Soothing Rain by Tonya Jewel Blessing

Review 5 star

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Soothing Rain: Living Water to Refresh Your Soul by Tonya Jewel Blessing and Sue Summers is a fantastic devotional for women. It’s divided into 52 short, themed chapters and is intended to be read in women’s study groups, but I found it was also a great resource when read individually. Topics include humility, spiritual gifts, tolerance, wisdom in dealing with other’s sin, and more. Packed with insightful commentary, little nuggets to chew on, amusing anecdotes, and clever plays on words and exploration of phrases, Tonya’s down-to-earth writing approaches the reader in a friendly, transparent way that breaks down barriers of skepticism and opens the door to accept God’s radical work in their lives.
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Soothing Rain uplifts women to be aware that yes, there is certainly a place for leadership and empowerment for them within the Christian faith. Tonya’s life as co-director of Strong Cross Ministries in South Africa plays a key role in many of the chapter themes, from stories about culture adjustment to real-life gritty encounters with superstition, womb cleansing, female mutilation, and other issues that surround her as she ministers outside the USA. Tonya excels at drawing unassuming, but exceptionally creative thoughts from something commonplace like perfume, haircuts, or a visit to the dentist, while Sue’s study questions helped me interact with the material in a practical way that pinioned it in my memory. The book was a continual delight. Far from a cut-and-dried typical devotional, Soothing Rain: Living Water to Refresh Your Soul lives up to its name in all ways and a source of real inspiration. It touched me to the heart and I can’t recommend it highly enough.