I reviewed the book This Scarlet Cord: The Love Story of Rahab by Joan Wolf.

I was absolutely fascinated by this book! Obviously, I love historical fiction, and I’ve read books by Joan Wolf before. This novel had me bookmarking all over the place. Wonderful phrases and statements about women’s hearts.

One conversation the main characters had about Rachel, the mother of Joseph, really got me thinking: Rahab said that it was her favorite Bible story not because Rachel was such a legendary beauty, but because she was important to be the love interest and center of the story. I’ve never thought of it in quite that way, but I love that description.

How many of us want to be important to God and to our husband?

Of course, the Bible reveals little about Rahab. She is named a prostitute. She helps the Hebrew spies. Her family is saved when Jericho is destroyed. This novel brings Rahab to life in a brilliant and loving way.
Rahab is important. She is important because she overcomes her name. She is not just a prostitute. She marries a Hebrew: Salmon. She becomes the mother of Boaz. She is a woman named in the genealogy of Jesus. Rahab is important.
I am recommending this book to all my girl friends. It is well written and has wonderful insights into women of the time period, both in Canaanite and Hebrew culture. I am teaching a Bible study on marriage and parenting and I will use this book as a recommendation when I discuss Rahab as an example of how the past doesn’t matter.

Jesus forgives us all and can call anyone to greatness.

He often calls the least equipped. We just have to be willing.

Book Description

Within one of the Old Testament’s most famous battles lies one of its most tender love stories.
Hidden within the battle of Jericho is the story of Rahab, a beautiful and brave young Canaanite woman who aided the Israelites by hanging a piece of scarlet cord from a window. This act of faith changed her life by placing her in the genealogy of Christ.
Rahab is the beautiful youngest daughter of a Canaanite farmer, taken to Jericho for the pagan New Year celebration so that her father can find her a wealthy spouse. Sala is the only son of an Israelite merchant, in Jericho as a spy for Joshua’s army. Their love would have been destined for heartache, were it not ordained by God.
When Rahab finds favor with the king, and is to become his ritual bride, she abandons the pagan gods who have abandoned her and pleads with the One True God of the Israelites for deliverance. With her prayer answered, she vows to deliver Jericho to Joshua, risking her life to do so.
Motivated by love and empowered by a new faith, Rahab saves her family, and secures her future as one of the most important women in the Bible.
Get the book for yourself and enjoy!

I reviewed God Knows Your Name: In a World of Rejection, He Accepts You by Catherine Campbell.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet.” Shakespeare

Names are important.

We pore over baby name books trying to find that perfect moniker for our children. A name that will define him or her. A name that evokes whatever trait or virtue we wish him or her to possess.

I know I was troubled by finding just the right spelling for my four babies. I didn’t want them to go through life explaining their names to everyone or spelling it out for people. When I was a high school English teacher, I had some students with rather creative names. There were random dashes and capital letters in the middle of names. I sure didn’t want to do that to my kids. I almost spelled my firstborn: Elisabeth, but then I changed my mind almost at the last minute to the Z because I imagined her forever telling folks her name “with an S.” Our youngest girl will probably have the most trouble because there are so many ways to spell Katherine. Our featured author has hers with a C. Then there are several different endings: –ryn, -arine, –rine. Ah, well.

Names are important.

God knows our names.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. Isaiah 43:1-5

Doesn’t that just make you happy to know that our Father in Heaven knows our names? He thinks about us. Isn’t that exciting? We are important to Him. He redeemed us!

“In a world of rejection, He accepts you.” This is on the cover of God Knows Your Name by Catherine Campbell. I think that statement sums it up. We all feel rejected. He accepts us. When we come to realize that God accepts us, the world changes. We see things differently. We see people differently. We see ourselves differently. We see God. He sees through us. I don’t think we ever really stop needing that acceptance from people, whether it’s parents, peers, or spouses. But we can rest in the assurance that God accepts us and we are acceptable.

My Review:

In just six little chapters, Catherine Campbell breaks our hearts for all those who are hurting, all those who have been hurt. We’ve all been there. We can all connect with one of her stories. We so want acceptance. All of us have at one time felt Nameless, or Hopeless, or Worthless, Helpless, Powerless, or Loveless. And God heals all that and accepts us. He knows our names.

Each chapter includes an applicable Bible story about a real Bible character, fictionalized to make that person more real to us, to fill in some possible details. It is beautifully written. I was spellbound and couldn’t quit reading it! The second half of each chapter describes the story of someone that has personally affected the author, Catherine Campbell. The stories are heartrending. These tales make us cheer for Christians who have helped others see the reality and majesty of Christ, those who have helped people understand that God knows our names and loves us. It’s about real people shining their lights for Jesus, being His hands and feet and doing something for His glory and kingdom.

About Catherine Campbell:

Catherine’s interest in writing started in primary school when she won a National School’s Story Competition run by the chocolate company, Cadbury.  Much later she moved on from the story of the cocoa bean to crafting magazine articles published in magazines.

In March 2008 her first book ‘Under the Rainbow’ was published by Ambassador Productions, closely followed eight months later by her second, ‘Rainbows for Rainy Days’. Her third book ‘God Knows Your Name’ has been published by Monarch.

Her working life started as a nurse in Belfast’s famous Royal Victoria Hospital, and she continued nursing on a part-time basis for the next few decades.  In 2005 Catherine hung up her uniform for the last time to devote more time to writing, and to be able to keep up with her diary of speaking engagements, as well as those of a busy minister’s wife.

Catherine, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, now lives in the beautiful northern town of Coleraine, where her husband, Philip, is minister of the Congregational church.

Family is vitally important to Catherine, and she thanks God for a close loving family who have supported her at every stage of her life.  She and Philip have three children; two daughters, Cheryl and Joy, now in heaven, and a wonderful son, Paul who is married to Susie, both exceptional musicians. Paul and Susie’s daughter, Bethany Joy, is now a delightful toddler and adding another generation of wonder to the family.

Disclaimer: I received God Knows Your Name free from the publisher through Kregel Blog Tours for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved reviewing The Girl’s Still Got It: Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World by Liz Curtis Higgs.

This book spoke to me even in the introduction.

“Ruth’s definitely got it. What [is] “it”? Value. Significance. Vibrancy. Worth. Something vital and meaningful to offer, no matter how many times you’ve been around the block.”

Don’t we all want to be vibrant and significant? I know I do!

Reading this book is like sitting and chatting with a dear friend. We all know the story of Ruth in the Bible. But Liz Curtis Higgs brings her to life like no one can. And she makes us think. At the end of each chapter, there is a “Ruth in Real Life”: an example of a woman who had a similar struggle. I love to feel connected to others.

So, we can time travel with Ruth and learn more about ourselves and Jesus in the process. Liz uses various Bible translations and many historical examples from her extensive research to explain the tale of Ruth to us in a new way. She examines the language and cultural concepts and God is revealed in all the little details of Ruth’s story. Amazing.

I do love Liz’s style of writing. I have read everything and we even have all of her kids’ books.

And surprise! There are discussion questions and a small group study guide in the back. Just begging to get a group of girlfriends together to go on a journey.

And I want to share this video with you now. It’s quite hilarious. Have you ever seen Liz at a conference? She’s a riot!

Liz Curtis Higgs’ Righteous Ruth Rap:

I received this book free from the publisher for an honest review.