SUMMARY

A Standard of Grace, by Emily Ley, is a guided journal designed to help busy moms slow down, dream a little and prioritize the things that matter most. With two writing prompts per week and plenty of space to jot down thoughts, this hardcover book also contains a weekly Bible verse and inspirational reading, gorgeous, full-colour photographs, and three ribbon bookmarks so you can keep track of the readings and journal entries that inspire you most.

MY THOUGHTS

This journal is absolutely beautiful. The cover is embossed, the pages are thick, the text is easy to read, and the photographs are stunning. It truly is lovely.

Based on the title, I assumed that the inspirational readings would have more of an emphasis on the saving grace of Jesus—and how His beautiful sacrifice impacts our lives.  Instead, the power of the Cross seems diluted. Although Ley does talk about the love of God, the message leans towards embracing your mess, taking care of yourself and pursuing what makes you happy.

As well, at times, there is a bit of a disconnect between the weekly Bible verse and the inspirational reading. The week 18 scripture, for example, talks about spending time with Jesus. The devotional, on the other hand, is about taking time for things you find relaxing, such as sipping coffee and looking at a photo of the beach. There are several other times as well where the scripture and the inspirational reading don’t fit well together.

I do, however, love the idea of twice-weekly journal prompts (as opposed to daily). It’s not too much or too little. It allows busy moms to take time to express their thoughts and ideas whenever it fits into the week, without the pressure of having one more thing to do. The journal prompts are great ways to organize thoughts, prioritize dreams and get those creative juices flowing.

I would rate this book 2.5/5.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”