From Trauma to Transformation - We have all heard of posttraumatic stress, but few of us think about the possibility of posttraumatic growth—the positive ways in which we can be transformed by our trauma. Yet this is precisely what can happen when we face our hurts, struggle through the rubble of our broken relationships, and unearth the ways God wants to use our trials to refine and mature us. With compassion born from personal experience and insights gathered from years of counseling others, licensed marriage and family therapist Debra Laaser helps you stop asking “Why me?” and start asking “Lord, what would you have me learn from this?” She offers tangible steps you can take to move beyond daily survival toward a future in which you can thrive. With Laaser’s expert guidance, you can experience positive life change not in spite of the hurt, loss, or betrayal you have undergone, but because of it.
The Lady’s Mine - When Kathryn Walsh arrives in tiny Calvada, a mining town nestled in the Sierra Nevadas, falling in love is the furthest thing from her mind. Banished from Boston by her wealthy stepfather, she has come to claim an inheritance from the uncle she never knew: a defunct newspaper office on a main street overflowing with brothels and saloons, and a seemingly worthless mine. Moved by the oppression of the local miners and their families, Kathryn decides to relaunch her uncle’s newspaper—and then finds herself in the middle of a maelstrom, pitted against Calvada’s most powerful men. But Kathryn intends to continue to say—and publish—whatever she pleases, especially when she knows she’s right. Matthias Beck, owner of a local saloon and hotel, has a special interest in the new lady in town. He instantly recognizes C.T. Walsh’s same tenacity in the beautiful and outspoken redhead—and knows all too well how dangerous that family trait can be. While Kathryn may be right about Calvada’s problems, her righteousness could also get her killed. But when the handsome hotelier keeps finding himself on the same side of the issues as the opinionated Miss Walsh, Matthias’s restless search for purpose becomes all about answering the call of his heart. Everyone may be looking to strike it rich in this lawless boomtown, but it’s a love more precious than gold that will ultimately save them all.
Ever since our first steps as babies, we’ve always been moving toward something. And in some cases, we’re also moving away from things too. Whether the situation be good or bad, how we move into that next step is very important. In From Trauma to Transformation author Debra Laaser leads her readers on a path to healing and growth. What’s fascinating is how Debra lays that path out. In the first four chapters she helps define what pain is and how aiming to survive the pain that comes from our personal traumas. But then chapters 5 & 6 take a turn of exploration being titled Exploring You—The Person You Take Everywhere and Practical Steps to Exploring You. I really like this because she helps point out what the root of the trauma is and then when it is established that the pain doesn’t own ‘you’ Debra helps target who ‘you’ are. Our other new addition this week is The Lady’s Mine by bestselling author Francine Rivers. When she is disinherited by her stepfather, Kathryn Walsh is sent west and every step she takes becomes more and more dangerous and unexpected than the last. But even though she would never have chosen that path for herself, Kathryn began to realize that the Lord’s plan for her included a long road full of wagon ruts and a town looking for gold in all the wrong places. So if guys are thinking, “Oh, her theme for this post has something to do with steps, right?” Well, sort of. The theme for this week lies solely in the title of the first book I discussed, From Trauma to Transformation. You know, I’ve always had a fascination with butterflies; their beauty and especially their lifecycle. And I know what you are thinking, “Great. She’s doing the old butterfly analogy that has to do with transformation. I’ve heard that one before.” Well, before you scroll away, I want you to take this into consideration: God is transforming you into something beautiful! It may feel like you're just crawling along this branch hungry for another leaf, or maybe you even feel like you’ve been sitting in that chrysalis for too long. But if you trust in God and continue to grow in your faith with Him, your beautiful wings will take you to great heights. So come on into the Cross Reference Library and check out these uplifting books!