Overextended and loving most of it by Lisa Harper Book Review (Book Sneeze)

I read Overextended and Loving Most of It: The Unexpected Joy of Being Harried, Heartbroken, and Hurling Oneself Off Cliffs by Lisa Harper, in exchange for honest review from BookSneeze. This post contains an Amazon Affiliate Link.



I choose to review the book because I am overextended. I blog. I parent special needs kids. I go to church. I am in school. I have to deal with other annoying relatives. I have to find time to write, do homework, and exercise. My life has gotten more hectic since my oldest returned to public school. I am back to getting up early and making sure Brad goes to bed on time. I also have to remember to wash his school clothes, every other day.

I started reading the book a few days ago and finished more than half of the book in one sitting. The book is excellent. Harper discussed the ups and downs of adoption. She also discussed her work with women in rehab, who struggle with prostitution and drug addiction. She has her ups and downs, but still worked on getting closer to Christ and expanding her ministry and volunteer work. I, on the other hand, struggle with time management, and frustration from not being able to complete tasks, like I used to. I have no ministry at church, even though I want to, because I don't have a ride to most events. I do sign up for events and hope I am able to volunteer when the day arrives. I have worked for the fall festival, vacation bible school, and the summer carnival. I am interested in the media department though to learn how to use my camera equipment, while also serving God and the church.

Some highlights I liked from the book:

Page 7: "but then I had a conversation with a friend over coffee, that convinced me being overextended can be biblical.....(a few passages pass) I think this is what we're supposed to look like when we stand before jesus. I don't think we're supposed to show up in glory with time to spare, a fresh manicure, and perfect hair. I think if we're really living the gospel, we're going to fall at his feet exhausted and messy, with mismatched socks, just plump worn out from loving people as hard as we can."

Page 7: "Life isn't always orderly and relationships rarely fold neatly with hospital corners. Real life...abundant life....God-honoring life is about loving Jesus and the people he allows to rub shoulders with well. Which means some days we'll be stretched emotionally and physically. We'll be taxed to the max."

The book was a good read. Harper discussed expanding our boundaries/limits to helping others in need, even when we are stressed out. She also discusses God's peace and asking God for guidance through it all.

What's Your Mark Book Review

I read What's your Mark, in exchange for review from BookSneeze.  I have the paperback version. The book is written by Jeremy Cowart and published by Zondervan Press.

The book discusses people, who made a mark on the world. Their lives have also been changed by Jesus. I chose this book because I loved the description and the cover was beautiful. I started reading the book as soon as I got it in the mail.

Also, after each story, the author has a chapter from Mark. So, you can learn about someone, get inspired, and then read the bible. yay.

Let me tell you about the cover. It is a beautiful frame, with a silver, mirror-material in the middle. You can see yourself through the mirror. Maybe, you can ask "what's my mark", while looking at yourself. The photos throughout the book are amazing too.

The first story talks about a woman, who uses twitter for social good. The woman works for Twitter too.  Instead of twitting random nothings, she tweets things, which will help people. For example, she posted about an orphanage, she visited. She posted about the good things, the orphanage was doing. She also posted on how people can help orphans. She also teaches people how to use twitter for good. What we tweet can affect others and how others feel about us.

Another story, was about a photographer, who used photography as a way to connect with others. She uses photography to see the light in others, to put focus on them, instead of her. The next story, focuses on a Christian hip-hop artist. He also started a non-profit. The book presents 21 stories of people, who made their mark on the world, including a husband and wife team, who had a successful tv series on the bible. The book is available in paperback (11.99 at time of posting) and kindle (1.99 at time of this posting).

If I knew then, what I knew now

I read, If I knew then, What I knew now, in exchange for review from BookSneeze. The book was written by Ruby Hillsman and Published by Westbow Press. 

I chose this book because I have made mistakes in the past and have learned how to move past them and definitely how not to make them again. If I knew the future consequences of my actions, I would have done things differently.

Lyfe Jennings has a song by the same name: If I knew then, what I knew now.

"If I knew then what I know now, I'd be different, I would slow downI would not be running around, if I knew then what I know now

If I knew then what I know now, I'd be different, I would slow down

As the world spins round and around, wish I knew then what I know now

I did it to myself, blamed nobody else"

I can learn from my own mistakes. I also can learn what to do and what not to do, from watching others. 
What I learned from the book:
People have access to more information--via the internet, smart phones, and other techie gadgets, yet we still make the same mistakes over and over and over again. Some people do not learn from their mistakes until it is too late or not at all. The author talks about how we need to "wake up" and reevaluate our lives. We need to think, reason, and learn. We don't always need to take the easy path in life. We need to learn from others success and failures. We need to improve for the better, not remain stagnant or keep falling behind. The world is changing, but some people are content to remain the same or indifferent, or content. Some people do not want to change, no matter how many mistakes they are making or have made. I definitely have a lot of regrets from my past, but I can not change the past. I can change how my past affects my present and future. I can not blame others. I am responsible for the stupid things (and the good things) I have done. 

I wish I had not rushed into my first relationship and marriageI wish I had not had sex with that many menI wish I was not afraid to tell people I had herpes in the beginning. I needed support. I wish I had not told him that, but I learned to get over multiple addictions once, I did (so I guess that is a good thing). I wish I never took out my first pay day loan. I wish I went celibate sooner. 
Many of these regrets don't even matter now. I learned from them. I grew from them. I healed from some of them. It helps me appreciate where I am now, more. I also know what to do if temptation arises. I know what situations I do not want to be a part of. 
The author provides 12 chapters in the book. The introduction is amazing. Each chapter provides a series of stories, with a list of lessons learned at the end. The stories start at age 5 to  9 years old and continues in chronological order. The author learned about responsibility and having a positive attitude at an early age. Her grandmother taught her the value of hard work, in addition to the ups and downs of being a single parent. She also learned about the power of prayer, in addition to the value of slowing down. . The book is an excellent read. Definitely enjoying the lessons and how to apply the lessons to my life. 

Rosebud Blooming

I read Rosebud Blooming, in exchange for honest review from BookSneeze.The book was written by Nancy Maggio and published by WestBow Press.

I used Reader for PC to read the book and I admit I did not like the panel format, but I loved the book. The book discusses moving forward, even when life has challenges. We need to find ways to move past the pain and depend more on God, during the good times and bad times.

I am not a perfect Christian. I have made plenty of mistakes. Some of my issues, I had to truly rely on God because I could not trust people. As we rely on God, we mature and blossom into more beautiful human beings.

The book presents stories and poems. The first poem was simply beautiful. It was entitled Unfolding this rosebud. The poem was saying the author was a rosebud, who could not grow because she was in so much pain. Her heart was hurting. She needed God to help unfold the rosebud and to help her grow, otherwise she would wither away and die. Seeking God and maintaining a relationship will also require maturity, wisdom, and and trust.

The other stories and poems have a reoccurring theme of listening and depending on God. One of the first stories discusses hearing a voice in the woods, and thinking it was grandma. Nancy and her brother heard the voice and ran towards it because her brother was hurt. The voice was God because their grandma did not know the kids were missing. Another good story involved an unplanned pregnancy and the boyfriend wanted an abortion; child molestation; single parenting; child illness; depression,  and addiction

The book, discusses finding freedom in letting the past go. We have to free those old skeletons in the closet and give God the burdens, worry, and baggage. Let God handle our problems. I really enjoyed reading this book. I did identify with some of the author's stories and poems, especially on single parenting,, depression, and addiction.

One Big Thing

I read One Big Thing, in exchange for review from BookSneeze.com. The book was written by Phil Cooke. The book was published by Thomas Nelson. The book discusses finding your purpose in life. The book was also written from a Christian perspective.

One thing, which stood out was this passage:

"How about you? Do you know yourself and your purpose well enough to be ready when your moment of destiny arrives".... "When a great challenge arrives, that’s no time to figure out your strengths, weaknesses, and purpose. By then it’s too late to find out what you’re made of. That’s why discovering your One Big Thing right now is the key to preparing you for whatever awaits in your future"


I struggle with knowing what my purpose is. I do not know what my purpose is for the kingdom, which is one of the reasons I chose this book. I love to write. I love to listen to people. I love to find free things online, especially Special Needs resources. But is this what God wants me to do? I am also in graduate school for psychology, but is that my purpose. Is that why I am so unmotivated right now? I have questions, but only God has the answers. The book discussed how plenty of people graduate from college, yet they are still unfulfilled in life. People still struggle for their purpose, while taking on degrees and jobs to pay bills and to live life. All this does is lead to frustration.

The book also gave tips on living a fulfilled life. Some tips included how finding fulfillment will not be easy. Next, we need to be open and honest with ourselves. We also need to dedicate time and commitment to our purpose. Commitment: my church discussed commitment on Sunday. Joel Osteen and Steve Harvey discussed commitment last nite on TBN. We also need focus and passion to fulfill our purpose. Following arbitrary passions only leads to more frustration. For example, I can't sing. I love music though. But loving music is not going to make me sing any better. Giving up writing (which I am good at) for singing is following a dumb, random passion.

I definitely recommend this book. I planned on reading 20 pages the first day, I got this book, but ended up reading more.


Last passage: Plenty of people want to change the world, but not enough want to change themselves
The Book is available on Thomas Nelson and Amazon

The Fantasy Fallacy by Shannon Etheridge

I read the Fantasy Fallacy: Exposing the deeper meaning behind sexual struggle, in exchange for review from Booksneeze.com. The book was written by Shannon Etheridge and Steven Arteburn. I chose this book because I have been celibate for almost two years. I had a serious sexual addiction, porn addiction, and masturbation addiction. I still struggle with issues, but not as bad as I used to be.This book is written from a Christian perspective.


The book talked about how fantasies can make you want more sex. Fantasies also can cause unwanted expectations in relationships. Fantasies also can depersonalize sex and may ruin potential relationships.

Not all fantasies are bad, a fantasy can help heal pain, motivate towards a goal, or help you through a life transition.

The book also discusses types of fantasies (autoerotic, erotic, and illicit). It also discusses the repression of fantasies and sublimation (redirecting sexual energy elsewhere). The book also discusses how porn and voyeurism affects individuals.

Finally, the book discusses new ways to look at fantasies. Maybe the fantasy fulfills a psychological need.