Mountain In My Rearview Mirror

One of my favorite storytellers is Bill Butterworth. In his new book, Mountain In My Rearview Mirror, he does not disappoint!

I highly recommend this book for everyone. I think after you read the quotes below, you will agree!

If you speak to the hurting, you will never lack for an audience. p. xv

Honestly, I see things in my life today that I never would have seen without the opportunity to overcome the overwhelming obstacles in my life. I'm a different man-a better man-today. For all the theologians out there, let me be clear. I don't think God caused my obstacles, but He certainly did allow them to happen. And I think He did so in order to strengthen me in the way I live my life. He was building character. p. xxv

God is interested in more than an occasional glance. He wants to be our total focus. p. 54

All of us develop some level of SADD (spiritual attention deficit disorder). p. 59

When we dwell on life's circumstances, anxiety and fear return. p. 60

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Philippians 4:6

This verse may be the most helpful because of its simple formula. Don't be anxious. Instead, take all the time and effort normally expended on anxiety and replace it with prayer. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything! p. 61

Worry and doubt are signs that we have lost our focus. p. 62

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

For our purposes, perhaps we could paraphrase it this way:

For we walk by focus, not by vision.

In the end, it's not what we can see, but how faithful we are to trust God. Seeing only complicates the situation. For what we see often is perceived as opposite of what God should be doing.  p. 63

We don't need to fight, but we do need to stand in order to see God deliver us.

You will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. 2 Chronicles 20: 17  p. 123

Our adversaries will stand against each other and destroy each other.

The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. 2 Chronicles 20: 23  p. 127

We're being faithful. We're trusting God. But nothing seems to be happening. Hang in there, friend. Just because it isn't happening now doesn't mean it isn't going to happen. It's all a matter of timing-God's perfect timing.  p. 127

To order this book click here!

The Promise Of The Second Wind

A book I read several months ago was, The Promise of the Second Wind: It's Never Too Late to Pursue God's Best by Bill Butterworth. It is a book about Bill's divorce. I am not divorced. In fact I have a wonderful wife. We have been married for over 26 years. God blessed me over and beyond in what I could ever imaged by giving me my wife. 

I read Bill's book for two reasons. I enjoy his writing and being in education I thought it might help me as I encounter those who have been effected by divorce. I have listed several quotes from his book:

We live in the ordinary. It's God who steps in and does the extraordinary. p. 19

Too often in life we are prone to assume that the die is already cast. Maybe there were bright options when we were teenagers or in college or in early adulthood. But not now. Our lives become locked in, the day has hardened, the groove has become too deep. The resulting boredom is simply the price we pay for getting older. All of which makes no sense at all to a God who is timeless. He doesn't live by clocks and calendars. He operates in a whole bigger dimension. p. 20

I'm realizing that I have to be inward-directed. What God speaks to my heart is more important than what people say. p. 21

The only thing harder than waiting on God is wishing we had. p. 144

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7). The timing is not to be our issue. We will never be able to predict what God has in mind or when He intends to unfold it. Our job is simply to be ready, available, and cooperative. p. 150

It  takes our breath away to realize that God sees more in us than we see in ourselves! p. 161

To every person who says, "Lord I'm nobody special, " God replies, "I am the Lord who made you in the first place."

To everyone who complains, "I never got to finish college," He replies, I am the omniscient one, the source of all knowledge."

To everyone who says, "I can't make ends meet this month, and I don't know what to do," He answers, "I am Jehovah-jireh, the God who supplies."

To every mom who cries, "I'm a single parent, and these kids are driving me nuts," He says, I am a Father to the fatherless." p. 162

To order this book, click here!