Denise

“Unaware of my prayer a few weeks prior, my entire family watched in thanksgiving that Sunday as I grabbed my girlfriend by the hand and walked from the balcony all the way to the front of the church. My mom had led me to receive Christ when I was a young boy, although I don’t remember. During the months that followed my prayer in the apartment, I wondered whether I had really been saved prior to my recent prayer. And for a time I really believed it was at twenty-one that I first became a Christian, not as a young boy. After all, how could a Christian possibly live the way I had lived for six years? But then I began to understand the character of God. His faithfulness and commitment to His people goes way beyond my comprehension; and I had never stopped believing in Him during my time of rebellion. In fact, I remembered times during my rebellion when I had desperately called out to God, and was overwhelmed at His closeness to me. Had I lost my assurance during my rebellious years? Absolutely! But I never lost my salvation. My salvation had been secured when I prayed as a young boy, not because of my faithfulness, but because of God’s.”
― Ruth Bell Graham, Prodigals and Those Who Love Them: Words of Encouragement for Those Who Wait

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think,”
― Lucy Gilmore, The Lonely Hearts Book Club

“It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.’” Silence”
― Lucy Gilmore, The Lonely Hearts Book Club

“Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is,”
― Lucy Gilmore, The Lonely Hearts Book Club