Jessie Minassian Addresses How the Media Views Beauty Vs The Scripture Definition

           Our young women buy into the lies brought on by the Media about beauty.  Trying to strive for perfection, they fall short of unrealistic goals and end up believing they are ugly and will never meet the bar.  Jessie Minassian tackles these issues which have plagued young adults for ages.  With the aide of scripture she defines the true meaning of beauty.  This author uses reverse psychology (i.e. '"How to Look Ugly"') in order to magnify how ridiculous some of notions society implicates.  She gets an all star review from me for hitting the nail on the head when addressing this topic and re-teaching teens.  This book is complete with questionaires with  room to add honest answers.   I am grateful to have reviewed this publication for Tyndale.  Definitely a book that will help young people accept themselves for who they are.

Overcoming The Most Painful and Restricting Emotion A Person Can Carry

         Guilt stifles and imprisons it's victims.  Guilt stops individuals from reaching their goals as they wade in self-loathing.  Guilt destroys all self worth and can even lead to deep depression, a nervous breakdown, addictions and even suicide.  For myself, guilt was the most debilitating  force I experienced in my life which attributed to my becoming a housebound agoraphobic.  Clinical Psychologist Everett L. Worthington Jr. describes the beauty of the Gospel and Christ's death on the cross which frees us of the bondage of guilt.  His book is a God Send for all those afflicted with doubts about forgiveness.  Moving Forward - Six Steps to Forgiving Yourself and Breaking Free from the Past examines the difference between real and unwarranted  guilt (those things we have no control over but blame ourselves).  He presents the reader with a path to stop beating themselves up over the past.  Using Scripture as his basis, he sites examples of other individuals who have benefited by his tools.  Although this excellent book was not available when I was younger, I was able to obtain a stellar psychologist who helped me through my dark period and I successfully overcame my depression and agoraphobia.  It's important for the reader to realize we all make mistakes and none of us are worthy of  redemption but because of  God's love, we are saved through his Son.  Guilt was meant to remind us to remain humble and if we fall that we ask for forgiveness and to go on and not repeat the same mistakes.  Dr. Washington skillfully guides the reader to reach self-forgiveness and once this door is open, you will be able to accept the loving forgiveness of God.  Your burdens will be lifted and finally you will be able to love more freely with your new self-acceptance.  It's time to move on and enjoy life as God wants you to.  This book is essential for a healthy self-esteem.  I am grateful for Waterbrook Multnomah for the opportunity of reading this in advance.  I highly recommend .

Conquering Inner Demons

Kasey Van Norman focuses on a real problem that a lot of Christians suffer with, low self-esteem in her book NAMED BY GOD (Overcoming your past, transforming your present and embracing your future). Like many, she couldn't understand how God could love her. Tormented by her inner demons, she finds herself tossing back a bottle of Xanax to end it all. Her book shares how she learned to let the past go and to embrace the redemption that God has for us. For so many Christians, it is easy to speak about hope and forgiveness yet inwardly they struggle with self-acceptance. This book will make an impression on many others facing the same and I am thankful Kasey had the courage to relate her struggle. I can completely relate to this book as I went through similar struggles in my twenties and you can not know the true peace of God until you make peace with yourself. This book should be on every Christain counselors bookshelf. I highly recommend. It was my deep pleasure to review this book for Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.