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Making Life Matter: Embracing the Joy in the Everyday
In a world of fast-paced schedules and priorities, conversations about what makes for a life well lived are a rarity and a luxury. But what if the daily pace of life held in itself the way to make choices more significant? What if the daily to-do lists gave a glimpse into how people might change their future? What if the daily grind, as arduous as it might seem, held the key to a life full of meaning and potential? What if everyday, simple steps, instead of some complex list of seemingly unattainable principles, showed how to make life matter?
Making Life Matter answers these questions and shows that the steps for making life matter are found in rather ordinary decisions, attitudes, and patterns found in normal routines. Author Shane Stanford will confront the way in which God, every day, means for us to live deeper, closer, and better in him—in essence, the way God intends for life to matter.
Making Life Matter answers these questions and shows that the steps for making life matter are found in rather ordinary decisions, attitudes, and patterns found in normal routines. Author Shane Stanford will confront the way in which God, every day, means for us to live deeper, closer, and better in him—in essence, the way God intends for life to matter.
- GenresNonfiction
144 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 26, 2019
Uplifting and pleasant, but not world-shaking or life-changing. A nice devotional tool.
May 18, 2012
Are you really living your life to the fullest? While you ponder this question, let author Shane Stanford take you on a journey of self-discovery, where you will learn to Make Life Matter and Embrace The Joy In The Everyday!
Making Life Matter is a thought provoking book full of inspirational chapters to guide you through your self-discovery and personal growth towards living your life to the fullest. In a thoughtful way, author Shane Stanford provides the reader with a lot of inspirational insight to reflect upon: each chapter begins with a selected scripture, interesting stories to ponder, and each chapter ends with journey points: selected scripture readings for each day of the week; life questions; and a prayer.
Highlights of the chapters that are inspirational and motivational:
"We are not measured by the events that surround us. We are measured by what we do with those events, circumstances, and situations and by whether we allow them to get the best of our journeys or whether we make each moment of each day mean something more."
"Making choices in your life: we do have a choice. It is not always an easy choice. It is not always the desired choice. And it is definitely not always the certain choice. But in making that choice each day, we give ourselves a chance to make life matter."
"Choose each day to make it count. Every day is an opportunity."
"Life matters because we make it so. Life is about perspective and perception. We shape how we view the details, decisions, and demons that life blows our way. The key is whether we see what sails heavenward as something to celebrate or we see what lands upon as as something to fear. We have the choice to make either so."
The author provides principles to making life matter to motivate you as you go along your journey. These principles are geared toward all aspects of your life: relationships, choices, communication, direction and faith, just to name a few.
Making Life Matter is a short inspirational and motivational book that you can easily reference back to on a daily basis. The principles and motivational prompts are easy to relate to, and will provide enough food for thought for a daily devotional or weekly study group.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Abingdon) in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Friday, May 18, 2012, in association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, author Shane Stanford participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Making Life Matter is a thought provoking book full of inspirational chapters to guide you through your self-discovery and personal growth towards living your life to the fullest. In a thoughtful way, author Shane Stanford provides the reader with a lot of inspirational insight to reflect upon: each chapter begins with a selected scripture, interesting stories to ponder, and each chapter ends with journey points: selected scripture readings for each day of the week; life questions; and a prayer.
Highlights of the chapters that are inspirational and motivational:
"We are not measured by the events that surround us. We are measured by what we do with those events, circumstances, and situations and by whether we allow them to get the best of our journeys or whether we make each moment of each day mean something more."
"Making choices in your life: we do have a choice. It is not always an easy choice. It is not always the desired choice. And it is definitely not always the certain choice. But in making that choice each day, we give ourselves a chance to make life matter."
"Choose each day to make it count. Every day is an opportunity."
"Life matters because we make it so. Life is about perspective and perception. We shape how we view the details, decisions, and demons that life blows our way. The key is whether we see what sails heavenward as something to celebrate or we see what lands upon as as something to fear. We have the choice to make either so."
The author provides principles to making life matter to motivate you as you go along your journey. These principles are geared toward all aspects of your life: relationships, choices, communication, direction and faith, just to name a few.
Making Life Matter is a short inspirational and motivational book that you can easily reference back to on a daily basis. The principles and motivational prompts are easy to relate to, and will provide enough food for thought for a daily devotional or weekly study group.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Abingdon) in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Friday, May 18, 2012, in association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, author Shane Stanford participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
April 16, 2012
Making Life Matter begins with the stories of three historical figures, and how they overcame significant personal challenges to achieve, to make their lives matter. In the same way, the author of this book, Shane Stanford has overcome his own challenges. He was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1986, having caught the disease from contaminated blood. Remember that at this time there was a huge stigma attached because AIDS was seen as a homosexual disease, God's punishment on the gay community. I first heard of AIDS in around 1984, and a diagnosis was seen as a death sentence. I am amazed that someone diagnosed that early is still alive.
I started reading this one Sunday afternoon. The theme of that Sunday’s sermon was to 'choose life' and that was exactly the choice that Slade was faced with after his diagnosis. His grandfather challenged him to choose life, “choosing to live each day to the fullest, choosing to make his life matter”. But this book is not about Pastor Shane Stanford (as inspiring a story as that would be). It is about you and me, working to improve our relationships, to change, to make our lives matter.
Why is this important? Stanford quotes a study from Willow Creek Community Church, famous for leading many changes the way church functions, from worship music to how people joined in community. They found that these changes “provided little to no impact” on whether or not people remained in the church. Put simply, “the people studied said they felt shortchanged by the glitz and glamour”, and “what they really wanted were ministries that drew them closer to God, closer to each other, and closer to who God had created us to be from the beginning. The real issues on their minds and on their hearts were about identity—about what really made life matter.”
While this is a short book, it is not intended to be a book that one reads and forgets in the hurry of reaching for the next book in the pile. Rather, it is meant to be read slowly, one chapter at a time, and to be meditated upon. This is not a long book - just an introduction and seven chapters and an epilogue that takes the message of the book for the indivdual and applies it to the organisation, the church (I’ve decided that I like reviewing non-fiction, because I can say what happens at the end without it being a spoiler).
At the end of each chapter is a weeks' worth of Bible readings, a Psalm, some questions for reflection or discussion and a prayer. Making Life Matter could therefore be used as the basis for personal devotions or for a weekly group study. Recommended.
Thanks to Abingdon Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. This review also appears on my blog, www.christianreads.blogspot.com.
I started reading this one Sunday afternoon. The theme of that Sunday’s sermon was to 'choose life' and that was exactly the choice that Slade was faced with after his diagnosis. His grandfather challenged him to choose life, “choosing to live each day to the fullest, choosing to make his life matter”. But this book is not about Pastor Shane Stanford (as inspiring a story as that would be). It is about you and me, working to improve our relationships, to change, to make our lives matter.
Why is this important? Stanford quotes a study from Willow Creek Community Church, famous for leading many changes the way church functions, from worship music to how people joined in community. They found that these changes “provided little to no impact” on whether or not people remained in the church. Put simply, “the people studied said they felt shortchanged by the glitz and glamour”, and “what they really wanted were ministries that drew them closer to God, closer to each other, and closer to who God had created us to be from the beginning. The real issues on their minds and on their hearts were about identity—about what really made life matter.”
While this is a short book, it is not intended to be a book that one reads and forgets in the hurry of reaching for the next book in the pile. Rather, it is meant to be read slowly, one chapter at a time, and to be meditated upon. This is not a long book - just an introduction and seven chapters and an epilogue that takes the message of the book for the indivdual and applies it to the organisation, the church (I’ve decided that I like reviewing non-fiction, because I can say what happens at the end without it being a spoiler).
At the end of each chapter is a weeks' worth of Bible readings, a Psalm, some questions for reflection or discussion and a prayer. Making Life Matter could therefore be used as the basis for personal devotions or for a weekly group study. Recommended.
Thanks to Abingdon Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. This review also appears on my blog, www.christianreads.blogspot.com.
May 25, 2012
The author of this book has had to overcome some amazing life-changing challenges that were pretty early on in his life. But, he chose to choose life and happiness. This book chronicles his life-choices along with other famous people who have had struggles and chose to rise above rather than give up. People like Felix Mendelssohn, Gilda Radner, Zacchaeus, and Don Sutton (baseball pitcher) are featured throughout the book and give you a glimpse into a life you didn't realize happened before the "good stuff" arrived in their lives. Each chapter focuses on a different mind-set and challenges you through Scripture and deep, thought-provoking questions, to think differently.
When I saw the premise of the book, I thought, that is my life. Is all this that I am doing...the craziness, the volunteering, the unending to-do lists.....does it all matter? Is it really getting me anywhere? Is there JOY in my everyday living? Well, this book will bring it all together for you. And, as this book will explain to you, if you are going to take this trip through life and make it matter, Jesus needs to be along side of you.
Some excellent quotes from the book:
"We are not measured by the events that surround us. No, we are measured by what we do with those events, circumstances, and situations and by whether we allow them to get the best of our journeys or whether we make each moment of each day mean something more." Pg 6
"We do have a choice.....in making that choice each day, we give ourselves a chance to make life matter." Pg 12
This quote was one of those "AHA" statements for me, and maybe it will be for you too....
"God's goal is to bring us closer, not to send us on some game of theological hide-and-seek. He wants us to find Him, and then find each other through Him." Pg 53
Finally, another of my favorite parts of the book was Stanford's focus on THE LORD'S PRAYER. For so many of us, it is basically a prayer from memory, but when was the last time you actually thought about the words you were saying.....not just speaking them from memory. Stanford breaks the sentences down for us and gives us a beautiful reflection on the prayer.
This book isn't added work, it is bite-size and manageable in your everyday schedule to ponder, reflect, and really think about what matters. If you are looking for direction or focus, check out MAKING LIFE MATTER by Shane Stanford today. You can purchase the book HERE.
"One way or another, by your action or inaction, you define your journey. Wouldn't you rather it be for the better, making a difference that can change your little piece of the world?" Pg 16
When I saw the premise of the book, I thought, that is my life. Is all this that I am doing...the craziness, the volunteering, the unending to-do lists.....does it all matter? Is it really getting me anywhere? Is there JOY in my everyday living? Well, this book will bring it all together for you. And, as this book will explain to you, if you are going to take this trip through life and make it matter, Jesus needs to be along side of you.
Some excellent quotes from the book:
"We are not measured by the events that surround us. No, we are measured by what we do with those events, circumstances, and situations and by whether we allow them to get the best of our journeys or whether we make each moment of each day mean something more." Pg 6
"We do have a choice.....in making that choice each day, we give ourselves a chance to make life matter." Pg 12
This quote was one of those "AHA" statements for me, and maybe it will be for you too....
"God's goal is to bring us closer, not to send us on some game of theological hide-and-seek. He wants us to find Him, and then find each other through Him." Pg 53
Finally, another of my favorite parts of the book was Stanford's focus on THE LORD'S PRAYER. For so many of us, it is basically a prayer from memory, but when was the last time you actually thought about the words you were saying.....not just speaking them from memory. Stanford breaks the sentences down for us and gives us a beautiful reflection on the prayer.
This book isn't added work, it is bite-size and manageable in your everyday schedule to ponder, reflect, and really think about what matters. If you are looking for direction or focus, check out MAKING LIFE MATTER by Shane Stanford today. You can purchase the book HERE.
"One way or another, by your action or inaction, you define your journey. Wouldn't you rather it be for the better, making a difference that can change your little piece of the world?" Pg 16
June 23, 2012
My Thoughts On This Book!
In this book, Shane Stanford usues his own story in showing his readers how they can change the course of their lives and make life matter, no matter the circumstances. The author overcame being HIV positive, a disorder that came from bad blood, literally. In the day and age that HIV was pointed to the gay community, this was especially difficult for the author, But he survived, and so can you.
The author also tells the stories of several other people who overcame their difficulties in life to go forward and live a successfully fulfilled life. Join Shane Stanford as he relives the most difficult moments of his life in order to help others overcome theirs.
I recommend this book to anyone facing any difficulty. As you follow the authors tips and suggestions, those he followed in his own life, you will be able to live a life changing successful life.
This book was provided by PUYB and Abingdon Press. I was not expected or required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only
In this book, Shane Stanford usues his own story in showing his readers how they can change the course of their lives and make life matter, no matter the circumstances. The author overcame being HIV positive, a disorder that came from bad blood, literally. In the day and age that HIV was pointed to the gay community, this was especially difficult for the author, But he survived, and so can you.
The author also tells the stories of several other people who overcame their difficulties in life to go forward and live a successfully fulfilled life. Join Shane Stanford as he relives the most difficult moments of his life in order to help others overcome theirs.
I recommend this book to anyone facing any difficulty. As you follow the authors tips and suggestions, those he followed in his own life, you will be able to live a life changing successful life.
This book was provided by PUYB and Abingdon Press. I was not expected or required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only
July 7, 2013
Shane Stanford wants his life to matter and so should you. Making Life Matter is just a small book, but with a big message that creates an even larger impact. Each chapter is followed by a prayer, journey points and life questions you can ask yourself, or share in a group. He discusses his own life and the choices he has made, as well as several other significant people. Shane shows us the way to take simple steps daily to achieve our principals and make our life matter. It's very easy to read and understand, sprinkled with proverbs and Psalms. It's a book to be cherished, read at your leisure and return to again and again. I think it would be great for Sunday school discussions, as well.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews