Title: Choose Joy
Author: Kay Warren
Pages: 259
Year: 2012
Publisher: Revell
Note: I received a
complimentary copy from the publisher for an honest review of the book. You can follow my reviews on Twitter
@lcjohnson1988 or on my blog http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/
Kay
Warren has written a book with the heart of a woman who wants others to know
Jesus in their daily living. Openly and
with transparency, Kay shares the heights of joy in her life as well as her
experiences in the valleys that we all encounter. Kay shares in a way that invites us to look
at God and His Word to see what He says about “joy”. Jesus is seen as a man of sorrows, and Kay
leads us to see Him as a man of joy.
Above all, she allows us to say with her that we cannot comprehend or
control God or the things of this world; yet, we can choose to walk with God
either on the mountaintops or in the valleys.
As you
read this book, perhaps it would be a good idea to keep your Bible handy to
look up the references she makes note of and highlight them. At the end of each chapter, there are a few
questions that might help you discuss “joy” with others, how to live life with
“joy”, and “joy” being a characteristic others see even when we are in the
valleys.
Kay
makes herself vulnerable as she shares what she has lived through in her life. While others may think she has it all together,
Kay openly denies this. It is with a
loving heart that she encourages women to engage in fellowship at a heart level
that touches us, then flows out to others.
There are suggestions throughout the chapters about how to choose
to live joyfully and authentically before a world that is looking for hope. The challenge presented is to choose joy;
it is a choice we can make or not make as we live this side of heaven.
While I
appreciate the thoughts, suggestions, and openness shared in this book, there
is only one thing I would encourage the author to do. The one thing would be to use the Word of God
not someone else’s interpretation of it as like all of mankind’s words,
regurgitated scripture or restating it is of little benefit to the
believer. Only God’s Word has the power
to go forth and accomplish His will. His
Word never fails whereas ours is filled with errors. There is no power like His. Read the Word, mark the Word, study it,
meditate on it, and you will find that the characteristic called “joy” will be
the ultimate fruit among others that will be born in your heart and life.
