{"id":9642,"date":"2015-12-13T15:19:19","date_gmt":"2015-12-13T20:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=9642"},"modified":"2015-12-13T15:19:19","modified_gmt":"2015-12-13T20:19:19","slug":"book-review-seeing-in-the-dark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=9642","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Seeing in the Dark"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"UBB-SeeingintheDarkbyNancyOrtberg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Several weeks ago my friend sent me a link to this book and said she thought it looked interesting. \u00a0Based on the fact that this friend and I typically like the same type of books, I quickly added it to my list. \u00a0I have always enjoyed the writing and teaching of both John and Nancy Ortberg, so I was glad to have a chance to pick up Seeing in the Dark<\/em><\/a> this past week. \u00a0 The timing was impeccable. \u00a0As we head in to the holidays, I’ve had more opportunities than ever to try to encourage family and friends that seem to be walking through the darkness, into the darkness, or are just coming out of the darkness. \u00a0In the loss of a dear friend this fall as well as some other more minor bumps in the road, I’ve encountered some darkness myself and was greatly encouraged by this book. \u00a0What a great encouragement it is to be reminded of God’s faithfulness! \u00a0When we are faithless, He is faithful!<\/p>\n

I’d definitely recommend this book for anyone that is walking through a difficult season or walking out of a difficult season. \u00a0This book is also a great resource for anyone that desires to be prepared to walk with someone through a difficult season. \u00a0Nancy Ortberg has filled this book with Scripture and organized it into short essays that are easy to read in a sitting. \u00a0The entire book is a pretty quick read. \u00a0My favorite part of the book is when Nancy points out the joy that can be found in the “glorious ordinary” if we simply notice the fact that God is working for His glory and our good in all things.<\/p>\n

I highlighted several things while reading and have posted those notes below…<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
    \n
  • We are compelled to take that next step with merely a tug in our souls rather than the clear path we long for. \u00a0We get a glimpse when what we want is a panoramic view.<\/li>\n
  • This life is simply a setup for pain. \u00a0Created for perfection yet living in a broken world, designed for an eternity that is mostly veiled, you and I are caught between what could be and what is. \u00a0Every longing and ache we feel is a sign of that gap. \u00a0In that gap is room for such a multitude of competing experiences that war within us. \u00a0And in that gap is where God lives.<\/li>\n
  • \u201cGod has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are, and if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being \u2018right\u2019, we will simply have no place to receive his kingdom into our life.\u201d Dallas Willard<\/li>\n
  • This in-between space is where God meets us and grows us in our understanding of who he is. \u00a0Only tested faith is a personal possession. \u00a0As uncomfortable as it is, when we surrender to live in these gaps and in these contrasts, we allow God to do his most profound work in us.<\/li>\n
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-5<\/li>\n
  • We are all wounded and broken people. \u00a0Sometimes it takes getting wounded to remember that. \u00a0And then when we are in pain, it takes a long time to settle down and face it.<\/li>\n
  • Hosea 6:1-2<\/li>\n
  • \u201cNever doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light.\u201d \u00a0Dr. V Raymond Edman<\/li>\n
  • Reminders are deeply necessary in those in-between times.<\/li>\n
  • Luke 1:78-79<\/li>\n
  • When the perspective goes beyond my small moment in time and I consider God\u2019s work in the history of humanity, I begin to see other things going on.<\/li>\n
  • And so it is with life; the understanding that what is happening in the shadows is what is needed to get us where we long to be.<\/li>\n
  • Psalm 116:15<\/li>\n
  • Haggai 2:4 \u00a0There was hope in this gap. \u00a0Hope because God was there.<\/li>\n
  • At a point where we might miss his presence, he reminds his people to rejoice.<\/li>\n
  • Often what emerges out of destruction is life of a deeper and sweeter quality than before. \u00a0But it takes pain and darkness to get there.<\/li>\n
  • Each tug reminding us to stop and take notice because something is going on here\u2014something we are about to miss if we don\u2019t let this sudden movement get our attention. \u00a0A moment that will pass by if we let it.<\/li>\n
  • 1 Peter 2:9 \u00a0His wonderful light\u2014light that offers us the life we were created for. \u00a0Light that comes out of and into our darkness.<\/li>\n
  • Just a sliver. \u00a0Just a small amount of the light that is God will get you all the way through the desert. \u00a0It will get you all the way home.<\/li>\n
  • The glorious ordinary.<\/li>\n
  • Numbers 6:24-26<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Several weeks ago my friend sent me a link to this book and said she thought it looked interesting. \u00a0Based on the fact that this friend and I typically like the same type of books, I quickly added it to my list. \u00a0I have always enjoyed the writing and teaching of both John and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,14,23,17,34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-study","category-book-review","category-generosity","category-leadership","category-truth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9642\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}