★★★★★ 5
Relevant & Timeless, just like the Gospel it proclaims
Format: Hardcover
Never in history has our innate need to gaze upon something been so obvious as in this age of screens in every room and every pocket, instagram and facebook posts that depict an image we want to project (or imitate), and all the various forms of entertainment that involve us beholding something we enjoy or admire. Ruth's voice is not just a voice for women--all people, man, woman, Christian or not, would benefit from pondering the truths in this book as well--but for sure, so many Christian women are desperate for the message in this book, even if they don't realize it. In addition to us being a "beholding" generation, we also are a generation of self- and home-improvement junkies--always hungry for transformation and improvement. Ruth brings the timeless truths of the Bible into application in this book and reiterates the connection between "beholding" and "becoming". She shows us chapter after chapter that the transformation each of us longs for is directly tied to that which we set our gaze upon, and that the only lasting and genuine transformation we can experience comes from gazing upon the beauty of Christ and His gospel. I love the way the chapters are laid out; one chapter laying out the specific truth about God in His Word that we can "behold" and then the following chapter directly ties to what we can "become" as the fruit of beholding that truth. For those who have loved and followed Ruth's writing online, this book seems like an all-encompassing work that includes in this "Behold" then "Become" format all that we love about her ability to share what she is "preaching to her own heart". A voice like Ruth's among Christian women's mainstream bestsellers is long overdue and so needed. She not only brings the beauty of her artwork and design into this book, but the beauty of the deep and rich truth's of God's Word into the hands of people who may not have heard the true gospel, but may have been getting a lot of their theology from books in the "Christian" aisles of the bookstores. In those cases, I believe this book will point people directly to the Word of God, and encourages them to go there to behold Him.
That leads me to the artwork. I have always loved her work (which adorns most of the walls in my home!) but there's something new about the art in this book. I love the patterned effect of most of the pages that causes you to stop and stare. As I've admired each page I've found myself thinking "this would be amazing wallpaper/fabric patterns/or addition to our wall" The colors are vibrant and classic. There's almost a modern vintage feel to the art, making it seem altogether relevant and timeless. One of my favorite parts about the art is that she explained in the beginning of the book some of the intention behind each plant or animal, and what they symbolized for her. It reminded me of God's intention in creation. Her sharing the meaning behind each detail actually helped me stop and gaze a little longer at each work of art and delight in the details. I think the purpose and design behind that aspect of it was genius in that it highlighted the exact point that her book's message is about: That the change we are looking for in our lives is not about doing more, being more, striving harder, but that it all starts first in where we are training our heart's affections. That in order to become what we were made to become, we must first stop and look at the God who created us. Stop and gaze upon Him in His Word and in His creation, and be reminded of what He has given us and who He has made us to be in Christ. Beholding Him alone is the key to transformation. And our busy self-made generation, in and outside the church, desperately needs to hear and apply this message.
I'm personally so thankful for the work the Lord has done through Ruth. He has truly gifted her with the ability to point people's gaze past herself and her gifts, and to the One they were meant to glorify. That's a tough road to navigate as a Christian woman in today's social media culture, but by the grace of God, Ruth has done it with a humility that leaves me and friends I know who also follow her work, with an example of what it looks like to behold Christ in our every day and to walk with and point each other to the beauty of the cross.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2019
