Named by God: Overcoming Your Past, Transforming Your Present, Embracing Your Future

by Kasey Van Norman

In many ways, Kasey Van Norman has suffered more heartbreak than one woman can bear. Growing up, she endured her parents’ divorce, date rape, and years of addiction to sex, cutting, and eating disorders. As an adult, Kasey has endured a painful miscarriage; the heartbreak (and restoration) of infidelity; a cancer diagnosis; rejection by her friends, church, and community; and her mother’s death from cancer. But at the end of this twisting path of sorrow, Kasey walked out of the wilderness and into a place of God’s merciful and miraculous healing and redemption. In Named by God , Kasey shares her story of God’s infinite grace and compassion so that others might learn from her experience as they encounter a depth of Jesus like never before!

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Self Help, Christian Living, Memoir, Christian Non Fiction, Religion

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Kasey Van Norman is the founder and President of Kasey Van Norman Ministries in College Station, Texas. Kasey is a certified counselor with a masters degree in community counseling. She holds undergraduate degrees in both psychology and speech communication, and is currently earning a masters of religion in Biblical studies from Liberty University. Kasey was born and raised in deep East Texas, and currently resides in College Station, Texas with her husband, Justin, and their two young children; Emma Grace and Lake.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to tell you about the book written by Kasey Van Norman. It is called “named by God”. This book is Kasey’s story and her walk with God. The walk has not always been easy in fact she has had a hard time with it. She has sinned and has learned from it but it took some time for lesson to be gotten. She has the book broken down in parts 1. Overcoming Your Past 2. Transforming Your Present 3. Embracing Your Future. This book has read like a biography and devotional. Kasey has wonderful verses that helped her and prayers that she prayed that she feels will help others. . I really enjoyed reading this and can see where if you are in a dark place in your life this book could be a ray of light. I feel she can offer you remedies to help the hurt because she has been there. I went highlighter crazy in this book there are so many little gems that she offers and for that I will be keeping the book. Her chapters are really straight forward and I found this an easy read. You are so able to see Gods Grace in Kasey’s story. I enjoyed this book and I am giving it a four star rating. My advice to you is getting your highlighter ready for when you read this. This is the time in the blog where I have must let you know that I received this complimentary book from Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an encouraging audiobook read by the author Kasey Van Norman with such care and compassion that you can't help feel energised by what she is talking about. She is very open with her past mistakes and her daily struggles but is very positive about overcoming them with God's help. I was a bit surprised that this was more than just her life story but a teaching audiobook too about how to overcome past mistakes and thrive in your relationship with God. Personally I would have really enjoyed this a lot more if I had been a college student as it feels like its directed more at that age group, than for older women.
I think this a perfect audio for new Christians who have had a troubled past and want to live their lives with real passion for Jesus. Kasey will remind you throughout this audio how precious you are to God and herself, and that you are 'Named by God'. She uses personal experiences and biblical references to help you along the way. Thanks to christianaudio.com Reviewer's Program for this copy.

[Kim Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Van Norman provides fresh insight causing a deepened appreciation for God’s word.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Named by God, Kasey Van Norman shared the message what was on her heart for helping people realized the importance of reaching out to the hurting people. Kasey has experienced her own share of heartache and pain. During her early teenage years, her parents went through a bitter filled divorce. Kasey started putting on a fake mask to cover up her hidden emotions and disappointments. She felt the need to pretend and act as if everything was going fine in her life in order to achieve acceptance. When Kasey was a freshman she was raped by her boyfriend at the time. Kasey knows firsthand the difficult of healing from your past where you can conquer your future. She has struggled with finding acceptance and love, with an eating disorder, cutting herself, and engaging in hiding her throbbing emotional pain. But God has always been there assisting her to come out, face the truth, deal with her past, and not letting it destroy her future.

One of my favorite quotes was:
"Perhaps one of the greatest human misconceptions is that it's possible to forgive another person prior to extending love to him or her. The hard truth is that if you desire authentic healing and a God-honoring lifestyle, you must choose to forgive in the same way our Lord does-by extending love first" (Page 77).

One story that Kasey shared helped me to see the wounds that I have repeatedly held firmly to. Kasey described the event of cooking and accidently cutting your finger with a knife. You grab a towel and able pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. Then you wrap it up with a Band-Aid hoping that will fix the cut wound. Many times we refuse to seek help from others when sometimes we desperately need to. The scenario is an analogy to how we hold onto un-forgiveness in our hearts. This chapter showed me how I was holding onto past hurts in my life and living by how I feel. I can't forgive someone by declining my love to someone who hurt me. Forgiving an enemy requires truly loving our enemies and friends like Christ would.

I would recommend this book to everyone who is struggling with wrong thinking and believes the lies from Satan. If you need an encouragement book then read this book! This book contains tons of scripture references that fellow believers need to hear and believe! This book has the potential and impact to reveal the truth of living your life's with purpose. Kasey has deeply publicized her struggles she has experienced and how she overcame them. God has turned her inner pain into something good. This book has astonishing teachings that if applied can dramatically change your life. Being named by God is a marvelous truth that we must let comfort our very souls!

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Named by God by Kasey Van Norman

Like all of us Kasey Van Norman has a past. Like most of us, there were good times and bad times; times she was on the right path and times when she lost her way. Unlike a lot of us she has overcome her past, lives in the present, and looks forward to the future.

Of her past, Van Norman writes openly and honestly and doesn't feel sorry for herself. She has faced her short-comings and failures, asked for forgiveness, and has forgiven. She encourages us to do the same by looking at who we were and why, to learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others in our lives, and to see God in all of it. See how He was there with us and what He was doing for us, through us, and often in spite of us, to accomplish His plan.

She then brings us into the present. And once again, like all of us she has her ups and downs and like most of us she questions the why of things. But unlike many of us she does not question God's love for her or His grace in her life. And she tells us how she has come to this understanding.

She writes, "In order to be transformed, we must come to the realization that it is not enough to simply believe in God; we must believe God." and "In order to take another step in transforming our present, we must presently believe in God's ultimate plan for our lives."

In the redeemed believer the future is assured and Van Norman tells us to be filled with the Word, know our gifts, and use them in service to others. She writes that we are not to give the future just an occasional thought but to embrace it. Because of what our future holds she wants us to know that how we live is important not only for our own lives but for the lives of others.

Named By God is engagingly written with personal stories and experiences with no excuses for when she went off the path on her own. She uses scripture to reference and explain what she is saying. Van Norman did not overcome her past to live in the present and embrace the future by herself and she knows it. She gives God the glory!

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This book was sent to me by Tyndale House Publishers at no cost to me in exchange for this review.

[Janice Garey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Title: Redeemed is Her Name; Make it Yours, Too! (review of Named by God by Kasey Van Norman)
Reviewer: Janice S. Garey
*****5 Stars

This book is like a fountain of good news for any who may be feeling for whatever reason that God does not have a place in His heart for them. Kasey has just the right approach to make all feel welcome into the kingdom of God. She makes the reader aware of all her struggles, failures, denials and how God in His love lifted her back up and put her in place to be a vessel worthy of His use.

This is a book that will bless you as you turn the pages and realize the love God has for Kasey and for all who have sinned in various ways that cause separation from God. You will have realization that her story, perhaps more extreme than some people's stories by human evaluation, is relevant to all people. The story of Paul in the Bible, the one who declares himself to be chief of sinners, in some ways touches us all in our human way of thinking that, "Well, if God can save him then there is hope for me." Kasey lets herself be used in like manner in order for people, women especially, to feel the power of hope in salvation through this unequaled God who loves sinners enough to save them through the blood of Jesus

I received this book through the author and publisher without obligation to give a good review. I honestly believe in the message of this book and think it will be an excellent Bible study for many women, especially for those who are in their childbearing years. This book goes deep to show the love of God which conquers all.


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[Christie Hagerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this Kasey Van Norman from the start, and not just because I happen to be very partial to wrist tattoos with attached meaning and she describes hers in the intro. This gal has spunk and isn’t afraid to show it, but she is also very sensitive and driven to help other Christians overcome their past.

Named by God is the inspiring story of how she overcame the hurts and mistakes of her past to step into the calling God has placed on her life. Read by the author, her passion over the conviction that we not let our present and future be shaped by the past, comes out in every word. She bares her soul and takes ownership of her decisions, and the consequences she’s paid for those decisions, while reminding us that the price Jesus paid is enough to cover our sins and give us a fresh start.

Understanding that Jesus paid it all is commonplace, but hearing how this played out in the author’s life and her advice on how to let Him redeem ours is what sets this book apart. Each chapter challenges you to look deeply into your heart, your motivations, your past, your present, and evaluate each area in light of God’s truth. It is an inspiring book, even more powerful because the author herself reads it.

I received this book free from the publisher through christianaudio in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author, Bible teacher and counselor Kasey Van Norman holds nothing back in her semi-autobiographical book, Named by God: Overcoming Your Past, Transforming Your Present, Embracing Your Future. Published by Tyndale House in 2012, Named by God offers readers an honest look at how to move from shallow water Christianity to the deeper waters of abundant life in Christ.

Kasey shares from her heart about the heartache of her parents’ divorce, date rape, sexual addiction, an eating disorder, cutting, and the pain and restoration of marital infidelity. Drawing principles from God’s Word, she helps readers recognize that God redeems our past, helps us focus on our purpose in the present, and invites us to join Him in an exciting future.

She reminds readers that just as God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, and Saul’s name to Paul, signifying transformation, so we, too, receive the name “Christian” as part of our new identity in Christ. Kasey also draws attention to the unique name God gives each of His children, according to Isaiah 62:2 and Revelation 3:12.

Read the rest of my review at http://disciplemom.com/book-review-na...

[Daniel Threlfall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kasey Van Norman has had her share of challenges, failures, and successes. She also had the courage to write about it. The result is her book, Named by God.

Overview of Named by God
Van Norman's book blends her autobiography with Christian counseling and practical self-help tips. The solution is a readable and helpful book, especially for Christians who face the types of challenges that Van Norman has experienced. The book's theme, Named by God, reminds believers that regardless of life's challenges, they remain named by God — a member of his family and under his care.

Thoughts on Named by God
Van Norman's book is full of plenty of helpful advice regardless of one's situation in life. Likely, many people have had thoughts or experiences similar to the author's. Thus, they would be able to profit from her openness and forthright counsel.

The book sprinkles in a modicum of biblical explanation and gospel reminders. The preponderance of folksy advice, "you can" language, and anecdotal "me too" content, may leave some readers still hungry for solid advice for change — built on the Bible and rooted in the gospel.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does it truly mean to be named by God?

The author tells of the struggles she has overcome, the mountains she has climbed, and what she has endured to get there. She offers solid advice to readers on how to obtain love and happiness while dealing with the battles within and obstacles on the outside threatening to prevent us from becoming the person God has intended us to be. The target audience is women. Bible passages and stories are highlighted throughout this book that have much meaning to the material being presented and discussed.

I feel there is something in this inspiring and faith challenging book for every woman. I found myself within the pages about my challenges as a Christian, and know I will be able to apply some of the principles the author has discussed. I learned alot and appreciate the author's style of writing, compassionate and graceful, and thoroughly enjoyed spending the time devouring this helpful, truthful and down to earth read. Highly recommend this well written nonfiction book! 5 Stars!!!! Get to know yourself and others the way that God knows you... by name!

[Denise DiFalco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kasey Van Norman focuses on a real problem that a lot of Christians suffer with, low self-esteem in her book NAMED BY GOD (Overcoming your past, transforming your present and embracing your future). Like many, she couldn't understand how God could love her. Tormented by her inner demons, she finds herself tossing back a bottle of Xanax to end it all. Her book shares how she learned to let the past go and to embrace the redemption that God has for us. For so many Christians, it is easy to speak about hope and forgiveness yet inwardly they struggle with self-acceptance. This book will make an impression on many others facing the same and I am thankful Kasey had the courage to relate her struggle. I can completely relate to this book as I went through similar struggles in my twenties and you can not know the true peace of God until you make peace with yourself. This book should be on every Christain counselors bookshelf. I highly recommend. It was my deep pleasure to review this book for Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

[Shelley Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Kasey van Norman speak at a Women's event at my church in Manvel, TX. She was an amazing speaker. Her testimony is so powerful that it's hard to even describe. She noted that she has a "good story" and her story will make many cry. But only God can use it to change the heart. This I do believe - God is using her story to change people. I read this book much more quickly than I normally do. Partly because it flows well and is a very easy read and partly because I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to see the next truth that God would reveal to me through her book. She is bold and courageous for Christ and the way she imparts these truths made Jesus and the Christian walk more real to me than ever in my life of 41 years. I am so glad I read this book and would recommend it to anyone struggling with bitterness or anger over past hurts or shame over past choices and behaviors or all of the above. The simple truths contained in this book will truly set you free.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you on a refreshing (and sometimes) painful journey of realizing just how deep God's grace goes and how unconditional His love really is. Kasey shares her story as she guides us on how to overcome our past hurts and mistakes and shows us how important it is to forgive ourselves and others who have had an impact on our own "life story." She helps us realize the necessity of nurturing and maintaining our personal relationship with Jesus as we seek God's plans for us on a daily basis. She encourages us to embrace our future and learn to fulfill God's purpose for our lives with excitement and enthusiasm and avoid becoming spiritually complacent. The book takes us on this journey in a little over 200 pages. If you are interested in using the workbook as well, it makes for an insightful Bible study.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was extremely excited about reading this book. I had been told by friends that it was life-changing and life-giving, and perhaps that was true for my friends (and I am so happy for them!), but it was not true for me. While it is evident that the author had the best of intentions when writing this book, I'm afraid that the book itself left much to be desired. I do struggle with many of the faith crises that the author addresses, but unfortunately the book's message was hindered by the lack of detail and the detached writing style. The lack of scriptural support in the book also was a deterrent for me- there were verses dropped here and there, but no exposition to support their placement.

Overall, I acknowledge the ability of this book to speak healing to some people- but to readers who are used to deeper reading, it may not be the right fit.

[Kayce · Rating 5 out of 5]

From cover to cover, I fell in love with this book. A powerful testimony to share, Kasey Van Norman has endured some of the biggest challenges you can think of. Most of us, having experienced just one or two of them, could spend a lifetime sorting out their emotions and figuring out how to move on. Not Kasey. She's been knocked down so many times and held bondage to the enemy's trickery so many times. But she finds her way back to the God who never stopped pursuing her.

A refreshing read that I loved from start to finish. I did not read with a judgemental attitude--quite the opposite. It gave me hope! And I'm sure that was Kasey's goal--thank you for sharing your story my friend!

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kasey Van Norman shares her very personal journey on her road to becoming a Christian, how she fell away, and how she recommitted her life to living through the Holy Spirit. Kasey's frank confessions and stories helps to inspire one that no matter the screw ups that God does forgive and can still use us to serve him.

Overall it was an okay book but I found it a little lacking in inspiration. Many of her metaphors seemed unoriginal and very elementary.

[Kalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you look at your past and think,

God could never forgive me of everything I’ve done. I’m too stained, too soiled, too broken.

Kasey Van Norman would disagree. No one can run far enough away from God for Him to stop looking for you. This respected Bible teacher wrote Named By God because she understands what it’s like to feel imprisoned by the past.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Kasey's life and words inspiring and encouraging. She is radically honest about the places she's stumbled, tripped and fallen flat on her face. And she's encouraging in her transformation into a woman who fully embraces her identity in Christ and the calling he has given her.

[Natalie Creasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love loved this book

Love loved this book

Awesome book! I recommend this book to everyone!
It's an easy read and keeps your Interest, I would like to read it again and again.

[Kimberly King]

awesome read. for anyone who is imperfect.

[Ellen Krzemien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Kasey's writing style. Great book. Read the book while doing the accompanying Bible study.

[Claudia Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kasey Van Norman tells her story identifying lies she believed and then the truth that shot down those lies. Some good truth about our identity in Christ in these pages.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly what I was expecting, but still a good read overall. Perfect for a women's book club or Bible Study. Many discussion subjects in this book.

[Amber Chapais · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story and great encouragement. she is a great teacher, very gifted.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book. Will reread it more slowly again.

[Provin Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read. I enjoyed kaseys perspective.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Van Norman reminds us once again that, despite all our troubles in this life, despite all we suffer through, we are loved by an amazing God.

We need that reminder.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. The author is real, transparent, and someone I could relate to.

[Nancy DeValve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kasey Van Norman shares her life story and by sharing it offers hope to everyone who thinks they are too bad or too far gone. Maybe, like me, you've managed by God's grace to escape a past that leaves you scarred, but every one of us struggles with something. This is a book full of hope and encouragement.

[Jennifer Barstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful

This book pointed out good reasons people should put their faith into God to help them through life. It also asks questions that make you think about your life and decisions you make.