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A Redesigned Life: Uncovering God's Purpose When Life Doesn't Go as Planned
The very existence of HGTV, the DIY movement, and Pinterest proves we love great design. We adore plans and perfectly staged rooms. But what happens when we discover we are living a life we did not design? When our dreams lie in tatters or when we experience loss of any kind? What happens when life feels like one big Pinterest fail? Where is God in the midst of what doesn't make sense? Does he care?
Drawing from time-honored design principles such as movement, contrast, and pattern, former interior designer and Bible teacher Tracy Steel offers frustrated and discontented women the assurance that God is their ever-present, caring Designer. With a mix of wit and wisdom, Tracy proves through biblical examples and personal testimony that God remains true to his plans and purposes, accomplishing them in and through us in every season of life. She helps us recognize God's design principles, enabling us to embrace our sometimes messy lives, especially when they're ones we never would have designed for ourselves.
Drawing from time-honored design principles such as movement, contrast, and pattern, former interior designer and Bible teacher Tracy Steel offers frustrated and discontented women the assurance that God is their ever-present, caring Designer. With a mix of wit and wisdom, Tracy proves through biblical examples and personal testimony that God remains true to his plans and purposes, accomplishing them in and through us in every season of life. She helps us recognize God's design principles, enabling us to embrace our sometimes messy lives, especially when they're ones we never would have designed for ourselves.
224 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2019
32 people are currently reading
1099 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Davis Steel
2 books39 followersTracy Steel graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in interior design in 1998 and has a master’s degree in biblical and theological studies from Phoenix Seminary. As a project designer, Tracy created and coordinated the design and space planning of commercial spaces for clients such as Bank One, Wells Fargo, Express Scripts, DHS, and Lockheed Martin. Moving from one type of interior design to another, Tracy then worked in full-time youth ministry, serving as the director of female students at Scottsdale Bible Church. God’s true design for Tracy now involves improving the interior space of the hearts and minds of women around her. This military wife and mother of two enjoys linking up with other bloggers, leading Bible studies at her local church, and speaking at various moms’ groups and women’s ministries events nationwide. She is also the author of A Redesigned Life, and Images of His Beauty, a 10-week Bible study for young women that focuses on identity, overcoming and healing through Christ, and bearing the image of Christ.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 5, 2019
Thank you for writing such an open and candid book. God is with us through the good days, the bad days. He may not give us our “why” answers but He does give us the reminders of who we are in Christ.
Although many passages spoke to me this one really hit home.
“We have no idea how God will use our suffering to touch the lives of those around us. Our God wastes nothing. He places us within community and gives us tools like social media so we can share and testify to the goodness and comfort of God with those around us in person or online like never before.”
This book is written with thought provoking questions at the end of each section and includes great home design tips mixed with Biblical application.
I received a digital copy of this book as part of their launch team.
Although many passages spoke to me this one really hit home.
“We have no idea how God will use our suffering to touch the lives of those around us. Our God wastes nothing. He places us within community and gives us tools like social media so we can share and testify to the goodness and comfort of God with those around us in person or online like never before.”
This book is written with thought provoking questions at the end of each section and includes great home design tips mixed with Biblical application.
I received a digital copy of this book as part of their launch team.
August 5, 2019
Tracy Steel did an amazing job with this book!! It is an easy reader and allows you to really get in deep to this book!! I love the layout within each chapter with the subheadings, so it breaks it up nicely. I can't wait to share this with others!! I loved the bible references throughout, that made me stay focused on my daily bible readings as well, by keeping it alongside me while I read this book!!
August 5, 2019
Do you have THAT friend? The one you turn to for advice? For encouragement? To tell you the brutal truth? The smart one that always has no facts? The funny one who leaves you laughing for days? Tracy has managed to write a book that puts all of those friends into one book.
This is one of those rare books that combined humor and conviction. Honesty and Joy. The pages are filled with history, Biblical truths, interior design tips and life stories from amazing people. Tracy makes all of those vastly different aspects flow seamlessly together in truly great book. If you had handed me this book and said, "Here's a book about interior design and Jesus and you should read it" I would have been intrigued- how would the author pull this off?!?! Well, let me tell you! She does it beautifully. She lays out solid Biblical truth in a way that you want to listen, you want to know what she will say next- the author leaves you wanting more. I looked forward to my reading time. It felt like I was catching up with an old friend. I felt joy, I felt vulnerable but I always walked away feeling encouraged.
I appreciate that she stops and asks questions, I love to be challenged. To be asked "Why do you think that?". It makes me stop and think. I also like to ask other people those same questions! I like to hear what others think and see how they process. This book gave me the chance to ask myself and others those questions.
So if you made it to the end of my review..... Here's a book about interior design and Jesus and you should read it.
This is one of those rare books that combined humor and conviction. Honesty and Joy. The pages are filled with history, Biblical truths, interior design tips and life stories from amazing people. Tracy makes all of those vastly different aspects flow seamlessly together in truly great book. If you had handed me this book and said, "Here's a book about interior design and Jesus and you should read it" I would have been intrigued- how would the author pull this off?!?! Well, let me tell you! She does it beautifully. She lays out solid Biblical truth in a way that you want to listen, you want to know what she will say next- the author leaves you wanting more. I looked forward to my reading time. It felt like I was catching up with an old friend. I felt joy, I felt vulnerable but I always walked away feeling encouraged.
I appreciate that she stops and asks questions, I love to be challenged. To be asked "Why do you think that?". It makes me stop and think. I also like to ask other people those same questions! I like to hear what others think and see how they process. This book gave me the chance to ask myself and others those questions.
So if you made it to the end of my review..... Here's a book about interior design and Jesus and you should read it.
August 20, 2019
How many times have you wanted to go right and life took you sharp left? For all of us, we have planned and designed exactly what we want out of a job, family, travel, home life and so many other big and small details that we feel will make our dreams come true. And yet, there are always twists in the road and the Pinterest picture in our mind turns out to look a little messier.
In this neatly written, accessible and relatable book, Steel gives us space to work through those messy moments and then to refocus on what the new design plan looks like for our life. All of us, no matter the season in our life, have experienced challenges that changed the design of our lives which makes this inspirational read a must for everyone!
A Redesigned Life is a great reminder that when we give our hearts to God, we will be just fine. But this is not said in a passive way. We aren’t supposed to sit back and just keep the faith. That’s not how it works, because we all know that life, that faith, takes work. Steel writes “It is either my way or God’s way. My name in lights or His name written on my heart.” Having his name on my heart is what has gotten me through so many design fails and sharper turns than I would have liked. Steel’s message reinforces that God was, and is, always with me and that as life unfolds, my purpose will be more clearly revealed as he guides me in love.
In this neatly written, accessible and relatable book, Steel gives us space to work through those messy moments and then to refocus on what the new design plan looks like for our life. All of us, no matter the season in our life, have experienced challenges that changed the design of our lives which makes this inspirational read a must for everyone!
A Redesigned Life is a great reminder that when we give our hearts to God, we will be just fine. But this is not said in a passive way. We aren’t supposed to sit back and just keep the faith. That’s not how it works, because we all know that life, that faith, takes work. Steel writes “It is either my way or God’s way. My name in lights or His name written on my heart.” Having his name on my heart is what has gotten me through so many design fails and sharper turns than I would have liked. Steel’s message reinforces that God was, and is, always with me and that as life unfolds, my purpose will be more clearly revealed as he guides me in love.
August 20, 2019
A Redesigned Life is an absolute encouragement to embrace life right where you stand. Yes, we can mourn for opportunities missed but we cannot stay there. Tracy Steel has a wonderful way of letting you know it is okay to be sad while reminding you to keep moving forward. She tells the reader to “embrace the role God chose for you.” And that has really stuck with me! It is a message I am putting into action each day and also teaching to my young girls. Life will have disappointments but there is far more JOY to be found if we are brave and seek it!!!
I highly recommend this book!!!
I highly recommend this book!!!
August 5, 2019
Tracy is an amazing storyteller! She takes her experience as a profession interior designer and relates it to our lives that makes sense to everyday women. One of my takeaways from this book so far is: Just like having a focal point in the design of a room, Jesus needs to be our focal point. Without it, we have nowhere to land, and our eyes will always be looking at other things!
August 20, 2019
Tracy does an excellent job weaving in how God has specifically designed each of us throughout the whole book. She does this using topics that both encourage and challenge the reader. I recommend this book to any woman who is seeking and searching for ways that she connect more of her life into God’s plan for her life.
September 9, 2019
I thought I new what my life would be like. I had a plan. Then I was hit with a cancer diagnosis. A Redesigned Life helped me realize that my plan wasn't His plan. This book has opened my eyes and helped me embrace my journey. Tracy Steel uses her life experience as an interior designer to help the reader see the beauty in the life God has designed for you.
August 14, 2019
I just finished reading A Redesigned Life and it has been a blessing to me. Through this book the author, Tracy Steel, sincerely pours out her heartfelt love for God and for other women as she encourages her readers to focus on our loving God and allowing Him to redesign our lives. She has filled this book with encouragement, scripture, and humor, as well as opportunities for reflection and helpful design tips for our homes. She candidly tells of her own trials from not dancing the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the death of her mother from cancer and how God has worked in her life through these and other situations. She reminds us that we are a “couture child of the King” and that God has a unique purpose for each of our lives. I am looking forward to purchasing copies to share with friends and family!
August 6, 2019
I've always battled the plan or image of what my life should like inside my head. I dreamed of two kids (boy and girl), a house with a white picket fence, going to a job where I'm enjoying what I love to do (even if I never knew what that was in my plans) and returning home to my two kids doing homework while they're getting along beautifully...This is not my reality ....I'm a stay at home mom to four boys, we live in a townhouse, they do not do homework willingly and they most definitely do not get along beautifully. God had other plans and being type A, means I want to know those plans up front so I can go over them with my own red pen. This book is a fantastic read, helping those who struggle when life isn't going as planned- well at least not according to their own plan. Sometimes we just need help to take a step back and look at the bigger picture and see what God is doing in the midst of what we think is chaos. Definitely recommend for those who might be struggling with this very thing.
August 5, 2019
This book encourages you to look for God in everything every day! I love this part at the beginning of the book: “We, the created, long to see glimpses of God, our Creator. The more we look for God, the more we will see him. The more we see him, the more he becomes our focal point.” I love seeing sunrises & sunsets because I love seeing how created it different each day! I love seeing different shapes & colors of flowers and how different they all are. It is so cool to see what God created and how everything is so unique and different! I love another sentence in the beginning of the book that says “God created us to be moved by what we see- to be drawn to order & beauty.” Sometimes I moved to tears by what God has created!
August 21, 2019
In her new book A Redesigned Life: Uncovering God's Purpose When Life Doesn't Go as Planned, Tracy Steel helps us to embrace God's invitation to redesign the interior space that matters the most. Tracy says, "The more we focus on God, the more content and peaceful we become in the middle of life's surprises and detours."
Tracy uses real life stories and beautiful design parallels that will capture your attention and inspire you. All throughout A Redesigned Life you will find Scripture and design tips for your home and heart.
If you are a fan of all things HGTV, A Redesigned Life is a must read! If you are struggling with life not going as you planned, A Redesigned Life is a must read! Pick up your copy today.
Tracy uses real life stories and beautiful design parallels that will capture your attention and inspire you. All throughout A Redesigned Life you will find Scripture and design tips for your home and heart.
If you are a fan of all things HGTV, A Redesigned Life is a must read! If you are struggling with life not going as you planned, A Redesigned Life is a must read! Pick up your copy today.
August 5, 2019
Tracy Steel cleverly uses basic concepts of interior design (which I honestly know little about), and shows readers how to apply them to their walk with God. Our God is the ultimate designer. Concepts like “white space” - do we have enough in our lives or are our lives too cluttered and “pattern” - what patterns can we see through scripture - are used to show how He has designed a great life for us!
August 6, 2019
Tracy's does a great job encouraging readers to see past pain and focus on how God uses every part of us (our past or current circumstances, dreams and "failures") and uses these pieces in His beautiful design for our lives! I love how she reminds us that we are creative like our creator, and so we love to see beauty and design as well! He is creative, and He designs beautiful things - let us remember to focus on Him in all that we live through and trust that His design will indeed be amazing!
October 5, 2019
I absolutely love this book! It is thought provoking, moving and inspirational. I would recommend this book to anyone!
August 11, 2019
I cannot tell you how excited I was to be able to be a part of Tracy’s launch team for her newest book. You see, I met Tracy at church this past year. I don’t remember the exact time as my life was being “redesigned” again as the army had just moved us to VA. It was so great to connect with a fellow military wife but even more awesome to connect with a fellow writer/author.
Tracy and I are very different people (her background is interior design, mine is terrorism, drugs, and organized crime), but there is just something there when you share faith, passion, and life circumstances. I am so glad to have Tracy in my life. She is such an encouragement to me and I am so proud of what she is doing!
I say all of that to tell you that “A Redesigned Life” is just like Tracy. It is uplifting, encouraging, and God-focused. Tracy uses interior design to explain the hard things in life. She brings artistic concepts to explain the hard-to-understand. All the while, she is gently bringing you to place where you can see God at work in your life. He has a design for your life. It is likely much different than what you expected, but it is purposeful and perfect for you.
Often, we have dreams for ourselves and that is our focus. We are solely focused on making those dreams come true. However, those dreams may not be in line with what God has planned for your life.
When careers don’t materialize, dreams die, or goals are unachieved, how do we handle that? Where is God in all of that? How do we stay focused on God through all of that?
God is moving us to the life he wants for us. Our life is being redesigned. Our focus needs to stay on him. He is moving us to where we need to be.
God’s gracious and loving hands are persistent, sewing everything together for our good. Yes, the mending may hurt. Yes, the stitching may not make sense yet – or perhaps ever, this side of heaven. That’s an uncomfortable reality I understand and am living. Yet God is worthy of our praise as our artistic Creator. He will use a figurative “straight line” of scriptural truth, or the “curve” of surprise, or the “edge” of rejection to move us to where we need to be for our greatest good and his greatest glory.”
Tracy Steel
God’s refining process, and also his discipline, is never easy. Through Movement, Emphasis, Pattern, Contrast, Balance, and Space, Tracy teaches us that what we see as failures, lost dreams, disappointments, losses, punishment, and trials are actually things that God uses to redesign our lives. She is showing us the day-to-day experience of Romans 8:28.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
I wish I had this book about 7 years ago. This book perfectly describes the lessons my husband and I learned during those five “dark years.” Every chapter she wrote, we went through. I have to say, we didn’t handle it well. However, the lessons we learned are so eloquently explained in Tracy’s book. The things we fail to put into words when speaking to others are right there in her book. We are now experiencing the redesigned life, instead of fighting it.
I know this book will be such a help to so many people. I know this because it reinforces all the lessons I had to learn the hard way. It closes the loop on those “dark years” and prepares me for the redesigned life God is placing before me now. We all go through these things. Tracy shows us that there is more at play than what we are feeling. God has a plan. He is using our circumstances to move us to the life he designed for us. That specific, perfect, custom-made design.
Tracy and I are very different people (her background is interior design, mine is terrorism, drugs, and organized crime), but there is just something there when you share faith, passion, and life circumstances. I am so glad to have Tracy in my life. She is such an encouragement to me and I am so proud of what she is doing!
I say all of that to tell you that “A Redesigned Life” is just like Tracy. It is uplifting, encouraging, and God-focused. Tracy uses interior design to explain the hard things in life. She brings artistic concepts to explain the hard-to-understand. All the while, she is gently bringing you to place where you can see God at work in your life. He has a design for your life. It is likely much different than what you expected, but it is purposeful and perfect for you.
Often, we have dreams for ourselves and that is our focus. We are solely focused on making those dreams come true. However, those dreams may not be in line with what God has planned for your life.
When careers don’t materialize, dreams die, or goals are unachieved, how do we handle that? Where is God in all of that? How do we stay focused on God through all of that?
God is moving us to the life he wants for us. Our life is being redesigned. Our focus needs to stay on him. He is moving us to where we need to be.
God’s gracious and loving hands are persistent, sewing everything together for our good. Yes, the mending may hurt. Yes, the stitching may not make sense yet – or perhaps ever, this side of heaven. That’s an uncomfortable reality I understand and am living. Yet God is worthy of our praise as our artistic Creator. He will use a figurative “straight line” of scriptural truth, or the “curve” of surprise, or the “edge” of rejection to move us to where we need to be for our greatest good and his greatest glory.”
Tracy Steel
God’s refining process, and also his discipline, is never easy. Through Movement, Emphasis, Pattern, Contrast, Balance, and Space, Tracy teaches us that what we see as failures, lost dreams, disappointments, losses, punishment, and trials are actually things that God uses to redesign our lives. She is showing us the day-to-day experience of Romans 8:28.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
I wish I had this book about 7 years ago. This book perfectly describes the lessons my husband and I learned during those five “dark years.” Every chapter she wrote, we went through. I have to say, we didn’t handle it well. However, the lessons we learned are so eloquently explained in Tracy’s book. The things we fail to put into words when speaking to others are right there in her book. We are now experiencing the redesigned life, instead of fighting it.
I know this book will be such a help to so many people. I know this because it reinforces all the lessons I had to learn the hard way. It closes the loop on those “dark years” and prepares me for the redesigned life God is placing before me now. We all go through these things. Tracy shows us that there is more at play than what we are feeling. God has a plan. He is using our circumstances to move us to the life he designed for us. That specific, perfect, custom-made design.
August 12, 2019
This book was much more than I expected! I thought just the words of helping my faith and plan when my life has really gone into disarray. But it includes real interior design helps as well as internal soul words! The book is built on design elements and how God uses those same elements in our lives and situations. Of course, He is the great Creator! Design tips are included for your home and discussion questions for a book club or personal reflection at the end of the sections.
I was taken the just reading the beginning using fabric on a bolt or fabric created into a shape/design in relation to our lives having "shape and purpose. The same is true of us. Our lives are textiles in our divine Designer's hand." My adult daughter is a designer and I read a paragraph to her. Her heart melted as mine.
I liked reading snippets from many other people about the color and patterns of their lives.
I have a tough inner critic in me and I am going to cling to her words of "just being you-things" to others as I can't be everything to everyone.
I appreciated her sharing deep grief she has gone through and that she still finds that God meets her in her grief. I have as well but also have had times that I don't have the answers yet for why some of our children were taken so soon. But we have redesigned lives. I know I do understand life and eternity in a different way because we have buried children. For now, I'm living as me, and the best me I can be. I deeply desire to finish strong and that my light doesn't fade as I reach the end.
A very enjoyable read. Full of depth for my growth and wisdom in the designs of life.
I was taken the just reading the beginning using fabric on a bolt or fabric created into a shape/design in relation to our lives having "shape and purpose. The same is true of us. Our lives are textiles in our divine Designer's hand." My adult daughter is a designer and I read a paragraph to her. Her heart melted as mine.
I liked reading snippets from many other people about the color and patterns of their lives.
I have a tough inner critic in me and I am going to cling to her words of "just being you-things" to others as I can't be everything to everyone.
I appreciated her sharing deep grief she has gone through and that she still finds that God meets her in her grief. I have as well but also have had times that I don't have the answers yet for why some of our children were taken so soon. But we have redesigned lives. I know I do understand life and eternity in a different way because we have buried children. For now, I'm living as me, and the best me I can be. I deeply desire to finish strong and that my light doesn't fade as I reach the end.
A very enjoyable read. Full of depth for my growth and wisdom in the designs of life.
September 14, 2019
My thoughts: 5/5 stars
Tracy Steel took two of my favorite things and put them together into one awesome book
She gave great tips on designing and even greater tips on living your best life for Christ.
Steel pointed out some of the exact things I'd been struggling with. That was a real God thing for me.
While reading this I just felt God in my presence.
Steel writes beautifully in the a way that points us back to the direction we should go.
She gives us inspiration from key events in her life that I believe we can all relate to.
I also really enjoyed the excerpts from a few other women's stories. I found myself relating and being immensely encouraged by them.
I 10/10 recommend this book!
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are purely my own.**
I did not finish this book through no fault of its own, but because of lack of time to finish and review the book. Which was also completely my fault.
-Rebekah
Tracy Steel took two of my favorite things and put them together into one awesome book
She gave great tips on designing and even greater tips on living your best life for Christ.
Steel pointed out some of the exact things I'd been struggling with. That was a real God thing for me.
While reading this I just felt God in my presence.
Steel writes beautifully in the a way that points us back to the direction we should go.
She gives us inspiration from key events in her life that I believe we can all relate to.
I also really enjoyed the excerpts from a few other women's stories. I found myself relating and being immensely encouraged by them.
I 10/10 recommend this book!
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are purely my own.**
I did not finish this book through no fault of its own, but because of lack of time to finish and review the book. Which was also completely my fault.
-Rebekah
August 6, 2019
"A Redesigned Life" is a book made for those of us who love to watch "Fixer Upper" and dream of being Joanna Gaines. Tracy Steel crafts this unique book, highlighting the principles of interior design, which she intersperses between stories of her own life and those of other valiant women.
Steel uses her skills as a Bible teacher to explain how God can change our perspective and encourage us to accept the life that actually is, rather than our expectation of what life should be. Between the stories of Steel's work in youth ministry, married life and parenting a child newly diagnosed with special needs, we see biblical stories of those who had a wrench thrown into their well organized plans. Through each story, some of which could be considered difficult, Steel continues to offer hope and encouragement to the reader.
Each chapter has questions at the end that lend themselves to discussion or self reflection. There is much to be gleaned from "A Redesigned Life" and it would be perfect for a group, as the material could be applicable to many generations of women. I truly found great encouragement here and believe this would be a thoughtful gift to a friend who loves DIY projects. So pull up a comfy seat, your Bible and a cup of tea--why not begin the process of finding God's purpose instead of the plan you've crafted for your life? You might just find a new design that fits far better than anything you could dream of.
I had the opportunity to read this book early, thanks to Baker Publishing. All opinions are my own and I chose to leave a review.
Steel uses her skills as a Bible teacher to explain how God can change our perspective and encourage us to accept the life that actually is, rather than our expectation of what life should be. Between the stories of Steel's work in youth ministry, married life and parenting a child newly diagnosed with special needs, we see biblical stories of those who had a wrench thrown into their well organized plans. Through each story, some of which could be considered difficult, Steel continues to offer hope and encouragement to the reader.
Each chapter has questions at the end that lend themselves to discussion or self reflection. There is much to be gleaned from "A Redesigned Life" and it would be perfect for a group, as the material could be applicable to many generations of women. I truly found great encouragement here and believe this would be a thoughtful gift to a friend who loves DIY projects. So pull up a comfy seat, your Bible and a cup of tea--why not begin the process of finding God's purpose instead of the plan you've crafted for your life? You might just find a new design that fits far better than anything you could dream of.
I had the opportunity to read this book early, thanks to Baker Publishing. All opinions are my own and I chose to leave a review.
August 14, 2019
I especially love the design principles coupled with Tracy’s insightful wisdom and vulnerability in sharing things that didn't turn out the way she planned. I love Tracy’s heart that points us to the ”ultimate designer”!
August 21, 2019
Have you ever felt that you have your life plans right on track, when suddenly you are derailed? We all have designed in our minds what we want out of life; what our ideal life looks like. We have laid out the plans for what we think will bring us happiness and make our dreams come true…and then things do not go as planned. Life throws up detours and roadblocks of varying intensities that challenge us, and leave us disappointed, discouraged, and wondering “why?”.
This book provides real life stories, paralleled with design tips you can really use for your home, and solid scriptural encouragement for your heart. Helping us to see that just as we may work to redesign a space in our home to better fit our lives, so does God, the Master Designer, work to do so in the space that matters most…our hearts. A Redesigned Life helps us to see God’s work of molding (redesigning) us; always toward what He knows is best for us. As Tracy Steel reminds us, “It is either my way or God’s way. My name in lights or His name written on my heart”. We are either going to be resistant, or learn how to let the Master Designer mold us when things do not go as we planned. Through this molding, though sometimes painful, our purpose becomes more clearly revealed; and when we give our hearts to God, we will be able to stay more steadily on the right track. We can learn to have peace and contentment right where we are, even if it is not where we thought we would be.
This is a must read for anyone struggling with “this is not what I had planned”; and a great book for a study group!
This book provides real life stories, paralleled with design tips you can really use for your home, and solid scriptural encouragement for your heart. Helping us to see that just as we may work to redesign a space in our home to better fit our lives, so does God, the Master Designer, work to do so in the space that matters most…our hearts. A Redesigned Life helps us to see God’s work of molding (redesigning) us; always toward what He knows is best for us. As Tracy Steel reminds us, “It is either my way or God’s way. My name in lights or His name written on my heart”. We are either going to be resistant, or learn how to let the Master Designer mold us when things do not go as we planned. Through this molding, though sometimes painful, our purpose becomes more clearly revealed; and when we give our hearts to God, we will be able to stay more steadily on the right track. We can learn to have peace and contentment right where we are, even if it is not where we thought we would be.
This is a must read for anyone struggling with “this is not what I had planned”; and a great book for a study group!
August 24, 2019
A Redesigned Life met me exactly where I am...trying to figure out what my next step is. This book helped me see God in every twist and turn and reminded me that at the end of the day, God is in control so I can let go of my need to try to control everything. She used six design principles to help me see how God is designing my life while also providing personal examples and some actual interior design principles.
August 7, 2019
As you read this witty and taken from real life book you are gently guided through introspection and self-evaluation. Tracy uses anecdotes that are relevant and relatable as well as stories from her’s as well as other writer’s real world experiences to point us towards biblical truth. She reminds us about the story God is writing with our lives as well as the methods He uses to show us where He is when things aren’t making sense. For all the moms trying to get through the day, the women figuring out what goals are worth striving towards, and the ladies who thought their plan was just right only to see it crumble around them-this book provides encouragement, insight, and truthful reminders about God’s plan for your life.
August 9, 2019
Tracy Steel has a remarkable way of telling a story that anyone can relate to! From wearing a pink tutu to adding a splash of color to our lives God is in control. My life has taken a path I had never planned and have struggled with the redesign my life has taken but through her writing and scripture reference I’m realizing it was His plan all along.
The questions after each section have been thought provoking and help me stay focused on what I’m reading. Love that!
I am blessed to have received an advanced digital copy as part of the launch team.
The questions after each section have been thought provoking and help me stay focused on what I’m reading. Love that!
I am blessed to have received an advanced digital copy as part of the launch team.
August 20, 2019
I love this book! It’s funny and full of heart. More than once I felt like Tracy was speaking directly to me. I’ll definitely recommend this book to all my friends and family.
August 16, 2019
This is a sweet book with a unique approach. Tracy draws parallels between the the elements of interior design (she's an interior designer) and God's interior design (and redesign!) of our hearts.
I don't know the first thing about interior design and couldn't have named the principles that make up the structure of the book. (My son say his favorite color is camouflage, so obviously he's inherited my design instincts.) But Tracy's application to God's work in the lives of his daughters made absolute sense.
I don't know the first thing about interior design and couldn't have named the principles that make up the structure of the book. (My son say his favorite color is camouflage, so obviously he's inherited my design instincts.) But Tracy's application to God's work in the lives of his daughters made absolute sense.
August 17, 2019
As a military wife and also as a mother, life does not always go as planned. For instance, we know that we are going to be moving in the next few months to what should be our final duty station, so this book came at the perfect time. I appreciate the style of this book. it emphasizes how to adapt and adjust to God's purpose for our lives. This book illustrates how God is with us even when times may not seem good.
August 16, 2019
This book is filled to overflowing with encouraging truth based on scripture. The author uses design principles to teach and guide the reader toward discovering God's purpose for both the blessings and the losses we experience in life. The final two chapters were written from a deep well of painful experience that illuminated the writing to speak with an authority that can only come from personally relying on God in the darkest of seasons.
August 27, 2019
"The truth is, I'm living a life I didn't design but that God designed for me. I am me." Whoa. How did she know? Because Tracy Steel is one of us, y'all. Her transparency will touch your heart as she shares...through six really cool principles of design...how she uncovered God's purpose for her life. As a chick in the midst of my own redesign journey, her encouraging words wrap around me like the best hug. I love this book!
August 21, 2019
A redesigned life is a quick read. Tracy’s book is full of inspiration and she gives us lots of things to think about. What a great reminder that God is in many areas of our life. Tracy uses the design principles to show us different ways that we have god woven thru our lives. I love her quote “I’m living a i didn’t design but that God designed for me.” I love the muse minutes at the end of some chapters. I definitely recommend this book.
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