Title: Spirit-Driven: A Collection of Song Lyrics and Poems
Author: Kathleen Lizardi-Calhoun
Publisher: West Bow Press
ISBN: 1512795321
Pages: 164
Genre: Inspirational and Religious / Poetry
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
Pacific Book Review
Spirit-Driven: A Collection of Song Lyrics and Poems is a stunning collection by Kathleen Lizardi-Calhoun, who expresses a passionate and emotional message about God, salvation and faith, presented through each poem. Spirit-Driven has a personal tone to it, exploring what it means to be a light for others. Lizardi-Calhoun’s writing in this collection has a lovely hymnal quality, with each poem flowing with a lyrical style and rhyme scheme.
Lizardi-Calhoun’s style has an empowering tone with a variety of poems which has an inspiring message. Themes of salvation are specific in several poems, first explored in “A Mighty Hand” which reads like a prayer, asking to be saved from what’s referred to as a drowning nation. The mission of God is also highlighted in several of the poems and lyrics with a focus on God’s power and grace while also defining what a mission under God means. To deal with the world’s problems, the poem highlights how to achieve an inner peace. Several poems pull messages from Bible verses, specifically in “Christ in Our Place” which focuses on Hebrews 5:6-11, and explores salvation by going into surrendering lives to God, the joy of living in the kingdom of God, and prospering in a new life. “Come to Jesus as You Are” is similar in tone to “Christ in Our Place” as it explores specifically salvation in a way which teaches to come as you are to the Spirit and praise. This is also seen in “Come to Me” which explores the idea of broken people finding solace with God as the North Star, a healer, and strength.
The poem “Be a Light” focuses on what it means to be a light, stating to “be salt and light to others” which means to not just spread the word of God but to reach out to others as a light in the darkness. “Be a Light” focuses on the central theme that comes up often in the collection about leaving past sins behind and moving forward in the Spirit with a new wisdom and grace. This idea is also prominent in the lyrical style of “Be a Prophet for Me” which is about being a light to lead others to the Spirit and to love others. “Divine Love” furthers this message describing a wave of forgiveness by following the ways of the Spirit and creating a new passion which will in turn reach out to others. “Embrace Your Call” focuses on the Spirit guiding prayers while opening people’s eyes to the truth. Several of Lizardi-Calhoun’s poems focus on the idea of faith eyes which means having one’s attention fixed on heaven.
Lizardi-Calhoun has a passionate style, using descriptive words throughout, including compassionate, praise, thanks, and blessings. This collection has several empowering messages that teach and worship, imbuing each poem with a personal voice. A few of the poems have a story-like style, but this is mostly seen in “Homeless to Saved.” While it maintains a rhyme scheme, it’s set apart from the others in the collection with a more prose style that unfolds a story. This is a quick read so beautifully written you practically sing along as the words that strive to heal. This isn’t a collection to persuade but one that simply sets out to inspire and to find solace within the words. Spirit-Driven is a wonderful connection full of empowering messages and a lyrical style that has a hymnal tone that explores the idea of hope and salvation.
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