Before and After: A Christian Poetry Collection

by Larissa Hinton

Before

I was in the darkness. I made it my home. Voices would criticize me and I will swallow those bitter pills daily. I thought I was worthless and I never knew my purpose. I picked up my pen to etch my sorrows and to share my pain. I thought once I shared it, it would help me to heal. And, in a way, it did. It led to more pain. The struggle to be seen. To be heard. Until I was.

After

Jesus extended His hand to mine. He led me out of the darkness. His cross, His sacrifice burned heavily into mine. He understood my pain, my struggle. I no longer was alone. We inked words together. I haven’t been the same. There is a direct contrast in my life. Before I knew Christ and After he led me out. This collection shows the difference for God’s glory.

68 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2020

About the author

The young adult fantasy and paranormal romance author, Larissa Hinton, grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Chesapeake, Virginia. She now lives in northern Virginia, but she always looks forward to going back to the sweet smell of the salty ocean.

Larissa Hinton is currently author of Everblossom: A Short Story and poetry Anthology. However, be on the lookout for Angel Diaries (a paranormal romance) and Everblossom 2: A Second Anthology of Short Stories and Poems!

If you want to know more about this author and her sarcasm, then check out her website: www.larissahinton.com

Huge Fan? Signup to receive email alerts about new releases and free giveaways here: http://eepurl.com/H71-L

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read poetry, thanks to a high school English teacher convincing me I couldn't understand it. I am so glad I read this collection of poems expressing the difference in life without Christ and with Him. They are overflowing with expression I easily embraced. Hinton uses words with stunning clarity, words that draw out emotion, words that elicit a response.

I love how her pairs of poems contrast life before and after Christ. Her two poems about waiting clearly show the frustration of waiting without Christ and the blissful, relationship building of waiting for God to act with Christ. Her contrasts of worldly love and divine love are breath taking.

Here is one of my favorite sections of the Divine Love poem:

Despite the flaws
Love still reaches out with a single touch
And heals the brokenhearted
Cradles the tender heart
Hears the wounds of years of darkness
And yet still pours into them anyway. (35)

Here's a section from her poem about Evil::

You can never buy
Swindle
Hoodwink
Your way out of darkness.

Only a sacrifice will do. (19)

I think you'll want to have a journal with you when you read these poems. Her poems about weight and eating and the experience of fasting could well be life changing for you. Her poems challenge. They encourage. They invite you to feel, to think, to react.

I highly recommend this collection of well crafted poems of life before and after Christ.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Emily Yager · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique poetry collection that tells a story of finding love and redemption through God and the journey along the path.

Each poem is an honest heartfelt cry. Filled with emotion and truth. Several resonated with me personally. You can really feel the poet pour their soul out in these pages in a raw realistic way that is sometimes ignored.

A different approach to sharing your Christian journey. An emotional and heart tugging read. If you enjoy poetry with an honest and strong faith message this is one to check out.