The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging - Abba's Child

Very good! I had to pause many times to experience the simple yet profound truths! It is a must read for it will challenge your perception of Jesus, it will invite you to a greater awareness of Him...not to say, that the book is brilliantly written.

I've read "Ragamuffin Gospel" and found Abba's Child to be much more raw. It's probably not for everyone, but that's part of what made it connect more for me.

I recommend this for anyone who wants to understand the core of Christ's life, teaching, and work.

This wonderful book by Brennan Manning has radically changed how I view myself and how I view God. God loves me unconditionally, even on my worst days when I feel I have really blown it. This book exposes the lies of the imposter and urges us to live authentically - just as God created us. So take off the mask and step into God's abiding love. He is waiting. This book is a must for anyone struggling with low self-esteem, addiction, and codependency.

Phenomenal and refreshing take on how God really views us through the lens of incomprehensible grace! Manning reclaims the grace at the heart of the gospel that is often times missing or downplayed in contemporary evangelical circles.

Incredible book for a morning meditation. I read a chapter or less and then just consider how what was just mentioned jives with my life. If not, why not? The author, Brennan Manning,has literally been the bottom of society and finally came to the realization of the GREAT love God has, regardless of who or what we are. That realization turned his life totally around and his ability to write about that love with regard to the human condition RESONATES to one's very being.

M. Manning describes one man's coming to redefine himself as 'the one beloved by God'... his book invites you to see yourself that way...

in the story of 'The Prodigal Son' , the son is returning to his father, feeling like he is a worthless piece of s***... while he still some way off, rehearsing his words, of how he is not worthy, his father (who has been watching for him) sees him, and runs to him and embraces him, and calls for a 'celebration'... the father does not rebuke the son, and refuses even to consider his words of apology... 'It is right to celebrate'... because my child, who was far off, is near again...

My child is near me again, where I can show him my love for him...

which is what God wants for you... for you to come close, so He can show you His Love...

read this book... then read M. Manning's earlier work, 'The Ragamuffin Gospel'

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Having come from a performance based Christianity, Brennan's open discussion of his own hearts struggle to accept and understand a fathers love has been a huge encouragement for me. I can highly recommend this book.

This book encourages hungry hearts for God to come closer to know Him personally. If you want to know God but something is keeping you back, reading this book might help.
I like it very much and I would recommend to my friends.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I originally stumbled upon Brennan Manning because I grew up listening to Rich Mullins (and, if I'm being honest, I still do), so I went in with pretty high expectations. I agree that God's grace covers over all of our brokenness and our failed attempts. I can agree that God fathers us and loves us passionately. I struggle, though, with the presentation of grace without a call for it to bring about radical life change. I think the Gospel leads us to repentance; not that we will ever be perfect this side of eternity, but that the Holy Spirit within us is continually making us new and shaping our hearts to be like his. I appreciate that Brennan Manning openly shared ways that he had stumbled along the way, and used his understanding of grace to bring about forgiveness and healing in his view of his childhood. I am also not claiming that he doesn't love Jesus or that he is not saved. I just struggle that this book was not about taking our eyes of our sin and pointing them to the cross, it was about accepting ourselves and others for the sake of acceptance because Jesus accepts us. But Peter fell because he took his eyes off of the cross and put them on to himself, and I think any understanding of grace other that pointing our focus away from ourselves and completely on Christ is not complete. I honestly am still wrestling through my opinion; I do not quite know how I feel about saying that all is grace. I definitely think it is a good read, though, of an honest struggle through life with honest shortcomings.

No words can describe the value of Manning's writings - the first one is The Ragamuffin Gospel; this one, Abba's child, is the second. I have the third, as well - The Signature of Jesus. Answers the question - why is it so hard to let Jesus love me? We all seek and need, require love to function. This is about where to truly find the Source of truly True Love - that kind that never dies. This can save your life.