Brennan Manning Quote:
I picked up a book that we have on our shelf, which I’d been wanting to read. I have loved Brennan Manning’s other books, and this one has started out, yet again with so much to chew on. I think one of my biggest struggles in life is fear of certain things, and so this paragraph seemed to jump off the page at me:
(when he’s talking about Cannaan and Haran he’s referring to when God called Abram out of Cannaan into the unknown land of Haran.)
“Fear breeds a deadening caution, a holding back, a stagnant waiting until people no longer can recall what they are waiting for or saving themselves for. When we fear failure more than we love life; when we are dominated by thoughts of what we might have been rather than by thoughts of what we might become; when we are haunted by the disparity between our ideal self and our real self; when we are tormented by guilt, shame, remorse, and self condemnation, we deny our faith in the God of love. God calls us to break camp, abandon the comfort and security of the status quo, and embark in perilous freeedom on the journey to a new Canaan. But when we procrastinate our of fear; this represents not only a decision to remain in Haran, but also a lack of trust.”
~Brennan Manning “The Signature of Jesus.” Anyone read this book before?
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
No. Haven’t read. But, need to. My husband lost his job Tuesday. 3 days after Amanda graduated from college. It was a real shock & kick in the stomach. Talk about uncertainty. We’ve lived in the same house 20 years. He works as a hospital administrator & Amarillo isn’t large for that type of work. We’ve had some not so good luck over the past 4 or 5 years. I’m trying to keep my fears at arm’s length and giving it up to God. Don’t like hanging onto fear, but hate giving it up! Breaking camp is hard. I know you understand that.
May 23rd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Well that right there is my life summed up in a paragraph!
May 24th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Oh wow… I think I’ll be looking for that title soon. You already know how much I love Mr. Manning’s work.
And Shellie, I understand the feeling. I’ve been in the process of loosing my job for the past 7.5 months. I fully understand those feelings.
May 25th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Nope, not yet. Hang in there everyone for God is in control–yes easier said than done but I know by experience as I’m sure you do too that it is true!! Isaiah 41:10
May 26th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Incredible paragraph!
I couldn’t agree more.
That deserves a good ol’ AMEN!!!