The Husband and I have been reading Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb. It’s our second time to read the book but I swear I forgot everything I read the first time. Probably on purpose. This has to be hands down the least favorite Christian book EVER! It flies in the face of the ever popular, “life is what you make it…so think and speak positive and it’ll come back to you” philosophy. I’m thinking of a few high profile preachers that would so hate this book. Heck, I hated this book.
But it has been life to us. I highly recommend it if you are going through tough times. Here are a few of my favorite things from the book~
~”Live long enough and dreams important to you will shatter….”
~”Shattered dreams are necessary for spiritual growth.” (My 1st thought was…I’d rather not grow.)
~”The experience of despair is the initial movement in the rhythm of hope.”
~”When you hurt, hurt. Hurt openly in the presence of God…Feel your pain. Regard brokenness as an opportunity, as the chance to discover a desire that no brokenness can eliminate but that only brokenness reveals.” (He is not talking about physical pain here…that is a different story I think)
~”People who insist on happiness never find joy.” (Oh I’ve been there…searching for something, anything to make me FEEL better…)
~” Shattered dreams are the prelude to joy.”
~”Silence and solitude are essential to discovering His Presence.”
~”…grief can only be embraced, never managed.”
I have sarcastic notes written on many of the pages in this book. I screamed my way through about 3/4 of it. It so angered me. But in the end God is showing me a few things. Needful things.
That’s all today Sweet Ones. My heart is full of burden for Sara and for Baby Stellan. Join me if you will in praying for them today…love to you as we live the legacy we want to leave…in good times and bad~
It’s hard to believe we both read this book this year. My mother passed it along to me. As I started reading it, I wanted to say–here, you take it back–I don’t want to know this stuff. But I couldn’t. I knew it was Truth. I found her underlinings and added s0me of my own. It’s not a “read for fun” kind of book, but it’s deep and rich and real.
Sounds like a great book, one I should read!! 🙂
I am praying for all those who are hurting and scared at what life is bringing them. There is always someone worse off than yourself!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
.-= Chele´s last blog ..Mid-Week Shout Outs =-.
It does sound like a good book. I am concerned for Sara too. I fought sleep as hard as I could last night because my brain was so wrapped around her. Please let me know if you hear anything at all about she is doing.
Thanks for this post, by the way. It has me thinking.
.-= Anita´s last blog ..Blister Fixer =-.
Thanks for sharing. I needed to hear this today. I’m buying my copy today.
Anita, Sara has been coming to my mind so often….Robin, let us know if you hear from her.
There was a time when I would have ripped, torn and thrown Larry Crabbs’,
Shattered Dreams, in the face of anyone suggesting I read it. I am tempted
to name a few of those “high profile, name it and claim it preachers” who
embrace this “gospel”, but I am told to love and not to curse. As David Teems
so aptly put it; “May your life provide substantial evidence of love to those
who have lost confidence n the word itself .” Amen~
I am suggesting today’s blog to a friend and her family. Please pray God will
use “Shattered Dreams”, the blog, to bless and encourage this family, as only
He is More Than Able to do~.
larry crabb is one of the best, yet hardest Christian authors to read. ever. i read inside out awhile back, and i can’t bring myself to go back to it. ugh, but good ugh. just wanted you to know that you should persist. it’ll be worth it. yay for the husband for reading it with you.
.-= jenn´s last blog ..Mambo, Anyone? =-.
I am filing this one away for future reference! Still absorbed in Terry Kay 🙂 But I see some difficult times on the horizon. Our poor Dakota is having some tough times and we have started her on steroids… we are also weaning her back a bit to see what the proper dosage will be long term, but she will likely not ever be off of them entirely again. Aging is hard!! I absolutely have thought of Sara so much especially as I watch sweet Kota struggle these days. So glad to hear a bit of news from her. I hope you feel my prayers joining all of yours. Love to you Robin 🙂
.-= Vicky´s last blog ..Its not about me =-.
I so do not like it when God is trying to grow me when I don’t want to be grown or even stretched. But somehow He always reigns doesn’t He?
I too am continuing to pray for Stellan.
.-= Mrs. Dunbar´s last blog ..Vacay =-.