Living Unabridged

I first became aware of a writer / blogger named Rachel Wojo when I was reading The Better Mom blog where she is a contributor. I've linked to her posts many times. When one of my review sources offered her latest book, I definitely wanted to read it.

I had never read her personal blog and didn't know anything about her other than what she wrote for TBM.

Let me just say: wow.

The Personal One More Step

Her personal story, which starts each chapter and is threaded throughout One More Step is incredibly compelling. This is not a "from the mountaintop" writer. This is fellow Christian woman who is writing what she's learned through trials and God-given triumphs.

Each chapter begins with a line from an old hymn, which was fun for a hymn singing, piano playing reader like me. (Almost like "name that tune".) These are followed by segments of Wojo's personal story of her adult life so far. (And it's definitely a story that will keep you wanting to find out what happened next.)

The Quotable One More Step

Each chapter is full of scripture and practical wisdom.Some of these lines are tailored for Twitter. Lines like:

Our minds are like gardens. We cultivate our thoughts, either accidentally or purposefully.(p. 120)

I loved this line too:

God invites us to look beyond the little we have to the largeness of what he offers. (p. 166)

I appreciate the encouraging tone of this book. Wojo offer neither excuses nor exhortation to undertake life by personal exertion. She has learned, as many of us have:

Sometimes the boldest thing we can do is just take the next breath. (p. 169)

Have you been there, friends? Have you been living through something where just breathing was a victory?

I have. I've survived that, too.

Wojo isn't naive about the past, either. She confronts the hold the past has succinctly:

We can't allow the desire to change the past freeze our ability to move in the present. (p. 174)

The Applicable One More Step

This book, obviously, is about taking the next step. Just one step at a time. Wojo is like the friend who loves you enough to help you get up out of bed when that feels like an impossible task.

If you feel like dropping out, you may need to drop your hold on the past. Quit mourning it so you can move into the future with clarity and purpose. (p. 179)

This isn't just "self help" or "thinking good thoughts so good things will happen". This book is filled with scripture and reminders to seek Christ and live through His strength, not our own. The thought provoking questions are not just for examining your own thoughts, but for exploring what the Bible says about our situations.

One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up by Rachel "Wojo" Wojnarowski is a book I wish I could give to each of you. It's that good.

Find out more about Rachel Wojo:

• On her blog Rachel Wojo (lots of fantastic resources here!)
• On her Facebook page
• On Pinterest
• On Twitter

Do you need to take one more step? What challenges are you facing right now? Let's encourage each other.

Linking up with:

I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for this review. Opinions are my own. For more information about this see my disclosure page.

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