Secrets to Exceptional Living [Hardcover]

Joyce Meyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2001

Effective October 1, 2002, Joyce Meyer's bestselling backlist is available exclusively from Warner Faith. And look for the first of several new major books from Joyce beginning in April 2003.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOYCE MEYER has been teaching the Word of God since 1976 and in full-time ministry since 1980. Previously an associate pastor at Life Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri, she developed, coordinated, and taught a weekly meeting known as "Life In The Word." After more than five years, the Lord brought it to a conclusion, directing her to establish her own ministry and call it "Life In The Word, Inc."

Now, her Life In The Word radio and television broadcasts are seen and heard by millions across the United States and throughout the world. Joyce's teaching tapes are enjoyed internationally, and she travels extensively conducting Life In The Word conferences.

Joyce and her husband, Dave, the business administrator at Life In The Word, have been married for over 35 years. They reside in St. Louis, Missouri, and are the parents of four children. All four children are married and, along with their spouses, work with Dave and Joyce in the ministry.

Believing the call on her life is to establish believers in God's Word, Joyce says, "Jesus died to set the captives free, and far too many Christians have little or no victory in their daily lives." Finding herself in the same situation many years ago and having found freedom to live in victory through applying God's Word, Joyce goes equipped to set captives free and to exchange ashes for beauty. She believes that every person who walks in victory leads many others into victory. Her life is transparent, and her teachings are practical and can be applied in everyday life.

Joyce has taught on emotional healing and related subjects in meetings all over the country, helping multiplied thousands. She has recorded more than 230 different audio-cassette albums and over 75 videos. She has also authored 49 books to help the body of Christ on various topics. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Harrison House; First Edition edition (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577944542
• ISBN-13: 978-1577944546
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,987,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A New York Times bestselling author, her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ.
Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, she teaches on hundreds of subjects, has authored over seventy books and conducts close to fifteen conferences per year. To date, more than 12 million of her books have been distributed worldwide, and in 2007 over 3.2 million copies were sold. Joyce also has a television and radio program, Enjoying Everyday Life®, that is broadcast worldwide to a potential audience of 3 billion people. In addition, her programs can be accessed around the clock at www.joycemeyer.org.
Having suffered sexual abuse as a child and the pain of an emotionally abusive first marriage, Joyce discovered the freedom to live victoriously by applying God's Word to her life and in turn desires to help others do the same. From her battle with breast cancer to the struggles of everyday life, she speaks openly and practically about her experiences so others can apply what she has learned to their lives.
Over the years, God has provided Joyce with many opportunities to share her testimony and the life-changing message of the Gospel. In fact, Time magazine selected her as one of the most influential evangelical leaders in America. She is an incredible testimony of the dynamic, redeeming work of Jesus Christ. She believes and teaches that regardless of a person's background or past mistakes, God has a place for them and can help them on their path to enjoying everyday life.
Joyce holds an earned PhD in theology from Life Christian University in Tampa, Florida; an honorary doctorate in divinity from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and an honorary doctorate in sacred theology from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Joyce and her husband, Dave, have been married for over forty years, and they are the parents of four grown children. Dave and Joyce Meyer make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Apply These Teachings For Living Successfully!, December 20, 2003

By 

Dr. W. G. Covington, Jr. (Edinboro, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secrets to Exceptional Living: Transforming Your Life Through the Fruit of the Spirit (Hardcover)

In a creative, compelling, easy-to-read way Joyce Meyer shows you how opportunities for living out the fruit of the Spirit are available everyday. This book truly does show you how to turn negatives into positives by seeing them in a different light. Rather than experiencing frustration, turn the situation into a stepping stone of spiritual growth.

I'll use just one small example to illustrate. When in a checkout line and the cashier has run out of tape on the cash register and seems unable to replace it in a timely manner, rather than being frustrated, you can model patience, tolerance for others, and even pray for the person.

She says the two "bookends" of the fruit of the spirit, i.e., the ones listed first and last which make all the others function are love and self-control. In describing her own struggle at growing in these areas we all encounter, she makes herself realistic. Just as she had to grow, so do we. These disciplines do not occur automatically.

Who doesn't want a life of peace? This is included in the fruit of the Spirit and the chapter discussing it is worth the price of the book. Actually, since you can't enjoy anything without peace, that chapter alone is priceless. Buy this book! Read it! You'll be thankful you did.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Bear much fruit.", September 11, 2004

By 

Soaring Heart - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets to Exceptional Living: Transforming Your Life Through the Fruit of the Spirit (Hardcover)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23. What a terrific idea to write a book explaining these fruits in more detail and how to achieve and apply them in your life.

Below are the chapter titles followed by some of my favorite quotes by Joyce (some paraphrasing) I'd like to remember and share:
LOVE--YOU HAVE IT IN YOU
*Receive God's love, then give it away.
*Love is action.
*Concentrate on loving people, and all the other fruit will come.
*To abound in love is the most excellent thing we can do.
FAITHFULNESS--NEVER GIVING UP
*The way to grow is to stick with something.
*To be faithful, we cannot let ourselves be led by feelings.
*Appreciate the faithful people in your life.
GOODNESS--GOING ABOUT DOING GOOD
*Demonstrating love starts with a simple act of goodness.
*Being good to others is spiritual warfare against Satan.
*We must be good to one another and get our minds off ourselves.
*We serve a God Who is so good. He even takes what the devil meant for harm and works something for good.
PATIENCE--LACKING NOTHING
*Patience is not waiting; it is how we act while we are waiting.
*The best definition of "patience" I have heard is to be constant or the same all the time, no matter what is going on. That's my goal as a believer.
*Prove you trust God by enjoying the right-now life that He has given you.
*Possess your soul. If you don't learn to possess your soul, then it will possess you. So many people let their emotions rule their lives. That was a breakthrough for me when I stopped being ruled by my emotions.
*God's ways, God's time.
KINDNESS--EASY TO GET ALONG WITH
*Kindness should be extended to people because they don't deserve it; otherwise, it is not kindness.
*If you don't receive the love of God and love yourself in a balanced way, how can that love flow through you to anybody else? If you don't receive the mercy of God when you make mistakes, you don't have a reservoir to give out from whenever you need to give to mercy away.
*Colossians 3:12 says we should have behavior full of mercy. God mightily uses people who are meek, patient and kind.
*Kindness will cause you to slow down and give people some time... Life was not meant to live at the fast pace that we live at. If you go to a foreign country, the pace slows down unbelievably...In some of these other countries, they become offended if you don't take the time to fellowship. They don't want any of this hurry stuff.
PEACE--KEEPING IT
*Jesus had peace, a special kind of peace, and He told us in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. [This is one of my all-time favorite scriptures.]
*Peace is more valuable than things. Nothing is worth anything if you don't have peace.
*Put God first. (Mt. 6:33.)
*Make it a priority to remain in peace.
*We can refuse to let negative emotions steal our peace.
*A sure way to lose your peace is to be fretful and anxious. (See Phillipians 4:6,7.)
*Don't allow strife to be a part of our relationships.
HUMILITY--STRENGTH UNDER CONTROL
*What is humility? The opposite of pride. What is pride? Something God hates.
*Pride will destroy you.
*Did you know that me, myself and I are the greatest problems that we have?
*Spritual pride is the worst. Never be afraid to ask God for help. (See John 15:5.)
*Compassion doesn't come by osmosis. It comes by going through things. Going through personal pain helps us empathize and be more gentle and understanding of others.
*Humility comes before honor.
JOY--YOU CAN HANDLE ANYTHING WHEN YOU HAVE THIS
*The joy of Jesus has nothing to do with circumstances.
*Joy and peace are found in believing.
*John 10:10--The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and they may have it more abundantly.
*Stay focused on the good things in life.
*There's nothing negative about God. Amos 3:3 says, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? In order to walk with God we must come in agreement with Him. God says He loves you so you need to say He loves you. God says you have worth and value,. You need to say you have worth and value...
*Today is the day to go forward. Remember joy can override all your discouragements and disappointments in life. Jesus gave us His joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. All it takes is a decision. Choose joy!
SELF-CONTROL--MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES
*To experience victory, make decisions to do what you know you should do.
*Colossians 3:23 says, Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily as for the Lord and not for men.
*Self-control takes a decision to set your mind and keep it set.
*Stay focused.

I love listening to Joyce Meyer on television. She preaches about practical topics that are needed that anyone can apply to his/her life for the good. She is very interesting, entertaining and funny. This book is very good, but I feel it needs a lot of editing throughout. The entire first six chapters I think could be deleted and make the book better. Chapter Seven begins with Love and for me, it is chapter one. The introduction and conclusion are terrific. There are great lessons to learn in this book about the fruits of the spirit.

Soar!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning To GET IT!, August 25, 2004

By 

Ignited One - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets to Exceptional Living (Hardcover)

Joyce Meyer has a wonderful way of getting to the root of the issue and explaining things in a down-to-earth fashion. This book is no different! Expounding on her own personal experiences, Joyce takes each fruit given to us by the Holy Spirit and explains the grace by which we not only receive it, but can also help it to grow within ourselves.

This book is a MUST for anyone questioning the difference between spiritual gifts and the fruit of the spirit as well as anyone needing more grounded and everyday examples of what the "fruits" really are and how they grow in Christians.