Standing Strong: A Woman's Guide to Overcoming Adversity and Living with Confidence

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To understand this, we can take a lesson from architecture, since we know what it takes to raise a strong building. In fact, it is a useful exercise to look at the edifices around us and throughout the world and consider what causes some structures to endure throughout the centuries of bad weather and harsh elements and others to topple within years of their construction. Naturally, we cannot go into a detailed examination of this topic. But what are the basic reasons some buildings can withstand the poundings of the harshest elements and others fail at the onset of bad weather? I waited until I'd finished the book before I looked up Diane and Philippe on-line. I saw a clip of a Tv interview that Philippe did and instantly knew that every word Diane had said was true and that she hadn't exaggerated any aspect of her story. The man is clearly not of a normal personality type. What we choose to believe intrinsically determines whether or not we are able to stand strong in this life—during the easy times, and during the most difficult. Standing Strong explores the Bible to identify the central issues of life where conviction is imperative, And, of course, from a verse many of us can quote, we know that He offers us an unshakable relationship with Himself: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

You may remember reading about and praying for Taher* earlier this year. After being arrested and interrogated for his faith, he – along with Donya* and their two children – had to flee their country. Emma took us through an interview with them, which you can watch below. It’s incredible to see just how much they love Jesus after everything they’ve been through – and your prayers have been such a support to them during this time. These credentials may not mean too much to people today, but in Paul’s time they meant he was the cream of the crop—an important man who had the respect of those who knew him. He had everything this world says is vital to being significant. We can understand how invigorating this was for him. After all, who doesn’t want to be known for how bright, wealthy, important, powerful, spiritual, or attractive he or she is? John the Baptist echoed this understanding when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). First, Jesus eliminates that old, defective foundation and pays the penalty for everything you have ever done wrong. Your sins separate you from God—from the only One who is holy, eternal, and unlimited, and who can make your life strong. You need Christ to haul all of that old, collapsing, decaying foundation away.Thank you to NetGalley, HCI Books and Diane Reeve for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. So how do you do this? How do you make a relationship with Christ your foundation? It is as simple as talking to Him. You can tell Him in your own words or use this simple prayer: Remember that old movie "D.O.A."? A film noir from 1950, remade in 1988, with a devastating setup: A man in shadow walks into a police station, approaches a detective's desk and says, "I'm here to report a murder." Asked who the victim is, he replies, "Me." But if we want to have strong lives, we have to do something different from what we’re already doing. As we said in the beginning, it’s not just having a healthy body, a profitable profession, wealth, or significant social standing in your community. It takes something more, something beyond us that nothing can overturn. This powerful book from the bestselling Dr. Charles Stanley outlines key areas of conviction that can make or break who we are and how we live.

Charles Stanley’s books are thought provoking and can be life changing. And Standing Strong is no exception. He communicates clearly and offers examples along with scripture to support his arguments. Standing Strong encourages the reader to examine what they believe and how they are building their lives. I took my time reading thru this book as it was so inspirational. He brought out ideas/points I had never considered. I would recommend this book for anyone who really wants to strengthen their faith. Diane Reeve found everything she was looking for in the handsome Frenchman Philippe Padieu. Deeply in love, they spent every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday together at his place or hers . . . that is, until she learned about his Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday women. The final book may have a slightly different version of this quote, but I thought it was too important not to quote.) You don’t know when they’ll happen, but you can be prepared. Jesus promised you so in His Sermon on the Mount. Do you long to know how to persevere no matter what storm rages against you? Do you want to know how to build your life on the right foundation and with the design and materials that will endure? Do you yearn to be so thoroughly convinced of God’s work in your life that you can stand strong—regardless of the challenges or consequences? If any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:12–15)That whoever believes in Him shall not perish. Shall not topple or crash when the storms of life assail. Standing Strong is the perfect title for Diane Reeve’s moving memoir about acquiring HIV/AIDS from a long term partner who willfully transmitted the virus to many people. Reeve is still standing despite the devastation of finding out her significant other was cheating on her during their entire relationship. She is still standing despite receiving an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, which was later proven to be transmitted by this guy. Reeve was able to draw from her own innate strengths and gather together many of the women who acquired the virus from him. As a group, they stood strong together and charged this man criminally, endured the trial, and celebrated their win when he was convicted. (Not a spoiler—his conviction is noted on the book’s cover.) Second, Jesus makes you spiritually and eternally alive. He gives you a new nature and, therefore, a new foundation on which to establish your life.

I am beyond excited to be teaming up with Counsellor and Sexologist, Standing Strong Chief Operations Officer and head of Standing Strong Program Licensing & Instructor Training, Riki Shaw, to bring you the accumulation of both our knowledge and experience. Perhaps you recall the story. “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And [Saul] said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting’?” (Acts 9:3–5). Okay, I can’t get inside his head, but he had to know what he was doing and the book will explain why that’s the case. His awareness of the “deadly weapon” in his pants is exactly why he was convicted. By the way, I honestly don’t want to name him because the book is about Reeve and the women she banded together with. Read the book or Google her name for the media accounts. Now, I understand that all of this will appear radical and counterintuitive to some. And it is. What Jesus taught always requires faith that God truly exists and that He means what He says (Heb. 11:6). Likewise, not everyone will be able to accept how essential it is to trust Christ fully and stand on God’s Word (John 6:44–69). Fears of criticism, rejection, failure, or loss will always stop some people from going forward on the path that God has for their lives. They won’t want to become small so that the surpassing greatness of Christ can shine through them (2 Cor. 4:7). They won’t be willing to give up their opinions and dreams so that God can achieve exceedingly greater goals through them. And they will continue in their weakness. Reeve is a Hall-of-Fame martial artist, teacher, and studio owner. It’s clear from her story that she’s, as she says, “a badass bitch.” Instead of turning inwards at her moment of greatest life crisis, she started looking for her sister victims. And then together they turned the tables on the man who transmitted the disease and pursued him in the justice system. They helped gather evidence. They found more sisters for the “club no one wants to join,” and those new members were added to the strength of the criminal case. They cried, hugged, drank margaritas, and ultimately won their case.Again, we can look to Saul to illustrate this point. The name Saul means “desired or asked for.” And certainly, that’s what he was. People wanted to know him and sought his counsel and favor. In Philippians 3, Paul describes his résumé as a Pharisee—one that would impress anyone in that day: The dream for Standing Strong was to create a place where children could go to feel uplifted, inspired and supported, throughout the challenges and triumphs of growing up.