Conquering Your Goliaths

A Parable of the Five Stones

By: Kathryn Elizabeth Jones

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson

Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

David gathered five smooth stones to meet and defeat Goliath. What did these stones represent, and how can you use them to conquer Goliaths in your own personal quests? Ms. Virginia Bean will show you how.

Travel with her on her own personal journey. See what she does. Learn how she grows. Discover what she becomes.

Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones is for anyone desiring to travel beyond mediocrity, pain, and fear. Learn of the great power within you, a power given to you from God, a power that must ultimately be unleashed to conquer the Goliaths in your own life. Come to an even deeper understanding of God and what he wants for you. Come....

©2012 Kathryn Elizabeth Jones (P)2014 Kathryn Elizabeth Jones

Endearing Story!

Ms. Jones has touched on several difficult topics in a precious and delicate way. Through 7 delightful chapters, you journey with Ms. Virginia Bean as she is given 5 smooth stones, like David in the Bible. With each one, she learns what her personal Goliaths are and how to overcome them. This was a surprising story. nothing turned out the way I thought it would. Readers of all ages could enjoy this sweet book!

Tender. Sweet. A Must Read!

When I became aware of Kathryn Elizabeth Jones, I did not know what to expect. This gem exceeded my expectations! It was a delightful listen! I fell in love with Ms. Virginia Bean. With each stone she is given, her faith seems to ever increase. Her times with the Lord were sweet, just like I imagine mine will be when I go to be with Him.
Ms. Bean is an exceedingly delightful character, and I am starting on Ms. Jones second and third books this week (The Feast and the Gift)

I highly recommend Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones.
Nancy Peterson did a stellar job with the narration, so kudos to her as well.

Well, Ms. Jones, it's time for me to start reading "The Feast" -- I have no doubt that I will be as thrilled with that as I was with Conquering Your Goliaths!

A Beautiful, Inspirational Story

When I started listening to this story I wasn't sure what to expect. But with the storytelling of Kathryn Elizabeth Jones, it wasn't long before I knew. For me, Conquering Your Goliaths was a journey of self discovery. I found myself writing down things she said and pondering what it meant to me. Was I truly listening to God? Was I fully trusting Him? Through the weaving of the story by Jones and the voice of Nancy Peterson, this book came alive! What an amazing book! I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series.
I was given a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Made want to take notes

Having the same first name as the main character made this book feel like it was written especially for me. However, I think anyone listening will be pulled into the story and take its uplifting lesson to heart. It made me want to take notes, so I could remember everything later.

Lesson learned

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I found the book quite enjoyable. The writing style is relaxed and does not hit the reader over the head with ideology. Although a tale of fiction the theme behind the book is quite serious. More than ever people today require faith to sustain them and give them a moral grounding for their mental well-being. Lesson in life well learned.

Comforting and Filled with Truth

Would you listen to Conquering Your Goliaths again? Why?

I definitely would listen again, and I plan to. The story had so many Truths in it, and I would love to sit down with a notebook and just soak them all in.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Conquering Your Goliaths?

The scene that sticks out to me most is when the trust stone started to sink into Virginia's couch. It paints such a clear picture of the effect doubt can have. There are similar metaphors throughout the book. None of them felt too obvious or forced, but the meanings were clear.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the part when Virginia met with God and began to wonder why she never saw anyone else there. His response was that He always would have time for his children, no matter when, and no matter how many of them needed Him at once. He'll always be there to listen to us, and that scene was an almost tangible reminder of that fact.

A close second is when God asked Virginia how she feels about being single. As someone in a very similar situation, I appreciated her response and His answer. It really is all about trust.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There was a good mixture of happy, sad, and tender moments. There were parts that made me giggle and parts that made me wish I could give the characters a hug. I didn't have any extreme reactions, but the entire book was calming and gave me a sense of peace.

Any additional comments?

The narrator was an excellent choice for this book. It was almost always clear who was speaking, just based on her tone, and she captured the characters' emotions perfectly.

When the book first began, I didn't relate much to Virginia. I'm not too interested in makeup, I love my job, and I tend to look at life positively. As the book progressed, however, her character grew and I began to see the similarities in our lives. Some of the things she deals with, I deal with now or I have in the past (and likely will again). By the end of the book, I loved her.

This was a great book, easy to listen to, and I would definitely recommend it.

I was given a copy of this audiobook for this unbiased review.

#1 Story of the Year

What did you love best about Conquering Your Goliaths?

It is inspirational, Ms. Virginia bean is a character that has gone through a series of emotions and trials that many of us can relate to.

What other book might you compare Conquering Your Goliaths to and why?

After I listen to the audiobook it reminded me of the feeling that I had after listening to Mitch Albom’s “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”.

What does Nancy Peterson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I am now a fan of Nancy Peterson, she was engaging by being a good story teller.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Ms Virginia Bean was trying to tell her friend that God was making doughnuts in the kitchen.

Any additional comments?

I am interested in more book by Kathryn Elizabeth Jones.

Great reminder of how to trust God

What made the experience of listening to Conquering Your Goliaths the most enjoyable?

It was filled with reasons to trust God, and reminders on how he's always watching over us and there for us.

What did you like best about this story?

We all need all the faith and trust we can get in God and the story kept trying to pull us over and over in more to allowing us to trust in God the sinking stone is all of us so many times when we stop trusting in God.

Have you listened to any of Nancy Peterson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but she did a awesome job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I think it took me three sittings to listen to all of this but things just kept getting in the way mostly a ringing phone.

Any additional comments?

It was just a well rounded story about life in general and how we should always trust God. I would listen to something by this author again.

Meaningful and close to heart

Would you consider the audio edition of Conquering Your Goliaths to be better than the print version?

I would definitely consider the audio version. It will allow you to close your eyes and with your mind, visually imagine the characters adventure.

Who was your favorite character and why?

MS. Bean of course was my favorite character. She is the Epitome of most people who yearn for direction and it becomes personable placing yourself in her shoes.

What about Nancy Peterson’s performance did you like?

Nancy did a wonderful job at telling the story. I did not hear a single flaw in speech.
I feel she captured each character the way it was meant to be.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I Had no extreme reaction to this book, I normally don't laugh or cry from books, although I feel that it did what it was meant for me.
It made me think of my own Goliath(s) and how black and heavy my stones can be for not trusting or listening. The lessons learned here are no matter how black or how heavy it can always be white and light.

Any additional comments?

Patients and perseverance begets success in yourself spiritually, mentally and physically.
Don't give up on yourself or God, trust that you will prevail and God will help you do it.
This should be in every ear or bookshelf. Fantastic job!!!!

A Tale Worth Reading

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The audio version of this book is as entertaining and insightful as the hard copy. Nancy Peterson does a magnificent job with the narration. I found her voice relaxed me and provided the correct tone for the concept of the story.

Conquering Your Goliaths is a delightful story of Ms Virginia Bean from Idaho Falls, Idaho. She feels that in the thirty five years of her existence, life has past her by. Single and stuck in a repetitive job of quality control in a doughnut factory, Virginia feels empty.

After working at the factory of Regal Doughnuts for ten years Virginia’s life has a dramatic change. The factory closes and relocates to New York. Not wanting to leave her birthplace Virginia seeks out a new job. What she finds is totally unexpected and unique. She attends an interview at the Western Falls bottled water company where she’s introduced to a Mr Spurt. The interview is like none other she has ever had. Mr Spurt introduces her to five stones: Listening, Trust, Optimism, Tenacity and Constancy.

What Virginia discovers about Mr Spurt and the stones is a way of coping with the rigors of life. Mr Spurt talks about the “Goliaths” that life throws in front of people as they journey from the cradle to the grave. Virginia, by taking possession of the stones, discovers true knowledge about herself and her relationship with God. A partner, Paul, is found by Virginia in a short relationship. During that relationship Virginia has her faith in God severely tested. But by staying true to the philosophy of the stones she emerges a stronger well rounded person.

The author has used a very clever technique with the stones to lead the reader to discover what it means to be a person of faith. To have faith one must embrace the properties of the five stones in the story. Goliaths will always try and destroy one’s faith by derailing the trust one has with one’s faith. It’s up to each individual to conquer their Goliaths by staying true to the properties of the five stones.

I found the book quite enjoyable and took delight in the banter between Mr Spurt and Virginia. The writing style is relaxed and does not hit the reader over the head with ideology. Although a tale of fiction the theme behind the book is quite serious. More than ever people today require faith to sustain them and give them a moral grounding for their mental well-being.

The detailed points at the end of the book about, Listening, Trust, Optimism, Tenacity and Constancy were excellent. Reading them raised my thoughts to a positive outlook. The meaning of each stone makes one think deeply about our commitment to others in our lives.

This is an uplifting audio book that I would recommend to readers of all ages.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ms Bean as she portrayed a real person struggling with life's challenges.

Which character – as performed by Nancy Peterson – was your favorite?

Ms bean.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Goliaths! We all have them, but can you conquer yours.