A Bounty of Books

Hopelifter by Kathe Wunnenberg is a mixture of advice and encouragement about the powerful ways God can work in the lives of women who offer hope to one another. The first part discusses what hope is and the different arenas in which it can be found such as people, places, or objects. The second part discusses ways to overcome discouragement, the need to offer hope to those who usually fill that role, and the importance of spreading hope. The third part is a collection of 100 unique ways to offer hope in common situations women face. There is also a discussion guide and a collection of Bible verses about hope included in the back.

Having founded and run Hopelifters Unlimited, an organization dedicated to spreading the hope of Christ in the lives of women, Kathe Wunnenberg is uniquely qualified to offer advice on the subject of hope. Many women want to help one another and offer hope and encouragement during a difficult time; however, many find it difficult to know what to say or do in the face of a situation that is so daunting and sometimes unfamiliar. Another thing that makes Wunnenberg a great source of information on this topic is the fact that she has gone through many of these situations, including miscarriage, adoption, and the loss of a job among others. Wunnenberg openly shares her struggles and what was helpful to her during these times.

The 100 Recipe's of Hope are the most unique feature of this book. Almost every one is written by someone who has experienced the situation being addressed. (The rest are written by women who have been directly involved with someone who has). Each recipe offer a simple, yet creative way to bring a bit of light to a dark situation. Oftentimes, the most difficult step is the first one. Having such  a solid starting place to launch from will help many women come up with even more creative ways to offer hope to those around them.

Overall, Hopelifters is a fantastic resource for anyone, but especially women, who has ever wanted to reach out to someone but just didn't know how. Wunnenberg's honesty about her own struggles, and the numerous examples she shares of how God has moved in her life as well as the lives of those around her make everything discussed very accessible and easy to grasp. I'm excited to put some of what I read to use, and I encourage any woman who has ever needed a little jump start in offering hope to someone to keep a copy of this handy.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255