BOOK REVIEW: Stand Strong

Nick Vujicic knows a bit about bullying.

Born without arms or legs, Vujicic endured taunts and teasing from bullies as he was growing up. In his new book, Stand Strong, he reaches out to young people who are going through similarly difficult times. Drawing from his faith and writing in an easy conversational tone, Vujicic challenges kids to deal with their bullies firmly but without retaliation. He emphasizes internal confidence over external action.

With chapters such as "Owning It," "Create Your Safety Zone,"  and "Rise Above," young people are given strategic suggestions for increasing their confidence in Christ and handling unkind behavior from bullies. He encourages kids to create a "bully defense strategy" that they will use if threatened with violence by a bully. He takes on the perennial question: do I fight back?

Vujicic is kind and friendly, and isn't afraid to poke a bit of fun at himself. I believe this will help young people identify with him and therefore take his advice to heart.

To see Vujicic's video introducing the book, go here, and for more information about the author himself, go here.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

BOOK REVIEW: The Waiting

This is the most beautiful book I've read this year.

The Waiting, by Cathy LaGrow (with Cindy Coloma), is the story of a 17 year old girl, Minka, who gave her daughter, conceived in an assault by a stranger, up for adoption. It is the story of how Minka wrote countless letters over many years to the girls' home that facilitated the adoption, asking the staff to pass on her love to that baby--which, because it was a closed adoption, they could not. It is the story of Minka growing into a young woman, a wife, a mother, a widow, a senior citizen...and never forgetting to pray for that daughter, trusting God to watch over her. It is the story of a heart's desire that, after nearly 80 years, seemed about to go into the ground with Minka as she neared 100 years of age.

But then, Minka prayed an impossible prayer.

And, because this is also a story about God's faithfulness...He answered.

If you have ever found yourself having to trust God for something over which you have absolutely no control, you need to read this book.  If you have ever doubted that God can put impossible circumstances together for your good, you will find hope in these pages.  If you have ever wondered whether God really does answer impossible prayers, you will wonder no more. This story testifies to the fact that God knows where His kids are at all times, and that when we delight ourselves in Him, He gives us the desires of our hearts.

I received a copy of this book for free from Tyndale Publishing company for review purposes.