(The Fourth Chair, Anne Barbour, Audible Version)
When you pray, is it you who are initiating the prayer? Or are you entering into a conversation that has already been started by God? This was just one of the pearls I found in Anne’s book, and I pondered the concept for days.

Anne is not only an author, but also a teacher, a professional singer/songwriter, and blogger. I have followed her music, blogs, and books for years. Although I purchased both the Kindle and Audible versions of this book, this review is based on the Audible version. Normally I shun audiobooks that are narrated by the author, as professional readers normally do a far better job than authors in recording the book. However, likely because of her professional singing voice, Anne does a beautiful job of narrating her own audiobook.

For twelve consecutive days I listened to one chapter each morning. This was a beautiful and productive way to contemplate the richness of the book, as I would think back on Anne’s words through each day.

The Fourth Chair describes the metaphor of the Trinity occupying three chairs around a table, and the fourth chair beckoning you to come to occupy this chair. Anne does an excellent job explaining the metaphor and builds on it throughout the text of the book.
The poem she includes at the end of chapter 2 has become my favorite. The Love of God: Could we with ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made. Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade. To write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. Oh, love of God how rich and pure. How measureless and strong. It shall forevermore endure the saints and angels’ song. A poem by Frederick M. Lehman, 1917.
The Fourth Chair is written by someone who walks in nearness to the Trinity. Throughout the text, Anne invites and encourages you to grow in the nearness of your relationship with the Trinity. The Trinity is inviting you to come to the table. Will you come and take your seat?

To truly know God and to experience being fully known by Him is the desire of every believer, but in our consumer driven culture, we can easily slip into a faith walk that is more about what God can do for us than learning what it means to truly abide in His presence. This book will take you on a journey into a deeper understanding of the personhood of our Almighty God and what it really means to turn over the reins of control and live minute by minute in communion with Him. With clarity and illuminating insight, Anne beckons us to seek a deeper level of intimacy where we can experience who God is and the depth of His love and tender care for each one of us, individually. Whether you are a new believer or a life-long Christian, The Fourth Chair will challenge you to embrace our Almighty, Triune God with every fiber of your being and experience the reality of His life-changing power and peace.

This isn’t a book you can or will want to speed read. Have a pencil handy when you read it, you will be tempted to write down thoughts on nearly every page. The book is an invitation to “come home” as Anne Barbour so beautifully describes our place in the presence of a triune God. Her words encourage an intimate and honest conversation with this "altogether other " God, one we may have never had. There is much treasure here and I will be reading it again.

This book by Anne Barbour has touched my heart anew by helping me understand the PERSONAL relationship the Creator of the universe wants to have with me. It was His plan in the beginning, and is still His plan today. With the image of 4 chairs and picturing yourself sitting in one of them in the midst of the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit...it changes your way of thinking about our relationship and what it should look like. It's not about all the things we do, church activities we take part in, or other ways in which we serve Him... It's about this relationship, and Anne shares her story so well. I want to accept His invitation to come into His presence on a much deeper level than I've experienced in my Christian walk. Thank you Anne for using the gifts God has given you to help me in my walk with Him.