Book Review - Stones of Fire

"At the end of the earth, where mountains are flung peak upon peak as if they were discards of the Creator, piled together chaotically, the Salween River carves its way through granite masses making a canyon thousands of feet deep. For unknown centuries the Lisu tribespeople have plowed these perpendicular hillsides into cornfields and reaped a bare, rough living. This is the true story of Mary, a young Lisu tribeswoman. See God transform her from a common stone into a rare gem, a precious opal, a stone of fire."                        (From the back of the book)

In the early decades of the 20th century, Isobel Miller was living life in all its "glory", utterly destitute of any relationship, or desire for one, with God. Through prayer, divine encounters, and the crush of betrayal in her love life drove her to the brink of desperation and there she called upon God (see By Searching for Isobel's complete testimony). After graduating from Moody Bible Institute in preparation to serve in the lands of China, she sailed around the world where she married John Kuhn, and together they faithfully served their Savior through hardships, separation, and World War 2, until they were forced out of China by the communists in 1950. Taking up new work with the people of northern Thailand, the Kuhn family ministered there until returning to the United States after Isobel was diagnosed with cancer in 1954. She completed her faithful race in 1957. Isobel had an incredible gift for writing and in her later years, she began recounting and writing about her own spiritual journey, their ministry, and the people of China, especially the dear Lisu tribespeople who held her heart for so long. 

I have been blessed reading several of Isobel's books, but this one especially was a sweet read. The story recounts "Mary's" journey as an unbelieving young woman, her salvation, her sweet, quiet romance, her trials, victories, and finally her homegoing. The principles and their applications are a blessing to the heart and the story itself is sweet and touching. 

Recommendation scale 1-10: 9 

Favorite quote: "A stone is the last embodiment of principle-hard and cold. Fire is the essence of passion-warm and energizing. Put the two together, and we have stones-principle; fire-passion; principle shot through with passion, passion held by principle."