I have long admired and loved the book "Stepping Heavenward" by Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss. The book is a diary of a girl named Katherine and it follows her life and the various trials and tribulations that she has to go through. It starts when she is about 16 and a very rebellious child. It ends with her on her deathbed many years later, a women completely transformed because of Christ's mercy and salvation. Her journey is so sweet and so encouraging for a sinful person. She has the worst times and the best times, she has many tragedies that she goes through, and after she is saved she responds to these adversities and joys in God-glorifying ways. What is best, though, is that she is never perfect. She is continually sanctified into another "level" of Christlikeness, but never perfect. When I read it I am so encouraged and reminded that I am not made to go it on my own, or to try and figure out my sin. I can fully rely on God no matter what. I definately recommend this book for anyone who is struggling in any part of their walk with Christ. And, for the record, I'm primarily speaking to girls. I'm not sure that guys would appreciate it in the same way because they might find it a stretch to identify with an emotional girl/woman. I'm sure there are guy-friendly alternatives.
Here is Elizabeth's Hymn. It is one of my favorites:
MORE LOVE TO THEE
| More love to Thee, O Lord, More love to Thee! Hear Thou the prayer I make On bended knee; This is my earnest plea: More love, O Lord, to Thee, More love to Thee, More love to Thee! | ||
| Once earthly joy I craved, Sought peace and rest; Now Thee alone I seek, Give what is best; This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Lord, to Thee, More love to Thee, More love to Thee! | ||
| Let sorrow do its work, Send grief and pain; Sweet are Thy messengers, Sweet their refrain, When they can sing with me, More love, O Lord, to Thee, More love to Thee, More love to Thee! | ||
| Then shall my latest breath Whisper Thy praise; This be the parting cry My heart shall raise; This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Lord, to Thee, More love to Thee, More love to Thee! |
2 comments:
Cool... I've never read that book. Can I borrow it? :-)
What other books do you recommend..
Especially fiction.. I need to expand my scope. Remember.. I was an engineer.. so reading was a task that was done to figure out the problem..
I'm really just catching up to normal people now.. :-D
Well, if you haven't read Pride and Prejudice, I would definitely say that you should start there! However, if that's not quite what you wanted, there are a lot of books that I would recommend. Quo Vadis? is an excellent fictional book about Nero's reign a few years after Jesus had been crucified and then risen again. Some of the characters include the apostles Paul and Peter. It is a sweet love and adventure story but it is also a poignant picture of the Christian persecution that went on during that time. Maybe I can do some periodical book reviews : - )...do you have any suggestions for me to read??
Um, I need to find my copy of Stepping Heavenward. Embarrasingly enough, I've been too busy to even attempt to keep my room clean, which is probably a really bad idea in the long run. Not to mention that I will always be busy. Hopefully I can find it soon, maybe I can give it to you sometime before April break.
Post a Comment