Book Review

Joanna Weaver's Book, Lazarus Awakening is the story of Jesus calling Lazarus from the grave.  Joanna writes a visual message of ideas, thoughts, and questions regarding the resurrection of Lazarus.  She is able to take this short story and practically apply it to our lives today.  She shows the reality that we are all stuck in our own tombs.  Much like Lazarus, we need to hear the voice of Christ calling us to awake, unwrap, and live in freedom.  She begins with Lazarus illness and Jesus tarring.  Lazarus dying and the pain of the death.  Joanna brings to mind the significant of grave clothes, the rock being moved and speaking Lazarus name.  Joanna does a good job of relating these truths to our life.  She shows we are not designed to live as dead men, wrapped in grave clothes, hid behind a rock.  The book shows God's great love for Lazarus and for us. 

Another helpful item found in the book is a Bible Study, to help you moved deeper in your walk with Christ.  This book is the third and final book in Weaver's "Bethany" trilogy.  The story line was well explained. 

I do disagree with Weaver's explanation of why God created man.  Yes He does love us and He showers that love upon us, but Weaver indicates God was lonely. She writes, "God was lonely had never occurred to the angels.  All powerful, all knowing, the eternal Beginning and eternal end, the three-in-one Godhead-how could almighty God feel any lack?"  Let me say God was NEVER lonely.  We can/could NEVER feel up any lack in God.  He is God.  He created us in His image.  He loves us. He created us for His pleasure. But lonely indicates God is lacking and that would make Him like us...which He is not!

With that said, I would recommend this book to a friend.  It was a slow read for me, but I did take away some truths of grave clothes and God's great love. "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"