A Book Review: Revell Blog Tour {Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough} by Kay Warren

About the Book:
Everyone knows how to be joyful in the peaks of life. But what about the valleys? When nothing seems to go your way? When everything is falling apart? When God is silent, and you feel all alone? Where does joy fit into those moments? In Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough, Kay Warren explains the path to experiencing soul-satisfying joy no matter what you’re going through. Joy is deeper than happiness, lasts longer than excitement, and is more satisfying than pleasure and thrills. Joy is richer. Fuller. And it’s far more accessible than you’ve thought. Joy comes from God . . . and it can be yours today!

About the Author:
KAY WARREN is the Founder of the HIV/AIDS Initiative at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. She is a Bible teacher, author, and international speaker. Warren frequently travels the globe to encourage HIV positive men, women, and vulnerable children, and today she is a powerful voice on their behalf. Married to Rick Warren, together they founded Saddleback Church in 1980. In 2007, Kay authored Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God, and the revised and expanded softcover edition, retitled Say Yes to God, was released in fall of 2010. She also co-authored Foundations, a systematic theology course used in churches around the world.  She has three children and four grandchildren, and lives in Southern California.

My Star Rating: 5 Stars

My Review:
Kay Warren has written a wonderful book about how we can choose joy, even in the most difficult circumstances.  The book is well written, and easy to relate to.  I normally get rid of books once I've read them, but this one is going to stay on my shelf as reference; one that I'll go back to again, and again.  Kay Warren's writing is so full of Biblical truth, wisdom, and insight, and definitely worth revisiting. On the inside flap of the book, it says, "Joy deeper than happiness, lasts longer than excitement, and is more satisfying than pleasure and thrills.  Joy is richer.  Fuller.  And it's far more accessible that you've thought.  Joy comes from God . . . and it can be yours!  Today."

The book is divided into four parts:
Part 1 -- Joy is My Inheritance: Embracing the Permission to be Joyful
Part 2 -- Joy is a Conviction of My Mind: Discovering a New Way of Thinking
Part 3-- Joy is the Condition of My Heart: Cultivating a Soul-Response That Allows Joy to Deepen
Part 4 -- Joy is a Choice of my Behavior: Ways to Choose Joy Daily

Each chapter opens with a scripture and a quote, and ends with a prayer, as well as points to help us reflect and apply.

There are so many great points throughout the book, but I will share a few here.
* "The only way to grow up spiritually - to become mature and well-developed in our faith - is to go through the fire of testing, trials, and troubles." (James 1:2-4)
* "In Jesus' role, he was a man of sorrow.  But in his essence - who he was in his unchanging nature - he was a man of joy."   We can be joyful, because Jesus has set the example for us.  Even through hard times, we can choose joy.
* "Here is the foundational truth that each of us needs to remember: God is the only true source of joy."  We can't find joy in the "dry wells" of people, places, possessions, position, and personalities.
* "Because God's will is good, we can embrace joy rather than fear."
* "Those who are joyful with thank God.  Joy and gratitude always go together."

I highly recommend this book, and don't hesitate in suggesting that everyone should pick up a copy for themselves!  This book does share a life-changing truth, and it's definitely worth the read.

 "Available June 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

**Thank you to Revell for providing a copy to review, in exchange for my honest opinion.**

For more information, visit Kay Warren's website.