Encouraging and Heartfelt Stories of Grace Connect Women's Hearts with God--Now in Paper In this hectic life, it's easy to forget that God is always near, even though he sends us frequent reminders. The beauty amid the mess, a well-timed word of encouragement from a friend, the memories that won't let go of our hearts--they're all ways God extends us grace. But if we're not paying attention, we can miss them. With heartfelt stories from some of today's foremost writers, "The Beauty of Grace" is a haven of calm contemplation amid the chaos. These inspiring stories helps readers appreciate the benefits of cultivating friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, learning to trust, and much more. Contributors include Jessica Turner, Lisa-Jo Baker, Holley Gerth, Ann Voskamp, Bonnie Gray, Tsh Oxenreider, Leeana Tankersley, Emily Freeman, Margaret Feinberg, and many others.
Now graduated from her role as a homeschooling mom of eight, Dawn Camp devotes her time and love of stories to writing her first novel. She contributes to DaySpring’s (in)courage website and writes about family, faith, Photoshop, and life in an ever-emptying nest on Substack.
Dawn authored It All Began in a Garden and five other nonfiction titles, and was featured on Adobe’s website for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software. She enjoys movie date nights, steaming cups of Earl Grey, and cheering on the Braves. She lives with her family in metro Atlanta.
In this hectic life, we all need a little peace, a little quiet, and a little beauty. Combining heartfelt stories from some of today's foremost writers and bloggers with stunning photography of God's incredible creation, "The Beauty of Grace" is a haven of calm contemplation amidst the chaos. This uplifting collection includes moving stories of cultivating friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, and more from popular writers such as Jessica Turner, Lisa-Jo Baker, Holley Gerth, Ann Voskamp, Bonnie Gray, Tsh Oxenreider, Leeana Tankersley, Emily Freeman, Margaret Feinberg, and many others. Each story is accompanied by an uplifting Scripture verse, and the book includes Dawn's stunning photos. Foreword by Holley Gerth.
My Review:
Life gets pretty hectic in our household. We have had my daughter graduate high school early and start Bible school to become an ordained minister to in turn become a missionary. My husband also completed his schooling as well to become an ordained minister. We homeschool our children as well. So to say that we have a hum drum life, is a gross exaggeration at the very least. We grow weary a lot of the times, mainly due to the fact that we have no close friends or family cheering us on. Sometimes the encouragers grow weary. But it is in times like these that we are to turn to our Father and seek the comfort that we need.
In the book, The Beauty of Grace, Dawn Camp put together a myriad of contributors to help 'cheer" us ladies on, when we are in the pit that we can never seem to get out of. With the likes of Ann Voskamp and Holley Gerth, as well as many others, I was sure I could find some encouragement therein. And that is just what I was able to do. Story after precious story shoot right through to the heart. You hear there stories and you nod in agreement, because you realize that your life and theirs isn't much different. With each story we are reminded once again of that sweet aroma of a beautiful part of creation sent from the Father to let us know He is near.
Life gets in the way and yet we are fully engulfed by it because we are wives and we are mothers and we are daughters and we have to take care of our families. But who pray tell takes care of us?? That is when we have to band together as sisters comforting one another, not out of pity but out of the sheer fact that we have been there. The Beauty of Grace is just that, a book that reminds us in the middle of life's struggles that we have a Heavenly Father that is going through each trial each struggle with and will wait to comfort us and carry us through.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Revell.
Dawn Camp in her new book, “the beauty of GRACE” published by Revell gives us Stories of God’s Love from Today’s Most Popular Writers.
From the Back Cover: This is your invitation . . . to slow down, take a deep breath, and know that you are loved.
In this hectic life, it’s easy to forget that God is always near at hand, even though He sends us frequent reminders. The beauty amid the mess, a well-timed word of encouragement from a friend, the memories that won’t let go of our hearts–they’re all ways God extends an open hand to us. But if we’re not paying attention, we can miss it.
Combining heartfelt stories from some of today’s foremost writers with Dawn’s stunning photography of God’s incredible creation, The Beauty of Grace is your haven of calm contemplation amid the chaos. This inspiring collection includes stories of cultivating friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, learning to trust, and much more.
If you’re in need of a little peace, a little quiet, a little beauty, find comfort in this: you’re invited to experience them all within the pages of this soul-stirring book.
Ever ache emotionally? Ever miss a deceased parent? Ever feel as though you are becoming unstrung? We all have those moments and more when we need a great big hug and there is seemingly no one around. Guess what? Jesus is around and He promised that His grace is sufficient for us. Dawn Camp addresses this issue with seven different parts: Part One: Purpose, Part Two: The Big Picture, Part Three: Surrender, Part Four: Trust, Part Five: Lessons Learned, Part Six: Hope and Encouragement and Part Seven: Worship. Dawn Camp shares all the stories concerning all the individuals in this book for one reason only and that is to let us know that Jesus can get us through our chaos just as easy as He got these authors through theirs. So let us take encouragement from these stories and go out and really receive His grace. I think this is a great resource for everyone and would be a great gift for friends and family.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
If you're a woman, it probably means life is more busy for you than you might like. You may be wishing for more hours in a day. Time to relax, to unwind, to read.
The Beauty of Grace by Dawn Camp is a book filled with stories of God's love for women. It is a book filled with reminders that He can be found in the midst of our day, in the middle of our messes. It is a call to not miss Him.
Sometimes in our busyness, we can forget His Presence with us. With all the noise in our day, we may not hear Him calling to us to spend a few minutes with Him, apart from everything and everyone else.
In this book, Dawn Camp has compiled short stories from many of our favorite authors and bloggers. They are women just like us - they change diapers, clean house {at times}, cook meals, struggle with messy situations and have found God shows up in the midst of it all.
Each story will remind us His beauty and grace can be found in each of our days IF we only will be attentive and look for Him.
In this book, you will find stories on Purpose, The Big Picture, Surrender, Trust, Lessons Learned, Hope and Encouragement, and Worship. Their stories will make you laugh, cry, and think a little more deeply about our God who loves you, is with you, and has never left you not for one second.
The book is also filled with the beautiful and moving photography of Dawn Camp which will stir you to open your eyes to the beauty our Creator has placed all around us.
I actually finished this book in two afternoons. I sat with a large and hot cup of tea savoring the warmth of my drink and the words I read, allowing them both to soothe my soul. Each story bears an important message filled with encouragement and God's grace.
The Beauty of Grace is an uplifting book. It is compiled of short reading by many leading ladies in Christian Ministry. Each of the entries can be read individually, in sections, or however the reader decides.
From the first, A Man in the Mirror, I felt like the readings each spoke to my heart, my soul and my relationship with God. They made me reflect on times in my past and on every-day-life today.
The sections include purpose, the big picture, surrender, trust, lessons learned, hope and encouragement and worship. In addition, Dawn Camp placed photos throughout the book that helps the reader worship God from an entirely different direction.
I was given this book by Revell in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much and know that this book will be looked at many times in the future. Posted by Kimberly Napier at 8:30 AM
This is an encouraging compilation of essays. As is often the case with a compilation, the essays vary in length, style, and impact. Some are about the most mundane acts of life, like grocery shopping. Others are about life changing challenges. All of them are an encouragement that God is with us and loves us. I was familiar with a few of the contributors but not most. I think they are known for their blogging. These essays are good to read as a break in the activities of each day, reminding us that God is found in every moment of the day. See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1EEAsyi. I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
"The Beauty of Grace: Stories if God's Love from Today's Most Popular Writers", edited by Dawn Camp, is a collection of stories illustrating grace in woman's lives in today's world. This collection is inspiring, touching, and something most American women can relate to. Several stories touched me deeply. A nice addition to my book shelves, to be read and re-read, and shared with others.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Don’t you just love it when you can’t wait for something and when it arrives it’s even better than you ever imagined? That’s exactly what happened as I read The Beauty of Grace. With so many of my favourite writers gathered together within the pages of the same book I was giddy with excitement as I delved into this compilation about God’s love. Even so, I was taken quite by surprise with more than I expected.
I thought I would be reading a lot of sweet “God’s loves you, He really does” type stories that would warm my heart. Sure enough, I did soak up words of hope and encouragement; words of wisdom, comfort, joy and peace. In between being totally bowled over and dropping to my knees over the courage, humility, and raw transparency of every single contributor! At times, I found myself literally cradling the book close to my heart, thinking “Wow, oh wow! Even if this was the only entry it would be worth it!” I saw love beyond the comfy-cozy. Love that is steadfast. Love that is sacrificial and fierce. Love that holds tight when everything seems to be falling to pieces. God’s love to and through human hearts.
The ‘love notes’ you’ll discover inside The Beauty of Grace are beautifully complemented by heavenly nature photos taken by Dawn Camp – simply divine pictures bursting with a visual metaphor for the subtle, yet definitive proof of God’s love expressed in creation. It’s all there in black and white for you.
Each short ‘heartdrop’ is a priceless reflection of God’s love bouncing off the page and straight into our hearts. You’ll meet:
- A terminally ill woman relay “Nothing about my life is about me, it’s about who He needs me to be”
- A young girl whose health silently stole her gymnastics dream wildly cheering her friend living that same dream.
- A mama who lost two houses, gained two babies, dropped an income and didn’t have the $1.97 she owed for groceries at the same time her father’s life was slipping away in ICU
- The family who started Mercy House in Kenya to provide hope and opportunity to pregnant teens living in extreme poverty
-The woman with 5 children and a depleted emergency fund who invites you to join her as a fellow God-watcher; keeping a watch-full eye out for His goodness and assurances, waiting in joyful expectation for the adventure He has in store for us
…and so much more!
Divided into well-chosen themes that include Purpose, The Big Picture, Surrender, Trust, Lessons Learned, Hope and Encouragement, and Worship, The Beauty of Grace covers a variety of topics written by diverse people in different situations. You’ll hear uplifting messages for changing seasons and stubborn circumstances; tough times and hard places. With words that will renew and inspire where you need it most, this book promises to be a favourite you’ll want to go back to time and time again. And share with others
Soul-stirring right down to the last page, this collection of love-infused offerings from the heart ends “just right” with friends sharing Communion. Because that’s what it’s all about. Doing life together. Sharing our lives, and being there for each other in loving service. Standing as full length mirrors to God’s love through our stories and through our love for Him and others…in remembrance of Him. Now, that’s what I call the beauty of grace!
Disclosure: Many thanks to Revell Publishing for the invitation to be part of The Beauty of Grace Blog Tour and the complimentary book in exchange for this unbiased review.
”This is your invitation . . . to slow down, take a deep breath, and know that you are loved.
In this hectic life, it's easy to forget that God is always near at hand, even though He sends us frequent reminders. The beauty amid the mess, a well-timed word of encouragement from a friend, the memories that won't let go of our hearts--they're all ways God extends an open hand to us. But if we're not paying attention, we can miss it.
Combining heartfelt stories from some of today's foremost writers with Dawn's stunning photography of God's incredible creation, The Beauty of Grace is your haven of calm contemplation amid the chaos. This inspiring collection includes stories of cultivating friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, learning to trust, and much more.”
This book, The Beauty of Grace, is just… peaceful. It is a wonderful compilation of stories written by women from all walks of life. They are stories of Grace. Grace in our Purpose, Our Surrender, Our Trust, in Our Hope and Encouragement, in our Lessons Learned and in Our Worship. These are more than mere stories written by some of the most popular writers, they are stories that almost make you feel that they are right there with you, sharing their words.
This is a book that just begs you to pour yourself a cup of tea, find a quiet place and let God’s peace invade your life. As the author says… “If you're in need of a little peace, a little quiet, a little beauty, find comfort in this: you're invited to experience them all within the pages of this soul-stirring book.”
About the author: Dawn Camp is the camera-toting, home schooling mother of eight children. She is a featured blogger at (in)courage, and her beautiful photography has previously graced their monthly calendar and currently decorates the desktops of women around the world. Dawn blogs at MyHomeSweetHomeOnline.net and is a featured photographer on Adobe's website for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software. She lives with her family in metro Atlanta.
Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa.... review.
*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations: Amazon, Christian Book, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and to be featured on my blog at http://titus3.wordpress.com
Disclaimer: I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway in the expectation that I would read and review it.
God’s love is a wonderful thing. It is not dependent on our earning it, it comes to us free of charge and all we have to do is accept it. But sometimes it can be hard to feel that love, trapped in our own circumstances and beset with difficulties–or sometimes too much luxury distracts us from what’s important.
This book is a collection of short essays and personal stories about grace, and the writers’ relationships with God. They are divided by general themes: purpose, trust, hope and encouragement, etc. It’s firmly in the Christian inspirational genre, so will be most useful to those who already believe. Most of the writers are women, with one token man, most are mothers and many are bloggers.
There is of course some sameness of topics, and you may have to look at the author’s name to see if it is a different person from a previous essay or not. Thankfully, there is little glurge, and most of the essays are at least readable.
My personal favorite of the essays is “When God Says ‘Stop,’ He Doesn’t Always Mean ‘Quit'” by Rachel Anne Ridge. It’s about a traffic sign that seems misplaced and useless where it is, but go on a bit further and the meaning becomes more obvious. A parallel is drawn to roadblocks in our lives; they may not be meant to be permanent obstacles to our goals, but a way of telling us about hazards ahead.
“And So We Are Carried Along” by Amanda Williams is a powerful piece about her family’s time on food stamps. “When Giving Up Is the Right Thing to Do” by Kristen Strong is about learning to accept when something is impossible and moving on.
Dawn Camp, the editor, also contributed several pieces, and the photographs throughout the book. I think a bit more care could have been used to pick photos that look “right” in black and white; several of these lose something without color.
There’s an author bio section in the back if any of the essays intrigue you and you want to check out their blogs.
Overall, a decent book that will introduce you to many writers in the Christian inspirational field you may not have heard of before, and a nice gift for, say, Mother’s Day.
I love books that encourage and inspire. Sitting down with The Beauty of Grace, edited by Dawn Camp, is like sitting down with a group of close friends. The women in this book are so open and raw in the way they share their hearts with us readers.
Several entries touched me in a profound way. I identified with the woman scared of losing her child after dealing with infertility. I cried with the woman who didn't even have $2 to pay for bananas. I felt like I was with these women in the intimate moments discovering God's work in their lives.
In reading their stories, I was forced to slow down and think about my story. How is God revealing Himself to me right now? Do I see him in the everyday moments while my son plays with his toys or asks me to read him the story of David and Goliath for the seventeenth time today? Do I have heart-to-heart times with my Savior while up to my elbows in soap suds?
This book is an encouragement. It reads like a series of blog posts, which might have been the original format of many of these devotional entries.
My only real criticism of the book is to question the claim on the cover that these are "from today's most popular writers." I'd like to know what the measurement of that claim would be. I recognize I don't know everyone, and don't read a lot of popular blogs, but most of these women I had never heard of before opening The Beauty of Grace.
The stories in this book resonate with the mother and wife side of my life. It shows how God meets us in the everyday tasks, if we are just looking for Him there.
While I read this book cover to cover, because I was trying to finish it in time for this review, I would strongly suggest you take your time going through the pages. There are so many wonderful stories to ponder and meditate on.
I think the book would make a great gift for any Christian stay-at-home mom.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
"This is your invitation…to slow down, take a deep breath, and know that you are loved."
The Beauty of Grace: stories of God’s love from today’s most popular writers (Dawn Camp editor & photographer) is a book of stories told by women, to remind us that God loves us and is always with us in whatever we may be going through at any given time.
Appearance: The dust cover of this hardback book is gorgeous! As a lover of daisies (especially a bundle of them placed in a mason jar) I consider this cover art a masterpiece. My southern heart can’t appreciate more simplicity and beauty than this. Cover LOVE.
Contents: The book is divided into seven sections: Purpose, The Big Picture, Surrender, Trust, Lessons Learned, Hope and Encouragement, and Worship.
Green divider pages precede each section with the section topic and a relevant (KJV) Bible verse. Each story (most are one to three pages) ends with either a verse or lovely quote, and the pages are bordered in green.
Illustrations: What a breath of fresh air! I not only enjoyed the heart-filling stories displaying God’s love and mercy, but also the lovely black and white photographs placed throughout. Flowers, skies, robin’s eggs, leaves, etc.—such beautiful scenes of this magnificent world God placed us in.
5 Stars
Cover: LOVE it Title: Love it Publisher: Revell Pages: 208 First Lines (Introduction): My eighteen-year-old son and I sit barstool to barstool, laptop to laptop at the kitchen counter, a twenty-first-century mother/son moment.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from the publisher through Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This is one of the most encouraging, uplifting books I've read in a very long time. It touched my heart and my spirit in so many ways.
"The Beauty of Grace" is filled with inspirational stories from some of my favorite Christian women authors. I found my eyes filled with tears many times throughout this book because it ministered to my heart so greatly. The one story that just stands out to me is by Sara Frankl called "It's Not About Me". Like me, she lives with health and pain issues and instead of being angry with God, she realizes that God can, and does, use her life. I was especially struck with this sentence, "But it doesn't mean I was given this illness to teach me something." Oh, my. This was such a God thing for me as I have been wondering if God has given me my circumstances because I did something wrong or He's trying to teach me something. I realize, through Sara, that it's about how God can use my life. This is just one of many of the wonderful things this book has to share.
You will definitely find many things that will encourage you. I really had a hard time putting this book down because I was so ministered to. Not only are the stories wonderful, the photos by Dawn Camp are amazing and so beautiful! This book is in my quiet time basket now as I am using it as a devotional each day. I also refer to it when I'm having a hard time and need some encouragement and a reminder that God loves me.
That's what this book is really about. God's love for us. His Grace, His love, and His forgiveness. We can live a life full of grace because we have the Lord in our life. I highly recommend this book and hope that you'll get a copy as it's really a must have book for every woman! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Revell Books
This was one of those love at first sight books for me. I saw the cover and instantly wanted to read it. I am definitely guilty of choosing to read books entirely based on the cover. In this case it worked out well. The Beauty of Grace is a grouping of short stories and personal reflections of many popular writers, mostly women. I am familiar with several of the contributors like Ann VosKamp, Holly Gerth, and Lisa-Jo Baker. As much as I read, I was surprised that most of the authors are unknown to me. Having said that, three of my favorite short stories included in this book were written by women I had never even heard of until I opened this book.
If I had a friend who was going through something difficult, I would find this book perfect for a little gift. I would put it in a pretty basket with some fresh flowers, a nice card, and some tea. The stories inside cover several areas including Purpose, Surrender, Trust, Encouragement, and Worship. My absolute favorite story was written by Robin Dance entitled, ” The Generous, Very Kind Gift.” Author Robin Dance tells the story of almost missing a blessing because she was too busy to set aside what she was doing to see it. It was such a great reminder to always be aware of God’s blessings.
I give The Beauty of Grace four stars for all the golden nuggets found within. It is a perfect gift book and I already have a friend in mind who could use a pick-me-up. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.
Do you know just how much God loves you? Could you use a daily reminder?
If so, "slow down for a moment (and) take a deep breath". Revell has just published Dawn Camp's first book - The Beauty Of Grace - Stories Of Love From Today's Most Popular Writers - which was written precisely with that purpose in mind!
The Beauty of Grace combines the heartfelt stories of today's foremost inspirational writers with the beautiful black and white photography of Editor and Photographer Dawn Camp.
The result? An inspiring devotional you will not want to miss!
The Beauty Of Grace is divided into several sections:
* Purpose * The Big Picture * Surrender * Trust * Lessons Learned * Hope and Encouragement * Worship
The Table of Contents lists the authors who contribute to each section. Ann Voskamp, Holley Gerth and Tsh Oxenreider are a few of the notables you'll find inside.
Feel free to read through the book in whatever order you like - each story stands alone.
What I love most about The Beauty Of Grace is that the stories and biblical wisdom the authors share feels both timely and timeless. Every author in this book shares something precious that I need to hear.
The Beauty Of Grace is a keeper that also makes a wonderful gift for a friend.
Lovely, fragrant, fresh, inviting: the adjectives that bubble into my mind for The Beauty of Grace are the same descriptive terms that I would use for the bouquet of flowers pictured on the cover. Dawn Camp has found a way to slow down the internet in this garland of short stories and essays. The contributors list reads like a who’s who of current Christian authors and bloggers, but the content is timeless because the themes of purpose and surrender, trust and worship, hope and encouragement have been plucked directly from the Word of God.
With rich imagery and personal examples lifted from the authors’ lives, there are words for everyone here: words that will refresh you in the desert; reasoning that will shove you off your comfy couch and into real life; meditations that will toughen the soles of your feet for walking on broken ground; reflections that will wrestle your inside-out gaze away from your own short-comings and refocus your eyes on the upside-down world of grace where Jesus works miracles from the ordinary.
The Beauty of Grace is a perfect gift for a bride, a new mum, or any sister who needs a blessing, and my under-lined and dog-eared copy has earned a place on my crowded night stand.
Disclosure: This book was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Company, in exchange for my unbiased review.
If you are looking for a sweet collection of stories by a variety of authors, check out The Beauty of Grace: Stories of God’s Love from Today’s Most Popular Writers. The book is like a smorgasbord of inspirational stories, and even if you don’t like all of it, there’s something for everyone.
One of my favorite stories was “On Comparing Yourself” by Arianne Segerman, which had good commentary about comparing ourselves to others within this digital age of rampant social media. Another one of my favorites was “Peace in the Pieces” by Kelley J. Leigh; I liked the author’s descriptive writing and Scripture-based message. Throughout the book, I also enjoyed reading the Bible verses and quotes that were included at the end of the stories.
The stories are each short, so they are easy to digest quickly. Some of these stories would be good for prose interpretation contests, or if you needed to read something at a luncheon or banquet. Each story is packed with thoughtfulness and valuable insight. The book teaches important lessons about life, love, self-esteem, and truth. Ultimately, The Beauty of Grace points readers towards Jesus Christ, reminding us of the power of God’s unfailing love.
The Beauty of Grace by Dawn Camp is like having your favorite blog posts by many of today’s popular writers — Holley Gerth, Ann Voskamp, Bonnie Gray and Emily P. Freeman — gathered all in one place. And you don’t even have to search the blog archives for them.
This collection of stories are grouped under the sections of purpose, the big picture, surrender, trust, lessons learned, hope and encouragement, and worship, and are accompanied by Dawn Camp’s photography of nature scenes (although I couldn’t help wishing the photos were in color).
These personal stories of how God shows up - in the middle of our busiest days or lonely nights, when we’re staring at deadlines or connecting with friends or families— is a reminder of his presence in our lives. They share the hope and courage and determination and joy they find in all he has planned for them as they lean into him. They are discovering God as they go along, and their words encourage us to discover him too.
These chapters are quick reads and are perfect as a devotional or for a pick-me-up when you need a little inspiration.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher, but my opinions are completely my own.)
When it arrived last week, I dove in headfirst. I was looking forward to reading Dawn Camp's compilation book The Beauty of Grace: Stories of God's Love from Today's Most Popular Writers. But I had also promised to write a review of it. The book arrived late and I was on deadline.
I quickly realized this is not a book to rush through.
Short, two page stories of everyday life and grace (aren't they one and the same?) from some of my favorite authors (Emily Freeman, Joy Forney, Lisa-Jo Baker) and soon-to-be favorites, this is a book to be savored.
I made an effort to push through. If I'm going to write a thorough review, shouldn't I read the whole book first?
It seemed dishonest not to.
But the more I read, the more I knew I wouldn't finish in time. Not because I couldn't. Because I didn't want to.
These beautiful stories, glimpses of worlds so different from mine and yet so familiar, call out to be read one at a time, a deep exhalation at the end of a long day.
Do I recommend this book? Whole-heartedly! In fact, I may have to start my 2015 Christmas list now and stock up on copies (shhh! don't tell!)
By then, I'm sure I'll have read through the whole thing. Several times.
I received a book from Revell called The Beauty Of Grace: Stories of God's Love from Today's Most Popular Writers. The editor/photographer for this book is Dawn Camp, and the foreword was written by Holley Gerth. This book has short stories by many authors about how they find God in their daily struggles. I enjoyed reading each story because it shows just how human we are, and how we all struggle with similar issues. No one is perfect and we are all going to go through rough times in our lives. The best thing to do is to find God in those struggles. Yes, I know, it is easier said then done a lot of the times. You know why? Because we let ourselves get in the way of finding him. I think this book is a great way of reassuring myself that there is hope, these authors have found that hope in their struggles. Why can't I? Also God forgives me if I mess up and he has never given up hope on me. He just sits there patiently waiting for me to get up, brush myself off, and try again. I believe this book is great if you are looking for some inspirational stories. The cover is beautiful to look at and so are the pictures that are on the inside of this book. If this type of book is your style of reading, then it is a must, that you read this book.
This was a beautiful, encouraging hardcover book that would be great to read as a devotional or just when you can find a few minutes in a hectic day. Each chapter is short, from 2-4 pages, and divided into 7 section, such as purpose, surrender and trust. There was a lot of truth to ponder in this book, reminders that we don't have to have it all together or be superwomen. God wants to use us in our weakness; He just asks us to be willing. I was challenged to be fearless, to trust, to know that He's with me always. I was reminded of how much He loves me. Some of the stories made me laugh and some cry. Some told a story and others felt like a friend baring their soul. A couple were even more like poems. Most included a Scripture verse, but some had a quote at the end. The photographs were beautiful, but would have been even more so in color. I also wasn't familiar with most of the women, but it seems like they all have a blog and some have written books or are involved in other ministries. I highly recommend this book to all women!
I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.
The Beauty of Grace is one of my new favorite books for encouragement, inspiration, and reminders of the goodness of God in everyday life.
The short and easy to read selections written by some of my favorite writers online are a joy to read. Uplifting the spirit, these ladies remind us to look to God, and hold dear the everyday simple pleasures and beauty found in His grace.
The seven sections of the book focus each on a different aspect of life and each contain a hand full of brief writings by a variety of authors. The varied topics help make it easy to find something that speaks to your life situation, and the different authors lend their own personal voice and perspective.
This book has a good place in any library where you are seeking encouragement and reminders of God’s great grace. A daily or weekly reading in this book will breathe fresh air in what can be the hubbub, in and out, mundane, yet crazy, daily life.
Are you looking for a quick and easy read which allows you to take little vignettes of God’s love in our everyday life? Are you looking for little glimpses of God’s grace at work? Then pick up The Beauty of Grace to connect with God’s love through some of today’s greatest Christian writers.
This book was a great companion on my last trip and served as a great way to connect with short stories and devotionals of God’s love in our lives. I was easily able to dive in, connect and take these stories to heart while on a business trip. I loved the quick and easy reads which made me feel like I was chatting with some of my closest girlfriends about those things which truly tug on your heart. The stories were well written and each was based in scripture which assisted in making my bible study even stronger while reading this book.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a gift for a woman in their lives who needs a reminder through laughs, tears and uplifting stories, that God’s grace shines on each and every one of us
In her first published work, Dawn Camp assembles a mighty committee of amazing female writers. Of only the nine authors listed above, I have reviewed seven of the authors on the blog previously.
As I was reading through, I found myself becoming annoyed that all of their 'voices' sounded so similiar so 'Christian-blogese'. However, after awhile I found myself noticing their quiet differences and seeing their personalities shine through. This made me fall in love with some of the women even more than I already was.
There were SO many fantastic stories and words of encouragement, that I would hate for you to miss any of them. Please, check out the book for yourself and be encouraged, strengthened, healed, and loved.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. See more of this review and others like it at Sunrise Avenue
The Beauty of Grace is a wonderfully encouraging collection of stories from a variety of writers, covering an array of topics, including purpose, trust and surrender. Each story is unique, yet holds truth relatable to women in any stage of life and ultimately points to God’s love for his people. The Beauty of Grace is a great book to take a break with and ponder in the midst of life’s challenges and busyness. I think it’s worth a read.
Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of The Beauty of Grace and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
I like to linger at the table with my people. And that's what reading "The Beauty of Grace" by Dawn Camp was like.
Camp put together this treasury of real-life testimonies. She invited other writers to share about purpose, surrender and worship. She writes a few essays herself, but she's more like a host. She does include some of her own lovely photographs. And it's a beautiful table at which to linger.
The list of authors includes some of my favorites - Mary Carver, Jessica Turner, Kristen Strong, Holley Gerth, Emily P. Freeman, Melanie Shankle, and Jennifer Dukes Lee.
These authors tell real-life stories of brokenness, imperfection, and finding Jesus that offer hope and encouragement. Camp weaves their stories together beautifully with her own, binding up individual stories that are actually intertwined because they all come back to One Author.
Our lives are so busy and hectic. We often get so caught up in the busyness of life that we forget to make God a part of that life. We forget that He's there patiently waiting for us. Each story is written by a popular writer. Each writer offers a glimpse into the beauty of grace that our Savior desires for us to experience.
Each story brings out a different thought, but all of them will touch your heart. I loved the variety and different "voices" that each chapter brought. Each story touched my heart in some way or another. The cover is beautiful and gives off the feeling of comfort and peace even before the book is opened. I'll be keeping this book to re-read and would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a calm during the midst of their storm. It would also make a wonderful gift.
I received this book free of charge Revel Reads from in exchange for my honest review.
This was a very uplifting book for me! There are several short stories in this book but each one touched me in a different way.
The Beauty Of Grace is divided into several sections:
* Purpose * The Big Picture * Surrender * Trust * Lessons Learned * Hope and Encouragement * Worship
This a book written by homeschooling mothers for the most part! it is in times like these full of to do lists and frustration that we are to turn to our Father and seek the comfort that we need. This book will do jsut that draw one to Christ. This is a good collection of encouraging essays. I do recommend it.
The front is very pretty too!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.