We all need an inspirational story now and then. One that moves, motivates, and encourages us to go beyond any limit we have imposed upon ourselves.
I had never heard of Jen Bricker but when I opened the email and saw the book cover in front of me, I was instantly drawn to read her story. It was the look of joy which emanated from her face that conveyed the message and the title of her book, Everything Is Possible.
Jen Bricker was born without legs and given up for adoption. The one thing her adoptive family encouraged her to do everything any child would do – play basketball, soccer, volleyball, and even gymnastics. The one thing they never encouraged was an attitude of defeat.
Every chapter and story is resplendent with enthusiasm. Her passion and and positive attitude towards the things she does and each person she meets is stunning and infectious. Every page is a display of her solid faith, the source of her courage and strength in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Throughout the book, we get the pleasure of meeting the people which were most important to her in her life- school teachers, parents, lifelong friends, her pastor, and coaches. This was a wonderful addition to Jen’s story, providing insights Jen never realized others were observing in her.
Every chapter concludes with a section called, “Believe It!”. It is here that Jen shares the things she has come to know and believe with all her heart and soul. They are principles and thoughts to be applied to our own lives and situations. They are a rich treasure of thoughts rooted in Scripture.
Some of my favorite quotes are:
- “Trust that every experience – good, bad, or ugly – shapes the person you are for the better. Every mistake or misfortune is an opportunity to grow and learn.”
- “God is our safety net. And in His eyes, we fail only when we allow failure to defeat us, when we refuse to trust that failure can be a gift – a chance to be better, stronger, and smarter the next time around. God uses everything in our lives to transform us into the people He wants us to be.”
- “The only person you can hold accountable is yourself.”
- “You never know when one small good deed can change someone’s life for the better. So I say do them – each and every day.”
- “Remember that everyone is fighting a battle, whether or not it is visible to others. Be kind, be generous, be humble. Everyone is equal in God’s eyes and equally deserving of love and respect.”
- “Be present in the moment and allow yourself to truly experience where you are and what you are doing.”
She closes the book with her wish list – those things she yet wants to do and experience in life. As I came to the last page, I found myself returning to the introduction where I read these inspiring words once again:
Everything is possible. That’s my favorite Bible quote from Mark 9:23: “Everything is possible for the person who believes.” See it, believe it, make it happen.
Jen has obviously embraced this very thought. But then she gives us all this challenge:
Where will your path take you if you decide to push yourself to do what you were meant to do? Where might you find yourself that you never dreamed possible?
Be brave. Dream big. Have faith. And don’t be scared to look down. The view is pretty spectacular.
This book is a wonderful read. Jen Bricker’s story is inspiring and reminded me that limitations can be overcome. With God all things are possible.
*** I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group/Revell in exchange for my honest review.
Today I am joining … # SmallWonder and Moments of Hope and Inspire Me Monday and #LifeGiving and Literacy Musing Mondays and Cozy Reading Spot .
My mom always says it isn’t our situations that defeat us but our attitude towards them which means the opposite is true as well. We can all choose joy no matter the circumstance.
What an inspiring read this must have been!
And we imagine that we have obstacles to overcome . . .
Joanne- the book looks good, I’m going to have to check it out! I need to live like I believe Mark 9:23: “Everything is possible for the person who believes.â€
Thanks for the inspiring post!
Your #InspireMeMonday neighbor,
Julie
Wow. Jen sounds like an amazing woman of faith! I can’t imagine all the obstacles she’s faced. Yet with God she’s living a good life. Thanks for sharing this, Joanne. This quote is the one that resonated most with me this morning: “Be present in the moment and allow yourself to truly experience where you are and what you are doing.â€
Wow! She sounds like an amazing woman who had written an inspiring book! Thank you for your great review. I may have to find this book. Blessings to you Joanne! I’m your neighbor at #MomentsofHope
Wow. I had not heard about this book or its author. It’s sounds so encouraging & inspiring! Thanks for sharing it here. (Stopping over from #LifeGivingLinkup today.) Have a great week!
Wow, that sounds like such an inspiring book. Pinned.
What an awesome story. You’re right- we all need to hear inspirational true stories testifying to the Lord! Thanks for sharing, Joanne!
This sounds like an excellent book. The timing of this post is perfect because my worship thoughts for my students has been built around attitude and living with purpose and enthusiasm! Thanks!
This one is going on my list.
Thanks for pointing it out to me.
Wow! Her story looks so inspiring. The fact that I am an adoptive Mama to a little one with special needs made it grab my heart immediately! Shared this everywhere, Joanne! Thank you for sharing this at #MomentsofHope!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
What a story! I’ve added this book to my list. Thank you for sharing it with us. Blessings to you, friend!
Congratulations. You were the most clicked on the #LMMLinkup this week. You will be featured on a post that goes live on Sunday at 6 p,m. Thanks for linking up with us.
Mary,
Thank you so much. I appreciate the feature because it will help to share about Jen Bricker’s story which was an inspiring read. I sent you an email. I always enjoy linking up with you all!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Joanne