Book Review - The Noticer

A snowstorm on Saturday gave me time to finish some books I had started - snug in my warm house with a blanket, tea/coffee, recliner and books looking out my window overlooking the Allegheny Valley.

I finished The Noticer:  Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective by Andy Andrews - an e-book I received from Thomas Nelson. (I like reading on my Kindle better than on my computer - glad it was a short book)

This is one sweet book - in a genre all of its own, described as - a blend of fiction, allegory and inspiration, seasoned with a dash of autobiography. I think I will be buying one for each of my college-age boys. Great advice in it about keeping the right perspective in life, especially during tough times.

The jest of it is - Jones, an older gentleman, shows up in the lives of different people who are struggling. Along with helping them notice the good things around them, he speaks wisdom and hope into their lives that helps them turn their life around. 

Yes, that sounds like a fairy tale, but the truth is - we all go through tough times and we all need wisdom and hope to help us through. Sometimes it comes from others. Sometimes we need to force ourselves to focus on the positive and notice the beauty and/or the potential around us. Here's some of the advice that Jones gave ...

Other people's experience is the best teacher. By reading about the lives of great people, you can unlock the secrets to what made them great. (read biographies)

One way to define wisdom is the ability to see, into the future, the consequences of your choices in the present. (think, think, think about the choices you make) 

Many of life’s treasures remain hidden from us simply because we never search for them. Often we do not ask the proper questions that might lead us to the answer to all our challenges. We are so caught up in fear and regret, that hope seems a foolish endeavor. Proof of hope, however, is not only possible; it is an overlooked law of the universe. 

Proof of hope ... is it possible? 

I've had some dark days when I would have answered - no, don't think it's possible. 

But now I say - yes, it is!

The odd thing about 'proof of hope' is there's no one place, formula, quote or verse that will give us all hope. We each have to find it - in a way that speaks to our unique wiring and the time/place we are at in life. I find hope in some of the same ones mentioned in The Noticer - God's promises, books, outdoors and being intentional about noticing beauty around me. 

Where do you find hope?

Review of "Find Your Strongest Life"

In "Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently" Marcus Buckingham attempts to teach women how to have content and strong lives. He does this by interviewing a number of women, some are successful and happy, others are not. He then tries to determine what makes the difference.

I'm into reading stories right now, so to read a self-help book was hard, I had to force myself to get through it. Some of the women's stories were interesting and I gained some insights from them. But I had a hard time staying focused on his analog about the stories. At the end of each chapter, Marcus has a few "points to take away from this chapter." Those were the best part of the book.

Review of "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller

Wow! Excellent. Great read, I want to keep using words like that to describe this book, but that's boring, so here's some details.

We have one life to live and Donald Miller does a superb job in "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" helping the reader understand that life is boring and meaningless if we sit by and "watch the parade." He reminds us - live your life, try new things and tackle difficult issues. He asks the readers to imagine how boring movies or books would be if the characters never tried new things or if they gave up when they faced obstacles.

And I like, really like, the balance he provides by also writing about the fact that life won’t be perfect - there is no utopia. Yes, we need to be in the parade to enjoy life, but stop looking for perfection - enjoy and be involved in the life around you and you will find meaning in your story.

I rarely want to reread a book - I’ve just finished this one and I want to reread it already!

In "A Million Miles," Donald Miller talks about taking the chances or making the changes in your life that you keep talking about, but don't do anything about. Think about what you wish was happening in your life story that is not happening right now - is there anything you can do to make it happen? Probably not all at once, but one step at a time, can you make changes to your day that would make your life more meaningful?

New feature starting tomorrow - WINNING WEDNESDAY!
Will be happening every week.

This week you have a chance to win a copy of "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years." The publishing company, Thomas Nelson, sent two copies when I received my copy to review - one to read and one to share!

• So leave your name and address as a comment (I won't send you any junk mail :)
  
• I will randomly select a winner on Friday morning.
• I will mail the book to the winner on Friday or Saturday
  

Review of "Fearless" by Max Lucado

A few weeks ago, I signed up to review books for Thomas Nelson - the website describes the company like this ... "From humble beginnings in a village in Scotland 200 years ago to a modern-day publishing enterprise employing over 600 people, Thomas Nelson's goal has been to Honor God and Serve People."

Recently, I received the first book to review - Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado, which is released in stores today. As I type that, I realize I am fearful about posting my first review - guess I better go back and reread the book.

Can we live our lives without fear? In Fearless - Lucado's wise and easy to read writing helps us understand how that is possible. He doesn’t take a Pollyanna approach and deny the realities of this world. He covers a range of subjects - money/health/doubt/personal and global disaster/etc. and “the stampede of fear out there” about them with logic, personal stories and Biblical truths. Because Fearless is realistic, it’s helpful and encouraging. He’s honest about his own fears. Yes, he has some, but he doesn't allow them to control his life.

I’m generally not a fearful person, but after a horrific accident, fear threaten to control me. Thanks to wise counsel, I’ve been able to process the trauma and not be controlled by fears. (most of the time) Fearless will help me continue on the journey of living fearlessly.
One of my favorite lines in the book is “Fear has never been famous for its logic.” (page 107) I know that when I make a decision based on my fears, it is rarely good. I’m also challenged by his thoughts that talking about fears brings them to light and helps dispel them. I will recommend Fearless to others.