Thursday, October 24, 2019

Strong Brave Loved by Holley Gerth

Gerth provides sixty short devotions with the aim of empowering readers to be women who can't be beat, who take risks, don't hide their scars, believe who God says they are and help others believe it too.

The style of Gerth's writing made me think I was reading her journal entries. An everyday event would trigger a Scripture verse and a lesson. The initial event might be a conversation, a group painting session, a walk on her street, or trying to be loved when meeting friends for lunch. There is a certain familiarity involved, like a friend sharing insights from a recent experience. She includes some humor, like suggesting translators ate too much pizza when she came across a puzzling Bible verse. (Loc 929/2628) Each devotion ends with a prayer, prompts for journaling, and a Fiercehearted quote of encouragement.

I don't mind a personal story from time to time, illustrating a biblical truth, but I feel I know more about Gerth's life than I ever wanted. Her devotions are more about her, it seems, than the spiritual lessons. Did I really need to know so much about Gerth's grandmother in devotion number Twenty-Six to understand the simple lesson of “Accept God's gifts with gladness”? Did I really need the paragraph describing the picture of her and her grandmother on the shelf in the living room, that the hem of her dress was caught by the wind? Do I really want to know about her stomach growling while she records the audio of a previous book? (Devotion Thirty)

This is a good devotional for readers who like to read about personal experiences and the lessons taken from them. It is also a good example of journal entries.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

Holley Gerth is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, certified life coach, and speaker. She connects with women through her popular blog and books. She is cofounder of (in)courage and a partner with Dayspring. She and her husband live in the South. You can find out more at www.holleygerth.com. Photo Credit: Luke Davis, Main Street Studios

Revell, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

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