I Know, Lord. I Need to Change. Help Me. By James MacDonald Book Review

In I Know, Lord. I Need to Change. Help Me, James MacDonald explored the transformation of changing that is only possible with admitting the areas in which you need to change. Next we have to repent and turn from them. Then we have to rely on the assistance of letting God change our hearts. The book had a whole list of areas readers might need to change. Some of these included: addiction, bitterness, fear, envy, negativism, low self-esteem, loner, sexual lust, worry, depression, anger, and many more. James MacDonald shared his own struggles and areas he needed to change, his anger and frustrations in his home life and business. He pointed out was the faulty methods of change and why people say they want to change and then why don’t follow through.

 

The book is divided into three sections, “The Preparation of Change”, “The Process of Change”, “The Power to Change”.

 

I would recommend this superb book on changing from the areas that are deeply effecting you to anyone who knows that their current life is heading in the direction that isn’t where God wants them to be. This isn’t a relaxed read because it’s not an easy topic. This book will require you to put in the work to learn how to change. This book immensely helped me to realize the areas that I needed to change with God’s assistance. Some of the areas were low self-esteem, being a loner, and letting fear to regulate my life. I had to confess my sins and admit my fears and concerns to God. I benefited from James MacDonald encouraging readers to declare out loud that they are dead to that sin. Satan enjoys people to believe that they are going to forever in bondage and they will never be free. But this is a complete lie from the enemy. I loved the suggestion that James gave on asking the Lord to fill you with His spirit and let Him began to work in your life. If you’re looking for a book to influence your life and to guide you on how to finally change, then this one is for you! It could massively contribute in the process of setting people free from addictions and negative attitudes.

 

"I received this book free from the publisher through the Moody Publishers book review bloggers program."

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of I Know, Lord. I Need to Change. Help Me check it out on Amazon.com or ChristianBook.com:

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Change-Me-James-MacDonald/dp/0802405266/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

http://www.christianbook.com/lord-change-me-james-macdonald/9780802405265/pd/405260

I Am Second: Real Stories. Changing Lives. By Doug Bender and Dave Sterrett Book Review

I Am Second contains an extraordinary collection of short stories from famous celebrities to everyday people. Everyone has a unique message of their struggles and hopes to share with the world. Throughout the book readers get to read stories from Michael W. Smith, Bethany Hamilton, Sam Bradford, John Hamilton, Brian “Head” Welch, Karen Green, Michelle Aguilar, Vitor Belfort, Brian Sumner, and many others. They all come from different backgrounds and careers. The book reveals details about how they all traveled down the path to destruction. But at their lowest point of their lives they came to know God and his healing and redeeming power. The stories ranged from drug use, living in poverty, partying to hard, affairs, pornography, prostitution, drinking, divorce, loneliness, and bad parent relationships. Readers will be able to associate with each story in this book.

The book also contained a QR code where readers can scan the code and watch videos featuring stories from the I Am Second website. The book has a neat sticker to remind yourself that you are second.

I would recommend this encouraging book to teenagers and adults who are feeling and believing the lie that they are alone in their daily struggles. When we come to the place of desperation and need a helping hand, God is always there to reach out to us. I enjoyed reading about these countless stories it gave me great hope that God can always turn any situation around and work it out for my greater good. No one is alone in their hurts and disappointments and we all fall into temptations. Surrendering to God brought tremendous joy into their lives. The book was a huge inspiration about the importance of becoming second and making God first. He is the only one who can help us change and become everything we were created to be. Anyone will be able to connect with the stories shared in this book. They cover many different struggles and I realized that God loves each one of us completely and he is willing to assist and comfort us. If you’re looking for a book for inspiration that God is still working in people’s lives then get this book! It will change your perceptive about if people can really change because with God they truly can! Never lose Faith in God and his power!

“I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.”

If you would like to purchase a copy of I Am Second check out Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Am-Second-Stories-Changing-Lives/dp/1400203732/

Book Trailer:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKCnp5tuDU8

Check out the I Am Second Website for more stories:

http://www.iamsecond.com/

Happily Ever After: Six Secrets to a Successful Marriage By Gary Chapman Book Review

Happily Ever After is a book that helps readers to solve conflicts in their marriage. We must learn to respect and listen to our spouses. We have to give up the selfish attitude and the perception that our point of view is the only correct one. If you want to change your spouse we have to realize we can't change others. The plank must be removed from our only eyes before we try and fix someone else. Gary Chapman encouraged readers to ask their parents, God, in-laws, friends, and their spouses how they could improve their relationship in their marriage. This is where you can see your flaws and the issues that you may have that hinder your relationships from growing. Then you must work to fix the issues that you find.

An important part of the book is finding out your love language. The five love languages are gifts, acts of service, physical touch, words of affirmation, and quality time. The book will describe and give an example of how each love languages work. Once you find how you receive and feel loved you need to discover your spouse’s love language. Then if you have children you may want to find out how your children receive and feel loved. This section will greatly mend your relationships.

Happily Ever After is divided into six parts, “Everybody Wins”, “Home Improvements”, Profits Sharing”, “Now What?”, “Making Love”, and “In-Law Relationships”.  

Gary Chapman has also included discussion questions at the end of each chapter. The questions will help you to dig deeper into the book.

I would recommend this wonderful marriage book to improve and fix broken marriages. Anyone can benefit from learning their love language, their spouses, and their children love language. The book has provided me with great resources and ideas to resolve conflicts in my relationships. I have learned that I must fix and change myself before I try changing others. I am the only one that I can control. I can’t control others and their opinions. It’s important to stop arguing and listen to the other persons concerns. Marriage isn’t about being always right it’s about coming together for peace and harmony. Making love isn’t about just having sex it’s about showing each other love and respect. We have to learn to listen closely and understand how the other person feels and thinks. If you will apply these six secrets to your marriage it will change your marriage for the better. I am not married yet but when I am, I will be rereading this book to help me in my marriage. This is a great book to give to couples who are getting married or already married! I would also encourage both spouses to read the book together it help you in your marriage. Learn to enjoy each other!

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Happily Ever After then check it out on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Happily-Ever-After-Successful-Marriage/dp/141436444X/

Have a New You by Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman Book Review

Dr. Kevin Leman is a well known psychologist that has appeared on Oprah, The View, Today Show, and a number of other TV programs. Leman was born a lastborn child. He loves telling jokes and making people laugh. In his book entitled, “Have a New You by Friday”, Leman shared stories from his personal life. Leman shared one story that helped change his perspective of his own life. One of his teachers made a huge impact and difference in his life by encouraging and helping him to try harder in school. He came to accept who he was created to be throughout his life. This book will help you to learn how to accept and love yourself despite our fallible self. Leman has studied the four personalities and he will guide you into finding your own unique personality. The book will help you to stand up and to fight against the lies you have believed about yourself. Even if some lies were spoken over you, he will teach you how to overcome the lies spoken. The book will also demonstrate your birth order and how you fit into your family. Leman will describe and give you examples of famous celebrities and their birth order to encourage you that someone else is just like you.


This book was interesting to me to learn where I fit in my own birth order and that my personality is okay and normal. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be the entire person that God has created you to be. Leman teaches you interesting personality traits about yourself and others. He reveals how to “Have a New You by Friday” and he guides you into being the person you want to be and were created to be.

"Have a New You by Friday" is available at Amazon.com for purchase:


http://www.amazon.com/Have-New-You-Friday-Confidence/dp/0800719336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295034327&sr=8-1

Change Your World : One Step at a Time

Maybe you’re wondering how we can help others. If fact maybe you feel small and like it doesn’t matter. Sometimes we have no clue on how to reach out to one another. Sometimes maybe we stereotype each other based on their appearance and how they act. Granted we are all human. We all feel emotions and we all think with our minds. But helping one another and being kind to one another makes a HUGE different. It makes the world a better place. After all this is only our temporary home.


We only live on this earth for so long. But it all comes down to living and loving along your trip in life. You only have one life to live and love. Yes, things will bring you down sometimes. Yes, you will make mistakes and have to be forgiven. But you have a life, you have been given. That’s why it is important to love each other.

I know some people have hurt you. Maybe I have. But it is essential we forgive one another for each other’s mistakes. We only get one trip to pass through this life. It’s your choice on, if you stay negative and depressed. But you can be happy, if you will choose too. Reading and knowing God helps me get through this crazy ride called “Life”.

We need to be happy in this life. Yes, you will sometimes feel down and sad. But you can get happy and whole again with Jesus. We need our friends and our family. I know some of you dread seeing your family and maybe even some of your friends but you still need to show them love. I don’t know what you’re going through right now but God is still in control. I know sometimes we like to ask the questions why. I can’t answer the why questions. Neither can you. We just have to hang on in this life. If they know Jesus, then we will see them all again someday. Just keep believing things will turn around for the better. Right now, you may not be able to see why things turned out the way they did. But God is still there for you.

Life is way too short to hold on to anger and regrets. You can’t do anything about your past. But you can change your future. You have to heal from whatever is hurting you right now. Maybe its anger and lashing out at people, feeling depressed about your life, hating yourself, abusing someone (or yourself), bitterness, fearful, and anything else. God can take your past and forgive you, if you did something wrong. He can also heal your past that may have hurt you. Maybe you need to forgive people who hurt you. I know I have hurt people with words and actions. I have been hurt by actions and words as well. But God can heal you. I have been working with God to help me heal and let go of some of the pain of my past. I know it is hard to forgive sometimes. Nothing in you sometimes wants too. But it frees you from the pain and hurt. People make mistakes daily and need forgiveness. We all do. We all are human and hurt one another.

Sometimes helping someone is lending a helping hand, donating money, your time, things (clothes, etc), praying, smiling, and loving one another. It doesn’t have to make a huge impact on the world. I know sometimes we think we have to see our names in lights or on TV. But that doesn’t mean everything in life. 15 minutes of fame will always fade away. Look at how much stardom changes for the celebrities out there. One minute you’re in the next you’re fading away.

We have to focus on helping someone, when no one is looking, and there are no cameras around. We can all have an impact on the world but by bring love not hate. We have enough haters out there. We have to love and help people, who can’t give us something in return. This world is not all about you and getting presents. All the presents in the world wouldn’t make you happy. Yes, it might for a day. Then you’re going to the store again to buy something else new. You’re looking to be filled up. Only Jesus can fill that void. I am not saying to never buy anything just don’t buy the whole dept. store. Unless, you own the company would you need all that stuff. I know some people fill that void with drugs, sex, being in love with yourself (thinking you’re better than everyone else), greed, hate, and loving things too much. You need to love yourself but not be in love with yourself. The world isn’t just about me or you. I know it’s hard to give and love people sometimes. But we have to as Joyce Meyer says, “Do It for God”.

I want to share with you a song called, “Change” by Carrie Underwood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H0EY4Rrpf4

What are you telling yourself? Maybe you’re telling yourself, you can’t help someone because you have too many problems. You can smile can’t ya! Then smile a little! There a number of different ways to help. You can give money or your time. Now get out there and lend a helping hand. Make someone else’s life better for good. It’s your choice.
Here are some of the lyrics to “It’s Your Life” by Francesca Battistelli:

“It’s your life What you gonna do? The world is watching you Every day the choices you make Say what you are and who Your heart beats for It’s an open door It’s your life To live the way that you believe This is your opportunity To let your life be one that lights the way”

Week 6

Day 1 – Friday, May 21
I went a total of 1.85 miles today. I burned a total of 112 calories. I took an accumulation total of 3928 steps.

Day 2 – Saturday, May 22
I went for a grand total of 1.51 miles in my running journey. I burned a total of 99 calories. I took 3208 steps in the shoes, which were made for walking scenario.

Day 3 – Sunday, May 23

I went an impressive 1.15 miles today on the treadmill at that. Yes, that is right. I smoldered a total of 83 calories. I obtained a full amount of 2433 steps in this day and time.

In leaving you, with some hope, here is a song called, “No Boundaries” by Kris Allen.

“With every step, you climb another mountain Every breathe, it's harder to believe You'll make it through the pain, weather the hurricanes To get to that one thing Just when you think the road is going nowhere Just when you almost gave up on your dreams They take you by the hand and show you that you can There are no boundaries”

I am not giving up on running a 5K! I haven’t given up and I won’t! Too many people are depending on me. It is all for a wonderful cause. I am doing it for cancer patients, who are getting treatment at St. Jude’s. If you can help in any way please do.

Check out my Google Site.

http://sites.google.com/site/theofficialandrewsmith/