Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul (2005)

Has its decent parts, but on the whole, not a good book. Too much Jesus-is-my-boyfriend theology, among other problems. A 2000 word review here. ( )

This is my 3rd go-around with this book and given the free time I've had on my time off, I am glad that I actually finished it. It gave me a new perspective and reminder how blessed I am to be a woman of God and reminded about how beautiful and precious I am as a woman. At times, it was a lot of digest in such a short time. If you are interested in reading this, you might want to read it in shorter chunks than I did (a chapter or two a day). It's a lot of information and some of the digging into the baggage that I've carried around with me from my past was difficult to go through in such a short time, but it was definitely worth it. A must-read for women! ( )

This is a wonderful book for a mature Christian woman. Women who have gone through various life trials will benefit the most as it speaks to a woman who has tried to do it all herself and has become disenchanted with the results or has become weary in trying to fix their own lives by themselves.

My favorite part was the description of the love affair that the Lord wants to have with every christian woman and how he woes her through HIS actions. He always calls for her and her beautiful heart to follow after him, to come closer. The description of how a woman is defined by God and not by a man is especially poignant to those who have tried the worldly method and failed. Here is the reason why so many christian woman are so unhappy and unfulfilled!

Non-Christians will probably have a difficult time understanding a lot of the references. Younger woman who do not a depth of life experiences to draw on may find it difficult understanding the themes also. ( )

This is an intense book where each chapter has you looking deep inside yourself and outside yourself to God. It was not a quick read for me but I would recommend it to every woman. ( )

This book written by a Christian couple is based on the premise that a woman longs for three things; to be romanced, an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and beauty to unveil. Although, in summary, it sounds quite cheesy, Stasi and John guide the reader on a journey through scripture, literature, and real experiences that tend to lack empirical and statistical evidence yet resonates within the recesses of the mind.That God created man, both male and female, in his own image is an accepted Christian doctrine. The authors take this doctrine a step further by expressing the divine nature of womanhood. He specifically blessed us with qualities that are feminine; relational, beautiful and seeking validation. It is their goal to assist the female reader unveil her femininity and connect with God and her man.Validation is found within the books pages as the authors reveal that God is beautiful and glorious. He seeks to have an intimate relationship with His children. He seeks our honest hearts and implores us to seek Him.It is easy to assume that every woman carries with her wounds that have not healed. Most pop psychology books provide ample fodder that our parents have wounded us. I tire of this mentality. It quickly establishes that our parents are the enemy rather than part of a support system that shaped our diverse personalities and independent selves. This mentality also relieves the grown child of any responsibility to respond differently to stimuli.On the other hand, John and Stasi Eldredge offer compelling arguments for accepting our Divine Nature and infinite worth as Children of God. A God who reserves a piece within His heart that only we can fill. A god who can validate our existence and provide shelter and peace.This book will not appeal to every reader. While reading it, I found gems of truth that resonated within my soul. In my attempts to articulate these truths at a later time, they sound sloppy and cheesy.Bottom line: We possess divine matter. The qualities that are belittled and squelched for the perceived lack of strength are really our divine nature. It is the woman who seeks out relationships and deeply connects to those around her. It is the glue that holds society together. We are the ezer kenegdo, a beautiful Latin word that can not be directly translated into the English language and is erroneously penned as "help meet" to our husbands, conjuring utilitarian images. In a more accurate picture, we are the part of Adam that he lacks. Together we complete each other and hold a healthy and vital balance of who God is. ( )