Quotes from Tamera Alexander

But he'd learned long ago that a life lived without risks pretty much wasn't worth living. Life rewarded courage, even when that first step was taken neck-deep in fear.

Let no one define how you se yourself...save God alone. See yourself through His eyes and His strength, and you'll see who you can be despite being who you are.

I learned long ago, Livvy, that a wife must love her husband's dreams as much as she loves him. Because the two are inseparable. If a wife can't embrace the desires of her husband's heart, he will never become the man he could have been, if only she had.

We should not expect to have all the blessings of life and none of its trials. It would make this world too delightful a dwelling place, and I fear we would never care to leave it.

She'd once thought God would never intentionally hurt her. But looking back over her life, she'd had cause to rethink that. She was certain nothing touched her life that didn't first filter through the loving hands of her heavenly father. But she was also convinced that God sometimes wounded, in order to bind up. And that He shattered, so that His hands could heal. This was part of His inheritance she'd overlooked before, but never would again.

It's not about you. It's not about me. This life that we live, the reason we're here. It's only when we see our lives through eternal eyes that we find true peace or wealth that will last. Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you . . . in a relationship with God.

Funny how often something she'd been so certain she needed turned out not to be a need at all, but a want--when the real 'need' was something else entirely. Something that could only be gained by giving, not by getting.

Let no-one define how you see yourself...save God alone. See yourself through His eyes and His strength, and you'll see who you can be despite being who you are. But see yourself through your own eyes, and you'll be left to question, and to doubt, subject to the whims and wishes of others who will not have your best at heart.

Would you paint if you knew you were painting only for Me?

Long ago she'd learned that facing reality was inevitable. She could skulk about, trying to avoid it or pretending it wasn't there. But in the end, reality always found her. And its finding her seemed a harsher blow than if she'd faced the situation straight on from the very start.

Forgiveness was a strange gift. One that had to be shared in order to be kept.

It takes an awfully good man... to beat no man at all." - Tillie

Settled on the carriage seat, Olivia drew in a deep breath, the first in what felt like five years. she knew it was wrong, what she was feeling. Because of widow of only a week shouldn't wish to dance a jig. But God help her, that's precisely what part of her wanted to do. Not on the grave of her recently deceased husband, of course-that would be considered rude. Just off to the side would suffice.

Yet even in such moments she didn't doubt that God existed. She just sometimes wondered if He remembered that she did.

Ridley nodded. 'She told me I couldn't ever tell General Harding or anybody else. Told me I wouldn't be safe.' 'Safe?' Uncle Bob stopped rocking and took the pipe from between his teeth. 'She started in talkin' 'bout you bein' safe, sir?' Ridley nodded again, and that's when Uncle Bob grinned. 'Well, shoot . . . you ain't lost her yet, sir. Not altogether, anyhow. Any female goes to talkin' 'bout you bein' safe . . . hmmph. There still be somethin' left in her heart for ya.

Life is full of choices, ma'am. Most we live once, then move on and forget. But others" - he narrowed his eyes - "we live a thousand times over and remember for the rest of our days. What's impostant is knowin' how to tell 'em apart. And then decidin' if you's willin' to pay the price. 'Cause choices...they always come at a price.

And she found the weight of grief at missing him eased somewhat by dwelling on what a blessing he'd been and how much poorer her life would be if she'd never known him.

Thoughts of the future and what it might hold threatened to crowd out her happiness, but she quickly reined in her thoughts and her fears. The good-byes here are only temporary. Someday there will be only together forevers.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

life isn't always just. But God, who sees everything, is. And He will bring good from it.

The best way to beat somebody is to show them who you are, and to succeed by doin' what they say you can't.

She couldn't help but wonder at the events of recent days, and at how—even in the face of such misfortune, there was so much good,

His voice sounded like the rich taste of chocolate on your tongue.

Life is full of risks...that first step of faith was often taken neck-deep in fear.