Erika Mathews > Quotes

“You do need prayer, more than you know, ' Carita said softly. 'Prayer is the keynote. Prayer isn't the preparation to accomplish the purposes of Adon Olam. It is the accomplishment of His purposes. Great works are done through prayer.”
― Erika Mathews, Promise's Prayer

“If she studied world literature for the majority of the day’s hours, how could a few hours at night in Ellrick’s Book counterbalance that intake?
... No longer were free hours spent in the BookHall or reading in her corner. Ellrick’s Book found its way to her hand more and more often—while eating her midday meal, while waiting for the next class, even while walking to and from Academy on occasion. This was war, and she couldn’t be found compromising with the enemy.”
― Erika Mathews, Victory's Voice

“Her voice was only one in the multitude—one tiny voice proclaiming the truth, in faith that Adon Olam would show up and show Himself strong on their behalf. Only one tiny voice—but it was enough.”
― Erika Mathews, Victory's Voice

“My hero- is the Son of Adon Olam. He has already atoned for the evils that have been done. He did His best- the absolute best there could ever be- for the land. He saved Taerna- and me, and you- before we ever could know it. It is finished. The work is done.”
― Erika Mathews, Promise's Prayer

“She knew her King. Whatever the future might hold for her, she’d face it with Him—and His Word.”
― Erika Mathews, Victory's Voice

“The enemy wants your mind. Both kingdoms desire to communicate with people and will use whatever means they are allowed. Adon Olam uses what we are willing to give Him, and the enemy snatches and steals anything He can get. Your words are a form of communication for this. If you allow your mind and words to be used by the kingdom of darkness, then you are fighting for the enemy and against Adon Olam—and you know that this is serious.”
― Erika Mathews, Victory's Voice

“Pleasure is a difficult taskmaster, ' Trenton observed thoughtfully, 'and one that people do not mind submitting to. Most don't even realize that it is their master. Once they are enslaved to pleasure, it deceives them into believing that they control their own lives.”
― Erika Mathews, Promise's Prayer

“Through those long, monotonous weeks, only one spot of hope spoke to her heart:
“Trust in Adon Olam with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, intimately know Him, and He will direct your paths.”
He will direct your paths. That was a promise. And since she couldn’t direct her own paths, she had to trust Him. Even when it was the last thing she felt like doing.
Gradually the bitterness, the anger, the resentment, the grief, the loss, the hurt—all of it—gave way to a tiny thread of surrender.”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength

“She could only speak words powerfully for His Kingdom when she’d been abiding in Him and keeping His words as precious within her mind. And that was one thing she certainly hadn’t been doing these last months. Again her head bowed until her forehead touched the blanket. She had some straightening out to do with Adon Olam, immediately. The next battle wouldn’t find her quiver so empty.”
― Erika Mathews, Victory's Voice

“When everyone lives only for self, life doesn't work.”
― Erika Mathews, Promise's Prayer

“Kaelan, the work is His. That means the methods must be His. The timing must be His. And above all things, it must be bathed in prayer for His blessing. No step can be taken without Him.”
― Erika Mathews, Promise's Prayer

“That was how to love Adon Olam: to simply receive the glorious, great, amazing, marvelous love that Adon Olam had for him. That glorious love was more than enough to love Kethin and to love Himself back through Kethin!”
― Erika Mathews, Romance’s Rest

“He did then, but I don’t think He’ll do that again for us,” Faith stated.
“Why not? Has He changed since then?”
“No… but I’ve never seen a little bit of bread be enough to feed that many people in my lifetime.”
“Ah, yes—but what did He say about that? Something like ‘Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe.”
― Erika Mathews, A Homewood Christmas

“Adon Olam was the King—that was only logical, it was only right. He had created her with the rest of the world; He’d caused her very existence in her mother’s womb; and, as if that wasn’t already enough, she’d professed her- self to be His. Now how could she deny Him the kingship He rightfully held in her life?”
― Erika Mathews , Surrender's Strength

“So you have it all figured out.” Ellrick nodded.
“Well...I don’t.” Her head dropped. “I—thought I did. But everything—and I mean everything—is going wrong. I didn’t know it was possible to fail so many different ways.”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength

“Of course, she’d always wanted to include Adon Olam in her life, to have Him beside her in her daily decisions and actions...but was that the problem? Was she only trying to include Him in her life instead of joining Him in His?”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength

“Oh. That is why I need Adon Olam.” He wasn’t just for sinners. She didn’t just need Him to keep her from sinning outright; she needed Him to keep her heart transformed and renewed, for her old heart constantly lifted itself up and tainted her every moment with fleshly, prideful motives. Becoming one with Adon Olam’s Son wasn’t a one time thing… it was a continual process, a journey.”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength

“Seek first the kingdom of Adon Olam, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you,” Ellrick quoted quietly.
“But—I don’t know how!”
“Ask Him. He’d love to tell you.”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength

“Never for one moment had she imagined such a rich life—but this wasn’t her life, not a bit of it. It was Adon Olam’s. Through complete surrender in spite of herself, she’d truly found her strength in Him. And in Him, she’d discovered an identity more real, more true, and more blissful than she’d ever dreamed.”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength

“Christmas isn’t just about good feelings or warm wishes. That’s just a cheap imitation of the real Christmas Spirit.”
“Exactly right!” Auntie Beth exclaimed. “The true Christmas Spirit is the Holy Spirit who desires to live Himself within us every moment.”
― Erika Mathews, A Homewood Christmas

“You think it feels like Christmas here, right? And you love that. Do you know why you love that?”
[…] “I think it’s because everyone seems extra kind and
loving at Christmas time,” Charity said, her eyes on her paper.
“That is a big part of it. But do you know why people do that? … It is because all the good things associated with Christmas are the expression of the fellowship of the Spirit and life of God through us.”
― Erika Mathews, A Homewood Christmas

“I always like to think of how long God’s people suffered and waited,” Auntie Beth remarked quietly. “How long they groaned under the oppression of enemies without and within! That’s the Christmas spirit—fortitude, perseverance, endurance—longsuffering.”
― Erika Mathews, A Homewood Christmas

“We may not agree,but we do want to understand.And if it’s truly best that you not be in Syorien, no one will force you that direction.”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength

“She was praying. There she was, that sky-blue dress a cloud about her, her face buried in her hands, her eyes tightly shut. She knelt behind a row of chairs—invisible from any door in the room. What humility. What incredible devotion. Kethin’s heart pounded, something in his spirit softening. Something was right here. She knew Adon Olam. And she wasn’t afraid to talk with Him anywhere at any moment of the day.”
― Erika Mathews, Romance’s Rest

“Well now, I do think that there’s something to the commandment of Adon Olam that says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ but that’s all I have to say on that topic. And it’s not my place to tell you how Adon Olam wants you to honor yours.”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength

“As the summer weeks passed quietly, even the satisfaction of her teaching position dulled. She didn’t want to enter into the zest of life, to trust other people, to put herself and her decisions on the line again. The pain of rejection, of betrayal, of being taken advantage of, stung far too deeply, and any repetition must be avoided.”
― Erika Mathews, Surrender's Strength