Wednesday, December 20, 2023

About the Book

Book: Long Live Love: Walking Out Freedom From Painful Generational Patterns

Author: Rena Roberts

Genre: Spiritual Memoir

Release Date: May 6, 2023

While utterly broken and at the end of herself, Rena Roberts broke free from spiritual bondage…and you can too.

In real life, victory over destructive generational patterns is rare. Psychologists have studied pathological family patterns for decades, trying to discover why they persist but to no avail. Part memoir, part psychological education and application, and part Christian living, Long Live Love is an invitation and opportunity for self-reflection and healing from family-of-origin issues.

Rena Roberts grew up in a profoundly dysfunctional home and set out to create a healthy, loving Christian family of her own. But when her daughter began to rebel in her late teens, Rena found herself stripped of her faith and everything she counted on from God. It was then that He began to radically transform her as she surrendered to His will and word, no matter what.

Rena’s approach to overcoming deep bondage and spiritual darkness will embolden others to go after freedom recklessly and bring the power of God’s supernatural love to their family line. This journey of freedom from generational jail is told in three sections: Longing, Living, and Loving. Each chapter ends with spiritual growth and reflection questions to examine the longings we have throughout our lives, how we try to live differently from our family of origin, and how we can truly love those we never thought we could.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Rena Roberts grew up in poverty amongst a profoundly dysfunctional family. She muscled her way through college and a graduate degree in Psychology/Counseling. Rena became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 1998. She specialized in the treatment of eating disorders for twenty-five years. She has worked as a primary therapist at a residential treatment center, a clinical director of a day treatment center and in private practice over the course of her career. After homeschooling her three children and holding leadership positions in her local church, she underwent a spiritual crisis that ultimately led to the authorship of her first book, Long Live Love: Walking Out Freedom From Painful Generational Patterns. She now speaks by invitation to various women’s and youth groups sharing her life’s work and God’s work in her so far.

More from Rena

I wouldn’t say there’s anything fun about my book. It’s intense and raw and very real. It has been super fun to receive feedback from readers! They love it. They are inspired by it. They all thank me for writing such a vulnerable book. They love the reflections questions..I think my chapters on forgiveness are most inspiring to my readers and
some have applied the practices I encourage and report to me that it has been life changing, saved their marriages, etc. That’s super fun!

I also realized that I love to write and that I am a writer. I did not know that prior to this project. I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to your thoughts.

MY REVIEW

This book was so relatable that at times I had to put it down. Like the author, I lived in a very unloving family growing up. Generational dysfunction was all I knew. The author is honest, humble and gives God all the glory for her transformation. The statement about “children from abusive homes are up to seven times more likely to have abuse in their homes as adults ,” is something I had to think on. I was abused yet there has never been abuse in my home as an adult. Why? Because I chose to break the cycle and refused to let the enemy use me. I often wonder how someone who was abused would do the same to another knowing the destruction it causes the victim.

The author’s story reflects a time where everything seemed to be against her and her journey took her to the darkest moments where evil lived. Longing for a normal family made her dream of those shows where the family sits down to eat and has a lovely time sharing their day. Oh how I dreamed that myself as arguments were constant and abuse was a daily occurrence. I appreciate how the book gives readers hope as she takes us along on her spiritual awakening. The questions at the end of every chapter are important to do. I found myself having to really look at myself and see if there was the slightest opening that the enemy could slither in and cause me to become bitter over my past.

The author does talk about counseling and how it helped her. Not everyone may want to go see a counselor but I would encourage you to find someone who you trust that will listen, give Godly advice and hold you accountable. The book is emotional and takes us to places that were dark and lonely at times.

I loved this book and know I will be rereading it many times. Sometimes we have to get to the bottom of the pit to finally say, “I need help.” Jesus is there and He is waiting with open arms. I’m thankful for this book and how it reminds me daily that I am worth saving. I am loved unconditionally and will never be alone again as long as I have a personal relationship with the One who saved me and set me free.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.