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.

The Sun Came Up Late Today

Psalm 119:90(MSG)

Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up.  

The sun was late rising this morning.  Well, at least that's what it felt like when I awoke to darkness, as compared with yesterday when the sun was shining brightly in my window at the exact same time.  I already miss that sunbeam coming into my bedroom early. Today is "Day Light Savings", so we sprang forward an hour.  I don't understand the need for Day Light "Savings" Time.  Do we actually save time?  This has always perplexed me.  We get what we get, right?  We end up shuttling more light to the end of the day and less brightness to the front half, but it's the same amount of time, so why do we call it "daylight savings time"?  Indeed...one of the baffling questions of my life that will never have a satisfying answer as far as I can tell.   

Springing forward.

I clearly like consistency, as you can discern from my dislike of the whole time change thing.  Oh to have such problems, right? But on a more serious note, one of my favorite things about God's word is that it is always the same.  It never changes. The words of the Bible are as applicable today as they were centuries ago.  

His Words are on time...every time.  They are never late. The truths of God are for everyone.  They are not for majorities or minorities.  The Word of God is forever adorned with the greatness of His love, mercy, and grace. We don't have to set it forward or back it up to keep pace with the culture in which we live. The Lord has taken care of all of that for us.  Sweet!!   

Father,

Thank You for providing us with an up-to-date time clock that will never change. Thank You for the comfort that we find in Your Word;  a strong tower to run to for shelter. Your words are a light unto our path and a lamp unto our feet.  Your voice is like a gentle stream of living water bringing life to all who would drink deeply of it.  I am forever amazed and give You all of my praise today.

In Christ's Name,

Amen

Happy Father's Day!

Psalm 119:64(MSG)
Your love, God, fills the earth!  Train me to live by Your counsel.

My Daddy taught me well!

Happy Father's Day to all of you Dads out there! 

Once again, I find myself at a  place of thankfulness for the people that the Lord has placed in my life.  My father is one of those people.  He has provided such consistency throughout my life that I find his mere presence to bring stability to any situation that I might be facing.  He has trained me to live by God's Word and be strong and courageous.  His smile and laughter fill my heart with joy.  Hats off to my Daddy on this day and every other day throughout the coming years! 

Lord,
Thank You for blessing me with a father who has modeled grace, wisdom, and consistent love.  Thank you for his counsel and for guiding him to train me in Your ways!
In Jesus Name,
Amen

My Mother's Example

Proverbs 6:22(MSG)
Wherever you walk, they'll guide you; whenever you rest, they'll guard you; when you wake up, they'll tell you what's next.

I remember when I was a little girl, after getting ready for bed, I would be all warm and snuggly in my footed PJs.  They were so soft and cuddly that just the thought of them, even now, makes me want to curl up under the blankets and close my eyes for a long winter's sleep.  Awe.....

Connected to that memory though, is one that is even more important.  It is the beautiful picture that remains vividly in my mind of my mother.  Nearly every night she would come into our rooms and kneel with us beside the bed to pray to the Lord.  I still remember this precious time with her next to me.  It was a comfort and an incredible gift that she gave to her children.  I believe that the actual prayers were powerful, of course, but the consistency of her actions provided a stability that all young children starve for, whether they recognize it at the time or not. 

Tonight's verse is still referring back to Proverbs 6:20 that tells us to follow our father's good advice and keep close to our mother's teachings.  My mother taught me so much by closing out our day in this humble posture of reverence and submission to the Lord.  She also showed me her dependence on Him, through her constant reliance on His Word as evidenced by the tattered and dog eared Bible  that could always be found lying on the kitchen table in the early mornings......left behind from her bright and early morning conversations with her God. 

These are the kinds of teachings that I yearn to impress upon my children.  The advice that will guide them, guard them, and prepare them for what comes next.  Praying tonight for this kind of life....a life that is lived out steadily and consistently by the power of the Holy Spirit.