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
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/
or order a copy from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159932251X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=keepitpers-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=159932251X
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
