Review~ Shattered Dreams

Book Title: Shattered Dreams
Subtitle: God's Unexpected Path to Joy
Author Name(s): Larry Crabb
Release Date: November 2nd, 2010
Page Count: 320 Pages
Price: $16.99
ISBN: 9780307459503
Format: Trade Paperback
Category: Christian Living/Spiritual Growth/Discipleship

Description:
LEARN HOW TO LOOK THROUGH LIFE’S TRAGEDIES AND SEE THE LAVISH BLESSINGS GOD HAS FOR YOU. “Shattered dreams,” writes Dr. Larry Crabb, “are never random. They are always a piece in a larger puzzle, a chapter in a larger story. The Holy Spirit uses the pain of shattered dreams to help us discover our desire for God, to help us begin dreaming the highest dream.” To help you understand this neglected truth in the deepest and most helpful way, author and counselor Larry Crabb has written a wise, hopeful, honest, and realistic examination of life’s difficulties and tragedies. He wraps insights around the bold story of Naomi in the Bible’s book of Ruth. As Crabb retells and illuminates this sometimes disturbing and often profoundly touching story, we are shown how God stripped Naomi of happiness in order to prepare her for joy. And we gain an unforgettable picture of how God uses shattered dreams to release better dreams and a more fulfilling life for those He loves. Shattered dreams have the power to change our lives for good. Forever.

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It's revealing look at the power of forgiveness. If you ever felt trapped by anger, guilt, resentment and/or pain, then this book is for you. Mr Crabb takes the story of Naomi and describes in thought-provoking detail the 'shattered dreams' that she experienced. One of the points that Mr. Crabb brought out was that people need to fully come to grips with the pain of shattered dreams. In some circles, people are taught to get over it and go on. However, Mr. Crabb explains the necessity of allowing the grief to run its full course. With the help of several examples, he shared that the grieving process was a pathway that could bring us into a greater awareness of God and His love. Sadly, some people take another path. They choose to believe that God has purposely shattered their dreams because He hates them or is punishing them. Mr. Crabb brought out a point that I had never thought about before reading his book. Some people have a tendency to worship their dreams even more than they worship God. In doing so, they miss a great portion of God's richest blessings. They run hard after the dream that they have made up and build it into something that God never intended. Therefore, God shatters that dream to encourage them to get back on His right track.This book has some profound insights into the ways of God with man that could revolutionize the way we relate to God. I say "revolutionize" to say that this would change the way we think about God, pray to God and what we expect from God. In saying that, I don't mean to say that our life will suddenly become a bed of roses.There are no easy answers here, only real answers that do not deny the real pain and the real suffering while looking into the eyes of a loving Father who wants you to love him more that any easy fix of your life. He calls us to a higher passion that the passion to be at ease, even when the ease would be good and holy.

disclaimer: I received this book from B4B in exchange for my review.
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