Reviews

Popular speaker and "spiritual life counselor" Vanzant presents inspiration and advice addressed primarily to African American women but of use to everyone. She emphasizes that we have within ourselves the resources to solve most of our problems. "We always get what we expect," she says, and adds, "It is the Father's pleasure to give you the kingdomÄthe issue is, are you willing to receive it?" In Faith in the Valley, she uses "valley" as a metaphor and cites ten kinds of valleys in which we can find ourselves: life, understanding, courage, knowledge, wisdom, o.p.p. (other's people's problems and perspectives), comeuppance, purpose and intent, nonresistance, and love. "Wherever you are, play some, pray some, and have faith. When the praise goes up, the blessings come down." "Iyanla Live!" is a series of live recordings of programs Vanzant has presented. Audience responses are included. In Our Relationship with Money, she maintains that the state of our finances reflects our values and spiritual health. "Don't complain as you pay your bills. They come after you've made the phone calls, worn the shoes, used the car. The bills are evidence that you have been blessed." In Our Relationship with the World, she stresses that we are already empowered and it is up to us to act on that empowerment today, not to wait for some confluence of circumstances that may never come to be. Vanzant's no-nonsense advice is itself empowering and affirming. For public library collections.ÄNann Blaine Hilyard, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.