Review of "Take Charge of Your Emotions" by Dr. Linda J. Solie

So, I am not the biggest fan of non-fiction.  However, every once in a while, the title of a non-fiction book will catch my attention.  This book is one of those books.  The title of this book promises a lot, and I can tell you that it does deliver.  It's not a "read this and your life will be instantly changed" book.  Dr. Solie provides solid steps for changing the way you think.  She doesn't provide simple steps that are going to just gloss over problems and thoughts.  She walks the reader through steps that can be applied to many areas in life.  She also provides realistic examples to which the reader can relate.  Dr. Solie makes the reader focus on self-talk, which is the basis for anger, depression, and anxiety when it is all negative.  She tries to get the reader to focus on helpful self-talk, which helps people overcome the negative feelings.  Dr. Solie really emphasizes the connection between negative self-talk and negative feelings.

I took her seven steps and applied them to a situation.  Instead of focusing on the my initial feelings and gut reactions about the situation, these seven steps allowed me to look at the situation from a different view point.  It allowed me to change my self-talk, and help me to be more positive about the situation and not so negative, which helped to eliminate the anger, depression, and anxiety that I had originally felt about the situation.

I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with any feelings of anger, depression, and anxiety.  This book would be especially helpful for people who struggle with negative self-talk.  I know that negative self-talk is usually a precursor to any negative feelings that I have.  I plan to continually apply these steps to my life to help me overcome these negative feelings.

*Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.*

"Fired Up" needed a little more heat...

Fired Up by Mary Connealy is the story of Dare Ryker and Glynna Greer.  Dare is a self-made doctor and Glynna is a widow with two children trying her best to make a life for her family.  This is the second book in the Trouble in Texas series.  I did not read the first book, and I'll admit that it probably would have helped me enjoy this book a little more.  This book would work as a stand alone book, as Mrs. Connealy does reintroduce all the characters from the first book.  I could tell there was a lot more to the relationships between the characters that would have been better understood with the help of the first book.

The action in the book starts at the first and does not let up until the end.  Dare is busy treating the people in the town and trying to figure out who is trying to harm him.  Glynna is trying not to kill all the people in the town with her cooking, while also trying to be a mother to her two children.  Dare and Glynna are drawn to each other, but have a lot of hurdles to overcome in the form of Glynna's son, the person trying to harm Dare, and things in their past that they need to work through.  

This is a good book with lots of action and romance.  Some of the scenes are a little slow, but that doesn't take away from the book as a whole.  I enjoyed and look forward to reading the first, and the next book in the series.

*I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*

"Rebellious Heart" in all of us

Rebellious Heart is the first book by Jody Hedlund that I have read.  I have had another one of her books on my ereader for a while and had never actually read it until I read this book.  After reading this book, I am a fan.  This is the story of Susanna Smith, a young woman who longs to learn more and also wants to help the less fortunate more than she is able.  She has the means but hindered because she is a woman.  Benjamin Ross is a young lawyer who wants to change the world but is hindered by his lack of funds.  Susanna and Benjamin each have what the other needs to accomplish their dreams.  Benjamin is attracted to Susanna's intelligence from the start.  She doesn't want to fall in love with him but her rebellious heart takes the decision out of her hands...

Their tale is a glimpse into life in colonial America.  This book was a real page turner.  Ms. Hedlund provided the perfect blend of drama and romance to keep me turning the page.  There were a few instances when the drama was so intense I was almost afraid to turn the page because of the fear of what was going to happen.  There is a lot of action in the story.  Susanna is very determined in what she is doing, and will let nothing stop her. Benjamin gets drawn in, to help her and also protect her.  I don't want to say to much more - you really need to read the book for yourself to find out.

There were a couple of scenes that I didn't find very believable for the time period, but this did not detract from the story as a whole.  I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book.  It was extremely well written and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance with drama and suspense thrown in.  Maybe your heart will be like mine and fall in love with this book.

*I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Learning to live with differences

After hitting the back space button many times, I just have to come out and say it.  I'm difficult to live with, and I have difficulty with people who are different than me.  My survival mode most of the time is to shut myself away and just carry on with my daily life.  But you know, that is not what we as Christians are called to do.  We are called to be separate from the world, but we are also called to be salt in the world, to show the world the light of Christ.  I think my salt shaker has been a little closed lately but that's for another post.

So if you know me and don't know that I'm a dog lover then you don't know me.  I prefer dogs, but I have a soft spot for any lost creature.  (there's the beginning of another post as well)  About 2 months ago, I went for a quick walk with my nephew and dogs and found a kitten up by the highway.  I brought her back home with me, because I didn't want her to get ran over.  The dogs are both wanting a piece of her as I'm walking back home with her.  She was very friendly and I intended to only keep her long enough to find her real owners (she's a very friendly cat) or find her another home.  Well, to make a long story short, my dog Qia decided to adopt her.  I don't know what happened but sometime shortly after I found her, Qia and Luci became fast friends.  

I could really learn a lesson from Qia.  If she can learn to be friends with a cat, I should be able to do the same (with the cat and other people as well).  I generally try to be a friendly person, but I don't try to love people as I should.  It is something I really need to work on...

(Coco when Luci first showed up - more of my type of reaction, she has since learned to live in harmony with her)

Sometimes it's the little details...

When I got back to my office this afternoon after eating lunch, I noticed that I had a visitor hanging around outside my window.

I'll have to admit that I have never really admired grasshoppers.  They can be pests, and they like to jump on me at the worst times.  They're not scary, but when I'm not expecting one to land on me (and then they do), the reaction is not a good one.  I really enjoyed the opportunity today to examine one a little closer.  My co-workers probably think I am crazy because I was talking to him, trying to get him to move closer so I could take a better picture.  He eventually moved closer but the picture didn't turn out well.  

As I was watching my little friend this afternoon, I noticed his mouth.  There were two little palps on either side of his mouth.  I'm not exactly sure what purpose they serve, or what he was doing while I was watching him, but it made me think.  Before, I always thought of grasshoppers as just pests or insects and thought nothing of swatting them away or squashing them under my shoe.  However, as I watched this grasshopper do whatever he was doing, I was fascinated by the little details I could see all over him.  To think that God would care about the little details on such a little insect (OK, not that little as he was the length of my pinkie finger), to put that much design and thought into something that is nothing more than a pest to most people, is an astounding thought.  If the Creator of the universe cares that much about an insect, then He must care about the little aspects of my life too.  

It's the little aspects of my life that are giving me the most worry this week.  Not worry so much, I have my own solutions to the issues that I know are going to come up.  I have my plans made.  I've been telling myself though, that God doesn't have much interest in my little things.  Most of us seek God when we have a big decision to make, like do I marry this person or do I take that job.  But when the little things roll around, we don't seek Him.  Or I know I don't.  I've never really felt like He would be that interested in the small things.  

My little friend tells me different.  My little friend tells me that God cares about the small things.  My little friend says that God cares about the legs on a grasshopper or the palps by a grasshopper's mouth.  My little friend says that God cares about the way a grasshopper moves and the way he's able to hang onto a hot window for 3 hours in the same afternoon.  So, am I going to give my little worries over to God? Will I let Him use the little things to make me into a better person?  Will I be like my little friend and hang on even when the window gets hot?  I guess I'll find out...

Best gift ever!

Wow!  I have the best job ever!  Only I guess it's not really a job, because if I messed up at my real job the way I mess up at this one, I would get fired so fast I wouldn't even be able to clean out my desk.  What job is this do you ask?  How do you get a job like this, do you wonder?  Let me tell you.   

 

 

First of all, He isn't looking for the best applicants.  In fact, only one person EVER was perfect for the job. In His eyes, we are all the same. 

 

For ALL have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

There is NONE righteous, no, not one.  Romans 3:10

 

 

Second, it isn't a job exactly.  It's more of a gift, a gift of eternal life.  There are wages associated with not taking the gift, but it's not any type of wage that I would want.  I would rather accept the gift.

 

For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God

is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:23

 

 

So why would God want to give the gift of eternal life to imperfect people?  Love, that's why.

 

For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

John 3:16

 

 

So how do you get this free gift?  Are there any special requirements?

 

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus

and believe in your heart that God has raised Him

from the dead, you will be saved. 

Romans 10:9-10

 

 

But beware!  True acceptance of this gift makes you change and your life will never be the same.    

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

 

But what happens if you mess up?  Can you get fired or have this gift taken away?  No, He is ready to forgive us again when we mess up, because I mess up all the time. 



 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

 

So is this gift only for a few people?  No, God intended this gift for everyone. 

 

 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,

but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish

but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9



 

 

There are a lot of benefits that come from accepting God's gift.  It's not always easy and we will mess up and make mistakes, but He promises that He will always be with us, and our eternal reward will be much greater than we can ever imagine.  

 

Questions? Comment here or send me an email at dinaner1010@gmail.com. 

 

To close, here is just a list of some of the benefits that come along with this gift. 



 

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 

 

 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.
 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

 

Psalm 103:1-5, 8-10

 

 

On a roll now!

One of the Psalms (exactly which one I'm not sure) mentions remembering what God has done in the past.  Much of the time I am so focused on what He is not doing at the present moment that I forget what He has done for me in the past.  I decided to share one of those times with you. 

When I was in college, I was heading home for summer break one year.  It was probably after my sophomore or junior year, I don't remember which.  I was headed home in my little GMC pickup with all my stuff in the back.  I was coming home down the turnpike.  It was around mile marker 9, almost 40 miles from my house.  My little truck stopped running.  I pulled over to the side of the road.  I tried to restart it but nothing was happening.  This was about 3 years before I had a cell phone.  I'm essentially in the middle of nowhere.  There are no stores close, no homes close.  I had no choice but to start walking.  I had no idea what was going to happen.  I started praying, "God, please send someone, anyone!"  Ok, then I had to rephrase the prayer, "OK, God, not anyone, please send someone safe!  I locked the truck up good, and started off down the road, praying the whole time.  I had gotten no more than 10 yards from my truck when this car pulls over.  It was a lady and her child.  I told her what had happened and she asked me where I was going.  Funny thing, or a God-thing (if you'll allow me), this lady was from Valliant, which is 4 miles from where my parents lived.  She gave me a ride to her house, and let me call my dad.  So God sent someone SAFE to take care of me. 

It's sad how I forget these moments when I get so focused on today.  I feel like one of the Israelites at times, they had seen God do so much for them when He got them out of Egypt.  But how did they thank Him?  By grumbling and complaining and making idols out of gold.  I may not make idols out of gold (I think cell phones/computers and a golden calf could be about equal though), but I do grumble and complain about what I don't have without taking notice of what I do have.  I may not have everything I think I want, but I have what I need.  I need to show gratitude more often instead of grumbling, and confirmation instead of complaining.