Always Know with Melinda Estabrooks

 

Every once in awhile you stumble onto a book at just the right time.

This collection of stories begins with the last line of the show See Hear Love "Always know . . . you are seen, heard, and deeply loved by God." After a year of isolation and conflict these words hit with a much needed truth which unfolds throughout the pages thanks to a chorus of voices.

I was truly impressed with the diversity of this collection with 50 contributors from different walks and stages of life. It really hit me as such a reflection of the body of Christ, so many different parts coming together to share truth, uplift, and encourage reflection and growth.
With such diversity in its pages it would be a challenge not to find a voice that resonates. There is such power in a person's story and you can feel the heart of the writers coming through the pages.
 I think the diversity lends itself to Always Know being a book that will connect through multiple reads with different chapters connecting with readers at different stages in life.

The book is also very easy to engage with. Most of the chapters average two pages with the main text, reflection, takeaway, and author bio. It was so easy to grab the book in a quiet moment and read a chapter while reflecting on the follow up questions while I moved through my day.

If you're like me who's always looking to dig a little deeper, Always Know also has an amazing feature where each chapter is linked with an episode of See Hear Love (another great resource from Melinda). This really lets readers customize how they engage the material and allows for more in depth engagement on the chapters that stay with you.

5 out of 5 stars

I received this book as part of the #AlwaysKnowBook tour. The opinions are my own.

The Christian Book of Mystical Verse compiled by A.W. Tozer

Have you ever been up late, working hard into the night when a craving hit?
Maybe you grabbed something sweet or salty or maybe even a hearty meal to satisfy that urge.

Lately our youngest hasn't been sleeping (thank you 1 year molars the gift that keeps on giving) and I found myself hit with a craving for poetry (I have mentioned I'm a geek before right?)

It seemed quite providential when Moody Publishing released The  Christian Book of Mystical Verse  right at the beginning of tooth #2. How could I resist?

Although the book lists A.W. Tozer on its cover, Tozer functioned as the compiler of this collection rather than contributor. Instead the pages are filled with the words of Fredrick William Faber, Jean Marie De La Motte-Guyon, Charles Wesley, Thomas Blacklock, Isaac Watts, and Christina Rosetti.


While I was introduced to poetry early and consistently through life, I was pleased to see this collection included many verses I was unfamiliar with. I was also impressed to see the equal footing given to both male and female writers, and the variety of topics covered in the pages.

I will say that I had a very hard time connecting with Faber's verses. I'm guessing it was a stylistic conflict. Unfortunately  Tozer did not share this difficulty and featured his work heavily throughout the book.
Variety is definitely a strength within this collection, however, and there really is a writer for everyone to connect with in this collection.

The Christian Book of Mystical Verse provides  a fascinating selection to both help readers in their reflections as well as introduce them to the writings of those who have gone before.

4 out of 5 stars

I received this book from Moody Publishing in exchange for an honest review, The views expressed are my own and unaltered.