The banner photo was taken at an Aeta community in the mountains of Zambales on the Island of Luzon. The photo of myself was taken at the PREDA Foundation overlooking Subic Bay.
Author’s Note on Everyday Thoughts followed by a Review
Everyday Thoughts
A Collection of Devotional Readings for Thinking Christians
I wrote this collection of devotional style thoughts during a long winter in Tennessee. The forty essays were inspired by a variety of social interaction at the local gym, conversation with friends at a coffee shop, and Wednesday evening Bible Studies at Christ Church. I had spent the past seven years teaching in classrooms, and traveling abroad, now life was slow and quiet. I was recovering from hip surgeries and I wrote these essays in my home sitting comfortably in front of my fireplace with blues music playing in the background.
My goal is to write readable books without compromising the wondrous benefits of the academic study of scripture. While writing Everyday Thoughts, I had begun experimenting with free verse poetry, this practice was both emotionally and intellectually therapeutic. A poem or inspirational piece precedes each essay in Everyday Thoughts. The essays represent the need for understanding on numerous subjects, needs that I discerned in conversation with others and during formal bible studies.
I have personally gone back to read this book as a devotional aid multiple times. I’ve used Everyday Thoughts for morning devotions while leading a short term mission trip for adults. If a person struggling with life and choices asks me which one of my books they should read, I direct them to Everyday Thoughts.
Review
Excellent Daily Read for Those Who Want To Intentionally Engage God's Word!!!
This collection of devotionals provided an absolutely wonderful way to engage the Lord daily and critically think about his word and how to appropriate it into my life. It is a diverse collection of poems and stories that helps the reader to understand scripture in a spiritually developing and practical way. The author incorporates the contextual base of some of the cultural and linguistic sensitivities we should have when engaging the Biblical narratives which is very helpful. I will definitely be utilizing this for devotional readings again in the future as it helps to provide a variety of ways to engage the Lord throughout different seasons of life. Thank you Mr. Garner for putting the time and heart into these devotionals that the Lord surely deserves to see from us. I could tell, while reading 'Everyday Thoughts,' that you are very intentional in the time you spend engaging the Lord and his word and for this I am grateful.
Matt Gav — Missional Development Worker for the people of Uganda
Matt Gav
