Oh, dear. I like this book, but I seriously think its usefulness and impact on a reader depends on the meaning of “rescuing the girl in you”. Because this might mean many things for many people and the meanings definitely vary for the authoress and me. This is not to diminish the authoress’s hard work and dedication, but this is a self-help book oriented on getting out of being stuck and reaching towards the dreams; on setting your mindset on being more goal-oriented and equipped with strenghtened character traits. So, if you want to be more successful in the various areas on your life, this guide might help you.
But if you want to re-ignite the passions of your youth, return to the innocence of seeing the world through the “naive” (in the best meaning) eyes of a girl; feeling like curious, energetic teen with a dream - I would recommend different process (with which this guide does not deal (or not enough)) - fall in love with something new again, possibly with something connected to emotions. Feed your soul. Different equipment is needed here, not discipline and goals - emotional access, passion, time, curiosity, vulnerability, playfulness, poetry, love (in the general meaning).
If you are hurt and in need for healing or traumatized and in pain - I think other sources might help you (especially if your will power is not fully in charge yet).
This guide might be best for the people who wants to move on their road to success.
Myself - I appreciate the parts dedicated to personal respondibility and discipline. But as for the girl in me - I prefer to nurture her with simply recognizing the innocence and youthfulness of her ways is SO important in this world that can be so practical and so cold.

I wanted to love this book, truly I did. But in the end I wasn’t overly impressed. I honestly think it may just be that I am not in the right place in life to need this book. There were lots of fun stories paired with simple but sound advice. The author is well grounded while maintaining a conversational tone (which means the grammar can be a bit shaky, but I tend to overlook that in books like this). It’s a good book; it just didn’t really inspire me at this point in my life. Perhaps I’ll file it away for the future.

This book came along at a much needed time in my life. More than 25 years ago (half my lifetime, almost), I had heaps and piles of dreams and ambitions. I knew I was going to go out and conquer the world for Christ! But somewhere along the 25 years, those dreams drowned in the realities of financial crises, special needs parenting, caring for parents on hospice, surgeries, deaths, and seemingly endless heartbreak. In between crises, I looked around and didn’t recognize who I was anymore. Where was the vitality? Where were the dreams? Now, my dreams consisted of making it through the day without needing a nap. Did everyone get fed? Was everyone clothed and warm? Ok, good. Mission accomplished.

But I missed that girl that had such high hopes for life, the girl that wrote volumes of poetry and stories, the girl that could sit and converse for hours about current events and philosophies and just being! The strange, hollow-eyed, greying woman in the mirror didn’t look like anyone I knew…or would want to know. I cried as I read part of the book description: “…long-term denial of deep hopes and dreams can leave a woman, old or young, reeling from the realization that she is lost, disappointed, or simply numb.”

Yes, that is exactly how I felt: lost, disappointed, and numb. Enter this book. Mrs. Hurst helped me see that the dreamer is still there. Through anecdotes, encouragements, and Scripture, I’m beginning to believe that some of those dreams are still possible. But more importantly, I’ve learned to let go of some of those dreams and dream new dreams instead. Although our ages and experiences are very different, I still felt that she understood my struggles and reawakened hope in my heart. For the first time in many, many years, I feel a small spark beginning in my heart again. And I’m thankful!

I gratefully received this book as an eARC from the author, publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book is wonderful and can certainly be a blessing to many women as it was for me. Chrystal shares her journey as a young mother trying to make it through school. She teaches women to realize their importance and worthiness in Christ and to always trust in God. I highly recommend this book to all women!

I pre-ordered this book after hearing Chrystal Evans Hurst speak on several podcasts I listen to. Then I found her own podcast.
I'm slowly working my way through the book as a personal bible study. A chapter every other day or so. Sometimes going back and rereading the same chapter over. It's exactly what I needed right now.
I'm not to the point yet where I can say "She's Still There" but God is helping me slowly find that girl he created deep inside me. I'd recommend this book to any woman I meet. I think it's something every woman can relate to.

Loved the stories in this book. I could connect with the author from the very beginning of the book. It keep me reading. Easy to understand, encouraging and very relatable. The author is great at telling stories and applying them to the message of the book. But I expected a stronger scripture tie in. The authors opinion and thoughts and ideas are great but I want Gods ideas, especially on this topic, to be my main source of hope and encouragement. I felt like the book was weak in this area. There were scriptures thrown in and talk of God but I was hoping for more. I feel this takes the book from a 5 to a 4. While it's not fluff I feel like this lack of substantial amount of scripture made it feel a tad more fluffy. Overall great book that is very applicable.
I received a digital copy from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Chrystal sprinkles vignettes of her life experience into different chapters as opposed to delivering it all at the beginning. I love her conversational tone which makes the reader feel as if she chatting with her big sister or favourite auntie who is sharing her " been there, done that and got the t-shirt " experiences. One of the major takeaways from the book is that even though you feel disappointed by life, you need to press the unpause the pause button because the clock is ticking.

This book would be great for women at any stage of their lives who would love to press the reset button but are not quite show how. Fellow Millennials would appreciate it especially if you feel like you have been jaded in some way or you seem to have lost your sense of self and would like to get off life's treadmill to rediscover yourself.

It is quite tempting to read this book all in one sitting but I think it's best savoured in bits and pieces. There are also end of chapter exercises that she has dubbed "reflections for the rescue" and which are further broken down into remember, reflect and respond. This would make this book perfect for personal devotion or a book club.

I've been looking for books to really inspire me and help to push me ahead in my walk with the Lord and I think this book has really gotten me to that extra step. You don't have to be in your middle life to experience a crisis of feeling like you've lost track of that "girl" within yourself. Reading her book has helped me examine some of my own unhealthy ways of dealing with the crisis I have been faced with and has shown me ways I can step out of my own way and into God's way. I enjoyed the way she wrote to us readers as personal and caring but also confronting in that she was willing to show her own struggle but be honest about the fact that you can't stay where you are if there's going to be progress. It was also refreshing to read a book like this that gave practical strategies for change instead of just general platitudes about life and how we aren't supposed to be feeling. Hurst was able to validate how we all feel, while still showing us how not to get stuck there and I really admire that in her courageous writing. I recommend this book to women of any age, to read themselves and to share with others. We all feel lost sometimes, but it's nice to know that even when we're lost we're not alone.

Back History

I don't usually write how I received a book, but I thought I would share this with all of you.

This book is written by the sister of one of my favorite Bible Teachers, Priscilla Shirer. (Some of you may have remembered her from The War Room).  About six or so (more or less) months ago I had discovered that her sister Chrystal Evan Hurst' blog and a couple of her podcast.

I started to follow Ms. Hurst's blog and she sent out a Google doc for people who interested in helping her with a book. Well, I wasn't chosen to help with the book. Over the preceding months I looked for the book on the various sites that haunt for books to review. The book came up on Netgalley by a publisher who I don't usually receive books from on a regular basis.  So I left it up to God, requested the book and I was selected to read and review it.  I used it for my morning devotion.

Synopsises

The book is a combination devotional/semi autobiography that discusse how we women go off track, FOR WHATEVER REASON.  She provides biblical passages to illustrates the concept that she illustrated during the chapter.

The book has several chapters which include remember, reflect, and respond section at the end of each chapter. No matter how you do it, you will need a Bible, Paper, & the Book.

Book Review       

As you can tell, I REALLY ENJOYED THS BOOK! The book was great, so much so that I am going to talk with our small group director about doing a bible study with regards to the book.  There a couple of ways that I would use it at an online Bible Study.

Read the entire book, then complete each section or chapter as a group.
Reach each chapter and complete the Read, Response, and Reflection section
Read each section
Review the read, response & reflect section for each chapter.
The bible passages are both familiar and new. I was pleased because they brought me to parts of the Bible that I had either I hadn't been to for a while or (I'm sorry to say) not a book that I have read.

Finally, I was glad it didn't have a study guid. Maybe some people, but I liked going through the book with the questions at the end of the chapter and providing my own reflection.

She's Still There

Rescuing the Girl in You
by Chrystal Evans Hurst

Zondervan Non-Fiction

Zondervan
Christian

Pub Date 08 Aug 2017

I am reviewing a copy of She's Still There through Zondervan Non-Fiction and Netgalley:

This book encourages us to believe that a uniquely beautiful life can be ours. And we are encouraged to choose to wrestle for the win. This book reminds us too that though we may not want to embrace where we are, we should embrace who we are. We are encouraged to believe that your present is not all that is impossible. We are reminded too that our darkest moment is only a moment in time.

This book goes on to remind us that without confession true restoration and healing cannot begin. The author points out too that owning our story is a sign of strength, and we are encouraged to believe we are made for more.

We are reminded that Drifts in life don't last forever. Unintentional living eventually reaches a dead end. The author points out too that a trip through our own narrative is a trip worth taking. And we are reminded that being lost does not equate to us being lifeless. We are reminded too that the antidote to distraction is focus- the choice to pay attention and live aware. And we are reminded that a small drift left unattended will over time, make a big impact on our final destination. The author also reminds us we have the ability to choose. We are reminded too that we are a divinely inspired work of art, and that we are neither an accident or after thought! The author goes on to point out it's not as much about having the answer as it is learning it. This book encourages us to pay attention to the beauty of our soul and the pulse of our existence. We are reminded too that our drifts, decisions and collisions don't define us. We are encouraged too to learn to believe he value of who we are because of whose we are. And to never forget that we are loved.

In this book we are also reminded that we carry precious cargo. And it reminds us too that just because we know it does not mean we grow, and that is our job to participate consistently and intentionally in our life. We are reminded too that in order to change our life we are going to have to do something different. The book also points out that God expects us to discover, develop and deploy our gifts as we live life. We are also reminded we don't have to have it all figured out to move forward.

The author goes on to point out the importance of not being so engrossed in the buissness of living life that we forget to take care of our body! We are reminded too that our soul is designed to be filled with the abundant life, that comes from the living spirit. We are reminded too that although God is all knowing, and all powerful he still uses people in our lives. We are encouraged not to despise the small steps we take, and we are reminded that God will never leave us without a next step. We are encouraged too to make connections in unexpected places and to walk through the open doors the Lord opens for us. We are also encouraged to connect what we know, with what we do then we will watch new doors open to us.

We are reminded too that we exchange the nurture of our soul for the demands of the here and now, and then wonder why we feel empty, buried and lost. We are reminded too that significance is a gift to be both given and received. The author points out too that relationships take time, and our relationship with God is no different. We are encouraged too not to reach the end of our life and reach our goal realizing we were to focused on the result to enjoy the journey.

The author goes on to remind us of the importance of doing what we can with what we have. We are encouraged too to build on the gifts God has given us, not to minimize them. We are encouraged too to pay attention to the decisions we are making the way we are living life, because that is important!

We are reminded too of the importance of silencing the negative talk.

I would recommend She's Still There to Christian women of all ages!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Sometimes life passes and the person that we thought that we would be "by now" or the things that we thought that we would have achieved "by now" are not the reality that we live in. We get derailed by circumstances that are beyond our control or we walk into something willingly but who we are isn't who we thought we might become. Or maybe we look at our life and don't like anything that we see, including who we have become.

Hurst, while driving home from work one afternoon, was at this point in her life. She says in the book that she literally wanted a break from her life to figure out what happened... and the only option that she could see was having the Lord break her legs to give her that chance. While we may not all have an extreme moment like that we may have asked God to take everything away and explain Himself. How did this happen, we might ask.

Some events shut us down for good--or at least that is how it can feel. When my mom died and in the time since I've asked God about what He can still have for me, I've seen the life that I thought that I would be living "now" become different than the reality that I am living in. The most meaningful part of this book for me was when Hurst explains that when things come and derail our lives (because things happen) that we have to get ourselves back up because our lives do not stop there-- God still has purpose for us and His plans weren't changed when our lives became different for us.

This book is meant to be an encouragement, by a new friend who strives to feel like an old friend, to take a good look at ourselves and see more than a failure.

I found She’s Still There inspirational and applicable in equal measures, I just loved it. Once I begun, I couldn’t put it down and found myself reading it late into the night muttering “Amen, sister” several times as I related to the author’s journey, jotting notes of things to try and highlighting sections of wisdom. It is such a needed message!

Chrystal has walked a hard path and her journey is inspiring as she reflects on both her wise and unwise decisions in a relatable way. Intellectually it stimulated me to revise my perception on biblical truths and re-evaluate my value. I have a list of things to try and incorporate to make this message part of my life including my favourite:

“you must decide to celebrate your small victories and practice gratitude for every blessing along the way”
I found the bite-size chapters full of great principles to live out. I have highlighted so much of the book and particularly loved the “3 things for 90 days” concept for getting through those life projects that seem overwhelming. I also enjoyed that the principles were backed by bodies of research and biblical knowledge. I rate it 5 out of 5 on the en-JOY-ment scale!