Stop Calling Me Beautiful - by Phylicia Masonheimer (Paperback)

In this new book, Phylicia pinpoints the flaws commonly seen in popular messages aimed at women and counters them with specific suggestions, encouraging women to shift their focus from “self” to God, realizing the depth of problem that sin creates as well as the importance of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives to deliver them and create freedom. She covers important terminology such as “justification,” “sanctification,” “consecrated,” “holiness” and encourages due diligence in the seeking of God through His Word for the sake of finding HIM and HIS PRESENCE rather than for finding “self.” One incredibly important point to note is that Phylicia encourages her readers to do what is needed EVEN WHEN ONE DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT. So often in our society we are encouraged to do what we feel and to go with the flow. As a famous Tanya Tucker song goes, “If it don’t come easy, you better let it go.” Phylicia, however, offers up Godly wisdom in encouraging her readers to diligently seek the presence of God through consistent reading of His Word and through allowing themselves to be vulnerable in the community of faith, intertwining lives together even when one does not FEEL LIKE IT. Phylicia’s message lays aside the myth of “quiet time” as the much-heralded method of “Bible study,” sheds light on the burden of guilt weighing women down when our study of the Word does not fit within this cultural ideal and calls on her readers to engage in God’s Word even when in the trench of the chaos of life. Drawing on Biblical examples as well as the examples of Church “fathers,” Phylicia shows how the heart is central to spiritual discipline and tuning our hearts to worship God through the spiritual disciplines enlivens our time spent seeking God. Phylicia points out common disruptors women face to reading/studying the Word of God and gives practical suggestions to overcoming those disruptors. She addresses the issues of legalism and hedonism, and the wonderful grace that God offers through the Messiah. Sharing her own struggles, she covers grief, sexuality, community, isolation, and various other ways in which conflict can be met with God’s redeeming grace. This book was written for women who might not yet have learned how to grow deeper in God’s Word, yet I have found it contains valuable lessons even for those of us who might have majored in Biblical Studies or Theology. It is thoroughly saturated with wisdom and I, myself, found many valuable reminders within these pages of the importance of turning to God’s Word and trusting in Him during the trials of life. I recommend this book to spiritually “old” and “young” alike. As an academic sort, I would like to have seen more references in the material that covers historical cultures. I also would like to have seen all the biblical references indexed in the back. However, these minor exclusions do nothing to detract from Phylicia's overall message and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. (I received an advanced digital copy for review prior to publication. A favorable review was not required.).