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Liam McDonald || Storyteller

@firesidefables.withliam

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I share stories that continue to make me
Follower of Christ, Husband, Father

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Firstly, I want to thank all of you for the immense support you’ve all shown to Fireside Fables — I don’t think I imagined how much fun I would truly have sharing these stories and my (rambling?) thoughts as to why I love them so.

I’ll be back with another reading on Monday; until then, Peace of Christ to all of you! by @firesidefables.withliam

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3 months ago

✨🌙💛🥰 by @firesidefables.withliam

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3 months ago

No Country for Old Men hits with the fury of a runaway train. McCarthy’s signature lack of punctuation only increases the pace and tension. It also goes without saying that if you haven’t seen the Coen Brothers’ adaptation of this novel, give it a watch after you read!

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Literature, Cormac McCarthy, Novels, No Country for Old Men, American Literature, West Texas, Western, Book Recommendations, Bookstagram by @firesidefables.withliam

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3 days ago

This is easily one of my favorite books in my collection — it was my dad’s, and I remember being fascinated by this book as a kid, which only fueled my fascination for Tolkien’s universe as a whole. Highly recommend it!!

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Literature, JRR Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, Middle Earth, Book Recommendations, Bookstagram by @firesidefables.withliam

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5 days ago

I had the chance to reread John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” while my daughter was napping. It’s still just as good as ever. Punchy, poignant, and beautifully written by, in my humble opinion, the greatest American author to ever live.

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Literature, John Steinbeck, Short Stories, American Literature, Salinas Valley, Of Mice and Men, Book Recommendations, Bookstagram by @firesidefables.withliam

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7 days ago

Welcome back to another Fireside Fable. Today marks the first anniversary of the most difficult 48 hours of my life.

It began with a phone call that in many ways, I had expected to receive for a long time, but could never really be ready for.

“Liam, your dad collapsed at work. He’s at the hospital. He was awake for a bit, and now he’s unconscious.”

I got in my car, and began to drive.

As I left, I asked the Lord what I could expect when I arrived.

And I believe heard His voice more clearly than I ever have, and maybe will ever again.

“This is it. I’m bringing your dad home.”

Peace consumed me.

Sorrow was my lot for days ahead, for certain, but peace attended my way.

It gave me strength. For my mother. For my sister.

Gave me freedom to shed many tears on behalf of the departure of the man who taught me everything I know about loving our Blessed Lord more than life itself.

Because in Him is life itself.

Lord, be near to Your children in their mourning.

God bless, y’all. by @firesidefables.withliam

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10 days ago

In an age where distraction is ever-abounding, moments of solitude become necessity.

Christ Himself did as much.

Solitude teaches you presence.

The ability to embody moments in time in a way that matters.

It’s uncomfortable to have your own thoughts brought forward, unable to be soothed through drowning them out with empty noise.

And yet that discomfort is where I find immense closeness to Christ.

Blessed Lord, help us fix our thoughts on You, and have mercy on us when we choose otherwise.

———

Christianity, Christian Culture, Christian Philosophy, Blaise Pascal, Christian Literature, Christian Influence, Christian Thought, Distraction, Solitude by @firesidefables.withliam

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12 days ago

“Joy and sorrow are His oceans

And in their ebb and flow

The Lord a door has opened

All of Hell could never close

Here I’m tested, and made worthy

Tossed and lifted up

By the reckless raging fury they call the love of God.”

This year has changed me. I pray for the better.

I’ve felt the peace of still waters, and the crashing of a hurricane.

And all I can say is, “Glory to Jesus Christ, who has sustained my body and soul.”

For all the tears of joy and grief that have fallen from my eyes, they have watered a patch of soil from which has sprung forth an abundance of life.

Perhaps now I truly know I’m alive — in ways I never did before.

Here’s to 28. The Lord is ever-faithful. by @firesidefables.withliam

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13 days ago

Thanks for stopping by for another Fireside Fable! Today, we hear the story of St. Francis and Brother Wolf, in honor of the 800th year since St. Francis’s death.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

St. Francis, if any man ever could be, is surely counted among these.

After a miraculous encounter with Christ, St. Francis did what the rich young ruler could not — gave up all that he had, and followed Christ.

From that day forth, St. Francis became one of the foremost peacemakers in history — displaying an undying love for all of the Lord’s creation, as displayed by this encounter in Gubbio.

Blessed Lord Christ, in your charity, give us even an ounce of Your peace, as you did St. Francis. May we love and cherish your creation, and see You all the more as we go about our days.

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Christianity, Christian Culture, Christian History, Saint Francis of Assisi, Christian Storytelling, Christian Influence by @firesidefables.withliam

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14 days ago

I find myself craving to know what before me — a creature comfort, to be certain. Unknowing is uncomfortable.

Yet my intellectual knowledge of Christ and His ways has less to do with abiding in Him than I would like. Even the demons know of Him.

Contentment with mystery has led me into a deeper wonder of my faith. Awe in the face of the majesty of God. And although I am by no means an expert on this, I am sinking into deeper waters with every day. Our Blessed Lord has not let me drown yet.

Does that mean I forgo all attempts to understand the nature of God? Absolutely not. But obsession over the wrong things is the easiest way to miss the forest for the trees — which I find myself doing far too often.

And yet Christ is ever merciful.

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Christianity, Christian Culture, Christian Philosophy, GK Chesterton, CS Lewis, Christian Literature, Christian Influence by @firesidefables.withliam

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17 days ago

Rich Mullins was always an odd duck amongst the burgeoning crowd of CCM. But I will forever be moved by the depth of honesty that flowed forth from his music.

He was someone who truly sought to live as Christ did. He lived off of a meager salary and gave the rest of his earnings from his record and touring proceeds to his church for the elders to steward.

For all of his virtues, he was never shy about admitting to his faults, and pointing to the joy that is to be found in Christ our Lord, whose power is made perfect in the weakness of men.

Rich’s legacy is one of the love of Christ. His songs still serve to put words to the groanings of my spirit in a way that no others have done.

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Christianity, Christian Culture, Christian Music, Rich Mullins, Christian Art, Christian Influence by @firesidefables.withliam

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18 days ago

Thanks for stopping by for another Fireside Fable! Pull up a chair as we get ready to dive into J.R.R. Tolkien’s: The Two Towers.

Here, in Tolkien’s tale, the hobbits Frodo and Samwise, as well as their unlikely guide, Sméagol, have been taken prisoner by Faramir of Gondor, brother of Boromir.

Faramir is well-within his rights to slay Sméagol, and take the hobbits as prisoners before his father, the Steward of Gondor, where they might claim the One Ring for themselves in a vain attempt to use it for some perceived good.

But, Faramir chooses otherwise.

He releases the three companions freely go about their quest.

He shows mercy.

In this moment, he redeems the legacy of the men of Gondor. Where Boromir — although eventually repentant — attempts to take the Ring, Faramir gives it up willingly.

Surely to face the consequences of his actions at the hand of his father.

But virtue cares not for convenience.

The way of Christ is difficult, but we may take heart in knowing that we might find His mercy all the more when we extend it in kind to those who we are within our rights to withhold it from.

For even as we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Blessed Lord Christ, have mercy on us, and give us the strength to be merciful. by @firesidefables.withliam

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19 days ago