The teacher in my seminary wives discipleship had recommended the book Stepping Heavenward:  One Woman's Journey to Godliness by Elizabeth Prentiss.  I found it online for $.95 (unfortunately shipping was $3.95 - what's up with that? but I digress)  so I bought it.  Prentiss published this book in 1869.  She also wrote the hymn "More Love to Thee, O Christ" and is quoted as saying "To love Christ more - this is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul.  Down in the bowling alley (they had bowling alleys back then??? but again I digress), and out in the woods, and on my bed, and out driving, when I am happy and busy, and when I am sad and idle,t he whisper keeps going up for more love, more love, more love."

I assumed it was a how to book on becoming godly, but was pleased to find out it is a novel!!!  I haven't done much pleasure reading in the last 6 years - hmmm could it coincide with the time since I gave birth to my first child??? - and I could not put this one down!  I finished it in 3 days!  BW was laughing at me b/c I couldn't wait to nurse so I would have a reason to pick it up again.  One of the kids even caught me reading while cooking dinner!!  It is set up as a diary when a young girl Katy turns 16 and continues for the next 20+ years.  She starts out before she truly found Christ and shows her transition from young believer to mature beliver.  She receives amazing advice from mature Christians in her life.  Then, of course there is a love story, deaths, births, struggles in marriage and family....   Katy shows the struggle that all believers go through - struggling between living out what you want to do and doing what pleases God .  The language is just beautiful.  Would make a great "read on the beach" book for those of you who go on vacations!  I will definitely be reading it again in the near future.

-J