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Exceptional Bloom: Flourishing In The Next Season
Life brings us to difficult transitions, such as the empty nest, divorce, career end, health challenges, the loss of loved ones, etc. How can we navigate the changes that are inevitable as time passes? How are we to understand what God has for us in our next season of life? Is He done with us, or could it be that He has treasures for us that cannot be compared with anything we’ve experienced before?
Let Paula Masters guide you into the “exceptional blooming” God has for you in your season of transition. You will cast a vision of what might lie ahead for you, and you will lay your vision before the Lord. You will prepare for your future by processing the natural grief of loss associated with the changes you’re going through. You will learn to keep watch for the undermining tactics of the enemy of God. And finally, you will begin to step with confidence and joy into that exceptional blooming God has for your future.
The Biblically based “beauty secret” Masters reveals goes beneath the skin and has everything to do with your eternal identity. If you ever thought you were “past your prime”—that the best of what life has to offer is behind you—this treasure of a book will open your understanding to a luscious pink horizon of possibilities. As the author assures us, Jesus “will safely lead us out of seasonal bubbles that inevitably vanish, to inward flourishing that endures forever.” Fasten your seatbelts—you’re just beginning to live!
Let Paula Masters guide you into the “exceptional blooming” God has for you in your season of transition. You will cast a vision of what might lie ahead for you, and you will lay your vision before the Lord. You will prepare for your future by processing the natural grief of loss associated with the changes you’re going through. You will learn to keep watch for the undermining tactics of the enemy of God. And finally, you will begin to step with confidence and joy into that exceptional blooming God has for your future.
The Biblically based “beauty secret” Masters reveals goes beneath the skin and has everything to do with your eternal identity. If you ever thought you were “past your prime”—that the best of what life has to offer is behind you—this treasure of a book will open your understanding to a luscious pink horizon of possibilities. As the author assures us, Jesus “will safely lead us out of seasonal bubbles that inevitably vanish, to inward flourishing that endures forever.” Fasten your seatbelts—you’re just beginning to live!
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2023
3 people are currently reading
1025 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 22, 2023
I received this book from Goodreads and the publisher, FarmHousePress, as the winner of a free copy. In exchange, the following is my honest review.
I’ve rated this book quite low as it was quite boring and simplistic. I was and I wasn’t the target audience; I am a post-menopausal woman and I am not an evangelical Christian. The authors intent was to comfort menopausal women who experience this change as a “never-ending shadow of nightfall across our souls.” She says that God, “…never intended for us to be defined by our hopes and dreams (or failures). In fact, now that we are released from their obligations of priority, we are free to look at life from a new perspective.” I feel the author is assuming too much here, like maybe we never achieved our hopes and dreams. They are still our hopes and dreams, why should we let them go now? Also, some have no luxury of enjoying this new time of life if they are not retired, or are chronically ill, or have to be caregivers for elderly parents, or have to raise their grandchildren. None of these difficulties are considered, and no advice is given for them.
Instead, the author suggests redecorating your house, changing your style and fashions, taking a class, buying specialty foods for your fridge, going to movies, buying books and perfumes, etc. Older women in the above difficult situations may not have resources to make all these purchases. The author seems very elitist and narrow minded.
After a while, I realized that this author must be an evangelical Christian. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that; however, when she started talking about God being in “total control” on every few pages, I was annoyed enough to stop reading and go no further. I am a Catholic and I do not believe that this is biblical or that God is in control. Further, I believe it is an easy lie and a cop out.
Writer John Pavlovitz eloquently sums up this lie: “What this means, is that saying God is in control, while doing little or nothing to alter the planet in any meaningful way is spiritual rebellion. It is a willing abdication of our calling to be makers of peace and agents of goodness and bringers of justice here. It expects that God will clean up whatever horrible mess we make—and that our prayers alone will serve as the sole request form.” And further, “Right now, the ancient words of St. Francis are still the most dangerous prayer we can ever authentically pray: God, make me an instrument of your peace.” For this entire essay, you can google “Christian, Stop Telling Me God is in Control” by John Pavlovitz, February 22, 2017.
If you do believe God is in control and you do not want to use your higher level thinking skills, then this book is for you.
I’ve rated this book quite low as it was quite boring and simplistic. I was and I wasn’t the target audience; I am a post-menopausal woman and I am not an evangelical Christian. The authors intent was to comfort menopausal women who experience this change as a “never-ending shadow of nightfall across our souls.” She says that God, “…never intended for us to be defined by our hopes and dreams (or failures). In fact, now that we are released from their obligations of priority, we are free to look at life from a new perspective.” I feel the author is assuming too much here, like maybe we never achieved our hopes and dreams. They are still our hopes and dreams, why should we let them go now? Also, some have no luxury of enjoying this new time of life if they are not retired, or are chronically ill, or have to be caregivers for elderly parents, or have to raise their grandchildren. None of these difficulties are considered, and no advice is given for them.
Instead, the author suggests redecorating your house, changing your style and fashions, taking a class, buying specialty foods for your fridge, going to movies, buying books and perfumes, etc. Older women in the above difficult situations may not have resources to make all these purchases. The author seems very elitist and narrow minded.
After a while, I realized that this author must be an evangelical Christian. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that; however, when she started talking about God being in “total control” on every few pages, I was annoyed enough to stop reading and go no further. I am a Catholic and I do not believe that this is biblical or that God is in control. Further, I believe it is an easy lie and a cop out.
Writer John Pavlovitz eloquently sums up this lie: “What this means, is that saying God is in control, while doing little or nothing to alter the planet in any meaningful way is spiritual rebellion. It is a willing abdication of our calling to be makers of peace and agents of goodness and bringers of justice here. It expects that God will clean up whatever horrible mess we make—and that our prayers alone will serve as the sole request form.” And further, “Right now, the ancient words of St. Francis are still the most dangerous prayer we can ever authentically pray: God, make me an instrument of your peace.” For this entire essay, you can google “Christian, Stop Telling Me God is in Control” by John Pavlovitz, February 22, 2017.
If you do believe God is in control and you do not want to use your higher level thinking skills, then this book is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2023
Helpful take on changing and growing spiritually with age. I think this book spoke to me in my particular situation and season, which, of course, is the point of the book! It might still hold some meaning for younger women, but I do think it fits the target demo nicely. I really like Masters' personal approach alongside scripture references to bring her assertions home. And, she gets to the point without overdoing.
I do think that the Lord points us toward things we need when we are best able to receive them, and this was one of those for me. So, if you feel a nudge to read it, do so, it is short and easy to take in.
Overall, I appreciated and would recommend this book.
I do think that the Lord points us toward things we need when we are best able to receive them, and this was one of those for me. So, if you feel a nudge to read it, do so, it is short and easy to take in.
Overall, I appreciated and would recommend this book.
May 16, 2023
Wasn't my typical book .
This book was following a pattern of transition and change I'd been diving into.
This was a short book with scripture throughout.
Wasn't my favorite but I didn't break up with it.
This book was following a pattern of transition and change I'd been diving into.
This was a short book with scripture throughout.
Wasn't my favorite but I didn't break up with it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews