The Edge of the Divine: Where Possibility Meets God Faithfulness

by Sandi Patty

Overweight and stressed out, award-winning vocalist, speaker, and author Sandi Patty was teetering on the edge of a meltdown when her trusted doctor and friend issued an ominous “You are cheating your family if you die too soon―and trust me, Sandi, if you don’t do something, you’re going to.” She had to make some changes, and she had to make them now. In The Edge of the Divine, the acclaimed soprano shares the poignant and sometimes humorous story of her journey from the brink of physical disaster toward the abundant life of good health and keen spiritual fulfillment God wants all of us to have. In these pages, Sandi invites you to come along on her journey, which so far has included an eighty-pound weight loss. With insight and creativity, she shares the lessons she has learned and helps you recognize and act on the important “edges” in your own life, those points at which something is likely to begin. She welcomes you to join her in making choices that bring actions in line with priorities while pursuing God’s goal for his beloved children―the abundantly rewarding life awaiting us beyond The Edge of the Divine.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

215 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2010

About the author

FROM BOOK:
Sandi Patty is the most awarded Christian female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history, with 39 Dove Awards, 5 Grammy Awards, and 4 Billboard Music Awards. Her 23 albums have sold more than 11 million units, including 3 platinum and 5 gold recordings. She has regularly appeared on network television. In 2004, Sandi was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saw her sing at a Christmas concert, and my dad had this book so I read it. Tells about her bariatric surgery and experiences as she lost weight. It also describes her career in the music business and the past few years -- most of the blended-family kids leaving the nest, plus a big move to a different city after decades of living in her college town. A fair amount of gospel inspirational stuff.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas around recognizing when you are at an edge or transition point in your life, and was a great emotional profile of what it is like to try to make a change in anyway (physically, spiritually, etc).

As a man it was good insight into how women may process change psychologically differently then men. Also was valuable to see how past mistakes and emotions can play a role and need to be dealt with when trying to make positive changes in your life.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read

I did find some passages inspirational but the chapter and overall writing felt disjointed and hastily written. I love Sandi Patty’s voice so a glimpse of her life was interesting.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am glad she shared about her struggle but felt like it was too pie in the sky... Perhaps because she had written about more of her life in another book.. she did not go deep enough. Not as vulnerable as I expected. Still a good read.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

She talks about her journey of weight loss surgery.

[Deborah Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Edge of the Divine: Where Possibility Meets God's Faithfulness


Grammy Award winning vocalist and reknown Women of Faith speaker and author Sandi Patty touches the hearts of all of us in The Edge of The Divine revealing her struggles with choosing to live a life of joy and faith with trust in God for every need. Nearly all of us reach the edge of decision making at some point in our lives when we must decide what is enough. Especially those who struggle with additions of one type or another will be faced with this edge of decision making. Will you sit on the fence for years in your struggle or finally decide you've had enough of what isn't working out for you? What is enough:
Shopping; drinking; food; gaming; work; money any of these things that take us away from God or our family are hurting our lives and may even take our lives early. Sandi herself struggled and found that God is enough for any of them. God is enough to handle any problem or addiction or struggle or worry.

If you or someone you know is struggling with anything I highly recommend reading The Edge of The Divine by Sandi Patty! I have loved her music for years and now that I can know her a little more I can admire the person she is. This is one book that may reach out and help a lot of people. Pick one up today.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Edge of the Divine, is Sandi Patty's story of the journey that she began in 2008, when she began her research and her ultimate choice to have lap band surgery. Not just the physical journey, but Sandi also shares her emotional and spiritual journey that she has been on since her story began. A journey in which she learned to recognize the many edges in her life. An edge is the point at which something is likely to begin. As Sandi tells her story, in her own words she shares many of those new beginnings, edges that she came to and through.
She is very candid about the fact that though she said God was her number one priority, in her life, her choices were plainly shown that food was her “comforter-in-chief. She is very open and candidly speaks of her past, of the struggles and the hurts in her life that brought her to the point of her life where she knew this edge would be the toughest to face.
I truly enjoyed Sandi's book and look forward to referencing back to it, as there were many spiritual and emotional truths that all of us must face. As an overweight person myself it truly made me think about the things that trigger why I eat, and what food is to me. Most definitely a book for all people to read, even those who do not struggle with weight issues, but perhaps are beset with other weights in their lives. 214 pages 5 stars.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

[Tomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sandi Patty, Grammy and Stella award-winning vocalist and noted Christian author gives a peek into the struggles of her battle with weight. The physical and psychological struggles she writes of are common amongst those of us who have struggled with our weight. Patty discusses her fears, disappointments, ups and downs of her weight loss journey. Each chapter begins with an incident related to her impending weight loss surgery intertwined with flashbacks and future hopes and dreams.
Liner notes: Award-winning vocalist, speaker, and author Sandi Patty uncovers the crucial decision every woman must make to leave a life of regret and find a life of freedom and joy.
Patty is a gifted author and I have enjoyed several of her previous works. I appreciate the honesty she writes of in her weight loss journey. However, I would love to hear more of the changes she has made since her surgery.
The CD accompaniment will be released in August 2010 and despite my disappointment with the book, I am looking forward to hearing Patty's latest CD recording, including the title track, The Edge of the Divine.

[Stacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Edge of the Divine is a book about Sandi's struggles and then subsequent victory with her addiction to food. She talks about being at the edge of a new point in life, how those edges happen often, and the faith it takes to trust God and step over that edge. She shares a lot from her life from the past few years and gives lots of hope and encouragement to those who not only struggle with the eating disorder but any other addictions as well.

I simply loved this book. First I love how it was a book about, not only an eating disorder, but about food addiction. This is something that many Americans struggle with, but it's hardly ever taken seriously. Second, I love her openness, vulnerability, and honesty. She's frank about her past, her thoughts, her struggles, and her victories. She does a wonderful job of weaving her life experiences into an encouraging story about victory over sin through the help of the Savior, which gives hope to others. She gave me hope. And I highly recommend this book to others.

[Deborah Boutwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Ready to Step off My Edge, August 23, 2010

This review is from: The Edge of the Divine: Where Possibility Meets God's Faithfulness (Hardcover)
I've loved Sandi Patty for many, many years. Let's just say I have stacks of cassettes and a few CD's!

But somewhere along the line, I lost touch with her and what she was doing. Her newest book, The Edge of the Divine, explains why.

Sandi tells about her struggle with her weight and what finally takes her to "the edge" where she must either trust God, step out and begin something new or stay on the edge of untrust and insecurity.

Her story is inspiring and spoke to my heart in so many ways...not just the weight issue, but the secrets that we have kept hidden that manifest themselves in other ways. There is no quick fix...you have to deal with all the issues for a complete healing.....Sandi showed me that.

This little book is a quick read, but one that holds mountains of material that has me digging deeper in the Word and in myself to find healing. It took me to the edge...I'm ready to step off!

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sandi Patty, a christian vocalist and avid memoirist, has opened up again in her novel The Edge of the Divine. She writes about her experiences with bariatric surgery (e.g. Lapband). She explores the causal side of excessive weight gain and the mental challenges that she overcame both before and after committing to the surgical process that would force her to change the way she eats.

An easy read, Sandi speaks from her heart and entwines her family, famous friends and oh yes, God into her story. Sandi pulls from many well worn scriptures to reflect upon her path, reminding herself and the reader that challenges will be found in a Christian life, but that if you seek guidance it will be given to you.

This book will be enjoyable for anyone reflecting upon changes in their life. Sandi touches deeply not only on the issues surrounding morbid obesity, but also mixed families, relocating and life with adult children.

[Karie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

My latest review was on the edge of the divine , I must say if your anything like me you take one look at the cover and its like Im not sure thats a book i'd enjoy reading. Heres where the fraze "don't judge a book by its cover"comes in.
This was a soul searching and heart warming story about christian growth and figuring out who you are.
This is a book you will need to read all the way through.
This woman underwent a lot throughout her struggles and again I will quote " what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger"
In the book there is things about abuse that she went through as well as struggling to verbalize her feelings over them and much like us all (well a lot like me) I tend to eat to fill the void and to push back the anger , sadness and grief.
A must read for women & men of all ages

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandi Patty has truly touched my life with this book. I could quote line after line of it, but you need to read it for yourself! There is very little in this book that I have not heard before or that I couldn't find elsewhere. What this book has is tenderness coupled with honesty. Sandi shares her heart and her pain as she discusses her struggles with stress, and her weight.
At first I was afraid the book was going to be simply an account of her experience with lap band surgery. It soon proved to be so much more. As she shared her journey through life with us with brief glimpses into her past, she used scripture to define each phase/moment. One of my favorites was when she used John 10:10. .. that we might have life and have it more abundantly.. ..She went on to remind us that Jesus didn't suffer and die for no reason. He died for us to have life. and to have it more abundantly..

[Katie O'Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is NOT the sort of book I would normally pick up. its a Biography, not my style. my Boss and Close friend got it for me for Christmas, so I read it immediately. So this book is not extremely exciting or or one of those where you tear through the pages to see what happens next. but it is a well worth it journey through the life of this extraordinary women. I found the morals and various lessons in the book to be fantastic. I would say this book is very spiritual, myself being a Christian like the author was able to connect with her on that level. I found what she wrote about to be very inspiring, and her use of bible scriptures to be just perfect. I learned from this book and it got me thinking, so it earned 4 stars from me.

[Edwina Cowgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandi Patty defines the edges in our lives as those points at which something is likely to happen. It may not happen automatically. The edge may be a choice.

Not only does Sandi discuss her journey through lapband surgery and weight loss, she gives insight into her family dynamics, including a move to Oklahoma and how that affected her family, especially the adult children.

This book is an excellent read for anyone considering lapband surgery. But it's also a book for everyone because all of us have edges. And all of us have to decide whether or not we play it safe and stay where we are, or we step off the edge

[1verylovedmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspirational. Her writing style is so down to earth. I surprised at how much I could relate to her and her struggle. It has really changed my perspective on my walk with the LORD, about myself and about weight loss. It helps knowing that I am not alone. She is so open and honest and I love that about her. I feel blessed to have read her book.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a nice, easy read. It spoke about her ongoing battles with weight and really focused on her decision to have lap band surgery. I love that she used scripture to paint a picture of her on struggles and victory. It was a very encouraging book. Glad I read it and would definitely recommend it to others.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

About Sandi's weight loss though gastric by-pass surgery and the spiritual growth that accompanied it.....

P. 6 "My hope in sharing the story of my weight loss is that you'll be inspired to look for the unexpected sacredness of your everyday circumstances, too, and that you'll find in that sacredness the same closer relationship to the Creator that I've found."

[Elaine]

Sandi writes about the 'edges' in ime's life & her edges.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Kind of scary to think someone so talented has normal everyday issues like. The rest of us.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started and finished this book today. I was captivated as I read Sandi's story. Not only can she sing she can tell a story, especially when it is hers.