Monthly Book Giveaway--Keep A Quiet Heart, by Elisabeth Elliot

For more information about Monthly Book Giveaways, click HERE.

I opened a book tonight on my bookshelf and looked at the haphazardly-stamped message inside its back cover: "This book no longer the property of ______________Library. 

It was a copy of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. The book was in good condition; I was glad to have it in my possession, but mourned the knowledge that the library possibly never replaced Bunyan's powerful spiritual allegory. 

Another incident came to my mind today. Some time ago, I was looking for a book written by Elisabeth Elliot. Entering a well-stocked, popular Christian bookstore, I approached an employee after having no success in locating the book. 

I asked her if they carried the particular book that I had in mind, and she somewhat-too-glibly answered that, "No; we don't really carry Elisabeth Elliot anymore..."

The old preacher Vance Havner used to warn of forgetting the ancient paths. Many of the older Christian authors have so much to offer to the church as a whole today, truths that must not be forgotten but rather pressed upon the heart like leaves between the pages of a book. It is my hope (in part) in continuing these Monthly Book Giveaways that some of the older authors and the deep truths that their words conveyed may be remembered. There are some wonderful modern authors, but I pray that we may never lose the influence of those who have gone before us and have been found faithful. 

So this month's book giveaway is for a copy of Elisabeth Elliot's beautiful devotional-like book Keep a Quiet Heart. I have been tremendously blessed by this book and so deeply appreciate Elisabeth Elliot's insights and spirit-filled wisdom and perspective. I pray that it may be a blessing to someone this month. 

Description of the book (from CBD):

When you long for a quiet refuge away from the noisy, frenetic circumstances of day-to-day commitments--where do you turn? If you're Elisabeth Elliot, acclaimed speaker and author of many best-selling books, you look to one place alone: to the embracing arms of our omnipotent and infinitely loving Heavenly Father. This book is a unique collection culled from the lead articles featured in Mrs. Elliot's newsletter over the past several years. "Mostly they are about learning to know God," the author says. "Nothing else comes close to being as important as that. It's what we are here for." Join Elisabeth as she points the way to a deeper, more fulfilling--and restful--walk with God.

Author Biography (from CBD):

Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) was one of the most perceptive and popular Christian writers of the last century. The author of more than twenty books, including Passion and Purity, The Journals of Jim Elliot, and These Strange Ashes, Elliot offered guidance and encouragement to millions of readers worldwide.

And now for the giveaway! :-)

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You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Every Day Jesus, Count My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup

Flying to a Summer Land

The owner of the tenement which I have occupied for many years has given notice that he will furnish but little or nothing more for repairs. I am advised to be ready to move.

At first this was not a very welcome notice. The surroundings here are in many respects very pleasant, and were it not for the evidence of decay, I should consider the house good enough. But even a light wind causes it to tremble and totter, and all the braces are not sufficient to make it secure. So I am getting ready to move.

--Streams in the Desert

So I am getting ready to move. And though the pain of being separated from those we love seems unbearable, though the uncertainty and anxiety and fear and apprehension threaten to choke His joy from us, we know that to obey means to follow the One who leads.

So I am getting ready to move. And we become attached to people, to places, to memories, to countries to cities, to cherished things.

It is good that we cherish. Do not be fooled into thinking that it isn't. That because this life is temporal we should treat people, memories, traditions as less than what God created them to be -- cherished. The key is not to hold onto things so lightly that they fall into the cracks and become inconsequential. The key is to hand the cherished things back to God in surrender.

And that is when we truly receive them: a gift. A gift of life that will echo eternally.

So I am getting ready to move.   

This life is temporal. The places that we call home will not be forever. This truth hit me like a brick over the past several months. I am the kind of person who becomes attached to a certain way of doing things, to a particular chair, to a certain kind of food or exercise program and will stick to it for years and years and years.

But an event in my life, a prompting of obedience from the Lord pressed this truth into my heart in a deeply personal way.

It was painful. It was lonely. I knew His presence through the pain that I thought that I could not face.

And I understood the truth of Elisabeth Elliot's words--

Sometimes... fear does not subside and... one must choose to do it afraid.

Obedience involves the pain of letting go of things that a person thought that they could not let go of. It involves clinging to the One who requires it. Obedience is the child of surrender, and the two walk hand-in-hand.

But in order to obey, we must realize that this life is not what we live for -- We live for another world, another home that will never be destroyed or worn down or taken from us.

We live for a home whose Builder and Maker is God.

And He is our home. 

It is strange how quickly one's interest is transferred to the prospective home. I have been consulting maps of the new country and reading descriptions of its inhabitants. One who visited it has returned, and from him I learn that it is beautiful beyond description; language breaks down in attempting to tell of what he heard while there. He says that, in order to make an investment there, he has suffered the loss of all things that he owned here, and even rejoices in what others would call making a sacrifice. Another, whose love to me has been proven by the greatest possible test, is now there. He has sent me several clusters of the most delicious fruits. After tasting them, all food here seems insipid.

Two or three times I have been down by the border of the river that forms the boundary, and have wished myself among the company of those who were singing praises to the King on the other side. Many of my friends have moved there. Before leaving they spoke of my coming later. I have seen the smile upon their faces as they passed out of sight. Often I am asked to make some new investments here, but my answer in every case is, "I am getting ready to move."

--Streams in the Desert

A painful act of obedience to the One who leads will produce the fruits of righteousness. The fruit that clings to its hard casing will never be free to ripen in the sun of His love. We let go so that we may receive. We go, as the missionary David Livingstone spoke and lived, in the confidence that His Presence goes before us.

And if His Presence goes before us, fear is swallowed up in joy.

We leave homes, lands, possessions

For the possession of Him, Himself.

He is our home.

Our home is with Him. In that beautiful Summer-land of glory. Where every tear will be wiped away from our eyes and all the promises in Him are Yes.

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 NKJV

Possessing all that we truly loved. Possessing Him. Our eternal Home. 

The little birds trust God, for they go singing

From northern woods where autumn winds have blown,

With joyous faith their unmarked pathway winging

To summer-lands of song, afar, unknown.

Let us go singing, then, and not go crying:

Since we are sure our times are in His hand,

Why should we weep, and fear, and call it dying?

It's merely flying to a Summer Land.

--Streams in the Desert

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Every Day Jesus, Count My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup