“So many of us allow bad experiences to get the best
of us and we don’t learn how to turn those experiences into stepping stones for
us to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially or socially.I would be the first to agree that life can
be hard and challenging however if we take a look back and begin to analyze how
to use those bad experiences to help us in one area of our life, we will never
look at bad experiences the same.”
Coming from Paulette Harper‘s new book Completely
Whole, provides women of all ages with keys to living a life on purpose spirit,
soul and body.
Here are her five suggestions on learning how to live
a happier life.
1.
Accepting that sometimes the “Why” will never get answered.When we can accept that many times we won’t
be able to change the outcome and accept what has happened. Realized that
it happened for a purpose and rest in that, we are better prepared to handle
all experiences.
2.
There is no easy way out. Many times we want to escape the bad experiences by
not dealing with them head on, but that won’t solve anything. Stop for a
moment, look at the situation and make the necessary changes that are required
to be more empowered.
3.
Realize that God is in control. Our lives are totally in the hands of someone
who knows how all things will pan out. Trust Him in every situation, knowing
that He will guide you as you look to Him for help.
4.
Forgive yourself and others.In life
people will hurt us. That includes family, spouses, children, and parents.As you forgive others for their trespasses,
people will also forgive you.
5.
Pray that God will show you what it is He is trying to teach you.Allow this opportunity to let God reveal to
you what lessons are to be learned. Treat each experience as a great
opportunity to grow and mature.
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Ashley Boyer, Senior Publicist at Random House for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nick Vujicic is the founder of the international non-profit organization Life Without Limbs. Nick recently made the move from Australia to California, his new home base as he travels the world speaking to a range of different groups such as students, teachers, youth, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and church congregations of all sizes. He has told his story and been interviewed on various televised programs worldwide, including “20/20,” “60 Minutes,” and “The 700 Club.”
What Would Your Life be Like if Anything Were Possible?
Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic overcame his disabilities to live an independent, rich, fulfilling, and “ridiculously good” life while serving as a role model for anyone seeking true happiness. Now an internationally successful motivational speaker, Nick eagerly spreads his central message: the most important goal is to find your life’s purpose and to never give up, despite whatever difficulties or seemingly impossible odds stand in your way.
Nick tells the story of his physical disabilities and the emotional battle he endured while learning to deal with them as a child, teen, and young adult. “For the longest, loneliest time, I wondered if there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was any purpose to my life other than pain and humiliation.” Nick shares how his faith in God has been his major source of strength, and he explains that once he found a sense of purpose—inspiring others to better their lives and the world around them--he found the confidence to build a rewarding and productive life without limits. Let Nick inspire you to start living your own life without limits.
Includes a Life Without Limits Personal Action Plan to help anyone determine their unique path to a successful life.
When I received a copy of Nicks book I
knew it would not disappoint me. He shares his heart and give a in-depth
account of the phases in his life: childhood, teenage and adult. Each
phase challenged him in every area of his life: spiritual, emotional and
physical all without arms and legs.
He breaks down the
entire book into sections that helped him along his journey while
finding his divine purpose for living. Some of those include:
A powerful sense of purpose
Hope so strong that it cannot be diminshed
Faith in God and the infinite possibilities
Love and self- acceptance
I
have to admit I was totally at awe with this book. I read how he
learned to accept his physical handicap, live with hospitality and
embraced the fact that he was born different. He definitely has found
his purpose for living. I would encourage anyone living in despair,
feeling all hope is lost or anyone struggling with life period to get a
copy of this life changing book.
My hat goes off to
Nick. What a lesson of humility. The next time we want to complain we
should reach for a copy of his book as a reminder that I can live a life
without limits.
Bravo!
Special thanks to Ashley Boyer, Senior Publicist at Random House for
sending me a review copy in exchanged for my honest review. No monetary
compensation was exchanged.
AND NOW...PART OF THE FIRST CHAPTER:
If You Can’t Get a Miracle, Become One
O ne of my most popular videos on YouTube shows footage of me skateboarding, surfing, playing music, hitting a golf ball, falling down, getting up, speaking to audiences, and best of all, receiving hugs from all sorts of great people.
All in all, those are pretty ordinary activities that just about anybody can do, right? So why do you think that video has been viewed millions of times? My theory is that people are drawn to watch it because despite my physical limitations, I’m living as though I have no limits.
People often expect someone with a severe disability to be inactive, maybe even angry and withdrawn. I like to surprise them by showing that I lead a very adventurous and fulfilling existence.
Among the hundreds of comments on that video, here’s one typical remark: “Seeing a guy like this being happy makes me wonder why the hell I feel sorry for myself sometimes . . . or feel that I’m not attractive enough, or funny enough, or WHATEVER. How can I even think thoughts like that when this guy is living without limbs and still being HAPPY!?”
I’m often asked that very question: “Nick, how can you be so happy?” You may be dealing with your own challenges, so I’ll give you the quick answer up front:
I found happiness when I realized that as imperfect as I may be, I am the perfect Nick Vujicic. I am God’s creation, designed according to His plan for me. That’s not to say that there isn’t room for improvement. I’m always trying to be better so I can better serve Him and the world!
I do believe my life has no limits. I want you to feel the same way about your life, no matter what your challenges may be. As we begin our journey together, please take a moment to think about any limitations you’ve placed on your life or that you’ve allowed others to place on it. Now think about what it would be like to be free of those limitations. What would your life be if anything were possible?
I’m officially disabled, but I’m truly enabled because of my lack of limbs. My unique challenges have opened up unique opportunities to reach so many in need. Just imagine what is possible for you!
Too often we tell ourselves we aren’t smart enough or attractive enough or talented enough to pursue our dreams. We buy into what others say about us, or we put restrictions on ourselves. What’s worse is that when you consider yourself unworthy, you are putting limits on how God can work through you!
When you give up on your dreams, you put God in a box. After all, you are His creation. He made you for a purpose. Therefore your life cannot be limited any more than God’s love can be contained.
I have a choice. You have a choice. We can choose to dwell on disappointments and shortcomings. We can choose to be bitter, angry, or sad. Or when faced with hard times and hurtful people, we can choose to learn from the experience and move forward, taking responsibility for our own happiness.
As God’s child, you are beautiful and precious, worth more than all the diamonds in the world. You and I are perfectly suited to be who we were meant to be! Even still, it should always be our goal to become an even better person and stretch our boundaries by dreaming big. Adjustments are necessary along the way because life isn’t always rosy, but it is always worth living. I’m here to tell you that no matter what your circumstances may be, as long as you are breathing, you have a contribution to make.
I can’t put a hand on your shoulder to reassure you, but I can speak from the heart. However desperate your life may seem, there is hope. As bad as circumstances appear, there are better days ahead. No matter how dire your circumstances may appear, you can rise above them. To wish for change will change nothing. To make the decision to take action right now will change everything!
All events come together for the good. I’m certain of that because it’s been true in my life. What good is a life without limbs? Just by looking at me, people know that I faced and overcame many obstacles and hardships. That makes them willing to listen to me as a source of inspiration. They allow me to share my faith, to tell them they are loved, and to give them hope.
That is my contribution. It’s important to recognize your own value. Know that you also have something to contribute. If you feel frustrated right now, that’s okay. Your sense of frustration means you want more for your life than you have right now. That’s all good. Often it’s the challenges in life that show us who we are truly meant to be.
A Life of Value
It took me a long time to see the benefits of the circumstances I was born into. My mum was twenty-five years old when she became pregnant with me, her first child. She’d been a midwife and worked as a pediatric nurse in charge in the delivery room where she provided care for hundreds of mothers and their babies. She knew what she had to do while she was pregnant, watching her diet, being cautious about medications, and not consuming alcohol, aspirin, or any other pain-killers. She went to the best doctors and they assured her everything was proceeding smoothly.
Even still, her apprehension persisted. As her due date approached, my mum shared her concerns with my father several times, saying, “I hope that everything’s okay with the baby.”
When two ultrasounds were performed during her pregnancy, the doctors detected nothing unusual. They told my parents that the baby was a boy but not a word about missing limbs! At my delivery on December 4, 1982, my mother could not see me at first, and the first question she asked the doctor was “Is the baby all right?” There was silence. As the seconds ticked by and they were still not bringing the baby for her to see, she sensed even more that something was wrong. Instead of giving me to my mother to hold, they summoned a pediatrician and moved off to the opposite corner, examining me and conferring with each other. When my mum heard a big healthy baby scream, she was relieved. But my dad, who had noticed I was missing an arm during the delivery, felt queasy and was escorted out of the room.
Shocked at the sight of me, the nurses and doctors quickly wrapped me up.
My mother, who’d participated in hundreds of deliveries as a nurse, wasn’t fooled. She read the distress on the faces of her medical team, and she knew something was very wrong.
“What is it? What’s wrong with my baby?” she demanded.
Her doctor would not answer at first, but when she insisted on a response, he could offer my mother only a specialized medical term.
“Phocamelia,” he said.
Because of her nursing background, my mother recognized the term as the condition babies have when they are born with malformed or missing limbs. She simply couldn’t accept that this was true.
In the meantime, my stunned dad was outside, wondering whether he had seen what he thought he saw. When the pediatrician came out to speak to him, he cried out, “My son, he has no arm!”
“Actually,” the pediatrician said as sensitively as possible, “your son has neither arms nor legs.”
My father went weak with shock and anguish.
He sat stunned, momentarily unable to speak before his protective instincts kicked in. He rushed in to tell my mother before she saw me, but to his dismay he found her lying in bed, crying. The staff had already told her the news. They had offered to bring me to her but she refused to hold me and told them to take me away.
The nurses were crying. The midwife was crying. And of course, I was crying! Finally they put me next to her, still covered, and my mum just couldn’t bear what she was seeing: her child without limbs.
“Take him away,” she said. “I don’t want to touch him or see him.”
To this day my father regrets that the medical staff did not give him time to prepare my mother properly. Later, as she slept, he visited me in the nursery. He came back and told Mum, “He looks beautiful.” He asked her if she wanted to see me at that point, but she declined, still too shaken. He understood and respected her feelings.
Instead of celebrating my birth, my parents and their whole church mourned. “If God is a God of love,” they wondered, “why would He let something like this happen?”
My Mum’s Grief
I was my parents’ firstborn child. While this would be a major cause for rejoicing in any family, no one sent flowers to my mum when I was born. This hurt her and only deepened her despair.
Sad and teary-eyed, she asked my dad, “Don’t I deserve flowers?”
“I’m sorry,” Dad said. “Of course you deserve them.” He went to the hospital flower shop and returned shortly to present her with a bouquet.
I was aware of none of this until the age of thirteen or so, when I began to question my parents about my birth and their initial reaction to my lack of limbs. I’d had a bad day at school, and when I told my mum, she cried with me. I told her I was sick of having no arms and legs. She shared my tears and said that she and my dad had come to understand that God had a plan for me and one day He would reveal it. My questions continued over time, sometimes with one parent, sometimes with both. Part of my search for answers was natural curiosity and part of it was in response to the persistent questions I’d been fielding from curious classmates.
At first, I was a little scared of what my parents might tell me, and, since some of this was difficult for them to delve into, I didn’t want to put them on the spot. In our initial discussions my mum and dad were very careful and protective ...
Author, speaker, and sidewalk theologian, Cheri Cowell is
passionate about discipleship and challenging the body of Christ to
holiness of heart and life. As the author of Direction: Discernment for
the Decisions of Your Life (Beacon Hill, 2007) and over 300 articles,
Cheri’s love of story and the Holy Word shines through in her
writing and teaching. In 2009 she was one of six journalists chosen for a
tour of the Holy Land by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, a blessing that only
deepened the love of the parables Jesus told. Cheri is a graduate of Asbury
Theological Seminary where she learned the Inductive Bible study method used in
this study to encourage, challenge, and equip the body of Christ to
live story-shaped lives.
Book Description:
Parables and Word Pictures from the New
Testament is a 13-week workbook-style study of 118
parables from Jesus, Paul, and the apostles. This comprehensive look at the New
Testament parables will help readers develop an ear for the message they
convey—that the Kingdom of God is both here and near. Through the study readers
will be challenged to live faithful and holy “Kingdom lives” in a broken and
unholy world.
Of the
thirteen weeks, the first nine explore the parables of Jesus in the four
gospels; the next three look at the parables in Acts and those from Paul and
the apostles. The study culminates in a look at what the author calls living
parables, with Jesus
as the Parable of all parables. Through Him we come to know God the Father, and
through Jesus we come to live as living parables in a world begging to “see
God.” Living story-shaped lives allows others to see God in us—this is
Kingdom living.
The workbook includes a chart of
parables in chronological order, a chart of parables alphabetically
arranged in the four gospels, a chart showing the locations in Israel
where the parables were taught, and an index of scriptures to make
finding parables quick and easy. A Leader’s Guide is available.
Author Interview
What was the first
book you wrote?
Direction: Discernment
for the Decisions of Your Life (Beacon Hill Press, 2007) about spiritual
discernment and knowing and following God's will in tough times.
What was the most
difficult aspect of writing your book and how did you overcome it?
What to include and what not to include in a study of the
parables. My study covers 118 New Testament parables, parables word pictures
such as when Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd, and what I call
'parable sequels' or extensions offered by Paul and the apostles.
What passion drove
you as you wrote your new book?
I LOVE the Word and I love storytelling and I want others to
fall in love not only with the Word but also with the concept that they can
become a living parable, a living story pointing others toward the Ultimate
Living Parable––Jesus Christ.
What surprised or
otherwise impacted you as you wrote your book?
There's not a consensus on how many parables are in the
Bible or even what defines a parable.
What do you hope
readers will gain from your book(s)?
That the parables are not isolated stories only used for
sermon illustrations, but when read together they give us a picture of how we
are to live as kingdom people. Through the parables we learn how to become
living parables in a world desperate to "see" God.
What book(s) do you
have on your nightstand right now?
I'm reading two books, Cynthia Ruschti's They Almost Always Come Home and Calvin
Miller's Preaching: The Art of Narrative
Exposition.
What life experience,
education, or training helped you become an author?
I am a writers' conference fan, having attended and taught
at more than 40 over the last ten years. I wouldn't be where I am today as a
writer without them. I also received a Masters in Theological Studies from
Asbury Seminary, where I learned the Inductive Bible study method I used in
writing the parables Bible study.
What do you do when
you’re not writing?
My husband and I love to travel, to see nature and all the
beautiful places God's created for us to enjoy. National Parks are our favorite
destinations. In June we will travel to Yellowstone.
What is God teaching
you right now?
That we all have a story to share and in sharing our stories
we hear how God is moving, in listening to other's stories we begin to see how
our own story is shaped by the interweavings of so many stories to form a God-story.
The title of your
study is Parables & Word Pictures; just what is a “word picture?”
There are some teachings of Jesus, such as when He says,
"I am the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep" that
aren't technically parables but are what I call parable word pictures because
the image tells the whole story.
It has been said that
Jesus spoke in parables to “confuse and confound” and you say you have a “key”
to making these less confusing and confounding to modern-day readers. What is
this key?
It wasn't until I studied the parables as a whole that the
whole message they convey became clear, so the key is a comprehensive look at
the New Testament parables. This is what the study brings to the reader.
To schedule an interview with Cheri
Cowell, call (407) 712-3431
Parables
and Word Pictures from the New Testament in the Following God Bible study
series
ISBN:
978-0-89957-349-60-89957-349-5 $14.99, Trade Paper, 224 pages, 8.5” x 11” AMG International. Book is available at your local
Christian bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and from the author at www.CheriCowell.com
