I'll be honest, this book did not immediately draw me in. I felt like I had to force myself to keep reading. I liked what the author had to say but it just wasn't a hit for me. It's a good book and I like what she had to say, I think it's just the style of writing I didn't connect with. I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

<b>**I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**</b>

<b>Introduction</b>
Lisa Harper is back with another engaging, hilariously relatable book that reads like a fond missive between friends. Can Christians be truly, deeply happy? What does the Bible have to say about happiness? Spoiler alert: it is not only permissible, but actually encouraged! God <i>wants</i> his people to be happy!

<b>The story</b>
Lisa has certainly faced some trials in her life, a fact about which she is consistently honest and vulnerable. The amazing thing about her is that every time you see her, she has a million-watt smile that could probably be seen for miles in the Tennessee wilderness where she resides. How is she always so happy?! She's human, which means she leads an imperfect life just like the rest of us. Lisa Harper has, however, stumbled on a very simple, foundational Biblical secret: that is that God desires for all His people to know true and lasting happiness. This does not mean life will be perfect, that we'll get every material thing we desire, or that we'll never know suffering. On the contrary, we are promised suffering and even persecution. In her typical light-hearted but heavy hitting way, Lisa mixes personal (and often hilarious) anecdotes with Biblical truths that are life-changing. This book gives practical advice and examples of how to be truly happy in Christ.

<b>Literary analysis</b>
This book occasionally felt a little disjointed, but I honestly didn't mind. I am not ashamed to admit: I love and admire Lisa Harper for the wonderful, exuberant woman of God that she is. Her spirit is one of encouragement, her heart is bigger than a Montana sky, and her joy is infectious. Some people are put off by her story-telling; I love it. I enjoy the way in which Lisa manages to stay true to herself while seeking to lead others to Christ. Her books so far have had wonderful nuggets of truth sprinkled in among stories and conversation that often make you feel as though you're sitting right next to her, sharing a cup of coffee and a heart hug or two.

I did not find any grammatical or spelling errors in this first reading.

<b>Conclusion</b>
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, encouraging, Biblically sound read!

This book just makes you look at happiness in another way. It's a gift from God and one He wants us to choose. Although life can be hard we can choose to be happy inspite of because God said so. Lisa just gave her readers another reason to be happy!!!

This amazing story of love, faith, and joy will touch hearts of anyone who reads it! Lisa and Missy's journey together shows that when we hear God's directions and follow them, He will blow our minds more than we could ever, ever imagine.

Oh my goodness, this book.

First, I am a huge fan of Lisa's. I own every single one of her books, so I didn't even stop long enough to see what this book was about before requesting it. All I knew is that Lisa wrote it, and I therefore needed it. What I didn't expect was that the message of the book was exactly what I was needing.

I always thought that God...though not an angry God...was perpetually turned down at the mouth when it came to me and my life. I knew of course, that He surely had moments of happiness or joy, or perhaps He even laughed with me sometimes. But the majority of the time? No. I would not describe God as happy. Until Lisa's book. Now I realize how very flawed my thinking was, and I don't have to take Lisa's word for it. She backs it all up by pointing me to Scripture. How very grateful I am for this game-changing book.

A very interesting read about God and happiness. It is very positive about being happy through God.

Does God want us to be happy? The Sacrament of Happy by Lisa reframes our thinking by showing us that God is happy and wants us to be happy, too. Over and over, she points to examples in Scripture where God shows us how to be blessed or happy and she explains that “it’s a covenant state of being for God’s people.” Read Lisa Harper’s book if you are looking for your soul to be refreshed at how much God loves us. It is a quick read and I would highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Love Lisa's insights/words of wisdom. Have shared this book w/ all of my reading friends.

I was not quite sure what I would find within the pages of this book. Would it be the tale of someone finding their way, or a guidebook on life? I was pleasantly surprised at how this book weaved through a delicate balance on one person's story and into a guide on life in general.
This book brought me tears and also many smiles as I read through each page. Being able to take a step back from the life I live and imagine all the things in someone else's position was amazing.

The Sacrament of Happy

What a Smiling God Brings to a Wounded World
by Lisa Harper

B&H Publishing Group (B&H Books, Holman Bibles, B&H Español, and B&H Kids)

B&H Books
Christian

Pub Date 01 Jun 2017

I am reviewing a copy of The Sacrament of Happy through B&H Publishing group and Netgalley:

This book asks some important questions, one of which is "Is happy, every Holy?"

The author points out that there are thirty seven references to Happy in the Old Testament, and Forty eight in the New Testament.

Lisa Harper points out that Happy is not only a Holy Sacrament, but a covenant state for God's people.

I give The Sacrament of Happy five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

In her newest book, The Sacrament of Happy, Lisa Harper reminds us that happiness isn't the absence of sadness. That thought is kind of mind boggling. How in the world can I be happy in the midst of great sorrow? It has the tendency to seem foreign to us, yet we've all met that rare person that seems to be happy and content in the midst of a great tragedy or an overwhelming sorrow.

As I read through the book and absorbed Lisa's thoughts that are backed up with Scripture it began to make sense. Not only did it make sense but it seemed achievable. Lisa goes on to tell us that happiness can be ours when we remember the fundamental truth that God is and does good. It's what He desires for us. It's what He gives us in the midst of tragedy if we will let Him.

This is a short book, only 10 chapters, but it will make a huge impact on how you think about happiness and where it originates from. We live in a society that tells us that happiness comes from things and experiences. The truth is it comes from the One who made us.

I think this would make a wonderful small group read. Each chapter ends with very thought provoking questions that relate to the chapter's topic. While most of the personal stories obviously have a female feel to them I still think the subject matter would go over well in a mixed small group.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

In true Lisa Harper fashion, she takes happiness and helps the reader see it from a whole new perspective. Harper shares from her heart stories from her life and of the adoption of her adored (and long-prayed for) daughter, Missy. This book had me smiling from cover to cover. I love Lisa's attitude, her outlook on life, and how she chases God with all her heart. I've loved every one of her books and this one was no exception.

I loved Lisa's honesty in this book. It was a great reminder to look for the hot everyday.

this was the first book i've read from lisa harper and it did not disappoint. she had me laughing out loud on page one and kept me laughing (or sometimes crying) as i turned page after page, finishing the whole book within two days. these pages are filled with truth and scripture, but written in a casual and humorous way that makes it fun and easy to read. i loved the set of questions at the end of each chapter, a "practical pursuit of happiness," that challenge you to stop and think (and maybe even write out) how these aren't just words on a page, but a way you can shift your perspective and live a happier life.

I have long been a fan of Lisa Harper's Bible studies because I love the way she can distill the Bible into modern-day, understandable terms.

The Sacrament of Happy focuses on what the Bible says about happiness, and this opened my eyes big time. Many of the times the word "blessed" is used (such as in the Sermon at the Mount) a more literal translation could actually be "happy". There are so many instances that speak of God's happiness with us, and how we should be happy in him. Harper looks at what this means practically in life--especially when things don't particularly feel happy, when circumstances close in, when our past hurts shine through. She uses Scripture throughout to illustrate her points and I learned quite a bit about how to cultivate and choose more happiness. I have found myself examining my attitudes about things and my default is always negative, so I'm really attempting to change that.

This book is highly recommended for believers who want to sow more happiness in their lives and examine why they should do so.

I received a free advance copy of this book as part of the launch team. All opinions are my own.

I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book so that I could share my honest thoughts, and honestly, I loved this book.

I've always been an optimist, a Pollyanna even, and there are many times I have felt the need to apologize for it, or worse yet been ashamed of it as if being happy made me less "deep" or less intellectual, or more in denial when confronted with the woes of this world.

Lisa Harper does an amazing job of shedding a little perspective on my happiness. Presented as a sacrament or a "visible sign of inward grace" Lisa paints a picture of happiness being a gift from God in this life that foreshadows the unimaginable happiness we have waiting for us in eternity.

To be clear, she isn't suggesting that we deny all the terrible things in life. In fact, Lisa describes some pretty heart-wrenching scenarios and then suggests that even in the midst of that, we can still exercise happy. And she shows us this by example. In one particular chapter, I was crying and laughing at the same time, an emotion I haven't felt since watching that one scene in Steel Magnolias.

Lisa Harper's writing style makes for an easy read, and while it may seem like a light-hearted topic, if we could only latch on to the power of happiness, if we could take this gift from God, this happiness seriously, oh what lives we could lead!

Throughout the first half of this book, my overarching opinion was that this was simply not memorable – not bad, not good – and I would have given it three stars at that point. 
 
Then in the second half of the book, Harper started to get on my nerves. 
 
For starters, she writes. Like. This. All. The. Time. 
 
She tended to make herself either the hero or the victim in her stories, and she had a habit of projecting her own thoughts and feelings onto other people. She seemed to view anyone who thought differently than her as "bad." (I think she would benefit from studying the MBTI.) 
 
I think what pushed me over the edge, though, was her account of Penninah and Hannah, whose story originates in 1 Samuel. The Biblical account states that Penninah "taunted" Hannah over her infertility. That's as much insight as we get into Penninah's character; yet Harper spends <i>three</i> paragraphs imagining Penninah as inept trailer trash (she has a "high, nasally voice," can't control her children, smokes two packs a day, etc.). I found it very petty, not to mention ironic, that Harper resorted to mocking Penninah for mocking Hannah. 
 
Harper had some really funny stories in the book, but they did detract from her message a bit. That is, I can remember a couple of the stories, but not the "lessons" that supposedly correlated with them. There is some truth in this book, but it's overshadowed by humor and snark.

When offered a chance to review the Sacrament of Happy by Lisa Harper, I knew I had to read this book. I didn't grow up believe God wanted us to be happy. Rather, for me, God was a distant God who judged us every day and one day we would have to be accountable for our wrongdoings. To me, he just seemed stern and rather unhappy with me. Even after becoming a Christian, I struggled to believe differently. I read this book because I wanted to see God in a different light.


The Sacrament of Happy did help me see God differently. I enjoyed Harper's humor and her writing style. I think her positive, uplifting outlook is contagious. I could also relate well to Christine Caine's forward where she shared her family's fatalist outlook and common phrases she heard. I heard much of those too and they became ingrained in me to pass on. This year my word of the year is Delight. It was my goal to see how God delights in me, in others and in our world. This book has been helpful for me on my journey to learning how God has these attributes.


This book shares many personal stories, many of which are quite humorous. I am about the same age as Harper so I could relate so well to much of what she shared. The book was a quick read for me with me reading much of it over two days. Harper shares how God is a Happy God, how we get happy, what we do during sad times, how we cultivate happy, and how happy changes the world. If you are also needing to change your outlook about God, I highly recommend this book.


I received an electronic copy of The Sacrament of Happy from the publisher and NetGalley.