This past Saturday I received a new free book for review from Tyndale Publishing as part of my Tyndale Blog Network. Guess what? I finished it already, it was that good! The book is "Beautiful On The Mountain" by Jeanne Light, and it warmed my soul.
It's her real-life story of the years she spent as a lay minister in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it really blessed my heart. The stories she shared were captivating, and it's been a long time since I read a book through like that. No TV, no internet, not even any texts, it was that good. But more than just the story and how it make me feel, it also made me re-examine my life. Am I doing all that my Father has called me to do? I pray so, every day.
Here is one of my favorite parts (and there are many)...in the story Jeannie is up on the mountain repairing wire fencing with a friend and was clearing out the underbrush. Which, by the way, is a never ending chore.
"When we arrived, I went to work with my pruning shears, cutting my way through the tangle of vines. When I'd cleared a space, I stepped back to judge where to go next. To my amazement, I saw a stream of clear sap gushing from the raw, freshly cut end of the vine's trunk. The sap had been surging up toward the leaves and tendrils, preparing for the plant's resurrection. I watched in awe until Charles called me back to the task at hand.
Somehow I sensed that God was showing me a real-life parable, thought at the moment I didn't make the connection.....
Until I was willing to let God cut the excess branches from my heart, His life would not be able to flow abundantly through me - for my sake and the good of His Kingdom."
Whether you're a child of God or not, there are lessons in this beautifully woven story about love. Loving yourself, and loving your fellow man.
I heartily recommend this book to everyone, and I mean everyone.
Be blessed,
Debbi
6 comments:
I'll be sure to look for it -- from her bio, this is apparently her first book. Hopefully, she will write more!
I hope so. I really enjoy this style of writing.
This book sounds wonderful! We get so caught up in our technology filled lives that we forget about the simple things in life.
I love it when a book makes you forget the things around you. And it adds a bit extra when books are real life stories. I just started a book about a London street musician befriending a cat. It's a book about second chances, recommended by a friend.
that's very true. I can't remember the last time I turned everything off just to read a book. :0)
you must tell me all about it when you're done. I'm always looking for a good new book.
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