Have you ever felt on the edge, alone, down and out, or maybe wondered what in the world God can do with someone like you? Sometimes you wake up feeling less than great about your life. Or your relationships. Or your job. Or your whatever. Sometimes you even feel pushed to the side, put on the shelf, overlooked, and not particularly important to, well, anything. Sometimes, you feel even … well, anything.
Sometimes, you feel even less important. . .than a side of rice and beans. (You know, kind of like that stuff served on the side that no one really asked for?)
What if you found out you were something more like tableside guacamole–that fancy kind they wheel up to the table and make right on the spot?
What if you were made on purpose,
for a purpose that can release God’s glorious colors and flavors in the world?
You didn’t arrive here by accident, nor have you been served up as an unwanted side dish. The God of creation has created you, and He isn’t waiting for you to become some better version of yourself so He can finally love you. . .or use you. . .or delight in you.
Generously seasoned with humor and empathy, with stories of triumph, failure, heartbreak, and redemption, Holy Guacamole will connect your heart to the unchanging truths of God’s Word and the unfailing power of God’s call to live a life full of His love for you and for the world.
God longs to reveal to you all the ways you are His beautiful, flavorful, colorful creation. Let Him show you all the ways you are Holy Guacamole–His masterpiece, His signature offering to a world in need of His love.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Holy Guacamole
By: Carrie Stephens
*REVIEW*
Holy Guacamole is wholly original and compelling. This book asks the hard questions-who are you, who did you used to be, how did you end up here, and where do you really want to go now? We all know there are no easy answers. Life is not perfect, and it never will be.
“Despite what social media’s curated posts and “inspirational” memes may declare, more hustle and better hype can’t bring peace in the midst of the storms of life, cure the sickness of our societies, or teach us to love one another…”
If you are reading this, odds are you are a bookstagrammer. I’ll bet you want more followers, recognition, cool arcs, 3,000 comments, etc. because don’t we all? If your life-the real one-is in shambles, will Instagram save you? I think we all try way too hard to appear perfect, but we all know that it’s an illusion. My point is that none of us have the ability to save ourselves or undo anything from the past or change what we feel.
So, what can you do? This book is divided into chapters, detailing the ways in which you can’t save yourself and what to do instead:
Enoughness
Quitting
The Information Highway
Perfectionism
Cynicism
Consumerism
Doubting
Success
Keeping Score
Fame
And, finally, explaining how you are already saved and how you can make the world a better place.
“…engage your whole life in pursuing God and people with as much as you can offer them. You were made for this purpose, to love and be loved in a world that is starving for more of everything God has already provided for us all.”
Holy Guacamole genuinely surprised me. I was expecting a fairly typical self help book, but that is not what I got. This book is entertaining, relatable, honest, conversational and filled with amazing insightful knowledge. This little book packs a big punch! I recommend for any person seeking answers in a way that is not preachy or heavy handed. Carrie Stephens has done an excellent job, and I’m excited to read more!
This book has a great blend of humor and insightfulness. It was refreshing to read her open honesty and know that I’m not alone in a lot of things I think and feel. She doesn’t hold back and invites you into her world of not measuring up to others expectations but realizes she is enough in God’s eyes. I will never look at an avocado again without being reminded of the truths contained between these covers. I highly recommend every woman to read this and apply its truths to her life and absorb it into her heart.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I loved the very real, very witty and very relevant ways this books reminds us that God loves and can use each of us in all our frail, imperfect humanity. The author shares times when she has felt and seen that personally. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. Theses thoughts are my own.
I was certain that I was going to like this book when the introduction said “Hello, my name is Carrie and I’m a secret donut hoarder” and I was right! As I continued to read this new book by Carrie Stephens, I couldn’t dismiss the fact that even though she was talking about her own life, she was describing what I’ve often experienced and sharing feelings that I have sometimes hidden. She was also Making Me Laugh Out Loud! Holy Guacamole is filled with accounts of household disasters and personal blunders but it is also full of encouragement, assurance, and the Word of God. Yes, Stephens uses an abundance of Bible scripture as she recounts her failures and victories but she repeatedly shows us that none of us are losers when we claim Jesus Christ as our Savior. We can all claim undeniable worth!
I especially like that Holy Guacamole has a section at the end that helps us sum up what we’ve just read. “How to Think, Feel, and Act—Chapter by Chapter” is a short guide for each of the twelve chapters and there are suggestions to help us think, feel, and act. I found this very useful personally but I also think that it would be very helpful for the leader of a book club or women’s Bible study.
This is a book to read and enjoy and then, a book to read again and savor for its undeniable biblical insight. Holy Guacamole will inspire you, encourage you, and help you discover just how special you are—His masterpiece!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
As an appreciator of Mexican food, this cover and title appealed to me. Just like an avocado, what is on the inside is even better than what is on the outside. This was truly an enjoyable read. I am not sure how she determined her chapter themes, but I related to every single one. Her knowledge of the Bible is clear and true. Stephens is then able to apply Scripture to real life situations. This is a book I will definitely be recommending both for its spiritual insights and its humor. (By the way, definitely read through all of the foot notes – they are hilarious). I hope this author writes another book someday! Thanks to #netgalley and Barbour publishing for allowing me to have a copy to review. With enthusiasm, I recommend this tile without any sort of coercion or guilt of indulgence because everyone knows guac is the best part!
Stephens is a new writer to me, and I am so thankful I had a chance to read her work! At one point hilarious, another humbling, “Holy Guacamole” took me on a journey where I learned more about myself than I expected.
Stephens is a pastor’s wife, author and speaker. This book has funny, heartfelt, honest examples from Stephen’s life that connect to Scriptural truths. How often do we see ourselves as less than? Are we truly living as God’s chosen and dearly loved? The author walks alongside the reader, guiding and encouraging us to take a look at ourselves through God’s eyes. We are worth the upcharge–just like that amazing guacamole! She calls us each to reevaluate Whose we are and to read our Word to reflect our value, not taking the first label that gets assigned to us. Finding our purpose and God given calling to create change in our world means we can’t be content with accepting things that are not true about ourselves.
Yes, we may be different, but we are chosen. God will use every single part of who we are to impact the circle He has placed us in. We just have to be open to seeing the value we provide as a beloved child of God. He sees you as beautiful! I loved the uplifting message of this book, which was lovingly mixed together like a well worn recipe, filled with humor, candor, encouragement and empathy.
This book would be an amazing small group Bible study. I think women of all ages can relate to the themes of “Holy Guacamole.” Let’s stop letting limits dictate our success–we serve the God who makes anything possible!
I was an early reader, thanks to the author and Barbour Publishing. All opinions are my own.
Filled with love, laughter and an honest look at how we handle daily living. Very encouraging. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.