Monday, September 14, 2015

A Library of Hope

"What if we could have a library of only Christian books and media?"   That was the question I asked my husband one day as we were trying to decide what to do with the building we owned and had run a children's resale business from for seven years.  I had always dreamed of opening a small Christian library that the local community to use.

He looked at me skeptically.  I said no more, but God did.

It was a week later and my husband told me, "God told me that He wants us to open a Christian Ministry Center, the main room as a library."

Needless to say, I was stunned, excited and thankful.   This was a dream come true and God had plans to help us fill the shelves.

At first, we purchased a few books from online, but then we began to visit local thrift stores and watched as miracles occurred.

At one thrift store, we had only five minutes to shop before they closed.  They stayed open for fifteen minutes more while I basically tossed every book I could find into a cart.  As I shopped, my husband told the manager about "Cottage of Hope Library" and when I got up to the counter to check out.... he boxed the books and gave them to us for FREE.

At our local downtown library's book store, books are usually $2 each.   We went on a day, unknowing that was the day all religious books were on sale for .50 each.  We bought 260 books.

I met a woman on line who was selling some books I wanted for the library.  I offered her a bit less than she wanted.  After waiting to hear from her, I was pleasantly surprised....she had gathered up 6 boxes of books and sent them to the library for FREE.

I attended a Homeschool book fair, where I met a librarian for a local church.  We exchanged phone numbers.  Two months later she called to tell me that her church had been collecting books for us and would donate them all to us.

Our doors opened on August 31 and we had over 2000 books ready for readers to check out.

We also offer rooms where people can host Bible Studies, a room where Pastors can come to study, a small used book store and a room for a Christian Counselor.    We feel blessed beyond measure to be able to reach our community with this ministry.

God is good all the time.  Is there something you've always wanted to do for God?  Maybe your time is coming.



The Author Teresa Lilly is a writer of Christian Romance Novellas.  She has 16 books available on Amazon.
One of her newest books is available just in time for the holiday season ahead.

An Angel For Mistletoe   

When Angelica Cartwright heads to Kentucky to begin her teaching career, she never dreams she will be waylaid in Mistletoe Kentucky with a broken foot and cared for by a handsome wood carver and his daughter. However, she soon finds that Luke Tanner is also carving himself onto her heart.

Find this an a whole series of books in the O' Little Town of Christmas Collection on Amazon. 



8 comments:

  1. A library I would love to visit. So much generosity too.

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  2. INSPIRING!! I love (in the biggest way possible) hearing about the stirrings. Stirrings in the heart of man that prove the moving of the Holy Spirit.

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  3. What a wonderful idea! So thrilled to hear about this.

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  4. Your story so resonates with me. We have church libraries and public libraries, but now you've combined the two and are meeting other ministry needs too. Just yesterday, I mentioned to my husband how there are very few places in our town outside the local coffee shop where people in ministry can meet together in a public place. Thank you for sharing!

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  5. Are you still accepting book donations??

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    1. yes always...You can send them to Teresa Lilly 11125 FM 1560 N, Helotes, Texas 78023....

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  6. This is a wonderful ministry and I am sure that your good works will continue to be rewarded!
    Blessings!
    Connie
    cps1950 (at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. Blessings on your new library ministry! How wonderful...

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