Laura Story has been a blessing to so many through her incredible ministry of worship music. I really enjoyed learning more about her own journey in I Give Up: The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life. This book was full of Scripture and really a great testimony to God’s faithfulness in Laura’s life and the life of her family. I really had no idea of what all she has overcome and honestly, it has made her songs even that much richer to me as I think about them. This book was a voice of encouragement founded on the truth of God’s word. It reads like a conversation with a good friend over a cup of coffee!
I highlighted some things while reading and have posted those notes below…
- What do I know is true? I am extravagantly loved. And I am not in control. Not even a little. Who is in control? God is. He has my good in mind, and he is 100 percent ready to display his glory in and through my weakness. My only job is to trust him. To surrender. Location: 425
- When I base my decisions, words, actions, or beliefs on how I feel, I am on the throne. When I base my decisions, words, actions, or beliefs on what God says is true, then he is on the throne. Location: 538
- Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Ps. 139:7–10 NIV) Location: 698
- Listen to what Tim Keller says about this great, good news: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” Location: 1,042
- Our promise-keeping God holds us fast. He will not let us go. His promises are for us, yes. But they don’t depend on us. And his promises pursue us to the end. Location: 1,363
- Rightly ordered worship invites our right response to God and presents a compelling reason to give him the honor and glory he deserves. Location: 1,582
- We’re called to believe God in the messy middle of our story, when sorrow and grief threaten to railroad belief. We are also called to believe God for the long view, for the ending we can’t yet see. Location: 1,693
- Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:32–33 ESV) Location: 2,050
- We can’t grow beyond what we can’t grieve. Location: 2,352