I must be honest, I am not the self help type of reader. If I am to read a book like that, it has to be something that speaks to one of my particular issues of pain, like healing from certain family stressor's, issues of trauma, things like that. I don’t think I am repaired enough to read a book of inspiration on this level, at the moment. But, that there are 100 inspirational readings that speak to people and their relationship with God, I think it will be a great read for others out there that are in the type of mindset to work a book like this into their life. And the people I speak of that this book is good for is most of the population, people other than the people like me.
God is always a concept, however you think of Him, that you want in your life. At times in my own life, for more years than I have believed in him, I had my doubts. I was unsure if there was a God in this world and a place after this world where God waits and reigns. But, even with these doubts, when I had a child, I wanted him to believe in God with no doubts. Because I saw those who had pure belief in this Higher Power and they were happy, or, if not happy, at least comforted. They didn't have the fear I did, the fear that, in the end, there will be nothing. Since I was a young girl, the fear of this ending, left me breathless, debilitated. And I did not want my own son disabled in life, as I was, from this fear. I wanted him to go through life without that worry, without being stifled from other things that should be done during the time I was disabled from living. Therefore I taught him about God, taught him to believe, and made sure that there were no doubts as I felt that this, even if it was a lie, was the right thing to do, for him. I wanted to save him from his worry.
Later in life, however, something happened that showed God to me, not just once, but again and again. When I was at my lowest points, found myself left with absolutely nothing, God kept me from the absolute end. He did this by putting complete strangers in my life and, at times, spoke through them. And no, they didn't speak as the voice of God. They just told me that their actions were inspired by God. While I am sorry that God had to be this direct in my life for me to believe in him, I hope that he understands that doubt is only natural, now I know that God is there, there is some form of God, a spiritual presence.
For me, it’s not the fact that the women are young, Hollywood professionals, actually, that fact, might turn me off from the book as many, not in Hollywood, see people from this type of place as disingenuous, that they might be seeking only fame and fortune by using the name of God in a book. But, I would think these young women are not corrupted by the limelight of Hollywood, that despite where they are that they still believe in God, rather than fame, fortune, alcohol, a fast life, they have not been tarnished, their beliefs, by where they live. That, in Hollywood, they have found sunlight and happiness in their worship of God and they would like to share their experience and their insight, with this book.
When I am in a place and time in my life where I want to work on The Sunshine of My Mind, I may seek out this book as I really am interested in what these young women have to say. A little too old to be called young, myself, I thought I could learn nothing from those who are younger, just a little time ago. Then I had my first hospital stay and met some of the aides, nurses in training (currently seeking their college degree) and, my hope for the next generation, was sealed as I was able to talk to them, learn from them, share my experiences, they theirs, as I discovered that yes, we have something to hope for, in this country, from our youth. I was impressed, to say the least (especially when one of them brought me several bags of a new kettle corn wholesome popped corn snack I had never had, so sweet they all were). Old dogs can really learn new tricks and the youth of a culture different than ours can really teach us something. Just as young men and women should also learn things from their peers, as they read this book themselves.
The cover is great, the bright color and the lack of anything really, but a simple sun, I think, goes well with the topic at hand. Because I strongly believe that when we praise Him that we do not need flashy clothes or any money (unless we are helping another). We go simply to Him. My favorite statue in the world is in the city I live in, Cleveland. The first time I saw it I believed it to be a simple beggar as a man sits, cloaked, in front of a little beggar's bowl. But, as I approached and stooped down, to look closer, I saw that the wounds of the cross were apparent in his hands and what you could see of his feet, sandaled. The beggar portrayed in the statue was God! A statue that says so much, conveys so much, to me, without a word spoken. The cover is perfectly simple as it should be as a book that speaks about one’s relationship with Him.
The fact that no photos of the girls appear on the cover, as some self-help books publish the “guru” on the front, on helps to support the point that, even though the girls are from Hollywood, in a place where they could live the fast life, they have chosen to live a professional life, still having God in it. And this bodes well that this book is not just written for any type of monetary gain or fame. A book, I think, that will do well and the first book of devotions/meditations, readings, that I have seen promoted so strongly. It must be good.
God is always a concept, however you think of Him, that you want in your life. At times in my own life, for more years than I have believed in him, I had my doubts. I was unsure if there was a God in this world and a place after this world where God waits and reigns. But, even with these doubts, when I had a child, I wanted him to believe in God with no doubts. Because I saw those who had pure belief in this Higher Power and they were happy, or, if not happy, at least comforted. They didn't have the fear I did, the fear that, in the end, there will be nothing. Since I was a young girl, the fear of this ending, left me breathless, debilitated. And I did not want my own son disabled in life, as I was, from this fear. I wanted him to go through life without that worry, without being stifled from other things that should be done during the time I was disabled from living. Therefore I taught him about God, taught him to believe, and made sure that there were no doubts as I felt that this, even if it was a lie, was the right thing to do, for him. I wanted to save him from his worry.
Later in life, however, something happened that showed God to me, not just once, but again and again. When I was at my lowest points, found myself left with absolutely nothing, God kept me from the absolute end. He did this by putting complete strangers in my life and, at times, spoke through them. And no, they didn't speak as the voice of God. They just told me that their actions were inspired by God. While I am sorry that God had to be this direct in my life for me to believe in him, I hope that he understands that doubt is only natural, now I know that God is there, there is some form of God, a spiritual presence.
For me, it’s not the fact that the women are young, Hollywood professionals, actually, that fact, might turn me off from the book as many, not in Hollywood, see people from this type of place as disingenuous, that they might be seeking only fame and fortune by using the name of God in a book. But, I would think these young women are not corrupted by the limelight of Hollywood, that despite where they are that they still believe in God, rather than fame, fortune, alcohol, a fast life, they have not been tarnished, their beliefs, by where they live. That, in Hollywood, they have found sunlight and happiness in their worship of God and they would like to share their experience and their insight, with this book.
When I am in a place and time in my life where I want to work on The Sunshine of My Mind, I may seek out this book as I really am interested in what these young women have to say. A little too old to be called young, myself, I thought I could learn nothing from those who are younger, just a little time ago. Then I had my first hospital stay and met some of the aides, nurses in training (currently seeking their college degree) and, my hope for the next generation, was sealed as I was able to talk to them, learn from them, share my experiences, they theirs, as I discovered that yes, we have something to hope for, in this country, from our youth. I was impressed, to say the least (especially when one of them brought me several bags of a new kettle corn wholesome popped corn snack I had never had, so sweet they all were). Old dogs can really learn new tricks and the youth of a culture different than ours can really teach us something. Just as young men and women should also learn things from their peers, as they read this book themselves.
The cover is great, the bright color and the lack of anything really, but a simple sun, I think, goes well with the topic at hand. Because I strongly believe that when we praise Him that we do not need flashy clothes or any money (unless we are helping another). We go simply to Him. My favorite statue in the world is in the city I live in, Cleveland. The first time I saw it I believed it to be a simple beggar as a man sits, cloaked, in front of a little beggar's bowl. But, as I approached and stooped down, to look closer, I saw that the wounds of the cross were apparent in his hands and what you could see of his feet, sandaled. The beggar portrayed in the statue was God! A statue that says so much, conveys so much, to me, without a word spoken. The cover is perfectly simple as it should be as a book that speaks about one’s relationship with Him.
The fact that no photos of the girls appear on the cover, as some self-help books publish the “guru” on the front, on helps to support the point that, even though the girls are from Hollywood, in a place where they could live the fast life, they have chosen to live a professional life, still having God in it. And this bodes well that this book is not just written for any type of monetary gain or fame. A book, I think, that will do well and the first book of devotions/meditations, readings, that I have seen promoted so strongly. It must be good.