) believe God answers women's prayers for husbands—even husbands they may not meet for years. They invite young women to pray boldly for their future mate … while also asking God to prepare their own hearts.

In Praying for Your Future Husband, Robin and Tricia share their two vastly different experiences, including the things they did right and the mistakes they made on the path to meeting and marrying their husbands. Each chapter includes helpful Bible verses, prayers, and practical application, along with true stories of women who prayed for a husband and how God answered in remarkable ways.

God has a beautiful romance prepared for you. Prayer is the key to unlocking the love story … with your future husband and with God, the lover of your soul."

My Thoughts:

I’ve read many books on Christian dating and why you should wait for “The One”, but this one brings something new to the table: the benefits one reaps from praying for your future husband and waiting for him. Instead of describing specifically why you shouldn’t date around and how those kind of relationships are not healthy, Praying For Your Future Husband explains why it is so important to pray for your future husband and his relationship with Christ as well as yours, so that God can go ahead and begin preparing your hearts for each other.

Each chapter of this book is filled with true stories written by girls who have prayed and God answered, journal entries/poems written by others, inspirational quotes and scriptures, as well as a section for the reader to write down their thoughts on the chapter’s topic at the end of the book followed by ten discussion questions.

I absolutely loved the entire idea of Praying For Your Future Husband. It doesn’t just give specifics on what you should pray for your future husband, but it opens your eyes on to how waiting seasons are fragile and beneficial to your relationship (and eventually marriage) with your future husband and each of your relationships with God. Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer are very personable to the reader and have an obvious passion on this subject. Not only could this book help those waiting for “The One” and wanting to save themselves for someone special, but also to those who have made mistakes in the area of dating in the past.

What I Disliked:

Honestly, I can’t name one thing that I disliked about this book.

Final Comments:

Praying For Your Future Husband is a must-read book for all teens/young adults, whether you’re in a dating relationship or not.

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

~~~

If you’re a teen, are you for the idea of dating or waiting for

“The One”? Why or why not?

If you’re married, did you pray for your future husband before you got married?

If so, how did your prayers make a difference?