In the Dailies

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! If you missed it, stay tuned. I’m compiling a stack of books to giveaway sometime next month.

This weekend I asked what mother from the Bible you would like to meet or know more about. I loved reading all your answers. If any of you want books dealing specifically with your woman of interest, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d be happy to share titles! I’ve found some excellent books that target individual women like the Marys (the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Mary and Martha), Esther, Ruth and Naomi. I can direct you toward nonfiction and/or novelized accounts. Just let me know. In the meantime, Jen had a question I want to answer. She asked if there were any books about mothers of the Bible. The answer: YES!

Kathi Macias just released a new book: Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today. In it she combines her personal, conversational style with thoroughly researched information to provide stunning portraits of biblical moms. The best part, though, is the emphasis on what these women can teach us today. Each chapter concludes with a “Something to Think About” section of questions and space to journal, as well as a prayer. Readers also enjoy quotes about motherhood from a wide spectrum of people, historical and contemporary, famous and not.

“Who’s included?” That’s always my first question when I see one of these survey-type books. I love studying women of the Bible; it’s one of my greatest passions, naturally I want to know which women are covered and which are not. Rather than just listing names or chapters, the author actually includes a descriptive paragraph with each listing on the Contents page. I think it’s fabulous. Right off the bat, from the very first pages, she makes the stories of these ancient women relevant to us centuries - even millenia later. I can’t share all of this with you, but I can give you an example.

Rizpah: Grief-Stricken yet Faithful — Can there be anything more painful to a parent than the death of a child? In addition to the agony, losing a child to death seems to be out of the natural order. Yet, from the beginning, mothers have endured this tragedy, which can result in additional problems: divorce, financial difficulties, and even a loss of faith in God. Yet God sees and cares.

In addition to this chapter you’ll find:

• Eve: Without a Role Model
• Sarah: Mother of Nations
• Rebekah: Playing Favorites
• Rachel and Leah: Competing Through Their Children
• Jochobed: The Greatest Sacrifice
• Hannah: Woman of Prayer, Gratitude and Integrity
• Bathsheba: Redemption and Restoration
• The Widow of Zarephath: Generous to the End
• Elizabeth: A Willing Sacrifice
• The Canaanite Woman: Persevering in Prayer
• Salome: Catching the Eternal Vision
• Eunice and Lois: Passing the Torch
• The Proverbs 31 Woman: A Woman for All Seasons
• Mary: In a Class by Herself

Thoughout these chapters we learn about women who have faced infertility, adultery, death or exile of children, death of husbands, public ridicule and scorn and even the little things we all face on a daily basis: wanting our kids to love God, to be their best, to be better than the rest; personal feelings of insecurity or ignorance; isolation. These women were under-appreciated and overworked, just like us.

It’s a fantastic book! Order it from Amazon.com or visit the author’s website for more details.