Midnight in Aisle Seven: Sometimes God Introduces Himself Outside the Church Walls

by Jay Lowder

You never know when God will show up
At some point we all feel abandoned--by a friend, spouse, family member, or even God. We search to discover meaning for our lives. Often religion tries to confine the answers we seek to church buildings and candy-coated sermons, but in life's darkest moments hope is sometimes illuminated through the most unlikely people at the most unforeseen times. In Midnight in Aisle Seven Jay Lowder presents encouraging, raw, genuine stories of real people, including himself, to demonstrate how anyone, anywhere, can experience an encounter that brings significance to life.

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2012

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been awhile since I've read and reviewed a book like this. I like to change things up in my reading though and read lots of different kinds of books. It helps me stay out of the rut of reading. :) I also enjoy reading personal experiences that give hope.

Here is my disclaimer for this review. I am a Christian. I DO believe that God can touch people anywhere, everywhere. I believe He loves all his children. God's love is not confined to a church building or to certain people. I also believe in organized religion though. There are always people who will hurt and disappoint no matter if it's in a religious sect or not. The truth doesn't lie with the people, but with God. I may not belong to the group of people who follow Jay Lowder or other Evangelical ministers, but I can appreciate and respect the message put forth by this book.

Okay, so having said that, here is what I liked about this book:

~It gave honest, emotional views into the lives of real people searching and needing God's love. The accounts were touching and real.

~Everyone will find something or someone in this book that they can relate to.

~It helped me remember that we should be kind because everyone we meet is fighting a hard battle and you just never know when your kindness can help change a person's life.

~It strengthened my resolve to be a better person, a better representative of the God I claim to follow.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book:

"I guess if you stay in any place long enough, even when it is the wrong one, it can begin to feel like home." (pg. 2)

"The quickest way to grow old, hard and sick is to refuse to forgive yourself or someone else."

[jeannette a mcchesney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth reading

I found this book to be very interesting. Such a variety of people with various struggles and backs coming to a personal relationship with Jesus. I really was impressed with how down to earth the author is.

[Shaylee Eivins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, easy read that got me thinking!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read. Loved the different stories and really got me thinking.

[Rita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wrote a very complete review which appears not to have saved. I read this right between IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE and THE HIDING PLACE (by Corrie ten Boom, Christian Holocaust survivor). For a true sense of the beauty and peace of following Jesus, read these other books.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

A. Larry Ross Communications contacted me about reading and reviewing Midnight in Aisle 7 by Jay Lowder. I might have liked the book more if I hadn't read it immediately following A Big Life. When I finished reading A Big Life, I was hungry for more missionary stories. Midnight in Aisle 7 is about people meeting God in everyday places in everyday America.

I tried to like it but couldn't immerse myself in the book. I'm not familiar with the author and don't want to make any assumptions about his ministry or his spiritual life. But the book was disjointed and I couldn't really see how people were "experienc[ing] an encounter that brings significance to life" (from Amazon's book description). It felt more like the author had an idea for a book, realized that these types of stories sell well today, and threw something together. Each chapter was separate from the rest and read more like a short story or a written version of a story shared at prayer meeting. There wasn't anything remarkable about the book, unfortunately. I was really hoping to read something special but the book fell short.

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in Aisle 7 is one of those books that when you read the stories of these ordinary people, you just shake your head in awe, or the tears just fall, again in awe of what God has done in this or that persons life.

I so appreciate Jay Lowder's honesty and humility in not only sharing the stories of these ordinary people, but in sharing his own struggles. If I could describe this book in one word it would be "HOPE!" These stories will amaze you, inspire you, break your heart and give you Hope in knowing that God is with you no matter what your circumstances are!

If you know someone struggling in their Faith - share this book with them! Share it with A new believer or even someone who might not even believe... I am certain God already knows who will be reading these stories and HE is ready to speak to those in ways only HE can!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads.

This book is very easy to read and understand. I think it opens your eyes to the goodness that exists wherever we might physically find ourselves.

I liked the explanation for God not giving people "signs". If God gives you one, you will want or expect another and another.

I will definately be sharing my copy of Jay's book. Great inspirational read.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review will be posted on my blog soon. This is a fairly good book but gets to be a little too evangelical in some parts. Overall it is written wonderfully and the stories are inspiring.

[Kathy Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Each chapter gives a different story of reaching out and loving people outside of church walls. The chapter on his personal testimony is worth reading the book for.