I want to find my ‘inner warrior” as a Christian woman. Don’t you? My mind seems to be on fire, and I am hearing God’s voice boom, in part because of this book by Holly Wagner: below, Warrior Chicks: Rising Strong When Life Wants to Take You Down. I guarantee you will find this book life changing!
Holly Wagner’s Warrior Chicks has come into my life, like a best friend or gift. I spent a month in between blogging and day-to-day duties reading this book. It is short, but power packed. You will spend time reading and reading each chapter. You will not stop with reading this book. It inspires heart-felt prayer as you gobble down each page and nibble on the nuggets of loving truth found between the pages.
Holly is someone who knows about being a warrior. She battled cancer while copastoring Oasis Church in Los Angeles and reaching thousands of women through conferences, books, and other resources.
She knows a thing or two about taking up “a sword and shield” and facing an ugly giant of disease seeking to kill her voice and message for women. This book, however, only allows a small glimspe into her personal battles and struggles. She uses them as a springboard to inspire women everywhere to find their “inner warriors” no matter what they are facing in their lives.
The book is written in tight one- to three-sentence paragraphs that create a poetic form flowing across the pages that build the chapters that overflow with Biblical truths and challenges to each of us to rise up and accept the call of the Christian woman warrior.
We are needed on the frontlines, sisters! Holly urges us to rise up and make our personal differences and fulfill the dreams that Jesus dreamt for each of us on His Holy Cross. Yes, I really believe He saw each of us that accepted Him on that cross 2,000 years ago. He saw our lives. He implanted our dreams and purpose! In those hours on the cross, I believe He saw each of us bow our heads and accept Him and His callings! He saw us on that dark day as His beautiful followers.
Holly calls each of us “bellisima,” or “most beautiful” and writes:
“If we are to become effective warriors, the first war we must win is the war to believe that we are beautiful.” (p. 16)
Adding, “I wonder if it is a slap in God’s face when we don’t like who He made us to be and want something else. … We have a (God-given) role to play on the planet, and we will only be effective at doing it if we are comfortable in our own skin.”
Wow, did you just read those words. They are hard to believe aren’t they? I think this took four days to let this message sink in my 230 pound body of pain and what I saw as ugliness. I want to stop slapping God in the face. I am not going to see myself as ugly anymore. I am bellisima.
This book is a call for Christian women everywhere to join Jesus’s army — The Warrior Chicks! The neat thing is Jesus has already won the war. We just need to join in the fight to bring others into the victory. The challenge of this book is to “RISE UP” and realize victory is ours. No one around us needs to suffer alone. No one around us needs to face condemnation to a life in hell if we just join His Army of Victors!
I know you have read book reviews from me before that extol the greatness of the books I am reading. (I read great books on purpose by the way. I only choose books that are going to change lives!) This book will change your life if you read it. Better yet, take it to your pastor and let him or her read it. Propose a Bible study around it. It has a built in chapter-by-chapter, Bible study resource in the back of the book to get your started.
I know this book has inspired a revival in my writing. This past month, I have been writing posts that I hope will inspire, encourage, and lift you up. In case you missed them here are links to some of my favorite recent posts:
- Things I am Thankful for Learning in June
- Five Thoughts on Why I Will Choose Joy Today
- Finding Freedom From Mistakes
- Imagining God’s Refrigerator Door
- Time Management To Overcome Unproductive Days
- World Reaching
- Six Ways to Conquer “If Only” Thoughts
- Rise to New Beginnings (A poem of encouragement)
- Finding Beauty in Writing
I have entered the fray and the battle through my blog. I know the battle belongs to the Lord and victory is His! I know I need to focus, put on my armor and get dressed, get ready for baton exchanges, recognize who is my Boss (Jesus) while realizing I will never be alone in the battles that He directs me toward. Whew, Thanks Holly!
If you need encouragement to join in, then, I highly recommend you read this book and share with the beautiful women in your circles!
You can purchase this book using my affliate link above or by clicking the picture link below. If you use my links, I receive a small percentage of the sale which I use to pay blogging expenses. I recevied a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.
Linking up with Mom 2 Mom Mondays, Monday’s Musings, Mama Moments Mondays, and Good Morning Mondays.
Inspire Me Mondays at Create with Joy, Inspire Me Monday at Angie Ryg,Mama Moments Monday, Motivation Mondays, Inspire Me Mondays at Table for 7, Mommy Monday Blog Hop, The Book Nook – A New Blog Party For Book Lovers! , What to Read Wednesdays, The Cozy Reading Spot, and Booknificent Thursdays.
And:
Be sure to check out my Link-up Parties page for other great linkups.
I love that this book has already changed your life and inspired you to take action. That is the very best of books! Thanks for linking up at Booknificent Thursday this week!
Tina
Tina at Mommynificent recently posted…Booknificent Thursday Link Up Party #106
Love your review — and I noticed you have Savor in your pile (from the pic) as well!
Another very challenging book! Will you be reviewing that too?
Michele Morin recently posted…A Confident Faith
Looks like a fantastic book!
Alice Carter recently posted…Whose Minion are You?
It is. I loved it so much.;)
Dear Mary,
I read your book earlier this week and was blown away by the positive impact Warrior Chicks had on your life! I was really excited to read the book after reading your review! 🙂
Anyway, I just posted my review and wanted to let you know that I included your review in the links of my review for others to read as well.
Thanks for sharing your fabulous post with us at Inspire Me Monday – have an amazing weekend! 🙂
http://www.create-with-joy.com/2015/07/warrior-chicks-rising-strong-when-life-wants-to-take-you-down.html
This is a great review. This books sounds like a much-needed book in these days. Thanks for sharing at Together on Tuesdays 🙂
Lisa Ehrman recently posted…FREE Minecraft-Themed Math Worksheets Your Kids Will Love
I love Holly Wagner’s stuff! I watched a recording of her speaking at the Color women’s conference in Australia years ago and was inspired by her ever since.
I can hear her voice as I read her writing. I loved this book. Thanks for stopping by. I hope I get to meet her too at a conference one day.
Bellisima. WORD. Needed to read this today. No wonder HE parked us next to each other at the #raralinkup, I’m #94!
Susan Shipe recently posted…the test – guest post
I needed that word too this week. Bellisima. Thanks for sharing. I am glad we were neighbors at #raralinkup. 😉
I struggled with body image horribly when I was younger. I remember having the same kind of thought, realizing how wrong it was to say I was less than God had made me. Who am I too argue with God? He says I am beautiful.
You’ve made me want to read this book. 🙂
Donna thank you. I know if you read it that you will find inspiration and guidance.
Mary Hill recently posted…Find Your Inner “Warrior Chick”
Definitely need to check this book out!
Adriana Renee recently posted…Small Victories, Not So Small After All (Guest Post)
I am glad my review inspired you. Thanks for stopping by!
looking forward to checking it out!
Great! Thanks for the support.
I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the recommendation!
I loved reading this review – it sounds like an inspiring book!
Trish recently posted…Did You Know Tuesday: Space Food Sticks
Thanks. I hope you will. 🙂
Mary Hill recently posted…Find Your Inner “Warrior Chick”
Sounds like a really interesting book! Thanks for sharing! <3
Susannah recently posted…At Home Date Nights
Glad you stopped by. Thanks for your support.
Mary Hill recently posted…Find Your Inner “Warrior Chick”
What an inspirational sounding book! I may have to pick it up and see how good of a read it is. Thank you for sharing it with us.
okay… you convinced me! I’m just gonna HAVE to read this! It sounds wonderful!!!! The last few years of being Mama to a little one with special needs given me cause to refer to myself as Warrior Mama 🙂 However, in other areas of life, I was being less than a warrior and a dear friend called me out on that! It opened my eyes to the fact that if I am going to be a powerful warrior for my daughter, I can’t be passive, or even a victim, in other areas! Ouch! 🙂
I linked up this week with you since I mentioned a book in my post. It isn’t a book review of any kind, though, so I hope that is okay!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Lori Schumaker recently posted…What I Wish My Younger Self Knew About God-Sized Approval
Great. I hope you enjoy as much as I did. I am still re-reading parts of it. Thanks for stopping by.