Joni Eareckson Tada’s story is well known among evangelicals. In 1967, at the age of seventeen, a diving accident left her as a quadriplegic. This led to struggles with depression, suicidal thoughts, and a crisis of faith. Two years later, Tada emerged from the darkness to become an artist, a Christian speaker and author. She is respected for strong and enduring testimony and she is a tireless advocate for the disabled. Her openness about her own struggles with depression, chronic pain and doubt has encouraged millions. Tada’s latest book, A Spectacle of Glory, is a 365-day, daily devotional designed to help readers put God’s glory on display, even in the midst of difficult, trying circumstance.

These daily devotions consist of a Scripture verse reference (occasionally a version of the Bible suggested), a couple of paragraphs reflection and exhortation and a short prayer. The scripture references consist of one to three Bible verses for each day. As someone who enjoys studying the Bible, I don’t usually go for the daily-verse type devotionals; however the brevity of these devotions is one of its best features. I have friends who have suffered from chronic pain, Parkinson’s, or have undergone mind-addling medical treatment. This zaps their energy and destroys their ability to concentrate for longer periods. Reading long swaths of Scripture or doing deep study is not feasible. What they need is an encouraging word. in the midst of their circumstance.

And Tada delivers. With more than fifty years of faithful Christian service as a quadriplegic, she speaks with integrity about what it means to persevere, our strong hope and the robust character of Christian joy. If you are in the market for a devotional in 2017, this may be a good choice.

Note: I received this book from Handlebar media in exchange for my honest review. ( )

A Spectacle of Glory
Joni Eareckson Tada with Larry Libby

Review: Do you ever wonder why God created you? The Bible spells it out plainly: God created you to showcase His glory—to enjoy it, display it, and demonstrate it every day to all those you encounter. After nearly 50 years of living as a quadriplegic, and dealing with chronic pain on a daily basis, Joni has learned firsthand the importance of glorifying God through the toughest of situations. Through this devotional, Joni will help you discover how to put God’s glory on display—how to say no to complaining and say yes to daily following God down even the most difficult paths. Along the way, you will find great comfort and encouragement by focusing on the one who longs to lead and guide you every step of the way, every day. Don’t ever think your life is too ordinary, your world too small, or your work too insignificant. All of it is a stage set for you to glorify God.

Review: I enjoyed this devotion very much. From the cover to the daily devotions it is a winner. The devotions were heart felt and truly enlightens the scripture. It is a great jumping off point to deeper thought and reflection. I found myself wanting to read ahead to know what insights God gave to Joni. I always think gleaning things from other Christians helpful and useful for growth. This will be a useful book for years to come.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. 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. ( )