"We read to know that we are not alone." (from the movie, "Shadowlands," 1993)
A-ha! We read to know that we are not alone....
Have you ever come across a line in a book that suddenly makes sense of things you're going through? It's like WOW! this is exactly what happened to me! Or WOW! I guess I'm not the only one! Or WOW! This author just described me inside and out!
What's the best thing you've read lately?
Right now I'm going through this book---
|
I started it last year but decided to start again and finish it off this month. It's a 31-Day devotional, but do I ever do anything daily? Hardly! Do you? I admire you! I think I missed out on the 'routine gene.'
Here are my favorite quotes so far:
"Perhaps something or someone has died...Perhaps everything you have worked for, all your prayers, seem unanswered. Don't despair. Ask Jesus now for the help that you need and he'll give it." (page 50)
"...even on our best days most of us struggle with the feeling that something bad is about to happen." (page 57)
"The Lord knows how weak we are, how hard it is for us to continue to believe. He knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:14) What are we? Mere dust trying to believe. Jesus chose to suffer so that, when we wonder if we really are loved, we have a sure answer." (page 73)
What are you reading and what's a favorite line you've found? Feel free to use the comment box to share a title or a quote. (If you receive this by email, click the title to get to the blog post and comments, thanks!)
Books help in so many ways. Read to fall asleep at night. Take a book along when you go out to eat alone. Learn stuff! Laugh! And maybe even discover that you are not alone. ❤
SPECIAL OFFER! This week when you order my book I will include a nice surprise book from my own collection too! Click here to order:
Recently widowed a few months ago, I've received many books for widows, some too hard to read yet. (I also just ordered your book today... thank you!! I'll look forward to it.)
ReplyDeleteThe two books I have been reading (in short spurts) that I am finding so helpful & encouraging to me in my faith:
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, by Dane Ortlund, 2020. (So very comforting!)
Quote: "It is one thing to describe what your husband says and does...It is something else, something deeper and more real, to describe his heart for you. So with Christ. It is one thing to know the doctrines [of faith].... It is another, more searching matter to know his heart for you... 'I am gentle and lowly in heart.' Matthew 11:29." (pp. 16-17).
Another book:
Living with Grief: Bound by Sorrow, Wrapped in Comfort, by Kristian Kincaid, 2020.
Quote: "We suffer momentary affliction, but our comfort is eternal. Not our holding fast to Christ, but His holding fast to us is our certainty. Our separation from those who have gone before us in the only true and saving faith is but for a short interval, and our reunion is unending." (p. 156)
-Martha T.
Martha, I'm so sorry for your loss. It can be difficult to read anything in these early months, I'm glad to see you are taking things at your own pace. The two that you are going through right now sound wonderful! I love those quotes, thank you so much for sharing. The latter reminds me of 2 Corinthians 4:17 and how our troubles are achieving an amazing kind of glory that will help us say "It was worth it." And the first quote--I love how it describes both our husband's and our Savior's heart for us. Very special and sacred love... thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ferree. I should have mentioned that those two books I quoted from are not for widows. But they are still helpful. Thank you for this forum, and for your caring words. -Martha
DeleteI am reading JoyKeeper by Suzanne Eller. Quote "God's plan isn't to replace sorrow with joy, but to write a new story of joy through sorrow." There are 30 Days of devotions in the back of the book.
ReplyDeleteAmen!that's so true! Thanks Michele, it's great to hear from you.
ReplyDelete