Shelly Beach

I am a big fan of Shelly Jean Beach so this book caught my eye while she and Wanda Sanchez were launching it. The writing is comforting, understanding, and healing. What help for the post traumatic stress sufferers, those with depression and anxiety, and others with painful pasts! Each short passage contains a portion with a person talking to God about their situation, a part where He responds, questions, and then a prayer. Each chapter contains five of these passages concluding with a weekend feature that asks the reader for their responses, conclusions, and an action to do. Scripture is funneled throughout the book giving soothing thoughts from God. Clearly this can be used as a devotion or an open door to discussion. The authors have lived the pain written on most of the pages and many will easily identify with their words. My own copy is underlined in numerous places even though my path is different. I found times when I felt such sympathy and other times, the empathy. I would suggest buying one for a friend and one for yourself so you can come along side them in their journey. Both Shelly and Wanda cull from their vast experiences in meeting and counseling those with PTSD from their training, research, and listening to broken hearts in their travels all over the country.

In the back of the book, a section is dedicated to understanding PTSD and its symptoms, where to find clinical help, online support and other resources. I found this to be an exceptional assistance for those who will be reading this book. For any unsure of the definition of PTSD, here is what the book has to say: "A mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the events, and triggers related to the event that cause flashbacks and memories." If someone you know experiences any of these put this book into their hands.

I received a copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for an honest review which I have given.
… (lisätietoja)

A good book of meditations for Christian women who are struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from abuse. The authors, who are abuse survivors themselves, aim to help readers with this disorder develop a closer relationship with God. As the authors are professional writers and bloggers who speak and write frequently on PTSD, the meditations ring true. Clearly they know the difficulties the sufferers of PTSD can have with their relationships with God.

Unfortunately I found the meditations challenging to read. Some of the situations presented were so specific that I had trouble relating to them. Also, even though the tone of the writing was nurturing and caring, I found it to be too "precious' for me. I also object to calling God "Daddy." I understand that Abba is a term of familiar endearment, but I am not sure how well it holds up in the literal sense. In any case, it does not hold up for me as it turns me off no matter how much I try to understand it.… (lisätietoja)

Every once in awhile I come across a book which I find exceptionally helpful in sorting out life's messes and anguish. Love Letters from the Edge is one such non-fiction resource that has the potential to do a lot of good for a lot of hurting individuals. It's not exactly a typical instructional work. It's not a how-to manual. You won't find lists and instructions until you reach the appendixes. The body of the book is meditational in nature.

I don't want to review this book in a manner that makes it sound too cut and dried. There is nothing dry in these meditations. Some of them tell a short story, for background purposes, that explains the why behind the hurt. The reader can learn from others' sufferings as they share their heart's cry to God. Each day, a meditation is an honest conversation with God. The second half of the reading is God's loving reply to the searching and pain of the inquirer. His replies are conversational and even personal, based on Scripture (much of it from the Psalms...David was honest about his own pain) and from Biblical revelation of God's Person and nature. These replies are not just someone's opinion or pat answers from a faceless religion. They are truths of God's just and loving Being, heart-felt reassurances and verbal hugs from One who knows everything and aches for His children. Many times I was brought to tears from a day's reading because the exchange was relevant and honest. You will find confirmation, empathy and reassurances in so many of the entries.

As for the cut and dried part, while the focus is on meditating (pondering, mental exploration or focus on particular details to dig into their depths), there is organization and structure to how these exchanges are presented to the readers. The soul of the messages within is based on the authors' painful journeys through life and from others whom they know have been struggling from heart-breaking experiences. Through all these excruciating introspective questions and pleas to God and His intimate responses, the authors make it abundantly clear that He is available to hurting people.

The meditations are arranged by daily entries with one entry for each weekend. Each week has a theme based on the Father's reply. Each set of 2-4 weeks is grouped together by the individuals' needs. There are twelve weeks of devotions altogether. At the end of the book are seven appendixes: one appendix describes and explains PTSD to the reader, others have lists of concepts, further reading suggestions, sources used in writing this book, names of organizations for more information, and one with a list of Scriptural assurances.

Weeks 1-4: Heart Cries (Where Were You, Lord?)
Weeks 5-8: Grieving and Growing (Will It Ever Be Better, Lord?)
Weeks 9-10: Hope and a Future (Can You Redeem this Pain, God?)
Weeks 11-12: Love and Assurance (Can You Say it Again, God?)

The book's sub-title says it all: "Meditations for those Struggling with Brokenness, Trauma, and the Pain of Life." After I read the book through, I realized the scope of this book's reach could be vast. There is a multitude of hurting people who would benefit from participating in the week-by-week plan. Each day's entry is only a couple pages long. It is easy to read, to grasp the truths revealed. The tone is conversational, personal and even intimate. It's a heart-to-heart dialogue between you and God. The exchanges are loving and affirming, not judgmental.

So many of the days' entries touched me deeply. In many of them, I heard my own questions voiced and treated with respect in return. Things that I had shoved out of view a long time ago because they were questioned and treated trivially or scoffed at by even respected "professionals" were addressed in this set of meditations and given thoughtful consideration. The replies were true to His Word. If you know of someone who has given up on counseling or talking about their wounded heart, this book may help bridge a gap or serve as the beginning to the road of recovery. I highly recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) on behalf of Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”… (lisätietoja)

The character of Mona is believable. At times, when she clung to her stubborn solitary views, I sighed in frustration; how I wish I could sit her down for a good talking-to! On the other hand, the character of Mona's sister, Ellen, is quite unbelievable. After a life-time of heavy drinking, to a point that she ends up in a coma, and all she needs is two weeks in a rehab center? When she returns home, she is too cleaned-up, too perfect, and even though there's a small relapse, it's obscure. The male characters are all flat. Adam, Harold, and even Joe Spencer, the police officer are all too-good-to-be-true characters.

So I have a mixed review of this novel. This is the sequel to Christy Award-winning Hallie's Heart, and I'm sure the fans of that first novel will want to read this one. Read it and decide for yourself.… (lisätietoja)