Night with a Perfect Stranger {review and giveaway}

 I had a hard time sitting down to write this review. I wanted to give this book the credit  it deserves. For such a small book {only 138 pgs} it packs a big punch! I definitely got a lot more out of the book than I had originally expected.

In Night with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory we are introduced to Nick, a businessman who is struggling in his faith and in his closeness with God. I think we all can say we have been there. I know I have.

Nick first encounters his in-real life experience with Jesus when he receives a letter from Jesus inviting him to dinner. Thinking it a joke from his colleagues, he goes to the restaurant only to find Jesus sitting at the table waiting for him. From there, Nick and Jesus engage in a thought provoking conversation that leaves Nick thinking he is changed and that things will be better. Six years have passed since that dinner encounter and Nick finds himself struggling with those same concerns of his closeness with God. He questions where God has been not realizing that He never left his side. It is not until Nicks next unusual encounter with Jesus that everything clicks for him and he is truly changed...for good!

I loved the simplicity of this story. The author describes Jesus in such a wonderful way that anyone who already isn't walking closely with Him will want to be His best friend! I think we tend to, as Christians, view Jesus as unapproachable. That we need to be well versed and educated to speak to Him and get our requests and concerns made known to Him. We forget that He already knows all of our concerns and already has a perfect plan for our life {Jeremiah 29:11}. He had our lives already planned before He created the whole world {Ephesians 1:4}. We were destined to be His and part of the family of Christ. Jesus paid the price for our sins when He died a sinless death on the cross. All He expects from us in return is to love Him!

A few of my favorite passages from the book that I highlighted and underlined!

"I'm the life, remember? Everything I accomplished at the cross was for this purpose: to join you to me, that I might live in you. It wasn't to get you forgiven. It wasn't to get you right with me. It wasn't to crucify your old man. It wasn't to give you a new man. But all those things had to be done to accomplish my goal: making you one with me - eternally. That was the only way I could share my life with you, and express my life through you." {pg. 84}

"Because it's me in you living my life, which is love...I'm living the life, I'm the source of the life, but it will always look like you. Just as it always looked like me when the Father was living his life through me. That's all that was happening when I was here on earth. I couldn't do anything on my own. He was living through me." {pg. 85}

"I looked more intently at the scene in the rocking chair. The father was gently stroking the infant's hair, a look of peaceful delight adorning his face. 'This is the closest most humans ever get to mirroring God's love.'...He looked back at the father and child. 'That baby can't do anything to earn his father's love. She can't even nurse yet. All she can do is gurgle and poop. But she is deeply loved, simply because she exists. She is loved unconditionally - no performance required.' " {pg.91}

I could say so much more about this book, but seriously, you just need to read it for yourself.

To say this book changed my life, well, I don't necessarily think that. But it definitely changed how I view my quiet times. I spend them less stressed and more at ease to just sit and listen as if I were sitting with a friend knititng and chatting away. I read the Bible because I want to...not because I feel I have too. And most mornings...I do not want to stop!

I highly recommend this book! Thank you to PR by the Book for sending a review copy my way!

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Would you like to win a copy of Night with a Perfect Stranger for yourself? PR by the Book is offering one copy for one of my readers to win. Simply leave a comment on this post stating you would like to win! Please also leave a way for me to contact you if you were to win. Giveaway open to US residents only and will close on Tuesday, February 7!

Giveaway now closed! Congrats to commenter #1, Mindy!

Linking up with Hip Homeschool Moms Giveaway Day!

Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. ~ Ephesians 1:5