Dora > Dora's Quotes

“We should not expect to have all the blessings of life and none of its trials. It would make this world too delightful a dwelling place, and I fear we would never care to leave it.”
― Tamera Alexander, A Lasting Impression

“I learned long ago, Livvy, that a wife must love her husband's dreams as much as she loves him. Because the two are inseparable. If a wife can't embrace the desires of her husband's heart, he will never become the man he could have been, if only she had.”
― Tamera Alexander, To Whisper Her Name

“I have pondered how much is provided for us by God's goodness. So many sources of enjoyment, and how thankful we should be. And even if afflictions come...we should know that they are of the hand of God.' She sighed, the semblance of a smile gracing the edges of her mouth. 'We should not expect to have all the blessings of life and none of its trials. it would make this world too delightful a dwelling place, and I fear we would never care to leave it.' Her eyes slipped closed. 'As it is...I have come to believe that it's only by taking some of those objects from us to which our hearts so closely cling that He endeavors...in His kindness, to draw us from this world to one of greater happiness.”
― Tamera Alexander, A Lasting Impression

“Hardships are the Lord's greatest blessings to the believer. Without them we would love the Lord only for what He does for us. Our troubles teach us to love Him for who He is." Sister Norton in "The Preacher's Bride”
― Jody Hedlund

“I have searched far and wide... he whispered, and have finally found the one my heart desires.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Daring Sacrifice

“Just because the whole world changes its opinion about something doesn't mean God changes his.”
― Jody Hedlund, Newton and Polly: A Novel of Amazing Grace

“Would not the world be a better place if a man simply lived in humility and loved his brother or sister as himself, regardless of one’s birth?”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Moreover, Jesus showed love to the lowest, poorest, sickest people. As His followers, He calls us to do the same.”
― Jody Hedlund, The Preacher's Bride

“Sometimes we have to take risks, even put our lives in jeopardy to do what's right.”
― Jody Hedlund, An Uncertain Choice

“Besides, every woman appreciates when a man takes the time and effort to demonstrate his love, not for what he can get out of it but for what he can give.”
― Jody Hedlund, Evermore

“God wanted him to go to Him with his deepest needs, to stop looking elsewhere, so that he could be made whole again.”
― Jody Hedlund, Hearts Made Whole

“Kindness can form the bridge that helps a person cross from pain to peace.”
― Jody Hedlund, Beholden

“There are actually some men in the world who care more about a women's character than her physical appearance.”
― Jody Hedlund, For Love and Honor

“Maybe we should stop looking at why God doesn’t answer every prayer the way we think He should. But instead we should count it a blessing that He hears our prayers at all.”
― Jody Hedlund, Love Unexpected

“Happiness is something that comes from our own hearts, not from other people.”
― Lynn Austin, While We're Far Apart:

“Love is the spice of life!" Aunt Lydia picked up her glass and took a long drink before setting it down again. "Did it end in heartache, dear?" "Well, yes...but it was the good kind of heart ache, Aunt Lydia. The kind where you'll always think fondly of each other, even though you know your love could never be." My aunt squealed with delight. "Ooh, I just love stories that end that way! Those happy, sappy endings in romance novels aren't realistic at all. But if you can gaze up at the stars at night and think fondly of your lost love, then it's worth falling in love and losing him." "You're absolutely right.”
― Lynn Austin, Wonderland Creek

“[God] wants us to work with Him, honey. Not for Him.”
― Lynn Austin, Wonderland Creek

“You pray. And you allow the Lord to be your strength. Remember the Lord doesn't give you strength. He is your strength.”
― Lynn Austin, Song of Redemption

“People are always thinking they can use the Lord to get their own way-- all they have to do is pray and God's gonna take away all their suffering and give them what they whatever they ask for. But it don't work that way. God's doing His business, and it's up to us to be serving Him, not the other way around."

Then why do people pray at all? My papa asked Jesus to help him escape with me when I was just a little girl. But Jesus didn't help us."

Praying ain't about asking for your own way. It's all about talking things over with God, just like you and me are talking things over. In the end, you have to be trusting the Lord to do what's best."

So the Lord thought it was best that my papa died and my mama was sold?"

Delia slowly shook her head. "I don't know, honey, I just don't know. The hardest thing of all to understand is why a loving God keeps letting us suffer... I don't know all the answers myself. I seen my share of suffering, believe me. But there two things I do know for sure. One is that God loves us... And the second thing is that God's always in control of everything that happens. When bad things come our way and it starts looking like He don't love us, all I can say is that maybe we ain't knowing everything He knows."

Kitty's tears started falling again. "I still don't understand."

Remember what you told me about the fighting up in Charleston? How you was standing on that porch, not able to see what's going on? This here's the same thing. We're standing in the smoke, hearing the noise [of the battle] all around us, and we don't know what God's doing because we can't see things clearly as He sees them. But He's gonna make everything turn our okay when the smoke clears. When it does, God's gonna be the winner and all our suffering here on earth is gonna finall make sense. We're gonna look in Jesus' face and say, 'O Lord, it was worth it all.”
― Lynn Austin, A Light to My Path

“Smooth seas don't produce skillful sailors.' It's the rought waters that train us to e His disciples. He uses the turbulent times I our lives to prepare us for His purposes-if we'll let Him.”
― Lynn Austin (Author)

“Love God and He will enable you to love others even when they disappoint you.”
― Francine Rivers, And the Shofar Blew

“We bear the consequences for what we have done to ourselves, and for the sin that rules this world. Jesus forgave the thief, but he didn't take him down off the cross.”
― Francine Rivers, A Voice in the Wind

“Stand firm in the Lord. Stand firm and let Him fight your battle. Do not try to fight alone.”
― Francine Rivers, A Voice in the Wind

“my love isn't a weapon, it's a lifeline, reach out and take hold, and don't let go!”
― Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love

“True beauty is rare, and seldom recognized by the one who possesses it.”
― Francine Rivers, A Voice in the Wind

“Beloved, surrender wholeheartedly to Jesus Christ, who loves you. As you drink from the deep well of Scripture, the Lord will refresh you and cleanse you, mold you and re-create you through His Living Word. For the Bible is the very breath of God, giving life eternal to those who seek Him.”
― Francine Rivers

“Never doubt God in the darkness what he has given us in the light.”
― Francine Rivers, A Voice in the Wind

“I promise to love and cherish you, to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth,in the bad that may darken our days, in the good that may light our way. Tirzah, beloved, I promise to be true to you in all things until I die. And even beyond that, God willing”
― Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love

“Everyone wanted to be the best. Best student. Best servant. Best Christian. They got caught up in it, pressing and pushing until they forgot whom it was they were trying to please.”
― Francine Rivers, The Atonement Child

“I'm only a tool, beloved. Not your Savior”
― Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love