Quench reviews
From the authors:
We are a group of writers who want to serve the Lord Jesus Christ by being His witnesses. He has led us along different paths and inspired us, conforted us, enlightened us, and gifted us in so many ways. His perfect love compels us to tell the world through our inspirational writing.
QUENCH: A DEVOTIONAL TO REFRESH YOUR SPIRIT WITH LIVING WATER
Australian Christian Writers Fellowship (Hunter, NSW)
Ink Books
While the verb ‘to quench’ can be narrowly defined as ‘providing refreshment’. But in this collection of devotions it is used in a broader sense; namely, to satisfy thirst or desire in a spiritual, emotional, physical or psychological sense. This group of writers from New South Wales’ Hunter Valley provides a wide mix of contemplative writings, both poetry and prose. Crisp chapter headings provide some cohesion to the divesity of the subject matter, focussing on themes of hope, encouragement, forgiveness, suffering, relationships, promise, choice and surrender. The devotions follow a traditional template with an explanatory title, a Bible verse, a meditation, prayer and follow-up personal project. They reveal a certain pithiness as they mix everyday issues with Biblical dissertation in styles that are questioning, puzzling, proclamatory or joyous. The interleaved poems are either rhyming or free verse. The latter continues the fluid flow of the meditations and tends to meld together the collection as a whole. This compilation is one that is easy to dip into - and savour. NS
QUENCH
Australian Christian Writers Fellowship (Hunter)
Ink Books
This is a well produced book filled with personal and honest reflections about the bible and life, written by a number of different members from Australian Christian Writers fellowship (Hunter). I used the book as it was intended to be used, reading one devotional each day till I came to the end.
One in particular by Jenny Bray was exactly what I needed to be reminded of one day - the power of an encouraging word and how God encourages and uses others to encourage when we are feeling down and tempted to listen to Satan’s lies. Another stresses the importance of listening, which means not only hearing the facts of the message and then forgetting about it, but actually doing something because of it. Also remembering the most important part of that particular quote is to love God.
Another effective one was that Jesus was recognized by his deeds not his looks. There is a challenge for each of us as Christians in that. The one about perseverance will strike a chord for many. I know it came at exactly the time I needed it on a day of despair. But then that is the way God works. The last devotional in particular struck a chord with me and will I’m sure with many others. These are not the only worthwhile devotions in this book. It is filled with them. I liked the ideas at the end of each devotion for not just a prayer but a project. This gives the reader something to respond to in regard to what they have read or sends them to read more about a particular topic.
As a poet, my one quibble with this book was at times some poems were not as effective as the prose, relying too much on the well worn rather than fresh and original images. However this should not be a deterrent to buying it. It would be a great gift for a new Christian or for some experiencing difficulties and in need of encouragement or just as a short boost to start each day before a more concentrated time with the Lord. DH