God isn’t like a candy machine. We can’t insert a good deed and receive a blessing. Then we’d be in charge, not him.
Only then did she realize no one was chanting or laughing or staring at her anymore. How strange that she’d dissipated the attention by accepting it and stepping into the limelight for one blissful moment.
Always with one foot in one land, one foot in the other, never belonging in either.
A surge of rightness and determination rushed into his chest. If he showed Mary his interest, told her how he felt, maybe her heart would bend to him. Even if it didn’t, even if he made a complete fool of himself and lost his friendship with her, it was the true thing to do. True to his heart, true to where God seemed to be leading him.
Most of us Texans don’t take kindly to being called Yankees. We prefer to be called rebels.
All he wanted was to show her she was worthy of a long journey, worthy of an apology, worthy of love. She didn’t have to accept any of it, but she needed to know.
She’d assumed God made them to spite her, but Wyatt said it with warmth, as if God made them because He liked freckles, because He specifically liked them on her.
I think God would say he believes in libraries. Think about how the Lord loves words. He spoke the universe into being, and He gave us His word both in written form and living form. Since the Lord knows everything, I reckon that makes Him the ultimate library.
No matter what happened in my life, I could always find one good thing to enjoy – a beautiful word, a sunset, a song.
But the Bible said, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear,” and Mary would rest in that. If she loved Jim – and she was pretty sure she did – then fear had no place. Her fear would only burden him and paralyze her. The Lord loved Jim and would keep him safe, even if safety lay in heaven rather than on earth.
It takes courage for a man to admit his mistakes. It takes courage, humility, and honesty, and I admire those traits.
Not fair how the Army works,” Tom said, but his gaze roamed.
She kissed him back, opening every cavern of her heart for him to explore, to own, to love.
And you did see me.′ She opened the door wide. ‘I’m sorry you didn’t like what you saw.
Cressie got up and dragged over another crate. “Sometimes we do that, love. Sometimes we choose our sacrifices.
Daddy always said keeping secrets was as stupid as keeping gophers. All.
Maybe that was the point of giving after all. He thought he’d given to fill others. He thought giving would allow others to fill him. But he’d had it wrong. Giving laid the holes bare and revealed his insufficiency to fill or be filled. To truly give, he had to lean wholly on God. The Lord alone could use him to help others, and the Lord alone could replenish his empty stores.
You’re a star, you know.′ Peter kissed her cheek. ′ Use those beautiful points of yours to prick people’s consciences, to poke holes in their preconceived notions and their complacency. Then flood them with brilliant light.
But they’re there. They’re always there. Clouds may conceal them, but they’re still there. Even in the darkest night, the stars always shine.
No matter how dark the world became, there would always be some light, some music, some hope.
I’ll explain this simple truth. If I were to ban sinners from this church, the pews would be empty. So would the pulpit.