About the Book ~
Martha of Bethany is no stranger to adversity. After her mother's untimely death, Martha shoulders the responsibility of raising her siblings--quiet and studious Lazarus, and wild and rambunctious Mary. She finds solace in friendship and the beginnings of first love, but just as Martha begins to imagine a new future, hardship strikes again and her dreams crumble into dust.
Ten years later, Martha's friend pleads for the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her husband. When Martha discovers that the carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she's not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he continues to perform miracles, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist, renewing Martha's hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.
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My Thoughts ~
Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman is a timeless tale that is reflective of the joy, sorrow, and abundant life found in Jesus!
Up from Dust took a unique look at Martha, Lazarus, and Mary's potential lives! Instead of trying to replay the events seen in the Bible in a fictional narrative, the author explored Martha's story from places of curiosity, imagination, and wonder. I enjoyed this approach and the creativity it brought into a well-known story.
There were a lot of powerful moments in Up from Dust! I loved how Martha spoke truth to Lazarus -- and then Lazarus listened to her, allowing her words to act as iron sharpening iron. I loved how Mary was not perfect, and I especially loved when Martha realized that Mary felt unsafe around some of the men because she was viewed as either a threat or something to possess by those men. Most of all, I loved how the pure love of Jesus burst with life from the moment Jesus first smiled at Martha!
Up from Dust was not without its sorrow, death, and the honest portrayal of the brutal realities of the culture. There was hard stuff, and Martha was shaped by those experiences even as she tried to love those around her. The authenticity to the human experience made the freedom, love, and courage to hope all the more poignant as Martha was changed by Jesus' love!
Four Stars ~ Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman is a deeply resonating story! Up from Dust Martha's Story is the first book in the author's Women of the Way series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here!
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
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