Seasons of the Heart: A Year of Devotions from One Generation of
Women to Another Compiled by Donna Kelderman
I am continually looking for books that enrich the spiritual
lives of both men and women. This new
devotional, Seasons of the Heart, compiled by Donna Kelderman is a collection
of wisdom from 12 women of the past whose words speak truth and grace. In the collection we find words from Susannah
Spurgeon, Mary Winslow, Anne Steele and many others. Some were married to famous preachers,
Susannah, others were great hymn writers, Frances Ridley Havergal. The selections focus on particular themes
such as confessing sin, God’s Power, Peace, The Widow’s God and other engaging
ideas. After each Scripture passage there
is a short devotion from one of these godly women which pierces the soul with
its dagger of truth. You don’t want to miss this volume that edifies and
exhorts its readers to grow in their knowledge of Christ.
Profound Insight
As I recently read about the controversy surrounding Richie
Incognito and Jonathan Martin at the Miami Dolphins locker room, I am reminded
of a selection in this book of God’s power to save sinners. Ruth Bryan writes, “Is anything too hard for
the Lord? No, truly, He is able to raise
up Gentile sinners, as hard as stones, to be children of Abraham; the more
unlikely the material, the greater glory to His name in forming therof a vessel
meet for His use” (April 20). Carousing,
drunkenness, and profane language cannot stop the God of all grace in saving
sinners. I was reminded by the piercing
words of Ruth Bryan to pray for Richie and Jonathan that God might get ahold of
them and shed his grace on them. Ruth goes
onto say something even more wonderful by writing, “Come, my friend, take
courage; hate sin and loathe it as much as you will, but never magnify it above
the efficacy and merits of the death and blood of Jesus. Forget not how great will be His glory in our
salvation, in bringing those who were so far off “nigh by the blood” of His cross”
(April 20). The weight of sin can bring
us down but it shouldn’t cause us to take our eyes off the remedy of our sin
which is found in the person of Jesus Christ and his work on our behalf. There is a profound grasp of the gospel here
that is refreshing, alarming, and beautiful.
Reality of the Battle
Susan Huntington writes of Hope in Dark Times by saying, “Surely
these are “the last times” …when many shall be given up to strong delusions and
left to believe a lie,….But thanks be to God – He is showing us, by the
effusions of His Spirit on various places, that He still remembers His church
and will not suffer the gates of hell to prevail against it” (June 21). The battle of evil carrying away people was as
much the case in the 19th century as it is today. Susan reminds us that God’s Spirit is with us
upholding our lives and that the gates of hell will not overtake the
church. This reminder is a clarion call
to thin about the battle that rages on between the forces of darkness and light. Furthermore, these selections are wonderful
reminders of the security we have in Christ, knowing that nothing will take us
from his hand in the end. I think many women will be encouraged as they read these
devotions by godly women of the past.
Thanks to Cross Focused Reviews and Reformation Heritage
Books for the copy of this book in exchange for review.
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