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| Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day | 
 enlarge | Manufacturer: The Free Press
Category: EBooks
List Price: $17.99
Buy New: $9.99
You Save: $8.00 (44%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  181 reviews
Sales Rank: 493
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 379
Dewey Decimal Number: 248.4
ASIN: B000UZJRRM
Publication Date: October 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Amazon.com Review
Book Description
Joel Osteen reaches one of the largest audiences in the U.S. and across the globe--more than 42,000 people attend his church every week, and millions more tune in by television to hear his words of inspiration and wisdom. His first book, Your Best Life Now, has sold over 4 million copies and is available worldwide in 17 languages. His message of hope is helping people find a closer connection with God by learning to apply the principles of Scripture to their everyday lives. In this new book, Become a Better You, Joel Osteen offers seven simple yet profound action steps that will help readers discover the better things they were born for... their individual purpose and destiny. As charming and passionate on the page as he is in person, Osteen incorporates key biblical principles, devotions, and personal testimonies that will uplift and enlighten readers. He speaks directly to the hearts and concerns of people from every walk of life. People love Joel Osteen--they love to be in his presence, to hear him speak, and to read what he's written--they just can't get enough of him. Become a Better You will encourage and inspire readers to reach their full, unique and God given potential.
A Word from Joel Osteen
Dear Amazon Customer, I am very excited to be working with Amazon.com as an online bookseller and partner for the publication of my new book, Become a Better You. As a leader in e-commerce, Amazon.com is an informative and innovative online resource. Get ready to embark on a remarkable journey. One that will help you break free from the past and realize your full potential as a spouse, parent, or friend. Whether you realize it or not, miracles are happening all around you. I'm confident that reading this book will lead you to accept the gift of who you were meant to be and live a life filled with more hope, joy, and victory. Believing for God's Best, Joel Osteen
An Interview with Joel Osteen
 Q: Do you have a hero?
A: Of course, my greatest hero is Jesus Christ. He should be everyone's greatest hero. However, among men, I have two real heroes. My father, John Osteen, was not only the best father anyone could ever have, but was my best friend as well. He was a man of great integrity, and he taught me how important it was to incorporate Jesus Christ into every part of my life. Another of my heroes is Billy Graham who throughout the years has remained true to that which God called him to do and has done so with the utmost dedication, humility, and integrity.
Q: In today's conflicted world, how do you encourage people to maintain their faith?
A: As believers we should be assured that Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us. We should adopt a mindset that God wants to be involved in our everyday lives, through good times and difficult times. We should communicate with God throughout our day (to pray without ceasing), not just when we are in crisis. He cares about our lives even in the small things. There is no part of our lives that are insignificant to Him.
Q: What did working behind the scenes at Lakewood during your father's ministry inform how you preach today?
A: Really it all started for me when I was born. Our family never missed church; Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night, week in and week out. However, for 17 years I did produce and edit my fathers sermons for television. I often joke that I attended one year of college and 17 years of seminary. For those 17 years, I would have to study my father's weekly sermons and then cut them down to a 28-minute TV program while maintaining the message. I guess I've listened to at least 1,500 of my fathers messages.
Q: Your ministry reaches millions each week through television and the Internet. How has technology changed how people worship today?
A: Through telecommunications technology, especially the web, more Christian programming is available than ever before. Not only do people have more choices in Christian programming, but they can get as much as they want whenever they want it. I think that our use of technology results in people spending more of their time thinking about the things of God. However, I don't see technology replacing worship in the traditional sense--that is worshipping with other believers in a church. Everyone should belong to a good Bible-based church.
Q: In our busy lives, what is your advice for how we can slow things down and find peaceful moments?
A: Personally, I take time each morning to spend with God. I have a quiet place in my home or I find a quiet place if I am traveling where I pray and seek guidance from God. I think that is the best way for anyone to start their day; it really sets the tone for each day.
Q: As a father, what advice would you share with parents struggling with our fast-paced culture?
A: Victoria and I decided a long time ago that our family takes priority over most everything else. I tell people all the time that their families should be their first mission field. Today, it takes a great deal of our time and energy to make a living. We need to make sure our families don't get the short end of the stick and we need to make time for them. And, I am talking about "quality time"; no cell phones, no business calls, no outside distractions, just family.
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Product Description
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE, YOU CAN BE BETTER! Is this as good as it gets? Or can you enjoy more of what life has to offer? Not only can you live happily every day, bestselling author Joel Osteen suggests you must discover the potential within yourself and learn how to use it to live better, and to help others better themselves as well. God didn't create you to be average. You were created to excel! You have everything you need to fulfill your God-given destiny, and there is no limit to what you can accomplish if you discover how to be a better you! Become a Better You will guide you in the process of uncovering your hidden resources. Addressing such topics as building your confidence, developing better relationships, finding peace within, and staying passionate about life. Joel Osteen will encourage you to reach your unique God-given potential, and will help you to enjoy every day of your life, despite your circumstances. As you incorporate Joel's easy-to-grasp principles into your life, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much more God has in store for you, and how quickly you become a better you! "God is preparing you for greater things. He's going to take you further than you thought possible, so don't be surprised when He asks you to think better of yourself and to act accordingly."
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| Customer Reviews: Read 176 more reviews...
 Bland platitudes! October 29, 2007
82 out of 178 found this review helpful
Admittedly I seldom read self help books, especially those by celebrity pitchmen(women) because of the high level of self promotion and obvious attempts to play down the real purpose, which is usually greed. But I was given this book by someone who highly recommended it by saying that it helped him "see his life in a whole different light." Again, admittedly I was sold enough to give it a try with such a positive comment.
Truthfully, I found absolutely nothing inspiring at all. There was absolutely nothing that we haven't all heard a thousand times before from televangilists with telegenic smiles and insincere smiles. I never heard of Joel Osteen before either so other than my usual reluctance to read this kind of book I had no idea what to expect, and I wasn't disappointed. The writing is like a high school thesis written for the simple minded and easily influenced personality. I'm not saying that no one will gain value from reading this book, only that I gained nothing because it told me nothing new.
I have often wondered how televangilists garner such huge followings of people willing to give them their last dollar to hear wisdom, or bible stories that can be heard in any church in the country every week for free. The appeal is lost on me, but I hadn't expected much and on that point I wasn't disappointed.
 Fulfill Your Destiny November 8, 2007
78 out of 99 found this review helpful
"You have something to offer that nobody else has." ~ Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen presents a message of hope. Through his experience as a pastor he has encountered problems people have struggled with since the beginning of time. No matter what situation you find yourself in, Joel Osteen has a spiritual solution. He draws on biblical references and his own inner wisdom and life experiences.
One of the major points in "Becoming a Better You," is the issue of how to change defeating messages into life-changing affirmations. Instead of focusing on weaknesses and faults, you learn to speak to yourself in more positive ways.
"Becoming a better you is all in how you choose to view life." ~ Joel Osteen
The section on overcoming hereditary problems with a positive mindset is enlightening and very helpful. Some very convincing stories show how humans have the ability to overcome illness just by thinking differently about the problem.
Joel Osteen encourages you to stop dwelling on negative thoughts so you can reach your full potential. In order to fulfill your destiny you have to leave your past mistakes behind you as you reach into the future by following spiritual wisdom.
Some of the areas covered in this book include: divorce, parenting, marriage, addictions, relationships, illness, lifestyle choices, goals, happiness, habits, handling criticism, peace, dreams, kindness, success, God's love, blessings, career choices, health, aging, forgiveness of sin, compassion, challenges, miracles and self-improvement through a deeper relationship with God. Each section ends with "Action Points."
"Today I will reach for something beyond where I am presently. I will actively pursue new goals, keeping them out in front of me, and expecting to meet them." ~ pg. 376, Action Point 3
The most powerful idea in this book is about how you can change your life through remembering that you are a child of Almighty God. With God's help you can overcome your problems and live the life you have imagined.
~The Rebecca Review
Anti-Christian Message October 22, 2007
54 out of 83 found this review helpful
I don't want to pick on Joel Olsteen. I believe he means well. If this book were just a self help book, not attached to Christianity I can see a non-christian giving it 5 stars. However the author claims it is a Christian book and like many other books, by other others claiming to be Christian Olsteen's book is anti-Christian.
Jesus taught Christians "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me". The cross represented death. Christ taught us to deny self and glorify God. Olsteen teaches us to focus on ourselves. Relatively little attention is given to God.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires," 2 Tim. 4:3
In My Father's House... October 27, 2007
51 out of 89 found this review helpful
Before writing this review, I debated over in my mind whether or not I should so I decided to just get still within myself and listen. Sometimes the "voice of God" is very clear and precise and other times it is not. It doesn't really mean that God isn't delivering the message properly, it has more to do with my receptivity than anything. Sometimes...many times...I block my own good because I think I know more than the Living Spirit that I believe is EVERYWHERE present and available.
This book is absolutely wonderful because Joel Osteen is absolutely wonderful. Now he isn't wonderful just because he's Joel Osteen, he's wonderful because he allows Something Wonderful to flow through him. I capitalized those two words because I believe that Something Wonderful is the Creative Intelligence that knows how to guide Itself and direct Itself into and through all of Creation. It is the same exact Intelligence that Jesus used and people were amazed (and frightened) by it. Jesus said, "It's not me, but the Father within that doeth the works..."
That same Living Spirit that was in Jesus the Christ is within you and within me now. Those Divine Urges that we have to live a better life is Spirit wanting to come through us, as us. Yet, sadly, we block the flow through beliefs and attitudes that are not in alignment with the Creative Power of God. We feel guilty and bad about wanting to be wealthy and abundant and prosperous in every way. We think that "our reward" is in a future life and not in this one.
Jesus said, "In my Father's house there are many mansions..." I take that to mean that there are many dimensions to Life. That it's an ongoing process. That our soul is on an ongoing process to become more and more of what it already is.
This book is Pure Divine Inspiration. The Breath of Spirit moves through every word and if you are open to these words of Spirit, these words of Life, these words of Divine and Creative Activity, they can and they will change your life because your mind will be transformed and renewed. In short, you will begin to remember that God has a Divine Plan that was created just for you and nobody else can fulfill it but you. That's why you are here and that is why I am here and we are both here to live abundantly well in every aspect of our lives.
If all Jesus was meant to do while here on Earth was "die for our sins" then surely this would've been a tragedy. But he was here to show us that through God...through Love all things are possible...that the only limits there really are are the limits in our own mind. God is Infinite, Inexhaustible, Immeasurable, Infallible. When Spirit created you out of Itself, God poured all of Itself in you and gave you the power to move mountains.
Today is a new day...let the past be the past...let the dead bury the dead and come to the side where there is Eternal Life now. Live your life from a place/a space of Light and watch your world transform through the ALL-mighty Power of Spirit.
Read this book because this book will show you a new way of being in the world, but not of it. Thank you, Joel for listening to the "still, small voice" that I know is always and in all ways within...
Peace & Blessings everyone,
john "the Light Coach"
To those who judge Joel without listening to him. October 21, 2007
44 out of 73 found this review helpful
It is amazing that so many reviews focus on how Joel looks or how his preaching is a form of "Self Help wrapped in the guise of Christianity". If you ever listened to Joel you would know that he often makes fun of himself. The reason he is so popular is because people are tired of being torn down by a bunch of hypocrites who pose as Pharisees. Who are you to judge someone? Is it no wonder that so many people turn to religions like Islam and Atheism because Christians have pushed them there? If I interpret the Bible correctly doesn't Jesus talk about love and forgiveness? To offer your other cheek when someone strikes you? To help others and lift them up? And his greatest commandment is to LOVE one another? No that is to difficult for most people. It is just easier to tear people down based on their looks and their differences instead of trying to reach out and help them. Joel offers a different approach. IF you love Jesus and you love and respect yourself you can be an example to others. Why would someone who is in need of desperate help come to those who are going to judge and condemn them? They are reaching out because they have already judged and condemned themselves. They need someone who is an example of faith, confidence, joy, and love that can help guide them to a better life. And in turn, after they are healed, they help others and the process multiplies tenfold. I know because I have been there, and so have many other Christians. I once took a drug addict to a Christ centered rehabilitation center and he found Jesus. He took some of his friends there and the process multiplied because the seed took root. Who knows how many people this one small insignificant act affected. It is because I reached out to someone in need. In another example that I am deeply ashamed of a gay person, at my former workplace, reached out to me one night and asked if he could talk to me about some issues he was having. I said to myself, great he wants to talk about his boyfriend problems. I felt uncomfortable and quite frankly I did not understand his lifestyle. I told him I was to busy. He went home and killed himself that night at the age of 37. Everyone at work knew I was the last person to work with him and asked if he was acting strange, did he say anything to indicate he was distraught. I had missed the opportunity God had presented because I had judged him. At his funeral I found out that his parents and his family had not talked to him in over 12 years because they were ashamed of his lifestyle. In my case this was an extreme example, but what if I had talked to him that night? What if he had told his friends about Jesus? How many people could it have affected? If you judge and turn away the drug addict, the homeless, the gay person, the teenager, the foreigner then yes they will turn to someone or something else. We can help people not under our own power but with the Love and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Joel offers Hope, Love, and Healing to a Nation and a World that is in desperate need.
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