Sarah Mayes > Recent Status Updates

So far so good! Me and Haidyn love the discussion questions

“Jesus is born. In an act of unfathomable love, Deity becomes dust, the Maker becomes the maligned, the Creator becomes the cursed. God comes in Christ to restore the relationship we rejected in the garden. We learn that the greatest gift God gives for us is himself”

I have been so excited to read this for a while and less than 30 pages in— it is GREAT! Reminds me of this verse 🫶 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

My dear friend lent me this book written by a woman at her church- so far it has been amazing! A biography set in my very own city filled with real, dark stories but also shining with light of how God can do ANYTHING! Bummed that I can’t just pull an all-nighter and read it straight through!

Just started and after letter #1 out of 9 I have the feeling this is going to be a really sweet book!

Slow start, very real and kind of intense up front- you have to be READY to go through this book. Makes you face some uncomfy realities early on. Probably for the best.

😭“When you come to one of the many moments in life where you must give an account of yourself, provide a ledger of what you have been, and done, and meant to the world, do not, I pray, discount that you filled a dying man’s days with a sated joy, a joy unknown to me in all my prior years, a joy that does not hunger for more and more, but rests, satisfied. In this time, right now, that is an enormous thing.”

Love this section about how heavy but beautiful the work of medicine is. It truly is bearing one another’s burdens.

P. 44 stopped me in my tracks. Paul starts med school (my approaching reality). “Cadaver dissection epitomizes, for many, the transformation of the somber respectful student into the callous, arrogant doctor.” He has examples that make my stomach drop. I’ve always hated that folks tasked to meet people w sensitivity & compassion must first butcher someone of similar likeness. Paul puts the paradox into words.

Started reading this before Christmas with book club but want to read it together in cohesion, taking the time it should have. So good so far! I can tell that John Piper’s book I just read is inspired by these very same things.

“We make friends and then walk them in a Christward direction”
Love how this shows the simple beauty of discipling- it’s something organic and genuine, intentional but not forced.

😭🫶 So encouraging to read that while we are discipling others, Christ is glorified in our strengths and weaknesses. Fav quote from this section comes from p. 47 about the objection that you can’t disciple because of imperfection. “Share what you do know… the gospel! … initiating spiritual conversation by asking questions, sharing what you’re learning, and praying for them.” We’re all able!

Restarting this book! Had started it back in November but I wanted to read it all through together. So far, so good!

So so good. There is so many beautiful things to be seen about God in the way the gospel is talked about in this book. Lots of recap (which can make it just a little repetitive but still helpful!) Almost done!