by Marta Perry
Blessings,
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Can you understand why Amanda was troubled by the doubts she felt about her life choices when she turned thirty? Have you struggled with any of the landmark birthdays? If so, how did you resolve those feelings?
Amanda’s personality leads her to become a sister to anyone in trouble. Is that always a good reaction? Can you think of a time in which that might backfire on a person?
Amanda, like Georgia in the first book of this series, finds that everyone in her family has an opinion as to what she should do. Had this ever happened to you? How do you sort out God’s calling from the demands of others?
Ross is so caught up in his anger over what happened to him in the past that he can’t see his present clearly. How do you deal with it when you can’t forget a hurt?
Ross drifted away from his early faith in God after his grandmother’s death. Have you ever experienced that? If so, how did you come back to God?
The scripture verse for this story reminds us to put God first in all that we do. How do you feel about doing that? Is it difficult to do that in the press of your daily life and experiences?
Amanda finds it difficult to confront Ross initially, but she finds the courage to do it when other people’s happiness is at stake. Has that ever happened to you, causing you to feel that you had to confront someone over their behavior? How can you do that in a Christlike manner?
Why do you think C.J is so antagonistic to Amanda at first? Should Amanda have done anything differently with her?
Amanda’s grandmother longs to find the truth about the past. Do you think it’s always a good idea to do that?
Did you sympathize with Ross’s need to get back the life he’s lost? How might he have handled the situation better?
In the end, Ross realizes that he was to blame in part for the situation that caused him to lose his job. Why is it so difficult for him to face that?
Ross also comes to realize that if he hadn’t gone through the bad times, he’d never have turned back to God. Do you think God can use the difficulties we encounter to help us to turn to Him? Has that ever happened to you?
Which character in the story did you feel was living the most Christ-like life? Why?
How do you feel about Win’s decisions during the rescue effort? Does he do the right thing?
In the end, Amanda feels that she and Ross have discovered their “true colors,” the people they are at a soul-deep level. Do you think that some people never really understand themselves? Do you think that people change who they really are at bottom?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4862-9
HEART OF THE MATTER
Copyright © 2010 by Martha Johnson
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† The Flanagans
‡ The Three Sisters Inn
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†† The Bodine Family
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‡ The Three Sisters Inn
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