Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love is the best book that I've ever read.
I am not even exaggerating when I say that
it changed my life.
Well, okay, I guess saying that
God used it during a time of intense stretching and growing in my life
would be more accurate.
If I had to be honest, up until I read this book
I really thought that God only used those
people who had perfect, church-saturated upbringings
people who had perfect, church-saturated upbringings
and who had grown in to "perfect" Christians.
People whose fathers and/or grandfathers spoke like Billy Graham and whose mothers and grandmothers were Lottie Moon-esque.
People whose fathers and/or grandfathers spoke like Billy Graham and whose mothers and grandmothers were Lottie Moon-esque.
People who had gone to private Christian school during the year and church camp every summer
or people who, at the very least,
could recite the books of the Bible in order.
or people who, at the very least,
could recite the books of the Bible in order.
None of that described me.
Among other things, God used this book to dispell those crazy notions.
He showed me that not only was it okay that I was completely imperfect
but that He wanted to use my imperfections to glorify Himself.
A willingness and a heart for Him is more important than pedigree.
He used this book and this time in my life
to guide me towards the path that has led to where I am now
and is leading to whatever He has for me in the future.
A willingness and a heart for Him is more important than pedigree.
He used this book and this time in my life
to guide me towards the path that has led to where I am now
and is leading to whatever He has for me in the future.
A few weeks after we arrived in Sacramento
some friends and I were discussing our favorite Rivers books.
Per usual, I used the opportunity to sing my praises for Redeeming Love.
One of the girls said,
"You know that book was set in this area , right?"
Wait, excuse me, hold on a second - Um, what??
God used a work of fiction to change my life...
a work of fiction that was set in a random place,
so seemingly insignificant to me that I forgot the location completely....
and then years later
a work of fiction that was set in a random place,
so seemingly insignificant to me that I forgot the location completely....
and then years later
He called us to move 3500 miles to an area
where we knew no one and to build a life here
- and it was that same place??
where we knew no one and to build a life here
- and it was that same place??
You. guys.
That book could have been set anywhere.
That book could have been set anywhere.
Anywhere.
Yet God, because of his infinite creativity and
Yet God, because of his infinite creativity and
because He knows me so well
and knew that the connection would be a huge moment for me,
didn't write things that way.
and knew that the connection would be a huge moment for me,
didn't write things that way.
This weekend marks a year of being in Sacramento;
our Sacrament-iversary.
Over the past year we have lived, loved, worked, played and grown here.
Over the past year we have lived, loved, worked, played and grown here.
I'm thankful for the evidence of God's working in my life
and thankful that He has let me be a part of the story that He's writing.
and thankful that He has let me be a part of the story that He's writing.
Hey Girl! I can't believe it has been a year already...and thanks to you...I, too, read that book. It has been well-loved and my friend and her sister read it too! :) LOVE YOU!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's been a year! I remember that conversation, and I remember when I said that the expression you had. I just love that book and recommend it to everyone!
ReplyDelete