God Loves Ugly

Before I start this post, I wanted to write a little introduction to it. This is going to be a long post with a lot of words and not a lot of pictures. But, I really like this post, so if you have time try to read if not all of it, most of it! But if you start to get bored with my post, go pick up the book I'm writing the post about. It's well worth it and better than anything I can write on here ;)

So, I just finished a book that I LOVED, and I wanted to share my thoughts on it and encourage you to read it!

God Loves Ugly

By: Christa Black

This book was awesome, and the setup of it was so creative. First off, you can buy a book bundle, which includes the book with a digital album cd! The album corresponds with the book, so I would strongly suggest buying both the book and album because they fit together perfectly.

Here's the setup of the book: a chapter starts with a picture that goes along with the chapter. Then comes a song off of the album (and all of the songs are great!). Then the actual chapter starts. Each chapter ends with questions that force you to look into your life and apply the chapter's concepts directly to your life. There's even a section at the end of the chapter to write notes if you choose to do so.

Now, when I started reading the book, I thought the "thought provoking" questions at the end of the chapter weren't for me. I mean, I've never gone through the experiences Christa has. But I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did. Without putting my life under the microscope, I never would have been able to apply the lessons from the book.

So, what is this book about?

The book is all about teaching the reader how to look at yourself in a whole new light. Christa talks about her personal journey through an eating disorder and how she was able to overcome it. I've never gone through anything like that, but the lessons about believing in yourself, forgiving others, and trusting God were things I could relate to.

While I was reading the book, I wrote down a ton of quotes that I loved. I'll just share a few of them so I don't ruin the whole book ;)

"In some situations anger can be justified, but in others, it does nothing but ruin the moment that you are in and everything around you."

How many times do we do this? We get angry about situations that don't go our way, but our anger does nothing to change the moment.

"If I choose to focus on what another woman has that I don't have, I throw myself into the dungeon of jealousy. Someone else is always going to have something that you want. As perfect as some appear on the outside, no one ever has it all. If I choose, however, to look and admire those around me, smiling and blessing strangers once perceived as my worst enemies, I win every time. And so do they."

This is a big one for me - it is so easy to look at other people and be jealous of what they have that I don't. But I shouldn't do that - and that can be so hard!

"What if the one thing you've been missing is the love of the One who created you? What if it's the fuel that is meant to run your entire life? What if letting Him love the unlovable, shameful, hidden parts of your heart actually heals you? What if you can't do it alone - you need a Knight in shining armor to come in and save you?"

I love this quote - it's so true.

"Most of my life had been lived for a future day. I dreamed, planned and wrote out goals. I looked forward to greater conquests and was always anticipating what was just around the bend. Those are all good things, of course, but not when you're missing today in expectation of tomorrow."

I always do this. I always look ahead to "better" days, when I should really find something great in every single day.

"Instead of seeing certain moments as throw-away days to get me to my next destination, I'm beginning to look at every day as the actual destination, no matter what situation I might find myself in."

This one kind of goes along with the previous quote, but I love it.

And I have SO many more great quotes from that book. I would highly recommend reading it because I think it is going to impact a lot of people.

And not to mention the fact that it is set up in a really creative way, and the music that goes along with it is awesome!

So go pick up the book and album - you won't be disappointed!