Book Review: The Dream of You by Jo Saxton

The Dream of You: Let Go of Broken Identities and Live the Life You were Made For, by Jo Saxton
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If you are interested, Goodreads is hosting a giveaway, and I've been impressed- I've won two books from the giveaways this month!  This giveaway ends January 10, 2018. 

I saw an opportunity to join the launch team, and I love reading pre-release books and sharing my opinion.   I didn't know much about Jo Saxton and haven't heard her speak, but Ann Voskamp is a book mentor I love and she wrote the forward, so I jumped in.  After reading her book, I feel like I can refer to her as my friend, Jo.   She has the knack of making the reader feel known, seen, and visible in the book, as she encourages you (maybe some would view it as a pretty direct push) to think, process, pray, and seek God's dream of you, and be an active participant in living it.  I have the utmost respect for Mrs. Saxton, but since she told me I'm her friend, it's natural to call her Jo.  (even if I don't really know her in person.) 

In her book she mentions she likes lists (and she also directs us that some parts of life a list doesn't fit!), so I think I will share a list of things I like about the book:

• Format/Content- Super engaging and personal, you feel like you are sitting with your friend or mentor Jo, learning from life together, and seeking God's dream of you.  
• the book is very practical, clear, and approachable.  
• Each chapter opens with a letter from Jo.  She writes as if we are friends, shares her heart, empowers the leader, and engages us in the journey of thinking through the lessons she's learned in her life.  
• Most chapters end with a task, a question, or a prompt to process and review the main idea presented.  
• Chapters have titled section breaks that help keep you focused.  
• Jo is vulnerable and shares her own experiences, thoughts, doubts, and struggles, but often caveats them with parallel issues others may deal with, so we all are forced to recognize we need to mentally evaluate our thoughts, hopes, dreams, and what has influenced them, or slowed, or separated us from them.  
• Scripture- Jo makes her points clear as she teaches us how to find our true identity in Christ and let go of our broken identities, to live as God would direct us.  It's personal with her stories, but it's truthful with her excellent examples in the Word of God.  She has us thinking about Jesus, life, teachings, perspectives and how heroes of the Faith lived their real identity- Esther, David, Paul, ....   
• Style (shared a bit in format.)  
• Her style is culturally relevant, and embracing each woman where she is.  It's authentic, and she pushes us to transform our minds and renew our thoughts with the help of the Holy Spirit. 
• She is a direct shooter, she doesn't mince words, she's clear, to the point, and easy to understand.  Some may not like this, as you can't ignore easily thinking and applying the strategies to yourself.  (Some of us may like to read about how to grow, but we prefer a distant, less internalized approach, so we can believe we are growing, but not really be confronted directly.)  But her style embraces a guilt free, where you are, one step or moment at a time, she even talks about how to move ahead little by little.  
• The last few chapters were practical strategies, tips, ideas with room for you to add more of your own, to really find your identity in Christ and learn to live in it. 

I enjoyed this book, some of the struggles mentioned were not mine, and I didn't feel like every aspect or perspective fit me, but that really didn't slow me down or turn me off because she so often mentions that all her struggles, might be very different than our own, and that's okay. It also may be that I've walked the process Jo talks about, as a woman older than her, and those are seasons or stages that I've made it through and don't break me any more.  So that gave me hope, that i am growing!

 And I believe this book will be beneficial to many, many women who are seeking to find fulfillment and transform their lives to the life that they were made for, a life transformed, led, and directed by a loving, gracious, all knowing, glorious God, who is ready and willing to direct our steps, we just need to stop and let Him.  

Ebony Review