Live Like You're Blessed: Simple Steps for Making Balance, Love, Energy, Spirit, Success, Encouragement, and Devotion Part of Your Life

BLESSED, as an acronym representing Balance, Love, Energy, Spirit, Success, Encouragement, and Devotion, forms the backbone of a charmingly anecdotal proposal for better living through faith. Cook, a pastor who is currently on tour with T.D. Jakes, is the first woman to be elected president of the Hampton University Ministers' Conference, representing all of the historically African-American denominations. She shares as many personal stories as she does those of parishioners. Amid suggestions for prayer and reminders to give thanks for blessings already received, Cook uses the stories of real people to illustrate the challenges many face every day, from low self-esteem and domestic abuse to personal debt and spiritual poverty. Her gift for the gentle, respectful telling of story does not interfere with her prescriptions for professional help when appropriate, whether for abuse, depression or even financial trouble, and the book comes complete with resource suggestions. Although primarily directed at women, devotees and seekers of all stripes will find Cook's straightforward message easy to digest and soothingly inspirational. (May 9)