I AM by Michele Cushatt

This is a reflective book. It is supposed to be a sixty-day journey to biblical self-discovery. The author begins her book with Acknowledgments and then an Introduction. Then she spreads out her material in sixty short chapters. Each chapter begins with a corresponding Bible verse. And each chapter ends with questions, meant for personal reflection and application. Each chapter starts with "I Am----" and ends with with a trait of the person God says we are in Christ. Michele Cushatt is a successful speaker and author. She shares how complicated the intersection of faith and real life are. She speaks for Women of Faith, Compassion International, Focus on the Family, and Hearts at Home.

I have gotten done reading this book. To me, it is 65% memoir and 35% prescriptive. Cushatt embeds so much of herself and her life experiences into this book that I don't feel I can relate to her. I CAN relate to the emotions that she shares she has dealt with. As a person who has dealt with infertility, I had a hard time reading about some of her adventures with her full houseful of children. And as a person who has wanted to adopt but didn't find it an option, it was tough to read of her own experiences as an adoptive mom. As Cushatt shares, she has had much success in life. And it took her bouts with cancer to make her see that that our success and/or failures don't define us. But reading this book from my filter, it seems to be geared to middle-class readers and higher. This irks me with Christian resources in general. What about those with disabilities, low incomes, minorities, and others who may not feel they can relate to, frankly, middle-class trials? (Disclaimer: Cancer is excluded. It strikes people of all classes!) This author does a great job of making God's grace and love real to the reader. She doesn't omit mention of His holiness, but it isn't her focus.

I recommend this book for Christian Women. This is her target audience. Cancer patients and survivors, especially, may find it meaningful. The author may consider writing a youth version of this book. And she could adapt it to speak to the issues and concerns teenagers and young adults face.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through in exchange for an honest review of this book. I wasn't required to give a favorable review of this book.