Better Than My Dreams: Finding What You Long For Where You Might Not Think to Look »

The story of everywoman's emotional and spiritual journey, helping her release stored up false hopes and preconceived notions by replacing them with the wonderful reality God is weaving into her life.

Every morning we face the day with a set of expectations about how things will or should be. Author Paula Rinehart says, "The oddest part about our mental images is that we don't know they are there until the video of our lives plays out in a different fashion." Offering a radical shift in perspective, Paula guides readers to a fresh discovery that the story of our lives may look vastly different than what we anticipated-but that it's a good thing.

Better Than My Dreams charts a course that enables a woman to jettison her old baggage and to discover that what God is creating might be better than she ever dreamed for herself, where fellowship with Christ, rather than fulfillment of dreams, is the real prize. This deeper awareness, that God knows what He's doing with our lives, allows us to truly let go and enjoy the trip as we learn to live, love, and embrace whatever comes.

Better Than My Dreams helps women:

• face their fear of disappointment


• deal with life's disturbing interruptions


• own their own stuff


• find the freedom to love difficult people

Publishers Weekly

Women's conference speaker and professional counselor Rinehart (Strong Women, Soft Hearts) offers Christian women redemptive hope in a world where dreaming can be a dangerous endeavor. Rinehart tells her own story of living in dull "sepia" days, bound by life's disappointments and doubting Christian claims. Such skepticism eventually led her to serious explorations in Jungian psychology, which she now views as a period when she was committing "spiritual adultery." Wrestling through personal faith issues proved painful, yet incredibly freeing, as Rinehart allowed God's mercy and knowledge of her to permeate every darkened space of her heart. Rinehart lucidly hits the mark about women's most desperate yearnings as she discusses rites of passage in which individuals make a choice to either embrace life with all its interruptions or settle into a paralyzing fear. She challenges readers to act decisively and courageously in their relationships, primarily by inviting vulnerability and loving difficult people, and she shows how to trust God's sovereignty and faithful love even through interminable setbacks. Christian women who are serious about setting a course beyond vague dreaming will appreciate Rinehart's inspiring path to a more hopeful life. (Oct.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Acknowledgments     xv
A Rite of Passage
A Different Kind of Wonderful: Something Better Than the Life You Dreamed Of     3
The Danger of Settling: The Fear of Disappointment Can Rule Your Life     19
Disturbing Interruptions: God Chooses Such Unexpected Paths     37
The Real Adventure
Owning Your Stuff: Grace That Allows You to Come Clean     57
Growing Up Together: Relationships Where You Can Know...and Be Known     75
Coming in Second: Resting in the Shade of the Sovereignty of God     91
The Empathy of Jesus: When You No Longer Wonder If God Cares     113
Loving (Difficult) People: Finding the Freedom to Love     133
The Pleasure of His Company
The Place Meant for You: Discovering the Joy of Your Small Part     153
Journey Well: Fellowship with Him Is the Prize     171
Reflection and Study Guide     185
Notes     233
About the Author     237