'Then came cancer - I was terrified.'
Life was about to get very difficult for Connie Dever. Her soul echoed her body's turbulence. Everything felt so desperately out of control. 'Fears seized me and sometimes evil felt palpably close. At times I couldn't even open my Bible - only hold it. I was at the end of myself. "God, hold on to me! I can't do anything"'
And hold on to her, He did.
Reading Connie's spiritual diary-like posts through this relentless journey helped me personally and pastorally. They helped me process some of my own struggles and they helped me understand those I serve, especially in their often-hidden battles of the heart.
-- Ligon DuncanThe beauty of Connie's book is that it's her journal-her raw emotions, fears, and hopes-in the midst of her suffering. And, therefore, it's a companion for anyone who is suffering because it remembers the dark times-and the hope we can have in them.
-- Bethany L. JenkinsWritten in an informal tone, sometimes even preserving some of the verbiage and quirks of an online journal, this is an honest, urgent, encouraging account of loss and gain. I'm so glad I read it.
-- Tim ChalliesConnie Dever's book He Will Hold Me Fast is honest, penetrating and deeply moving. I love the way she weaves Bible passages and quotations through her story.
-- Elizabeth CatherwoodAs I read each chapter I wished I had this book decades ago as a young pastor, ministering to the dying. I wished I had this book when my younger brother and father died. There is rich wisdom in these pages that echo wisdom from ages past when dying and death could not be easily avoided. Most importantly, this wisdom is grounded in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Read Tim's book on death. It will make you more alive.
-- Timothy S. LaneThe blogposts of Connie Dever are the stuff of a spiritual classic ... her sparkling honesty testifies, through the tears, that "He will hold me fast."
-- D. A. CarsonThere is a long Christian tradition that has encouraged believers to spend time preparing for the realities of death. This is not a morbid impulse, but rather a wise attempt to finish well and faithfully. Drawing on scripture, insights from psychology, and theological truths, Tim Sisemore's book gently guides readers through the complexity of dealing with death, grief, hope, and promise. In these pages many will find real comfort and strength.
-- Kelly M. Kapic