From Closer Than Your Skin: Unwrapping the Mystery of Intimacy with God:
Every day the Holy Spirit is sowing God’s words for those who can understand them. Whether his words bring salvation or develop relationship with him is not worth fighting over. Both matter. He is looking for the good soil of an open heart and a listening ear. When he says something to you, it will be in your own language, significant in a personal and specific kind of way.
Let me tell you a story…
When I was about ten years old, I loved to get mail, be it a birthday card, World magazine or just about anything with my name on it. I think most kids are like that. It’s like finding treasure.
One day, as I rode on our tire swing in the backyard, I decided to get the mail. I walked toward the road, but before I got far, I decided I didn’t want to check the mailbox. Just as suddenly as I had thought of the mail and what treasure could be waiting for me inside it, I lost interest in going to see. So I went into the house instead.
A few minutes later, I heard a loud crash. I ran outside to find our black mailbox smashed, lying on the lawn, it’s post snapped in half and a car speeding away up the street.
That mailbox could have been me. I had no reason to not get the mail, so why didn’t I go to the mailbox? What stopped me? Or who? I’m confident God in His mercy spared my life that day. No one can convince me otherwise.
Susan D. Hill writes of a similar experience in her book, Closer Than Your Skin: Unwrapping the Mystery of Intimacy with God. Hill tells a tale of how she and a friend narrowly escaped certain death on a New Hampshire highway – and how God used a skittish rabbit to do it.
Closer Than Your Skin is a familiar story found in many other books: a woman’s faltering marriage, dealing with an alcoholic spouse, disappointments with God and a plethora of church commitments, but it’s Hill’s account of how she believes God speaks to her with visions and dreams that sets the book apart. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that so radically supports hearing from God in such unique ways. Skeptics will certainly scoff at such a thing. God using a rabbit to keep you off the road. Humph. But Hill knows better. And so do I. I will never forgot seeing that broken mailbox and how He protected me. Somethings you just can’t understand unless it happens to you.
Reading Hill’s book is like listening to a girlfriend share her journey of faith at your kitchen table. It’s great conversation. I look forward to reading what she writes next.
Thanks to the generosity of WaterBrook Press, I have two copies of Closer Than Your Skin to give away. If you would like one, please leave a comment below. Be sure to leave your correct email address, so I can contact you. All email address will remain private.
And if you are interested in chatting with other readers of Closer Than Your Skin, there is a new Yahoo! group. Click here to join. The author’s website is here.
Contest closed. Thanks everyone. I’ll announce the winners soon.
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Monica – Sounds like a good read. Thanks for offering it.
Looks like a great book. Enter me for a free copy please….
I would love to win a copy of this book, please enter me, thanks!
reading through your entry just reminded me how long i have neglected my spirituality. i don’t think i have been to a church nor prayed for quite a while. i hope this book will refresh me of my obligation to God.
thanks for sharing this book.
hope to get a free a copy since it’s not yet available here.
ivan(dot)manalansan(at)gmail(dot)com
Count me in! I love books. Love good books even more. And well, free books that are also good, that’s like hitting the jack pot! =)
I’ve been asking God to show Himself to me. I need to hear from Him. Perhaps this book contains just what I need.
Thanks for the opportunity to receive/read it.
Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you.
I love reading. Thanks for having this giveaway. Please count me in!
Sorry your contest isn’t loaded down with entries…. sometimes things like that happen for no good reason.
To Ellen/enter-er above… God shows himself in every aspect of life. Who makes the Sun rise and shine, the rain fall, the wind blow ~~~ who give you air to breathe ~~ who gave you life itself? God is everywhere…. I hope you get to see him everywhere soon.
Oh, and thanks for having a contest, I would love to be entered!
[...] Books Are Our Friends – Closer Than Your Skin by Susan D. Hill (?) [...]
I’ve heard of this book and been wanting to read it. Thank you!
I heard about your contest on 5 Minutes for Mom. I am a fellow book lover so please count me in on your contest. Thanks.
Thanks for the chance to win this book.
wow, I’ve been needing to read somethng like this lately, no wonder I found this today! Thanks you for the opportunity! I will tell others about your book!
Enter me, please. looks like a fabulous book.
Great giveaway! Count me in.
I also heard about your site on 5 Minutes for Mom. This book looks incredible. I am a huge reader, although I don’t have as much time as I would like post-children! Thank you for a terrific site!
Hello, I have read and heard many great things about this book. Please enter me in your wonderful drawing. I appreciate it…..Thanks,Cindi
Looks like a great book and what an interesting story. please enter me into your giveaway.
I’d love to win a copy!
taradawnrobertson at hotmail dot com
This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win.
This is definitely worth reading. Please enter me!
I would like to read the book. Thanks for the chance to win this.
I really want to read this book. Hope I win!! Thanks!