Book Review: 7 WOMEN And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas

Psalm 119:94(MSG)

Save me! I'm all yours. I look high and low for Your words of wisdom.

Publisher's Description:

In his eagerly anticipated follow-up to the enormously successful Seven Men, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas gives us seven captivating portraits of some of history’s greatest women, each of whom changed the course of history by following God’s call upon their lives—as women.

This book is a collection of brave stories
of conviction, strength, and faith
experienced through the lives of seven
seemingly ordinary women.

Each of the world-changing figures who stride across these pages—Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Maria Skobtsova, Corrie ten Boom, Mother Teresa, and Rosa Parks—is an exemplary model of true womanhood. Teenage Joan of Arc followed God’s call and liberated her country, dying a heroic martyr’s death. Susanna Wesley had nineteen children and gave the world its most significant evangelist and its greatest hymn-writer, her sons John and Charles. Corrie ten Boom, arrested for hiding Dutch Jews from the Nazis, survived the horrors of a concentration camp to astonish the world by forgiving her tormentors. And Rosa Parks’ deep sense of justice and unshakable dignity and faith helped launch the twentieth-century’s greatest social movement.

Writing in his trademark conversational and engaging style, Eric Metaxas reveals how the other extraordinary women in this book achieved their greatness, inspiring readers to lives shaped by the truth of the gospel.

My Personal Review:

Seven Women and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas is an inspiring and motivating book. The seven brief biographies of Godly women included within this work will serve to ignite your dedication and determination to follow hard after the call God has placed on your life. 

Seven Women  by Eric Metaxas provides a spring board of encouragement that will grow the reader's faith. Reading the detailed stories of each of these faith filled women as they took a stand for what they believed in, despite staring into the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and adversity is more than just compelling, it's inspiring. After completing the book, I found myself searching my own heart for what God might be asking of me. 

I chose to read this particular book, because I read Metaxas' book: 7 Men and The Secret Of Their Greatness and found it quite fascinating. I was delighted when I heard the author was working on a similar book about women. I have a great admiration for Corrie Ten Boom as well, so when I discovered she was one of the women to be included in the book, I knew it must be on my "reading list."

The fact that each of these women were empowered by a deep trust in God to fulfill very specific, albeit quite different callings across time, makes this one of the most captivating books I have ever read! The author's choice to illuminate the women's successes and failures plus their tenacity and weaknesses made this work all the more meaningful. The common denominator in each of these ladies lives seemed to be an uncanny ability to not only receive the Lord's direction in their lives, but to follow the voice of God. Literally, Joan of Arc heard audible instructions from God, while the other women seemed to receive their guidance more subtly through God's written words, music, a pressing vision, or a strong sense of injustice. Whatever the means by which God supplied His directives, these women intuitively followed Him. 

Each life represented on the pages of 7 Women have been frozen in time and can now be utilized as role models for generations of young women. Their memoirs of selflessness and dedication to God serve as a reminder that what we etch on our heart will most surely be lived out in our lives. I plan to make this book a "required read" for my high school daughter, as I think it will be an invaluable tool to assist with growing her confidence in God as she reads how He has spoken into these women's lives. I am hoping that after reading 7 Women by Eric Metaxas, she will answer an unequivocal "yes" to Mother Teresa's famous question.... "Would you like to do something beautiful for God?" I am praying that the same "determination to live in complete reliance on Him" that was at the root of Mother Teresa's actions will find it's way into my heart and home. 

I appreciated each of the lives sketched out in this book. I am amazed and in awe at: the persistence and tenacity of Mother Teresa; the bravery and courage of Joan of Arc; the forgiveness of Corrie Ten Boom; the sensitivity toward injustice of Rosa Parks; the determination, organization and family dedication of Susanna Wesley; the morality, writing skills and perception of marriage as an "institution to advance the kingdom of God" of Hannah More; and finally the authenticity, devotion and servant-hood of  Maria Skobtsova. 7 Women by Eric Metaxas reveals that the Lord has a gift for each one of us, if we are willing to hear and respond to His voice!

I would like to thank Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. for this review copy of 7Women by Eric Metaxas provided to me through BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a favorable review. The opinions within this review are strictly my own.

Learning Dependence

Psalm 119:43(MSG)
Don't ever deprive me of truth, not ever--Your commandments are what I depend on.

I was sitting at my desk enjoying the sights, sounds, and feel of summer the other day.  The birds were singing, the warm breezes were gently blowing the scent of sweet flowers into the room, and the distant sound of laughter from children playing filled the air.  The sun shining brightly through the trees creating dancing shadows on the wall had hypnotized me into a trance like state, until suddenly the sound of the door slamming and feet rushing down the hall jolted me back to reality.  "Mom...Mom...come quick!  A bird is hurt and we have to help it!"

Now, being the conservationist that I am...err....want to be, I do know a little something about the ways of the "wild ones".  What I definitely know without hesitation is that these independent creatures are better left untouched.  I prepared my speech, cleared my throat, and began the spiel to my daughter about why we will "leave the bird alone".  I concluded the ten minute dissertation with the explanation that if we remain inside and observe the scene we will see the bird's parents swoop down and rescue it.  "We must only be patient and it will happen," I confidently reassured her.

We waited.  And waited.  And waited some more.  Meanwhile, the bird continued it's flopping state on the pavement without progress and with no rescuers showing up to save the poor unfortunate victim.  "Well", I said, "we can gently place him in the grass by the field.  Surely there, the parents will find him." 

After gingerly setting the little fellow on his bed of grass in the shade by the tree he probably flew or fell out of, we went inside.  There.  Done.  Until, that is about three hours later, when my sweet and most compassionate daughter came assertively marching back into my office to report that the bird had been screaming for the past two hours and there were no parents in sight.  "Please," she pleaded, " now he is stuck in the grass with all of the tall weeds and can't get free!  Will you get him, Mom?  Please!"  Just to be clear that I understood her request, I restated it back.  "You want me to climb through the barbed wire, traipse through the waist high weeds filled with ticks and chiggers, and cut the bird free.  Is that right?"  Of course she responded, "Exactly!"

I know that you know what I did.  I know this, because if you've followed my blog for very long then you have read my post entitled " Bunny Beatitudes".  (Click here to read it.)  If you've read it, then you know that I am a rescuer.  I have tales of heroic "saves", and yes, this shall be another one!

Scaling the barbed wire and narrowly averting disaster with the sparkling sharp razor edges, I snaked my way through the fence.  Once on the other side, I literally swam my way through the tall weeds with the sound of the flailing bird as my GPS.  My daughter was right.  This bird was trapped and doomed.  That is my first and really only prerequisite for attempting to assist a "wild one".  They have to be in a situation where without our help they will die....not maybe die...but will die unless we intervene.  They must be totally dependent on us with no possibility of nature helping out.

 Our injured Northern Flicker Woodpecker.

He met the rescue admission criteria.  The poor little beautiful thing was completely tangled in the weeds with one of the strongest plants acting as a rope and nearly severing off it's wing.  Carefully, I used my gloved hand to untangle and free the bird.  Scooping him up, I passed him off to the waiting loving gloved hands of my daughter. 

Mere minutes away from a certain demise was this bright and healthy looking woodpecker.  I worked feverishly to cut the long strands of tough grass off of his wing.  Whether he was aware of it or not, he was now relying on us for all nourishment and help.
I went inside and got a medicine dispenser full of water and gave it to my daughter to feed to the bird.  She held the water out for him and he gladly drank....and drank...and drank!  Yep.  He was totally dependent on us for that drink.  He also had no ability to fly.

I love today's verse because it reminds me of the dependence I have on my God.  Life is so precious and so fragile.  We can't afford not to trust Him.  He is a good God and He does good.  He has a perfect plan for each of our lives.  He has counted the number of hairs on our head and He is with us.  He is for us.  He loves us.

As for our little bird friend, you will have to return for part two of this story to find out what else we learned from him.  

Father,
Thank you for allowing us to depend so completely on you.  I know that there are heavy burdens being carried tonight.  Please lift us up and shelter us as we allow You to become our everything in obedience and dependence.
In Christ's name,
Amen

Every Tear Counted

Psalm 56:8(MSG)

You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights,  each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.

Walking the halls of the Joplin Middle School brought the reality of the destructive forces of the tornado occurring on  May 22nd, '11 up close and personal.  From the shards of glass scattered throughout my feet to the thick layer of a muddy grass mixture that was plastered on the lockers and walls up and down the halls, there was no escaping the realization of the force of this beast.  When I rounded a corner and found myself front and center staring at the remains of what used to be the gym of this well constructed brick building, I breathed out a praise to God that this had not happened when school was in session.  To go there in my mind brought tears to my eyes.  Visualizing the gym full of children during a normal school day, took what little breath I had in my lungs completely away. 

Slowly proceeding to the next room....the gathering room and cafeteria.... I saw more of the same...and one step further took me to the kitchen....or so that is what I was told used to be there.  There was nothing there now, not even a roof!  We continued down each hall, respectfully envisioning the order of yesterday and thoughtfully trying to process what was left now.  The library, the science lab, the administrative offices, the choir room, the locker rooms, and the classrooms had all been invaded by the horrific intruder.  Again, I fought back the tears of joy at the realization that these halls and rooms could have been full of children on a normal afternoon, but they were empty on that particular day.

Our job for today was to work with the Principal and Vice Principal to remove anything that was still in reasonable shape and load it on the truck to move to an awaiting warehouse, where we would unload, clean and store the items.  The school itself was a total loss, as was the Joplin High School, which appeared to have taken an even greater hit.  One by one, we found items that were salvageable and one by one...through dark halls filled with the smell of wet insulation, we carried them out.  Arriving at the truck with a treasure, we would carefully lift and place each item in the awaiting line of moving vans.  The sun beat down and the task went on, but we were not deterred from our mission. 

What's the mission?  Simply stated, it is to lessen the burden for the people of Joplin.  To come alongside them and lift them up through prayer, financial assistance, and physical presence until they have their feet solidly planted on the ground again.

Sitting in the "cafeteria" drinking my water and eating my sandwich on our quick lunch break, I listened to the school leadership courageously tell us that they would start school on time in a mere 68 days!  What tenacity!  What incredible resilience being displayed in this small community!  I believe they will do it too...because they are determined. 

At one point, I heard a noise above and glanced up during the talk to see a bird flying lost throughout the school.  It was at that instant, that my eye fell on the open sky light that had once adorned the beautiful Student Center.  Quickly, my mind raced back once again to the blessing of the nightmare....that there were no children in the school when the tornado hit!  I stared in disbelief looking at a huge board that had been drilled into the opening that used to be the glassed in sky light.      

Sky Light in the Cafeteria/Student Center.

Yes!!  Yes, I thought these are a tough and determined people.  They are standing at the very pit of despair and looking up.  When they look up...this is what they see...but they are choosing to look beyond it to a brighter tomorrow....a "clear sky" so to speak.  Have they experienced great loss?  Yes, they most certainly have!  Does the Lord see?  Yes.  He most assuredly sees....in fact today's verse tells me that God has recorded every one of their tears!  That is a great comfort to me.  

Meanwhile, we can help.  First and foremost, we can continue to pray for restoration and healing.  I am understanding that we should no longer be sending random items to them, but instead, donating monetarily to organizations for the relief work.  (ie....Convoy of Hope, Red Cross, local Churches etc.)  We can also help by going there, not on an individual basis, but with an organization, so that order is kept and thereby projects completed by the direction of those that are in authority. 

I'm thanking God today for the lives that were spared on the night of May 22, 2011.  I am asking Him to continue to bring comfort to the families of those who lost loved ones.  I am also praying that God will bring miraculous healing to the injured that continue to battle with each passing day for their very life.  Finally, I am praying for the new foundations to be laid and the walls to be raised on every one of the homes, schools, and businesses that were destroyed.