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annalisenak97's review
5.0
This book was so caring and gentle and helped to steer my mind and my heart in the direction of truth. It offers a lot of practical advice and wisdom, and I'll definitely be coming back to this one often.
bickleyhouse's review
5.0
This is one of those books that I wish I had read years ago.
On the other hand, maybe right now was the perfect time for me to read it.
Here's a man who liberally quotes G.K. Chesterton, and was friends with Rich Mullins, the latter of which I only discovered about a week before reading the book.
Another thing in this book's favor is that it is a "Renovaré" resource, with a forward by Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline.
The book is divided into three major sections: Knowing God's Acceptance, Receiving God's Forgiveness, and Experiencing God's Care. Within each section, there are three smaller sections, the first of which deals with my direct relationship to God (i.e. God's acceptance/forgiveness/care for me), the second of which deals with my relationship to myself (i.e. accepting myself/forgiving myself/caring for myself), and the third of which deals with my relationship to others (i.e. my acceptance of others/my forgiveness of others/my care for others).
The book is written in an easy-to-read style, and the ideas presented are done so in such a way as to be relatively simple to understand. Yet the truths are life-altering, if embraced.
God loves us. God has accepted us. God has forgiven us. And God cares for us. Because of these three truths, then we should be able to accept ourselves, forgive ourselves, and care for ourselves. This, in turn, allows us to accept, forgive, and care for others.
Bryan opines that, while loving is not necessarily difficult, "Knowing we are loved is." And this is so true. Accepting the fact that we are loved, especially by One whom we may have been raised to believe is always angry with us, is challenging.
Bryan also cites the work of spiritual giants such as St. Paul, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, Evelyn Underhill, Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich, John Wesley, Thomas Merton, and others. One of the key scriptures, cited in the introduction, is found in Ephesians 3:18-19. "And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
I didn't take notes during this reading, and boy, do I regret that. But you can rest assured that this book is a keeper. It will have a permanent place on my shelves, and it will be read again, more intentionally, with note-taking, as well as more meditation.
I embarked on this recent weekend with a goal in mind; to be transformed by the love and presence of God. My wife and I were on one of our "retreats" at a favorite cabin location in Glen Rose, Texas (Paluxy River Bed Cabins, in case you are looking for a place to get away). While I don't claim to be fully and completely transformed after only a few days and one reading of this book, I can claim that there has been drastic change in my spirit.
I have come away from this reading with more of an understanding of the idea that everything that I experience in this life is grace, and that all creation is, as Julian of Norwich said, "enwrapped in love and is part of a world produced not by mechanical necessity but by a passionate desire."
God loves us; God has accepted us; God has forgiven us; and God has cared and does care for us . . . more than we have ever imagined.
On the other hand, maybe right now was the perfect time for me to read it.
Here's a man who liberally quotes G.K. Chesterton, and was friends with Rich Mullins, the latter of which I only discovered about a week before reading the book.
Another thing in this book's favor is that it is a "Renovaré" resource, with a forward by Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline.
The book is divided into three major sections: Knowing God's Acceptance, Receiving God's Forgiveness, and Experiencing God's Care. Within each section, there are three smaller sections, the first of which deals with my direct relationship to God (i.e. God's acceptance/forgiveness/care for me), the second of which deals with my relationship to myself (i.e. accepting myself/forgiving myself/caring for myself), and the third of which deals with my relationship to others (i.e. my acceptance of others/my forgiveness of others/my care for others).
The book is written in an easy-to-read style, and the ideas presented are done so in such a way as to be relatively simple to understand. Yet the truths are life-altering, if embraced.
God loves us. God has accepted us. God has forgiven us. And God cares for us. Because of these three truths, then we should be able to accept ourselves, forgive ourselves, and care for ourselves. This, in turn, allows us to accept, forgive, and care for others.
Bryan opines that, while loving is not necessarily difficult, "Knowing we are loved is." And this is so true. Accepting the fact that we are loved, especially by One whom we may have been raised to believe is always angry with us, is challenging.
Bryan also cites the work of spiritual giants such as St. Paul, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, Evelyn Underhill, Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich, John Wesley, Thomas Merton, and others. One of the key scriptures, cited in the introduction, is found in Ephesians 3:18-19. "And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
I didn't take notes during this reading, and boy, do I regret that. But you can rest assured that this book is a keeper. It will have a permanent place on my shelves, and it will be read again, more intentionally, with note-taking, as well as more meditation.
I embarked on this recent weekend with a goal in mind; to be transformed by the love and presence of God. My wife and I were on one of our "retreats" at a favorite cabin location in Glen Rose, Texas (Paluxy River Bed Cabins, in case you are looking for a place to get away). While I don't claim to be fully and completely transformed after only a few days and one reading of this book, I can claim that there has been drastic change in my spirit.
I have come away from this reading with more of an understanding of the idea that everything that I experience in this life is grace, and that all creation is, as Julian of Norwich said, "enwrapped in love and is part of a world produced not by mechanical necessity but by a passionate desire."
God loves us; God has accepted us; God has forgiven us; and God has cared and does care for us . . . more than we have ever imagined.
kenzer's review
4.0
Had to read for school and take notes so that’s annoying non-voluntary reading no matter how good the book is is just different. But I did like this book. Filled with amazing advice and new ways to view the world and the people in it. Definitely don’t agree with the author on everything but he did an amazing job of explaining what I already believe in simple and eloquent language.
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