Category: christian non-fiction books

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Quotes from Psalm 23: The Song of a Passionate Heart

Here is a poem that David Roper shared.

“Isn’t it odd

That a being like God

Who sees the facade

Still loves the clod

He made out of sod?

Now isn’t that odd?   Unknown writer

I have never understood why God loves someone like me. I try hard to do what is right but I get frustrated and say something that might hurt the other person’s feelings. I told my co-worker to select her next video to listen to and stop using her phone. She replied, “Why?” She caught me by surprise because our employer is starting a ban on phones on the floor next week. This week was a grace period. So, I am required to remind them. I replied,”That’s a stupid question.” I added “You are not stupid. I know that you are a smart person. The question was stupid only.” I think there was a better way to handle her response. But, she puzzles me with her odd responses sometimes.

“Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and him alone. If we really believe not only that God exists, but that he is actively present in our lives-healing, teaching, and guiding-we need to set aside a time and space to give him our undivided attention.” Henri Nouwen

I need to do this. I read a daily devotional as part of my breakfast but I usually have a YouTube video playing in the background.

“God lets us fall not to shame us, but to assure us that though we are guilty, vile, and helpless we are deeply loved by God. God’s love in the face of our wickedness is what awakens us to humility and contrition.” (Pg. 84)

Here is my favorite quote from this book. “As we draw closer to Him-walking with Him, talking to Him, listening to His words,relying on Him, asking for His help-His character begins to rub off on us. Quietly and unobtrusively His influence softens our wills, making us thirsty for righteousness, inclining us to do His pleasure, restraining our passions, keeping us from evil, making us ashamed of evil, giving us the courage to choose what is good. In His quiet love He takes all that’s unworthy in us and gradually turns it into something worthwhile for Him.” (Pgs 94-95)

Dear God, please do this for me. I want to grow closer to you like a plant leans towards the sun. Yet, I fail to spend time with you. Sure, I pray to you while I drive to work and read a devotional during breakfast. But, I usually have a YouTube video playing while I try to comprehend what I am reading. Sometimes, it makes me think. Other times, I forget it all before I finish breakfast. Please forgive my failings and use the moments when I manage to stumble in the right direction. Amen.

I found this book at my church. A fellow church member died and someone brought some of her books for us to take if we wanted. I wrote,”gifted in memory of Sharon Ann Wood(3/4/1943-7/5/2026)” and put it into a little free library near a local church. I hope the book blesses others.

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Come closer quotes

I have some quotes from Come Closer by Jane Rubietta.

“This healing required attending support groups every week for years, studying and living in the connection between soul growth and emotional health, and choosing day after day to do the hard work of trusting, talking, feeling. It meant tending to the wounds as they occurred rather than allowing them to fester, and always, always, it meant putting my relationship with Christ first. ” Pg. 64

I have attended support groups and learned how to work through my hurts and pains. I believe that God uses the people in our lives to heal and nurture us.

“Part of catching up is figuring out how our paralysis benefits us. For instance, if you were paralyzed at emotional adolescence, and now when you blow up in anger, you get your way or get attention or get left alone, how does this get you what you really want? How can you discern your real and legitimate needs and longings, and get them met in adult-appropriate, Christlike ways?” Pg.67

“How will you cooperate with the healing Christ comes to bring you? Will it be exercising forgiveness? Visiting a doctor? Accountability with addictions? A support group or counseling or mentoring or a wise listening partner?

It’s never too late to become whole, never too late to receive the healing Jesus lives to offer. ‘I will come and heal you,’ Jesus says to us, as he said to the centurion about the servant.” Pg.72

“Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God uses failed, flawed, fallen people to effect change in this world. Never lose the wonder of being just that type of woman-a woman who has failed and been forgiven, though flawed is being repaired, though fallen and has been picked up, who knows that God is impacting others through her ordinary days.” Pg. 120

She also has some great poetry that I am not listing here.

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Quotes from Blow Away the Black Clouds

Florence Littauer lost two children and became depressed. She overcame and wrote a book in order to help Other Christians to do the same. 

Here are some quotes describing how she experienced depression. 

“As I sat holding one dying child after another, I lost interest in everything. I once was a gourmet cook, but now I didn’t care if I even ate. I was once a club president, but now I didn’t care if the bylaws ever got straightened out. I had once been a social butterfly, but now I lost all interest in afternoon teas. These former activities went from important to inconsequence. As I tried to suppress my grief, I lost my smile.” (Pg. 22)

I remember walking to the bus stop on a sunny day with the sound of birds chirping and telling myself to enjoy the walk. But, I just couldn’t enjoy anything.

“I got so I would cry if I heard someone laugh. I disliked anyone whose life seemed to be running smoothly. It was not fair that anyone should be happy when I was sad and hopeless ” (pg. 25)

This quote reminds me of how I worked hard to make my sister miserable. I believed that I couldn’t be happy and decided to make my sister feel as miserable as I felt. I guess I wanted company in my personal hell.

The author encouraged the reader to look for his/her strong ability. She lists off some ideas that might be true for that reader. The individual could find one small goal to work on which might decrease the person’s feelings of helplessness. On the issue of housework, she recommended having every member of the family help out. She goes on to talk about organizing the house, working on self-improvement goals and helping others. After this chapter, she writes:

“If you are so distraught that getting organized and raising your self-image are beyond you, perhaps you should seek outside help.”  pg. 90)

I appreciate it when a Christian self-help book is open to seeking help from a person’s doctor, a therapist or some other medical intervention.

Many of us Christians experience doubts in our faith when ever we face hard times and depression. The author describes her experience of losing her faith for a time.

“As an adult I regularly attended church and considered myself a Christian, mainly because I wasn’t anything else, yet when I was faced with the tragedy of two brain-damaged sons, being able to recite the books of the Bible didn’t provide much consolation. I prayed for healing for my sons, but knew it was hopeless. Soonwhatevere faith I had disappeared and I decided there couldn’t be a God if a good person like me was in such a situation.” (pg. 97)

God loves you so much that He will forgive you for doubting your faith. He knows how much we humans struggle with believing in and trusting in a loving God. Doubt doesn’t mean that your faith is weak. It is part of a relationship wth God.

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Max Lucato quotes

Max Lucado was born in Texas on January 11, 1955. His roots lay in the dusty, hardworking world of oil fields, where his father toiled and his mother served as a nurse.


At Abilene Christian University, Lucado embraced both faith and communication, graduating with a Mass Communication degree. While selling books door-to-door, he discovered a knack for storytelling that resonated with hearts beyond sales pitches.


In 1978, a small-town pastorate ignited Lucado’s ministry. Soon, his sermons, laced with homespun humor and poetic storytelling, were finding their way onto the page.


Over the next four decades, Lucado penned nearly 100 books, weaving tales of grace, hope, and faith that have sold over 145 million copies. His words, translated into over 50 languages, have comforted the anxious, empowered the discouraged, and reminded millions of God’s unwavering love.


Beyond the page, Lucado’s ministry extends to Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he serves as teaching pastor. He travels the world, speaking to audiences eager for his warm humor and insightful messages. And, through UpWords, his non-profit ministry, he encourages others to take “one step closer to Jesus.”

Google’s Bard (AI) wrote this biography that I have above this sentence. Then, I edited some of it. It appears to be a summary of his biography on his own website. I didn’t count how many books that the site listed but it is a lot. So, he might have written “nearly 100 books.”

God sees with the eyes of a Father. He sees our defects, errors, and blemishes. But, he also sees our value. In the Eyes of the Storm

While I saw God as a father searching for all my faults with the intention of punishing me for every last one, I can understand that some see a father figure in a much more loving way. I love that God sees all my faults and blemishes but loves me anyway. I believe that this is how God wants us to see ourselves. If we see only our good traits, our view of ourselves is wrong. Good self-esteem is having a clear understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses but loving oneself anyway. There is a Bible verse

Paul is clear. The supreme Force is God’s grace. Not our works. Not our talents. Not our feelings. Not our strength. In the Eye of the Storm

“How does God deal with your bitter heart? He reminds you that what you have is more important than what you don’t have. You still have your relationship with God. No one can take that. No one can touch it. Your health can be taken and your money stolen-but your place at God’s table is permanent.” He Still Moves Stones

“We can’t control the way our family responds to us. When it comes to the behavior of others toward us, our hands are tied. We have to move beyond the naive expectation that if we do good, people will treat us right. The fact is they may and they may not-we cannot control how people respond to us.” He Still Moves Stones

I used to blame myself for my step-father getting mad at me. I believed that I had to be a good child in order to prevent him from yelling at me or something else. I think it was an Al-Anon book that got this message into my brain.

“Wouldn’t you love to look back on your life and know you had done what you were called to do?” In the Footsteps of the Savior

I have wanted this all my life. I think this blog is part of that call on my life.

“As long as you think you can control people’s behavior toward you, you are held in bondage by their opinions. If you think you can control their opinion and their opinion isn’t positive, then guess whom you have to blame? Yourself.” In the Footsteps of the Savior.

I have a huge collection of Max Lucado books. So, I will be adding more quotes here.

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Live On Purpose by Sadie Robertson Huff

I just finished reading this devotional book. Here are some quotes and my thoughts.

“Lord Jesus, show me Your love in the midst of my biggest fears, and give me the courage to risk doing what I am afraid of. Amen”

Guess what I have never done. I have never asked for a pay raise. I hate asking anyone for anything because I fear being rejected. I especially avoid asking an authority figure for things.

“On any given day, you may be super stressed and really want to take a break from everything. But please know that you’re worth a lot more than your feelings will tell you. One day – no matter how rough it is – does not define your life. Your purpose and calling give you an important place in the world. Do not give up. Hold tight to God. There is so much more joy to come and so many people counting on you to keep going. (Pg. 115)

My brain loves to lie to me in this way. I think cognitive behavioral therapy calls this catastrophizing. One or two things go wrong such as a fight with a family member. Then, I start thinking that I can’t get along with anyone. The memories of a lifetime of arguments swirl in my head. Yet, it is impossible for me or anyone to argue all the time. While I sometimes argue in my dreams and wake up angry, I know that I rarely argue at work.

“There are hundreds of comments saying that I sound annoying when I talk. Do these things hurt me? Sure. Because I’m human, and sometimes the comments sting. But I don’t let those little stings stop me from doing what I love to do and from using my voice in the spaces where God opens doors for me to speak. (Pg. 117)”

“Lord, knowing that everybody fails doesn’t make it any easier. So I pray that You would give me the courage to keep doing what You want me to do – even if it means getting roasted. I pray Your voice would be louder than the hate. Amen. (Pg. 117)”

I fear confrontation and worry about what others will think of me. Will they think I am too stupid to do my job? I sometimes think this when I get corrected on how to do something two or three times in an hour. The knowledge that I am learning a new job helps to reduce the thought’s volume and impact until the next correction. I have been at the new job for over two months and have already cried twice. I discovered that I am sensitive about my hand writing. Yet, it is readable.

“The Lord wants to help us strengthen our faith. He understands it’s hard to believe sometimes. So if you’re struggling with faith, I encourage you to ask God to give you the faith to believe. You can also pray that He will give you the strength that you need or that He’ll help you believe that you are loved and that you are enough. Or maybe it goes deeper and you need to ask Him for the faith to believe that your life matters and your breath has purpose. That’s not too far out to ask God for. That’s not too crazy to pray for. It’s exactly what God wants you to do. (Pg. 161)

This quote reminds me of when I was deep in a depression episode. I was praying for strength to get through the work day every morning. By the end of the day, my rational thinking part of my brain was too tired to keep up the fight against the negative thinking side of my brain. It is amazing how much work it is to fight your own brain. I’d just stare at walls or cry due to insufficient mental energy to keep up the fight. Thanks to therapy, medication and God, this time ended. I hope I don’t experience another episode.

“Lord, give me the courage to not let feeling awkward or foolish keep me from using the gifts You have given me. I humble myself to exalt Your name. Amen. (Pg. 199)

God, give me strength and wisdom to serve you and my fellow man through this blog. Amen

I believe that God gave me the gifts of compassion and writing.