Doug K. Reed

Are you wondering about what your purpose in life is and what God wants for your life? Then you should check out this book. Doug K. Reed does an excellent job of exploring how to have a smoother life in God’s Will. Whether you are a new believer or someone who has been a believer for a while, there is something in this book for you. I love the way the book is written to address how we as humans are not perfect, but we can find our way back to God.

The illustrations used in this book really help pull the ideas together in this book. While the tone is direct, it is also sympathetic and empathetic in nature. I found myself wanting to read more and more.

So if you are looking for a book that will help you explore how to live the life God intended for you, check out this book.

I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review.… (más)

Writing with a direct and sympathetic tone, Doug Reed shares his insight into how readers can come to understand the life they’ve been given and how they can seek to glorify God in it. The most important thing, by far, to remember when contemplating our identities is that the Lord created us and planned our lifespan and every detail long before we were born. No matter how many mistakes we make, there is nothing that can separate us from God if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord. It is once we recognize our priceless identity in Him that we can move forward and become the godly Christian men and women whom God has called us to be—true light bearers. As Reed asserts, “We begin our new life of seeking God’s divine intentions for us by acknowledging that we are individually inadequate, desperate, and sinful, and recognizing that we don’t have the ability to save ourselves. In short, we admit our need for rescue.”

Divided into four main sections, “Divine Intentions” speaks to the brokenness in each of us by addressing how, through Christ, we are rescued, restored, relabeled, and redirected. Because of the redemptive work of the cross, we can rejoice that “Our God is a God of forgiveness and He also is a God of restoration.” Much of this book consists of the author’s personal accounts, which not only illustrate his points but also demonstrate practical application. Brief, summarizing quotations taken from the text itself appear on each page, and there are Discovery Questions at the end of each chapter, with spaces given for writing responses. As either a guide for personal study or for group use, “Divine Intentions” is a compassionate, versatile book with a focus on healing and restoration.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.… (más)

The author does a good job of using illustrations to help us understand how much God wants to rescue us from things that turn us away from Him. I grew up as a pastors kid so many people thought I was grounded in the Word. I did have a foundation of God in my life but I was far from being a Christian. There were many times I wanted to give up but something inside me said to keep fighting. We sometimes don't understand that we are slipping away from God until one day we feel all alone. The good news is that He has always been there with His arms opened wide ready to rescue us.

I enjoyed the chapter about forgiveness. The author shares a story about taking his dads' rifle without permission. He brought the rifle home in less than perfect condition and knew he was in big trouble. His father was upset but instead of showing anger, he told his son he forgave him. It may be a simple story but one I found powerful. It illustrates how our Heavenly Father forgives us even when we don't think we deserve it. Forgiveness is something that God wants us to do every time. There is no limit of how many times Jesus forgives us, so we need to do the same for others. I can remember thinking that if this certain person hurts me one more time, I will not forgive them. In fact I will stop talking to them and remove them from my life. What I did was say I was better than God and didn't need to keep forgiving over and over again.

At the end of every chapter are questions to answer which I found helpful while going through the book. They go over what was talked about in the chapter and gives you things to apply to your own life. The author is open about his struggles and shares how God has changed him. The book uses scriptures and stories from the bible to enhance the points the author makes. I enjoyed the book and found it helpful in many ways.

"No matter how far you are from the life that God planned for you, your purpose has not changed."

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (más)