book review: "city on our knees" by tobymac

“All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.” – James Russell Lowell

Throughout “City on Our Knees” are quotes and this one I believe sums up the point Toby is trying to make. He talks about his desire to see all of us truly come together and be united. He talks about how anyone, no matter age or color, can make a difference. He makes this point over and over by sharing story after story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The first story is of a little girl named Alex who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma before she was a year old. When she was four she had the idea to have a lemonade stand with the profits going to find a cure for her cancer as well as others. She passed away in 2004 but not before seeing Alex’s Lemonade Stands (the organization started by her parents) raise over $1.4 million. Stories like this both break your heart but also show that we are all capable of making a difference.

I really enjoyed this book. It encouraged my faith while giving me that push to do more for God. To reach out to those who are hurting and not do enough to merely “get by.” One line from the book stood out to me: “Faith is at its best when it’s on the move, leading people to places they never thought they’d go, and changing lives for the better. The next time you’re given a chance to follow your faith, wherever it may take you, will you choose to move?”

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review.