Brave: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety by Sissy Goff Book Review

In Brave, Sissy Goff explored the topic of worrying and dealing with our anxious thoughts. This book is geared and written to young teenage aged girls. It is revealed that 1 in 3 girls struggled with worrying. She shared how we struggle with rejection thoughts, not fitting in, getting sick and possibly getting cancer, someone harming us, failure, and fears in general. Sissy explained that many teenaged girls believe that there is something wrong with them and how that they are alone in how they feel. She looked at fear and how it turns into worry, then turns into full blown anxiety. Sissy is a MeD, LPC-MHSP and she is the director of child and adolescent at Daystar Counseling Ministries. She also looked at how some of the fear was passed down from her mother. Her mother provided her with a 24-inch rusted metal spike to shatter her window in case she went off a bridge and she had to use it to swim out. Her and her sister also got pepper spray every year for Christmas just in case they needed to use it. She revealed some of her own personal anxious and worries she felt and how she is a perfectionist. She shared some studies about how anxious is increasing and how technology is being linked to it. In the book, she also explored what worrying does to our body, mind, and heart. Then in the last section of the book, she looked at the hope we can have and how we can use scriptures to assist us in overcoming the troubles of the world. 

 

 

 

I liked how the book was enclosed in a bright shinny blue book will lure young girls into reading the contents enclosed. I would recommend this life changing book to anyone teenaged girl who is battling anxiety and they have a number of worry whisperers. I immensely liked how open Sissy was in sharing how she dealt with her own worries and how her years of counseling girls has helped her to lead others down a path of freedom. I liked how she included discussion questions and a spot for readers to journal and dive deeper into their fears and worries. I liked how Sissy wrote in a way that will connect with teenaged girls and they will be able to easily relate to her. I also liked how she discussed some about the pandemic and how we can use some of the tools included to battle our own fears. I liked how she guided young girls into becoming brave and finding courage in Christ. 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Brave, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Girls-Guide-Beating-Anxiety/dp/0764238396

Chivalry: The Quest for a Personal Code of Honor in an Unjust World By Zach Hunter Book Review

Chivalry is written in the concept of ten principles that is based on how the ancient knights conducted their life. Zach Hunter explained that when he is discussing the word chivalry in this book, he isn’t talking about how guys are supposed to treat girls. The code of chivalry is for male and female and is meant to be applied and live out where we can see a greater impact for Christ’s kingdom.  

The second code in the book is entitled, “I will never attack from behind”. Backstabbing, gossiping, and criticizing others seems to becoming more and more acceptable in our cultures. Zach stated that in ancient times, knights would only attack someone else and fight back if they were in fact being attacked by an enemy first. He goes on to declare that we should always be loyal to our friends and never share personal secrets that people have shared to us. If someone trusts us with things that they are going through then we should be committed to being a true friend. Jesus always loved others and like him we’re called to do the same. An essential lesson in this chapter was with the changing times and technology, Zach encouraged readers to have important conversations face to face. For some examples, if we are wanting to break up with someone, ask someone out on a date, or you need to converse something personal, plan a time to meet to or do it on the phone voice to voice.  

One of my favorite codes was, “I will honor truth and always keep my promises”. This one really stressed the significance of being honest and when we promise that we will do something then we must try our very best to follow through. Zach Hunter shared a personal story in this chapter about when his family moved from Georgia back to Colorado during the winter break in his senior year. He decided to spend the extra amount of time in introducing himself to every single classmate in all of his classes. He began to meet a girl outside of school for coffee regularly and they began to become friends. He knew that she saw her only worth and value in her appearance. Zach eventually began to fall for her and he decided to ask her to go to prom with him. She stated that she would love to go with him and he was really looking forward to the big night. A few weeks later at a concert, he received a devastating text from her that regrettably professed, “I’m so sorry, but I can’t go to prom with you. I already promised someone else I would go with them a year ago plus I made other plans with friends… I’m sorry but I can’t go to prom with you” (Page 96). He called her the next day and she blamed it on her friends. She stated that they all agreed to all go without dates and she had broken that friendship rule. Funny how she kept her “promise” with her friends but not with Zach and her story kept changed dramatically. He later deliberated what happened to his friend that he had grown up with and he acted like he truly cared about what Zach was going through. When prom finally arrived, Zach decided not to go to prom but made the mistake of checking Facebook and he saw that his friend went with the girl. He later found out the truth and that his friend went to school with a bouquet of flowers and got on a blended knee and asked her to prom, and shocking she agreed! Zach, I thought was very genuine and he described how he had always struggled with low self-esteem. He shared this story to explain to readers that being honest and speaking the truth in love is what God has commanded us to do. I really connected with this story because like Zach I have went through some bad dating experiences, let’s just say they could be country songs. I have seen people lie and try and play with my emotions in order to feel in control. I even had one girl that I went on a date with lie about how much money she was inheriting from their grandmother death and the amount kept magically increasing each time. Honest and telling the truth is something the world is beginning to lack. Being honest is beginning to be an enormous quality that I find attractive in a woman and it’s a character trait that I want to display to be the man, husband, and father he is calling me to be. Zach Hunter recently has gotten married so there is hope for me yet.

I would recommend this remarkable book on chivalry, especially to teenagers and college students because it’s more geared to that age group. But many adults would still benefit from absorbing the ten codes of chivalry and applying them to their daily life. I immensely enjoyed the ten principles presented in this book on chivalry and living how Christ has called us to live. The ten codes of chivalry are not easy to live out and many times we will fail but we have to keep trying to be transformed into the image of Christ. Some of my favorite life changing codes were, “I will never abandon my quest, I will fear no evil, I will fight only for the sake of those who are unable to defend themselves, or in the dense of justice, and I will honor true and always keep my promises”. I really loved the last section of the book called, “Onward Living the Code” because it contained numerous questions and a reminder of what each code of honor encompasses. The book enclosed many personal stories about Zach, a vast number of scripture verses, thoughts from a few of his friends about different chivalry core points, and countless examples from historical speakers and everyday people. The book has the powerful force to influence our generation with following the ten codes of honor and it will prominently benefit readers into living their full purpose in life.  

 

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

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Chivalry check it out on Amazon.com:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Chivalry-Quest-Personal-Honor-Unjust/dp/1414376359

 

Check out the Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zRj6e-bxo2U

 

Zach Hunter discussing Chivalry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD0yG2tycG4&feature=youtu.be

 

Q & A with Zach Hunter:

http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/AuthorQ&A.PDF

Live to Give: Letting God Turn Your Talents into Miracles By Austin Gutwein Blog Tour and Book Review

Live to Give is a book about unpacking and discovering and using the gifts and talents God has graciously given to you. We all have received different gifts from our Creator and it’s vital we don’t spend our time and energy envying other person’s gifts.  Like most teenagers, Austin Gutwein has struggled with comparing himself to other people appearances and gifts. He always hated his freckles and he had trouble going outside because if he was outside to long his skin would sunburn. He believed and sometimes felt like he wasn’t good enough to make a different in the world. He eventually rose above and decided to get involved with using the gifts God has bestowed to him. At age nine, he started an organization called Hoops of Hope. He initiated a plan to shoot baskets in order to get people to donate to his cause and outreach. He even stated that he missed quite a few shoot when he played basketball but he used what little God has given him and God took him to another level. He has raised over three million dollars for communities in Africa.

Austin Gutwein polled random sampling to gather data about what people feared in their life. The majority from the sampling responded that their biggest fear was being unaccepted by others. I also agree that is probably my biggest fear that I have had to endure and deal with. I found the interesting study that Austin conducted to be very enlightening and extremely supportive in the overall concept of the book. Another aspect of the book he shared was about bullies who will try and persuade you to keep you from rising higher and accomplishing your vision of helping other individuals. Most of the people who criticize you are doing so because you are making a difference and using your gifts for the greater good. The bullies are feeling bad because in their hearts they are ignoring the call for them to actually join and support a cause. It’s far easier to complain and demean than it is to unite in on the mission.

Austin Gutwein personal story is a huge encouragement to teenagers, young adults, and adults to never perceive and believe that they are too young or too old to make a different in the lives of their communities and countries. I would recommend this book to all age groups who need encouragement and inspiration about the power of one changing the world. The book is written towards the audience of the young teenagers but older adults would still enjoy and benefit from this book. His story will reveal the importance of reaching out to the desperately hurting individuals around us and strangers we haven’t even met. God has entrusted us to be a blessing and to give ourselves, our time, our money, our love unselfishly! It’s up to us to discover and use what God has given us!

“I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity Group/ Thomas Nelson for this review”.

If you would like to purchase a copy of Live to Give check it out on Amazon.com or on Thomas Nelson.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Live-Give-Turn-Talents-Miracles/dp/1400319935

http://ow.ly/cMKFm

About the Book:

Want to do something for God but don’t know what? Want to help others but don’t know who? Want to know what it is you’re really good at doing? Your gifts may feel small and insignificant. But God can use them to work a miracle!

Inspired by the biblical story of the feeding of the 5,000, "Live to Give" delivers a message of hope that we all have something to give. Written in the down-to-earth, candid voice of the gifted young man who as a kid founded a relief ministry that has saved and improved countless lives in Africa, "Live to Give" is the message that every teen needs to hear: You are more special than you know, and you can do big things.

Jesus proved that no gift is too small when He used five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of thousands. And if no gift is too small, too ordinary, or too random, there is no limit to what the youth of today can accomplish!

A teenage philanthropist who has built a high school, two medical clinics, and a dormitory in Africa—all before the age of 16—Austin Gutwein shares how to take what may seem like the simplest of talents, gifts, and interests and use them for something Jesus can use to move mountains.

Meet Austin:

As founder of Hoops of Hope, Austin started what is now known as the worlds largest Free-Throw marathon. Austin's Hoops of Hope has raised more than $2.5M to help orphan children in Africa. Austin also serves as Co-Chair of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's Youth Council. As a highly sought after speaker, Austin has spoken and shared his heart in venues around the world. In 2009, Austin was selected into the Caring Hall of Fame as one of the top 10 most caring Americans.

Austin's first book, "Take Your Best Shot" shared stories that captured readers hearts and won a Moonbeam Award. For information on booking Austin or general inquiries, please visit austingutwein.com.

Read what others are saying:

http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13528976/livetogive




"Get and Give" Campaign! Win a Kindle Fire from @AustinGutwein and have $250 donated to the Charity of your choice!

Austin's new book Live to Give is about "Letting God Turn Your Talents into Miracles"! Celebrate with him by entering his "Get and Give" Campaign - you could win a Kindle Fire for yourself AND Litfuse will donate $250 to the charity of your choice!

One winner will receive:

A Brand New Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi

Five copies of Live to Give by Austin Gutwein

$250 donated on the winner’s behalf to the charity of their choice

Hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/25/12. The winner will be announced on 8/27/12 on the Live to Give Landing Page!

Just click one of the icons below to enter. Tell your friends about Austin's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Watch an interview with Austin Gutwein on Fox News:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1773939338001/arizonian-helps-african-kids-in-a-unique-way/?playlist_id=162726

Living as a Human

I was up late last night and I heard this new song. Natalie Grant and Jordin Sparks opened the 41st Annual Dove Awards with this song called, “Human”. The chorus of the song, “Human” is this, “We gotta to better than this! Cause we only got one chance. To make a difference. Gotta do better than this. Cause we only got one life that we been given. A little love a little kindness. A little light in this time of darkness. It will be what makes us different. It will be what makes us human.” Natalie Grant and Jordin Sparks




This song speaks to me in so many different ways. We have to make a difference in this life for other people. You might think you’re not ready to help people. But you could be more ready than you think. Love starts in small ways. You love by holding open a door for someone else, helping the homeless, using your gifts to help on another, or just by smiling. There really are so many ways to help one another. Listen to people tell you their stories. I know time is tough for everyone right now. There is not a single person not affected. Let’s not use the excuse and blame it on times are too hard to help. We only get one life to lend a helping hand to one another. God is bigger than the whole economy problem! He is bigger than any problem you’re going through!



What do you want to be remembered for?



1. Being stuck up and not talking to one another



2. Carrying around hurt and unforgiveness



3. Saying hurtful and negative things



4. Tearing people down to feel better about yourself



5. Prideful- I’m too good for you



6. Pity Party



7. Listening to people’s approval



8. Making excuses on why you can’t



9. Feeling like you can’t help



10. Don’t know how too



11. Why should I help? They don’t help me.



12. Too busy to slow down



13. Holding on to money- never giving

14. Fearful - maybe people scare you



If you turn on the TV, you hear a lot more negative stories than positive ones. Where have all the loving people gone? We have become selfish, never wanting to go out of our way for someone else. We have got to start loving people again. Don’t you dare sit there for a second and say, “I love everyone”? Cause, do you really. God knows your hearts are you being honest? We have to really love them not just say that we do. We have to show love!







“Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].” Colossians 3:12-14 (Amplified Bible)







Now some people do really love their neighbors, friends, strangers, and family. Yes, we are human and we are fallible. But we have to start doing things for one another. Look at how older adults look at some teens. Most adults don’t believe that teenagers can make a difference. We think oh well, they don’t have my knowledge. I want you to just look at the movies, Hollywood makes for teenagers and college level adults. What are in most of them? If you watch one for long, you will hear a sexual joke or scene. How about the language? You don’t have to look just watch a movie there in a Reality TV Show too. What happened to the good people helping and loving? Teenagers are being stereotyped as a drinking, irresponsible, rebellious, sex controlled, and partying loving. Yes, it’s okay to party but now they think we have to have a keg party. I got news for you. You don’t have to drink to have a “good time”.



Next, I want you to look at some adults. Why do some get nicer with old age and some get plain mean? Maybe they went through things. But it’s not an excuse to stay bitter and angry at everyone. You have got to heal from the pain. God will love and accept you and help you. He has helped me.



We have got to rise up and change the way the world looks at us. Christians, the world is watching us. They are seeing how you react to certain situations. You can choose to change with God’s help or not. It’s your choice on what you want your life to be and what you want to be remembered for. No one else can tell you to love one another. Yes, God does say it in his word. But you can choose to act out of love or not too. You can choose to let go off the past and move into the future. It is never too late to start helping out each other. Even if you don’t know where to start, let the creator lead you. Start smiling more at each other! As the song, “Human” says, “We have gotta to do better than this.” Get out there and make someone’s life better!