Today’s the day (A)Typical Woman is officially released.
When I first started writing this book, I was zealous for women to understand Christ as the whole of their life as women. I was burning inside to help women see what being a Christian and a woman actually is–with the whole Bible as the foundation–nothing ignored. I was in turmoil over the misconceptions and distorted teaching that had taken hold in many places. I was angsty over the pendulum whose swing was threatening to tip the whole apparatus over.
That was over two years ago. And I find that since that time God has deepened and matured my zeal, rather than cooling it off. The need is greater, not lesser. This is a marathon, not a sprint, but I’m eager to keep running.
Why did I write (A)Typical Woman? Because the world has tried to steal something that belongs to Christ. They’ve tried to steal the words Christian and woman. They’ve tried to redefine them, not merely in a dictionary, but in living color, in real life. This book is meant to claim them as HIS–his words and his reality. The words Christian and woman belong to Christ. They’re by him and for him. And what’s much more surprising––and distressing–– is how the church has often quietly let the words go. We’ve watched the substance of them disintegrate before our eyes with barely a whimper and sometimes with God-defying approval.
This book is meant reorient us to reality. It’s meant to show Christian women what peace with God is like, and therefore, peace with themselves. So many are striving, longing, aching to make themselves into something of value. So many are rebelling, fighting, and running from their Maker and how he’s made them.
Christian women must know who and what they are and Who and what they’re made for. We must stop searching because we’ve been found in him. We must stop hiding from God and be hidden in him instead.
This is a simple book with a simple goal: to grow you (and me) up in Christ as women. To take you from milk to solid food. To free you for fearless obedience so that your joy explodes and your influence deepens to the glory of God.
Get it on Amazon. Find it at a bookstore. Share it with your friends, your sisters, your mom, and anyone else. Lay down your pet ponies and preferences and read with a heart resolved to receive Christ Jesus as Lord. May he make you one of the most astonishing and atypical things the world has ever seen: a Christian woman.
Just ordered your book. Can’t wait to read it. Thank you!!
I’ve been anticipating this book since I first read about it; your blogs have been very helpful to me. One question though: will this be released as an audiobook, or is there a way to get it as a pdf so I can put it into a text-to-speech program (kindle won’t let you)? I go through several audiobooks a month, but I rarely actually get around to reading my print books.
That’s a great question. I’ll ask and see if this is a possibility.
Thanks for all your work on this book. It is a necessary topic to cover in these days we live in!
It’s my joy! Praying it serves the church!
Amen, Sister!
I’m reading through the book right now and it is amazing! Last night I finished the chapter “Embodied Women”. I am in my mid-40s and have never had children. In fact I was unable to have children. I read this chapter through many tears; my womanhood was deeply validated as I read those words in a way that it has not been in a long time. Your treatment of the subject was so thorough and gracious and pastoral. Thank you!
I am thoroughly enjoying reading this book. It is such an incredible blessing for me.
Michelle, thank you for taking the time to share this with me. I’m so grateful God met you in that chapter. Thank you, Lord!
Hello Abigail. Thankyou for writing this book! I’ve just read chapter 1, and am already wanting to dig so much deeper. I’m hoping, together with a friend, to host a pop up book club via FB (or a similar platform) on this book. Besides the discussion questions at the end of each chapter – do you have any other suggestions on how to do this well? Are each of the 17 chapters meant to be tackled alone? Or each of the 3 sections (although that seems like too much in one sitting). Did you have anything mapped out for this? Are you planning a discussion guide? If you can’t answer these questions – thats fine of course! Just thought we’d go to the author and ask!
Thankyou, and I praise God for your work in His kingdom! Helen.
Hi Helen,
I think I would suggest taking one chapter at a time for discussion and working through the questions. One thing that might help to take you past the discussion questions into deeper study would be to check the Scripture references for that chapter and spend some time discussing those passages. Hope that helps!