April Book Review

Staying on track, I just completed my fourth book for the year entitled, "Choose Joy, Because Happiness Isn't Enough." By Kay Warren. Through this four part book with eleven chapters, Kay uses scripture and life experiences to show that even when life is hard we can choose to find joy all the time.

The first part talks about how Jesus was joyful and honest with life struggles. Choosing joy doesn't mean we ignore how we feel, but when we. Find joy in Christ, we understand that He can bless us even in our mess.

The second part talks about changing the way we think about joy versus happiness and how joy in Christ makes us satisfied while happiness in the world cannot.

The third part talks about nurturing joy first in ourselves and then in others (sounds familiar).

The final section talks about joy being a choice. We chose how to respond, how to live. As a believer, Christ is always with us, but if we don't come before him and grow our relationship, we will feel distant.

Several great quotes from this book. I'll share a few:

"We have no right to ask when a sorrow comes, 'why did this happen to me?' Unless we ask the same question for every joy that comes our way."

"Children provide the purest model for unabashed, inhibited joy you can find."

"God is the only true source of joy."

"Many of us need permission to recognize sorrow but go beyond it and still choose a life of joy."

Kay Warren is extremely vulnerable in sharing some of the struggles she has gone through during her walk with God. I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is written to women, but I think men can gain insight from this book as well. I will probably read it again in the future.