Book Review: Grieving God's Way...The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing by Margaret Brownley

 

Book Review: Grieving God's Way...The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing by Margaret Brownley

"I received this book for free from BookSneeze for this review”.

Book Review: The loss of a loved one is devastating, and the grief that follows is often crippling. while modern Western culture has adopted an aren't-you-over-it-yet? attitude toward death and the grief it brings, the grieving process can take years.

 

Weeks and months go by with no visible improvement. We might even wonder if God has forsaken us. Then one day it happens: We laugh. We feel connected, restless, maybe even hopeful. We're no longer consumed by our loss, and our thoughts turn outward. These are the first signs of healing.

 

Though the tendency in our fast-paced society is to suppress our grief or ignore it all together, Grieving God's Way inspires a different course of action. In this 90-day devotional Margaret Brownley provides the framework for a methodical grieving process that follows God's plan.

 

Grieving god's way requires us to trust that He will lead us through the darkness, heal our pain, take away our weariness, and fill our hearts with hope, peace, and new purpose. From defining what grief is to validating its importance, Brownley gives us the components necessary to find God within our sorrow and grieve with Him.

 

Divided into four sections, Grieving God's Way offers insight into hearing our grieving body, soul, heart, and spirit. Infused with scriptures and inspirational haiku by Diantha Ain, this book motivates us to shift our grieving from man's way to God's way...slow and often invisible but with truly amazing results.

 

So how long does it take grieve? As long as it takes God to heal.

 

 My Review: I was really in need of a book like this one. Having lost my older brother in a car accident 8 years ago, I have been having a very hard time with my grief. I did start to feel worthless considering that so much time had passed and I was still having such a hard time. This book assured me that there is no time limit on the grieving process. Each day in this 90 day devotional provides a nice passage that gives you positivity for your day. A verse follows each day in case you need further assistance in this. The first few days were not very interesting and I almost gave up on it. But then I decided that it was probably part of my grief taking over and that I need to learn to be more patient in this process. I am glad I decided to listen to myself. I made my way through the book and have a whole different outlook. Will it still take time? Yes, but anything that pulls me forward even one step is success!

Book Review: Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

Book Review: Wishing on Willows...A Novel by Katie Ganshert

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

Book Review: Does a second chance at life and love always involve surrender?

A three-year-old son, a struggling cafe', and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Cafe in small town Peaks, Iowa, she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides.

 

So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her cafe' and a vital town ministry are located, she isn't about to let go without a fight.

 

As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won't give up easily. His family's business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin's gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own.

 

With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal, and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of second chances.

My Review: Wishing on Willows....Wishing for More!!! Although this book got off on a very slow start with me, after I really got into a few chapters, I could not put it down! Not only did this book make me angry at Ian and feel for Robin, it also made me absolutely love Ian and feel for his situation which he was also hiding. Being forced into a family business, Ian does what he can to make the best of his occupation. However, in the process, he learns that what is best for his family, may not, or may never have been what is best for him. Simply meeting Robin has taught him what he wants and what he is willing to do to go after it. An awesome story...romance in hidden form from cover to cover. This book will make you melt with anticipation and excitement. A must have!!!