Joy Is a Choice You Can Make Today
Joy Is a Choice You Can Make Today

Author: Kay Warren

Publisher: Revell

Published: 2016-01-26

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 1493402676

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Live a more joyful life--starting today. When trouble comes your way, your first thought probably isn't about joy. More than likely, you feel fear, panic, worry, anger, or even hopelessness. But here's a secret that can change your life: The level of joy you experience on any given day, in any given situation--no matter how challenging it is--is totally up to you. It's not dependent on others--what they do or don't do, how they behave, or what they say. It's not dependent on your circumstances. It cannot be held hostage by pain, disappointment, or grief. Joy is a choice, and no one has exemplified that more than Kay Warren. While this text was written before the death of her son Matthew, the message Kay wants to share with you remains the same--you can choose joy. And if you want to discover how you can make that choice--every day--you've come to the right place. Drawn from the first three chapters of Kay's popular Choose Joy, this little book illuminates the life of Jesus--a life that exhibited great joy despite opposition, sorrow, and pain--showing you that God created you not for a life of struggle, but for a life of joyful relationship with him and with others.

Choose Joy
Choose Joy

Author: Kay Warren

Publisher: Baker Books

Published: 2012-04

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 0800721721

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Passionate Bible teacher Kay Warren shows women--even those who battle depression and anxiety--that a joy-filled life is within their reach.

Happiness
Happiness

Author: Randy Alcorn

Publisher: NavPress

Published: 2015-09-17

Total Pages: 575

ISBN-13: 1496403851

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Do you ever wonder whether God even cares if we’re happy? This world can be so hard, and we aren’t promised an easy road. But that’s not the whole story. The Bible is filled with verses that prove that ours is a God who not only loves celebrations but also desperately wants his children to experience happiness. Why else would he go to the lengths he did to ensure our eternal happiness in his presence? We know that we will experience unimaginable joy and happiness in heaven, but that doesn’t mean we can’t also experience joy and happiness here on earth. In Happiness, noted theologian Randy Alcorn (bestselling author of Heaven) dispels centuries of misconceptions about happiness, including downright harmful ideas like the prosperity gospel, and provides indisputable proof that God not only wants us to be happy, he commands it. Randy covers questions like: How can I cultivate happiness in my life? What’s the difference between joy and happiness? Can good things become idols that steal our happiness? Is seeking happiness selfish? How can I achieve happiness through gratitude? What does it look like to receive God’s grace? The most definitive study on the subject of happiness to date, this book is a paradigm-shifting wake-up call for the church and Christians everywhere.

Happiness Is a Choice You Make
Happiness Is a Choice You Make

Author: John Leland

Publisher: Sarah Crichton Books

Published: 2018-01-23

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 0374717052

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A New York Times Bestseller! An extraordinary look at what it means to grow old and a heartening guide to well-being, Happiness Is a Choice You Make weaves together the stories and wisdom of six New Yorkers who number among the “oldest old”— those eighty-five and up. In 2015, when the award-winning journalist John Leland set out on behalf of The New York Times to meet members of America’s fastest-growing age group, he anticipated learning of challenges, of loneliness, and of the deterioration of body, mind, and quality of life. But the elders he met took him in an entirely different direction. Despite disparate backgrounds and circumstances, they each lived with a surprising lightness and contentment. The reality Leland encountered upended contemporary notions of aging, revealing the late stages of life as unexpectedly rich and the elderly as incomparably wise. Happiness Is a Choice You Make is an enduring collection of lessons that emphasizes, above all, the extraordinary influence we wield over the quality of our lives. With humility, heart, and wit, Leland has crafted a sophisticated and necessary reflection on how to “live better”—informed by those who have mastered the art.

The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking
The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking

Author: Matthew Hutson

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2013-02-26

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 0452298903

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A provocative and entertaining look at the psychology of superstition and religion, how they make us human—and how we can use them to our advantage What is so special about touching a piano John Lennon once owned? Why do we yell at our laptops? And why do people like to say, “Everything happens for a reason”? Drawing on cognitive science, anthropology, and neuroscience, Matthew Hutson shows us that magical thinking is not only hardwired into our brains—it’s been a factor in our evolutionary success. Magical thinking helps us believe that we have free will and an underlying purpose as it protects us from the paralyzing awareness of our own mortality. Interweaving entertaining stories, personal reflections, and sharp observations, The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking reveals just how this seemingly irrational process informs and improves the lives of even the most hardened skeptics.

Laugh Again
Laugh Again

Author: Charles R. Swindoll

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 1995-03-08

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 1418516074

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Did you hear the one about the Christian who couldn't keep from laughing? Chuck Swindoll has not only heard it, he tells it in this delightful book that gives us permission to be happy again. "When did life stop being funny?" Swindoll asks. His answer is found in this best-selling book which speaks to all busy, joy-drained people?from the pressured businessman to the harried homemaker. In Laugh Again, readers will discover ways to live in the present, say "no" to negativism, and realize that, while no one's life is perfect, joy and humor can be inspirational. Let Chuck Swindoll show you how to experience outrageous joy . . . and learn to laugh again!

Let Go of the Guilt
Let Go of the Guilt

Author: Valorie Burton

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 2020-09-01

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 0785220224

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Learn how to leave guilt behind for good! Life coach Valorie Burton teaches you a simple yet profound method that will free you from the “false guilt” that is so common among busy women today. Even women who feel fulfilled often struggle to meet the demands of modern life. Both working and stay-at-home moms agree that the expectations of women have risen dramatically in recent decades. As a result, many women overcompensate and over-apologize while the guilt dampens the joy of motherhood, relationships, and professional accomplishments. Let Go of the Guilt helps you peel back the layers of emotional, cultural, and spiritual expectations that make it difficult to navigate your multiple roles, dreams, and daily demands on your life. Through her signature self-coaching process, powerful questions, and practical research, Valorie Burton shows you how to: Recognize and overcome the five thought patterns of guilt Break the surprising habit that tempts you to subconsciously choose guilt over joy, Stop guilt from sneaking its way into your everyday decisions and interactions, Flip those guilt trips so you can keep others from manipulating you, and Stop setting yourself up for stress, anxiety, and obligation, and instead set yourself for a life of joy and freedom Valorie’s journaling questions and research-based process will shift your perspective, give you clarity and courage, and equip you with a plan of action to let go of the guilt for good.

Breaking Up with Perfect
Breaking Up with Perfect

Author: Amy Carroll

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2015-07-07

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 1501103059

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“Perfection is exhausting at best, defeating at worst. In Breaking Up with Perfect, Amy is the trusted friend who comes to help us knock down our walls of fear to rebuild a more doable, sustainable, God-honoring life.” —Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author of The Best Yes and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries An inspiring and thought-provoking guide to help you abandon the pursuit of perfection and become comfortable and more confident in your own skin. We’ve all been in relationships that were bad for us...whether with a catty girlfriend, a selfish boyfriend, or a coworker who undermines our best efforts. But there is one relationship that steals the potential of all other relationships—including our relationship with ourselves and, ultimately, our relationship with God. And that’s our relationship with Perfect. Perfect is a bad friend. No matter what we do or say or give or bake or create...it’s never enough. Perfect always demands more, but it’s never satisfied. Never. Whether you are a “good girl,” who always tries to be what you think everyone else wants you to be, or a “never good enough” girl, who’s desperately hiding your past and shame behind attempts to measure up—this book will help you find the beautiful, loving, fulfilled woman God created you to be. Imperfections and all. Breaking Up with Perfect will help you: • Experience authenticity as the antidote for isolation • Trade the Lies of Perfection for the Truths of God’s Love • End the pursuit of perfection, so God can begin His powerful perfecting work in you After reading this book, you’ll be able to end the never-ending stress that chasing Perfect brings and live a life filled with joy, peace, and spiritual fulfillment.

Choose Joy Devotional
Choose Joy Devotional

Author: Kay Warren

Publisher: Revell

Published: 2015-09-29

Total Pages: 106

ISBN-13: 1441248501

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Kay Warren's Choose Joy helps readers discover how to live with joy despite their circumstances. The Choose Joy Devotional helps put those joy-filled principles into focus each day. Each of the thirty entries begins with an encouraging Scripture, followed by Kay's wise words on how to live with joy even when life is challenging, our plans are shattered, our health fails, or it feels like we are walking through life alone. Each devotion ends with a short prayer to help bring the reader closer to the true source of all joy--their loving God. Perfect for anyone who wants to experience joy in daily life, the Choose Joy Devotional also makes a thoughtful gift.

Say Yes to God
Say Yes to God

Author: Kay Warren

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2010-10-05

Total Pages: 274

ISBN-13: 0310332249

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You have a plan for the rest of your life. God has a plan for the rest of your life. Are they the same? Say Yes to God--formerly titled Dangerous Surrender--will help you find the answer. You have expectations for how your life will play out, and you hope those plans will become realities. But what if God's plan for your life is far different from what you had in mind? Can you accept that? Will you surrender your goals for God's? Kay Warren had a plan. Together with her husband, Rick Warren, author of the megaseller The Purpose Driven Life, she planned that after her kids were grown, she'd travel the world, teaching and encouraging couples in ministry. It was a good plan. But it wasn't what God had in mind for her. In her own startling wake-up call, Kay discovered the shocking realities of the AIDS pandemic in Africa while reading a magazine. "I want to use you!" she heard God say. That began the struggle--first to avoid God's call and then to surrender herself to God. She cried out to God, "Why are you bothering me with this? There's nothing I can do about it. I'm just an ordinary person. What could one person do about such a gigantic problem?" But God had grabbed her attention and wouldn't let go. If you've ever struggled with knowing and doing God's will, this book is for you. With raw honesty, Kay goes straight to the heart of the matter: the bottom line is surrender. Will you say yes to God? Along the way she'll introduce you to others--people like you--who have said yes to God and have made a difference in the world. Using their skills, energy, faith, and a willingness to take risks, they became powerful instruments of change and tools in God's hands. Giving in to God isn't easy. It's not for cowards. It's the boldest, riskiest step you'll ever take. This dangerous surrender can bring both joy and pain, both heartache and ecstasy, but it enables you to know God in a far deeper way than ever before. "I had to make a conscious decision. Would I retreat to my comfortable life and to my settled plans? Or would I surrender to God's call and let my heart engage with the cause to which he called me, one that I was pretty sure would include buckets of pain and sorrow? I felt like I was standing on the edge of a giant precipice; I couldn't go back, and yet the way forward looked like stepping into a void." Kay Warren took that step, choosing to say yes to God. That decision transformed her life and reshaped her future. She invites you to do the same. You'll benefit most by discussing this book with others. A Readers' Group Discussion Guide is provided in the back of the book. Additional help can be found at www.kaywarren.com.