Book Quotes

I've read a couple of shorter books lately that really had some refreshing thoughts that caught my attention. I thought I'd share a few of these with you here. This is what I've been thinking and chewing on as of late.......

From the book Out Of Solitude by Henri Nouwen

"Every human being has a great, yet often unknown, gift to care, to be compassionate, to become present to the other, to listen, to hear and to receive. If that gift would be set free and made available, miracles could take place." -pg. 40

"A man or a woman without hope in the future cannot live creatively in the present." -pg.59

From the book Believing Prayer by Andrew Murray

"We naturally seek God's gifts, but God wants to give us himself first." -pg.18

"Let me see you as the fountain of life, working with your mighty strength to accomplish your will in the world and in me. Let me see your love that is longing to meet and fulfill all my desires. Let your love so take possession of my heart and life that through faith I will know you dwelling in me." -pg.19

"In nothing is man more closely connected with the world of sense than in his need for food and his enjoyment of it." -pg.26

"...fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything-even ourselves-to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God." -pgs.27-28

"Ordinary Christians imagine that all that is not positively forbidden and sinful is lawful to them, and they seek to retain as much as possible of this world, with its goods, entertainment, and creature comforts. But the truly consecrated soul is a soldier who carries only what he needs for warfare. Laying aside every weight, as well as the sin that comes easily to him, afraid of entangling himself with the affairs of this life, he seeks to lead a life of one who is specially set apart for the Lord and His service. Without such voluntary separation, even from what is lawful, no one will attain real power in prayer." -pg.28

"Is the prize not worth the price?" -pg.29

"Just as a tree's root is hidden in the ground and its stem and leaf grow toward the sunlight, so prayer needs for its full development the secrecy in which the soul meets God alone as well as the public fellowship with those who in the name of Jesus find a common meeting place." -pg.42

"Leran to give God time: time in your daily fellowship with Him, time to exercise the influence of His presence; time to prove its reality. He will lead us from faith to vision; we shall see the glory of God." -pg.54

Out of all of these, what really struck a chord with me the most was "Is the prize not worth the price?". So often I get caught up in the moment, especially when struggles, trials, etc come into play. Running has been on my mind so much lately that my mind immediately went to drawing conclusions regarding this phrase as it pertains to running. But, as I let the phrase linger in my mind, God began to open my eyes to more important things, and how this applies to them. I think I'll keep this phrase around for a little while and see what God wants to do with it in my life.