Have you read a really good book or books lately? I have...grin. I thought I'd share my ' recent reads' today. I have NEVER laughed so hard as I did with Betsy Byars, and her 'Good-bye Chicken Little'. This book is about a boy who learns to appreciate his zany family, and take life as it comes without so much worrying. I loved it and am now a big fan of Betsy Byars.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." G. Marx....(throwing in some great quotes about reading amongst these ramblings)
Then, there was Charles Spurgeon, 'Prince of Preachers'. I really was blessed by reading this book. It gives such a window into the boyhood of Mr.Spurgeon...I liked that especially. As a child (even), he had such a heart for God. It was if he could have stepped out of the pages of the Word...like Samuel perhaps as a child. He took great delight in reading a copy of 'Pilgrim's Progress' and another containing the story of martyers.( Foxes book of Martyrs is heavy reading for me!, bless his heart)
BUT....this is what I want to share here. "the pews were very old-fashioned. They were lined with green baize and a curtain hung on a brass rod shut the occupants in so that they could see only the minister and could be seen only by him. ...etc...Stables were built along the side of the meeting-house and here worshipers from a distance could shelter their horses and vehicle during the service.
Beside the pulpit next to the stables were large folding doors which could be opened to admit a vehicle into the chapel in case an invalid was unable to alight." Don't you find this bit of information fascinating? It must have been cold in the church...with open folding doors so a person in their buggy could ...well, you know it sounds like a 'drive-in' church! For invalids only though. Can you imagine it? Its hard too imagine a horse and buggy a stone's throw from the pulpit. Even though this book is 'old' what a little treasure chest I found in it.
"O for a Booke and a shdie nooke, eyther in-a-doore or out;
With the grene leaves whisp'ring overhede, or the Streete cryes all about.
Where I maie Reade all at my ease, both of the Newe and Olde;
For a jollie goode Booke whereon to looke is better to me than Golde.
John Wilson."
"Take My Hands' by Dorothy Clarke Wilson is truly a remarkable story of Dr.Mary Verghese. Reading about 'Dr.Mary' was so heart-touching I can't really find the words to tell how precious her life-story is to read. While taking a rare pleasure trip with fellow docters in India, they are in a terrible accident and she is left a paraplegic. She pressed on, by God's grace, to become a rehabilitation specialist and worked especially with lepers.
This book lets us look into the life of a young girl who used to shrink back with fear when the leper would come to their gate, asking for food, to the woman who would take their poor (sometimes fingerless) hands in hers and care for them. She was also a surgeon who pioneered techniques to restore movement to the leper's hands.
"No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books" Elizabeth Barrett Browning
And last of all in my book review, was 'Swan House', the story of the mental illness of an artist and her family. Too heavy, too much content. Although I did read this author's (Elizabeth Musser) 'Searching for Eternity' and really loved that book. I wouldn't recommend 'Swan House' or its sequel 'The Dwelling Place' which I am plowing through now...hit or miss.
"There is a wonder in reading Braille that the sighted will never know" to touch words and have them touch you back." Jim Fiebig
God's Word does exactly that for the believer...he touches our hearts and minds and changes 'whosoever will' Psalms 119:130 says 'the entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.'
"He came unto his own and his own received him not, but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons (&daughters) of God, even to them that believe on his name." If you are wondering what this means please click on 'Are You a Good Person' in my sidebar. Its a wonderful little path to take you to God. Have a beautiful day...=)
