Mary A. Kassian - The Right Kind of Strong: Surprisingly Simple Habits of a Spiritually Strong Woman

PRAISE FOR

THE RIGHT KIND OF STRONG

My friend, Mary Kassian, is a strong woman. She exudes humble confidence in the Lord. She is tough and tender, determined and kind, a true steel magnolia. She knows when to bend and when to be immovable, when to console and when to confront, how to be both a peacemaker and a warrior. Mary is the right kind of strong. I cant think of anyone better to help you navigate the challenge of living in a world that celebrates and promotes a very different kind of strength. The seven strength-building habits Mary unpacks from Gods Word are foundational. This book will not leave you unchanged. I wholeheartedly commend it.

NANCY DEMOSS WOLGEMUTH, AUTHOR; FOUNDER AND TEACHER OF REVIVE OUR HEARTS

Mary Kassians The Right Kind of Strong is the right kind of book for the culture we, as Jesus-adoring Christians, have been placed in. Around us are a plethora of voices, images, tweets, blogs, and influencers appealing to that nagging mumble inside of us all that tells us not to be weak. Naturally, we rarely silence this voice with humility before God and submission to His Word that would then lead us to discover the kind of strength that He delights in. And its for that reason alone that Marys book is the theological compass for our lost and drifting girls, women, mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. Marys words have theological depth, humor, and cultural relevance. By reading and receiving them, we will have more women who have found their strength in a Savior whos really good at making the weak strong.

JACKIE HILL PERRY, SPEAKER, POET, AND ARTIST; AUTHOR OF GAY GIRL, GOOD GOD: THE STORY OF WHO I WAS, AND WHO GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN

Compelling. Radical. Beautiful. Mary did an excellent job of showing us why a strong woman isnt built on power and hustle, but on humbly acknowledging our need for Christ and embracing His strength in our lives. We pray this book inspires many generations of Christian women to rise up and become the right kind of strong women for Gods glory!

KRISTEN CLARK AND BETHANY BEAL, FOUNDERS OF GIRL DEFINED MINISTRIES, AUTHORS, AND YOUTUBERS

I needed this book! It gave me permission to be strong but invited me to a holy weakness that allows Gods strength to shine in me. For every woman who is walking well with God and thinks she may be spiritually strong, Mary challenges you to examine the vestiges of weakness to which you may be blinded, and invites you to a new revival of Truth.

DANNAH GRESH, FOUNDER OF TRUE GIRL AND AUTHOR OF LIES GIRLS BELIEVE

In a society that is increasingly obsessed with empowering women for all the wrong reasons, this book is a refreshing challenge to be strong in the Lord. In her typical no-nonsense style, Mary A. Kassian gives us a clear punch list of seven habits to develop as we swim against the cultural tide and avoid at all costs the behavior of weak-willed women found in 2 Timothy 3. Marys wise biblical instruction coupled with down-to-earth illustrations are a winning combination. This book will be a valuable addition to the library of women in all ages and stages who are truly seeking to be spiritually strong to Gods glory.

MARY K. MOHLER, AUTHOR OF GROWING IN GRATITUDE; PRESIDENTS WIFE AND DIRECTOR OF SEMINARY WIVES INSTITUTE, THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Mary Kassian has given a gift to Christian women by reclaiming the word strong from a culture that has distorted what God meant for women today. Building upon 2 Timothy 3, Mary paints a much needed, clear picture of a strong woman who is a follower of Christ. A must-read for women, especially leaders, today.

TERRI STOVALL, DEAN OF WOMENS PROGRAMS AND PROFESSOR OF WOMENS MINISTRY, SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Mary Kassian has written a timely book in our era of overturning the historical wrongs done to women. We definitely need more strong women in every generation! But Marys book shows us that this is not a new trend. God has always wanted His daughters to be strongin the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10). Mary flips your expectations in this book. If you are expecting girly fluff, you wont find it. If you are expecting self-centered girl power, you wont find that, either. Instead, you will be challenged to develop the kind of discernment, wisdom, and spiritual habits that will ensure that you are truly a strong woman to the end. A great resource for discipling women of all ages!

CAROLYN MCCULLEY, AUTHOR OF THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS AND RADICAL WOMANHOOD

My twenty-something-year-old fierce self couldve desperately used this, but even now, my fifty-something-year-old self is deeply encouraged and challenged by these truths. I love this book. Marys insight into the right kind of strength provides women with a worthy pursuit: being courageous enough to live for Gods glory, no matter the cost. This is a thorough work that provides women with spine-strengthening theology plus practical help! I want every woman I know to have this resource. (Ill be buying a lot of copies! Its a great investment.)

KIMBERLY WAGNER, AUTHOR OF FIERCE WOMEN

I was the eighth-grade girls wrestling champion. Now, decades later, I want to know how to demonstrate strength as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, and an ambassador for the gospel, while walking with the humility Christ calls me to. Thats why Im grateful for this book. In the wise style weve come to expect from her, Mary Kassian discredits cultural messages about strong womanhood while pointing us to the source of true strength, Gods Word.

ERIN DAVIS, AUTHOR, BLOGGER, BIBLE TEACHER, (AND GIRLS WRESTLING CHAMPION)

In a time when women-empowerment messages are at an all-time high, I couldnt imagine a more needed message than the one found in The Right Kind of Strong. By unpacking the scripture in relatable and refreshing ways, Mary Kassian exposes how surprisingly flimsy the strength being peddled by the world is. In this book youll find an experienced guide and trusted friend in Mary, as she graciously leads you to discover what makes for a truly strong woman.

KELLY NEEDHAM, AUTHOR OF FRIENDISH: RECLAIMING REAL FRIENDSHIP IN A CULTURE OF CONFUSION

2019 Mary A. Kassian

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. Nelson Books and Thomas Nelson are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.

Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Any Internet addresses, phone numbers, or company or product information printed in this book are offered as a resource and are not intended in any way to be or to imply an endorsement by Thomas Nelson, nor does Thomas Nelson vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers, companies, or products beyond the life of this book.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked GNT are taken from the Good News Translation in Todays English VersionSecond Edition. Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.