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Permalink Reply by Nancy, Steve, Nathan & Lu on June 5, 2012 at 10:51pm

"As Silver Refined," by Kay Arthur

This book was given to me to encourage my heart during a very discouraging time in my life, and it helped to change my perspective. It turned my whole view around, and got my eyes back on God - my Helper and my Provider. (The book also includes a 13-week Bible Study that reinforces the lessons discussed.) Here's an excerpt:

(From the Chapter: 'Strength in the Face of Stresses - Meekness in Action')

"Meekness is not weakness, and meekness is not apathy. The biblical meekness we're exploring does not mean you get slapped around and don't feel anything. Meekness does not mean you never have the spirit of a valiant warrior in you. Meekness does not mean you have no guts as a Christian.

Meekness is humble submission to God's sovereign will, yet it still knows to resist the devil - but only after submitting to God. Note the order of James 4:6-7: 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.' Then the focus goes back to God in verse 8: 'Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.' So both before and after resisting the enemy, your attention must always be on God, not on the devil. God never wants our focus to be on the enemy. He wants our focus on Himself. We're to always see the enemy in relationship to God and in relationship to who we are in Christ."

Permalink Reply by Nancy, Steve, Nathan & Lu on June 5, 2012 at 11:18pm

"Hope Rising," by Kim Meeder

If you're looking for a book that's a "fun read," this is it. Kim Meeder tells about her experiences working to bring hope back into broken lives - for both people and horses. When she and her husband founded Crystal Peaks in Oregon, they envisioned a place where kids could come and be loved, even as the horses (used for therapy) were nurtured back to full health. Through a series of short stories, Kim Meeder gives spiritual insight into our loving Father God who wants to speak peace, love, and joy to the hopeless and helpless.

Here's an excerpt:

"Knowing glances drifted between Emily and Solemn (the horse). They had lived deeply similar lives. Had shared the same crushing blows of rejection, isolation, and loneliness. Understanding began to occur on a level deeper than words.

With a subtleness that only a trained eye could see, the filly's perfect circling (in the ring) began to falter, drifting into irregular patterns. Her eyes shifted from a wary measuring of Emily to a soft invitation. The invitation melted into a voiceless plea.

Like an electrical conduit the silence between them was alive with communication. They seemed to be looking into each other's hearts, finding there a reflection of themselves. Through their pain they reached toward each other -- girl to horse, hand to hide. Abruptly the filly turned in to the center of the ring, slowing to a walk that brought her within inches of Emily and me.

'Oh my gosh!' Sondra gasped, moving her hands reactively towards her face. She knew Solemn's background, her mistrust of people. Balancing between unbelief and amazement, Sondra obviously understood the impact of this moment. I backed silently out of the pen, leaving Emily and Solemn alone together."

Permalink Reply by Chris, Kadi & Brodie on June 6, 2012 at 11:53am

This is a hard one for me because we read a lot (homeschoolers) and almost everything we read has some type of Christian theme to it. This may not be one that people typically think of as a Christian book, but it has to be my favorite because it covers not only the spiritual, but history as well--The Light and The Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel. If you haven't read it, please do! It will make you so appreciative of those who came before us, following God's direction, to establish for us this place of freedom to worship as we do today.