Liz Curtis Higgs

God Reached Down from Heaven with the Best Gift of All

A sacred season is about to unfold for three women whose hearts belong to God.
Elizabeth is barren, yet her trust in God remains fertile. Mary is betrothed in marriage, yet she is willing to bear God’s Son. Anna is a widow full of years, yet she waits patiently, prayerfully for the Messiah to appear in the temple courts.

Following in their footsteps, you too can prepare for the Savior to enter your heart, your mind, and your life in a vibrant, new way. Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs explores the biblical stories of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna, unwrapping each verse with tender care and introducing you afresh to The Women of Christmas.… (mere)

This is an interesting book – the first half is a fictional story about a modern-day woman named Mary, whose life parallels that of Mary Magdalene of the New Testament. The second half of the book is a non-fiction study of the real Mary Magdalene, what the Bible has to say about her, and her life-changing encounters with Christ. Each chapter ends with questions for personal study and reflection and/or for small group discussion. A study guide at the end of the book includes scripture passages that correspond with each chapter.… (mere)

This is an excellent book about the three Marys, each of whom has a life-changing encounter with Jesus. It was enlightening to see how Higgs, a seasoned Bible teacher and award-winning novelist, combines her storytelling skills with a thorough verse-by-verse study of Scripture to look at the lives of the women who served Jesus throughout His ministry. She breaks down the stories in the Bible starting with Mary of Bethany, who prepares the way for Jesus’s burial when she anoints His feet with her perfumes. His mother, Mary of Nazareth, remains by His side from His first breath to His last. Mary Magdalene, delivered of seven demons, bravely supports her teacher through His darkest hours, then proclaims the glorious news of His resurrection. The Women of Easter reminds us that Jesus has always used women to propel His kingdom in mighty ways.… (mere)

If I could only use one word to describe this book, it would be "delightful". Whereas the preceding book, Here Burns My Candle was dark, and full of betrayal, war, and menace, Mine Is the Night is full of light, humor, love, and friendship. I read this book one evening until my eyes were burning, then picked it up and finished it the next morning because I had to know how it ended.

Mine Is the Night is the second half of a semi-modernized retelling of the story of Ruth and Naomi. Elisabeth is a widow in Scotland after the 1745 Rebellion. Rather than return to her own mother, she chooses to stay with her mother-in-law, Marjory. Throughout the story, we watch as the bond between the two women is strengthened, along with their growing faith in God. Unlike the first book, in which I disliked most of the characters, this book is filled with new friends and new love. It really is a beautiful story of hope and redemption.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

… (mere)