#weread2017: Gracelaced
Friends, it is with great joy that I share this book with you today. I had the privilege of meeting Ruth Chou Simons at the Influence Conference a couple years ago, and then she so sweetly agreed to be a part of my Sisters of Influence series. She is the real deal, y'all. She is kind and genuine and loves her family. Not only is she a wonderful wife and mama (to six boys!), she is a follower of Christ who expresses her love for Him through beautiful paintings and the most lovely of words.
If you follow Ruth on Instagram, you will get a glimpse into her daily life as she shares about what it's like to honor and glorify God in the midst of everyday mundane tasks. She helps shed a light on the importance of preaching truth to our own hearts every. single. day.
Gracelaced: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart is an incredible journey through each season of our soul. The seasons we experience each year- winter, spring, summer, and fall- all have a purpose. We know that, but we all still have our favorite seasons and the ones we'd care to never experience again. And our souls are just the same. Sometimes we are in a winter season where things are bleak. Other times we find ourselves in summer where everything is bright and new. Whatever season we find ourselves in, we can know this- God is good. While the seasons change, He never does. His word promises that He is faithful and true.
With beautiful paintings and practical questions that get right to the point, Ruth takes the reader on a journey through the soul to empower us to not only remember His truths, but apply them to our daily lives so that they mean something.
Ruth writes, "I have a theory that the most joyful people in the world fight to rejoice...Rejoicing is to the fighter as seedlings to an ashen mountainside. It's a choice to thrive. And, I'm learning, it's also a purposeful prerequisite...Rejoicing is the seed-release party we offer back to the Lord as a faith-filled response to our sufferings."
I mean. That'll preach. I'm oh so grateful for Ruth's words and for the timeliness of this gorgeous book. It's not just a devotional, it's a beautiful piece of art that I will treasure! I highly recommend you add it to your library, friends. And when you do, tell me so we can talk about what season of the heart we find ourselves in at the moment. No matter where you're at, let's rejoice in the One through whom all blessings flow.
*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, but then I bought several copies for my friends. :)