Embrace Grace (Hardcover)

by Liz Curtis Higgs (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Higgs, bestselling author of Bad Girls of the Bible, offers a sweet but substantial gift book about accepting God's grace and leaving the past behind. Higgs's personal history includes "a lost decade of sex, drugs, and rock 'n 'roll," and though she doesn't focus on her past, she writes believably as someone who struggled with accepting grace herself. Each chapter contains multiple Scripture verses strung together with comments she's received from readers (such as, "I don't feel I am worthy of having God forgive me of my sins and weaknesses. I feel like a failure.") and reflections from her own life. She walks through several stages of receiving grace—including doubting that grace could be possible, confronting sin, forgiving yourself and repenting. Readers will feel at ease with Higgs's down-home style that's never preachy. Higgs aims to provide "a field guide, tracing a well-worn footpath from doubt to belief, pointing us away from shame and toward hope." She succeeds, and readers who are looking for more insight from this former Bad Girl will be very thankful. (Sept. 19)
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Review
Praise for Embrace Grace

“Liz Curtis Higgs is a gifted writer and poet who understands the human heart with all its complexity, beauty, and pain. She also understands the heart of God. Reading this book will make you want to let go of anything that keeps you from his loving embrace. I recommend it highly.”
–Rebecca Pippert, best-selling author of Out of the Saltshaker & Into the World

“For every woman who has ever felt as if she were standing on the outside looking in, welcome home! In Embrace Grace, Liz Curtis Higgs gently addresses the lies that keep us from everything our hearts so desperately need: love, forgiveness, and most of all, acceptance. Don’t stand out there shivering in the cold! Christ stands with open arms waiting to love you back to life.”
– Joanna Weaver, best-selling author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

“Embrace Grace isn’t for perfect, churchy women who have never made a mistake. It’s for women who’ve blown it and are willing to investigate a better way to live. Liz Curtis Higgs is vulnerable, authentic, honest, and compassionate. Embrace Grace provides answers, truth, and a map that will take you from shame and guilt to a hope-filled future.”
–Carol Kent, author of When I Lay My Isaac Down

“Leave it to Liz Curtis Higgs–a master writer, storyteller and Bible teacher–to give us a book with a heavy hitting message wrapped in a cloak of warmth that melts even the coldest heart. Liz tells the story of grace, forgiveness, and restoration that every one of us–the wounded, the hurting, the seeking–needs to hear. This book must be read slowly and on bended knee, for each page is steeped with truth that will cause you to more passionately embrace the Father, embrace forgiveness, and Embrace Grace.”
&... --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400072182
• ISBN-13: 978-1400072187
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #425,698 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound "I can get through to you" book that is SO needed!!!, October 19, 2006

By	A reader (NYC) - See all my reviews

I have never read one of Ms. Higgs books before, but was somehow "pushed" to pick it up and take a look. "Embrace Grace." The Lord certainly knows that I needed to do just that. Ms. Higgs writes with compassion and empathy...not preachy at all, but supportive and encouraging. There is no question that this book is directed at a Catholic audience. Being raised Catholic, I could relate. If you cannot or would not relate to the teachings of Christ, then this may not be the book for you because it is through belief in Christ and the relevant Biblical passages in this book that one can make the connection and heal.

I applaud Ms. Higgs gentle but direct manner. When one is struggling to accept forgiveness, being too "easy" doesn't help. But in her firm and honest approach she submits case after case as to why you are not alone in this, why forgiveness has been created for us all since before the beginning of time, and that it is "OK" to accept it...not just OK, but your job, and it is God's good wish for you to accept it.

Some things that I learned but didn't expect to learn...grace is all-encompassing. It means to not only accept forgiveness, but to repent, to move forward, to allow yourself to feel "new" again. WHO IN THIS WORLD DOESN'T NEED THIS??? Yeah, thought so.

I was also intrigued by her comment that "self forgiveness" isn't mentioned anywhere in the Bible. WOW. How true. God's grace has you covered.

I have read a lot of self-help, spiritual, and religious books, and I cannot recommend this one more. NO ONE can open this book and not relate in some way (again, the Catholic POV may be a problem for some, though it was a huge help to me). I really think it is one of the most powerful books I have read.

One more comment: If you are the adult child of emotional and verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or for some other reason suffer from extremely low self-esteem and often blame yourself, READ THIS BOOK. I implore you. We often put our abuse on ourselves, making it "our fault." I certainly did and held it against myself for too long. This book really helped. Thank you, Liz. Thank you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A charming little book with extra-large life lessons , September 23, 2006

By	Angela E. Hunt (Tampa Bay, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Liz Higgs has a way of drawing you into her work and making you feel as though she's writing to you alone. EMBRACE GRACE is no exception, and in it Lizzie shares her heart, her passion, and her love for the Lord and her readers. Take time to EMBRACE GRACE and read this small book--you'll be blessed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Little Book That Could, February 1, 2007

By	C. L. Padgett (Madera, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Embrace Grace is a little book with a powerful message. It's appropriate for anyone who's struggled with feeling worthy of grace and mercy, compassion and encouragement. Liz Curtis Higgs delivers a message of hope and help for the hurting. She shares her own and others' experiences on the path to not just accepting God's grace, but embracing it.