Book Review - Glimpses of Grace
When I started writing my book, I emailed another writer for advice and encouragement. I had never met Gloria Furman, but so appreciated her blog and the grace with which she conducts herself online. She kindly wrote back and shared some wisdom and advice with me, then went out of her way to help me get started with blogging by featuring me on her own blog. Because of Gloria, I have met many other women who also write with grace and love. I am so thankful for her willingness to help a new writer and I was thrilled to have the chance to review her book, Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home.
I'm a stay-at-home-mom of two young children. The world has two main messages for me: 1) You are wasting your time and doing women a disservice by neglecting other ambitions; or 2) What you are doing is so valuable--be the best stay-at-home-mom ever and relish every moment!
I used to agree with idea #2. I was going to be the best mom, taking my kids all over the place and doing craft projects and teaching them to read by age 2. But then reality set in and I would go to bed crying about my failures day after day, determined to do better the following day.
Gloria's message in this book is a message of freedom, not pressure. She writes:
This book is about how we experience the grace of the gospel as we go about our daily lives in the home. It's not about how to transcend to "a happy place" above the reality of life in the home. It's not about how to relish our mundane existence and cherish it like it were an all-satisfying fountain if we would only soak it in for its own sake.
Glimpses of Grace is about how God's power in the gospel can tran
sform us for his glory as we live by faith--right where we are in the mundane of our homes. It's about how God has made us new in his likeness of true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24). The grace of God in Christ radically changes us. But how does he change the way we wash the same dishes every day? How does the gospel change the way our heart responds when we hear the doorbell ring during supper?
Reading this book, for me, was like sitting down with a kind sister in the faith and letting her pour into me from her experience of God's love and grace during her own days of mundane. As a mom of three (almost four) and a pastor's wife living in the Middle East, Gloria's life is neither easy nor glamorous. She confesses her weaknesses readily. And that is the beauty, because we see the surpassing power of God is not from Gloria, but from her Father.
I commend this book to moms, wives, single women, and even to men. While many of the examples are from a mom's point of view, the truths are universal and applicable to all.
Special Offer from Crossway
In honor of the book’s release, Crossway is excited to offer something special. Purchase a copy of Glimpses of Gracefrom your favorite local or online retailer from June 3-7 and receive a free Glimpses of Grace ebook as well as one of Gloria’s favorite resources—the ESV Study Bible Online (available on ESVBible.org)!
To redeem your free extras, simply scan and email your receipt to glimpses@crossway.org before 11:59am on Friday, June 7.*
Finally, you can watch the book trailer here:
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/65852078 w=500&h=281]
Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home from Crossway on Vimeo.