Never Unfriended by Lisa-Jo Baker

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (April 4, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433643065
• ISBN-13: 978-1433643064

About the Book:

In a world where women can unfriend each other with the swipe of a finger, how do we find friendships that we can trust to last? Maybe by first becoming those kinds of lasting friends ourselves.

As the community manager at the website incourage.me since 2010, Lisa-Jo Baker has had the chance to engage hundreds of conversations with women about friendship. She’s learned that no one can make us quite as unsure about ourselves as another woman. And nothing can wound as deeply as unkind words from a friend. While we are all hungry for friendship, it’s the fear of feeling awkward and being rejected, left out, or hurt (again) that often keep us from connecting.

But what if we knew we could never be unfriended? Would we risk friendship then? 

Starting with that guarantee from the most faithful friend who ever lived—Jesus—this book is a step-by-step guide to friendships you can trust. It answers the questions that lurk under the surface of every friendship—What are we afraid of? What can’t we change? What can we change? And where do we start?—with personal stories and practical tips to help you make the friends, and be the friend, that lasts.

My Thoughts:

Every once in a while, a book comes along that makes me wish I was independently wealthy.  "Never Unfriended" is that kind of book.  We live in an age of social media and the impact on self-worth and value is tremendous.  This is why we need a book like this one.

Lisa-Jo Baker hits a lot of tender spots in a woman's heart.  We've all been on the outside looking in at one point or another.  We've all longed to be a part of 'that group'.  The irony is the ones that make it into 'that group' often look at those of us outside and want what we're a part of.

We're all broken inside.  And Baker's book brings tremendous healing.

I've been 'unfriended' on Facebook.  For me, I say it's just Facebook--they can't make me vanish from the earth.  I still exist regardless of the status of our friendship.  My girls would get upset when someone clicked 'unfollow', or 'block'...or they discovered out of no where that a certain friend no longer wanted to be friends.

Watching them struggle with the emotions that resulted, and then having a few women I thought I was extremely close with click that button that cuts social media ties...and it stings.  More than I realized. When friendships end in real life, the powerful emotions can be brutal.

Baker makes the case that a relationship with Jesus secures our friendship forever.  Jesus will never not follow you, block you, or deny you are His friend.  He treasures us, and we need to get that solid foundation under our feet.

Baker gives us the tools to shore up any rocky areas in our emotional foundation.  And she does it with love, passion, and Scripture.  Be sure to have a package of tissues nearby...I wept through most of the book.  And found tremendous healing.

"Never Unfriended" receives my "For Such a Time as This", and I would love to be able to buy case after case of Baker's book to give a copy to every woman I encounter on my journey through life.  Please, do not miss this amazing and relevant book.

I received a free copy of "Never Unfriended" with no services or opinions given in exchange.  Go buy this book and...

Mark Your Place,

Deena