Live to Give by Austin Gutwein

What does it mean to live to give? It starts with knowing the reason God put you on this earth. God has something for you to do. He has given you a gift and when you use it, it keeps in giving. Austin knows that God could do it all Himself. Yet, for some reason, God chooses people to solve the world's problems.

Austin has written this book to help young people understand what they have been living for and what they were made to be living for. He uses the example of the boy in John 6 with the lunch to show that each person is unique. He helps his readers find out what their spiritual gifts are.

He continues to use the idea of the lunch to teach several spiritual lessons. He has the knack of telling a very interesting story then associating a truth lesson with it. For example, oven baked, Chicago style pizza can take forty-five minutes to bake. But, “Like many good things, it's worth the wait.” (124) He goes on to write about waiting for God to produce results in your giving. Like planting a garden, results might not come for months.

Austin declares, “Nothing beats living this way! Nothing we could eat, drink, buy, play, watch, or win in life can compare to the feeling of giving ourselves away...” (11)

His final encouragement is to start where you are. “Be willing to let Him use you and your lunch.” (190)

This is a great book for teens. Austins gives man examples of young people who are giving their lives away. He relates stories of Bible characters. And he adds just the right amount of humor.

There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter so this would be a perfect book for a group study.

Austin Gutwein was nine years old when he watched a video showing children who had lost their parents to AIDS. He felt called to do something to help them. He loved basketball and decided to shoot free throws. On World AIDS Day, 2004, he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. Friends and family sponsored Austin and he raised almost $3,000 that year, helping provide hope for eight orphans. Hoops of Hope has become the largest free throw marathon in the world, with an estimated 40,000 people in 25 countries participating, raising more than $2.5 million. Austin's first book is Take Your Best Shot.

You can learn more about Austin and his ministry at www.AustinGutwein.com and www.HoopsOfHope.org.

Watch a video here.

I am participating in a blog tour of this book. To see other reviews, go here.

Thomas nelson Publishers, 199 pages.

Please visit your local Christian bookstore to buy this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the LitFuse Publicity Group for the purpose of this review.