Each month, you’ll hear from one of us on what we’re reading and a little bit about the book. Enjoy!
I am not someone who connects quickly with most books. I love to read, and I read a wide variety of authors and genres, but it always takes me a few chapters to get invested into the story.
My Heart by Julie Manning was entirely different. From the very first page I felt instantly connected to Julie. Not because we are in the same life stage or have a shared life experience, but because I could feel her openness, sincerity, and love pouring through the pages. I felt like I was meeting a best friend for coffee and she was telling me about her life—and what a life!!
Julie has a fatal heart condition, and not one that is predictable or has a timeline. Any moment could be her last. She could be fine for years, or she could be gone tomorrow. Every moment of every day in the background is the thought that it could be the last. 
If I were in her shoes and writing a book, mine would be entirely about fear. It would be a sob story about how hard my life was, a plea for sympathy, and a search for understanding. It would be an ode to my weaknesses. My Heart is anything but this. It is an ode to God’s strength. Julie tells her story honestly and without reservation. She admits to the times the thought of not seeing her boys grown up almost broke her, but it is always directed back to her faith in our almighty God.
Julie’s story will absolutely make you feel all the feels. You’ll laugh as you relate to her awkwardness, cry as she pours out her hurt, and smile as you admire the sweet love between her and her husband John.
But it does not leave you there. My Heart is about surrendering every. single. moment. to God. Your heart will break as you see that in spite of everything, Julie’s one desire is for her boys to grow up to know the Lord.
I don’t know what’s it’s like to have a heart that I don’t trust. I don’t know what it’s like have children that I don’t know how much of their lives I will see. But I absolutely know what it’s like to take the time I have for granted, and Julie has inspired me, pushed me, and showed me how to surrender every beat to my unchanging God.
It is a very good thing that this book is finally coming out February 1st, because I am quite sure that every person in my life is sick of me talking about the amazing book that I read that they have not been able to get! I seriously cannot say this enough—read My Heart! It will change the way you look at your life, helping you to see each and every moment as the gift that it is.
P.S. I still want to best friends with Julie.
Clarissa Dufresne is an Associate Publisher with B&H Publishing, a division of Lifeway. She has lived all over the country but is proud to call Nashville home. Whether in the form of books, movies, television, or theater, she is passionate about stories that entertain as well as grow the audience. And anything worth seeing is worth discussing.
I’m studying Jen Wilkin’s book The Sermon on the Mount. On week 2, day 4, question 3, were asked why we think how we treat others will affect how God treats us. I know the point is supposed to be Matt 5:7 on showing mercy so mercy is shown to us and Proverbs admonishing us to treat others as we would want to be treated. However, I don’t think our actions determine how God treats His children. Once we’ve accepted the free gift of salvation, God has an unfailing love for us. He is faithful when we are not faithful. His desire is for us to show mercy, yes. And the principle is that we will be blessed by having mercy shown to us. But it doesn’t change how God treats us, in my mind. Furthermore, I don’t see all the beatitudes as hard and fast promises but as principles that demonstrate the character of a servant of God. There are many instances where one can show mercy and not have mercy returned to them.
I’d like your thoughts on this so I can understand this verse more clearly.
Thank you.
Becky, thank you for studying with us!
I understand what you are saying about our actions not determining how God treats His children. We know from Scripture that “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). Therefore, once we are believers, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13) and viewed by God as righteous.
However, there are passages throughout Scripture that talk about God’s actions in relation to our actions. In fact, two such passages are later in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 7:1-2, which Jen points out in the question above the one you’re referring to, tells us we will be judged with the same judgment we use to judge others. In the HCSB Study Bible, the commentary points out that this condemnation is toward hypocritical judgment. If we have a harsh standard of judgment for others, we can expect God to use this same standard.
Matthew 6:14-15 also talks about our actions. “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” This is difficult for us, because we know that once we are believers, we are forgiven of all past, present, and future sins. In the New American Commentary on Matthew and in the HCSB Study Bible, we are given some clarification. Basically, both commentaries point out that in order to be repentant, to have a heart ready to receive forgiveness, one would also have a heart and willingness to forgive others. This makes me think of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18. When we have a grasp on how much forgiveness we receive, we will readily give that same forgiveness to others.
I think this is also true of the verse in question. We all receive mercy if we are Christians. But by that same token, we should all be merciful. If we truly know what it is like to receive mercy, we will readily give it!
As far as the Beatitudes being hard and fast promises, I see no evidence otherwise. The first and the last Beatitudes are in present tense. They promise the poor in spirit and the persecuted for righteousness are part of the kingdom of God already. The other Beatitudes are all in future-tense. The merciful will receive mercy. The pure in heart shall see God. While we may not receive mercy for every time we show mercy here on earth, we have the promise that we will one day receive mercy. And we know from the rest of Scripture that God always fulfills His promises.
I hope all of that helps! Jen may explain this much better in her videos. 🙂 But please let us know if you have any additional questions!