Sign in with Facebook
192 books
—
306 voters
to-read
(3202)
currently-reading (10)
read (1275)
did-not-finish (0)
favorite-authors (52)
mystery (48)
christmas (44)
romance (34)
favorites (28)
history (24)
suspense (22)
bio-autobio (19)
currently-reading (10)
read (1275)
did-not-finish (0)
favorite-authors (52)
mystery (48)
christmas (44)
romance (34)
favorites (28)
history (24)
suspense (22)
bio-autobio (19)
great-historical-fiction
(17)
world-war2-fiction (15)
classic (14)
theology-god (14)
rmwhite (13)
children-s-novels (12)
general-fiction (10)
historical-fiction (10)
mh-clark (10)
good-counsel (9)
a-christie (7)
bible-fiction (6)
world-war2-fiction (15)
classic (14)
theology-god (14)
rmwhite (13)
children-s-novels (12)
general-fiction (10)
historical-fiction (10)
mh-clark (10)
good-counsel (9)
a-christie (7)
bible-fiction (6)
“We are human,” Paul said, speaking softly. “Grace, mercy, unconditional love—these do not come naturally given our sinful state. Only through Christ’s work in us can we exhibit such virtues.” He smiled. “You know this prefect better than I
...more
“It is the most counterintuitive aspect of Christianity, that we are declared right with God not once we begin to get our act together but once we collapse into honest acknowledgment that we never will.”
― Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
― Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. —C. S. Lewis It”
― The Christmas Shoes
― The Christmas Shoes
“The words do matter, but they matter because they constitute a message. The message is paramount. That’s why the Bible can be translated. If the inspiration were tied to words themselves as opposed to their message, then we could never translate the Bible, and if we could never translate it, how could it be a book for all people?”
― Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity
― Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity
“Pastor Jon was silent for a couple of minutes. Then he stood and walked closer to The Last Supper. He pointed to Jesus. " Think about what happened after this moment. "
What do you mean?
Well, Jesus is God, right? He knew before he ever created the earth that the plan would be for him to go to the cross not long after this scene, the Last Supper in the upper room, right?
I nodded. Yes, but I still---
Okay he knew what the plan was, what God's decision was, but did he go straight from the supper to the cross?
I thought through the story, No, he went to the garden to pray.
And what did he pray?
That's when he said, Let this cup pass from me and Thy will be done.
Exactly, Jesus who is God and who already knew the plan, still prayed that it could be different. He still asked God to change it, to spare him, even though he knew the answer before he said the prayer.
The reason Jesus stopped in the garden to pray, to ask for a different outcome, even though he knew the answer already, was because the purpose of prayer isn't to bend God's will to ours. The purpose of prayer is to bend us to God's will.”
― Called Out: A Brain Surgeon Goes to War
What do you mean?
Well, Jesus is God, right? He knew before he ever created the earth that the plan would be for him to go to the cross not long after this scene, the Last Supper in the upper room, right?
I nodded. Yes, but I still---
Okay he knew what the plan was, what God's decision was, but did he go straight from the supper to the cross?
I thought through the story, No, he went to the garden to pray.
And what did he pray?
That's when he said, Let this cup pass from me and Thy will be done.
Exactly, Jesus who is God and who already knew the plan, still prayed that it could be different. He still asked God to change it, to spare him, even though he knew the answer before he said the prayer.
The reason Jesus stopped in the garden to pray, to ask for a different outcome, even though he knew the answer already, was because the purpose of prayer isn't to bend God's will to ours. The purpose of prayer is to bend us to God's will.”
― Called Out: A Brain Surgeon Goes to War
“You don’t need to unburden or collect yourself and then come to Jesus. Your very burden is what qualifies you to come. No payment is required; he says, “I will give you rest.” His rest is gift, not transaction. Whether you are actively working hard to crowbar your life into smoothness (“labor”) or passively finding yourself weighed down by something outside your control (“heavy laden”), Jesus Christ’s desire that you find rest, that you come in out of the storm, outstrips even your own.”
― Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
― Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
Melanie’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Melanie’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
1 book
|
497 friends
1,519 books
|
21 friends
7,950 books
|
42 friends
261 books
|
13 friends
1,105 books
|
51 friends
556 books
|
151 friends
37 books
|
24 friends
38 books
|
150 friends
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Melanie
Lists liked by Melanie
