Refresh: vivendo no ritmo da graça em um mundo acelerado

Grace-Paced Life

by Shona Murray, David P. Murray

VOCÊ SE SENTE ESTRESSADA, SOBRECARREGADA, ESGOTADA?

Você corre de um lado para o outro, incapaz de acompanhar todas as exigências da sua lista de tarefas sempre crescente? Você está cheia de compromissos, mas não sabe como diminuir o ritmo quando o mundo diz para você acelerar? Existe alguma esperança para o equilíbrio em um mundo de exigências sem fim?

Muitas mulheres não percebem que estão correndo em um ritmo insustentável até entrar em um quadro de esgotamento físico, emocional e espiritual. Com base em muitos anos de aconselhamento e na própria experiência que tiveram de depressão, Shona e David Murray vão ajudar você a desacelerar a fim de que viva no ritmo da graça para a glória de Deus.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Faith, Christianity, Counselling, Christian Non Fiction

167 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2017

About the author

Shona Murray is a mother of five children and has homeschooled for fifteen years. She is a medical doctor and worked as a family practitioner in Scotland until she moved to the United States with her husband, David.

Reviews

[Christina DeVane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this again in 2023, and I highlighted even more. So practical I believe every woman would benefit from this- especially women in ministry! ❤️

Exactly what I needed at this time in my life! Currently working through burnout and adrenal fatigue, I needed pretty much every word. The author being a pastor’s wife is an added bonus because her perspective is priceless! I will be reading this book every year!
One point that really hit home for me was learning my limitations and accepting them as how God created me and not as a negative point.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book... isn’t terrible. It definitely offers some thoughtful insight on how a Christian woman should structure her life in a way that reduces stress & anxiety, and draws her closer to her family and to Christ. But it contains so much of the style & lingo that is, unfortunately, incredibly typical of Christian nonfiction aimed towards women. So many tiresome clichés. So many assumptions that all women can relate because, well, we’re women.

While the author’s intention is to encourage women to have a set of priorities which would ideally protect her from a difficult life, her instruction felt almost presumptuous, and as a friend wrote in her review, privileged. I found myself thinking things like, “Well I guess we can’t do that because my husband doesn’t have a regular 9-5 job,” or, “I guess we’ll have to figure out another way to regularly reset ourselves because we can’t afford a 2-3 week vacation each year.” And that left me feeling a bit deflated.

On the positive side, because the author once practiced medicine, she does give a great deal of insight into how caring for our physical bodies (including mental health) impacts our spiritual selves. This seems to be a topic largely unexplored, ignored, or even criticized in the Christian sphere. So eating healthy, exercising, and even taking appropriate medication (such as antidepressants) can all be tools to help you live in a way as to glorify God. I so appreciated that in this book.

[Anna |This Curly Girl Reads| · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent! I listened to it on Hoopla, but also bought a paperback so I can reread it!!

I loved the practical tips, but I especially appreciated the consistent pointing back to Scripture and dependence on Christ. So many good thoughts. Maybe with my reread I’ll share some quotes.

I highly recommend all ladies read this book. ❤️

[Susy C. *MotherLambReads* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read that tag line again: "embracing a graced- paced life in a word of endless demands."

The first sentenec reads, "Overhwhelmed. Exhausted. Depressed. Panicky. Stressed. Burned Out. Broken. Paralyzed. Drowning. Empty. Recognize yourself in any of these words? Maybe in all of them?

This book took me several months to finish- and that's ok. It was just what I needed to do to slow down and really apply what it was trying to teach me. It's a reality check into what really matters. Living a hurried, depressed, and burned out life is not how God intended us to live. Our bodies were created with limitations- and it's ok to recocognize this.

I love the the application part- the ways to combat stress and hurry. Appreciated the mature look at depression and how Chrsitians can and do suffer with it. And not only do we suffer with it, but it's ok to get help and medicine when needed.

[Honorah Deatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be coming back to this book again and again. It is like a breath of fresh air. Absolutely wonderful!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I don't think I'm doing enough right now to actually get burnt out, I found this book to be really helpful. I do often feel guilty that I'm not doing more than I am. But we are all at different stages in life and what one person can manage right now might be something you'll just have to look forward to managing sometime in the future.
My goals after reading this book: make my time with God the priority and not the fit in, get my sleeping sorted (which will be quite the challenge between a teething 1 year old, a new baby on the way, and my own terrible ability to sleep through the night...), quiet down and decrease my social media time...The list could go on. And also just relax and accept the seasons of life.
I definitely recommend this book!

[Isabelle reads a book a day because she has no friends · Rating 1 out of 5]

My biggest problem with Christian nonfiction like this (especially when it’s directed toward women) is that you never know if you will find an amazing book about the topic advertised, or a sneaky memoir about motherhood, family, and marriage. In this case, it was the latter. The advice offered was common sense (rest, take a break from your phone, etc.) and was not based in biblical principles. The rest was literally just the author sharing stories from her family life that would not apply to a lot of people (the stuff about vacations...some people would be downright offended). I am not a mom or wife, I am just seeking solid spiritual advice and peace from anxiety and did not find that here.

PS— I think this may be a harsher review because I’m tired of thinking I found a great Christian book for myself and then reading an autobiography. Seriously people, I DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR TRIPS TO THE YMCA.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited to add: this was my second time reading through this - I needed it. Took more notes this time around and will probably reference again soon. I’m definitely prone to burnout and need these reminders to pace myself!

Definitely enjoyed this book (while on vacation - which seemed fitting!). The author shared her very raw and vulnerable story of depression and what she learned as a result. So many practical tips to apply to get OUT of and AVOID depression, burnout, and overwhelm.

I realize depression is a controversial topic in Christian circles but I think the author handled it with a fair amount of balance.

Will definitely keep this book and reference it again in the future!

[Marci A. Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read because I didn’t want to put it down. Such practical wisdom to lived a grace-paced life. Much to apply and glean from Shona.

[Lauren Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read. It is so helpful.

[Joanna Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

So maybe I was so impressed by this book because it came to me at the right time, because the author is a pastor’s wife and has a cool accent (she’s from Scotland and I heard about this book from a podcast), or because her perspective is so balanced and biblical. 🤔😍

I am not normally a big fan of self-help books, but this one was excellent. Sure there was a fair amount of practical advice that I already knew, but I also found a fresh perspective on how and why I should care for myself. God has given us gifts—rest, food, exercise, even medication if necessary, friends, scientific research, etc. to help us thrive for Him.

Though I do not feel on the edge of burn out, (the extreme at which this book focused), I do feel a need to join the “Refresh Gym” and be intentional about what and why I do what I do. ☺️❤️🛌🏃‍♀️

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seems written for women experiencing a very particular level of stress and burnout, one that is on the verge of clinical depression and is mostly caused by things within our control. It is hard for me to implement many of the suggestions currently as much of my anxiety and burnout is coming from being a new mom with a baby (which she acknowledges but doesn’t offer much guidance for). However, I can see how this will be much more relevant when I’m trying to keep up with my child’s life as well as my own…and not just suffering from sleep deprivation from having a baby who wakes up at night.

[Emmy Passi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very biblical book on the human limits we were designed with and how to rest in Christ through the busy. Lots of practical tips that I found useful without falling into empty self-help platitudes.

“Grace has replaced grind”

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I’ve read it and I found it just as helpful, if not more so, than the first time. I was reading some of the reviews and I agree that it is aimed at a certain demographic. However, I think anyone with an open heart and some creativity can take these principles and apply them to their own situation. It may not be exactly as the author applies them, but it doesn’t need to be. It needs to be what works for you.

However, as the wife of an assistant pastor with a young child and also a part time job outside the home, I could relate to so much of what Shona shared. The Lord has been teaching me so much lately that it’s ok to say no and take a break. This book just added to what I have already been learning. My greatest takeaways were:

1) Jesus took time to rest. If He needed it, I certainly do.

2) when you rest, you are actually showing greater faith than when you try to get it all done in your own effort.

3) determine who your primary ministry is to and prioritize those people and feel free to say no to good things that don’t fall into your primary ministry.

In ministry circles, serving til you drop is often glorified. Missionaries who died young from I’ll health are put on a pedestal. “We’re giving our all for Jesus.” What if your all could actually be more if you paced yourself?

The author is definitely writing from a reformed theological perspective and I would not recommend many of the authors she does. However, there was very little in the book itself with which I disagreed.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unpopular opinion alert: I found this book to be about 25% useful content and 75% autobiography/non-transferable advice. I could really do without the written tour of the author’s YMCA, former career as a doctor, her personal sleep routine, etc... but I also could have ignored these things if this book didn’t assume an audience of middle-upper class married mothers.

I cannot see offering advice from this book to a working single mother with a lower income. I think it would be very frustrating for her. In particular, the section on vacations and finding staycations to be an “utterly miserable experience...get away!” to be pretty insensitive to those to whom a staycation sounds like a luxury. In the same vein, though I’m not a mom and don’t know what that’s like, it seems pretty impractical to suggest 1 hour a day as a “she hour” for hobbies and she time. I get the principle, but seems very unrealistic for most demographics. I’m concerned that those reading this might feel shame for their busyness that they have little control over. Some are in survival mode and this book is written for those who are not. I’d instead offer that busyness can be counteracted with mindful short unexpected breaks and daily time in the word (even if it’s not as much as you want!).

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started this book, I wondered if it was even relevant to me. The author found herself in a deep state of depression and anxiety, and that’s not my current state. But by about 1/3 of the way through I could see signs that I could very easy head down that road if I didn’t take care to follow the steps she outlined in the book. This book is going in my toolbox of Christian self-care for myself and for any other woman I may encounter that is feeling overwhelmed and anxious. It will definitely be a re-read for me at some point in time, and January was a perfect time to read it (thank you, Jami Balmet, for putting it at the top of the 2018 Christian Reading Challenge for Women!).

[Melanie Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book - a women's version of Reset by David Murray (which I have also reviewed). The books are companions to each other - would be great for a husband and wife to read both and discuss. The specific most helpful thing that stands out from this book is the author's experience with depression and the process she went through to recover, including letting go of the guilt and shame she felt about being in that place. I also appreciated the section on having a "she-hour" - a very helpful suggestion for me. (something I used to do more regularly but am going to aim to get back to!)

[Erin Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my favorites this year.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world in which people have been overly busy and emotionally and physically burned out both author David Murray and his wife Shona Murray has written a helpful Christian book to address the problem. This book provides preventive measures with practical wisdom and also spiritual resources from the Christian faith to deal with the issue. The book’s main purpose is to teach readers what does a grace pace life looks like. Early in the book it points out that we need five “wells” of God’s grace: motivating grace, moderating grace, multiplying grace, releasing grace and receiving grace. The rest of the book unpack what these five aspect of God’s grace means. I got this book largely because I have benefited from the teaching ministry of David Murray and his practical insights which have been helpful from some of the online audios and lectures I have listened to. This book I read lived up to my expectation.


One quick note: This book was actually for women. I was not aware of it when I first requested for my review copy from the publishers and from reading the book I learned that David Murray have earlier in the year published Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture which covered much of the materials in this current work although this current work addressed specific applications towards women. Still as a man who is a husband, a father to my daughters and a brother with sisters I thought this book was helpful to understand and able to minister more to the sisters.

The book consists of ten chapters that the authors called “stations” in the sense of stations in the gym. These ten stations were conveniently alliterated with the letter R: Reality Check, Replay, Rest, Re-Create, Relax, Rethink, Reduce, Refuel, Relate, and Resurrection. Station one begins with an examination of where one is at prior to the book. Here the chapter provides a helpful diagnostic checklists concerning physical, mental, emotional, relational, vocational, moral and spiritual warning signs. After this checklist station one provides a section evaluating the diagnostic data of how wide, how deep and how long has one’s problems have been going on. Station two looks back on one’s life’s changes and is broken down into two parts: Life situation is concerned with what has happened to you and secondly lifestyle which covers what we have a choice about. Among other things this station/chapter gives a good analysis of lifestyle dangers. Station three looks at the subject of sleep. I appreciated the case that the authors argued for the fact that lack of sleep has physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual consequences. For instance the book mentioned a study by University of Loughborough Sleep Research Center which found that women needs twenty more minutes of sleep than men. Station three also provides help for sleep such as knowledge, discipline, routine, media fast, family cooperation, exercise, commitment, faith in God’s promises, etc. Station four looks at the importance of the physical body. Here the medical background of author Shona Murray who was previously a doctor was really helpful. Like station three this station gives informative summary of medical findings. For instance I learned that routinely sitting nine hours a day does terrible things to the body such as increase obesity, diabetes and heart disease while walking two miles a day improves one’s health and reduces the chance of dementia by sixty percent. This station also has practical help and guidelines. Station five is on relaxing and station six is on one’s identity. Station seven is about cutting down on what is not needed by evaluating one’s spiritual, family, vocational, church and social life and seeing what is one’s purpose and plan and “pruning” in light of that. Station eight was titled “Refuel” and I thought this was one of the best chapter in the book with its nuanced discussion of the role of antidepressant medications. This chapter also had a very good discussion about assessing one’s energy fillers and drainers. Station nine is about relationship and five specific relationships are examined: God, husband, children, friends and older women. Finally station eleven is more eschatological with the encouragement of our future with God.

Overall I would recommend this book. I appreciate that this work is biblical and also careful in how the authors handle extrabiblical data while allowing Scripture to still be one’s ultimate authority. It is encouraging, practical and easy to read. Even if you are not a woman this is a book getting for those you love.

NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway and Net Galley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the women's version of Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture. Honestly, I liked Reset better. It might be because there's a lot of overlap and by the time I read Refresh, most of the insights had been gained by my earlier reading of Reset. But Refresh was also too girly for me. Whereas Reset uses the analogy of a car repair shop (also not my thing), Refresh uses the analogy of a gym. It just felt too trendy and cliche to me and I liked the other book better. I also think that I'm just not in that season right now. I have been in seasons of craziness, but we've pulled back and have tried to find a good balance between my go-go-go bent and my husband's more laid back style and I think that has helped. Listening to the crazy lifestyles she describes was a little stressful, even though she was describing it as what not to do. However, I think lots of women will be able to relate and I think it's a good evaluation tool for different seasons.

The content and research is pretty much the same in both books. There are entire sentences that are word for word the same as Reset (they acknowledge this upfront), but the personal story and examples are changed for women. It sort of feels like they just too the Reset book and copy and pasted different stories into it for women. There aren't very many exclusively new sections for women that I noticed (or if there were, they weren't all that profound for me). The overall tone is definitely different, though, so if you're a woman and you were only going to read one of them, I'd recommend this one (and vice versa). I didn't realize Reset was for men until I had already started reading it so that's why I read both (also not knowing how much overlap there is). There's a lot of talk in this book about wives and mothers, but she also talks a lot about single women which I liked because it's often left out. The nice thing about how similar they are is that a husband and wive (or men's group and women's group) could read these books simultaneously and get enough info tailored to them to have a personal impact but enough of the same material to be able to discuss it very effectively.

A couple things that I appreciated about this book was the section on friendship in the Relate chapter towards the end (which was expanded and tailored to women from that section in Reset) and, again, the authors' views on medication. I don't remember this from Reset, but in Refresh they quote Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones as says, "It is no more sinful to take drugs to put right the chemistry of the brain that it is to substitute for the abnormal chemistry of the pancreas in a diabetic case by the use of insulin...We can, therefore, reassure those who believe that it is sinful to take drugs which relate to brain function that where clinical trial and proper use have shown them to be valuable, they should be received with thanksgiving. All things in nature and scientific knowledge are the gifts of God and should be used to His glory. To accept and use them makes no difference to our faith and salvation." Both books demonstrate an openness to using medication, not as an easy way out or first resort, but as a good gift in recognition of our falleness and deficits.

I listened to this as an audiobook and it's nice and short and to the point (only about 5.5 hours). I did, however, have to listen to it at 1.25x speed. Normal speed was way to slow. The narrator has a nice voice, but she reminded me of the person who reads the fine print for drug commercials which gave kind of an odd feel to it. Overall, I think this is a helpful book and it has some really encouraging material in it. She points out that we can either choose to excel in a few things, or fail at many things and that God doesn't demand our burnout, but that we demonstrate our reliance and faith in him by living within our limits. For many of the insights that I initially gained from Reset, but that are present in this book too, see my review of Reset.

[Dana Schnitzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well-timed for me. Maybe you'd think that an 8 week stay at home order during a global pandemic would make you want to gear up and go places, but I'm also finding that its providing a space for me to evaluate my entry back into the outside world, and reevaluate the frantic speed at which I was living life before all this happened. I'll be the first to note that this book probably would have had a much greater impact if I had done literally *any* of the written exercises she suggests, but all the same, it provided a good set of tools and guidelines by which to begin the process of streamlining my commitments so that I am living out the theology that I know I believe with my head, but havent always practiced: I'm not big enough or strong enough to do it all, and God is big enough that he doesnt need me to do it all. And I'm starting to believe that when I work within my own limitations, He will multiply that work.

I appreciated the way that David and Shona wrote this together. After reading David's companion book written towards men, I was a tad fearful about what gearing this book toward women would look like. They didnt water anything down, or make it more gentle in a way that would feel condescending. I felt that it was an appropriate companion that I did truly learn from, and I'm thankful for it

[Emma S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh take on an important topic. Admittedly, I sped through this one for seminar prep, so I could probably use going through it again. But it was helpful to consider how much our bodies will impact our minds and our spiritual health - something we don't often talk about. I think sometimes we risk running into a form of Gnosticism, emphasising our spiritual health (and how that is worked out through practical service - 'Serve the Lord until you drop') whilst minimising the very real fact that we are embodied beings with physical needs and limitations. Shona helps us to consider the link between physical and spiritual health in a very Biblical way, not like a few of the other wishy-washy books on the subject. Helpful!

[Mary Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a very simple but refreshing read. the goal of this book is to help you live a life that is ultimately modeled after the pace of Christ; one that is slower, steadier, and also, ultimately healthier.

each chapter is a “step” in the process that starts with introspection and ends with application and new life found in a better paced rhythm of life.

while a little redundant and maybe even cheesy at
times, it really was a good read that had me thinking about/ taking inventory in various areas of my life. convicting and encouraging and a book I think i’ll read every now and then to steady my pace.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When we obey our Creator's instructions for temple care, we will take breaks and go to bed on time, even with an unfinished to-do list. When we do that for these reasons, not only are we physically resting, but also we are resting in Christ. We are acknowledging and accepting our creaturely limitations. Contrary to what we may think, he is not disappointed in us for not finishing our list. Instead he is honored because we entrust what we cannot finish to him. We rest more in him and rely less on ourselves and our abilities.

[Kayla Rakita · Rating 5 out of 5]

My best friend lent me this book at the perfect time. This is a faith-based book meant to help you assess your own life and make some changes to begin to heal from burnout/anxiety/depression. I kept detailed notes for each chapter and treated it like a workbook, and got so much out of it. Every chapter focuses on a different part of you (she calls them “stations,” and some of the terminology is a little cheesy but I actually really appreciate the metaphor because it feels like you’re making progress), and the approach is very holistic, as the author is a physician. I loved it, I needed it, and it was the catalyst for so many positive changes in my life.

[Jenni Moeller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reminders to slow down and make time to take care of mind, body, and soul because when one of these areas suffers they all suffer. There was a lot of her personal story but she tried not to force her ways onto the reader but encourages those walking different paths to do what’s best for them. Still, at times it sounded like her family had it all together.

When she talked about marriage and communication I wish she would have talked about those married to unbelievers and had encouragements for them.

[Joanna Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this and Reset side by side. Fairly practical guide to preventing/recovering from burnout, although some of the advice felt wildly inaccessible if one isn’t wealthy (find someone to babysit my kids one hour a day so I can have time off, are you hearing yourself here?) Also came from a strongly western perspective with heavy emphasis on scheduling and efficiency. The separate books for men and woman is a marketing ploy, they are very similar and have the same content.

[Troy Nevitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but it's definitely written towards women rather than men. Highly recommended none-the-less. Her husband wrote a companion book, which is a helpful read as well. It's called "ReStart"

[Sarah K · Rating 4 out of 5]

rated: 3 1/2 rounded up to 4

As usual, my five point review:
The premise of Refresh focuses on evaluating our lives through various lenses such as rest, relaxation, reduction, etc. Each of the ten chapters begins with the letter R and is called a “station” at the Refresh Gym. If you read the introduction, you’ll note that Refresh is a feminized adaption (by Shona, presumably) of of a book that David Murray wrote for men, Reset. I found the gym analogy a bit cheesy and did wonder how many women that imagery would appeal to. That aside, I would recommend the book. It began with Shona’s story, detailing her journey towards burn out. The trajectory introduced by the book argues that most (Christian) women are somewhere on this spectrum: stressed –> anxious –> overwhelmed –> burned out –> sad –> depressed –> suicidal (p. 24). I would agree with that notion; I think in our culture it is tough to not fit into one of those categories. I wasn’t clear if that trajectory was research based or not, because I would perhaps organize the spectrum differently, but for the sake of this review: I don’t think it matters.

Though I did not find the majority of this book to be “new” information, what I did wholeheartedly appreciate was the balance between psychological/medical research, self-help tips and tricks, and Gospel truth throughout this book. This was particularly poignant in discussions of physical and mental health, areas that the church doesn’t often address.

QUOTE: "The Bible … guides us to care for both the body and the soul. The apostle Paul presents his theology of the body in 1 Corinthians 6:9–20. He starts by admitting that the human body has been damaged by sin (vv. 9–10). However, that doesn’t mean we just forget the body. No, Paul says Christ’s redemption is not just for the soul but also for the body. It’s a full-body and a full-soul salvation. “The body is . . . for the Lord,” insists Paul, “and the Lord for the body” (v. 13). He made it, saved it, and maintains an eternal interest in it."(p. 68)

One of the aspects of the book that I did not like was the approach to relaxation. There was great conversation about the Sabbath, but otherwise the application of annual vacations and daily personal times was a bit too privileged, specific, and (in my opinion) did not give room for factors such as family preferences, finances, and circumstances that do not allow for this. For instance, staycations were not encouraged because “being home” and “not doing anything” was not restful enough. I love vacations and I love personal time, but I know many people who logistically and financially cannot make things like that work, so the chapter seemed a bit exclusionary.

The number one thing I appreciated about this book was the recurring theme about vocation and work. This is so rare in Christian books written for women! Again, there was some privileged discussion here–a “choice” to work (not reality for all women, I know). Priorities in the workplace, balancing family and ministry and personal faith and work, and also accepting imperfection are all addressed at length. Other chapters addressed friendship, family matters, raising children in the faith, and our own personal relationships with God.

In general, I found Refresh to be thought provoking and helpful, a good analysis of how we can deal with life in our busy culture in a healthy, Christ-centered manner. The book closed with some thoughts for living the grace-paced life. So encouraging!

QUOTE: "But God has taught me that, no, the grace-paced life is not only his will but more honoring to him. For me, to pace myself means less of my efforts and more of God’s grace. I have had to learn to fight hard against unbiblical, false guilt and personal expectations. I have learned to look up to God before looking across to people and ask: “What does God want me to do right now?” The key is to grasp that pacing ourselves is biblical, whereas living the fast, frantic life is not. It takes faith to believe that and to follow through with it. To live it is in fact a dying to self—a dying to our self-will, our self-sufficiency, and our self image. Have you understood frantic living versus grace-paced living in that way before?" (p. 173-174)

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crossway. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed above are entirely my own. Thanks to Crossway Blog Review Program for the chance to read this great book!

[Lindsey Sieders · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy and helpful read. Though there was nothing new to me in this book it was a good refresher as our family heads into September. I’d rate it a 3.5, it’s not one I would re-read, though I did appreciate the contents at this time in my life.