Extra excerpts by Larry Crabb
from 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God that Invites You into His Story
I make no promise to protect you from suffering in this world.
I do promise the power to believe in My goodness when bad things happen, the power to hope with confidence that a good plan is unfolding when nothing visible supports that hope, and the power to reveal the goodness of My love no matter how distraught or empty you feel, even to those who contribute to your distress and emptiness.
That is the abundance I promise until you arrive at My party.
~ Love Letter 24, Jeremiah: THERE IS WATER IN THE WELL*
What most needs changing is not your circumstances. Blessings in the short term are dangerous to your long-term joy.
If I used My power to make your life work in ways that you found easily and quickly satisfying, you would become even less aware than you already are of what I designed you to enjoy and more stubborn in your pursuit of everything else.
~ Intro to Part 5, Hero Takes Center Stage: MATTHEW THROUGH JOHN*
They thought I should send the Messiah to bless them. John knew the Messiah would come to change them, to restore their souls before I restored their blessings.
~ Love Letter 40, Matthew: JESUS TAKES OVER*
Don’t look at your inability. Look at My Son’s ability.
~ Love Letter 43, John: HEAVEN’S REALITY HAS MOVED INTO YOURS*
You’ve convinced me that You’ve not promised to protect me in this life from things that scare the daylights out of me or to provide me with what I think I need to trust You.
But what You have promised is to change me, to make me enough like Your Son that I’ll be able to love You and love others no matter what goes on in me or in my life, no matter what I struggle with or how many bad things happen to me.
~ Love Letter 46, 1 Corinthians: I NEVER GIVE UP ON MY PEOPLE; MY PLAN WILL SUCCEED*
My Spirit is the love that My Son and I have for each other and for the world.
To live by My Spirit means to love others no matter how painfully you’re hurting or how badly you fail. Focus more on loving others than resisting temptation.
~ Love Letter 48, Galatians: DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND FREEDOM; YOUR FRUITFULNESS DEPENDS ON IT!
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2 comments:
Goodness, Lisa... every one of those statements is incredibly thought-provoking and convicting... and potentially life-changing if I could just take them to heart and live them. I need to read this book!
Praying for you...
Kay,
It's kind of funny; when I finished reading the book, I thought, "This was pretty good." But then when I looked back at the excerpts I copied, I realized it was VERY good.
Thanks for the prayers. Always needed and appreciated.
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