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Available
Collection
Description
Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the art of "practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end." He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our soul. We must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence. For nearly 300 years this unparalleled classic has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day.
Publication
[Westwood, N.J.] Revell [1958]
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User reviews
LibraryThing member RRHowell
A classic devotional work. What I like best about it is that he is a struggler, and he is not averse to explaining that he struggles and fumbles both with spiritual things, and with natural things.
LibraryThing member gpaisley
Simple yet profound, a challenge to think differently.
LibraryThing member ctpress
A very short devotional classic that reminds one of the importance of having God in your thoughts during your normal daily activities. That we have a tendency to break up our lives in sacred and secular activities - but God is a constant presence and should be recognised in everything we do - There
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is a lot to ponder upon in these concise reflections. Show Less
LibraryThing member zangasta
"I recommend to you that you do the thing that I am thinking of in my mind right now. Do it and you will be rewarded."
That's all that ever get's said. What the thing in Lawrence's mind is, we are never told. Which is of course typical of Christianity: at the end of the day it is whatever you make
Poor man.
That's all that ever get's said. What the thing in Lawrence's mind is, we are never told. Which is of course typical of Christianity: at the end of the day it is whatever you make
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it.Poor man.
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LibraryThing member Harrod
It is a very nice little book. Should be read slow And quietly.
LibraryThing member gottfried_leibniz
After reading the Ignatian spirituality, I am amazed to see that this book lined up with the same message, "The Presence of God."
The more I get close with Christ, the deeper I see my wickedness.
I think, the message which this book taught me was that during tough times, I would to ask God to love
We are created to love him, every moment, at times we wander off. It is our duty to love him with all our heart.
I see God working in subtle things in my life, every day. I remember, I borrowed an umbrella from a retired professor on my campus. I was worried how I was going to find him again but to my surprise, he just appeared right infront of me at that second, when I was walking inside a building.
Let us try to grow closer with the Lord and rely on him each moment.
Love is the most important quality, without love mortification of the sins wouldn't be efficious.
We must study ever to regard God and his Glory in all that we do, that is the end - Brother Lawrence
The more I get close with Christ, the deeper I see my wickedness.
I think, the message which this book taught me was that during tough times, I would to ask God to love
Show More
him more than ever. The struggle would be real, but to love him during that time? Not easyWe are created to love him, every moment, at times we wander off. It is our duty to love him with all our heart.
I see God working in subtle things in my life, every day. I remember, I borrowed an umbrella from a retired professor on my campus. I was worried how I was going to find him again but to my surprise, he just appeared right infront of me at that second, when I was walking inside a building.
Let us try to grow closer with the Lord and rely on him each moment.
Love is the most important quality, without love mortification of the sins wouldn't be efficious.
We must study ever to regard God and his Glory in all that we do, that is the end - Brother Lawrence
Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
This is a Christian classic that I revisit every few years. I first discovered it as an undergraduate student because a fellow student enjoyed it immensely. In a series of conversations and letters, Brother Lawrence shows the importance of remembering that God is always with you and acting like He
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is by conversing with Him constantly. Any book that makes me want to read it as often as this slim volume has over the years is a 5 star read! Show Less
LibraryThing member OCMCCP
Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the art of "practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end." He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our soul. We
Show More
must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence.As a humble cook, Brother Lawrence learned an important lesson through each daily chore: The time he spent in communion with the Lord should be the same, whether he was bustling around in the kitchen--with several people asking questions at the same time--or on his knees in prayer. He learned to cultivate the deep presence of God so thoroughly in his own heart that he was able to joyfully exclaim, "I am doing now what I will do for all eternity. I am blessing God, praising Him, adoring Him, and loving Him with all my heart."For nearly three hundred years this unparalleled classic has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day. Show Less
LibraryThing member GoodGeniusLibrary
Brother Lawrence is a wonderful example of a person who has learned to soley focus on God and take great pleasure in His presence. I highly question whether he would have achieved such singularity of mind had he lived with a wife and children in today's world. Never-the-less, his wisdom and lessons
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are something to strive for. Show Less
LibraryThing member baruchviviers
I am left speechless as we can walk with the presence of God in all our comings and goings daily moment by moment.
LibraryThing member JaneSteen
Where I got the book: purchased on the Nook (yes, it does happen).
I'm not really sure what to say about this little book. I guess I was expecting some great revelation about how to be a better Christian but the basic message here is "practice the presence of God every day." Hmmm. That's a bit like
Don't get me wrong, Brother Lawrence sounds like a great guy. In fact the book is part memoir, part biography, part letters and so on. It's a collection of documents by and about Brother Lawrence who, from the sound of it, was a genuinely humble, dedicated follower of Christ. I think this book may inspire some people; it just didn't inspire me, and probably that's indicative of my own spiritual status (low on the scale). I know I SHOULD practice the presence of God; I'm not sure HOW, and maybe it's one of those things like riding a bike; you try until you get it, and once you get it you don't know how you were ever not able to do it.
Maybe I should revisit this one in ten years' time. Will there still be a Nook, I wonder?
I'm not really sure what to say about this little book. I guess I was expecting some great revelation about how to be a better Christian but the basic message here is "practice the presence of God every day." Hmmm. That's a bit like
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opening a book and finding written inside, "This is a book. Read it." Don't get me wrong, Brother Lawrence sounds like a great guy. In fact the book is part memoir, part biography, part letters and so on. It's a collection of documents by and about Brother Lawrence who, from the sound of it, was a genuinely humble, dedicated follower of Christ. I think this book may inspire some people; it just didn't inspire me, and probably that's indicative of my own spiritual status (low on the scale). I know I SHOULD practice the presence of God; I'm not sure HOW, and maybe it's one of those things like riding a bike; you try until you get it, and once you get it you don't know how you were ever not able to do it.
Maybe I should revisit this one in ten years' time. Will there still be a Nook, I wonder?
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LibraryThing member cjyurkanin
A very short primer by a lay Carmelite brother from the 1600's on finding joy in all things through the sweet surrender to Divine Will. Not a how-to but a what-can-be-accomplished, leading to the "unclouded vision" of the Creator.
Composed of letters, spiritual maxims, and a character study by a
"Believe me, count as lost each day you have not used in loving God."
Composed of letters, spiritual maxims, and a character study by a
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contemporary."Believe me, count as lost each day you have not used in loving God."
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LibraryThing member susan139
The letters and accounts of a Brother who spent a large part of his life in the kitchens at a monastery. The letters tell of his day to day walk with God and their constant conversations.
I found this book really uplifting and helpful
I found this book really uplifting and helpful
LibraryThing member bwhitner
This book was good but repetitive. Sound advice on how to be in Gods presence. Slow read.
LibraryThing member gottfried_leibniz
After reading the Ignatian spirituality, I am amazed to see that this book lined up with the same message, "The Presence of God."
The more I get close with Christ, the deeper I see my wickedness.
I think, the message which this book taught me was that during tough times, I would to ask God to love
We are created to love him, every moment, at times we wander off. It is our duty to love him with all our heart.
I see God working in subtle things in my life, every day. I remember, I borrowed an umbrella from a retired professor on my campus. I was worried how I was going to find him again but to my surprise, he just appeared right infront of me at that second, when I was walking inside a building.
Let us try to grow closer with the Lord and rely on him each moment.
Love is the most important quality, without love mortification of the sins wouldn't be efficious.
We must study ever to regard God and his Glory in all that we do, that is the end - Brother Lawrence
The more I get close with Christ, the deeper I see my wickedness.
I think, the message which this book taught me was that during tough times, I would to ask God to love
Show More
him more than ever. The struggle would be real, but to love him during that time? Not easyWe are created to love him, every moment, at times we wander off. It is our duty to love him with all our heart.
I see God working in subtle things in my life, every day. I remember, I borrowed an umbrella from a retired professor on my campus. I was worried how I was going to find him again but to my surprise, he just appeared right infront of me at that second, when I was walking inside a building.
Let us try to grow closer with the Lord and rely on him each moment.
Love is the most important quality, without love mortification of the sins wouldn't be efficious.
We must study ever to regard God and his Glory in all that we do, that is the end - Brother Lawrence
Show Less
LibraryThing member delenburg
I actually read this online and am not sure it was the whole text. Definitely an interesting view on daily Christian experience by a monk.
LibraryThing member longhorndaniel
Brother Lawrence is one of my new heros now. a must read for any Christian with a passion for learning.
LibraryThing member saintbedefg
This is perhaps one of the simplest, most practical books ever written for the spiritual life,. Brother Lawrence was an assistant in a busy monastic kitchen; like us, he had to deal with demands, schedules, noise, distractions, and variety of personalities. Like us, too, he had to deal with a
An example: "We ought not to weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed." An excellent book to come back to, again and again.
Oct 2002 Goodnewslette
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multitude of inner voices constantly taking him off his primary focus: the presence of God. But, he learned to persevere, and was recognized in his own time for a remarkable, straight forward faith. When asked to describe his experience and spiritual practices, he wrote this short book.An example: "We ought not to weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed." An excellent book to come back to, again and again.
Oct 2002 Goodnewslette
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LibraryThing member StThomasYM
This book is one of the most powerful prayer books I've ever read. Brother Laurence opened my eyes on what prayer actually is and is not. In one part of the book, he shares that after working on this "practice of the presence of God", he often felt as close to Jesus doing the dishes as he did in
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the chapel - for Him, the work of our lives is to be done in total union with Jesus Christ. A life changing read for sure. Show Less
LibraryThing member PalmerWV
The author of the Conversations and Letters contained in this book was a lowly and unlearned man by the name of Nicholas Herman of Lorraine, who having been a footman and soldier, became a lay brother among the barefooted Carmelites in Paris in 1666. He was thereafter known as Brother Lawrence.
LibraryThing member jeanbmac
Such a lovely, lovely book.
LibraryThing member Erika.D
One of the best Christian books I have read in a long time. Brother Lawrence's faith and guidance is a blessing. If you want to learn how to stay in the presence of God, read this book.
LibraryThing member bonbooko
This is the second best book I have ever read in my life. It is simple and clear, and beautifully honest. The raw journal writings of the two men are life changing.
LibraryThing member Griffin_Reads
While I have heard many good things about this book, it just did not sit right with me. It was very repetitive and seemed to glorify brother Lawrence, which seemed counterproductive to the goal.