Because He Loves Me

I felt it was more for a female Christian than guys. The title of the book is "Because He Loves Me," written by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick. The title, the book cover, the fact the author is a female, all contributed to my feelings that it was meant for lady Christians. But the message of the book is properly for any Christians, male or female, young or old, new or seasoned. It's because the book is about what the gospel is, and how it's meant to apply in our lives. It's about what God has done for us, and how we can live by faith in Him. It's for all Christians. You could be skeptical of this, if you have been a Christian for a while. There are only too many "how-to" books in Christian bookshops. But I dare say this book is different. This is not a "7 simple steps to become a better Christian" kind of a book. It brings focus back to what Jesus had done on the cross again and again, and reminds us to see ourselves through that lens, which will both liberate us from the guilt and the power of sin and motivate us to live a godly lives.

Here's a quote from the last chapter, The Hope of the Gospel.

On the days when you feel as though you'll never get it, you'll never please [God], you're such a failure, you must remember the lavish gift: [Jesus'] great heart pumped blood through his veins and then out his wounds so that he could bless you. This perfect blood streamed down his body and tumbled through space, pooling on the earth beneath his feet. It was trampled on by those who stood below jeering. It mingled with the dirt he had created, and from it grew your hope. And then, on the days when you believe you're finally getting it, finally pleasing him, when you think you can look in satisfaction at your goodness, you'll need to look at that blood even more closely. Take yourself to Calvary and stand there until all your good works seem to you as they really are: vile sludge purified only by his cleansing flow.
 - p. 190, from Because He Loves Me by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick

Also, the appendix of the book contains a personal testimony and evangelistic message from the Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, which I thought was excellent.

You can read more about it at Crossway, or if you are up to buying your copy already, you can get it from all these places.