Customer Reviews

Something More: In Search of a Deeper Faith

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I first read Catherine Marshall's Something More about 20 years ago and have reread it and saved excerpts from it over the years. Catherine, Peter Marshall's widow, starts this book with the death of her young grand child. She then reviews her Christian walk and provides a thought provoking encounter with a loving God who can allow the young, innocent and good amongst us to die and yet remains a God of goodness and love. She allows that callousness, bitterness and resentment are normal responses to disappointments but paints a broad, loving and caring canvass that facilitates overcoming one's own hurts and frustrations. I come away feeling refreshed and encouraged and recommend the book to anyone trying to cope with personal loss.

For Christians who are looking for answers to some of life's questions, or if you're just looking to further enrich your Christian walk, this book is for you. The author covers the subjects of: -Praising God, even when things are going bad and it doesn't seem like you have any reason to. -Forgiveness; if we don't forgive, we only hurt ourselves. -Obedience; how to jump out in faith instead of always questioning God. -Dreams; how God used them to communicate with His people in Biblical times and still is today. -The Enemy; S****, his characteristics and battle tactics that he uses against Christians. -Healing; why God heals some but not all. -Tithing; how to act as a "channel" of abundance and blessings. -The Holy Spirit; the third person of the Trinity. -Rebellion; the spirit brought to the earth by S**** and how it adversely affects our lives. Catherine Marshall intersperses her own experiences with each of these very pertinent subjects as she gives Biblical descriptions and references to each of them. I found this book to be an excellent source of material for personal and group Bible studies. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

A person who writes with such depth of understanding has lived the "reflective life" and has been able to process the various experiences encountered. Catherine Marshall left a legacy treasured by any Christian who reads her work with an earnest, seeking mind. When she doesn't know the answers and the mystery remains, she says so. Some things she doesn't understand and is honest about it.
From the perspective of Christian stewardship, she writes about the joy of being a channel of blessing to other people and the importance of giving, even if it is out of poverty. On using one's talents she notes "the essence of creativity is to seek Him first." She adds "He will show us how to make the best use of our talents and create something that other people need or enjoy." He certainly did that with her talents. Her ministry continues posthumously. The books she's contributed continue to bless those of us who are still on this side.

I knew from the moment I heard the name of this book and read the other reviews that this was the next book God wanted me to read. I wondered how the three Amazon reviews could be about the same book, since they varied so. But in reading the first 5 chapters, I realized how Catherine Marshalls experiences shared throughout those 5 chapters, mirrored the walk of many Christians, and depending on what stage of sanctification you are in as you read it, different analogies, and experiences would reach you right where you are in your walk and speak to different people in different ways. I am amazed at how God uses different yet similar experiences in my own life to teach me many of the things Catherine learned. This book helped me to realize that God has the same things in mind for all of us because they are dear to His heart. He desires our obedience and that everything, EVERYTHING in our lives be submitted to Him, not because He is a control freak, but because it is for our own good. As I read the chapter where Catherine explains her struggle with another authors expression that "God is in everything", it hit home. Recently God had taught me a phrase through Chip Ingram "Nothing happens that God did not either allow or decree". As I read that chapter it reaffirmed what God was teaching me and I truly began to believe I was going to have to soon go through something...I thought with my own child. Not two weeks later, my daughters boyfriend was killed in a freak accident. I found comfort in rereading this chapter in Catherines book and shared it with my daughter. God had laid this book in my hands to be the help that we were going to need to make it through. We are nowhere near the end, and neither have I read the end of the book, as our lives have been on hold for awhile, but I am certain through Catherine's book, God will show us "our hope and future" and prove that God does indeed work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Catherine is definitely a Godsend and a true woman of God. Anyone desiring to deepen their walk with God (and understand what they are going through) should have a copy of this book!

arrived on time,excellent condition. This book will go down as a classic...The first copy I had of this book was read so many times it eventually fell apart! Not because it was not made well. but because I wore it out...I LOVE this book and recommend it to everyone who is searching for "something more" than casual christianity and desires a deeper experience with God.

Missing the mark...was I ever! Are you, along with me, seeking a book that is vibrant and alive, yet, one designed to challenge your Christian walk? This then is just such a book!

Catherine Marshall's chapter 3, "The Oughts and the Anys" was the beginning of my conscience's eye-opener. It was a real "knee-jerk!" I literally went to my knees begging God to show me who I hadn't forgiven. The revelation came the next morning as I awoke. Every time something triggered an old negative memory of someone's offensive action or something I allowed to greatly annoy me, I would relive the entire incident, detail by detail. Yet, God forgives me my mistakes and refuses to recall them. I had some real homework to do!

The next chapter that completed my moment of truth was entitled, "The Law of the Generations." It brought me to the conclusion of why my prayers for my son were not being answered. Here is a quote from a list that a friend shared with Catherine:

"For now, do not ask anything for your son. He is God's child as well as yours; God loves him even more than you do. Turn him over completely to that light of Christ within him.

"Whenever you think of your son, picture the light spreading as God does His own work in this boy."

When I remembered that God wants me to forgive as He forgives me, and that He can't listen to my requests unless I do, this book has changed my prayer life.