I fell in love with this book from the start. It was somewhere in "a personal word from Carol" between her references to Elisabeth Elliot, the unseen reality she shares that lives beneath her role as grandmother, and the part where I was encouraged to tell people that she wrote this book just for me! That's when I had one of those moments, you know, when you meet someone new and something just clicks? And in the very next paragraph she writes, "I am hoping that these first three chapters might draw you into developing a friendship with me." She had already accomplished this in her first three pages! You will love this book. Grab a copy for yourself and a friend or two!





I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own. ( )

As I began to read this book, I recognized how easy it is to become trapped in the lies that I am insignificant and serve no purpose here on earth. But that is a lie Satan wants me to believe. This book beautifully illustrates the fact that we are here on earth for one reason and that is the Highest God created us in His Image and formed us for a purpose.

With a combination of conversational style, Bible verses, questions and more, this book will make you think and recognize how important we are to God and in God’s eyes. I love the fact that Carol McLeod begins the book by delving into the fact she wants her readers to become dear friends. As I read the words on the pages of the book that fact became clear.

So if you are struggling with believing you have a purpose or if you just want a Biblical confirmation of how important you are to God, check out this book for yourself.

I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review. ( )

I know that I have struggled all my life to feel important and have a purpose. Growing up I constantly heard how stupid I was and that I would never amount to anything. I now know those were words that the enemy wanted me to believe. If I'm walking around in self doubt then the enemy knows he can continue to control my life. This book has refreshed me in ways I can't describe. It is nice to read, "Discover why you were born and go for it with every ounce of creativity and passion in your soul!" That sentence gets me excited and empowers me to forget about those words spoken in my life that squashed my dreams.

One of the thinks I liked about the book was when the author identified how more comforting it is to talk to someone who has gone through the struggles you have. People say they understand how you are feeling, but a person who has walked in your shoes can better relate to you. If you have been abused, someone who has experienced the same thing will be able to guide you with compassion and understanding. The simple fact is we are all significant. God made us in His own image to love each other, show mercy and lead people to Him.

Another chapter I liked talked about being alone. I am alone a lot and sometimes find myself lost. The book encourages us to " use those uninterrupted hours to pray to the Father." It is an opportunity to draw closer to Him and feel His presence in our lives. Being a woman is special and we need to embrace that. The last pages of the book to me were very powerful. I will end my review with this from the book." Live each day knowing that God's plan for your life is always surrounded by His abundance and undeniable peace."

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

Earlier this year, I read Carol McLeod’s “Storm Proof”, and it truly spoke to my heart and stood out as one of the best nonfiction books I read in 2019. Now, however, I think that “Significant” might be eclipsing it for the top spot! With any work of Christian nonfiction, there is a requisite balance of Scripture, information, and detail, and pulling it all together is not an easy task. Furthermore, engaging the reader and making them want to keep turning pages adds to the challenge. What is the best way to speak to and embolden women in today’s self-loving and judgmental culture?

Simply put, “Significant” encourages and builds women up in the Lord. McLeod addresses the contemporary issues that weigh us, as women, down, and she does so through friendly, uplifting, conversational dialogue. As we sift through our identity and purpose, we discover the glorious hope given to us. We can never understand who we are until we realize Whose we are. In God’s own Word, the Bible, He tells us that we are created in His image. McLeod points out two aspects of the Creation that I had not previously considered: that God referred to everything He created as good, but mankind he called “very good”, and that Eve listened to the serpent’s statement that she would become like God if she ate the forbidden fruit when in fact she was already like God! If we realize that we are the pinnacle of God’s creation, and that He has had plans for each of our lives since eternity past, even giving up His own Son Jesus that we might live, how can we feel anything but significant?

Another truth that stood out to me while reading this book is that because God loves us and will always do what is good for us and what will bring Him glory (Romans 8:28), we can trust that we are here, when and where we are, for a purpose. “We were created by God to reveal His heart and to do His good works during this singular moment in all of recorded time.” So we are living today and not at any time in the past because God needs us here, today. McLeod reminds us that “to live a truly significant life, we must simply leave a positive impact on those who surround us.” In five affirming sections, each beginning with the phrase “You Are…”, she demonstrates what God’s Word says about us, addressing the weary, the anxious, the hopeless. As a woman who has dealt with infertility and miscarriage, depression, and cancer, McLeod herself speaks from a place of experience. She uses Hebrew words throughout her book to demonstrate both the strength of meaning and impact of certain Scriptures, which I loved, and concludes each chapter with a quotation, most of which are from women.

For any woman struggling to figure out who she is, why she is, and where she belongs, I highly recommend “Significant.” Let it be a guide that points you to the Bible and to the Lord God Himself. After all, “Your life, dear friend, will only be as significant as your choice to lay down your life and tell Jesus’s story. The overriding, driving purpose of your life is to reveal Jesus to others!”

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )

A careful and prayerful study of the biblical truths presented will help Christ-following women learn not only who they are in Christ, but how God created them for His glory and honor. From a strong biblical foundation, Carol McLeod says, “I want all women to know their eternal value, to understand their God-given purpose, and to walk in their sacred calling in life.”

Although there are a few places I would choose different wording for what she is explaining, I recommend this book for women of all ages. It is a good study for individuals and small groups.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing from Carol McLeod. I was not required to provide a positive review. Thoughts in “My Two Cents” are my own opinion. ( )