Product Description

One of today’s leading ministers, Suzan Johnson Cook epitomizes the positive attitudes and self-help spirit that make a profound difference in the way we live. Live Like You’re Blessed illuminates her winning formula in an engaging combination of autobiographical anecdotes and lessons drawn from her pastoral work.

Using the letters in the word “blessed” as her starting point, Cook illustrates the spiritual concepts that will help readers cope with life’s difficult challenges.

B represents balance: maintaining emotional equilibrium and finding the time for work, play, and worship

L stands for love: accepting the love that flows from God and extending it to family, friends, and colleagues

E is for energy: developing the physical stamina that nurtures emotional well-being and our dreams

S is the spirit of God within: finding the inner strength and faith that allow us to serve as His hands on earth

S represents success: achieving financial goals while living in alignment with our convictions and values

E stands for encouragement: sharing the courage and hope at the heart of Jesus’ teachings

D is for devotion to God: exploring difficult questions, rather than accepting pat answers

Filled with simple exercises and helpful suggestions, Live Like You’re Blessed is a realistic and inspirational plan for serving God and living life to the fullest.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #690943 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-09
• Released on: 2006-05-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

From Publishers Weekly
BLESSED, as an acronym representing Balance, Love, Energy, Spirit, Success, Encouragement, and Devotion, forms the backbone of a charmingly anecdotal proposal for better living through faith. Cook, a pastor who is currently on tour with T.D. Jakes, is the first woman to be elected president of the Hampton University Ministers' Conference, representing all of the historically African-American denominations. She shares as many personal stories as she does those of parishioners. Amid suggestions for prayer and reminders to give thanks for blessings already received, Cook uses the stories of real people to illustrate the challenges many face every day, from low self-esteem and domestic abuse to personal debt and spiritual poverty. Her gift for the gentle, respectful telling of story does not interfere with her prescriptions for professional help when appropriate, whether for abuse, depression or even financial trouble, and the book comes complete with resource suggestions. Although primarily directed at women, devotees and seekers of all stripes will find Cook's straightforward message easy to digest and soothingly inspirational. (May 9)
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Review

“Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook is a brilliant and dynamic woman who served with distinction during my administration on the Advisory Board of the President’s Initiative on Race and my Domestic Policy Council. In her new book, Live Like You’re Blessed, Suzan shares stories from her life that illustrate how faith can help overcome adversity and lead to happiness and fulfillment. Her remarkable life is a testament to the power of her message.” —President Bill Clinton

About the Author
Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook is a senior pastor at the Believers Christian Fellowship in New York City and is the editor of Sister to Sister and the author of Too Blessed to Be Stressed. She was the first woman to be elected president of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, which represents all the historically African American denominations, and served as a domestic policy advisor under President Clinton. She lives in New York with her husband, Ronald, and their two sons.

Customer Reviews

Perfect Tool for Recognizing Your Blessings!
Do you ever feel stressed? Do you have times when you feel depressed or unsure of your decisions? If so, you need this book. Dr. Cook offers simple solutions for common problems that come up for everyday people. The light tone of the writing along with the scripture based advice is easy to read and comprehend. Dr. Cook uses her personal life and family stories to show how easy it is to live a blessed life.

LIVE LIKE YOU'RE BLESSED is the perfect tool for bible study groups, personal reflection and church groups. The redeeming lessons of forgiveness, eliminating guilt, healing shame, reviving your emotional energy, and loving God back allow you to re-focus on what is important. The stimulating chapters on discerning your path to success, finding your holy mission, creating financial wealth and encouraging others will inspire you to reach for higher means. The devotions, prayers and scriptures all support living a blessed life.

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Reviewing for Real Page Turners

(RAW Rating: 4.5) - Learning to Live B-L-E-S-S-E-D
In LIVE LIKE YOU'RE BLESSED: Simple Steps for Making Balance, Love, Energy, Spirit, Success, Encouragement, and Devotion Part of Your Life, Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook gives readers a guide to living a blessed life through faith. She breaks the book into seven topics of which the first letters form the acrostic BLESSED. Readers are encouraged to obtain balance in their lives, learn to receive and give love, how to find energy to keep us going, become more in tuned with the spirit of God within us, create success that aligns with God's plan, and find courage that will provide encouragement to others. And, lastly, show a devotion to God through unwavering faith. Each section shares her personal and professional experiences, some simple exercises, a few prayers, scriptures and a ton of motivation to kick you into gear.

Dr. Cook has written a humbling, yet upliftingly resourceful guide to living blessed, that anyone can follow. Her writing style has an easy follow that isn't preachy. It was as though she was ministering to you personally. The advice and the exercises were practical and easily transferable. This is one of those books that demands your attention and doesn't allow you to let go until you have done a complete inspection of your life. It nicely points out those little hurts you thought were tucked away never to bother you again and quietly gives you a way to permanent closure. If you are reeling from the challenges of life, this is definitely the book for you.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Such a blessing! Oh my God, I love this book!
This is the best book I've read all year! My heart was healed, my mind was renewed, my soul rejoiced! If you want to live like you are blessed - all the time - get this book!

Pam Perry, Chocolate Pages Reviewer