Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs

Book Description

About The Women of Easter

This Season of Grace, 
Deepen Your Faith in God 
Who So Loved the World 
that He Gave Us His Son.
 
You’re about to meet three women named Mary, each of whom has a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Mary of Bethany prepares the way for the Lord’s burial when she anoints His feet and fills the air with her perfume. His mother, Mary of Nazareth, remains by His side from His first breath to His last, her loyalty unwavering. Mary Magdalene, delivered of seven demons, bravely supports her Teacher through His darkest hours, then proclaims the glorious news of His resurrection. 
 
What a trio. What a Savior!

My Review

I have loved every single of of Liz Curtis Higgs books that I have read. He verse-by-verse Bible studies are always so eye opening and thought provoking. I was ecstatic to see her coming out with Women of Easter, since her Women of Christmas was a big hit in my world!

Going through these three women: Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary Magdalene, even a bit of Martha! We get to see the transition and details leading up to Jesus's death and then after his resurrection through this verse-by-verse study.
I was in tears more than a few times after some mind boggling verses came to life; life breathed into them after reading this book. If I could, I would get everyone I knew a copy of this book! Women of Christmas was amazing but the power and knowledge of Christ dying for us and coming back to life is a miracle that evokes a power of emotions.

But not only does she going over the verse she shares real life stories of her family to compare feelings and emotions to connect with the people like Mary and Martha when Lazarus died. 

Needless to say, you don't want to miss this book!

I give this book a 5 out of 5! MUST OWN.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review as part of their Blogging for Books program. 

Simply Calligraphy: A Beginners Guide by Judy Detrick

Book Description 

This little guide to hand lettering proves that calligraphy is as easy as picking up pen and paper. Focused on calligraphy’s most popular alphabet—italic—this delightful manual introduces basic capital and small letters and numbers, plus all the creative flourishes you need to customize your unique script for every project and occasion. With quick and easy instruction from calligraphy teacher and designer Judy Detrick,Simply Calligraphy will have you whipping up elegant invitations, pleasing place cards, and personalized thank-you notes in no time.

My Review

I really looked forward to getting this in the mail! When I was in my preteens, I dabbled in Calligraphy and loved it. But I remember thinking about that little booklet that came with my Calligraphy starter kit. I wanted something well put together, straight forward, and clean. This book is all that! It's perfect for anyone who wants to start practicing Calligraphy. Especially for beginners or those like myself who are so out of practice and need that jumpstart. Moreover, it gives you great tips for writing on envelopes and other material to get you started writing elegantly in no time! It would also make a great gift for friends! Buy this book and a good Calligraphy pen and they are set!

I give this book a 5 out of 5!

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part Blogging for Books blogging program.

It's Good to Be Queen by Liz Curtis Higgs

Book Description

Sheba Journeyed Across the Desert with a Caravan of Riches,
 Only to Find the Greatest Treasure of Them All.  So Can You.
When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.
 
Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role model, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings.

My Review

I love Liz Curtis Higgs books like these. I've only read a few but they are so intriguing and insightful! I never had never thought so in-depth about the Queen of Sheba before this book. You've probably heard this said to you or said it to someone yourself, "Who do you think you are, the Queen of Sheba?" Liz Curtis Higgs shines a much different light on this Queen that I will never be able to hear those words the same again. There's things we can learn from this queen in the Bible!

The lessons we can learn from the Queen of Sheba: We need to be bold, having faith. Being open to what God's plans for us. Seeking wise and trustworthy council. Being humble. Being honest with God and others. Encouraging everyone you come across. Praising God in all things. Giving graciously and generously! Receiving graciously to honor God and the giver (that's one I've struggled with!) Ending with by loving well the rest of your life. 

This book is filled with so much truth and great advice. At the end there is also a Study guide which is pretty cool! Great for Bible groups or just by yourself!

I give this book a 5 out of 5!

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part Blogging for Books blogging program.

Spoken For by Robin J. Gunn & Allyssa J. Bethke

Cover Description

Say Yes to the Love Story of Your Life

A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?

In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences,   these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.

You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.

My Review

I was excited to read this book. I love listening to people's love stories and inspiring tales. It gives me hope for my future.

"If God can do that for them then I know he can do it for me!"

Little did I really know just how much he will do for me and why. Robin Gunn and Alyssa Bethke really helped open my eyes to what God sees in me rather than how others see me. To see him as the pursuer of my life and love, because of the love he has for me, brought a new sense of wholeness. Verses from Genesis all the way to Revelations showcase just exactly what God thinks of us. In chapter two there is a list of them in "What God Says About You", which I loved. Be sure to bookmark that page, you'll be making a few trips back to it throughout the book.

At the end of each chapter there are 5 questions called "What do you think?" which I found very helpful and revealing. In a good way! In the beginning, I wasn't sure I was going to do anything more than read and mentally answer the questions, but God told me I needed to write them down, that this was going to be a growing experience. So I prayed for that I might me completely open and honest with my answers. I learned a lot about myself and about God when I answered all those questions and wrote all those notes in between. Like that though I believed God loved me there was still some hesitation deep inside. Yes I believed God loved me, but did I truly deeply believe it? I believed the words that said he loved me but I didn't understand how he valued and saw me for me. I've always been a strong person, but not perfect. I've let people who were close to me hurt me with their words and views of me and believed what they said was true. Even though I knew God loved me, for the reasons most of us know: We are his children, He created us, etc,. But thanks to Robin and Alyssa, I found out so much more!

• I am of great value
• He knows everything about me and familiar with all my ways
• He has given me nicknames: Peculiar Treasure, Beloved, 
• He will never stop being good to me: Loving, Providing, Sheltering and Comforting, Peace,
• He delights in me because I am His

I understand better now how God loves us and truly wants us! He's invited us to the wedding feast and will one day come to pick us up on a white horse and carry us away like a fairy tale love story. But this is no fairy tale, it is real!

Both Alyssa and Robin were very relatable. One chapter I found really got to me. The end of chapter 8, one of the questions was "What lies do you currently believe about yourself?" My answer was: "That I'll be alone, no friends, no husband, no family. Everyone will leave me. I'll be alone because no one wants me." And with my track record of friends abandoning me over the years that lie has slowly rooted itself inside my heart. Despite how much I've said and tried to believe otherwise. I put the book down for a couple hours and when I came back to read chapter 9 I found a nice surprise. Robin tells a story about a time when she was so sad she couldn't do anything but sob on the floor. She too had insecurities that held no truth to them even after she was married for years but when her husband came and comforted and covered her, that when I learned something:

• GOD HAS ME COVERED! 

My insecurities are lies to hold me back from Him. And what I really loved was how Robin's husband loved his wife as Christ tells every man to do. It made me believe more that there is someone out there for me that will love me as Robin's husband loves her and show that same affection and patience that Christ shows me everyday and I pray Christ's light shines through Him just as brightly.

I wish I had this book when I was in my teens, but then, to be honest, I wouldn't have been able to relate to it as I do now. Or draw so much insight and encouragement from it. I believe this is a great book for any young or old woman. To see God and his pursuit of us as a love/romance story is uplifting and inspiring to any woman. Maybe the husbands of Robin and Alyssa should write a male version companion to this book *hint hint*

I highly recommend this book for yourself or perhaps you have a sister or friend. This would make a lovely gift!



I received this book for free from the publisher’s in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part of their Blogging For Books program.