Who knew that March was National Women's History Month? Certainly not me! At least, not until my cousin sent me a sweet text and reminded me. =) And now that I know that March is National Women's History Month, I want to share with you all one of my favorite books on Biblical womanhood: Girl Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird. Warning: You might be surprised as to how radical this book is.
My Rating: Four and a Half Stars out of Five
Back Cover Blurb (Taken From Amazon)
In a culture where airbrushed models and career-driven women define beauty and success, it's no wonder we have a distorted view of femininity. Our impossible standards place an incredible burden of stress on the backs of women and girls of all ages, resulting in anxiety, eating disorders, and depression. One question we often forget to ask is this: What is God's design for womanhood?
In Girl Defined, sisters and popular bloggers Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird offer women a countercultural view of beauty, femininity, and self-worth. Based firmly in God's design for their lives, this book helps women rethink what true success and beauty look like. It invites them on a liberating journey toward a radically better vision for femininity that ends with the discovery of the kind of hope, purpose, and fulfillment they've been yearning for.
It is my belief that every Christian woman should read Girl Defined. This book has truly changed my view on womanhood. At first, one of the reasons I bought Girl Defined was the pretty cover (yes, that's how shallow I can be xD), but as I started reading, my eyes were opened to the lies about womanhood that our culture has fed me. Culture says that my womanhood doesn't define me, that I can be whoever I want to be. But God designed us as women for a reason.
In Girl Defined, I was introduced to the idea of women being equal in value to men but purposefully different. Women are just as important and valuable as men, but we have different purposes. Let me try to illustrate this: Just like a paintbrush and paints are equally important in an artist's repertoire (he couldn't paint without them!), but they both serve different purposes. It's the same with gender. There is a purpose to our being womanhood, not some biological accident!
Womanhood isn't about liberation and domination. It isn't about pink, sparkles, and tea parties. Womanhood isn't a curse to be reversed. Womanhood defined by God is one of the most beautiful things in the world.
Girl Defined doesn't just touch on the topic of Biblical womanhood. It talks about romance, beauty, and identity. It's full of incredible stories, eye-opening Biblical concepts, and plenty of encouragement. There are also some great study guides at the end of every chapter. It's quite an easy read; I had to pace myself so I didn't read it all in one day! =) Yet it has such a powerful and life-changing message. I encourage every woman to pick up this book with an open mind and allow God to shape her beliefs through the message it presents. Go grab your copy now!
Kristen Clark is married to her high school sweetheart, Zack and is the co-founder of GirlDefined Ministries. She is passionate about promoting the message of biblical womanhood through blogging, speaking around the country, mentoring young women, and hosting Bible studies in her living room. In the end, she's just a fun-lovin Texas girl who loves all things outdoors and eats dark chocolate whenever possible.
Bethany Baird is a Texas born and raised girl doing life with her parents and seven siblings. She is the co-founder of GirlDefined Ministries and is passionate about spreading the truth of biblical womanhood through blogging, speaking and mentoring young women. To her family and close friends, she is simply a tall blonde girl who loves any form of competition, drinks way too much coffee, and can't get enough of her little fluffy dog.
Have you read Girl Defined or any posts from the Girl Defined blog? What is one word you'd use to describe your view of womanhood? Why? How has God shaped your ideas of womanhood?
