Embrace Grace

Embrace Grace is a little book with a powerful message. It's appropriate for anyone who's struggled with feeling worthy of grace and mercy, compassion and encouragement. Liz Curtis Higgs delivers a message of hope and help for the hurting. She shares her own and others' experiences on the path to not just accepting God's grace, but embracing it.

I heartily recommend "Embrace Grace" to every woman regardless of her situation. If you've ever struggled with shame, guilt, depression, or feeling unloved by God, this book is for you! For those who feel like they don't belong, who lack faith, who have a past they are ashamed of . . . or for those who just need to feel loved and accepted, this book will feel like a big hug from God as He embraces you in arms of grace and forgiveness. Order several copies . . . one for yourself to read again and again, and some to give to your friends. Our ministry is about hope . . . and that is what you will find in this book. We're very excited to see what God will do in your heart as you soak in His love through the words of Liz Curtis Higgs.

Embrace Grace is one of the most encouraging and insightful non-fiction books I've read that addresses the forgiven life that can only be found in Christ. Liz discusses a multitude of topics based on e-mails she has received from women who were hurting and needed assurance that their Heavenly Father loves them and has forgiven them. I received comfort within the pages of Embrace Grace that I, too, am not exempt from God's ever-reaching power and all-encompassing grace. For me the most powerful chapter was "Embrace Sin." What? You ask. Embrace sin? Here's the subtitle. "How could he love me after all I've done?" This chapter includes both before and after salvation. It still gives me goosebumps and I get a little choked up when I think about it. Very powerful. A must read. Need I say more?

I have never read one of Ms. Higgs books before, but was somehow "pushed" to pick it up and take a look. "Embrace Grace." The Lord certainly knows that I needed to do just that. Ms. Higgs writes with compassion and empathy...not preachy at all, but supportive and encouraging. There is no question that this book is directed at a Catholic audience. Being raised Catholic, I could relate. If you cannot or would not relate to the teachings of Christ, then this may not be the book for you because it is through belief in Christ and the relevant Biblical passages in this book that one can make the connection and heal. I applaud Ms. Higgs gentle but direct manner. When one is struggling to accept forgiveness, being too "easy" doesn't help. But in her firm and honest approach she submits case after case as to why you are not alone in this, why forgiveness has been created for us all since before the beginning of time, and that it is "OK" to accept it...not just OK, but your job, and it is God's good wish for you to accept it. Some things that I learned but didn't expect to learn...grace is all-encompassing. It means to not only accept forgiveness, but to repent, to move forward, to allow yourself to feel "new" again. WHO IN THIS WORLD DOESN'T NEED THIS??? Yeah, thought so. I was also intrigued by her comment that "self forgiveness" isn't mentioned anywhere in the Bible. WOW. How true. God's grace has you covered. I have read a lot of self-help, spiritual, and religious books, and I cannot recommend this one more. NO ONE can open this book and not relate in some way (again, the Catholic POV may be a problem for some, though it was a huge help to me). I really think it is one of the most powerful books I have read. One more comment: If you are the adult child of emotional and verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or for some other reason suffer from extremely low self-esteem and often blame yourself, READ THIS BOOK. I implore you. We often put our abuse on ourselves, making it "our fault." I certainly did and held it against myself for too long. This book really helped. Thank you, Liz. Thank you.

Liz Higgs has a way of drawing you into her work and making you feel as though she's writing to you alone. EMBRACE GRACE is no exception, and in it Lizzie shares her heart, her passion, and her love for the Lord and her readers. Take time to EMBRACE GRACE and read this small book--you'll be blessed.