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callienicole's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I just finished reading Anything by Jennie Allen, and there is so much going on in my head and heart right now.
Anything is a book that first released about three years ago, but a new expanded edition has been released, and this is the one I read. In it Allen talks abutter family's journey to truly be willing to do anything God called them to - to be open to His plans for their lives instead of just being stuck on their own.
The book starts out with exploring some of the things that keep us from being willing to do anything for God, and I found myself relating to many of them. Then Allen takes us through her own story. She has a great way of mixing personal stories in with challenges to her readers, and I was really challenged through this book.
This new expanded edition also comes with a study guide in the back. I have worked through a couple of the weeks, but I didn't want to rush it, so I am planning on journaling through the questions at a slower pace. The questions are challenging and make you evaluate your own life. Lucky for me (and you!) FaithGateway is also doing #TheAnythingProject with Jennie Allen, which is basically a free Bible study - with downloads and videos coming straight to your inbox when you sign up. It's a great companion to the book!
I first heard of Jennie Allen a couple years ago, when I did her Restless study with a friend. It was exactly what I needed to read at the time, but it took me forever to finish the book because I felt like I needed to process what I was learning. The same thing happened with Anything - it took me longer than I thought it would to finish this book, mainly because I didn't want to rush through it. Each chapter inspired and challenged me, and it has made me refocus and think more deeply about what the Lord has for me here. Honestly I think I want to re-read it again, just to keep myself focused - her chapters are great daily reminders that this world is not all there is, and we shouldn't live like it is. We should be living here with eternity constantly in front of our minds, and then it is easier to surrender to God's anything for us.
I have a lot more going on internally right now, and maybe I will get my thoughts together for more posts, but for now I just wanted to get this review up.
If you have ever found yourself feeling restless in your Christian walk, feeling like there has to be more, I think Anything is a great book to read to help you find out what the "more" might be. I highly recommend it.
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Anything is a book that first released about three years ago, but a new expanded edition has been released, and this is the one I read. In it Allen talks abutter family's journey to truly be willing to do anything God called them to - to be open to His plans for their lives instead of just being stuck on their own.
The book starts out with exploring some of the things that keep us from being willing to do anything for God, and I found myself relating to many of them. Then Allen takes us through her own story. She has a great way of mixing personal stories in with challenges to her readers, and I was really challenged through this book.
This new expanded edition also comes with a study guide in the back. I have worked through a couple of the weeks, but I didn't want to rush it, so I am planning on journaling through the questions at a slower pace. The questions are challenging and make you evaluate your own life. Lucky for me (and you!) FaithGateway is also doing #TheAnythingProject with Jennie Allen, which is basically a free Bible study - with downloads and videos coming straight to your inbox when you sign up. It's a great companion to the book!
I first heard of Jennie Allen a couple years ago, when I did her Restless study with a friend. It was exactly what I needed to read at the time, but it took me forever to finish the book because I felt like I needed to process what I was learning. The same thing happened with Anything - it took me longer than I thought it would to finish this book, mainly because I didn't want to rush through it. Each chapter inspired and challenged me, and it has made me refocus and think more deeply about what the Lord has for me here. Honestly I think I want to re-read it again, just to keep myself focused - her chapters are great daily reminders that this world is not all there is, and we shouldn't live like it is. We should be living here with eternity constantly in front of our minds, and then it is easier to surrender to God's anything for us.
I have a lot more going on internally right now, and maybe I will get my thoughts together for more posts, but for now I just wanted to get this review up.
If you have ever found yourself feeling restless in your Christian walk, feeling like there has to be more, I think Anything is a great book to read to help you find out what the "more" might be. I highly recommend it.
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
beyondevak's review
4.0
What a wonderful message. I could see myself so easily in the words on the pages. It would be impossible to say I was not affected. Quite simply, I enjoyed this book.
annhenry's review
4.0
Gives me a lot to think about and consider. I know fully that God wanted me to read this book at this time of my life. Loved her honesty and candor and her unflinching surrender to God and how He makes things beautiful in HIS time! Will read more by this author!
ddejong's review
3.0
The message of this book deserves 5 stars- it is so important and so challenging. I give it 3 stars as a piece of writing. I have mentioned this in many past reviews but I am not a big fan of informal writing. This book - to me - felt like it could have been one big blog post. Some people love that. I don't. Nevertheless, I love Jennie (and am a huge fan of Restless) and so appreciated the message she drove home in this book- we will be miserable until we are living surrendered. If we are truly living in light of the Gospel and eternity, we will not lead "normal", comfortable lives. This is something I am so convicted about as someone who is totally wired for safety, routine, and comfort. As I face down a year of big life changes, I am praying for God to give me a heart of real surrender and show me how to live a more reckless life.
nomer15's review against another edition
4.0
"Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul" by Jennie Allen details her journey of offering God everything by praying "God we will do anything. Anything" (pg. xiii). She shares bits of her story to show how she came to know Jesus, and how finally got the point of being willing to offer everything for God's service by being willing to do anything He wanted.
Divided into three parts, she shares openly and honestly about how she arrived at the place of anything. The first part focuses on her early years and common obstacles that people may find in their own journey to anything. The second part addresses the actual praying of anything and the immediate implications that brought in her life. God called her to start writing and speaking, and called their family to adopt a young boy from Rwanda. The third part discusses the ongoing realities of life after praying anything. She doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties she and her family have gone through, but she emphasizes that there are plenty of amazing, beautiful things that have come about for them.
Originally released in 2011, this book was recently re-released in 2015 to include an 8-week Bible study. Designed for small group study, the study contains a plan to read through the book and includes a corresponding Scripture study and two projects to help deepen the truths learned.
I really enjoyed this book. The first part of the book felt a little slow to me and had me wondering if I was going to actually like it. The second and third parts captivated me. I would highly recommend this book for individuals and small groups.
(I’ve received this complimentary book through the BookLook program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
Divided into three parts, she shares openly and honestly about how she arrived at the place of anything. The first part focuses on her early years and common obstacles that people may find in their own journey to anything. The second part addresses the actual praying of anything and the immediate implications that brought in her life. God called her to start writing and speaking, and called their family to adopt a young boy from Rwanda. The third part discusses the ongoing realities of life after praying anything. She doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties she and her family have gone through, but she emphasizes that there are plenty of amazing, beautiful things that have come about for them.
Originally released in 2011, this book was recently re-released in 2015 to include an 8-week Bible study. Designed for small group study, the study contains a plan to read through the book and includes a corresponding Scripture study and two projects to help deepen the truths learned.
I really enjoyed this book. The first part of the book felt a little slow to me and had me wondering if I was going to actually like it. The second and third parts captivated me. I would highly recommend this book for individuals and small groups.
(I’ve received this complimentary book through the BookLook program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great book.
Honest, uplifting and kind read.
It had some great points about what to focus on - in this short life.
Would recommend!
4.4/5
Honest, uplifting and kind read.
It had some great points about what to focus on - in this short life.
Would recommend!
4.4/5
annamontana's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
3.0
This book didn't do it for me. On the surface, knowing what it is about it should. This is the type of message I love. But this time it didn't work for me.
First, her writing style was not one I liked. She writes a blog and this felt like a blog. I have nothing against blogs and I even read some, but when I read a book I don't want it to be a blog. This may work for some but it turned me off.
Second, and this is much more judgmental, I felt her "anything" was rather ordinary. I know so many people who have adopted foreign children. It seems like she could have gone down this path without having to pray anything. I was also struck when she goes to Rwanda, the feeling she had about taking her son from this place of joy. It made me wonder if a bigger "anything" would have been to put the money she used for adoption into this boys family or village and making life better for a group of people, instead of playing the white savior and rescuing one. (I told you this was judgmental.) Her "anything" really lead to book deals, Bible study offers, speaking engagements, and more, which I don't think is the norm for praying anything.
I did like that she put the study guide in the back, it could be a useful tool if anyone wants to lead this as a study.
First, her writing style was not one I liked. She writes a blog and this felt like a blog. I have nothing against blogs and I even read some, but when I read a book I don't want it to be a blog. This may work for some but it turned me off.
Second, and this is much more judgmental, I felt her "anything" was rather ordinary. I know so many people who have adopted foreign children. It seems like she could have gone down this path without having to pray anything. I was also struck when she goes to Rwanda, the feeling she had about taking her son from this place of joy. It made me wonder if a bigger "anything" would have been to put the money she used for adoption into this boys family or village and making life better for a group of people, instead of playing the white savior and rescuing one. (I told you this was judgmental.) Her "anything" really lead to book deals, Bible study offers, speaking engagements, and more, which I don't think is the norm for praying anything.
I did like that she put the study guide in the back, it could be a useful tool if anyone wants to lead this as a study.
jradtke's review
5.0
I absolutely love Jennie Allen. Must be a Jennie thing. I saw that it was offered as a Kindle book (on sale) and jumped at it. This book walks you through the beginning of her ministry and how she created her two Bible studies: Stuck and Chase.
It was helpful to see the back story behind the studies. This book helped me understand the studies so much better.
Jennie realized that she was made for more, that she had so much more to give than she was, and that her purpose was greater than just being the average American. She talked it over with her husband and they prayed together Anything. They offered God everything they had to fulfill his purpose here on earth. They prayed about all of their possessions and comforts until God "told" them that was what he wanted. It started two great ministries in their life.
The book is about complete surrender every day. This book is about listening with all of yourself. This book is about taking action even when you doubt yourself. And she shows us how she has done this and the rewards that come because of the trust she had in God.
I have a couple great quotes from the book that I want to share with you.
"Every sin, at its root, is based in something we do not fully believe about God."
"Darker, more disconcerting things sit just under everything nice about us."
"The thought of leaving America and all it offers can show us what we love more than God."
Jennie ends the book with an acknowledgment (like most authors). But unlike most authors, she gives all the praise to God. She doesn't just start with Him; He is all of it. I absolutely loved that.
Are you ready to pray Anything?
It was helpful to see the back story behind the studies. This book helped me understand the studies so much better.
Jennie realized that she was made for more, that she had so much more to give than she was, and that her purpose was greater than just being the average American. She talked it over with her husband and they prayed together Anything. They offered God everything they had to fulfill his purpose here on earth. They prayed about all of their possessions and comforts until God "told" them that was what he wanted. It started two great ministries in their life.
The book is about complete surrender every day. This book is about listening with all of yourself. This book is about taking action even when you doubt yourself. And she shows us how she has done this and the rewards that come because of the trust she had in God.
I have a couple great quotes from the book that I want to share with you.
"Every sin, at its root, is based in something we do not fully believe about God."
"Darker, more disconcerting things sit just under everything nice about us."
"The thought of leaving America and all it offers can show us what we love more than God."
Jennie ends the book with an acknowledgment (like most authors). But unlike most authors, she gives all the praise to God. She doesn't just start with Him; He is all of it. I absolutely loved that.
Are you ready to pray Anything?