Speaking to the heart!

A sturdy, dynamic study attuned to the days of Jesus leading up to and including the Easter moments. Times of heartbreak, of tribulation and of celebration. The redemptive power of the cross. Martin always features hope and reclamation in his fiction, no matter how dark the subject matter. With this devotional one can see the basis for that. A gift for the season. Reflections for all.

A Thomas Nelson ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. ( )

This is a book that you'll want to read again because it's impossible to absorb all of it the first time! Master storyteller Charles Martin shares the story of Calvary with 40 powerful devotions that reflect on different aspects of the journey. It Is Finished is filled with thought-provoking entries that end with 3 sections, "Walk with Me Back to the Cross", "Pray with Me", and "And God Responds". This allows readers to think and reflect on the treasure trove of Scripture that Martin offers through his text, and I love that all of the Scripture is printed in red ink! I also appreciate that there are 12 pages of Notes listing all of the Scripture that's been featured!

So much inspiration and so much knowledge can be found in It Is Finished: A 40-Day Pilgrimage Back to the Cross! It's the perfect book to have by your bed or at your favorite reading spot as you begin this Lenten Season. I know that it's helping me begin my pilgrimage back to the cross and it's truly preparing my heart for Easter Sunday and the celebration of His Resurrection!

I received a copy of this book from the author and FrontGate Media. There was no obligation for a positive review. ( )

From the book: “Without this Cross, there is no tomb. No “He is risen.” No “firstborn from among the dead.” No Savior with the keys of death and hell dangling from His belt. No Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End. Before we can celebrate where He is not (i.e., the tomb) and why He is not there, we need to backtrack to where He’s been, how He got there, and what His presence there accomplished.”

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I found myself enthralled with his ability to paint such vivid scenes with his words. I found myself reading and re-reading the same day over and over again. I found myself in his plain straight-forward word pictures bringing to the fore that which is ugly, detestable, and foul. I found myself starting up at the Cross and simply asking myself, why would He do that… for me?

There are books that I may at some time pick up and read again. This is a book that requires a deep read – again – and a deeper study. I highly recommend this book, but be forewarned, it may take you much deeper into your love of our Savior.

Disclosure: I received this book free via NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review ( )