Book Review: Hinds' Feet on High Places

Another thing I like to do besides writing is reading. So, why not combine the two? I plan to start writing book reviews on some of the books I read (the good ones anyway). My hope is that maybe you might see something that you would like to read. Anyway, here is the first review.

Hinds' Feet on High Places
Hannah Hurnard

First my mom recommended this book to me. Then my neighbors told me it was an excellent book. So, I picked it up a couple weeks ago and slowly made my way through it.

The book is an allegory about the journey to spiritual heights. It's based on the verse at the end of Habakkuk: "The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me walk upon mine high places." The story recounts the journey of a woman named Much-Afraid. Much-Afraid has a desire to go up to the high places where she can be free from her relatives who continually torture her--Pride, Bitterness, Resentment, and Craven Fear to name a few. The problem is Much-Afraid is crippled and cannot make it on her own. So, she goes to the Shepherd for help. The Shepherd agrees and promises to make her feet like hinds' feet so that she may leap across the high places herself and follow Him wherever He goes. But the journey is not an easy one. Much-Afraid has many lessons to learn and a lot of growing to do before she is ready for hinds' feet.

The story is very much a love story between Much-Afraid and the Shepherd--the type of love that each of us has for our King. As Much-Afraid goes through various trials, her love for the Shepherd and her willingness to follow Him wherever grows. The theme of love runs throughout the book, from the beginning when the Shepherd plants the seed of love into Much-Afraid's heart, through the middle where Much-Afraid learns the basics of love, to the end where true Godly love blossoms in Much-Afraid's heart.



Biblical imagery is woven throughout the book and several times quotes from Scripture are integrated seamlessly into the dialogue. The whole time I was reading the story, I couldn't help but think of stories like the Exodus from Egypt, the binding of Isaac, and Psalm 23.

Reading through Much-Afraid's journey, I found several lessons that I could apply to my own life. One example is to accept everything God sends our way with joy--even if He takes us through the furnace of Egypt. Probably the biggest lesson I got from this book, however, is that our Shepherd is leading us to help us grow and become more like Him. No matter what the cost, I must choose to always follow Him. This book has been an encouragement to me as I seek after my God and His ways--I would definitely recommend it to you.

My Library

Inspired by: http://brokenbarsoflight.blogspot.com/2011/08/library.html

Hi! My name is...well, I seem to have forgotten who I am. That page should be around here somewhere. Anyway, welcome to my library. It's a bit of a mess at the moment. That's what happens when you go for years without really caring for it. Like this section over here--this is the school section. The books should be arranged by topic and then alphabetically, but they're just a jumbled up mess right now. I'm not even sure they're all there. And then over there--that's the hall of memories. Wow...anyone who can keep track of all the books in that endless hall is nothing short of amazing. I try to keep the best ones near the front. Over there behind that pile of books, see the door? Yes, there is a door there. Behind it is the room of fiction and dreams. I used to spend hours and hours in there. Now, the shelves are covered with dust and cobwebs. I miss those days. Come this way. I want to show you a very special book. Watch your step. Don't want you tripping over a book or slipping on a loose paper. Ah, here it is. The Book of Friends. It's a kinda collage-scrapbook. Has a few smudges, a tear that needs mending, but this book will always be near to my heart. There's a Bible in here somewhere. You might not be able to tell--it's been marked up so many times. I'm working on cleaning it up so that hopefully I'll find that treasured wisdom said to be hidden within.

I've noticed that a lot of people lock up their library like the closet that all the toys were stuffed into. They check books in and out--but they never take the time to organize it. It's sad really. That's how you end up with the mess I have here. But I'm working on it. Trying to get books back into their places. Bundle loose papers back together. Clean up smudges and crayon markings...mend pages torn or falling out. I've even started working on a catalog to help me find things in this place. It's a vast library (and new books are being added every day)--I may never get the job done. But with the help of the Author of Life, I think this place can be made to look a lot better.

What does your library look like?




....now, that page with my name has got to be here somewhere....

Joy

It has been far too long since my last blog post. Sukkot has been busy, but it was amazing and full of joy. Actually, I want to share two scenes of joy from this past week.

The first happened just prior to Sukkot. I went in for an advising appointment at the college to find out what classes I still need to graduate. For the longest time I was under the impression that a meteorology degree leaves very little room for freedom in choosing classes. For the longest time that was true. But when I went in that day, I found that this was no longer true--next semester I have complete freedom in choosing all but two of my classes. Freedom...to pursue my heart's desires without worrying about what my family, friends, or adviser thinks; without worrying about whether it can get me a job or how much money I can make. Freedom to be who I am. Freedom to pursue a dream. And all praise goes to God for granting me this freedom. Coming out of that office, I wanted to jump for joy. Thank you Father.

The second snapshot comes at the end of a Shabbat in the middle of Sukkot. This day I felt what Sukkot is all about--coming together as brothers and sisters and drawing near to our God. Played kickball with the kids, enjoyed some amazing cooking, but the climax of the evening was when we took the speakers outside and danced. To come together and dance before our Father--there is nothing like it. When the joy of community is overcome by the presence of God--words cannot describe it.

So often we get caught up in day to day mediocrity. It's easy to forget the joy of our Father. The joy of the freedom we have in Messiah. The joy of our Father's love for us and His desire to see us prosper and live--really live. The joy of community--the friends and family God has given us. The joy of dancing before our King.

Someone worth dying for

Someone worth dying for

MikesChair

I was driving one day and this song came on. I decided to turn it up and really listen to the words. I had heard the song before, but never really paid attention to the words. As the chorus begun I thought "This is beautiful" and could relate it to my own life. Then the last line of the chorus was sung--and I was not expecting it. At that point my spirit broke within me. Someone worth dying for? Me?

Some time later, listening again to this song, I realized that not everyone knows of this love. I realized that I need to live my life in such a way that those placed in my path can see that they are more than flesh and bone. That they are something beautiful. That they are seen and they are known. That they are someone worth dying for. And I realized that I don't have enough love for that. But God does. So, Father, let your love flow through me.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
(John 15:12 ESV)