Graceful Influence: Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from Women of the Bible

by Lori Stanley Roeleveld

Ever wonder if you're making a difference in your world? There's a lot on your plate. Everyday tasks pile up and your weeks are packed. Too often activities take precedence over people. It's easy to feel like you're not making a real impact on your loved ones, workplace, or community. But the stories of biblical women answer resoundingly, Yes, you do make a difference!   Lori Stanley Roeleveld offers you the chance to realize the power of your influence. In examining the lives of pairs of women from the Bible, you will discover how their contrasting choices allowed them to influence future generations. And whether their decisions were wise or unwise, God was able to use their stories to make Himself known. The relevance of their struggles will shed light on the challenges modern women face in making similar choices.  Whether you are a newcomer or a longtime reader of Scripture, reading as an individual or with a small group, you will be both encouraged and challenged by Lori's biblical insight and compassionate wisdom. In 28 short chapters, unpack the Bible's age-old stories with a fresh, authentic voice that will resonate with your heart.

Genres: Faith, Nonfiction

216 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2024

About the author

Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a disturber of hobbits who enjoys making comfortable Christians late for dinner.

Her new book, Graceful Influence: Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from Women of the Bible, https://www.amazon.com/Graceful-Influ... is available wherever fine books are sold.

Jesus lover. Speaker. Coach. Writer. Wife. Mother. Omi of boys. Part-time giant-slayer. Not available for children's parties.

You’ll find Lori at her website http://www.loriroeleveld.com or on her front porch writing.

Reviews

[Heidi Chiavaroli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that both encourages and prompts self-reflection, Graceful Influence guides readers through the stories of women in the Bible—some who made wise choices and some who did not—and shows how their decisions impacted those around them, as well as future generations. Through each story, Lori Roeleveld illuminates the overarching thread of God’s faithfulness.

This book is a beautiful testament to the many women in scripture who we may have ignored or forgotten. Speaking directly to readers, Lori’s gift for diving deep beneath the surface of the intricacies of a woman’s heart shines through. She possesses a knowledge of scripture that allows readers to see each story with a bird’s eye view and in doing so, more greatly appreciate the whole of God’s story.

Graceful Influence refreshed my heart and had me longing to be a woman of lasting impact—a woman of grace. Highly recommend!

[Mary Decrescenzio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a few books about women of the Bible but this one was so refreshingly different. Roeleveld pairs up different women for each chapter to examine whether they used their influence for good and how their choices changed the course of history.

The opening line, “We owe Martha an apology” immediately drew me in. Because yes, we do. I love that Roeleveld immediately defended Martha because, “all of us who have judged her by a single moment, just one exchange in her relationship with Jesus, need to step back, and remember that Martha was a woman loved by God.” YES. I absolutely can relate to Martha, even though I would love to say, in that moment, I would have been Mary.

I know a lot of the women and their stories, but Roeleveld pairing them up, giving real life/relatable stories, and ending each chapter with additional resources was such a fresh take. I loved reading about the lesser know and unnamed women (like Orpah, Herodias’ daughter, Puah, Jehosheb, Sapphira, Tabitha, the wise woman of Abel, and so many others!).
Each chapter has a theme - humility, peacemaking, prayer, selflessness, to name a few. Roeleveld also wrote about each women with such grace and love - even the women who made massive mistakes. You can tell Roeleveld has a deep love and respect for women.

The chapters are not very long and easy to digest. Roeleveld wrote in a way that it feels like you are having a conversation over coffee and less like a lecture.

I would absolutely recommend this book to family and friends.

[Dave Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an honor to have been selected to be on the Launch Team for Lori Roeleveld's new book "Graceful Influence: Making A Lasting Impact Through Lessons From Women Of The Bible."

I have read the pre-release copy and Lori has written an excellent book. Lori brings these women alive, and makes their stories personal. Written in such a way you feel like you are there with them. The way Lori contrasts God versus evil is outstanding. A truly remarkable book. Wherever you are in your Biblical knowledge, this book will benefit you. Pre-order a copy for yourself and a copy for a friend. If you know someone that is struggling in their Christian life, by all means order them a copy. An excellent book for Life Groups, Bible Study Classes or your book club discussions. Lori shows each of us that wherever we are in our Christian walk that we aren't alone, God is always with us.

#gracefulinfluence
#WomenoftheBible

[Cathy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The question, "Am I making a lasting impact?" is one I often ask myself, especially as I get older. God's Word is the only trustworthy source that helps me navigate the answer, which adds trust and value when purchasing Graceful Influence. The author reflects on various women throughout Scripture and how their choices made a lasting impact. Her fresh perspective surprised and delighted this Bible teacher.

The chapters are brief but filled with wisdom, and the author's conversational tone made me feel like we were sharing our faith over a cup of coffee. I plan to buy more copies to give to those who've made a lasting impact on my life, sharing specific ways on the inside cover.

To sum it up, Graceful Influence quickly grabbed my attention with, "We owe Martha an apology," and never let go.

[Yannick Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graceful influence is a book about women of the bible and the impact they can can have in our lives today
We can learn from them, how to grow and be more like Christ or how to demonstrate a good character but their mistakes can also teach us how to avoid the traps of the ennemy.

Each chapter is about two women and their impact for examples: the impact of love, the impact of prayer or the impact of humility...
It's a good book for women and a good reminder that we are seen, God knows us and has a plan for us.

"Humble people who carry themselves with confidence generally have a healthy enough view of themselves to be free to focus on others."

"When Jesus is our focus our ministry can be like a fragrance released from its jar that can no longer be contained."

I received a copy of this book and this is an honest review.

[Barbara Latta]

There are a lot of books on the shelves that give us stories from women in the Bible. This book is different in that the author contrasts these characters, such as Eve and Mary, to reveal the result of their decisions. We still reap the consequences of some of these decisions today. Graceful Influence gives us reflections to apply these lessons to our own lives and learn from the experiences of women who lived centuries ago.

[Steve Newcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graceful Influence, Challenging Encouragement

Lori writes in the introduction:
“You see, our greatest problem isn’t that we don’t matter; it’s
that we do.
We influence others because that’s how God designed life to work. The only real question is whether our actions will lead toward God or away, will be harmful or graceful. In Christ, the final word on our impact can be unimaginably glorious. Let’s listen carefully to some of the women recorded in His Word and let their voices and choices influence ours.”
page 14

Why are you, Mr. Man, reading this? Isn’t this is a women’s study? Well, mostly, but in nearly every section, these women have a husband who is part of story, part of the ‘influence’, part of the choice that will lead toward God or away. Male or female, we all struggle with obedience, faith, and selflessness, to name just a few of the influences Lori tackles and our choices influence those in our orbits.

Lori follows my three favorite rules of Bible interpretation: context, context, context. There’s no eisegesis in these studies, packed with thorough scriptural references to give us a complete understanding of these frail, flawed, sinful humans. People like us.

I have made this my daily devotional source for the last month and the chapters have challenged me to look more deeply, or in a completely different way, at the topic of the day. At the end of every chapter, we got some meaty bonus sections:
- BIBLE with additional readings and questions
- BATTLE with challenging questions, When were you… How did you…
- BOTTOM LINE such as “God’s redemptive mercy provides the power we need to choose obedience that can ripple through countless generations.”

Well done, good and faithful servant, Lori!Graceful Influence: Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from Women of the Bible

[Charla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your life is significant, and you do impact our world. I see this so clearly after reading Graceful Influence. The author’s unique message illuminates the power of our choices and the impact those choices have on our world. Her book is unlike any other I've read on women of God's Word, and I'm grateful to have it on my shelf (and in my heart). The thing that sets it apart from others is that she contrasts the choices of two – sometimes three – women in each brief chapter. She helped me see beyond the individual choices to the impact each woman had on her community – and future generations. Topics such as The Impact of Service, The Impact of Lament, and The Impact of Persevering Through Trial were especially touching. Her messages are biblically solid and insightful, and each chapter ends with a deeper look at the Word and questions that truly foster healthy self-reflection. This was a great book for my personal faith walk and will be a great book for studying with my sisters in Christ. The world needs the message of this book; the message of this book clearly leads us to The Word and the power of our influence.

[Psusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graceful Influence, Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from Women of the Bible by Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a book that clearly fit this season of my life. Each chapter looks at women from either the Old or New Testament, often comparing two women. Written as short chapters, it is longer than some I have read. Still, it is not too long and very interesting so it could be used each day. The format is easy to follow with the chapter on the woman or women, the scripture from which the women’s story is found along with extra scripture references and then the application for us today or the Battle as it is titled. One of the most insightful comments at the end of each chapter is the Bottom Line, which is one big idea thought.

It is a thoughtful and questioning devotional. Opinions are sometimes given on the woman or the event, but it gives as such so that the reader will think more about it not necessarily to accept it all. Life is not so much different today. Yes, the times have changed but people are still people, so there is much to glean from these women’s struggles, challenges, and actions. Through each life there is shown God’s love, grace, and faithfulness.
4.5 Stars

[Sherrie Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving Lori Roeleveld's look at the women of the BIble and how they made a difference in the world they lived in. How different history would have played out out if these courageous women hadn't stood up for what was right and used their talents to follow God's leading! The interesting thing about this book is that for every woman who did what was right, there is one who did not. It's striking to see the difference in how the women's stories affected those around them and their own destinies when they ignored God and did the opposite of what He wanted them to do. And of course, my favorite - the women who blew it at first but then let God teach them a better way and allowed him to transform their lives into something He would use for His glory. Graceful Influence has 28 short chapters and would be perfect for a personal devotional or a small group Bible Study. The book is well-organized to let you search the Scriptures and apply the lessons learned to your own life. Highly recommended.

[Debbie Rasure · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve done a lot of great Bible studies about women over the years, but Lori Roeleveld’s Graceful Influence has risen to the top of my favorites list. Graceful Influence stands out for a lot of reasons – the number of women it covers (many of whom I’ve never studied before), it was enjoyable to read and easy to understand, it pointed me to Scripture, and then challenged me to think more deeply about the lessons in each woman’s story. The questions for each chapter helped me apply the lessons to my own life. The other thing about this book is that I can see women of all ages benefitting from it and also men who want to learn how they can support the women in their lives along their faith journey. Although I received Graceful Influence from the publisher and was not required to leave a review, I wanted to share my honest opinion because I loved it! Graceful Influence helped me see these familiar stories with fresh eyes and find new lessons to enrich my faith walk.

[Maureen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a masterfully crafted book. Perfect for individual and group study, it’s for those who long to grow in their faith, appreciate biblical application, and understand the value of learning from others—even when those “others” are from long ago. With depth of wisdom, seasoned with wit, Lori shines light on influential women from the Old and New Testament, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses, to encourage readers toward graceful influence in their own lives. Not only will her words exhort us to mature as women of influence but will remind us of those who have been that for us, impacting us powerfully for the Kingdom. The world needs Lori’s words because it needs women of graceful influence in all its dark corners. And I, for one, am better equipped for the work God has for me having been influenced by her beautiful book.

[Tammie Fickas · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've all heard many of the biblical backstories of the women in "Graceful Influence," but others are somewhat unknown. Lori Stanley Roeleveld has paired these women to look at similarities and differences. This book shows the difference a decision—large or small—can make for the good and for the bad.

Each chapter ends with four sections:
• Bible – highlights where the stories are found and asks thought-provoking questions.
• Bible Extra – gives more background in other verses to help understand the stories.
• Battle – a few paragraphs to help spur the reader on to deeper thought or action.
• Bottom Line – a short and sweet takeaway from the women's lives.

Whether read straight through, used as a devotional, or completed with a Bible study group, “Graceful Influence” will make a lasting impact in the reader's life.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graceful Influence tackles the very common subject of women in the Bible, but the author gives her readers a new version of the character's story. I thought it would be a devotional like most of Our Daily Bread's publications, but each section is more of a chapter of each woman.
Sometimes we can feel "bored" when we see that the women of the Bible is the subject of a book or series. In this study we are challenged to see another view of the women. I think that this would be a great study for small groups. My husband is looking for new ways to teach on "famous" people of the Bible for our youth group and I am going to recommend this as a resource to help think out of the box.
I received a complimentary copy of Graceful Influence thanks to Our Daily Bread and NetGalley , but all opinions are my own.

[Lori Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Graceful Influence, Lori Roeleveld takes a deep dive into the women who grace (and sometimes disgrace) the pages of Scripture. Showcasing the well-know to the obscure, she takes us on a journey to get to know and understand many of the women God chose to include in the Bible. Roeleveld chooses a character quality to spotlight, includes a summary of their lives that demonstrates her thorough understanding of Scripture, and leaves us with a lingering thought to ponder. Whether famous or infamous, these women (and Roeleveld’s skilled pen) teach us invaluable lessons about biblical womanhood.

I received an advance copy of this title from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graceful Influence by Lori Roeleveld is an informative and understandable study about women of the Bible; the good ones, as well as not shying away from those who weren’t shining stars. The format was easy to follow along. After learning about different women of the Bible that I had previously not known about or had only a cursory knowledge of, I especially liked the Bible Extra, Battle, and Bottom Line sections which focused on further study, information, and food for thought.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the Bible, especially early- and middle-stage seekers.

[Cheryl Schuermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one who enjoys reading about women of the Bible, I found Lori Roeleveld’s Graceful Influence unique and insightful. In each chapter, the author pairs two women and explores how they influenced future generations. As Roeleveld states, “Let’s listen carefully to some of the women recorded in His Word and let their voices and choices influence ours.” Every chapter ends with additional resources and thoughts for reflection. I highly recommend this book as a fresh and thought-provoking study of the women God employed in his plan for mankind. Perfect for a small group.

[Suzanne Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never underestimate the power of a single soul to change the world.
In her new book, Graceful Influence, Lori Roeleveld brings home this point by contrasting the choices of
numerous women in the Bible. She emphasizes the impact made by their decisions and the influence of their actions on their culture—either for good or for bad. Chapters include the impact of courage, preparation, and humility, to name a few. Today’s women will find this book instructive, yet also encouraging. Even seemingly minor characters were influencers in their time.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read “Graceful Influence” by Lori Stanley Roeleveld. I fell in love with this book from the very first page. It holds within it sections talking about women from the Bible, Scripture, questions to reflect on each chapter. It allows the reader to see deeper into each woman from the Bible and into their own selves in their daily life with the Lord. I love this type of book. It increases my understanding of God’s Word, the people in it, and myself.

[Cathy Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book prompts me to ask the question: "Who do I want to become?" In each chapter, the author compares a biblical woman with a positive and another with a negative influence on her community and future generations. Roeleveld highlights women I've never given thought to, even though they're named in the Bible.
The book is very well written, easy to read and relate to. I've given many copies as gifts. It's that good.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book filled with stories about women in the Bible. We are influenced in many different ways. In this book, examples of how circumstances, personal experiences, faith, life lessons, and more show how the women of the Bible and women today can be affected. This is a book to read more than once. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

[Stacy Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend Graceful Influence enough. I'm glad I read it! I feel like I now know the women of the Bible as real people, not just characters in a Sunday School story. I think Martha and I would be great friends.
This book is perfect for personal or group study--even a retreat. Grab this book, a friend, and be ready to grow.

[Rachel Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Lori Stanley Roeleveld pairs together women from the Bible throughout this book. Some of the women were known, others I had never heard of or knew about. And so, Lori's writing brings a fresh perspective and inspiration to make a difference through a biblical perspective.

[Lori Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written book comparing different women of the Bible. wonderful comparisons, light but thought provoking. The added extra scripture and battle thoughts were very helpful. I have already started sharing an extra copy to friends.

[Ruth E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich telling of the stories of women in the Bible, paired for emphasis. I feel seen as a result of this reading.

[Rebecca Baughman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely keeping this one in my library. The chapters were short and very well written. Each chapter was easy to read and easy to understand. A good resource.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives details into the lives of some of the women in the Bible. I appreciated some of the new knowledge I received.

[Tracy Ruckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In recent years, I've thought so much about the legacy I'll leave behind when the Lord calls me Home. This book, Graceful Influence: Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from Women of the Bible, has helped me recognize the different kinds of legacies we leave, while connecting me to so many women in the Bible with legacies of their own.

Each short chapter compares or contrasts two Biblical women and draws us into their stories, then helps us apply their lessons to our own lives. Roeleveld leads us to other passages of Scripture to deepen our relationship with God, and our understanding of Him and His mighty works.

Graceful Influence is a perfect book to read on our own, but it would also be a great selection for book clubs, small groups, or even a few friends to read together and discuss.

[Rebecca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book with lots of depth and heart as the author explored so many women from the Bible and the things they can teach us. I loved that she made sure the women were more then just the verses we see but explained how the things they did made an impact across the ages.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

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