Holy Guacamole

This book Holy Guacamole by Carrie Stephens is one of the best books I have read. In one of the chapters the Author uses these words...”In silence, we hear. In weakness, we find God’s Strength. In generosity, we receive His blessings. In service to others, He meets our needs. In death, God lavishes us with eternal life.” WOW these words really touched my heart and soul. Holy Guacamole is filled with wisdom, encouragement, and done in a humorous way that is sure to reach into your heart and soul. You’re not beans and rice, you’re Guacamole! I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required. #HolyGuacamole #NetGallery

Stephens is a new writer to me, and I am so thankful I had a chance to read her work! At one point hilarious, another humbling, "Holy Guacamole" took me on a journey where I learned more about myself than I expected.

Stephens is a pastor's wife, author and speaker. This book has funny, heartfelt, honest examples from Stephen's life that connect to Scriptural truths. How often do we see ourselves as less than? Are we truly living as God's chosen and dearly loved? The author walks alongside the reader, guiding and encouraging us to take a look at ourselves through God's eyes. We are worth the upcharge--just like that amazing guacamole! She calls us each to reevaluate Whose we are and to read our Word to reflect our value, not taking the first label that gets assigned to us. Finding our purpose and God given calling to create change in our world means we can't be content with accepting things that are not true about ourselves.

Yes, we may be different, but we are chosen. God will use every single part of who we are to impact the circle He has placed us in. We just have to be open to seeing the value we provide as a beloved child of God. He sees you as beautiful! I loved the uplifting message of this book, which was lovingly mixed together like a well worn recipe, filled with humor, candor, encouragement and empathy.

This book would be an amazing small group Bible study. I think women of all ages can relate to the themes of "Holy Guacamole." Let's stop letting limits dictate our success--we serve the God who makes anything possible!

I was an early reader, thanks to the author, #NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Holy Guacamole! Get ready for an attitude change and a step towards a beautiful relationship with God! Carrie Stephens takes you on a journey of faith with this witty, insightful, and “real” book. She shares her own journey, her trials, her mishaps and her accomplishments and she makes the reader feel that you are going to be just fine as you find God in the middle of your own mess. Rarely do you find a Christian book that brings you laughter right along with wisdom. It’s so easy for the reader to relate to her stories as a young mother and wife. You keep saying, “I’ve been there, I’ve felt that too”. She shows us that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be you, the beautiful you that God made. You are special and you are loved.
I laughed, I cried, and I finished the book with a lot of highlighted parts and I seriously could have filled an entire post it note pad writing down tidbits to remember. This is a great book to curl up with and you feel as if you are sitting across from Carrie as she tells her story. I especially loved the questions in the book that had the “feel” and “act” prompts for you, they really made me stop and reflect. Thank you so much to Barbour Publishing, Carrie Stephens and NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review.

This book is full of golden nuggets and not a book you speed read through. It makes you stop and think about how you are living your life and will also make you laugh out loud in spots. This is a book I will refer back to often. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Holy Guacamole is the funny way to describe the overwhelm we can all feel if we think too hard about all of the broken things that need fixing in our lives. The title perfectly matches the tone of the book. I purchased a copy of this book after the advanced reader copy was provided (which I typically don't do) because I remembered how the writer made me laugh from the first story about her refrigerator and wanted to have a copy for myself to read at leisure. She writes in a self deprecating way with clearly exaggerated details, so if you like that kind of humor you will definitely enjoy her storytelling. It is told from the perspective of someone in their middle age years raising teenagers with a husband, so younger readers might have some difficulty relating to every story. It addresses topics that a lot of books cover, like the pressure to hide behind hustle, put on a perfect face, and avoid being vulnerable, but I think that's more of a reflection on common problems in our culture that people still need help with. Carrie could have just the right way of talking about these issues that someone needs to hear.

This book is a good one about our identity in Christ. We are more than the side of rice and beans, but rather the table side guacamole. Carrie writes with humor but also gets her point across in a way easy to understand. I do recommend this book.