Sharon's style of writing is fabulous...very conversational - like sitting at the kitchen table with a special friend, chatting about the things of life while sipping on Lattes. Every page of the book contains rich nuggets that would make wonderful teaching moments or even to expand on and make into sermons.
One of my favorite, and most impacting, segments of the book was where Sharon described being drawn into John chapter 20 - she literally envisioned herself being with Mary Magdalene before the empty tomb and then racing back to the disciples with the news of Jesus being risen. As she continued to read the passage and envision the scene, the Lord spoke to her about the fact that the disciples didn't recognize Jesus until He revealed His scars to them. He went on to tell her that this is how Jesus is still revealed to the world today - "when My people are not ashamed to show their scars." Sharon continues, "This was a moment of sudden glory that changed my life and my ministry forever. He showed me the power and purpose behind the scars in my own life: to help others recognize Jesus. The scars of my past (and your past) are not something to be ashamed of. They tell a story. A story of wounds healed by the Healer. They tell of the power at work in our lives."
Included in this book is a study guide for use with a small group or individually. I would highly recommend going through the study guide, not just to get the most from this book, but to go deeper in your understanding of Jesus and his love, which in turn will enhance and deepen your relationship with Him. And it's not just a page or two of discussion questions either....it's a well-rounded, complete chapter-by-chapter study guide with several questions per chapter (25 pages total!).
This book will definitely be going into my "ministry" library!
I'd like to thank the wonderful people from Waterbrook-Multnomah and Blogging For Books for the complimentary copy of this wonderful book.
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