If He Lives

by Sarah Holman

In the month leading up to Easter, four friends are challenged with one question: What if we lived like Jesus really did rise from the dead?

A tale of faith, friendship, and the power of the Resurrection.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Short Stories, Christian

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2016

About the author

Sarah Holman lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Scott. When not working on her next novel, she can usually be found hanging out with her family, reading, or hiking at state parks with her husband. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it’s because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined. You can find out more about her at her website, www.thedestinyofone.com.
To keep up to date on releases, join her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bitBIf

Reviews

[Jesseca Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much more then I had expected. What if we lived each day as though we truly believe Jesus had risen?
This is the question four friends decide to put into action. And it changes them.
I was really convicted by the message in this book. I know I often do not live each day like that, and the realization startled. I need to live each day as though Jesus is there beside me, watching my actions and how I live my life.
Thank you so much, Sarah, for writing this book!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I don't even know what to say about this amazing story. It's so amazing, so convicting, and so...good. :) The storyline of taking the challenge reminded me of the book In His Steps by Charles Sheldon (in which people begin to ask themselves "What would Jesus do?" before every decision they face). Most stories of this length, though I may love them, wouldn't have as much impact on me as If He Lives did. It was very thought-provoking, convicting, and exactly what I needed. :)

[R.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this!! It was very convicting, but I really enjoyed it! :) I love the different important points about Jesus' resurrection that were made, as well as the characters who tried to change things in their lives. :)

Recommended for any age!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

{4.5 stars}

I needed this right now. It opened my eyes to things that have been a stumbling block in my life. This short story reminds me of the great book, In His Steps or WWJD. When we ask a question like that, What if we lived like we believed Jesus has risen? it really makes you realize how many things aren't important or mean nothing when it comes to spiritual matters.

There was only one thing that I didn't exactly agree with, concerning different versions of the Bible, but it wasn't a huge issue in the book which I appreciated.

I loved how the author has shown several characters and their different struggles. It is very relevant for today-being a witness at work, witnessing to unsaved family members, movies, our testimony online, etc.

Do we live as though Jesus is truly risen?

[Abigail Harris]

RTC

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story with an important message. I especially liked the way that choosing to intentionally live out their faith didn't always make things easier for the characters, as well as the focus on God changing our hearts, not necessarily the people and circumstances around us. I also liked the way the message didn't zero in on one single topic but instead centered around the idea of following God's prompting in identifying the areas each person needed to deal with.

4 stars

Content--mention of a young woman having lived with her boyfriend and becoming pregnant; mentions of swearing and crude jokes in movies

[Sarah Rhomberg]

The style is a bit choppy at times, which partly distracted me from the story, but the strong theme and message make up for it. This short story centers around the question: “What if we lived like Jesus really did rise from the dead?”

The characters see how this question transforms them and their interaction with others and the reader is found asking him- or herself the same question: “What if we lived like Jesus really did rise from the dead?”

A wonderful read for Easter and around the year. After all, the resurrection is not limited to a certain time of the year.

(Something I didn’t like was that the author seemed to assume that everyone reading had accepted the gospel already – an assumption one should never make.)

Quote: “If Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death, then why do we fear death? Why do we fear ridicule? If He had the power to overcome death, that means He has the power to overcome everything in our lives.”

[Sarah]

This is a story of four people, but also of my heart. What if we lived like we believed Jesus rose from the dead? Find out what these four discover in this Easter short story.

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I think this is one of Miss Holman's best books. Short, but incredibly impacting!! What a great message!!! Absolutely loved it.

[Tarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the idea behind the classic "In His Steps" (which spawned the question "What would Jesus do?" ), then you'll appreciate this story in "If He Lives". And if you haven't read "In His Steps", no worries, this new short story will be just as powerful to read, one way or another. I mentioned the other book because both stories present the characters with a rather provoking question about Jesus and rediscovering biblical truths.

"What if we lived like Jesus really did rise from the dead?"

There it is, a simple question that can change things. It is a challenge that can turn whole lives around. What could change in your life if you asked yourself this question several times a day when faced with decisions and find yourself in one of those many small moments where big things could happen? Or rather, what would you allow this question to change about you?

I think some very relevant modern issues are presented and discussed in this book, including small immoral elements we allow ourselves to watch on television, and that things we say behind a digital mask are just as hurtful as if spoken face-to-face... and others. This is a fairly short book, but contains a powerful story to tell, and may give your convictions an internal rise. I know it set me to thinking about my life. I should ask myself that question more often.

[deborah o'carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short story which focused on an important question, so it can be a great jumping-off point to get thinking about how we can try to live like we believe.

It's the story of four young people in our day and age who decide to make a difference in the month before Easter, and it was interesting to follow their separate stories and struggles. I will also note that I'm not the target audience for this story because I don't read much realistic modern fiction, so that's probably just me. :)

To me, it felt like it would be better as non-fiction, since the question raised didn't work too well (for me, personally) as a story. At least not in such a very small number of pages -- I felt like it didn't make God big enough, because I wanted to see more examples of the changes (for the better!) in the lives of the characters... but I understand that it was merely a glimpse at a beginning of what they're doing.

A short, good read for getting you thinking about how you would or wouldn't go about following this same idea in life. It's definitely had me thinking about it, which either way is a good thing. Anyways, I'm glad I read it. :)

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short read which really drives home living for christ.
I highly recommend it!!!!

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is only six short chapters long, but it holds a very good message. There is a chapter focused on each character with the first and last chapters starting and ending the story. This is a good reminder to see where our focus really is and if we have let “minor” things desensitize us so we don’t even notice the evil around us. What if we DID live our faith in every area of our lives?

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

do I live like Jesus lives

This is a short story, but a profound and thought-provoking one. I think everyone should read it, since we are about to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Very well done!

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars & 4/10 hearts. Wow. This is a convicting read. I don’t agree with everything, but it’s a good read with a good message.

A Favourite Quote: “‘If Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death, then why do we fear death? Why do we fear ridicule? If He had the power to overcome death, that means He has the power to overcome everything in our lives.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “He called each of us to witness to others and tell them the good news of salvation. There hadn’t been exceptions for cranky relatives, or meddlesome grandmothers.”

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though a little more modern than I prefer, If He Lives was a powerful and challenging story. I especially loved the ending.