Do you only see the bad or also see the good?
Author of several books and entrepreneur Zach Windahl presents his book "See the Good. Finding Grace, Gratitude, and Optimism in Every Day", published by Bethany House Publishers. The book is divided into two parts: Part One "Changing the Way We See" with topics such as "Shifting Our Perspectives", "You Decide the Story", or "It's a Celebration", and Part Two "How to Live It Out" with topics such as ""See the Good", "How to Be a Blessing" or "And Then You Breathe".
Windahl is very open and honest. In Chapter 1 he states: "Since the age of four, I have been given a forced education in how joy works and was introduced to the importance of gratitude toward life because it was almost taken away before my eyes." He tells his readers in the same chapter: "We get to decide what story we’re telling. God is literally allowing us to participate in the ongoing creation of the world. These are the days the church was created for. What an extraordinary thing to be alive and have this experience. What else could we want?" I highly appreciated his good reminder in chapter 2: "We focus so much on the spiritual but lack ownership of the material reality we participate in every day. We identify with another place, so we feel it’s no longer our responsibility to look after the one where we are currently living. God is present in the material world just as much as he is present in the spiritual world. Our role remains the same. To bring heaven to earth, now." According to Windahl our role as believers is to find God in everything.
This was the first book from this author which I read. I am highly encouraged that he challenges his readers and I recommend the book to readers who want to engage with the importance of gratitude and of searching for the good in their own lives. The book contains notes at the end that can serve for referencing and for further studies. The appendix with 52 Gratitude Journal Prompts will help readers to start putting the book into practice.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#SeeTheGood #Netgalley

Way back when podcasts were first becoming a thing, Mark Lowry and Tony Campolo teamed up for a weekly chat. During one of these, Tony said something that pivoted how I try to look at life. He said something along the lines of, "If you want to know how spiritually healthy a person is, don't ask about their past, ask about their future."

Although I am not an optimist, since that time I have strived to at least force myself into a positive outlook at life whenever my pessimism or pragmatism becomes too overbearing. For that reason, I felt this book was an important one for me to read.

Windahl breaks See the Good into two parts of six chapters each. The first part demonstrates the importance of optimism. For both our physical and spiritual health, we need to "see the good." The second half of the book demonstrates how to do this.

I have to admit something. I am pretty sure if I were to meet Zach Windahl in real life, I don't think we would be friends. At least, not if he is the way he portrays himself in this book. People with the over-the-top exuberant cheerfulness he seems to walk around with annoy me to no end. While I recognize that they are probably enjoying the heck out of life (or at least pretending to), I can only enjoy them in small doses. Very. Small. Doses. This is certainly true of this book.

For those who generally have an optimistic view of life, you will probably love this book. For those who don't, you probably won't. But you should read it anyways. It's good for ya.

See the Good by Zach Windahl is about being optimistic in this crazy world. While the situations presented are easily seen in the world, I don't always agree about just being optimistic and seeing this good. It's ok to see the negative.
This book is an easy read and Windahl is a great writer.

I received a digital advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A huge thanks to Tyndale Publishers for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

See the Good is my first book by Zach Windahl and I absolutely enjoyed it. It's a book about being optimistic instead of pessimist. I loved how the author was relatable, humorous, honest and down to earth as he tackled how Christians tend to be influenced by their environment instead of their faith.. I loved how my habit of complaining was tackled and how I was inspired to rely more on God and his biblical word that is the same yesterday and forever.

See The Good was even better than advertised! That's hard to do when you have smiley faces on the cover. This book was written after the author posted a survey asking people whether they thought things were better or worse today compared to yesterday. The resounding answer was "yes" and the author, Zach Windahl, couldn't believe it! Zach is that author you feel like you're having a conversation with as he writes and you know instantly he's a "there you are" kind of a guy, not a "here I am" type. With his personal and energetic writing style, Zach takes the reader to places of deep thought with historical backdrops as well as to more simple yet profound truths in funny and lighthearted ways. I appreciate his desire to make Biblical truths relatable. His personal stories are effective at making great applicable points. I was swayed quickly from a the-world-is-getting-worse stance to believing that is simply not true and I actually might have some part to play in living that out! I have already recommended this book to several friends and plan to gift it at the holidays. I highly recommend you read this book right away. I will bet you won't stop with one just read.

Author and entrepreneur Zach Windahl wanted his readers to approach each day with gratitude in their hearts and hope for tomorrow. He wanted them to see God's vision for their lives and His kingdom purposes. He wanted Christians to rewrite the narrative of their stories, see God on the move around them, and to love and be a blessing to others. What a breath of fresh air!
As a writer, Zach starts with a personal story, usually one with adventure and a dash or two of humor. He reminded me of Bob Goff who wrote the foreword. He moves from light-hearted to serious. The reader is entertained, learns a bit about Zach, reads a great story, and then is connected to scriptures from the Bible that lead to a big idea or concept. Then, he has these great questions in each chapter for the reader to answer.
Zach said he gained his positive mindset during his “unique” childhood. From ages 4-15, he witnessed his mother battling serious illnesses. She had a 5-percent chance to survive her first diagnosis of stage-4 ovarian cancer. During that time, she accepted Christ. She survived and would also battle a tumor on her sciatic nerve, as well as colon and breast cancers. She found herself in and out of hospital. Throughout this time, she didn’t let go of her joy, her faith and her optimistic outlook. Yes, the outcome could have been fatal, but it wasn't. She was alive.  
And it’s that faith-filled optimism Zach lives out today. He wanted to help Christians change the way they think about life, God, and the world around them. He said we have the choice to decide the story we’ll tell. Every circumstance we face has two sides and two ways of thinking about it. We can “incorporate a practice of gratitude,” he said, recognize the good around us and call it out.
Many view this world as worse than ever, and living out our faith in Jesus Christ has become challenging. Here, Zach mentioned Emperor Nero, saying at least we aren't being fed to the lions like early Christians. Truth! And the news media tells the news that sells. He reminded me of the saying, "If it bleeds, it leads."
Some good news items though that Zach pointed out were things like our technological and medical advances and major decreases in things like poverty and child labor. Instead of just ignoring bad news though, he wanted readers to go a step further. We can use that information to inspire action and find solutions to problems around us. We might not solve world hunger, for example, he said, but we can buy a homeless person lunch.
Zach had me rethinking some ideas I had just accepted. As a Christian, I knew this world is not my true home, and I do love the thought that my citizenship is in Heaven. But I have dual citizenship. Zach said some believe we have no responsibility here on earth, but really we’re called to be good stewards of the gifts and resources God provides us. We have a role to play here and now. The kingdom is at hand and not something in the future. Zach said we need to bring Heaven to earth.
His message of having an "attitude of gratitude" and optimism sounds easy. Anticipating that, Zach showed how this change in thinking doesn’t happen overnight. The example he gave changed my thinking about the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Reading about their complaining and disobedience in the past, I always thought, “Man, the Israelites were so ungrateful. They had God in their midst and walked through dry land at the parting of the Red Sea. How cool was that? They ate manna from Heaven. How could they go and make a golden calf to worship?!”
Zach said it took 40 years in the wilderness for the Israelites to rid themselves of the Egyptian mindset after 400 YEARS of slavery. I emphasized that on purpose. The Egyptians saw the Israelites for what they could produce them, so the Israelites thought that producing was their value. To have God tell them their true worth apart from what they could produce must have been a shock. The Sabbath -- a day to rest and to worship the Lord -- must have been exceptionally hard to wrap their collective heads around.
They needed some “rewiring,” Zach said, and we do, too. In our current hustle culture, we are not unlike them. We define ourselves by what we do in the world and not who we are in Christ. The work He has for us to do is light and tied with rest. (Matthew 11:28-30).
I wrote down several of Zach’s questions posed in each chapter to do some work on my own in my journal. They are great prompts. He provided 52 more of them at the end of the book. Some examples:
“How many moments do we miss out on by becoming numb to beauty?”
“What do you need to lean into to get through tough seasons?”
“Is [God] a difficult boss just waiting for you to make a mistake, or [do you see Him] as joyful and loving, asking you to participate in His happiness?”
“What has been spoken over you that is false? Ask God what lie you are believing and confront it because He didn’t put it there.”
That last question has been on my mind the most. I agreed with Zach that often those we love the most can say negative things over our lives that just aren't true about us. They are played on repeat for so long that the message goes unchallenged. I have work to do in prayer now.
The story he told about paying it forward stuck with me the most. I think of it as Mandy’s cup of coffee from a stranger. One act of kindness can have a larger impact. I won’t give that story away. I’ve enjoyed Zach’s ideas and gave them space to roam in my mind, so I hope others will as well. I’ve seen new things in the scriptures he shared and a new way to view my life here on earth as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Finally, I think Zach needs to write a travel book for Minnesota, his home state, and include many photos. He made me want to go visit Spoon and Stable restaurant. Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was definitely not what I expected it to be. I went into this thinking that it was one of those "just be joyful and be nice people". I'm not saying that its not that, it is. But its more too. Zach went into church history and also referenced scripture A LOT. Referencing scripture is really import when I read Christian inspirational. Everyone one has thought and opinions about being a Christian; that doesn't make it true. However, referencing Scripture to back up those thoughts and opinions is extremely helpful. And validates the author.

Zack had me googling words like Enuma Elish and roach. Have your Bible, google and notebook ready. There are so many times that I had to stop and jot down some quotes. This book had me start writing down what I am grateful for and ready to buy a coffee for someone.

I really enjoyed this book and will be referencing it quite often.

I like how the book focused on how every situation, no matter how terrible it may seem, has a positive perspective if you choose to think that way. It’s a long journey to change your mindset, but it makes all the difference in every second of your life. Good book overall.

Negativity seems to be at the forefront. News headlines focus on the bad things that have happened, social media posts highlight what went wrong or who did wrong, and people in general can be heard to criticize people and things around them. Is this how is is supposed to be? If not, what should we be doing instead? Zach Windahl has a simple solution in See the Good.

If we would stop looking at the negative and look at the positive, because it is there, we’d be able to see how much good God has done and is doing. It isn’t about ignoring the bad and pretending it doesn’t exist, but instead trusting God to follow through on His promises. This book is a great read for any Christian, but especially for ones that struggle to find joy in the dreariness that may surround them.

I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t realize this book was aimed at Christians based on its upbeat,, secular title. After reading it, I think the wisdom here (deciding what story you want to tell about your situation, practicing gratitude, dealing with emotions and grief) applies to all human beings. There are plenty of Bible verses quoted and talk of Jesus and God but just as many interesting anecdotes from the author’s life and how his own faith has evolved over the years. It’s an uplifting book that will influence and inspire all readers who have an open mind about viewing their daily ups and downs through a positive lens.

See the Good by Zach Windahl is a book that challenges Christians to question their mindset, usually driven by the negativity bias he goes on to explain, and to embrace gratitude and the goodness that it can bring to yourself, and the rest of the world that’s watching and is changed by it. His goal is to inspire the reader to see their life and the lives of those around them in a new way. You’re taken through his life journey of hardship and the loss of his mother, and what he has learned from these experiences- that God is good and that all of life is a gift. He proposes that how we depict life greatly affects how we relate to the world around us- encouraging the reading to recognize the blessings they have in their own life and then becoming a blessing to others. Simple premise, with a wonderful message.

He leaves you off with a quote from the late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who said, “Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement . . . get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”

Zach Windahl came off in the first few pages as sort of arrogant and self-centered. Maybe it was just me.

HOWEVER--as I kept reading, I felt he did that to get our attention. See the Good takes society's negative misconceptions of the world and pulls out positivity in every situation. As my first impression of Zach was negative, I kept reading and began seeing the positive. Although he seemed to idolize a man because he could cook, I tried to get past some things that went against my personal beliefs. By the end of this book, I enjoyed getting to know his opinions and he has a way of opening your eyes to the positive side of life.

Although I don't agree with all of his thoughts, I still respect the fact that he is trying to spread the word of God through his story.

Slow start, but overall good read.
I recommend this for anyone who needs to find good in a seemingly bad world.

The kind of Book I need to read to be reminded about the truly significant things in life. Our perspective to everything that happens to Us- The good and bad- resides one decision of change away. It's not easy to practice, but the fact that We're Not alone in the journey is the fuel that We need to improve our efforts to incorporate a positive atitude facing the chellenge that is to live and to be alve. Well Done and Good Job!

Great book! It was simple in its delivery, but sometimes that’s just what we need. We tend to overcomplicate spiritual matters, but Zach Windahl’s book provides a refreshing take on the beauty and glory of everyday life as a Christian. “In order for people to want what we have, we need to be joyful, hopeful, grateful, loving, and a positive influence on society, not just for ourselves, but because these actions reverberate throughout culture and can have transformative impacts. It would be a disservice for us to live any differently.”