4 out of 4 stars
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"How could I have been so busy as to not even recognize that God's hand was guiding me? And how many other Christians aren't watching and listening for those divine messages in their lives?"
Fred Sievert often prayed when he was troubled or needed direction, but he previously failed to make the connection now explained in his book, God Revealed: Revisit Your Past to Enrich Your Future. Sievert recounts 31 experiences that reinforce the presence of God in his life. He discusses memories from childhood, business experiences, friendships, family relationships, and significant turning points; their common theme is God's guidance in his time of need. Through his stories, Sievert hopes to encourage others to "read, reflect, and remember" God's intervention on behalf of their lives.
There's a lot to like about this well-written book; in addition to its organized formatting and flawless editing, it is overflowing with encouraging words. Sievert's writing style is informal and conversational as he shares how readers can be more attentive to God's presence. He also provides scriptural reflections and practical exercises at the end of each chapter.
Additionally, Sievert is quite the storyteller; I would not expect an experience about approving an insurance claim to bring tears to my eyes, but it did just that. I don't want to reveal the specifics of the story, because it is more meaningful to read it firsthand. However, I will say that in addition to impacting the family of the victim, the experience touched Sievert at a time when he was questioning the significance of his job.
One of my favorite portions of the book was in the final chapter. As might be expected, the author recapped experiences when he felt God's presence and encouraged readers to reflect on meaningful memories from their own lives. However, it was his honest admission that there were times he felt prayers went unanswered that I most appreciated because I believe many Christians have experienced similar feelings at one time, or another. I agreed with his conclusion that in hindsight, we may eventually see that God was indeed, working on our behalf during these seasons. Even so, I found his transparency refreshing and his admission reassuring; I expect other readers will as well.
I honestly can't name a thing I dislike about the book, and I'm pleased to rate it 4 out of 4 stars. Although Sievert writes from a Christian perspective, one doesn't need to be a Christian to find encouragement in his reflections that convey faith, joy, gratitude, and love. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys inspirational stories. However, I would not recommend it to readers who dislike reading about faith or God.
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God Revealed
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