The Mind Connection - By Joyce Meyer: A Book Review

I was asked to review Joyce Meyer’s newest book called, The Mind Connection (releases 9/1/15). Mind you, I am not a Joyce Meyer follower per se. I don’t get her television programming nor have I heard her speak. But I have reviewed a few of other her books. You can read them here:

Get Your Hopes Up!


You Can Begin Again


Let God Fight Your Battles

I enjoyed these titles and I think their timely message speaks to people today.

However, The Mind Connection is a disappointment. [Click to Tweet]

It feels a lot more like positive thinking rather than the Hope of Christ. The writing is simplistic and doesn’t have the same voice as the previous titles I mentioned. To be honest I had a difficult time staying focused while reading it and didn’t finish.

Let me share a little of The Mind Connection with you.

Thoughts like on page 29:

“Insufficient funds can pressure the best of us, but we can weather the storm if we think right during the difficulty. Avoid thinking the worst and try thinking the best.

If you have lost your job, then aggressively look for another job, all the time expecting it to be better than the last one.

If you need money, be willing to work at anything until you are able to do what you truly desire to do. When we resist laziness and apathy, God gets on board and makes amazing things happen…”

Or this on page 51:

"Put God First:

I don’t know how anyone can be consistently happy if they don’t believe in God. Oddly enough, some people who don’t believe make it their mission in life to try to diminish the faith of others. They are unhappy and they want to make others unhappy too…"

Page 52 continues…

“It was quite life-changing for me when I realized that God wants each of us to be thoroughly happy and to fully enjoy life.”

Chapter 18 has some good content:

Thinking about what God thinks about You is the title of chapter 18. I gleaned some good things, partly because I think I am in a place where I need to hear its message. We can go our whole lives thinking things about ourselves that others have said about us. But, they are not the truth. Here is a bit from those pages:

Page 192 begins:

“There are many voices that try to shape the way we think about every part of ourselves—our appearance, our abilities, our potential, and our identity. But those voices can be misleading…

The Bible teaches that our true identity, worth and value of a believer is found in Christ…Wrong thinking about ourselves can lead to what I refer to as a case of “mistaken identity.”  

Page 194:

"We may not do everything right, but God views us as right through our faith in Jesus and His work on the cross for us.” 

My Thoughts about The Mind Connection by Joyce Meyer: [Click to Tweet]

Overall, the book's content feels strained. There are bits of good wording but most of it reads like a stranger wrote it – someone not totally connected to its message. So, my suggestion is to skip this title. I think Joyce has similar themes that are better articulated in her other resources.

I do believe there is a mind-body-spirit connection, but caution as to how much is our responsibility to control is a fine line. It is God who is in the mind and heart transforming business. And that, I believe happens when we know Him and His word more intimately.

Thanks for allowing me express my opinion,

Jeanne


Don't feel like you have to take my word for it. You can find more information about The Mind Connection by Joyce Meyer on Amazon:

A New Season - Change is Exciting

School buses are beginning to rumble by this week. A signal of the end of summer. I am hanging on to what's left of it. But, Fall is the most beautiful time here in New England.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

It's a New Season...and Change is Exciting

Photo by Jeanne Doyon

Seasons change. It's not easy, but we need to embrace it. [Click to Tweet]

There is always something good ahead even though it is difficult to let go of what we have now. 

New can be scary but also exciting.

That goes for websites too.

I have been writing my heart out on Blogger for five years. It's hard to believe. I am comfortable here. I know my way around. But, it's time to grow--time for a new season. Time to change.

So, I am introducing you to my new website [Click to Tweet] 

 JeanneDoyon.com

I do hope you will follow me there. The Stream's Edge will be there waiting for you along with a place to sign up to receive new posts. I will have all my "stuff" under one roof...speaking ministry, topics and my blog.

Everything here on Blogger will stay for now until I figure out what I want to do with it. I need time to embrace the new season. The change is exciting but also a little scary. Big steps usually are!

I'd love for you to share my new site with friends. Be sure to visit my blog and add your email address. And, I would love to hear about your new season...And, calling all Followers...it is time to change.

What changes are you facing? I know God will meet you there... [Click to Tweet]


Jeanne

Summer Moments - Photo Gallery

What a lovely summer. We are enjoying our new screen porch. The weather has been gorgeous. We've spent time with family. We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary.

Here is a glimpse of some of our summer moments:

Family vacation

Peaceful places

Flying stunts

Nightly Visitors

Fresh Basil

The Backyard Garden

So thankful!

Jeanne

This photo blog comes at a time when I am preparing for my fall events. Thanks for your grace as I focus on them. I would love your prayer for these:

Teaching a 4-week study of the book of Philemon (Sept 16 - Oct 7)

Speaking at a MOPS group meeting October 21.

Speaking at a women's retreat at Singing Hills Conference Center in NH (Oct 30 - Nov 1)

For more information on how I can bring a message to your next women's event, visit my website.

All photos by Jeanne Doyon c. 2015

What Do You Like To Do For Fun?

I have been asked, "So...what do you like to do for fun?"

This is another question that causes me to pause...what do I like to do for fun? So often I clean, write, cook, read....

But what DO I like to do for fun? [Click to Tweet]

This year I have realized I don't consciously make time for celebrating. I'm trying to remedy that.

Well, this past week John and I took the tandem kayak to the lake. I don't think I stopped smiling. The weather was idyllic. Sunny. Breezy. And, we went early so the lake was quiet.

We dropped anchor next to a small island. John swam. I waded. We had packed a lunch and enjoyed a perfect morning together.

Have you read my article called, Going Tandem? 

Did you know they call tandem kayaks Divorce Boats? [Click to Tweet]

Then, on Sunday after church we went to a classic car cruise with friends. There were over 2500 classic cars on display. 

Our assignment: Find a car from our birth year...

Here's mine: 1958 Cadillac Convertible

Here's John's: 1959 Ford Pickup

We had fun! I even chose two fun cars to photograph because they're pink. We decided they must have been the first Mary Kay cars.

1955 Victoria Fairlane

Take time to have fun no matter your circumstances. It will fuel your joy.

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

John and I are celebrating 35 years of marriage this week - and having fun together.

So, what do you like to do for fun?

Jeanne

Get your copy of: Little Book of Great Dates: 52 Creative Ideas to Make Your Marriage Fun:

Photos by Jeanne Doyon

Sharing Opinions – Yours Matters

Sharing Opinions – yours matters and so does mine. [Click to Tweet]

Have you been able to read between the lines all these years—to discover I have trouble sharing my opinions about things? It’s something I have struggled with since I was young. 

I came home with more outfits that I hated and never wore because I couldn’t tell my mom the truth about what I thought while in the dressing room.

And, then, the one time I just had to have a faux bunny fur hat (I think I was about 9 years old at the time), the moment I saw an old lady wearing one at church, I never donned it again.

I don't like talking politics. I avoid Apologetics. I dislike confrontation. When someone asks,

"What do you think?" 

I freeze.

It’s been tough being me sometimes. [Click to Tweet]

It’s easier not to like something rather than say I like it and be disappointed.

Now, those of you who have psych backgrounds may have me labeled—don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.

Whatever the cause, I struggle with this. 

I like everyone else to be happy. So, it doesn’t matter whether we go for pizza or Chinese food. I’ll take whichever flavor is left on the dessert dish. I'd rather let everyone else choose first.

You're probably thinking--Really, Jeanne? 

Or, maybe somebody out there is tracking with me because you struggle too.

I really do want to grow in this area...

That’s one reason I have said yes to reviewing books and movies here at The Stream’s Edge. It has forced me to be honest with myself and others about what I think. And, I think it has been a good stretching thing for me.

My theory is that all of this is rooted in fear.

• Fear of rejection
• Afraid what others will think or say
• Afraid of not being accepted or liked
• Afraid of looking or sounding foolish
• 
  

Does this ring true with anyone else?

Does anyone else out there struggles with this? I would love to hear about your journey. 

Maybe we could start the S.Y.O.S.G…

Share Your Opinion Support Group

Or, maybe the M.O.M.S. ...

My Opinion Matters Society

I'm learning how to take a risk with my opinions, to be myself. There is one question I can answer without being afraid of what others think...the one when Jesus asks,

"Who do you say that I am?"

What do you think? Now that I've bared my soul...I’d love to hear your opinion!


Jeanne

Images courtesy of Morguefile.com

Jo Ann Fore writes this book called, When a Woman Finds Her Voice:

Is Your Door Open or Closed? I'm Loving the Living Word

When I open my Bible, the words leap off the page in living color. I'm loving the living word. Just this week alone, I have pondered passages like:

"I will do something new." Isaiah 43:19

I found myself asking, "What is it, Lord? You are always doing something new; help me not to miss it. I can get so busy focusing on other things..."

You see, I believe the Lord has been closing some doors in my life (Click to Tweet This). They may or may not be closed forever, but when you sense the click of the door latch, I really think God is speaking. It's as if He doesn't want me spending my energy on THAT right now.

My closed doors were pretty clear.

• I was scheduled to teach three local community education classes. And, no one signed up. That's pretty clear, right?
• I planned a writer's getaway for women but only one registered; it wasn't enough to meet the financial cost. Another closed door.

Closed doors are hard. (Click to Tweet This) They can be discouraging. But, why would I want to keep pounding on a closed one? 

So, the question becomes, is your door open or closed?

I asked the Lord to show me the doors that ARE open. 

Speaking
Teaching the Bible
Writing

As I thanked Him for the answer, I noticed the following verses:

"...to open doors before Him so that gates will not shut; I will go before you and make the rough places smooth..."  Isaiah 45:1-2

"Commit to me the work of My hands..." Isaiah 45:11

It is HIS WORK! I am just the vessel. And, I do believe when the Lord opens a door of opportunity, He will go before me.

I knew I needed to thank Him...for showing me this in His word!

Lord, it is your work and I commit it to you. Help me to focus on the doors you have opened. Shut every door that doesn't have a part of your will for me. Let me leave those doors for others who have been called and led to open them.

A closed door can feel like a frustration but when we realize there are open doors nearby, it will help us to take notice. We can step through the door God has planned for us.

Do you have open or closed doors in your life right now? How can I pray for you as you seek His direction?
Will you also pray for me?


Jeanne

Also, read this great post by Cindi McMenamin on Crosswalk called, 3 Ways to Know if an Open Door is from God




This John Orgberg title is on my list to read:

Photos by Jeanne Doyon