Whole: An Honest Look at the Holes in Your Lifeand How to Let God Fill Them [Paperback]

Lisa Whittle (Author), George Barna (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2011

How to get past whatever’s holding you back—and start living a whole new story

We all have holes in our lives—those things we lament about ourselves. Those things we allow to define us in ways we don’t like. Those things that keep us from living the life God wants for us.

But what if you discovered that the holes in your life are really the things that will ultimately make you . . . well, whole?

Author and communicator Lisa Whittle knows this all too well. When her world was rocked to the core in a very public way, her faith and whole reason for living were challenged like never before. In that moment, Lisa was confronted by the holes in her spiritual life. And what she learned not only changed her life, but could bring great possibilities to yours.

In Whole, Lisa calls you to take an honest look at your holes, discover how to fill them with God’s presence, and get to a real and vibrant place of wholeness instead. In her trademark bold, compassionate, and relatable voice, Lisa takes you on a transformational journey of understanding who you really are . . . and what you were born to be and do.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

How to get past whatever’s holding you back— and start living a whole new story
We all have holes in our lives—those things we lament about ourselves. Those things we allow to define us in ways we don’t like. Those things that keep us from living the life God wants for us.

But what if you discovered that the holes in your life are really the things that will ultimately make you . . . well, whole?

Author and communicator Lisa Whittle knows this all too well. When her world was rocked to the core in a very public way, her faith and whole reason for living were challenged like never before. In that moment, Lisa was confronted by the holes in her spiritual life. And what she learned not only changed her life, but could bring great possibilities to yours.

In Whole, Lisa calls you to take an honest look at your holes, discover how to fill them with God’s presence, and get to a real and vibrant place of wholeness instead. In her trademark bold, compassionate, and relatable voice, Lisa takes you on a transformational journey of understanding who you really are . . . and what you were born to be and do.

About the Author

Lisa Whittle, the author of three books, is a not-your-typical ministry leader whose past experiences include writing for Women of Faith and Catalyst, church planting, and traveling with Compassion International. She speaks to audiences across the United States, leading the church in conversation on wholeness. Lisa is a wife and a mother of three who resides in North Carolina. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: BarnaBooks (September 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414337981
• ISBN-13: 978-1414337982
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #673,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Finding Wholeness in God June 12, 2012

By Heather King

Format:Paperback

When I picked up Lisa Whittle's book, I expected a "yeah, yeah, yeah" read. You know the kind where every page tells you things you've heard a million times. I think the subtitle tricked me into thinking this book would rattle off the familiar mantra: we have a God-shaped hole in our lives that only He can fill. But I was wrong.

The beginning chapters didn't rock my world. Her personal story spoke volumes about the way churches sometimes fail the people in them, especially those in leadership. Still, she didn't give a clear, practical picture of what she meant by loving the church and yet not suffering from religious addiction.

Her chapters on the Hole of Roles and the Hole of Experiences, however, were real, vulnerable, and challenging. If you've ever wrapped up your identity in the roles you fill or allowed it to depend on your past experiences, this book will walk you through laying that down, as well as dealing with both failure and loss.

Lisa Whittle shares personal stories with more openness and honesty than most authors do, which makes this read compelling and personally relevant. While she undergirds her thoughts with an occasional Scripture verse, mostly the book is driven by her own story. I'd have liked a little more grounding in Bible study, but that doesn't negate the powerful reminder to find freedom and wholeness in God's presence.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Words November 25, 2012

By Sundi Jo Graham

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Lisa is so raw and real in this book. Love her transparency. For anyone seeking more, this is such a great, heartfelt message.

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Transforming September 2, 2012

By kristen4mk

Format:Paperback

The holes in your life can ultimately be what make you WHOLE. Very thought provoking. Lisa Whittle shares her heart and life to illustrate the truth that although we will have challenges, things that shake our beliefs and life in general, that God still wants us to be whole. Our experiences can be just that - experiences. Not the sole definer of all that He has made us to be and the end of our story.

She is very transparent in her story (it seems she holds nothing back!) and I admire her for that. From her notes at the end, I thought it was interesting that she felt she was supposed to "come at the book from my failures, not my successes". It's an interesting perspective and a powerful one, I believe.

I was really excited to read this book, as I have so much in common with Lisa Whittle. She is a pastor's daughter, she's been married the same amount of time as I have, they planted a church (we are planting now with our 1st anniversary in a few weeks), and we have both experienced holes - as well as some wholeness through a deeper relationship with God.

My favorite part is towards the end of the book; due to a number of circumstances she is feeling pretty raw, and God says to her, "Lisa, I love you. I know you are hurting right now, and I know why. But in these months of doing Thrive Church, have you gotten to know Me better?"

She answers yes. He says, "If then you have gotten to know Me better and you were created for that purpose, how can you consider your experience with Thrive Church a failure? It is instead a wild success."

I was so moved by this because I've been there (challenging circumstances, feeling like a failure, when will things ever "get better", and although I wouldn't want to live those specific circumstances again, necessarily...I am grateful for the result of knowing Him better. Priceless. A wild success. :)