And this is the power and the gift of friendship: when hearts collide, lives are altered.

6 Books for Friends-in-Training

Posted on by Michele Morin

“I want to keep it handy in case I need it,” she said, matter-of-factly.
She wasn’t talking about a flashlight.
Not a package of tissues.
Not a cell phone – they hadn’t been invented in 1978.
She was talking about Isaiah 55.

“I liked it,” she went on.  “So I memorized it.”

“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.”

The words poured from her lips, because they were, indeed, handy, and although the pale yellow V.W. Rabbit continued on its way south down Route 1, I had been stopped in my tracks at the miracle of memorization.  My friend had captured for herself the treasure of thirteen verses of exquisite beauty and stunning promises — mountains and hills bursting into song and trees clapping their hands – all for the LORD’s glory and renown.

There is no way she could have known that my view of Scripture would be forever changed on that bumpy pot-holed ride, for I saw clearly that, in my friend’s mind, the Words of God were a banquet, and she would have devoured them all given the time and opportunity.

And this is the power and the gift of friendship:  when hearts collide, lives are altered. Fortunately, some astute authors have noticed this almost-chemical reaction and have put their observations and insights into the pages of books.

Redbud Writers Guild

This month, I’m delighted to share six books that spotlight friendship in some way over at the Redbud Post! I hope you’ll join me there, and bring your TBR and your Christmas shopping lists, because with two works of fiction and four non-fiction, there’s something for everyone!

 

 

Happy reading!

Michele Morin

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a teacher, blogger, reader, and gardener who finds joy in sitting at a table surrounded by women with open Bibles. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for nearly 30 years, and together they have four sons, two daughters-in-love, three grandchildren, and one lazy St. Bernard. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.

48 thoughts on “6 Books for Friends-in-Training”

  4. These look like a great list! Can’t wait to learn more. (And I’m smiling at your friend memorizing Isaiah 55. I’ve been working on John 15:1-18 (this was after a friend told me she was working on the whole book of Ephesians.)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I find John 15 to be a very challenging passage to commit to memory. Not sure if it’s the repetition with slight changes in wording or the metaphorical style.
      Good that you have taken it on!

      Like

  6. With all the family-related things that keep me busy, I tend to put less focus on forming friendships. This probably isn’t good for me, so I appreciate these recommendations!

    Like

  21. “Friends in training” <— I like that, Michele. Friendship is hard for me. It takes an investment of time that quite honestly is hard to carve out sometimes. These sound like great books. I need to pick one up for the new year and begin working on cultivating a new friendship. I know I do. Thanks for the reminders!

    Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. I’m just heading over to read your guest post, Michele, but I had to comment here! I adore your turn of phrase “Gods words were a banquet and she would have devoured them all…” That is so beautiful! Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party community and for sharing with us!

    Like

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