The End of Me: Where Real Life in the Upside-Down Ways of Jesus Begins {A Book Review & Giveaway} #FCBlogger

** Book received for review. All thoughts are my own.

Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me.

No, that isn't the tantrum of my toddler... it's a look at what we see when we look all around us. So often people are busy thinking of themselves. We're so often given the advice to, " Do what makes YOU happy." or other pieces of wisdom that are well meaning but fully focused on us. We take our daily selfies, posting only those that make us look good and put our best foot forward so people will see only the side of us that we want them to see- the happy, the strong, the awesome. We leave out those moments that leave us looking and feeling less than perfect. The moments of weakness. The moments of brokenness. 
Let's be honest, no one WANTS to be broken. No one wants to be hurting, no one wants to be defeated, no one wants to be at the end of their rope. We don't always share this broken side of us not because we are trying to lie to the world, but because we don't want to focus on the negative. We feel if we focus on the positive, everything will turn around. We've got this.

But then we come across this gem:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.- 2 Corinthians 12:9

This is just one of the verses about Christ using those moments of weakness, those less than desirable moments and traits that Kyle Idleman shares in his newest book The End of Me:

Are you sometimes perplexed with Jesus’s teaching? Do you really want what he wants? Bestselling author Kyle Idleman reveals that the key to the abundant life Jesus promised lies in embracing His inside-out way of life.

As he examines Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, Kyle unpacks the many counter-intuitive truths, including: brokenness is the way to wholeness, mourning is the path to blessing, and emptiness is required in order to know true fullness. Ultimately you will discover how Jesus transforms you as you begin to live out these paradoxical principles. Because only when you come to the end of yourself can you begin to experience the full, blessed, and whole life Jesus offers.


If you really think about it, the beatitudes go against everything that society teaches us. Blessed are the broken? The mournful? But what about being happy...all the time? What about being strong? What about being perfect? These may be the things that society strives for, but a quick look in the Bible will show that this isn't what Jesus looks for. He doesn't take the person who has lived the greatest life and give them more. He takes those who have nothing left and he gives them everything.

The End of Me takes a look through stories of the Bible where this is seen and challenges us to also die to ourselves so that where we end, Christ may begin. With his humor and honesty, Kyle paints a picture of just why its so important to reach the end of us each and every day. It is not an easy thing to do, and he himself admits that he too struggles with those beatitudes like being humble- making this book all the more relate-able, but as Christians it is important. If you're ready to come to the end of you, this book is definitely worth a read.

The End of Me is available to purchase now from Family Christian.

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And one very lucky reader is going to win a copy for themselves. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

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Winner will be contacted via e-mail after giveaway ends, and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. One entry per household, winning entry will be verified. Odds of winning depend on valid entries received. A Modern Day Fairy Tale is not responsible for prize delivery