With Forgiveness And Love

Morning By Morning by Jennifer Rodewald is a charming contemporary Christian novel. It is the eighth book in the Murphy Brothers series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The book deals with the themes of loss, adjustment and new beginnings. We see two broken families, grieving what has gone before – one family lost a mother to cancer, the other had a philandering husband. Children and spouses are hurting. They need to press into God and trust His faithfulness to see them through.

In the darkness of life, it is easy to think that God has abandoned us. “God is still with my family, isn’t He?” God walks with us in the dark. “Don’t lose eyes that look for God’s grace in the darkness.”. His grace is sufficient for my weakness. Great is His faithfulness.

God wants us to be truthful with Him. We do not need to pretend we are ok when we are not. He wants our honesty and our hearts. “I think God would rather hear my questions… than have me retreat into an angry silence.” We need to keep communication open.

Life throws us challenges and hard times. We cannot change that but “You can choose how to respond in life.” We can respond in bitterness or love. Jesus asks us to live a life of love.

There is the theme of forgiveness. We must forgive or risk living life in a prison of bitterness.

We witness the love of Jesus working through lives as they learn to trust Him and to press into Him.

Knowing our Bible is important. In the hard times we can reach for and hold on to the promises of God.

I love all the Murphy Brothers books. They always lodge in my heart.

I will leave you with my favourite, very powerful quote:

“[He] had acted ungodly. But that didn’t change who God was. God was faithful. He was kind and good.”

I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON