“It is not easy, but God offers you a plan that works from the inside out.” And Eternal life is the outcome.

Gooey on the inside, hard candy shell on the outside, that is how I would describe myself. The hard shell was a façade that came from years of dealing with emotions and half-truths about life. I have a natural ability to project outcomes therefore making quick decisions and strategic planning was never an issue. With my upbringing, taking orders and follow commands from the acceptable person in charge was second nature. Acceptance was key for me. So, how did I see life? As a mean and cruel place that preyed on the weak and only the strong survived. That God was a hard task-master that put unobtainable demands on people he supposedly loved. He promised his loved ones a magical existence, but made you wait for your anticipated outcome, which may never come. Christian or not we have choices either to change our perspective of the choices that keep us chained to a life of despaired with regret, anger, resentment, and disappointment. Scripture tells us not to fix our mind on our fleshly desires. God came to save me, my shepherd left the ninety-nine righteous to save the one that was lost, and that was me.

Sharon Reese was born in Indiana but raised in Okinawa, Japan in the early parts of her life. Because of her childhood she was exposed to different cultures and lifestyles, that she believes contributed to her love of traveling. In her lifetime she has been to all fifty states including Puerto Rico and touched four of the seven continents in the world. Undeniably stating that Rome and Africa are her two favorite places. From childhood to adulthood, she has always been a resourceful person that loved to help others. She loved to sit and listen to the older people tell stories of their life because she said she could almost see the story playing out. She was not raised in a Christian home, but her mother and father instilled the important of treating people right and following orders. She now knows that what her parents taught plus understanding the value of having a good foundational relationship with God is key in life. Sharon became a servant leader at her church and took on the responsibility of leading a small group for 15 years. While stepping into that role she found her niche for researching and writing a few of the study lessons for her group. These lessons became more than just study lessons, they became a breakthrough life lessons for herself and others. With the help of the Holy Spirit and her straightforward passion to help others, she gained a better understanding of the love of God. She learned to embrace each member of the group’s uniqueness, and they expressed how they learned from her mistakes and her desired to be authentic and willingness to be vulnerable to Gods leading in her walk. From these experiences drafting this book was placed in her heart. So, for those that struggle, but put on a happy face, this book is for you.