Are you searching for a spiritual connection and a sense of purpose? Do you find that your childhood religion has failed you as an adult? Do you feel betrayed by religious leaders? Finding Joy: One Woman’s Journey Back to Faith is an inspirational book offering a strategy to lead the reader toward building an authentic, living relationship with the invisible God. Drilled in rigid religious beliefs from childhood, Joy Wooderson found herself trapped in a state of confusion, held hostage to the expectations of others. Sitting atop awe-inspiring Mount Sinai on a vacation trip, she wondered what it might be like to have an unhindered, one-on-one connection with God. Finding Joy tracks the quest triggered by a desperate desire to break out of her mental and emotional prison. The book explores the Biblical design for balanced living and offers pointers for the spiritual journey. Joy discovers that God’s desire is that we experience a life of joy and security in relationship with Him.
Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back to Faith
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back To Faith is an insightful and inspiring memoir that gives a personal glimpse into the life of Joy Wooderson, the daughter and granddaughter of Christian clergymen who lived and preached in South Africa.
The front cover, with the photo of a white daisy seeking sunlight as it pokes through the parched brown earth, gives a hint of what awaits the reader inside. Divided into nine parts and thirty chapters, Wooderson's memoir reads like a n
The chapters and sections are peppered with Biblical passages from the Old and New Testaments, as well as other meaningful and contemplative quotes. The end of each chapter also contains what Wooderson calls "Pointers," which are questions and statements that challenge readers to examine their own beliefs. Wooderson's memoir is filled with candor and clarity. She openly discusses her crisis of faith, her doubts about organized religion, and the path she took to navigate through dark days into the light.
Anyone who has struggled with their faith or questioned their belief system will find comfort, compassion and wisdom in Finding Joy.
--A Book A Week, November 17, 2009
The front cover, with the photo of a white daisy seeking sunlight as it pokes through the parched brown earth, gives a hint of what awaits the reader inside. Divided into nine parts and thirty chapters, Wooderson's memoir reads like a n
The chapters and sections are peppered with Biblical passages from the Old and New Testaments, as well as other meaningful and contemplative quotes. The end of each chapter also contains what Wooderson calls "Pointers," which are questions and statements that challenge readers to examine their own beliefs. Wooderson's memoir is filled with candor and clarity. She openly discusses her crisis of faith, her doubts about organized religion, and the path she took to navigate through dark days into the light.
Anyone who has struggled with their faith or questioned their belief system will find comfort, compassion and wisdom in Finding Joy.
--A Book A Week, November 17, 2009
Review
A woman's account of her spiritual journey from unquestioning compliance with learned Christian practices and beliefs, to discovery of a more personal relationship with God.
What began as uneasiness about life became a full blown crisis of faith for Wooderson once she acknowledged that the religion she had been taught did not meet her needs. The daughter and granddaughter of men devoted to Pentecostal ministry, the author had absorbed their teachings and expectations. Their standards were unyielding--self-denial, scripture study, prayer and faith healing could take care of any problem. However, strict adherence to their rules did not yield either the happiness in life or the satisfying relationship with God for which Wooderson longed. For years, she tried first one tack and then another before successfully discovering a more meaningful faith. In Finding Joy, she weaves the retelling of biblical stories with accounts of events in her own life to illustrate how she found relevance in the age-old words. She was also inspired and supported by friends. Wooderson's approach is systematic, and she provides thought-provoking questions to help others through the process. She draws the story out into a quasi-mystery and it is well written. Wooderson's hope in writing down her account is that those who take their Christian faith for granted will relate to her experience and reevaluate their relationship with God.
Readers who question their Christian upbringings and want to pursue a similar quest may gain new insights and reassurance from Finding Joy.
A readable story of one woman's reevaluation of faith and finding peace with God.
--Kirkus Discoveries, November 2009 Kirkus Discoveries
What began as uneasiness about life became a full blown crisis of faith for Wooderson once she acknowledged that the religion she had been taught did not meet her needs. The daughter and granddaughter of men devoted to Pentecostal ministry, the author had absorbed their teachings and expectations. Their standards were unyielding--self-denial, scripture study, prayer and faith healing could take care of any problem. However, strict adherence to their rules did not yield either the happiness in life or the satisfying relationship with God for which Wooderson longed. For years, she tried first one tack and then another before successfully discovering a more meaningful faith. In Finding Joy, she weaves the retelling of biblical stories with accounts of events in her own life to illustrate how she found relevance in the age-old words. She was also inspired and supported by friends. Wooderson's approach is systematic, and she provides thought-provoking questions to help others through the process. She draws the story out into a quasi-mystery and it is well written. Wooderson's hope in writing down her account is that those who take their Christian faith for granted will relate to her experience and reevaluate their relationship with God.
Readers who question their Christian upbringings and want to pursue a similar quest may gain new insights and reassurance from Finding Joy.
A readable story of one woman's reevaluation of faith and finding peace with God.
--Kirkus Discoveries, November 2009 Kirkus Discoveries
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More About the Author
Late-bloomer nonfiction essay writer and author. Loves good food but totally inept in the kitchen. Sports car fanatic (owned five Pontiac Firebirds in varying colors). Daydreamer and adventurous world traveler (twenty-five countries to date). Avid reader of mysteries and spy novels. No husband, no children, no pets.
Born in the port city of Durban, South Africa, lived in Toronto, Canada, and Atlanta, Georgia before her adventurous spirit drew her to the Midwest and O'Fallon, Missouri.
Joy writes creative nonfiction and is the author of "Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back to Faith." Her essays have been published in The Truth About The Fact: International Journal of Literary Nonfiction, 2008, A Cup of Comfort for Christians, Friends: Stories of Friendship, the 2006 Mid Rivers Review, and the Cuivre River Anthology, Volumes II and III. Her articles include "My Favorite Injury," Travelers' Tales Solas Awards Elder Travel category winner, 2007.
She enjoys involvement with The Scribes' Tribe critique group and Saturday Writers.
www.joywooderson.com
Born in the port city of Durban, South Africa, lived in Toronto, Canada, and Atlanta, Georgia before her adventurous spirit drew her to the Midwest and O'Fallon, Missouri.
Joy writes creative nonfiction and is the author of "Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back to Faith." Her essays have been published in The Truth About The Fact: International Journal of Literary Nonfiction, 2008, A Cup of Comfort for Christians, Friends: Stories of Friendship, the 2006 Mid Rivers Review, and the Cuivre River Anthology, Volumes II and III. Her articles include "My Favorite Injury," Travelers' Tales Solas Awards Elder Travel category winner, 2007.
She enjoys involvement with The Scribes' Tribe critique group and Saturday Writers.
www.joywooderson.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An encouraging, helpful resource,
By
This review is from: Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back to Faith (Paperback)
If you're looking for a book to help you discover an authentic faith, this is the one! What I love about this book is Joy Wooderson's open, honest search for a real relationship with God. Through a lifelong process of sorting out the "shoulds and oughts" to finding what really matters, Wooderson tells her story with humor and heart. She guides readers along the path to a vital, fulfilling relationship with God. I highly recommend this book for those trying to find their way back to God or those who want a deeper connection with the One who created them.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best of Both Worlds,
This review is from: Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back to Faith (Paperback)
"Finding Joy" is a lovely blend of memoir and spiritual reflection combining the best of both genres. The author has used gentle wit and story telling to describe her trial and error path back to a real knowledge of who God is and what He should mean in our life. If you read the novel "The Shack", non-fiction "Finding Joy" is a MUST read for you.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ENJOY Finding Joy,
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This review is from: Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back to Faith (Paperback)
Ever need to just read something at a point in your life that can give clarification to thoughts with such vividness? "Finding Joy" made a connection between my own questions of faith with information to put together pieces of a puzzle. By having faith and praying to my Heavenly father I have found beautiful days full of happiness and joy. The irony of it all is that these feelings were found without spending money, but opening up to Gods gifts of nature. I have been made aware of experienced instances of unexplained provision or amazingly coincidental timing over and over again. (Wooderson, J., Finding Joy:One Woman's Journey Back to Faith). Whenever I pick up this book I have an "A Ha!" moment. Enjoy!
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