A Place Called Blessing: Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins
By John Trent and Annette Smith
4.5/5
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About this ebook
“If you’ve ever doubted your ability to be a vessel of grace and healing in the life of someone who’s hurting, you need to read A Place Called Blessing. It is the story of a wounded soul named Josh, but chances are there is a Josh living next door to you or even sitting near you in the pew at church.”—Jim Daly, president, Focus on the Family
His whole life has been a story of hurt and rejection. Is one family’s love enough to turn it all around?
Josh lost his parents in a drunk-driving accident and lost track of his two brothers after a tragic fire. By age eighteen, he is an angry young man who only wants a job, an apartment, and to be left alone. Instead, he meets Mike and Anna, an unusual son-and-mother team who draw him into their lives. For the first time, Josh receives unconditional love and something every human being craves, the gift of “the blessing.” But tragedy strikes again, and a shocking secret is revealed. Can Josh hang on to what he’s learned about blessings, curses, and family?
The life-changing message of the relational classic, The Blessing—now in compelling story form. Complete with a reader’s guide to help you identify and apply the five elements of the biblical blessing to your own life and relationships.
Visit www.TheBlessing.com for more information and an opportunity to join The Blessing Challenge, one million people choosing to change the life of one child—their child!
John Trent
John Trent, PhD, a noted speaker and author, is president of StrongFamilies.com. He and Gary Smalley have won Gold Medallion writing awards for their books The Blessing and The Two Sides of Love. Dr. Trent has also written several children's books, including I'd Choose You! based on The Blessing, and his Gold Medallion award-winning book on children's personalities, The Treasure Tree. Dr. Trent maintains a private practice, certifies Lifemapping and Strengths coaches through ICCI, and teaches clinical mental health counselors at Phoenix Seminary and DMin students in marriage and family at Dallas Seminary.
Read more from John Trent
Love Is A Decision: Proven Techniques to Keep Your Marriage Alive and Lively Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Two Sides of Love: The Secret to Valuing Differences Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Counselor's Guide to Christian Mindfulness: Engaging the Mind, Body, and Soul in Biblical Practices and Therapies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeading From Your Strengths 2: Building Intimacy In Your Small Group Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChasing Skinny Rabbits Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5After the Boxes Are Unpacked: Moving On After Moving In Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Language of Love: The Secret to Being Instantly Understood Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Chasing Skinny Rabbits: What Leads You Into Emotional and Spiritual Exhaustion...and What Can Lead You Out Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Running Toward Life: Finding Community and Wisdom in the Distances We Run Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBreaking the Cycle of Divorce: How Your Marriage Can Succeed Even If Your Parents' Didn't Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecond Sunrise: Five Decades of History at the Western States Endurance Run Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeading From Your Strengths: Ministry Teams Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings30 Ways a Father Can Bless His Children Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParenting from Your Strengths: Understanding Strengths and Valuing Differences in Your Home Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Live Forever: A Guide to Writing the Final Chapter of Your Life Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
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Reviews for A Place Called Blessing
7 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5this is an amazing book. From start to finish i couldn't put it down. I read it in a day. Such a heartbreaking and heartwarming story. I think everyone should read this book I'm sure glad i did.A child should never have to go through what Josh did, but made him a stronger person and a better man.No matter what happens in your life God is always there. You may not understand why? but there is always a reason.John Trent told a good story with a wonderful message
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Place Called Blessing is a story based on the original book by John Trent, The Blessing. This story takes one step further the five essential elements to being a blessing to others; meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing special future, an active commitment. The story begins with Josh as a young boy and his two brothers being raised by their parents who are too ‘young and dumb’ to take care of them. The boys fend for themselves and often are neglected and left hungry. The parents are killed in a car crash and Josh at the age of 4 is put into the Foster Care system along with his brothers. Being difficult to keep 3 active boys together, Josh often times was without his brothers and rotated between foster homes until he was 6. Tragedy at his next foster home ends him up being labeled as non placeable in his own eyes, and he continues through the system until he is released at age 18 with no family and no money. God had a plan for Josh though and through courage and perseverance he landed a good started job, stayed nights wherever he could find. Eventually he got a job with the city, found a room to rent and life was progressing. He became friends with the home owner Anna and her adult son Mike, and for the first time in his life he was able to see what The Blessing was truly about. Each of us a Christians should strive to make our home and our hearts a place called blessing. To reach out to those who are lost in the world, regardless of age or stereotypes. I appreciated the story format of the book , for me it is easier to grasp the message and theme through story mode than a nonfiction type format. The subtitle of the book is Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins, and that would be a place we all pray for.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Trent, John. A Place Called Blessing: Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2011.This book tells the story of Josh, a young man orphaned at an early age. After a fire at a foster home that killed a young child, Josh is split from his two brothers, who are adopted, while he spends his youth living in a state children home. When Josh turns eighteen, Josh is hardened but is able to find a job in construction. Eventually, he befriends Mike, a college intern, and rents a room with him and his mother, Anna. Josh resists their attempt at friendship, but eventually allows them into his life. Josh learns to love when Mike cancer comes back. Josh promises to take of Mike’s mother when he dies. Josh is helped by Mike’s cousin, Lori, after Mike dies. Josh and Lori fall in love as they are taking care of Anna. Josh understands the meaning of love when he finds out that the young girl he killed was Anna’s daughter. Mike and Lori eventually marry and he is reunited with his brothers.This book was an easy and enjoyable read, though a bit predictable. If one is looking for a “warm fuzzy” book then I would recommend this book. This book shows how a person can change their life and others through love and blessing. However, there was some confusing aspects of this book. The book is written from a first person view, however, at the end of the book the author mentions that there were some aspects that were fictionalized. However, I am still not sure what is fact and fiction. In addition, the purpose of the book is unclear. The book is written as part of a project for strengthening families, however, the book itself is not really about families. Rather it is about people reaching out to each other. Nevertheless, even with these problems, the book is worth the read.