I’ll never forget that moment.
“Rachelle?” The voice came from my left, at the table set just outside the main ballroom of the She Speaks conference.
She can’t be talking to me–but she is! was my thought as I looked over to see Sarah Martin at the She Seeks table. She recognized me, from my comment photo. Wow.
Such a bubbly, smiley person. My favorite kind. Nope, I’ll never forget that moment or the way she welcomed me into the twenty-something cookie social, even though technically I wasn’t twenty yet.
Because you see, I’m twenty TODAY. And I have the great honor of participating in Sarah Martin’s I heart my twenties blog hop the very day I enter twentydom. Way cool.
I’ll never forget hearing my name called in that sea of women that was the She Speaks Conference and turning around to see a sparkling smile. Is that Sarah Martin? From She Seeks? Calling MY NAME?
(Yes, that just goes to show how loony my internal dialogue with myself really is.) It was. We talked for several minutes and I remember walking away thinking, “Wow. She’s so genuine.”
Her book gave me the same feeling. With an electrifying mixture of Scripture and sincerity, Sarah pounces on the stress points that pop up in the lives of twenty-somethings. As if we were sitting in Starbucks together, her voice bleeds from the pages of this book:
Jesus is King…let’s live out His Lordship in our lives.
Through probing journal questions, she encourages young women to pour out their hearts at the Throne of Grace. Perhaps what I loved best was the strong Biblical foundation that came shining through. This chick knows the Word and it shows! She made me grin, laugh, and cry, but, best of all, she turned me time and time again back to the Throne where He awaits, willing and eager to take every source of stress and make me new…and His.
Stress Point presents a message that is both daring and difficult. How to love Christ when our hearts are tattered? How to make a ripple when the hurt in this world is deeper than the ocean? How to surrender control over every source of so-not-fun mess in my life when I want to hold on so tightly? She addresses concerns that every young woman wonders about with tact and grace and, most importantly, a Christ-first attitude. Sarah’s not afraid to share her heart or her story, either, and her willingness to be vulnerable within the pages of her book only made me want to trust God more with the un-pretty parts of my heart.
There are many inspirational books for young women on my shelves that I’ve collected since I was a new teenager, but this book dropped into my life when I was longing for a little something more—something that speaks to me as a girl standing on the threshold of that decade that holds so much promise and potential and imperfection. I’ll be keeping Stress Point on my bookshelf as I navigate these twenty-something years and I don’t doubt I’ll be buying more copies to give to girlfriends.
About the Author
Sarah Francis Martin has a passion to encourage and relate to women in their twenties. Her relevant and conversational style will lead young adult readers to live out the Kingship of Christ in everyday life in order to find godly success, purpose, and well-being. Obsessed with pink lip gloss and all things artsy-crafty, Sarah lives with her husband and son in North Carolina. Her ministry, LIVE IT OUT!, is a space for 20-somethings to connect with one another and grow closer to Jesus.
Connect with Sarah on Facebook and Twitter
Disclosure: The author provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review. Read my full disclosure here.
Julia, she's a real sweetheart. :)<br /><br />Sarah O., it is. ;)<br /><br />Alyssa, me, too. It's my first with Rafflecopter. :)<br /><br />Emily, indeed-y!<br /><br />Thank you so much, Rachel P.!<br /><br />Blessings, Rachel…<br /><br />Thanks, Debra!
I'm so in! Awesome giveway, Rachelle! :)
Sounds like a great book. I am also in my twenties and going through a lot of stress right now. I also feel the need to reinvigerate my relationship with God so perhaps I should look into this book. Thanks for the great review. Also, congrats Sarah on your new book! I bet that is an accomplishment that feels good.
Well, I'm about to turn 24, so this book sounds like a good fit. Thank you for the giveaway, Rachelle & Sarah!<br /><br />Beth
Every time you mention this book I keep wanting to read it more and more! ;D I'm getting closer to the end of my 20's now but I still think this would be a great read right now. Love that her mission is to help young women focus on Christ in their lives – beautiful!<br /><br />How nice to know the author is genuine and a "real" type of godly young women. :) That is special that
I shall not be a twenty-something for a few more years now.<br /><br />But then, I suppose that's what bookshelves and to-read lists are for. ;)
Congratulations, Sarah, for this first book! May you write many more that will touch the lives of those who read them. :))<br /><br />I'm tremendously excited for this giveaway! :))
Congratulations Sarah! May you publish many more!
Oh, I definitely want to read this! It sounds so amazing :)
Oh, I saw this book somewhere and was curious about it. Would love to win and read it! :D<br /><br />alaskawildrose at gmail.com
I'm thinkin' I need this book. :D<br /><br />Although I should probably just buy it, let's see if I win, shall we? :D <br /><br />Thanks for hosting this giveaway, Rachelle! And that is really cool about Sarah Martin recognizing you from your comment picture. She sounds nice!<br /><br />~Julia