Another poignant read from an author who wants to take you on a journey of self-discovery and ways of finding complete happiness!
Broken dreams and unfulfilled promises have been the bane of many who have not professed to live a purposeful life with faith initiatives. The need to feel just and with a sense of redemption can be found in 2 Peter 1:3-8, which author Paulette Harper undoubtedly used to paint pictures in her new book, Completely Whole on this subject. The premise of the book gives plenty of insight on the best invitation that we can receive -- promises that trust in Him will give you your new lease on life with it being intact and wholesome. It would appear that the author’s intent was to target only women in the quest of being whole, but I feel that men can enjoy and embrace the homilies within for the purpose(s) intended. Physical and spiritual wholeness is universal in appeal and its properties can benefit and not be bereft of God’s anointing grace. Complete with twelve compliant chapters, the book is a progressive read interspersed with timely scripture validating ‘thus sayeth the Lord’ principles for faith and restoration. At the end of each chapter are prayers of affirmation, reminding us that God is still the supreme being in our lives worthy of praise.
The early part of the book takes random tidbits of biblical lore to illustrate brokenness to validate the need to be whole. Chapter 1 starts the journey with a honest question and a myopic statement -- “wouldn’t life be so much better if we could tell God how to do His job?” and, “maybe we could assist Him or give Him some advice on how to deal with our issues.” With affirmatives hanging in balance, it’s natural to assess how easy it’s always for us to not let go and let God. The author makes plain with good analogy why there’s no easy way out and why to consider God first and foremost is the ONLY way to salvation. Chapter 2 is a somewhat carbon copy of the previous chapter, and alludes to the fact that we can’t dictate to God what has already been ordained for Providence to be whatever destiny needed to stress omnipresence. Whether it’s harping on the Prodigal Son, the insolent Israelites, Ruth’s love story, or Isaiah admonishing us to do what’s right, the author makes it plain and plausible. The need to get nostalgic is evident in a brief autobiographical sketch revealing the pain of divorce helping to augment new beginnings. Isn’t it grand that there’s room for improvement and where God gives second chances? I couldn’t help but relent and relive lamentations attributed to the author’s rendition of beseeching the Lord to ‘Make Me Whole Spirit, Soul and Body.’. Easily my favorite part of the book, I marveled at how to be made completely whole...dealing with the true soul of a man and why it’s so important to be born again. Equally important was giving good analogy on the fall of man and what can be done to get it right.
The experience of being a pastor’s wife and ensconced in the aura of guiding light makes Paulette Harper a worthy messenger in her own right. It wouldn’t hurt to go back and read her first book, ‘That Was Then, This Is Now’ to exemplify that good interpretive value in evangelical to a call didn’t deter me from giving her thumbs up in this new endeavor. Rarely do we find competent writers who are sidetracked in his/her mission to illustrate poignant points of reference, and Miss Harper brings it to us whole and unadulterated. I loved the book because it pulled no punches and told it like it should be. Scriptures were adequately placed to give innate insights to all of those points. As such, I have no problems recommending this book to the masses. Perhaps it would be to your advantage to read, relate and rejoice --your quest to be completely whole is yours!
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