The book How To Handle Worry by Marshall J. Cook, definitely played a significant role in transforming my life back in 2008(ish) … but it wasn’t the first book that did so, and it seemed disjointed to start there – when really the journey began in February, 2006, with this book. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.  Who would have ever thought I would become a bible believing, heart on FIRE Catholic because of an encounter I had with the Word of God taught to me in an amazing book by a Protestant Minister!!

However, truth be told, that is EXACTLY how it all began … and today as I completed my Rosary prayer walk about my yard (oh by the way the neighbors are noticing and questioning, not that I blame them), the Holy Spirit inspired me to share those mind-blowing, life changing Scripture verses with you.

Beginning with….

These words came into my life just as I was hitting my self-absorbed stride.  Mom of 2, small business owner, Early Childhood speaker and adjunct professor, volunteer of the year – I had it going on, or so I thought.  All this ‘success’ wasn’t helping me avoid frequent bouts of depression, anxiety and insecurity … and then I read these words from St. Paul and something clicked.  It wasn’t my first encounter with the bible but it was my certainly my most profound.  Suddenly, as I read this first chapter of Purpose Driven Life,  the scriptures spoke to me and took on new life.  It wasn’t just words I heard in Church (which at that point I hadn’t completely connected as scripture), but words that could teach me, guide me, and yes, even change me.

No one had ever really challenged me to believe in God as a current part of my life.  Until this moment, He had been the one I believed created me, but thought our next real encounter would be when I died (though I was pretty convinced it would only be a pass through meeting on my way to a little warmer climate).  I was afraid of God – and yet arrogantly detached from the idea of God at the same time.  It was a mixture of He has more important things to worry about and I don’t want to bug Him until I REALLY  need something.  While, there had been cycles of feeling closer to connecting with God and holy things, those moments would quickly fade and I would fall back into the comfort of my non-committed life.

Then came Rick Warren … and a friend who thought this would be a wonderful Christmas gift, and then considered it an even better idea to come together each week and read it as group.  I truly had no idea what was to come as I answered yes and the beautiful dominoes of my spiritual life began to fall …  Read More

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