Your God Is Too Glorious: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places

by Chad Bird

Most of us are regular people who have good days and bad days. Our lives are radically ordinary and unexciting. That means they're the kind of lives God gets excited about. While the world worships beauty and power and wealth, God hides his glory in the simple, the mundane, the foolish, working in unawesome people, things, and places.

In our day of celebrity worship and online posturing, this is a refreshing, even transformative way of understanding God and our place in his creation. It urges us to treasure a life of simplicity, to love those whom the world passes by, to work for God's glory rather than our own. And it demonstrates that God has always been the Lord of the cross--a Savior who hides his grace in unattractive, inglorious places.

Your God Is Too Glorious reminds readers that while a quiet life may look unimpressive to the world, it's the regular, everyday people that God tends to use to do his most important work.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Religion, Christian Non Fiction, Nonfiction, Faith

189 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master’s degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has contributed articles to Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Lutheran Forum, and other journals and websites. He is also the author of several books, including Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul, Your God Is Too Glorious: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places, Upside-Down Spirituality: The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life, and Unveiling Mercy: 365 Daily Devotions Based on Insights from Old Testament Hebrew. He cohosts two popular podcasts: “40 Minutes in the OT” and “Hidden Streams.” Chad and his wife Stacy have four children and three grandchildren. They enjoy life together in the Texas Hill Country.

Reviews

[Brianna Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fantastic book that beckons the reader to stop looking for God's favor, blessings, and teachings in merely the big and showy, but instead to find him in the "lowly" places of the world. I highlighted so many good quotes. Chad Bird's writing is very relatable, but also very artful. If you need encouragement for your ordinary, small days, this book will definitely provide.

The only caution I would have in recommending is to add that in it he quoted Nadia Bolz-Weber which surprised me. I have no problem with authors quoting people of differing beliefs and even non Christians, but in this specific case I would want to make sure my friend/ whoever I recommended it to etc was aware that Weber is quite out of the bounds of orthodoxy.

[K B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give this book 6 stars? Yes, in a NY second! The theology of the cross is the great need for all believers and Bird 'nails it' in every chapter. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your good work and Your good words through Chad Bird!

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I have been growing in my Christian journey over the last year, I have found myself reading a lot more Christian books. For the most part I can come away from a book feeling like I have learnt something, and with this book I feel like I have not only learnt something new but also grown in understanding of my own views on God and my relationship with him.

Chard Bird has a fantastic way of interspersing his thoughts and teachings with wonderful stories, both personal and those he has heard from others. There are many stories dotted throughout the book and they all stand to teach us powerful lessons.

From trying to do everything in your own strength to thinking that God is only working through the rich, powerful and societal elite there are lessons a plenty to be learnt in Your God Is Too Glorious.

I know I have often used the words ‘but why would God choose me?’ when I have felt pushed to do something that I didn’t feel capable of, and I can tell you for a fact I know I’m not alone. He has called to me to do things I have never imagined in a million years I could do. Have I failed sometimes? Sure I have, but I learnt a lesson from those failures. But the stories I love are the ones where I can show you how he has pulled me from pits of deepest failure to triumph and the ways he has changed me for the better when I thought all hope was lost.

Chad tells us throughout this book that it’s the normal every day people God often uses to show us his ways his love and his grace. It could be the word given to you by a homeless woman in the street, or the wise council offered by an old oil worker. Those are the people God loves to surprise us with, those we see every day and sometimes walk past and don’t see. They are the ones God uses for his glory.

I can recount many stories of times God has spoken me through people or situations I couldn’t imagine he could work in, and those have been the moments that have had the biggest impact on my life. I have always felt that God wants us to use our everyday to inspire others to his kingdom, it’s not about the grand enormous gestures (there is nothing wrong with those) but it’s the quiet moments when you buy a friend who is struggling a meal and sit with them in silence while they cry, or the morning when you take a minute or two out of your busy day to pray for a homeless person and to offer them a warm drink in the cold weather. Those are the moments when I truly see God, in the small things and the grey moments – not in the high places of business and wealth but in the every day, going about your daily life times.

I thoroughly enjoyed Chad’s book, and it reaffirmed a lot of things for me. If you are a someone who believes God is only in the big important things, and would never use little old you for his glory then one – think again and two – get out and get your hands on a copy of Your God Is Too Glorious.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do we sometimes make God too holy, too other, too glorious to see Him as part of our daily life? Do we want to have a famous ministry when God just wants us to love the elderly lady next door? Do we want to see a great vision from the Lord when He just wants to speak to us through the child we meet on the street?

Bird gives Christians much to think about. He writes, “This book is a call for a sweeping reorientation of our understanding of how God is at work in our lives...” (Loc 77/2396) He gives plenty of examples of God working in inglorious ways, from his own life, the lives of others, and characters in the Bible.

This is a good book for Christians who think God could not possibly use them. Maybe you had your life all figured out and it is not working out at all the way you planned. Perhaps your life has imploded. Bird's did because of his infidelity. He went from professor to truck driver. He shares how he rebelled against God for a time but then came back to be used by Him in an entirely different way. Bird is an example that God will use the weak and the foolish, the down and out, to accomplish His will.

In the end, Bird reminds readers that “God works in our lives by working under cover.” (Loc 2189/2396) This book will encourage you to become more aware of God working in your life and the lives of others, perhaps where you least expect it.

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

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and moving, and extremely challenging. It has that Lutheran flavour of ever-present existential crisis, of being confronted by acute extremes, and of throwing oneself onto and into Christ. There we find our home, our only hope, our significance, and of course a costly, bloody salvation.

Despite the drama in some of the illustrations, this is also very much about finding God in the ordinary -- not so much the bland ordinary of the make-work white collar world, though that is certainly included, but in the ordinary of tragedy, hardship and deep sorrow in blue collar worlds, rural and industrial places, and lives apparently left behind or simply ground in the mill of a rushing modernity. Bird draws on his own experiences of implosion, failure and shame, and weaves in some fresh takes on biblical narratives and characters we might either have overlooked or taken for granted. He employs great psychological subtlety in exposing all manner of pride and hypocrisy in our motivations, and also plenty of uncomfortable bluntness.

Amid many great strands and quotable moments (this is a very well written book) one that stands out is the need to renounce vanity and embrace the ordinary - in other words to take seriously what the Bible teaches!

[This book] is for rural congregations and storefront mission, hidden in the shadowns of sexier megachurches, in whose humble midst lost sheep are found, broken lives are redeemed, and everlasting friendships are formed with friends in the low places of this fractures world.
This book embraces a veiled spirituality that discovers God rolling up his sleeves in the toy-strewn family rooms of stay-at-home moms, the dirty cabs of John Deere tractors ,and the mop rooms of school janitors, where saints are forged in the fires of lives no one will remember except God. [p.12]

Drummed into our heads all day every day by our culture is the liturgy of self-achievement. In Life of the Beloved Henri J. M. Nouwen writes of the loud voices that demand, 'Prove that you are worth something; do something relevant, spectacular, or powerful, and then you will earn the love you so desire.'... But there is another voice that speaks a far different word. 'Make it your ambition to live a quiet life' (1 Thess 4:11). 'When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you' (Matt 6:3-4). 'Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves' (Phil 2:3). 'Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight' (Rom 12:16). 'If anyone would be first he must be last of all and servant of all' Mark 9:35).
In the church anonymity is the greatest fame of all. [p.107]

[JoJo Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world that seems to crave a flashy God, Chad Bird drives home the truth about our Jesus who loves us through our trials, coming to us in ways that aren't flashy but Scripturally sound.

[Philippe Deblois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Lovely Loveday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your God Is Too Glorious: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places is a very informative read that is full of wonderful information. Bird writes with such a loving and caring hand making each word an eye opener. Written in an easy to read and follow format, the reader is sure to understand and gain useful insights. You will find scripture throughout with many personal stories. I really enjoyed reading this wonderful book that I highly recommend.

[Travis Heystek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: Your God is Too Glorious (Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places)
By: Chad Bird

I struggled a bit with this book. There were moments that I was totally in love with what the author was writing and moments where I felt disappointed by his worldview. So let me explain.
Chad has walked a tough road and clearly come out the other side a better man. For that I’m grateful and, for him, excited. I think he was able to take a lot of his imperfections and poor decisions, and continued to pursue God even through those trials. He was able to catch glimpses of God in the moments he was making poor decisions and able to pick up on things God was trying to teach him.
My fear is that some people could misinterpret to hear from this book, “It’s ok to make mistakes, that’s how God shapes you anyway,” which to me communicates a laziness and lacks a righteous fear of God. If we call ourselves Christians we should avoid sin and the devil’s snares at all costs, and we still have to take responsibility for our actions. We can’t simply grow from our monumental sins and say, “It’s ok now, God used it to grow me.” The issue isn’t that God won’t work that way, but that it could easily lead to a life of moral failure and sin based on the premise that God may actually have a “better plan” because of how he works through these times.
That being said, there were some moments of brilliance in this book. I enjoyed hearing different places he encountered God and/or God’s love in the places you’d least expect it. I think it could be a book that challenges us all to look at life through a different lens; What unexpected move of God may I encounter today if I open my eyes? This book is one that I would recommend reading with someone, so that you could talk out some of the ideas and see if there is any place you find it misleading, but still a book I would recommend in the right circumstances. Because I think it is a situational book and I didn’t enjoy it all that much I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

[Sherri Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover on this book is so delightful that I couldn't help but select it for reading. But in addition, the idea of "finding God in the most unexpected places" leaned me into finding out more about what Chad Bird had to say.

The first chapter I began and was interested in what he had to say, although I did catch myself flipping the pages ahead. But then I moved to the second chapter and started to lose interest. The very first chapter I thought the description was about a female. I admit, I failed to pay attention to the name of the author at this point. I appreciated his attempt in drawing us near and helping us understand that sometimes living a quiet life is more important that attaining life's goals. But beyond that, I admit, I lost what he was talking about.

Skimming ahead I came upon three sisters who got their father drunk and then had sex with him. At this point, I'm wondering, I need to reread and try and figure out why on earth this part of Biblical history was necessary. 

But to be honest, no matter how many times I reread sentences, paragraphs, chapters, the book failed to talk to me. The writing was very pretty, but failed to connect me to the book.

I received this complimentary book from Baker Books Publishers. All opinions are my own.

[Amy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I feel discouraged or disillusioned by life I turn to a Chad Bird book, and every time I finish feeling filled to overflowing with the beauty of God’s grace. This was the perfect book to read in this Advent season.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chad Bird’s 2017 book Your God is Too Glorious is a popular-level take on the common Lutheran theme of theologia crucis–the theology of the cross. Luther articulated two modes of theology: the theology of glory and the theology of the cross. A theologian of glory, according to Luther, attempts himself to achieve those things that god himself accomplishes in the cross. Whereas god secures redemption and righteousness by means of suffering–a “veiled unveiling” (Bird, 24) of god’s righteousness, a turning the world upside-down–the theologian of glory wants to do those things himself, to accomplishes “glorious” feats for himself. The theologian of the cross sees god at work in the mundane, in suffering, in the poverty of the material world, suffusing the natural realm with grace and holiness, while the theologian of glory seeks out “natural” glory–fame, renown, wealth–in order to glorify themselves.

Bird chastises the theologian of glory–or, better, exhorts the theologian of glory to recalibrate. “Your god is too glorious”–not because god is inglorious but because you’ve misdefined what it is to be glorious. God discloses himself to us in the person of Jesus, son of Mary–betrothed but yet unwed. Jesus suffers an ignominious death; his triumphal entry into Jerusalem is undone within the week. The glory of god disclosed in the suffering of the cross–such is our standard. Jesus spurned the crowds and seemed to do everything within his power to avoid being crowned as a king during his ministry. Instead, he was crowned by the Roman soldiers and mocked as king of the Jews while on the cross.

Bird takes this purportedly upside-down view of glory, and he encourages the reader to see god at work in our ordinary circumstances. He draws on his own experiences of suffering–those caused by external circumstances and those from his own hand–to demonstrate the glory of god in the mundane and the difficult. Insofar as that is Bird’s aim, YGTG is useful.

This isn’t to suggest that the work isn’t without its problems. One has to wonder whether the appearance of YGTG at this political moment is itself in part a product of the reaction against institutions. Take note of this passage:

The teachers who have the greatest impact on our lives are not always standing in pulpits or guiding us through Romans during a Sunday morning Bible study. They’ve written no books, earned no degrees, wouldn’t be invited to lecture at a Christian university. They are strangers to the religious system. They lack the credentials to garner interest among churchgoing people. They don’t speak Christianese. (29)

All of which is true, as far as it goes. But it feels rooted in a world characterized by Nichols’ The Death of Expertise–a world in which established institutions are disempowered and power itself is “democratized.” And so, Bird “meets Jesus” at mile twenty of the Boston Marathon (81). And so, the entire world is sacral (122-124). Neither of which are necessarily wrong–simply not explicated sufficiently in the text.

Altogether, Your God is Too Glorious introduces readers to a new perspective, in which god dwells gloriously in terrestrial realm and in our material poverty. Bird aptly writes: “We descend into his presence. Where the lowly are, there he is. Where the common duties of life are performed, he is at work.” (63) For a simple introduction to a theology of the cross, Your God is Too Glorious serves well.
<><>
Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers http://www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksb... 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....
<><>
I first reviewed this work at joshuadparker.wordpress.com

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to request a review copy of this book based on an assumption that this would be just another book extolling the virtues of an ordinary life – a theme rightly highlighted at present, and in the past few years, with such books as Michael Horton’s Ordinary.

Chad Bird’s work fits this body of literature perfectly – and more. Whilst it is a book about an “ordinary” life, it is about much more. Bird has made it his task and goal to school his readers in a Theology of the Cross, rather than a Theology of Glory. It is about an ordinary life because this will outflow from having a life directed by a theology of the cross. Not only will it direct how we view God and His workings; but it will also inform our discipleship and relations with others.

Bird challenges his readers to re-evaluate where they expect God to work and how God works. As the title states, for some our view is simply too glorious, by which Bird means we have a view of God “too glorious to be born in a stall reeking of cattle dung, too glorious to ruin his reputation by hanging out with pariahs…”. Thence, Bird’s call for a reorientation in our thinking “away from the grandiose to … the mundane.”

However, that said, our God is too glorious, and a theology of the cross teaches us this. Bird reminds us that “the true God is glorious but in ways none of us would expect..”.

The book is indeed a sweeping call to die to self, to live a life in the ordinary, to be content with the mundane, and to embrace a veiled spirituality that discovers God.. “in toy-strewn family rooms… dirty cabs of John Deere tractors, and the mop rooms of school janitors.”

Bird wants us to see with our ears and not our eyes. By hearing the Word of Christ, then we truly see. It is the Word which correctly orientates us and teaches us what reality is. By merely seeing with our own eyes we seek to see what we want to see. Bird writes: “To see God at work, we need to reorient our vision downward, to the humble, low places.”

Readers will find an impassioned, fast, lucid, bold writing style which is also warm, humble, and pastoral at heart. Bird writes from the heart, but also as a former theologian of glory who writes with experience and honesty in order to shepherd his readers.

This has been one of the foremost influential books I have read; I hope many more will read it. It is well worth reading and any reader will find it profitable and rewarding in their soul.

Details of the book, Published by Baker can be found here. Further information about Chad can be found on the Baker site or at the author’s blog.

I received a free copy of the book from the Publisher in return for an honest and fair review. I was not obliged to post a positive review.

[Danielw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read in a long time. I discovered Chad Bird recently through this book and a podcast he does ( 40 minutes in the Old Testament, if you have any interest in such things, give it a listen. It’s excellent!) Chad Bird writes and preaches grace and being an ordinary person for God. As someone who has been in a church with “personality tests” to see what “ministry “ you were supposed to be in, this book was a long, cold drink of water quenching my thirst of “finding my ministry”. On the very first page Chad sets the tone for the remainder of the book. “Our vision has been handicapped by the flashes of glory that have blistered our eyes.” Meaning? We tend to look for God in big things. Miraculous healings, fire coming down from heaven, overnight financial turnarounds. And also, that we must do big things FOR God as well. But Mr. Bird argues for the opposite. That God works in small ways. “This book is for all of us who’ve been fooled into believing that success is defined by accomplishments—to go big or go home, to shoot for the stars instead of binding our lives in joyful surrender to the cross of God.” Throughout this book he answers all my “yeah, but’s.....” until I succumbed to his message. On top of this Chad Bird writes with a unique voice, and he writes very well. A couple of other things. If you are unlikely to read a book written by a Lutheran, get over that. This book is too good to not read. It’s entirely possible that some may read this and think, “Didn’t really do anything for me”. That’s possible. I just know it’s a paradigm shifting book for me. Excellent book.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your God Is Too Glorious: Finding God In The Most Unexpected Places by Chad Bird is a combination of Biblical and personal stories that illustrate and remind us that God is more often found in the humble and the lowly witness than sitting on the royal throne.

So often we get caught up in our daily grind and we seem to forget that God is right there next to us, plugging along with us, keeping us company and helping us with the day-to-day business of our very livelihood. Chad reminds us that God isn't waiting to shower us with blessings when we do well, get something right, or have a major epiphany. Instead, God is covered in the dirt and grime of our daily affairs, helping us get through all the little things to get from one day to the next.

Relating stories that he's encountered throughout his own journey, Chad shows us how to find God in the lowest and seemingly Godforsaken places, as well as through the hearts and actions of the unnamed saints of this world.

For anyone who's grown weary of the perfect church and the image of an ideal Christian, or for those who feel covered in the grime of daily life, Your God Is Too Glorious is a refreshing reminder that God doesn't just sit around waiting for us to get clean enough to be His witnesses - instead, He gets down in the mud and dirt with us and helps us to keep our heads above water. 4/5 stars.

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary print copy of this book from Baker Books for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*

[Olivia Branch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back in the Spring when I first picked up this book, schools and businesses were closing, I was forced to work from home, my regular habits and routines became arbitrary. I found myself with a lot of time on my hands doing things that didn't feel as important as my regular working life. I thought this book would be a good way to refocus, or to focus in on the work God is doing when it seems like the world has stopped and little work is being done at all. And it was. But it was also a lot more than that.

This book touched on much of the hurt the world is currently feeling, poetically reminding its readers that God is showing up in big and (possibly more importantly) small ways. We tend to overlook these small ways when we rely on ourselves and our own abilities to control and shape our world. The book reminded me that the pain we are experiencing right now is not new, though our wounds feel very fresh, but that God works in our pain to turn our eyes upon him, the truth of his word and character.

The language in this book was a little too romanticized for my personal taste. However, I can't argue too much against the style since the author's intent is to help us find awe in the mundane; certainly his language reflects that. This is the only work of Bird's I've so far read, so I cannot say if this is indicative of his style as a whole or just used more purposely in this specific work.

[Karl Dumas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes we all need to remember to stop and open our eyes, stop and smell the roses, stop and see where God is at work in our lives. And that’s usually easier said than done. So, it was a joy to read Your God Is Too Dangerous: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places, by Chad Bird. (Baker Books, 2018)
Elijah stood in a crevice, waiting for the LORD to pass by. Surprisingly enough, God didn’t appear in the Big, or in the LOUD, but in the small or the still. While Elijah was waiting the was a wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but the LORD wasn’t there. Finally, he heard a still, small, whisper, and it was in that whisper that he found God. And often that’s where we’ll find Him too, if we just learn to recognize Him.
There is something amazing about being surprised by the glorious wonder of seeing God appear when and where you don’t expect Him. And this book is one surprise after another. Not only examples of God showing up unexpectedly, but also theological truths of which we need to be reminded from time to time.
I enjoyed reading this book; there wasn’t anything earth-shatteringly new, but the stories brought a sense of serenity and peace. Something that is frequently missing in the craziness of today’s political climate.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.
4/5

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across Chad Bird on Twitter, where in his tweets and videos he has some good things to say about Christian life.
I picked up this book in Chattanooga, in a enormous Barnes and Noble store - the first I'd ever been in (and possibly the last since I'm not likely to make it to the USA again). I thought it looked interesting, and anyway, I wanted to buy something from the shop now that I was in it.
But the book seems just a little bit underwhelming to me. Yes, there are some very good sections, but oddly, the stories he tells about contemporary people (including himself) are actually more interesting than his comments on famous characters from the Bible, so there's a slight lack of balance. Or perhaps I've read too many writers commenting on these particular Biblical figures.
I'm not entirely sure about the title. I'm guessing it's a play on J B Phillips' classic Your God is Too Small, but suggesting that God can be too glorious doesn't quite ring true with me. God is glorious; it's not something you can refute, and I don't think Bird actually does manage to refute it - if he actually intended to.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your God Is Too Glorious
Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places
by Chad Bird
Baker Books

Christian
Pub Date 02 Jan 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Your God is Too Glorious from Baker Books and Netgalley:


This book reminds us that we are ordinary people who have both good days and bad days. We look at our lives are radically ordinary and unexciting. This is the kind of livesGod gets excited about while the world worships beauty power and wealth. We learn God hides his glory in the simple, the mundane, the foolish working in unawesome people and places and things.

In a world of celebrity worship and posturing this is a refreshing, even informative way of understanding God and our place in creation. In this book we are urged to treasure a life of simplicity, to love those the world is so quick to pass by, for God's glory not our own.

Your God is Too Glorious reminds us that it is often the quiet, unimpressive people who make the biggest impact.

I give Your God is Too Glorious five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to review a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a gold mine! Do not let the title fool you - when I first saw the title, 'Your God is Too Glorious' - I immediately thought... No He's not!! He is completely glorious! - What kind of heresy is this??? But then the rest of the title says, "Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places". I would say that the 2nd part of the title is the true title. The author takes the reader through his own broken experiences, the broken experiences of others he has met, and some Bible characters to show us what most of us Christians already know - that we really experience who God is during the trials and the "yucky" times of our life. I spent time both laughing and crying while reading this book. I think Chad Bird is an amazing author. I look forward to reading more of his books.

[Teri Reck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautifully written and profound book by Chad Bird. It addresses how our society deludes itself with our quest for bigger, better, best, how we as individuals tranquilize ourselves with our lists of accomplishments as though that will makes us worthwhile and that is all that gives our lives meaning. The truth is that it isn't about what we do at all---it never was. It's about what God does for us. We have meaning and worth because God created us to have it, not because of any attempt to earn it on our part. And often we cannot truly understand that until we have been through hell on earth to see that we cannot depend ourselves. When we are forced to depend on God alone and not our own efforts, we realize how great is God's love for us and how good His gifts. A very worthy read.

[Dona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going to go to bed early tonight but stayed up finishing the book, Your God Is Too Glorious "Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places by Chad Bird. A great book that I can't really explain. I guess the best way I can think of is that it is completely opposite to the many books out there that say if you are a Christian and trust in God you will be successful, happy and without problems. No, I'm not saying that you can't be successful, happy and live a trouble-free life, but don't always count on it because that might not be God's plan for you. What He has planned is that He will be with you in downtime.
This was the second book that I have read by Chad Bird and I highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more of his books and listening to his podcasts.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

When reading books by this author, you are always taken on a journey through the lives of Biblical characters (heavy on those from Genesis), as well as lives of those more recent. The author is also quite candid about his own journey. There is a real “down to earth” feel coming from quite the scholar - even when he slips in some analysis of a Hebrew word.

If you want to understand more about the Theology of the Cross, this is a good book for that! Easy to read, and not that long.

Even better, each chapter includes a pile of discussion questions - so if you are looking for a book for your next Bible Study - or to go through with a friend - then give this a try.

Highly recommended for my fellow sojourners.

[Dominick · Rating 5 out of 5]

God is always in the lower places waiting for us to "catch down" to him.

I read books, but have trouble at times retaining a great deal of what I read. I am also a notorious slow reader as well. What I can tell you is that this book is a reminder that God meets us in lowly places. He meets us in these places not by chance, or because he HAS to, because we are a wretched people who often don't go to where he is. No, he's there because he is always there, almost like he's waiting for us to come down to his level, which is ironic because we spend so much failed time nd energy trying to reach up to him. It's a good book. It's a helpful book. It is more than worth someone's time to read it

[Oak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your God Is Too Glorious: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places by Chad Bird is a book exploring God’s great glory. Bird covers a nice smorgasbord of topics in Christianity, providing thoughtful commentary on Scripture passages. One of my favorite chapters was “Friends in Low Places” – particularly the part that talked about Ruth and how she was an outsider. I also really enjoyed the discussion about Joseph in the chapter “Learning About God in the Devil’s Classroom.” This book would be a nice one to discuss at a book club or Bible study.

*I received this book for review*

[Doug Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an uneven book, divided, for me at least, into quarters. The first and third 'quarters' were a bit slow and I didn't get a lot from them, but the second and fourth parts of the book were so good, they, by far, overcome the weaker sections. Despite it's title, this is a book that points to the glory of God, but the book helps us understand we are often looking in the wrong places for that glory. We look for God's glory in power and achievement, but God really shows up in our weakness, failure, and hardship. Even with it's unevenness, this is a worthwhile read.

[victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very encouraging and compelling to read with also giving us to learn how to see the work of God in a different way: through our ears, Our vision must be held captive by the Word of God. It will be denes divine reality, and through it we are able to see as God sees. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. “ I received complimentary a copy of this book from Baker Books Bloggers for this review”.

[Kyle Dupic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I was blown away by this book. Partly it met me in a specific place I’m at, being a stay at home dad and wrestling with the inner voice that says you have to accomplish great things to matter in this world.

But partly, it was just so well written. The way he describes things is reminiscent of a good novel, drawing you into his stories. The way he explains common biblical stories and with today’s language breathes new life into them. Simply put, he is an excellent writer.

[Nate Hochmuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that shows us that God's glory is revealed in the mundane, and not just what we feel is glorious. Bird uses many examples from Scripture and from his own personal life to reveal how God uses us in our every day lives. We can find joy in serving the Lord in whatever vocation we are in at whatever time we are in. The Lord also uses the times we fail and fall short to bring us closer to him.