CATCHING CONTENTMENT: HOW TO BE HOLY SATISFIED

Published by IVP and available now in Christian bookshops and online. You can order it on Amazon here.

Here’s the description:

‘Contentment may not be what we expect. It may be more profound than we imagine. But it is within easy reach of all of us. If anyone has a right to feel angry with life, then the author is a strong candidate. Having battled with lung disease from a young age, suffered at the hands of bullies, and, reluctantly, given up her much-loved teaching job, she has plenty to complain about. But she has made a point of exploring contentment. She has drawn particularly on Paul’s letter to the Philippians. ‘Contentment is something we can all catch hold of,’ she believes, ‘whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.’ This is a message which we need to hear, whether we are lifelong sufferers, like the author, or facing deprivation or injustice of another sort. Or we may simply have fallen into bad habits. We cannot fail to be uplifted, and hopefully transformed, by the author’s discoveries as we learn to buck trends within society and the church.’

Here’s the trailer video, giving a quick taster of the book.

And here are a few commendations…

This is the best book I’ve read in the last five years! It’s honest and real and full of truth, but truth that builds up and encourages; a journey into knowing that God doesn’t always heal us physically, or change the painful circumstances in our lives, but He will always “come into the dust” of our sickness and pain with us, bringing His transforming love and comfort.
Jennifer Rees-Larcombe – Author, Speaker and founder of Beauty from Ashes

In her charming and challenging voice, instead of cliches, Liz offers her own story, complete with the raw darkness and light of experience. It’s a gift worth receiving.
Zoe Heming – Lichfield diocese disability advisor, vicar and speaker

If you live with chronic illness or disability, you will unearth real treasures here. Everyone should read this and be encouraged into finding the contentment that Liz has learnt the hard way and now reveals in her highly readable book.
Anne Coles – former National Leader at New Wine

This book will excite you afresh about giving your all to pursuing Jesus wholeheartedly, counting everything else as nothing for the prize of gaining him.
Nadine Parkinson – Tearfund/New Wine Relationship Manager, Developer of Tearfund Change a Nation initiative

As someone who also struggles with chronic illness, I found empathy, hope and spiritual sustenance. Biblically anchored, persuasively written theology, Catching Contentment is a must-read for any Christian who wrestles with a nagging desire for something more. —
Tanya Marlow, Author of Those Who Wait and Coming Back to God When You Feel Empty, Writer at tanyamarlow.com

Here is a book that courageously digs deep to help us find lasting contentment. This is not a book of platitudes or theories; Liz Carter lives with a long term painful and limiting condition, and writes out of the disappointment, pain and darkness which she has experienced.

Wendy Virgo – New Frontiers