Heaven Changes Everything: Living Every Day with Eternity In Mind, by Todd and Sonja Burpo

Synopsis: How does a visit to heaven change your life?

Todd and Sonja Burpo’s almost-four-year-old son Colton made an unforgettable trip to heaven and back during the darkest, most stressed-out days of their lives. Times were tough, money was scarce, and the bills, frustrations, and fears were piled high.

How did Colton’s visit to heaven change things for them individually and as a family? And what does any of this mean for you and your life?

Todd, and for the first time ever Sonja and Colton, from their perspectives, share what has happened since the release of their New York Times bestseller, Heaven Is for Real. Through their own experiences, and after hearing from thousands of the more than eight million readers who have shared how the story has affected them, they show you how believing heaven is for real will help you survive hardships here on earth, including the death of a loved one or the loss of a child through tragedy, miscarriage, or even abortion.

Todd, Sonja, and Colton answer questions such as:

·      Is it really okay to struggle with and question God? Really?

·      What hope is there for me if I’ve lost a child or a loved one to death? Will I ever see them again?

·      What does heaven feel like?

·      Can I know for sure that I’m going to heaven?

·      Does God really hear me when I pray?

They also explain how their story can help you keep thoughts of eternity in mind in the midst of your own overly busy, stressed-out lives.

Heaven truly is for real, and believing it changes everything!

Thoughts:  Found this at the library, so decided to give it a look. Unfortunately, it was almost like a third read of Heaven Is For Real.  I was not all that happy with it, and was glad that I got it from the library rather than buying it.

Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story Of His Trip To Heaven And Back, by Todd Burpo, Sonja Burpo, and Colton Burpo

Synopsis: A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to Heaven.

Heaven Is For Real is the true story of the four-year-old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters Heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each other. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and His chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from Heaven to help us.

Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is Heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.

Thoughts: This is actually a re-read for me. I read this a while ago, but wanted to have it fresher in my head before I see the movie. There are so many emotionally touching movies in this book, and so much that is thought-provoking. I can hardly wait to see the movie!!!