Sunday, October 30, 2011

Overcoming the Nevers: A Book Review and a Giveaway!: eMpowering Mondays

I had the blessed opportunity to meet several hundred women who have a similar calling as me this past July at the She Speaks Conference. Though I learned pages and pages of ideas and tools from the conference, my greatest gain has been the relationships that I have developed. Many of these friendships were not started at the actual conference. In fact, I have never seen some of these women in real life. Our commonalities drew us together and we have nurtured our relationships via phone calls, text messages, emails, Twitter, and Facebook.

Teri Johnson is one of those women I have not had the privilege of actually hugging in person! I was reading on Twitter one day that Teri was publishing her first book and I responded by supporting her and offering to review it with my readers – that was Labor Day weekend. Our relationship that began virtually morphed into real life phone calls. I am now honored to call Teri my friend. And now, I am excited to tell you that her book is OUT and I have already read it and want to recommend it to you! AND BE SURE TO READ TO THE BOTTOM TO SEE HOW YOU CAN WIN YOUR OWN SIGNED COPY!

The book is titled, Overcoming the Nevers. It’s a catchy title – and Teri explains that the “nevers” in our lives can be positive (I never thought I would go to seminary, but I did!) or negative (I never thought I would live in fear, but I have.) Teri focuses on the negative “nevers” because those are the ones that leave us in a state of disappointment, failure, regret, insecurity, anxiety, fear and shame. The “after-effects” of those “Nevers” are what keep us from living life – a full life, a joyful life, a content life. We begin to believe lies about ourselves – lies of inadequacy, of never measuring up, of insignificance. The pain surrounding these “after-effects” and lies often causes us to resort to unhealthy behaviors.
 
Overcoming the Nevers is about experiencing freedom in our lives as we triumph over our Nevers and their lingering effects. As we gain victory, we begin to see how God has uniquely created us and has an incredible plan for our lives.  Teri uses the analogy of a garden to talk about our lives. She reminds us that “whatever we feed and focus on grows.” She highlights the tools that we need to tend to that garden of life – to weed out the feelings and behaviors that need to be removed and to nurture the growth of seeds and plantings that enable us to be who God created us to be.

This book is empowering! I realized that though my “Nevers” are different from Teri’s and most likely different from yours, I still have them. For example, I never thought I would go through depression. I thought that my personality did not lend itself to depression. And yet, a few years ago, that is exactly where I found myself. I am confident that whatever your “Never” is, by the grace of God, you can overcome it! I am thankful to Teri for sharing her incredible journey with God through Overcoming the Nevers. It is a powerful collection of tools for anyone desiring to live the radical, abundant life Christ desires for us!

Some of my favorite quotes:

“By acknowledging our powerlessness we are actually empowered, and this cultivates strength.”

“Wrong thinking can also prevent us from experiencing joy and being fully alive. When we decide something is true, that “truth” adheres to us, even if it’s false. Believing messages about who you are, that are simply not true, is wrong.”

“We are inviting Him to separate us from what we’ve uncovered and discovered, what He revealed to us in our lives that is not pleasing to Him... We are asking Him to heal us, restore us, refine us, and transform us.”

“We will clean our house daily with the ultimate goal of our inside matching our outside – wholeness.”

Good stuff, huh? 


I want you to win your own signed copy of the book!  You can enter the giveaway by:

1.  Commenting on this post – share with us maybe why you would love to read this book! Teri Johnson will be joining the blog comment conversation as you comment...so give her some comment love and some questions!
 
2.    Following this blog if you are not already...you can subscribe over on the left via email, Google Reader, or Networked Blogs.
 
 
3.    Sharing this book review post via Twitter or Facebook and leave a comment letting me know that you did that!
 
4.    Following me on twitter at http://twitter.com/kelliwommack and let me know!
 
 
5.    Following Teri’s blog http://keepingitpersonal.com where I have the honor of being a monthly contributor and let us know in the comments.
 
6.    Follow Teri on Twitter at http://twitter.com/keepitpersonal

You can also order a signed copy of the book or an e-book by going to http://keepingitpersonal.com/overcoming-the-nevers/



Teri is the President and Founder of Keeping it Personal.  She is a writer, speaker, and sought-after personal growth expert.  Great conversations while sipping coffee and soaking up as many sunsets as she can, make her tick — along with running and taking pictures.  She’s passionate about helping others; an encourager and a cheerleader to many.  Teri lives a joy-filled life deeply devoted to her husband, her two boys, and her relationship with God.




As always, I am grateful for your reading this blog. You are the reason I write. Now, go...Overcome your Nevers!

Unwrapping the gift of abundant life,

Kelli



19 comments:

Laura said...

Like you, I have my "nevers," both positive and negative. I'd love to read this book. (I also shared the review on Twitter.)

Blessings,
Laura

Teri Johnson said...

Thank YOU Laura for sharing your comment! We all have things to overcome and WILL continue to experience life that will throw us more "nevers" having the tools and being equipped to handle them is so important! If you're interested in previewing the introduction, you can view that and watching the video trailer of the book on my website --> http://keepingitpersonal.com/overcoming-the-nevers

Teri Johnson said...

Thank YOU Laura for sharing your comment...we ALL have things to overcome and will continue to experience life that throws MORE challenges our ways, more nevers. Being equipped for these this is most important. =)

The introduction of the book is available for free download on my website AND there's a video trailer to watch too if you're interested at --> http://keepingitpersonal.com/overcoming-the-nevers

Keeping it Personal,
Teri Johnson

Lorraine said...

Oh my goodness....I have had to struggle to overcome so many "nevers"! I would love to read your book. I am sure it would give me the tools to more easily overcome on-going.

Teri Johnson said...

Lorriane, YES...I share a toolbox for living in the book -- tools that I now cannot life without and live a joy-filled life...Promise Land living. Thank YOU for sharing your comment. =)

Keeping it Personal,
Teri Johnson

Teri Johnson said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Daniela Castillo said...

Sometimes I think that those "Nevers" that I set up in my mind are really nevers, but I know that there is nothing impossible for God and with Him overcoming my nevers is possible. The title really caught my attention and I would totally love to ready it! Thanks, Daniela

Tammy_Skipper said...

I "never" thought I'd marry a military man, have children when I was young or wait 15 years to finish my degree, but I am blessed because of it. I think right now God is working on my "I never thought I would feel 'unsuccessful' in my work" thought. I think I would enjoy reading this because it sounds like she understands "never" isn't always a bad thing!

Tammy_Skipper said...

I shared this post on Twitter

Tammy_Skipper said...

I follow you on Twitter

Tammy_Skipper said...

I follow Teri on Twitter (that's how I found you!)

Sheri said...

Thanks Kelli! Your blogs always bless me even when I don't read them on that day...it is evident that I read them when God wants me to! :)
I have definitely overcome some "nevers" and am struggling with one right now! Would love some tools in Teri's book. I'll admit that I'm not a twitterer(don't think that's a word) and rarely do fb and you know I don't usually comment on your blog even when I want to! :)
Blessings Teri & Kelli,
Sheri

Brandi said...

I just received the book I ordered from Amazon. I started reading and now can't put it down. I have long suffered the effects of my 'Nevers' and have constantly been reminded of them. With the 'tools' I've been given in the book and my desire to let my 'Nevers' go, I will be able to live a 'Joy-Filled' life. Thank You Teri!

Teri Johnson said...

Daniela -- YOU are right ON...there is nothing impossible for God -- with HIM we can experience freedom and joy as we work through ALL those things we never imagined we would need to work through =)

Tammy -- I DO understand that "Never" is always a bad thing. Actually, I embrace ALL of my nevers, they've become stepping stone to bring me to where I am today. However, without being equipped with the healthy tools to "cope" or "deal" with the lingering after effects...I was dying. I'm SO grateful to have overcome and for God's provision. Thank YOU for sharing. =)

Sheri -- YOU can find freedom from your stuggle!! Thank you for sharing where you are...thank you for LEAVING your comment, truly.

Brandi -- Yipee, You've got it IN YOUR HANDS!! Please DO share with me your thoughts when your finished or as you're reading through the pages...YES YOU WILL be able to live a joy-filled life!! YES YOU WILL!! Thank you SO much Brandi for leaving this comment, YOU brightened my day. =)

Keeping it Personal,
Teri Johnson

Teri Johnson said...

Daniela -- YOU are right ON...there is nothing impossible for God -- with HIM we can experience freedom and joy as we work through ALL those things we never imagined we would need to work through =)

Tammy -- I DO understand that "Never" is always a bad thing. Actually, I embrace ALL of my nevers, they've become stepping stone to bring me to where I am today. However, without being equipped with the healthy tools to "cope" or "deal" with the lingering after effects...I was dying. I'm SO grateful to have overcome and for God's provision. Thank YOU for sharing. =)

Sheri -- YOU can find freedom from your stuggle!! Thank you for sharing where you are...thank you for LEAVING your comment, truly.

Brandi -- Yipee, You've got it IN YOUR HANDS!! Please DO share with me your thoughts when your finished or as you're reading through the pages...YES YOU WILL be able to live a joy-filled life!! YES YOU WILL!! Thank you SO much Brandi for leaving this comment, YOU brightened my day. =)

Keeping it Personal,
Teri Johnson

Brandi said...

Hi Teri... I'm back to share with you my thoughts after reading your book. I have a lot of work to do. I have many new 'tools' to use from your book. I am grateful to know that my life can and will change (for the better) with a few daily adjustments. You have encourged me to seek Meditation. I have just completed the online course of Edgar Cayce's Meditation series. Thank You Teri!

Brandi said...

Hi Teri... Me Again! Forgot to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your book. You ARE a Fantastic writer and I hope you'll write again in the future.

Kelli Williams Wommack said...

Brandi, Teri would love to communicate with you - will you go to her site at www.keepingitpersonal.com and correspond with her? That would make it easier for her. Thanks!

Brandi said...

Hi Kelli... I went to Teri's website but don't know where to leave a comment. I am new to reading blogs and still new to how everything works. In other words, I am the one still reading the book 'Computers for Dumbies 101'.. I think you get my point. lol