In When God Makes Lemonade, author Don Jacobson has collected real-life stories from around the world that show everyday folks discovering unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour circumstances. Some are funny, others are sobering, and more than a few will bring tears of amazement. But these true stories all have one thing in common: hope.
There's no question that life gives us "lemons," like issues with health, employment, and relationships. But when those lemons become lemonade, it's as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot summer day.
It's true that in life "stuff" happens, but as you'll see in these stories, Lemonade Happens too!
My review:
I've always enjoyed books that had several stories in, especially when they are true like this one. There are 68 stories in this book by and about people who faced difficulties, and God worked through it.
The stories are interesting, encouraging, and easy to read. The book could be filed under my "read in one sitting" category, but this is the kind of book you need to savor, read a story or two at a time, instead of just reading through it in one sitting. I very much enjoyed reading this book, and found it well written and well done. It would make an excellent gift for any reader, no matter what they normally read.
About the author:
Hi, I’m Don Jacobson, and I’m a walking, talking lemonade story.
Back in 1980, I was a happily married twenty-four-year-old who enjoyed a physically demanding job in commercial construction. I knew my future was bright, and I knew what it would take to get there: hard work, planning, and dedication.
Then, one winter night, a shooting accident changed everything. I nearly died as I lay for hours beneath a tree, but miracle after miracle happened to keep me alive—a story you can read in full in God Makes Lemonade. I spent nine agonizing days in critical condition, and nearly a month in the hospital. When I left, things looked bleak, and I could no longer physically provide for my family.
It took a while for God to turn that lemon into lemonade, but in the end it was wonderfully sweet. I began to work in Christian publishing, and the shape of my life changed forever. Now, 25 years later, I see that not being able to work with my hands forced me to work with my head and heart, and both my family and my career became better than I could ever have imagined.
My wife, Brenda, and I know that the hardships of life have molded our characters and turned us into people we would never have been apart from the pain. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the hardest times of my life for anything, because they led me toward something better . . . something God had planned all along.
When I share my lemonade story with friends, two amazing things happen. My story inspires others and gives them hope. Then, almost without fail, my friends excitedly tell me their lemonade story, and I’m filled with inspiration and hope in return.
Recently it hit me: we all have lemonade stories—so what would happen if we could share them with the people around the world who need them most? That’s the dream of the God Makes Lemonade series: to publish true stories to encourage people in sour circumstances that God is at work making lemonade.
What’s your story?
When God Makes Lemonade is available from Thomas Nelson Publishing.
Thanks to B&B Media for the review copy.
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