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Choosing a Life That Matters (Library Edition): 7 Decisions You'll Never Regret

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We live in a culture that permits everything, surrounded by people skimming the surface of life, trying to piece together meaning from ever-shifting truths and fleeting fads. But in a world that stands for nothing, you can choose to stand for Something.

With warmth and wisdom that only comes from weathering the storms of life, Dennis Rainey shares seven ways to not only build a strong foundation, but to choose to live the life of purpose and potential you were created for. When the winds of culture blow, you will be able to stand firm on the Truth. You will be able to choose a life that matters. A life that makes a difference in the here and now--a life that echoes into eternity.

You are at crossroads of culture and Christianity. Which way will you choose to live?

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2017

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About the author

Dennis Rainey

193 books36 followers
Dennis Rainey is president and CEO of FamilyLife, a division of Cru. Dennis and his wife, Barbara, have spoken at Weekend to Remember conferences around the world. Dennis serves as the daily host of the radio program "FamilyLife Today". He and Barbara have authored more than two dozen books, including the bestselling "Moments Together for Intimacy" and" Moments Together for Couples". The Raineys have six children and nineteen grandchildren.

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Tim.
751 reviews8 followers
November 2, 2018
A succinct guide to intentional Christian living, with many helpful stories and quotes.
Profile Image for Joan.
4,340 reviews119 followers
September 25, 2017
About a decade ago Rainey was asked to speak at the commencement ceremony of a prominent divinity school. He wanted to give the graduates something that would help them choose a life that matters. As he pondered what to say, he determined the essence of what the Bible teaches about what God expects of us. He came up with seven concepts and writes about them here.

Seek God, not sin
Fear God, not man
Love God, not the world
Believe God, not the deceiver
Obey God, not your feelings
Worship God, not comfort
Serve God, not self

Rainey writes from a life time of serving the Lord in Christian ministry. He has developed a good understanding of the kind of life that pleases God. These seven concepts have served him well as boundaries and direction for his thoughts as he lived life. He has tested them for a decade and now offers them to readers.

This is a good book, one that can be read over and over again. We need reminding of what God desires of us. We need encouragement to live in a manner pleasing to Him. Rainey has provided that for us in this small but powerful book.

Rainey wanted his readers to be able to make quality decisions and be able to carry them out. He has included suggestions of life skills at the end of each chapter. My favorite was the section on fearing God, not man. Essential, Rainey writes, is practicing the presence of God. He gives several practical suggestions to help us be more aware of God and reorient our lives around Him.

I recommend this book to Christians who want to live a life pleasing to God. You'll receive some good instruction, read some good stories, and get some practical ideas to live out your godly commitments.

Food for thought: “To me, life in Christ is a process of God weaning us from loving this world while increasing our capacity and experience of loving Him.” (Loc 537/1246)

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Profile Image for Jeanie.
3,088 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2017
To seek God is the greatest quest.
To fear God is the greatest respect
To Love God is the greatest affection
To obey God is the greatest act.
To believe God is the greatest adventure
To Worship God is the greatest experience
To Serve God is the greatest privilege.
All this so that God may be glorified and exalted.


It all comes down to do we really know God and the implications of who God is? We were created to reason and this devotion/study gives a seeker of their creator hope and encouragement. Each chapter is a mantra of the above. Seek God, not Sin, ..Fear God, Not Men...Love God, Not the World...Believe God, Not the Deceiver...Obey God, Not your feelings...Worship God, Not comfort...Serve God, Not Self.

As you can see we do one or the other. There is no in between. This being black and white can put the fear in a believer or a seeker however, it is meant to direct us to the Gospel. The bad news - we can't do it on our own...the Good news - we have Jesus. Each one of these if we are honest, we struggle with. Our hearts are unrest until we find rest in Him. Love is all about choosing and being intentional with our choices. When our choice is God, we have true freedom but we are deceived and seek freedom else where. Rainey is a seasoned communicator of living in that freedom with the choices we make . He brings his own choices to the table and how his heart was affected.

The choices we make reflect the God we worship.

Some of the quotes I found inspiring.

When we do not fear God, we lose our respect and awe for who He is, and as a result we do not live our lives as if in the presence of almighty God. As we forget who God and lose our sense of accountability to Him, we make a play to become our own authority. Then, with God nudged aside, we redefine our purpose and commitments to suit ourselves.

The fear of the Lord delivers us from the fear of man.

Invariably we allow feelings to control our lives. When we feel slighted, we sulk. When we feel wronged, we take revenge. When we feel lonely, we binge. If we fail to check our feelings against the truth of God's word, they can take up permanent residency. When this happens, our outlook on life becomes distorted and toxic, and we may end up doing things we would never have imagined.



A great study on God's word and the character of God that keeps the focus on his Glory of salvation.

A Special Thank You to Bethany House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Profile Image for Benjamin Liles.
Author 1 book2 followers
October 25, 2017
Dennis Rainey's pocket-sized book, Choosing a Life that Matters, is a power punch of God's goodness wrapped up in his own words. Dennis, from what I can tell, is one of those rare gems, a guy who's sold out for Christ and standing upon the word of God to show how we can live fruitful and meaningful lives.

While it can be said you can read this book in one night, I find it far more fitting to read through it slowly so everything can simmer and in the end be found "just right." I am by no means a cook, like my wife is, but let me interject this viewpoint rather quickly. As my wife Tanya cooks, she brings in the right combinations of spices, aromatics, and food to make a wonderful dish. When I say, "read through this book slowly so everything can simmer," I'm saying that instead of rushing through the book just to finish it; allow the words Dennis uses to soak in and work on you.

The Bible needs to be read in the same manner. It is to be studied, to be relied upon, to be allowed the right to look in the darkest corners bringing light to your heart and mind. And I honestly believe Dennis Rainey does a great job explaining and showing how we can have a life that matters to God. If we would just allow ourselves the right to seek Him, to be passionate about Him, we wouldn't sin half as much. Yes, we still will sin, but not as far as we used to.

I find that when I truly read this short but powerful book, I wasn't just listening to Dennis Rainey. I felt like I was sitting with Jesus. It's as if you are sat at the Master's feet, listening to Him speak about how to love others and to glorify God at the same time. I would love to be able to make that all the more evident in my life. So, suffice it to say I found Dennis's book a good read; one that provokes the thought, and makes you want to effect change.

I received this book from Bethany House for my honest feedback.
Profile Image for Julia.
143 reviews2 followers
November 28, 2017
Choosing A Life That Matters: 7 Decisions You'll Never Regret by Dennis Rainey is a small but powerful book. In it, Dennis presents seven sets of do and don't principles that will help guide you to a more fulfilling personal journey with God while helping you to discover what purpose God has for so many of life's common experiences. Combining personal anecdotes with Biblical truth, Dennis not only reminds us of the importance of following these seven principles, but he also lists "life skills" which act as mini homework assignments to help navigate the terrain of each step.

In Choosing A Life That Matters, we will rediscover the reasons to seek, love, and obey God while learning how to maintain closeness in relationships with both God and other people without stumbling over many of the common pitfalls that can hinder a Christian's journey. I would recommend this book for anyone starting out on a new leg of their physical or spiritual life, whether graduating college, getting married, or learning how to adjust to life after the kids leave home. While the principles being taught will not be new concepts to most readers, Dennis shed new light on them in a way to help revitalize a stagnant pursuit and revolutionize the way that you think of your life's pursuits and goals. 5/5 stars.

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary print copy of this book from Bethany House, the publisher, for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*
1,133 reviews6 followers
June 24, 2020
Great little book to inspire you and grow you into your potential. Good gift book for everyone you know and don't know!
Profile Image for Taylor.
288 reviews26 followers
September 20, 2017
Reviewed at my blog: Babbling Books
“As someone once said, “Sin would have fewer takers if its consequences occurred immediately.”
I’ve heard of Dennis Rainey before. I’ve listened to his blurbs on my local Christian Radio station here in Florida many times. But I’ve never really read anything about him or by him before. Honestly, it wasn’t the best experience.

This book wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t anything that made me go “oh, wow” either. It was right there in the lukewarm world of Christian books. For one, it was incredibly short even though there was much that could’ve been expanded upon and by the end of it I had the thought of “well I’ve heard all that before.” And not that a Christian author can’t write on topics that have already been used. People have written on the books of the bible, the nature of sin, being different in a “fit in world” for years but if you don’t bring a new perspective to the topic then the book isn’t going to teach or do much. By the conclusion I just felt like I had read a really good sermon outline and that was about it. Heard it before, know it already, teach me something new please.

The author also used a lot of his own personal stories throughout, but instead of these stories being relational in nature they came off as showy or proud, which I know was not the intention but was how they read anyway. His idea of “choices” was not exactly what I had assumed it to be and even trying to read the book objectively a lot of what he wrote still seemed to come off as “it’s an easy process, do this then this will happen…” which is not the whole truth of a life lived through Christ.

To be honest, this book was just not for me. It’s not a book I’m likely to recommend to others or purchase for myself but I know that everyone is different and that’s why I still gave it three stars. Because the biblical principles are there, the overall merit of what is trying to be taught is there, I just think the execution is lacking. It had some good points but it didn’t stir my soul for more and that’s my biggest critique. Too much was left out, too much was left unsaid. If you’re looking for a book with practical biblical knowledge and how to apply it to your life in a general way, then this is the book for you. If you want to go much deeper in your faith, then this may not be the right book.

My final take on this book is that I hope those who read this book find something they are searching for. I did not, but all walks are not the same and praise to the Lord for that.

*I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review*
161 reviews4 followers
November 7, 2017
While preparing for a divinity school commencement speech, Dennis Rainey was left with the challenge: What to say to a group of students who had studied under some of the brightest minds in theology? What could there possibly be left to say? But outside the doors of school lay the real world. Fraught with marriage and deaths, mortgages and babies, what choices in life would actually bring them closer to Christ? Who would these students become when life caught up to them?

That's when Rainey developed the seven principles for this book:
Seek God, Not Sin
Fear God, Not Men
Love God, Not the World
Believe God, Not the Deciever
Obey God, Not Your Feelings
Worship God, Not Comfort
Serve God, Not Self
Though only seven compact chapters, this little book packs a powerful punch. Focused on drawing closer to God and those around us, each chapter outlines the "choice" though Biblical insight, life stories, and application questions. Although this book could be read in an afternoon, it's sure to have a deeper impact when savored, worked through, and applied. Don't let the size deceive you; this book is powerful. This is one of those books that I will be returning to again and again in the future.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Michelle Kidwell.
Author 36 books84 followers
September 15, 2017


Choosing a Life That Matters

7 Decisions You'll Never Regret



by Dennis Rainey

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers



Christian

Pub Date 19 Sep 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Choosing a Life That Matters through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

In this book we are reminded of the importance of seeking God, rather than seeking sin. The author points out that seeking God is referenced more than fifty times in the Bible. The author points out too that wisdom is an everyday how to seek God.

The author reminds us that we need to fear God and not man. We are reminded too of the importance of being aware of God's presence.

We are reminded too of the importance of Loving God, not loving the world. We are reminded too of how we need to believe God, and not the deceiver.

The author goes on to point out that we need obey God, and not our feelings. The author goes on to remind us that faith, love and forgiveness are not just feelings. The author goes on too to remind us that we should not worship comfort, but worship God. We are reminded too that we need to serve God and not ourselves.

I give Choosing A Life that Matters five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!
Profile Image for victoria.
347 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2017
This book had an amazing story and compelling to read with had it all the answer of the most toping question of our life choosing a life that matters. The story full of spirit to finding the way to living a long way from our journey and what is meaning full to have a happy life with an easy 7 step to making us understand more and follow to Jesus Christ. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. " I received complimentary a copy of this book from Bethany House for this review".
Profile Image for Joseph.
812 reviews
June 24, 2020
This book simplifies the manner in which we approach and view our lives (sometimes overly so). While the admonition to find and pursue something greater than oneself is laudable and essential, the book does not always follow up with a convincing and motivating ethos that will move the reader past the tacit agreement. As such, it tends to preach to the choir and depends on the reader to possess a sense of self-motivation to move past some to the trite phrasing and already known content.
Profile Image for Brian C.
155 reviews
January 27, 2018
If you regularly listen to Family Life you have most likely already heard these stories and sentiments. What’s nice about the book is that it makes a perfect short, wise, Biblically sound book to get in the hands of young people starting out on their journey of living with God. It’s super easy to read and not overwhelming. I will consider giving this to graduates.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
Author 3 books10 followers
August 28, 2019
Easy read but impactful. The contrast between what you are intentionally choosing and not choosing is what makes this short reader so meaningful. The advice is easy to remember. You can visualize it, make a neumonic out of it, or simply memorize the 7 just as they are presented. I know that I've already done all three and I've just got the book a few days ago.
6 reviews
February 21, 2021
Excellent words of wisdom.

Like everyone else I want my life to count for something, not only for today but for all eternity. This is one of the books that’s on my “read periodically “ list. Thanks for some amazing and inspirational insights.
Profile Image for John Majors.
Author 1 book20 followers
September 19, 2017
Short book. Great to give to folks to get them thinking about the essentials of life. What is really at the core of what we do and who we are?
Profile Image for Trena.
148 reviews1 follower
April 15, 2018
Not earth shattering, but I liked it.
Profile Image for Erin.
1,031 reviews34 followers
November 12, 2017
Author and speaker Dennis Rainey has put together a fantastic little book with seven succinct principles for a life dedicated to Christ and His Kingdom. The idea for this book originated from a commencement address that Rainey gave several years ago, at which time he tried to find "essence statements" that captured the major themes of the Bible. Now those essence statements are coming to the public in the form of this pocket-size book that would be a perfect gift for upcoming graduations.

My favorite chapters were two in the middle. One was called "Believe God, Not The Deceiver," and the other "Obey God, Not Your Feelings." It's so important to be able to recognize what is true and false, fact or emotion. Being able to separate these things and live by Truth has helped me so much throughout my life!

I took note of several quotes in this book, but my favorite was from Chapter 4, which is a statement that Rainey credits to Dr. Howard Hendricks: "The Christian community today suffers from a 'Vitamin A' deficiency - Application." Oh man, that's some good, thought-provoking stuff!

This book would be excellent for anyone looking to revitalize their faith, or for a young man or woman on the cusp of adulthood. If you want to live a life that matters, these principles should definitely be among your considerations!

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org
Profile Image for Sarah.
Author 12 books151 followers
February 17, 2018
For years I've listened to Dennis Rainey on Family Life Today. I was eager to read his latest book, and reading it was just like listening to his practical, biblical advice on the radio.

Dennis writes with an engaging down-to-earth style. This would be an excellent gift book for a graduating senior, whether a girl or boy. This book would also make a great group discussion guide for youth ministry. I may use it as a one-to-one Bible study springboard with my own children.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from his book:

Our hearts were made to hunger, which is one reason temptation can pull us so easily along.

Wisdom is a godly skill for everyday living. It is the application of knowledge...in how to "do life" the way God designed it. Wisdom takes the raw components of life and skillfully crafts them, makes them beautiful and purposeful as God intended life to be.

Seeking God requires a determination, a commitment, a wholehearted pursuit. We won't wish our way into it; there's no such thing as an ambivalent God seeker.

Dennis illustrates the book with real-life stories of his own childhood, his marriage, and his intentional parenting years. I enjoyed his humble spirit and friendly, yet firm, advice. He also includes many different reading references which would be a blessing to explore. Full of sound advice, this book is a gentle and kindhearted inspirational read.

Netgalley was gracious to provide me a free review copy of this book.
5 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2018
Great read... would be good to re-read and dive into the resources provided.
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