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Play with Fire: Discovering Fierce Faith, Unquenchable Passion and a Life-Giving God
Raw, real, and relatable, this book is your guide to navigating life's fires. Bianca Olthoff is here to show that our struggles and hardships may be the fire that refines us instead of destroys us, brings us hope instead of despair, and leads us right into the arms of a God who loves us.
Play with Fire, the debut book by popular speaker and teacher Bianca Juarez Olthoff, is the reminder that God isn't waiting until you have more resources or a spouse or a job so he can use you. He's ready to use you now.
Using the mythical creature, the Phoenix, which was also referenced by early church leaders, she parallels this story with God's work in her own life, highlighting the beauty of reinvention with fire as both the impetus and the method for change. Olthoff reminds us that we serve a God who is redemptive and can take the worst situations and use them for His glory.
Play With Fire is a Bible-infused message that will help women
The way out of the middle is moving forward
The personal and powerful nature of the Holy Spirit
The power and sacrifice of transformation
The unique calling and purpose of life involves transformation
With Olthoff's distinct style, strong storytelling gifts, and powerful bible teaching, Play with Fire will remind readers that God has huge dreams for them. In Bianca's words, "He's whispering in the wind and speaking through the fire and shouting in silence the extraordinary dream He is birthing in you. His dream for you is far greater than the dream you have for yourself. It's not your identity or income or influence that will make this happen. Like Zechariah 4:6 says, "'It's not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, ' says the Lord." It's time to play with fire.
Study guide and video study also available.
Play with Fire, the debut book by popular speaker and teacher Bianca Juarez Olthoff, is the reminder that God isn't waiting until you have more resources or a spouse or a job so he can use you. He's ready to use you now.
Using the mythical creature, the Phoenix, which was also referenced by early church leaders, she parallels this story with God's work in her own life, highlighting the beauty of reinvention with fire as both the impetus and the method for change. Olthoff reminds us that we serve a God who is redemptive and can take the worst situations and use them for His glory.
Play With Fire is a Bible-infused message that will help women
The way out of the middle is moving forward
The personal and powerful nature of the Holy Spirit
The power and sacrifice of transformation
The unique calling and purpose of life involves transformation
With Olthoff's distinct style, strong storytelling gifts, and powerful bible teaching, Play with Fire will remind readers that God has huge dreams for them. In Bianca's words, "He's whispering in the wind and speaking through the fire and shouting in silence the extraordinary dream He is birthing in you. His dream for you is far greater than the dream you have for yourself. It's not your identity or income or influence that will make this happen. Like Zechariah 4:6 says, "'It's not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, ' says the Lord." It's time to play with fire.
Study guide and video study also available.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2016
131 people are currently reading
950 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
October 31, 2022
I think Bianca is a great speaker with a fiery passion that is impossible to miss, and so I couldn't help but begin this book with great anticipation. From the description of Play with Fire, as well as several interviews in which I heard Bianca talk about the book, I believed that she would write about Holy Spirit - who He is, what He does, and how fire and the Holy Spirit often go together in the Bible. I thought she might mention a few life experiences and examples, but that the book would help readers "discover fierce faith, unquenchable passion, and a life-giving God." (AKA, focus on Holy Spirit and not on Bianca's life story.)
However, the book is a summary of Bianca's life. There are mentions to fire - fires that she has walked through and a few places in the Bible that mention fire - but mainly it's her story of growing up. It's 200 pages about how SHE discovered fierce faith etcetc, but not how readers can do so. By the end, everything has worked out. Although life isn't easy, her mom survived and Bianca gets married. (To which she says in getting married "I was finally living His promises" (page 186). To a single girl, that's hurtful. But I won't go into that because it isn't the message of the book.)
Knowing that the manuscript of final edits was lost at the last minute and Bianca had to start over again, I have so much sympathy for this endeavor. I do believe, though, that it explains why the book repeats itself over and over again. Within even just two pages, I would read the exact same idea or train of thought. It often left me thinking, "Does she assume that I'm not reading this, that I don't understand her point the first time?"
As an example, this paragraph is at the bottom of page 182: "Faced with a division, Joshua gave the order. Yes the land was still full of giants. The land was still filled with the unknown. The land still contained impenetrable enemy walls. But the promise of God remained true. This time, the Israelites walked into that promise, as frightening as it may have seemed."
In the middle of the very next page (183), there is this paragraph - which begins with an incomplete sentence: "Joshua, the new leader, commissioned by Moses to take his place when he passed away. Charged to lead his people into their destiny, Joshua relied on God's promise. Yes, the land was still full of giants. The land was still shrouded by the unknown. The land still contained impenetrable enemy walls. But the promise of God remained true. This time, the Israelites walked into that promise, as frightening as it may have seemed."
An editor should have caught that. In fact, an editor or copy editor should have caught *dozens* of typos and grammatical mistakes throughout the book. I would also love to know why, on page 108, they suddenly decided to start to bold some sentences in the book.
Until the final chapters (there are 18), the book isn't about playing with fire. Bianca writes about fires she has walked through and how she's messed up or not believed/lived out XYZ, but it isn't until the very end that she talks about playing with fire. Honestly, I still don't know what that looks like to her or what it means. I know she encourages readers to walk through the fires of life with faith, but that's all I know from the book. I was hoping for much more.
However, the book is a summary of Bianca's life. There are mentions to fire - fires that she has walked through and a few places in the Bible that mention fire - but mainly it's her story of growing up. It's 200 pages about how SHE discovered fierce faith etcetc, but not how readers can do so. By the end, everything has worked out. Although life isn't easy, her mom survived and Bianca gets married. (To which she says in getting married "I was finally living His promises" (page 186). To a single girl, that's hurtful. But I won't go into that because it isn't the message of the book.)
Knowing that the manuscript of final edits was lost at the last minute and Bianca had to start over again, I have so much sympathy for this endeavor. I do believe, though, that it explains why the book repeats itself over and over again. Within even just two pages, I would read the exact same idea or train of thought. It often left me thinking, "Does she assume that I'm not reading this, that I don't understand her point the first time?"
As an example, this paragraph is at the bottom of page 182: "Faced with a division, Joshua gave the order. Yes the land was still full of giants. The land was still filled with the unknown. The land still contained impenetrable enemy walls. But the promise of God remained true. This time, the Israelites walked into that promise, as frightening as it may have seemed."
In the middle of the very next page (183), there is this paragraph - which begins with an incomplete sentence: "Joshua, the new leader, commissioned by Moses to take his place when he passed away. Charged to lead his people into their destiny, Joshua relied on God's promise. Yes, the land was still full of giants. The land was still shrouded by the unknown. The land still contained impenetrable enemy walls. But the promise of God remained true. This time, the Israelites walked into that promise, as frightening as it may have seemed."
An editor should have caught that. In fact, an editor or copy editor should have caught *dozens* of typos and grammatical mistakes throughout the book. I would also love to know why, on page 108, they suddenly decided to start to bold some sentences in the book.
Until the final chapters (there are 18), the book isn't about playing with fire. Bianca writes about fires she has walked through and how she's messed up or not believed/lived out XYZ, but it isn't until the very end that she talks about playing with fire. Honestly, I still don't know what that looks like to her or what it means. I know she encourages readers to walk through the fires of life with faith, but that's all I know from the book. I was hoping for much more.
June 25, 2016
Bianca's personal story and heart are so evident in this, her autobiography and faith journey. I was brought to tears and got chills multiple times as we saw the places God is and was working in her life. He is powerful and awesome and present, and there's no way to read this book without coming away with that as very apparent.
Only reason I don't bump this up a star is because I'd like to see a bit more "application" other than the epilogue. She has had such an interesting life, and has learned so much, but we just get this little glimpse at the end as to why we should CARE about her story instead of reading something else instead. I've heard her speak and know her to be a powerful speaker that MOVES people, and I would have liked to see more of that here.
*I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
Only reason I don't bump this up a star is because I'd like to see a bit more "application" other than the epilogue. She has had such an interesting life, and has learned so much, but we just get this little glimpse at the end as to why we should CARE about her story instead of reading something else instead. I've heard her speak and know her to be a powerful speaker that MOVES people, and I would have liked to see more of that here.
*I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
July 7, 2016
In discussing vanity and body image issues, Olthoff's words felt like a friend putting her arm around me saying "me too, but it doesn't have to be this way." Play with Fire tells of her own life experiences, but as she intertwines them with the Bible's teaching on the Israelites in the wilderness, the book isn't so much a memoir but encouragement to those who are seeking a life on fire for God.
Recounting her mother's battle with cancer had me tearing up, and reaching for the phone to call my dad (who's own cancer diagnosis shook my life, faith included).
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Recounting her mother's battle with cancer had me tearing up, and reaching for the phone to call my dad (who's own cancer diagnosis shook my life, faith included).
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
April 9, 2017
With a name like playing with fire, I was expecting this book to focus on the Holy Spirit, and be exciting and inspiring.
Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to expectations. It is more a memoir of the authors life. As I was reading I was expecting something really big to happen, but it never quite did. I kept on reading because the author writes beautifully, but i don't think that she's quite ready to write her autobiography. Yet. I get the impression that in a few years time she may have more to say, as she seems like a woman really passionate about Jesus.
I think that this book will probably find some people who love it, it just doesn't have as broad an appeal as many other Christian books.
Finally, to end on a positive, this book does contain lots and lots of references to scripture.
Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to expectations. It is more a memoir of the authors life. As I was reading I was expecting something really big to happen, but it never quite did. I kept on reading because the author writes beautifully, but i don't think that she's quite ready to write her autobiography. Yet. I get the impression that in a few years time she may have more to say, as she seems like a woman really passionate about Jesus.
I think that this book will probably find some people who love it, it just doesn't have as broad an appeal as many other Christian books.
Finally, to end on a positive, this book does contain lots and lots of references to scripture.
October 5, 2019
Bianca shares her story of struggling through desert seasons and trusting that God is there even when he's silent. She talks of the work of the Holy Spirit and allowing God's refining fire to burn away the dross and reveal the beauty. It is an encouraging and inspiring story of God's work and faithfulness in our world and lives.
October 5, 2017
Not what I was expecting, but I loved it! A compelling testimony, Biblical truth, and Bianca's trademark sassy yet classy style! ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
September 21, 2016
I discovered author and speaker Bianca Juarez Olthoff while watching the Propel series. While Christine Caine hosted the series, Bianca was one of the Christian leader participants. I enjoyed listening to her views on women and biblical truths. I also am following along with the Play With Fire Propel Book Club on Facebook. The first 2 books the book club covered were by Caine and by Alli Worthington. Both excellent books. I really enjoyed Bianca Juarez Olthoff's Play With Fire as well.
Play With Fire is a stand alone book but I also noticed that there is a study guide and a DVD. I recommended Christine Caine's Unashamed to my ladies bible study group and we are studying it this Fall. I would also recommend Play With Fire.
Play With Fire is a good read for women who are beginning their walk with Christ. Bianca goes through her life story with us and we travel through grief, desperation, and pain with her. But we also get to celebrate her victories with her. And her search for a purpose. I liked her A-ha moment in Chapter 1 where she decides to transform her life...she gets her butt off the couch and gets out there. She realizes that she needs to do something important with her life. It is a good lesson for all of us. And in the end she realizes that everything she been through in life is preparing her for her life as a Christian speaker, pastor's wife, stepmother, and now author.
I like Bianca. She is real and honest and a devout Christian. She has shared her life story with us. She is encouraging. By sharing her story with us we are encouraged to believe in ourselves and get moving. We need to find our own Promised Land.
I like that at the end of the acknowledgements she writes: And if you read this page too, thank you for staying through the whole journey. You are my favorite.
Well Bianca, you did great job with your first book. I am looking forward to many more.
Play With Fire is a stand alone book but I also noticed that there is a study guide and a DVD. I recommended Christine Caine's Unashamed to my ladies bible study group and we are studying it this Fall. I would also recommend Play With Fire.
Play With Fire is a good read for women who are beginning their walk with Christ. Bianca goes through her life story with us and we travel through grief, desperation, and pain with her. But we also get to celebrate her victories with her. And her search for a purpose. I liked her A-ha moment in Chapter 1 where she decides to transform her life...she gets her butt off the couch and gets out there. She realizes that she needs to do something important with her life. It is a good lesson for all of us. And in the end she realizes that everything she been through in life is preparing her for her life as a Christian speaker, pastor's wife, stepmother, and now author.
I like Bianca. She is real and honest and a devout Christian. She has shared her life story with us. She is encouraging. By sharing her story with us we are encouraged to believe in ourselves and get moving. We need to find our own Promised Land.
I like that at the end of the acknowledgements she writes: And if you read this page too, thank you for staying through the whole journey. You are my favorite.
Well Bianca, you did great job with your first book. I am looking forward to many more.
September 21, 2016
In Play With Fire, Bianca explores how God has worked the miracle of redemption and transformation in her own life. She does this by studying how fire is used thematically throughout the Bible to represent God and His ability to refine us through fire, to deliver us from fire, and to transform us by fire.
As Bianca walks us through the places of heartbreak, grief and desolation in her life – and takes us on a biblical journey with the Israelites, with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and with Jesus and His followers – we’ll learn how to grow and stretch our faith when we find ourselves in the dark places and seasons in our lives.
Play With Fire is a powerful and inspiring book. Read it with a highlighter in hand.
This review is an excerpt from the original review that is published on my blog. To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own, based on my experience with this book.
As Bianca walks us through the places of heartbreak, grief and desolation in her life – and takes us on a biblical journey with the Israelites, with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and with Jesus and His followers – we’ll learn how to grow and stretch our faith when we find ourselves in the dark places and seasons in our lives.
Play With Fire is a powerful and inspiring book. Read it with a highlighter in hand.
This review is an excerpt from the original review that is published on my blog. To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own, based on my experience with this book.
September 6, 2016
This book is written with such heart. It is a story of transformation from the inside out, about how sometimes God needs to take you through the fire to show you the path to what His purpose for you really is. Juarez Olthoff writes with fervor, with humor, and most of all, with a pure and open heart for what God is calling her to share with the world. I'd recommend it for anyone who just needs a little push into the fire, trusting that with God, we are going exactly where we need to be.
October 6, 2016
I really really try to like books by Christian authors that are geared toward women, I promise I do. But almost always, I find them to be pretty light, pretty uninteresting, and pretty average. I really want to LOVE them and get fired up by them, but I'm just realizing they're not my preferred books and that's okay. This one was a great story of Bianca's life and journey of faith, but I didn't really have any great takeaways from it and honestly even now, I can't remember too much about it a couple days later. I've heard good things about this one from other friends though, so maybe I should just stop reading these books and giving them mediocre reviews and actually read books I LOVE instead. Yeah, I'll do that. Don't listen to my thoughts on this one.
September 30, 2016
Pretty nice book overall
Overall I thought that this book was interesting. It's not quite my style, but it was short and a very quick read so it was probably worth the effort. The story is inspirational on my fronts, and she uses the Bible frequently to support her points. Well using the Bible in this way is good on some points, I felt like she play fast and loose with interpretation on several occasions.
Overall I thought that this book was interesting. It's not quite my style, but it was short and a very quick read so it was probably worth the effort. The story is inspirational on my fronts, and she uses the Bible frequently to support her points. Well using the Bible in this way is good on some points, I felt like she play fast and loose with interpretation on several occasions.
March 20, 2019
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book (the subtitle is very vague), but I picked it out because I've heard Bianca speak/preach on youtube and was intrigued. This book reads more like a memoir of the author's life (with a bunch of Bible stories and verses thrown in), as other reviewers have stated, but I actually didn't mind that fact. I enjoyed learning more of her life story - which obviously isn't finished yet! (particularly her struggle with childhood obesity surprised me) Normally I can't relate well to Number 7's, but I understand why their enthusiasm makes them such good communicators. It does take Bianca almost until the end of the book to make the connection to her title, by challenging the reader to "play with fire" (the power of the Holy Spirit). I was surprised to find out this book is over 200 pages, as the audio version is only ~4 hours, including bonus material of a blog post that I'm assuming was written somewhat later. I listened to it with the Libby app over the course of 3 days (during doing my hair, laundry and cleaning the kitchen). I didn't pick it up as a how-to book or even for "10 steps to allow the Holy Spirit to work through me", and yet I found myself encouraged as she shared her story - which I think is what makes a good story and how God can use our lives.
November 9, 2019
I have followed Bianca's work through the years and have also recently read her newer book. I knew I had to backtrack a bit to read her first book to appreciate the growth I saw in her second book, so back to it I went!
"Play With Fire" is a Bianca 's life story interspersed with the stories of Scriptural heroes of the faith who were not afraid to walk into the fire and come out changed, emboldened and ready.
I did enjoy the book, but there were a few repetitive editing errors that made reading a bit difficult during the conclusion. However, in the Afterword the reader is given some context--the manuscript had been lost due to a technology error. So I can extend grace for the repetition! :)
The book is really more about Bianca's life and the challenges she faced in truly understanding how to learn, grow and run towards the calling God had for her. I think it is a worthwhile read with insights that can be helpful to those new to a faith journey, as well as a reminder for more mature believers to recall those early years, not losing sight of the excitement and vigor we found when we became a Christian.
"Play With Fire" is a Bianca 's life story interspersed with the stories of Scriptural heroes of the faith who were not afraid to walk into the fire and come out changed, emboldened and ready.
I did enjoy the book, but there were a few repetitive editing errors that made reading a bit difficult during the conclusion. However, in the Afterword the reader is given some context--the manuscript had been lost due to a technology error. So I can extend grace for the repetition! :)
The book is really more about Bianca's life and the challenges she faced in truly understanding how to learn, grow and run towards the calling God had for her. I think it is a worthwhile read with insights that can be helpful to those new to a faith journey, as well as a reminder for more mature believers to recall those early years, not losing sight of the excitement and vigor we found when we became a Christian.
September 15, 2020
This is a spiritual memoir of a girl walking through a long period of being in the "desert" - single, jobless, coming from a poor family and with her mother suffering from cancer (among other issues of the authoress's life). The authoress is passionate in her teaching about God is faithful even in the times when He is (supposedly) silent and we are in pain (physical, mental and/or spiritual).
While I love the personal side of the story (the authoress is vulnerable and authentic in her sharing and I very much appreciate her honesty) and some parts of the book will stay with me (like her listening to God's voice and command to go and witness publicly the God's given word that there is someone in the crowd sleeping with somebody other than their spouse) - I also lack some more in-depth look about the trust even when God's will is different than the content of your prayers, for example. But this might be just my preference and it does not de-value the heart of the authoress and her authentic testimony.
While I love the personal side of the story (the authoress is vulnerable and authentic in her sharing and I very much appreciate her honesty) and some parts of the book will stay with me (like her listening to God's voice and command to go and witness publicly the God's given word that there is someone in the crowd sleeping with somebody other than their spouse) - I also lack some more in-depth look about the trust even when God's will is different than the content of your prayers, for example. But this might be just my preference and it does not de-value the heart of the authoress and her authentic testimony.
February 13, 2018
I usually stick with fiction books. I am not a non fiction type of gal. Especially, Christian fiction because a lot these books are dry and boring, even though the information is amazing. Bianca killed this book! She makes you feel so many emotions in one chapter. You will laugh, giggle, maybe cry, pause, reflect and so much more. I love that she tells her story while craftfully attaching bible stories and scriptures as support and guidance. She was raw and intentional. She didn't sugar coat her problems or blamed them on anyone, and I very much appreciate that.
If you ever listened to her sermons or heard her speaking and was pleased, you can expect the same thing. She added her Latina spice into her book with her love for God. The book is far from boring. And though it had its humorous moments, there are many deep revelation and truth.
Anyone in any season of life, can pick up this book and relate.
If you ever listened to her sermons or heard her speaking and was pleased, you can expect the same thing. She added her Latina spice into her book with her love for God. The book is far from boring. And though it had its humorous moments, there are many deep revelation and truth.
Anyone in any season of life, can pick up this book and relate.
March 21, 2018
POWERFUL & REAL
I never would have read this book based on the synopsis on the back. I love listening to Bianca speak and teach but this book looked elementary and trite. But when two friends told me I HAD to read it, that it was changing their lives, I knew I had to at least give it a try! This book comes to me in the midst of my own desert, where Jesus is teaching me things about Himself I never could have comprehended before. This book is so real and vulnerable and relatable and empowering! It’s truth speaking to people who are truly walking through the fire from someone who’s been there and who has allowed God to transform her and let her know Him. I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to wrap their minds and hearts around a good God who allows suffering. This is amazing! Well done, Bianca!
I never would have read this book based on the synopsis on the back. I love listening to Bianca speak and teach but this book looked elementary and trite. But when two friends told me I HAD to read it, that it was changing their lives, I knew I had to at least give it a try! This book comes to me in the midst of my own desert, where Jesus is teaching me things about Himself I never could have comprehended before. This book is so real and vulnerable and relatable and empowering! It’s truth speaking to people who are truly walking through the fire from someone who’s been there and who has allowed God to transform her and let her know Him. I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to wrap their minds and hearts around a good God who allows suffering. This is amazing! Well done, Bianca!
October 21, 2016
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by BookLook/Zondervan. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
This book is a hot mess. It comes in with its somewhat bracingly casual tone, showing up like a slightly overweight and obsessively dieting friend in yoga pants, breathlessly talking about life's drama and struggles, even including an afterword that somewhat apologizes for its state by commenting on the fact that the author's final edits were somehow lost shortly before the book was to go to print. It's the sort of work that one is not harsh to because one has compassion on the author, even if one wishes the book was better put together. Still, this book is not one that one altogether rejects, not least because the author does strike one as a genuinely friendly person who is worth getting to know in the pages of a book, someone who may in fact resemble oneself in many ways, and given that most of us have somewhat messy and complicated lives and personal histories and struggle with the balance between the revelation of God in scripture and the personal revelation and divine providence that come through hints and suggestions and insight on a personal level, this book is written from the place of someone who has been where many of the readers of this work are.
The contents of this book reflect a somewhat hybrid origin for the theory of the book. The opening chapter and title of the book reflect the author's desire that fire be a source of renewal and transformation like the heathen myths of the phoenix, which is definitely not a point in the book's favor, but the rest of the book looks at a period of the author's life, and not a short one, as being a wilderness experience of solitude and feeling unloved and unwanted and stuck without progress towards stability in life and marriage. I cannot be critical of this feeling, having it in massive and overabundant qualities as well. Indeed, most of the book, with its discussion on coping and on bad relationships and on the misery of finding that one's family and friends and exes are getting married while one remains an increasingly aging virgin with a disastrous dating was particularly painful reading because of my high degree of empathy. Yet towards the end of the book, right around the 75% mark, one gets the feeling that everything will end up alright--noticing the fact that the author's name reflects that she is married, and realizing that even before she married she turned her considerable efforts at awkward self-revelation into serving and encouraging others, which bodes well for her success in life whatever happens. This is a pretty tell-all kind of memoir, and one whose honesty and candor allows the reader to overlook its general messiness.
As someone who reads a great deal of works on the field of divine communication with believers [1] as well as memoirs of singlehood [2], it should come as little surprise that there were a lot of ways that I could relate to this book from an intellectual as well as an emotional level. In many ways, this book provides a variety of interesting insights, including a defense of the popular habit of women's retreats, a view of a childhood and young adulthood by a thoughtful and sensitive Hispanic woman struggling with questions of identity as well as belonging and love. As many people struggle with these matters, it is little surprise that this work, with all of its messiness and imperfection and even its hint of heathen origins, will resonate with many people who long for a positive representation of fire to represent their own fierce passions as well as the refining fire of trials that they can see when they look at how God has operated in their lives. Without a doubt, these are matters that I myself can relate to, and that is without being a part of this book's intended audience of young to middle-aged women who struggle, like the author, with feeling loved by God and others and with the general messiness of an honestly admitted life in our contemporary world. Yet, like many books, for all of its flaws, this is a book that hits a far wider target than it aims at, and there is a lot to be said in praise for that, and for the author's willingness to be so painfully honest about herself and her own life and background without slamming others.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
This book is a hot mess. It comes in with its somewhat bracingly casual tone, showing up like a slightly overweight and obsessively dieting friend in yoga pants, breathlessly talking about life's drama and struggles, even including an afterword that somewhat apologizes for its state by commenting on the fact that the author's final edits were somehow lost shortly before the book was to go to print. It's the sort of work that one is not harsh to because one has compassion on the author, even if one wishes the book was better put together. Still, this book is not one that one altogether rejects, not least because the author does strike one as a genuinely friendly person who is worth getting to know in the pages of a book, someone who may in fact resemble oneself in many ways, and given that most of us have somewhat messy and complicated lives and personal histories and struggle with the balance between the revelation of God in scripture and the personal revelation and divine providence that come through hints and suggestions and insight on a personal level, this book is written from the place of someone who has been where many of the readers of this work are.
The contents of this book reflect a somewhat hybrid origin for the theory of the book. The opening chapter and title of the book reflect the author's desire that fire be a source of renewal and transformation like the heathen myths of the phoenix, which is definitely not a point in the book's favor, but the rest of the book looks at a period of the author's life, and not a short one, as being a wilderness experience of solitude and feeling unloved and unwanted and stuck without progress towards stability in life and marriage. I cannot be critical of this feeling, having it in massive and overabundant qualities as well. Indeed, most of the book, with its discussion on coping and on bad relationships and on the misery of finding that one's family and friends and exes are getting married while one remains an increasingly aging virgin with a disastrous dating was particularly painful reading because of my high degree of empathy. Yet towards the end of the book, right around the 75% mark, one gets the feeling that everything will end up alright--noticing the fact that the author's name reflects that she is married, and realizing that even before she married she turned her considerable efforts at awkward self-revelation into serving and encouraging others, which bodes well for her success in life whatever happens. This is a pretty tell-all kind of memoir, and one whose honesty and candor allows the reader to overlook its general messiness.
As someone who reads a great deal of works on the field of divine communication with believers [1] as well as memoirs of singlehood [2], it should come as little surprise that there were a lot of ways that I could relate to this book from an intellectual as well as an emotional level. In many ways, this book provides a variety of interesting insights, including a defense of the popular habit of women's retreats, a view of a childhood and young adulthood by a thoughtful and sensitive Hispanic woman struggling with questions of identity as well as belonging and love. As many people struggle with these matters, it is little surprise that this work, with all of its messiness and imperfection and even its hint of heathen origins, will resonate with many people who long for a positive representation of fire to represent their own fierce passions as well as the refining fire of trials that they can see when they look at how God has operated in their lives. Without a doubt, these are matters that I myself can relate to, and that is without being a part of this book's intended audience of young to middle-aged women who struggle, like the author, with feeling loved by God and others and with the general messiness of an honestly admitted life in our contemporary world. Yet, like many books, for all of its flaws, this is a book that hits a far wider target than it aims at, and there is a lot to be said in praise for that, and for the author's willingness to be so painfully honest about herself and her own life and background without slamming others.
[1] See, for example:
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[2] See, for example:
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September 14, 2020
I've heard Bianca Olthoff on a few different podcasts as a guest and decided to red her book because I've liked hearing from her. With podcasts you usually only get a very small portion of a person's life because they're talking about a specific topic. I enjoyed getting to read more about Bianca's life in this book. A lot of has happened to her, and reading how she got through it all was interesting. The timeline did hop around a bit, so it was sometimes to follow the order of events, but I still enjoyed reading about everything. I would have enjoyed a little more application tips like some previous reviewers mentioned, but overall I liked this book and enjoyed reading about how Olthoff overcame her struggles and found her faith and hope again when some moments caused her to waver.
July 4, 2022
It has been a long time since I opened a book and was actually impressed by the writing style, so this book was a pleasant surprise. Bianca’s style and tone were phenomenal and I felt as though she hit the sweet spot of elaboration with each topic she discussed. I really enjoyed reading her story, but I do have one qualm. While it may be wrong of me to say this because I understand that this was her true story, I wish that the ending wasn’t so neatly wrapped up with clear answers and closures. I feel like the message changed to the idea of if you do things in a specific way, everything will work out, which caused the book to lose some of its initial relatable attributes. Other than that, I did enjoy the story and would recommend!
May 30, 2019
I loved this book! I could relate to her and the emotions she felt. The author takes you on a journey with her through her own personal wilderness and how she learned to worship. She explains how it is in the wilderness that true worship develops. Then she goes through the stages of finding God and coming to the end of herself. She learns the art of true surrender and being refined by him. I loved her thoughts on taking God at his word and trusting completely in him especially through her struggle with her mom's cancer. By the end, you can't help but be full if faith and trust God in your own life to lead you through your own trials and to the Promised Land.
April 17, 2020
I first heard Bianca speak on Sadie Robertson’s “Woah, That’s Good” podcast. I could immediately tell she had a passion for God.
In her book “Play with Fire”, Bianca uses her own life story and the story of the Israelites (as well as other stories from the Bible) to illustrate how God uses even our desert seasons. This book is definitely an inspiring journey all around. I think a lot of times, people think the Old Testament is boring, but I love that Bianca is able to use it to teach how God is ALWAYS with us, even in the desert seasons. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially if you feel like you are in a drought.
In her book “Play with Fire”, Bianca uses her own life story and the story of the Israelites (as well as other stories from the Bible) to illustrate how God uses even our desert seasons. This book is definitely an inspiring journey all around. I think a lot of times, people think the Old Testament is boring, but I love that Bianca is able to use it to teach how God is ALWAYS with us, even in the desert seasons. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially if you feel like you are in a drought.
January 25, 2021
I knew this book had a lot to do with religion & if I'm being honest about it the main reason I decided to read this book was to read something that put me outside of my comfort zone. Some parts I couldn't relate too & some parts I found myself tearing up over the words. It was interesting to be retold the stories I learned when I was child at church by someone who relates them back to her everyday life. It definitely put me outside of my comfort zone & taught me some different perspectives on things. I found myself thinking about several people that I knew I could recommend this book too while reading it even if at times some parts I did not relate too. That is what is great about reading, if you open yourself up to things you may not know well, you can still get a lot out of it!
June 20, 2018
I read this book to get ready for a women's small group study. It was really more of a memoir than a book with practical techniques and ideas for developing fierce faith. From that perspective, it was an interesting read learning about Bianca's upbringing and the challenges that she has faced. That said, I wished she would have given a bit more application. She did make some good points, especially about trying to control everything like "Control is a manipulator. She promises what can't be had. She promises perfection." Looking forward to the DVD video study!
November 6, 2019
Bianca Olthoff shares her personal story and journey of faith through her struggle to understand God. She comes to a very personal faith with Jesus through difficult circumstances and suffering. I appreciate the authors vulnerability and honesty about the struggle to believe in God when life seems to be kicking you while you are down. She speaks in depth about our desert/wilderness in a very insightful way that gives a new perspective. We are taught to embrace it not avoid it and that in itself is life-changing.
August 16, 2021
We might not like it, but in life we will all spend time in a desert and in the wilderness. The question is do we stay there or do we trust in the promises of our Lord to lead us out to a land of lush. In this book, we travel with the author into her harsh lands. As the pages turn, we continue the journey with her as she seeks God's promises to lead her(and us) out of these lands.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's willing to examine their own lands which they occupy or have occupied and look at where God has brought you or will bring you.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's willing to examine their own lands which they occupy or have occupied and look at where God has brought you or will bring you.
November 15, 2018
I've had this book for two years & only got around to reading it recently. Now, I know why. Two years ago, this book would not have resonated with me as much as it did as I read it. Bianca writes in such a conversational way that you want to interject with, "I know" or "right?!". But she does this while taking us back to the Word. It was a good reminder for me to remember the roads God has made in the wilderness, and the rivers of flowing water He has provided in the desert.
January 5, 2021
It was okay. This is more of a memoir than words to those who want to live life in the spirit. It’s a good book but not at all what I expected. From the description, I thought it would be about living a life of faith and passion with God. But it was more about her life’s story and how this happened for her. There was very little practical application. I still love Bianca though and she’s a great preacher!
March 6, 2021
I'd never heard of Bianca before and I was given this book about a year ago. Being a pastors daughter and been through bible college I'm sometimes reluctant to read Christian books. Sometimes I feel like I've read it all before! But my family and I are facing a battle ahead and I just felt to pick this book up. Wow, it has transformed me and I feel like it's renewed my faith. She writes it so personally and relates it well to everyone. Definitely full stars!
March 12, 2021
A beautifully, relatable book about the fires of our lives and how God uses them to refine and reshape us.
It's a beautiful reminder to stay strong because God will never abandon me and doesn't waste a moment of our lives.
I read this book with a beautiful group of women. We shared stories of vulnerability and strength as we related to Bianca's words.
Such a great book that can be re-read many times over.
It's a beautiful reminder to stay strong because God will never abandon me and doesn't waste a moment of our lives.
I read this book with a beautiful group of women. We shared stories of vulnerability and strength as we related to Bianca's words.
Such a great book that can be re-read many times over.
March 18, 2018
I saw Bianca at a woman’s Christian conference in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Her message was encouraging, strong and motivating. I purchased her book and got to meet this energetic, beautiful woman. I just finished reading her book and loved every page. I’d read again and even highlighted phrases along the way. She is a true testament that God is with us every step of the way if we believe!!!
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