Review of God Loves Broken People

Review of God Loves Broken People (And those Who Pretend They're Not) by Sheila Walsh 

I highly recommend this book to any one who is struggling with pain and discouragement in their lives (and who among us isn't?).    Sheila Walsh uses real-life stories from her own experiences and that of others to reach out to the broken among us.  She uses examples of great people, even Mother Teresa and her own personal struggles with God and His love.    She points out that Mother Teresa had faith AND doubt.  I once had a Presbyterian pastor tell me that without doubt, there is no faith.   

I love these lines in the book:   "Nothing that happens surprises God, so trust Him in the midst of your pain.  God loves you, and nothing can separate you from His love.   God will be with you always, and whatever you have to face, He will go through it with you.   

       Do you believe those things?  If you do, then STAND there. Stand on the Rock.   Stand, when your knees buckle and your tears fall like rain.   Stand when everything else gives way.   You can do that, I know, because Jesus Himself continues to stand with you.  Forever."  

       Wow, those are powerful words.   As I ponder how we will make it with my husband having lost his job as the business folded and went bankrupt (and he had just lost a job he been with for 33 1/2 years to the company going bankrupt), and I have had to go on disability and retire from the teaching job I loved and felt called to by God.  I ponder my purpose and this book gives me some hope.   I also love that this book has a bonus Bible study to accompany the book.    God suffered and died for me.  He loves me.   He loves me in my brokenness.    He loves me just as I am.    

        A few other lines of Sheila's touched me:   "What if brokenness is a divine gift, a mystery we can fully understand and truly appreciate only in eternity?   what if our deepest wounds are the very places through which God's mercy flows to others?   What if instead of trying to fix ourselves, we present ourselves---broken and flawed though we are--to be used as He sees fit, for his glory and our good?"   

       Those lines remind me of the song, Blessings, by Laura Story:   "What if your blessings come through rain drops?  What if your healing comes through tears?  What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're real?"    

        Do read this book if you are also seeking answers to questions.    Read this book if you want to know God is real and that He loves you.  Read this book if you want to experience God's love in a new way.    Embrace Your brokenness.    God is the Good Shepherd and He does love the bummer lambs and the black sheep.  Read the book to hear the story.   

About the author:

Sheila Walsh is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. A featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.    Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release, The Shelter of God's Promises, has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series has won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneezeThomas Nelson Publishing for my honest review on my blog.
To read the first chapter of this book:  click this link:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/82479212/God-Loves-Broken-People