Freefall to Fly, A Review

Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning

Rebekah Lyons

(A review from a free copy of a hard bound book from Handlebar – publisher – Tyndale)

I asked to review this book when I read the introduction. It is Rebecca’s non fiction story of her own life – one that was turned upside down when she moved from the suburbs of the south to New York City with children.

Reading the preview – I realized that I would identify with her journey. We had created a life of wonder in a town full of homeschoolers. The world was our oyster and choices abounded with classes, friendships, gathering, churches – we thought we had it all. And then we moved to a tiny town, due to a transfer from a retail company for hubby, with no choices, people, youth groups, or homeschoolers.  How could God think that this was best for us?

Her first year in New York City – mirrors many of the feelings I had here on the coast.

I had picked up the book to read it several times in the last couple of weeks, but it would get too personal, too hard, not light enough for an afternoon.  So I’d put it down to read some fluff. Today, during the kids’ state testing, I finally had that block of time to dig deep. Go through the journey with her. Now, don’t get me wrong, she is a light hearted writer, and shares her journey with lightness and humor. It was just a little too close to my truth.

I have nine places where I had to pull out the pencil and underline passages. I’ve already thought of a friend that I will pass it on to this week.

Many times I had to re-read through a text.

Like on page 55 – “The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscience, not from our mental resolution to try a new form of life. – Leo Tolstoy”

I understood as she tried to cling to her life.  Trying so hard to find “a new form of life”. She heard Jesus say, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

It is in this surrender, this free fall – that the book is centered on. And fall long and hard she did. She did not mince words as she brought us through her anxiety attacks, depression and disappointments. I can’t really quote the whole book to you, to share it. But I can say -

Are you walking through a difficult period? Is your life out of control? Are you experiencing panic attacks. Have you lost hope? Can you imagine a life of being free? Come walk alongside Rebekah as she finds her hope. Through her children, husband, friends, and the word.

Sweet Scent of Justice–Debbie Wilson

From the first paragraph, I was drawn in. Which surprised me because I found this book when Debbie Wilson contacted me a while ago to review a book she wrote about her story. I said yes, wanting to hear it, but not with full confidence of thinking it was going to be a great non fiction novel.

The story is written in first person. From Debbie’s perspective. It is gripping. Each page leaves you wanting to flip to the next.  What happened? Will they ever know? And as I read this story that goes through many years, my heart started to break with Debbie and her family. Feeling her pain. I was hearing the story in a day, the heart breaking one that she lived her life with.

Without giving the ending away – We have had two instances where resolution came in the exact same manner as her story this week. Two criminals that had done something to our family, and their capture was just like the Sweet Scent of Justice.

Looking for a wonderful read? Are you nervous about many of the books out right now? This one will pull you in, race with adrenaline, bring you on the edge of your seat to scream unfair, yell at the family to get it together, cry on their shoulders and rally to justice together. It’s a good ride. I could see this becoming a film in the future.

Thank you Debbie for sharing your story with wonderful words and transparency. Thank you for sharing your story with me.

 

Twenty-two years had passed since Kathy, a sophomore in college and a girl dedicated to living for her God, was brutally killed in her small college town. Twenty-two years of silent holidays and hidden family portraits kept the painful past under control, until Debbie Wilson ascended into the attic of her parents home on a secret quest to uncover the truth of her sister's unsolved murder and bring her killer to justice. Wilson could never have imagined how the triumphs and trials of her pursuit would force her to test her faith in God, belief in justice, and duty to forgive. Sweet Scent of Justice is a true crime memoir by a sister who experienced the miraculous ways God works in the lives of His children when they need His guidance the most. It offers hope and encouragement for those experiencing trials and tribulations in their lives. Wilson's personal tragedy strengthened her faith and belief in Christ, and it will strengthen yours too. Debbie Wilson

Disclaimer – I received a free PDF of this book to read on my Kindle in exchange for a review on this blog.

As Silver Refined, Kay Arthur

As Silver Refined, Answers to Life’s Disappointments

• Excerpt -

• Download Chapter 1 -

• Details and Publisher’s Summary -

    

I may be a bit biased. A long time friend of Kay’s. As she she shared, I felt like we were sitting side by side. Tea in hand. Talking of her disappointments in life – sharing her heart and stories with me. I have been with Kay since about 1997, when a dear friend prayed to the Lord to bring people to her home who wanted to study the word.  I was in the second study that gathered at that kitchen table.  Long since walking in my own will and power, I had been raised to love the Lord, love the Word, love His people. However, I didn’t know how to walk that out as an adult.  Kay’s studies taught me how little I knew of the Word. How many stories I had learned from Sunday School by well meaning moms who drew the short straw and had to keep a group of 20 sugar hyped up kids quiet while their parents sat through church .   . .never made their way as truth, set truth, in my heart.

Enter As Silver refined. As I read this book, I walked through a difficult relationship. Between November 18th and December 12th, I would turn on the e-book through Blue Fire on my iPod, and read more of how to get through discouragements. In the middle of this, I walked through a hard set of circumstances. I have about 30 book marks set in the book in the e-reader.  One of my favorite, is from page 61 – to React or Act. It has become something I have said aloud and in quietly to myself, many times since November 29th. It is my choice to act, or react. I have talked to the boys about this. It is changing my days! I wish I could just sit with you and go through the bookmarks. I would come home from a stressful situation, open the book to read, and find the Word and Kay’s words waiting to comfort, direct, and encourage me.  I would walk through a difficulty with a friend, and The word would be there to help share a word with her.

Although I received an ebook copy of this for free to review until December 30th, I will purchase a hard backed copy of this from our local Bob’s Beach Books as well. It will be the first book I’ve reviewed that I’ve bought copies of.

Are you walking through disappointments? Do you know the path of the deadly d’s and how to combat it? If you are walking through any of life’s struggles, or you have a friend neck deep in it, this is going to be an instructive and encouraging read.

Healing is a Choice, Steve Arterburn

Healing Is a Choice10 Decisions That Will Transform Your Life and 10 Lies That Can Prevent You From Making Them

By Steve Arterburn
Published by Thomas Nelson

My copy of this book is dog eared and over highlighted, I’ve been reading it for a couple of weeks. When I first started, it was as a followup to another Stephen Arterburn book, The Encounter, and I wasn’t sure that the book would apply to me. However, I think that this book would be great for anyone – whether you think you are hurting or not!  He gives ten decisions that will transform your life, and then shares the 10 myths that counter those choices. What I think you will find, as I did, is that you think you might “be over” an event, but what you’ve actually done is live in the zone of the myth, and then let time slip by. I recommend this book highly for anyone, but especially if you, or a friend close to you, is in the midst of hurt and pain. This book will remain on my reading table, as a reference and source of direction.  Thank you Stephen!

Get a copy today at Thomas Nelson HERE!

 

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Book Description

Do you want to get well?

The power to heal—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually—is in God's hands. But the choice to be healed is ours. Everyone, at some level, needs healing. In this book, Stephen Arterburn outlines ten choices crucial to receiving healing and ten lies that can prevent us from making them. Readers will find the wholeness God desires for them in a practical and prayerful way through this book.

Now including the full workbook, this combined release emphasizes the fact that we must choose to let the hurt go and let the healing begin.

The book asks the participant, "Do you want to be healed?" If the answer is yes, then ten choices are provided to make the path toward healing a restorative experience.