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Hope for All Seasons: Encouragement from Our Daily Bread
Although God promised to be ever-present and faithful, some situations in life can be so overwhelming that they get in the way of our faith. Combining Scripture passages with brief meditations, Hope for All Seasons helps us with fresh point of view on reasons to put our trust in God, no matter what. Each selection reminds us that God will never fail—He will follow through on His Word, and He will not allow us to be consumed by the everyday challenges of life.
208 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 27, 2017
I read Our Daily Bread every day sometimes online and sometimes with the paper copy, so I was eager to see Hope for All Seasons (Encouragement from Our Daily Bread) by Julie Ackerman Link. I will admit that the name of the author did not register with me. I was okay with this especially after the Foreword by Judith E. Markham stated that Julie Ackerman Link had said, “Anyone can put words on a page. Only God can breathe life into them.” Truly these words felt as if God was speaking to directly to my heart.
This is a devotional of Hope just as the name implies. The first is from Jeremiah, a prophet who had such hope in the mist of despair all around him. It ends with the hope that Christians can count on because the hope is not dependent on anything human or earthly but on the Lord. All of the many selections in between are reminders why to look to the Lord instead of your circumstance.
I loved how the entire passage of scripture is given for each selection. Included many times is a clarifying or insight into when or why the verses where written. It is a wonderful devotional that would be a comfort as well as instruction for any person in any walk of life. If one is not a Christian after reading Julie Ackerman Link’s writing, they couldn’t help but want to be. It is the kind of book that you need to buy two of; one for yourself and one for a friend.
The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.
This is a devotional of Hope just as the name implies. The first is from Jeremiah, a prophet who had such hope in the mist of despair all around him. It ends with the hope that Christians can count on because the hope is not dependent on anything human or earthly but on the Lord. All of the many selections in between are reminders why to look to the Lord instead of your circumstance.
I loved how the entire passage of scripture is given for each selection. Included many times is a clarifying or insight into when or why the verses where written. It is a wonderful devotional that would be a comfort as well as instruction for any person in any walk of life. If one is not a Christian after reading Julie Ackerman Link’s writing, they couldn’t help but want to be. It is the kind of book that you need to buy two of; one for yourself and one for a friend.
The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.
November 5, 2018
I got this book for free when ordering note cards, or maybe I got the note cards free when ordering this book. I'm not sure which way that went.
Julie Ackerman Link was one of my favorite authors of "Our Daily Bread" publication, which I read on occasion, in between other studies. I enjoyed her writing so much that I'd even written her a letter to thank her some years ago.
I had been saddened to hear of her death, and also sad that I would no longer be reading her works in "Our Daily Bread." So, I was glad to see this compilation of some of her daily devotions in "Our Daily Bread."
I found this to be a gentle, comforting read, like a cup of hot tea, but the devotions were short enough that I seldom read just one. I like that they aren't mere sentimentality, they aren't trite cliches, and that they aren't taking God's promises out of context, but that they have substance built on the firm strength of the Word of God, including the passage of scripture with the devotion.
As always, most of my favorite quotes are from the Word of God. But, I enjoyed Ms. Link's gentle writings, too, particularly those about her father and her own diagnosis. No pretense or false hope. Genuine hope, real and deep, even if it is simply written.
This is a book I should like to share, because everyone needs hope, but also I should like to keep, and to save to reread during my own future "winter" years, whenever they might be. In that, its re-readability, it has earned its five stars.
Favorite quotes:
"Do I present a postcard view of Christianity?"
"But we can also express our confidence that the Lord is still there by recalling times we've witnessed His grandeur and goodness."
"When we are devoted to God, we want to be with Him even when He's doing something that makes no sense to us."
"It is important to remember that we may be wrong even though life is good."
"Now is not forever."
"Suffering was not part of His original act of creation, but it serves as temporary reminder of what happens in a world where God's order has been broken. It also motivates us to spread the word about God's plan to redeem the world from the suffering caused by sin."
"Too often we interpret His blessing as an indication of our goodness, not His."
"God whispers to us in our pleasures ... but shouts in our pains." - C. S. Lewis
"Spiritual passion is not something to be treated lightly or taken for granted. It will grow cold if we fail to keep it supplied with fuel. ... stocking our fuel supply with hope, patience, steadfast prayer, generosity, hospitality, and humility."
"Inconvenience could be God's way of protecting us from some unseen danger, or it could be an opportunity to demonstrate God's grace and forgiveness. It might be the start of something even better than we had planned. Or it could be a test to see how we respond to adversity."
"Mountains of troubles keep the light of Jesus from getting through. But God strategically places His children to act as reflectors."
"But seeing the buttercups made my temporary discomfort worthwhile."
"That makes me wonder if the reason some people don't have a clear picture of the beauty and glory of God is that they make snap judgments. They come to wrong conclusions about God based on a bad church experience or an encounter with someone who claims to be a Christian but isn't living like one."
"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." - Henry Ward Beecher
"But eventually the weight of pride causes people to crack and break. The reality is that God alone is worthy of all praise."
"Living for God is about grace and forgiveness, but it's also about boldly standing for the truth. Having God's Word in our heart doesn't always result in warm, pleasant feelings. Sometimes His truth becomes a blazing fire that causes us to challenge corruption - even though we may be attacked for it."
"The presence of God gave him [David] the confidence to pass through difficult places without fear of being deserted by Him."
"Many claim to have hope, but only those whose hope is Christ can claim it with certainty... He alone has the right to promise hope and the power to keep the promise."
Julie Ackerman Link was one of my favorite authors of "Our Daily Bread" publication, which I read on occasion, in between other studies. I enjoyed her writing so much that I'd even written her a letter to thank her some years ago.
I had been saddened to hear of her death, and also sad that I would no longer be reading her works in "Our Daily Bread." So, I was glad to see this compilation of some of her daily devotions in "Our Daily Bread."
I found this to be a gentle, comforting read, like a cup of hot tea, but the devotions were short enough that I seldom read just one. I like that they aren't mere sentimentality, they aren't trite cliches, and that they aren't taking God's promises out of context, but that they have substance built on the firm strength of the Word of God, including the passage of scripture with the devotion.
As always, most of my favorite quotes are from the Word of God. But, I enjoyed Ms. Link's gentle writings, too, particularly those about her father and her own diagnosis. No pretense or false hope. Genuine hope, real and deep, even if it is simply written.
This is a book I should like to share, because everyone needs hope, but also I should like to keep, and to save to reread during my own future "winter" years, whenever they might be. In that, its re-readability, it has earned its five stars.
Favorite quotes:
"Do I present a postcard view of Christianity?"
"But we can also express our confidence that the Lord is still there by recalling times we've witnessed His grandeur and goodness."
"When we are devoted to God, we want to be with Him even when He's doing something that makes no sense to us."
"It is important to remember that we may be wrong even though life is good."
"Now is not forever."
"Suffering was not part of His original act of creation, but it serves as temporary reminder of what happens in a world where God's order has been broken. It also motivates us to spread the word about God's plan to redeem the world from the suffering caused by sin."
"Too often we interpret His blessing as an indication of our goodness, not His."
"God whispers to us in our pleasures ... but shouts in our pains." - C. S. Lewis
"Spiritual passion is not something to be treated lightly or taken for granted. It will grow cold if we fail to keep it supplied with fuel. ... stocking our fuel supply with hope, patience, steadfast prayer, generosity, hospitality, and humility."
"Inconvenience could be God's way of protecting us from some unseen danger, or it could be an opportunity to demonstrate God's grace and forgiveness. It might be the start of something even better than we had planned. Or it could be a test to see how we respond to adversity."
"Mountains of troubles keep the light of Jesus from getting through. But God strategically places His children to act as reflectors."
"But seeing the buttercups made my temporary discomfort worthwhile."
"That makes me wonder if the reason some people don't have a clear picture of the beauty and glory of God is that they make snap judgments. They come to wrong conclusions about God based on a bad church experience or an encounter with someone who claims to be a Christian but isn't living like one."
"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." - Henry Ward Beecher
"But eventually the weight of pride causes people to crack and break. The reality is that God alone is worthy of all praise."
"Living for God is about grace and forgiveness, but it's also about boldly standing for the truth. Having God's Word in our heart doesn't always result in warm, pleasant feelings. Sometimes His truth becomes a blazing fire that causes us to challenge corruption - even though we may be attacked for it."
"The presence of God gave him [David] the confidence to pass through difficult places without fear of being deserted by Him."
"Many claim to have hope, but only those whose hope is Christ can claim it with certainty... He alone has the right to promise hope and the power to keep the promise."
June 4, 2017
Hope for All Seasons
Encouragement from Our Daily Bread
by Julie Ackerman Link
Discovery House Publishers
You Are Auto-Approved
Discovery House
Christian
Pub Date 03 Apr 2017
I am reviewing Hope For All Seasons through Discovery House Publishers and Netgalley:
Written in the years before her Death Julie Ackerman's Link. Julie talks about her fear of loosing her hair after learning she needed Chemotherapy, and she talks about the gratitude for her doctors but gives the glory to God.
She also reminds us that when we sin that piles on.
In this book we are reminded too that even when we go through difficult times we are not without hope, because we can always find hope when we lean on the Lord.
The author points out too that no one is invisible to God, that he sees us all.
We are reminded too that jumping to conclusions will most likely lead to trouble, so know your facts for making assumptions.
The author points out too that Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
I give Hope For All Seasons five out of five stars.
Happy Reading.
July 7, 2017
A devotional book which gives full scripture and then short personal stories or teachings for each one, this book can be read in sequence or randomly as the reader wishes. Whichever way you choose, this book will help you see that the relationship that God has with each of His children will offer you guidance, support and comfort in your most difficult times. This is a book that I will refer to again and again, and would make a nice gift book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Discovery House Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Discovery House Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 23, 2020
Julie Ackerman Link is one of my favorite Christian authors. In reading Hope for All Seasons, I don't read consecutively, but each day pick a topic that stands out to me. This is not a book I go through once and then I'm finished with it, like a novel. It is a book for life's guidance from the books of the Bible. What I'm not ready for at one point in my life, I might be ready to take in later. Reading through this author's personal experiences, helps me with my own. This book and author have given me much encouragement in my life. I thank God that I decided to get it.
June 25, 2020
The title of this book sums it up well.....hope and seasons....not just seasons as we know them connected to climate and light but also the seasons of life we go through. I would recommend reading this book as you need it, choosing the sections which apply to you at this time. A good book to have on the shelf and share with others as needed.
July 24, 2017
This devotional quotes Scripture and then has short stories after each Scripture making it an easy read yet full of encouragement for each day. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
February 13, 2018
This was a lovely devotional, with the theme of hope in every offering. Ms. Link made use of extended scriptural passages, both from the Old Testament and the New, which I find more enjoyable than devotions that focus on a single verse. They were originally written for Our Daily Bread, but have now been collected in this volume as a spiritual legacy to Ms. Link, who went to be with the Lord in 2015.
The book is divided into parts that deal with hope and time, life events, the seasons and life's difficult challenges. As someone who loves the changing seasons, I especially enjoyed the devotions that tied seasonal change with reasons to hope.
For example, in the devotion entitled From Bleak to Hope, Mrs. Link references Job 42:10-17. She compares the coming of spring, and the transformation of what had seemed dead, but is now springing to life--to the second half of Job's life.
"With God, there is hope, even in the most hopeless situation," she concludes.
This book was given to me free by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is divided into parts that deal with hope and time, life events, the seasons and life's difficult challenges. As someone who loves the changing seasons, I especially enjoyed the devotions that tied seasonal change with reasons to hope.
For example, in the devotion entitled From Bleak to Hope, Mrs. Link references Job 42:10-17. She compares the coming of spring, and the transformation of what had seemed dead, but is now springing to life--to the second half of Job's life.
"With God, there is hope, even in the most hopeless situation," she concludes.
This book was given to me free by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews