Do you like true life stories? Buy this book.

Do you like tragedy to triumph accounts? Buy this book.

Do you like people who make a difference? Buy this book.

Walk to Beautiful is Jimmy Wayne’s story . . . and it’s quite a story. He was mistreated, abandoned, in and out of foster homes, and lived a life where few cared. One teacher did, and he gives her a lot of deserved credit. This is also the story of Bea Costner, to whom this book is dedicated. She put a lot into Jimmy’s life even though he kept his story to himself when she and her husband took him in as a homeless sixteen year. Plain and simple, she lived out her Christianity through loving and giving.  There are four sections to his story. First we learn about Jimmy’s life in childhood. It was much worse than your average dysfunction. He suffered major traumatic events. Next, Bea and her husband save Jimmy’s life by rescuing Jimmy and giving him a hope and a future. Their business is making wooden butter churns. Then we learn that Jimmy has a dream of becoming a singer-songwriter, which eventually comes true. But it takes tons of effort and a few good breaks. The last section is Jimmy’s walk  Meet Me Halfway, to raise awareness for kids in the foster care system and to bring notice to the plight of 18 year olds aging out of the system before they’re ready. Walk to Beautiful is a story of hope, love, God, and new beginnings. I first heard about this book on a radio interview with Jimmy Wayne.

This book was loaned to me by a friend who told me it is a book that will challenge you in your spiritual life. It has a great message. There is much in this book that is life-changing when taken seriously and then lived out. The intercessor, Rees Howells, lived a life of deep devotion to God. As an intercessor, he chose to follow God in every possible way, often denying himself ordinary creature comforts. He prayed hours on end, fasted, and followed whatever God gave him to do. . .all for the spiritual benefit of the person or organization for whom/which he was interceding on their behalf.

Many times Howells would know the date of a healing for a person before the actual healing occurred. God would show him the need and then he would devote himself to prayer and intercession on behalf of that person’s soul or need, or group of people’s need, like those in great spiritual darkness. Areas of town were cleaned up as people’s lives changed as a result of intercessory prayer, their brand new belief in Christ, and daily fellowship meetings at a rescue mission. This story will challenge you to begin intercessory prayer on behalf of people you know who need the Lord to transform and enliven their life.

Apparently when we get serious, God gets serious. God honors prayer. Parts of this book remind me of old testament prophets called to do unusual things according to what God led them to do. My late maternal grandmother was a great believer in intercessory prayer and lived a life of great gain spiritually. She would have liked this book.