Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links to support the featured Christian indie author. If you purchase through these Amazon links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I am dedicated to promoting and supporting independent Christian authors, and I only endorse products or services that align with this mission. Your support helps uplift independent authors in the Christian literary community. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!
What better way to wrap up National Poetry Month than with a book review of an independent Christian author who writes poetry? The piece that we're delving into is “Rivers of Divine Love: The Poetry Transformation Book” by Ephraim Great.
According to his Amazon bio, Ephraim Great is a poet and self-help author. Since poetry is subjective, this book review will not include any constructive criticism, unlike previous reviews. I simply want to appreciate this project for what it is and what it presents.
Prophetic Art
The hallmark of a great poetry book is the inclusion of art. The art in this book greatly enhanced the themes, providing a richer experience. When I mention "prophetic art," I am referring to artists who are inspired by the Holy Spirit to convey a message through artistic means. This aims to deepen the understanding or support the message conveyed through poems.
I do realize that many denominations may not understand or even believe in the prophetic, but for those that do, the prophetic art is one of the beautiful aspects of this poetry book.
Scripture Within Poetry
The author intertwined scripture, verses, and biblical concepts with his distinctive poetic tone and style. Every poem contained remnants of scripture, enabling you to identify where certain scriptures might have inspired the specific poem. While this is common in Christian poetry, finding it consistently present in every single poem throughout the book was refreshing. Every topic addressed, whether discussing God's love, our purpose, self-identity, grief, or the injustices and other issues within our world, was all intertwined with scriptural undertones.
Hope and Encouragement
This book provides hope and encouragement for the reader. I know many people may say that about books, but hear me out. I began reading this book about a week after my brother's funeral. It's still fresh in my mind, even now. There is a poem in the book titled "When I Remember Your Love." As I read this poem, I couldn't help but think, “This is exactly how I feel right now” - the despair, the heartbreak, and the hurt were all fresh and familiar. When I say this book was very encouraging and provided hope, I can speak from personal experience.
Reflection
While I understand that not everyone is a fan of poetry, this book should definitely be on your list of considerations. It's currently available on Kindle Unlimited as well. If you have a subscription through Amazon, take a moment to download the book and read a few poems. I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.
