Forty Women

I loved this book! Ros paints compelling pictures of these 40 women and shows how they are far more than simple villains or victims. Though the reflections are short, they are profound and practical, illustrating the beauty of God's wisdom and grace in a very messy world. -- Sarah Allen, Course Director of Flourish North.
This is good reading for women young and old AND for men both young and old. Each story is beautifully told, and in each case the connection is opened up for life for women and men today in our schools, homes and everywhere. Each person is honoured, each circumstance seen from the perspective both of the woman and the God who loves her. May God make us men and women who do not accept that sin is normalised, but who know the way of being saved, through God’s coming, born of a woman! May this book help us as we read of our sisters in scripture to become the women and men God made us to be. -- Bishop Keith Sinclair, National Director of the Church of England Evangelical Council
Fresh, honest, faithful, and perceptive. These devotions bring together a striking turn of phrase, a keen eye for what many may miss or hide in the text, and a personal and pastoral heart that is unafraid to broach subjects that are too often neglected. Highly recommended! -- James Robson, Ministry Director for Keswick Ministries
In this compelling and enriching survey, Dr Clarke is faithful to Scripture and to the humanity of the women it presents. I found myself moved to laughter and tears, inspired by courage and resilience--in short, confronted with the reality of the human heart before God, and His holiness, faithfulness and steadfast love to His own. Men and women in the church have so much to learn and pray about when it comes to our flourishing together; this book will help us considerably with that. -- Niv Lobo, curate at Highfield Church, Southampton.
The Old Testament meets everyday life in these forty stories of envy, grief, shame, courage, faith and hope, from famous women in the Bible's limelight to anonymous bit players. Not just for women! Culminating with New Testament stories, Ros Clarke's gritty devotions will pack a punch for anyone seeking to deepen their reflection and prayer in Lent or at any other time. -- Revd Dr Jill Firth, Lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne.
This book will flood your heart with truth of God's mercy passionately pursuing the hearts of women, the hearts of his beloved daughters. By looking to the lives of real women in all the mess and depravity caused by them and inflicted on them, Dr Clarke points us to the gracious, powerful, redemptive work of God. Not shying away from the reality of sin that grips our hearts, from the shame and despair that threaten our thought life, body image and speech, Dr Clarke leads us to look to Christ alone for our redemption and refuge. As we lift our hearts to Him, using Dr Clarke's pertinent prayers at the end of each devotion, steeped in faithful, powerful exposition of Scripture, our hearts' hope is rooted in Christ alone. -- Emily Lucas, MTh student, Union School of Theology
‘In these devotions, Dr Clarke explores the minds and emotions of 40 biblical women from Eve to Mary Magdalene. She skilfully uses the concerns of the contemporary reader to try to understand something to the experiences of the women and concludes with questions for thought and prayer. She does not hide their faults as she depicts their struggles and achievements, but gives them the voice of praise and thanks as a challenge to us’. -- Peter Jensen, Former Archbishop of Sydney and General Secretary of GAFCON
With wisdom, imagination, and biblical fidelity, Ros Clarke brings new life to the lives of these women of the Bible. More importantly, Forty Women makes the words of scripture in which these lives have been preserved even more meaningful for us today. This book will educate, edify, and spur readers on to greater faithfulness. -- Karen Swallow Prior, Research Professor of English and Christianity & Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books