If one wants a devotional book that is compassionate, pastoral, and biblical then one must not pass up on this one. Unfortunately, this book is not widely known among Christians (hence, the reason why it is "a hidden gem"). Though it may not be as well-exposed as other Christian living books written by well-known evangelicals like John Piper, John MacArthur, or Dallas Willard this book cannot be ignored. The book is written according to the four seasons and each section is geared towards how a particular season speaks to us spiritually. For instance, under the Winter season, Shepherd talks about the pain in the wilderness in our spiritual journey. Though geared towards individual matters, Shepherd does not neglect social and corporate issues that face Christians and the church. This is refreshing since many modern evangelicals have individualized the faith to the point where cosmic or social matters are put to the sidelines. However, redemption is also cosmic and corporate as Paul makes it clear in Romans 8:18-21. Shepherd rightly ties the believer's individual spiritual progress with his or her responsibility to the world. One will find this work comforting and challenging. Comforting in that it tells us that God is a faithful God when we are in the wilderness of despair. Challenging in that we are told to wake up from our spiritual stupor to serve the Almighty God. Another positive aspect of this book is its readability. Shepherd writes in an enthusiastic and sometimes humourous way that makes this book a treat to read. It is not dry and technical like most other devotional books but lively and uplifting. I highly recommend this book to all Christians who want to deepen their walk with Christ.
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