Review - Health, Healing, and Wholeness by Tracy Crump

 Health, Healing, and Wholeness 

by Tracy Crump

Where do you turn for help when illness or injury strikes? No matter how bleak the prognosis, you can find hope and healing in Jesus.   Through her work as an intensive care nurse, Tracy Crump witnessed lifesaving miracles when everyone involved had given up--everyone except God. She cared for patients, family, and friends experiencing major health crises and offered encouragement no matter the situation, knowing we don't always experience healing in this life.
 
Crafted with unique examples of God's miraculous power and saving grace, Health, Healing, and Wholeness blends Scripture-rich meditations with biblical principles that highlight God's mercy in times of medical need. Moving stories of a mother's sacrifice, children overcoming catastrophic accidents, the beauty of a life well lived, and joy despite traumatic brain injury instill hope.
 
Whether you are experiencing a medical crisis, walking alongside someone who is, or caring for a loved one, these thirty devotions will bring comfort and peace. Prepare to embark on a journey to wholeness.
 
The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. (Malachi 4:2NLT)

My Take:

Imagine taking examples from a life as a nurse in critical care, holding the hands of the seriously ill, injured, and dying, and watching miracles happen before your eyes. Then bottling that up into a well-written 30-day devotional. That's what this is. Concentrated examples of God's grace, healing, and rescue in life-threatening situations. 

 Content:

Drug Content:
G – none. Well, unless you count lifesaving medications only available with prescription.
 
Violence:
G – Though this book does discuss multiple instances of painful or repeated surgeries, there's nothing graphic or gory.
 
Language:
G – Squeaky clean
 
Adult Content:
G – Squeaky clean.
 
Christian content:
This is a Christian devotional. It's filled with references to God's love, His provision, His direction, His forgiveness, and His plan for your life. Every devotion begins with a verse and ends with a prayer and another verse. Scripture is referenced throughout. There are examples in here of patients who overcome incredible odds, terminal diagnoses, debilitating illnesses, devastating accidents, or even physical results of a life of poor decisions. I will tell you without hesitation or apology, expect to meet with God between the covers of this devotional. If you're willing to do business with Him, He's willing to do business with you. And this little book can be a table where you meet.

 
Final Analysis:
This devotional is a quick read. I finished the back half of it on a treadmill trying to get some exercise in, especially after getting an idea of what a heart condition can do to you. And yet, while walking on that treadmill, I was getting a workout on a different kind of heart condition. Because that's what can happen in this devotional. But I digress. The book is a treasure.  I'll be reading this to the family. There are 30 devotionals, each lasting less than five minutes minutes. So it's a good quick devotional for a month. Each one focuses on a different character trait and has a lot more meat than you'd expect for such a quick dive. Real-life experiences from the author's days as a nurse provide eternal truths. Well-written, engaging, convicting, and encouraging. Five Stars!

About the Author:

Tracy Crump writes devotions of hope that heal the heart. Drawing from her work as an intensive care nurse and using storytelling skills honed in writing for anthologies, she brings God’s Word to life in Health, Healing, and Wholeness: Devotions of Hope in the Midst of Illness.

Though this is her first book, Tracy is no stranger to devotion writing. Her work has appeared in Guideposts’ books as well as The Upper Room, Light from the Word, and other devotional publications. More than thirty of her short stories have been published, most in Chicken Soup for the Soul® books, and her articles have been featured in many national magazines. She proofreads for Farmers Almanac, is a freelance editor, and presents workshops through Write Life Workshops and at writers conferences across the country. She edits a popular writers newsletter, and her course on writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of Serious Writer’s top sellers.

Tracy has been married to her high school sweetheart, Stan, for forty-five years. They live in north Mississippi and have two sons and four completely unspoiled grandchildren. She believes Grandma is the most beautiful word in the English language. Visit Tracy at www.TracyCrump.com.