The Beauty of Grace compiled by Dawn Camp

This little book is a nice collection of stories. If you need to take a break from life, reading these is an encouragement, reminding you that you are loved and that God is with you.

Camp has compiled these stories from women who have messy lives just like we do. Some of the women have had to face hard questions and discouraging situations. Some of the stories reveal heart break. Some share an insight. Each of them is an encouragement, reminding us to have faith in God as we experience His grace.

Some of the stories are mundane, like seeing a man in a thrift store, trying on an ill fitting suit. That brought to mind that we are images of our creator. Working in the soil becomes a reminder that God is our soul Gardener. A new stop sign draws our attention to God's direction in our lives. A new puppy becomes a lesson in trusting God. No Internet connection at a vineyard allows a lesson about remaining a fruitful part of the vine. Falling and getting dirty develops into the feeling of being loved by Christ as never before.

As is sometimes the case with a compilation, the essays vary. They vary in length, in intensity, and in impact. Some originate in every day events, like grocery shopping or a child playing dress up. Some deal with life changing challenges. Yet each of them reminds us that we can find the reality of God in every moment of every day, whether mundane or life threatening. And as Camp writes, “...God can use me at any age and in any stage.”

She gives the reason for this compilation: “No matter your past or your future, the depth of your sin or the mistakes that you've made, the weariness of your soul or the obstacles in your path, you can experience God's love right here, right now, right where you are.”

This is a good collection of encouraging essays. I do recommend it.

You can read quotes from the book and download an excerpt here.

I am not sure the complimentary digital file I received from the publisher for this review contained the photos within the book, although there were some black at whites at the end. You can see some of her photos here, but I do not know which of them might be in the book.

Dawn Camp is a homeschooling mother of eight children, writing for DaySprings (in)courage website. She is an accomplished photographer with her work featured on Adobe's website for their Lightroom software. She blogs at http://myhomesweethomeonline.net/ and lives with her family in Atlanta. You can see some of her photos here.

The other contributors to the include some I am familiar with and have read their work, like Ann Voskamp, Margaret Feinberg, and Leeana Tankersley. The others I do not know but it looks like they may be known through blogging.

Revell, 208 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.