Lazarus Awakening by Joanna Weaver

I'm not even sure where to go with this book review.  It feels so much deeper than just a book review. I'll do my best and see what happens.  Joanna takes the story of Lazarus and applies it to our lives today.  What graveclothes are we wrapped in that is keeping us from walking free and resurrected in Jesus?  Or more specifically what graveclothes am I personally hanging on to?  She first addresses helping others unwind their graveclothes and then talks about our own graveclothes.  There is much more, but I am going to copy a bit from her book.

This from Wes Seeliger on Kissing Frogs: "Ever feel like a frog? Frogs feel slow, low, ugly, puffy, drooped, pooped. I know. One told me.....Yes, at one time or another each of us has found himself on a lily pad floating down the great river of life. Frightened and disgusted, we're too froggish to budge. Once upon a time there was a frog." (the story of the the frog being kissed by the beautiful maiden) "Crash! Boom! Zap!! There he was, a handsome prince. And you know the rest. They lived happily ever after. So what is the task of the [Christian]? To kiss frogs, of course."  To love and help those around us.

And another: "While I am not my sin, thank the Lord, only I decide whether or not I will be controlled by it. And only I decide whether Flesh Woman continues her tyrannical reign. That's why it's so important that I keep saying no to my self-centeredness.

"And my tendency toward self-protection and self-pity.

"And my natural inclination to be self-absorbed and self-promoting, self-actualizing and self-relying.

"The list can go on and on. Just put self before nearly anything, and we've got a sin-sickness problem that can be cured only by a crucifixion."

This hit me as I realized how selfish I can be; how self-centered, how I want things to go my way and can get very defensive and manipulative when they don't or when someone tries to offer me some advice that I am not really looking for.

Another thing that really struck me at this point in my life: "It is far too easy to preach a Pollyanna gospel-....The story of Lazarus refutes all that. As does the whole of the Bible. Scripture never shies away from the reality that bad things happen to good people. That God doesn't always come running to the rescue, at least not in the ways and in the timing we expect Him to. Love does tarry at times. And there are moments when Love seems to actually take a step back, allowing things to happen that we'd never dream of allowing ourselves."

There is much more I could say, but some of it should be saved for a post that isn't a book review.  Let me just say this: this book has given me hope. It's given me a light in the never-ending tunnel I feel like I am walking through.  I find myself talking to God again throughout the day. I find myself more conscious of my attitudes and trying harder to be the wife and mom I should be--asking God for His help in these areas.  So because of these things, I highly recommend this book.  It's been a stepping stone for me and I hope it could be for you as well.

This book was given to me by Blogging for Books for the purpose of reading and writing a review on it.  All opinions expressed are my own.