2022 Book Review #39: The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional

 

This was given to me as a  Christmas gift from one of my small group ladies.  It's been a very interesting devotional book and I learned alot about many Christian women down through the ages from the time of Eve all the way through to today's Christian influencers. It's non-fiction history.

SUMMARY OF BOOK

Each day's entry, beginning with 1 January and going until 31 December, features a different woman in Christian history.  Each entry had something about her parents or background, plus a spouse if applicable or children, plus what she is known for.  There was also a spiritual application and a co-ordinating Scripture verse that sums up what the spiritual application was.  Each day's entry is very short. I would read one or two a night. 

Some of the women had more than one entry.  Especially if they were more "famous" or noteworthy.

Some examples of women who had more than one entry:  Mary the Mother of Jesus; Susanna Wesley; Mother Teresa

The book was divided into various eras of Christianity.  Here are the eras: 

• Women of the Earliest Church
• Women of the Persecuted Church
• Women of the Newly Established Church
• Women of the Medieval Church 
• Women of the Reformation Era
• Women of the Enlightenment Era
• Women of the Missionary Era (one of my faves!)
• Women of the Modern Era (another fave section)

There were also sections based on the Bible or other topics:

• Women in Jesus' Ministry (very interesting facts!)
• Lessons from Hymns Penned by Women (I found this fascinating and informative).
• Writers Corner
• Assorted Lessons from Women throughout History (again, very informative)
• Women We're Thankful For (a fave section)
• Women of the Nativity (fascinating and insightful) 

Some topics that are covered:

• Overcoming Expectations
• Social Responsibility (loved this!)
• Martyrdom of Women
• Female Disciples
• Women in Jesus' Parables
• The importance of women at Jesus' Tomb (very good!)
• Women Preachers in New Denominations (insightful)
• Women and the Missionary Impulse of the 1800s (informative)
• The Changing Face of Church Leadership (loved this!)
• Modern Young Women of Faith
• The Extraordinary Ministry of Ordinary Women

The authors did make a statement in their introduction that the women depicted in the devotional are all women who had significance in Christian history.  They stated 

"they're not perfect, and in some cases they might not even be exemplary. But we hope that our devotional writing will at least make you thinks, and maybe inspire you to commit yourself to God in a new way----whether following the examples of these historical women or avoiding their errors." (Introduction, The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional, c. 2014)

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed reading one of these entries each night. I did end up reading multiple days this month as I wanted to get to the nativity in December and I'm glad I finished it up early.

Some of the women I was really surprised about....I learned a lot about certain women I had never even heard of and I chuckled at some facts that I had learned while growing up or going to Roberts Wesleyan University where I did my undergrad degree.  I loved this book and find it to be a treasure for all women.

I'd love to gift this to someone.....to pass it on.....it's not the kind of book I would re-read (I rarely re-read books) but would love to pass it on for someone else to enjoy.  

If you leave me a comment regarding this post, I will put your name in a basket and will have my husband draw one name on December 31.  The name drawn will receive the book and you will just have to email me your home/shipping address.