I cannot adequately put to words how much this story means to me.. At least not without telling a story of my own. This is definitely not the kind of reading that I normally do, and I'm not sure exactly how I found it, but I'm glad I did. I just finished reading through the first and second book.
It was both exciting and encouraging to see God at work in this story, so much so that I stayed up till 3:40am to finish it. :) I hope you are both well, and I'll be praying the both of you. Thank you for sharing your story, and what God has done in your lives. It brings hope.
God Bless,
- Nathan Wiering

I love the sequel, thank you for posting it

That is, honestly, the most amazing, awesome, perfect way to end 3 I love how both of you are so much in love with each other and even more with God. I honestly wish I could give you a huge hug right now, you deserve a pat (or even more :P) for writing this beautiful story. God bless!

I am a Muslim. And after reading your story, I am so sorry for what you have seen at the hands of these so called Muslims. This is not what Islam teaches us to do, nor is it what the Prophet Muhammad PBUH practiced. This is a clear distortion of the teachings of the Quran and these people are misguided and acting on their own agendas. As Muslims it is our reponsibility to protect minoritites living in our lands, and to treat prisoners with the highest levels of respect. We are told to respect others' beliefs and not to force our religion on anyone. On behalf of the ignorant Muslims you have encountered, I deeply apologize. May your situation become better, and persecution for those who are suffering end in all parts of the world.

thank you so much for sharing this story with us.. it's opened my eyes yet again to how truly great and wonderful our God is. the things that you've experienced.. the wonders God has worked into our lives, it's unbelievable.
Praise be to the Lord!

(first of all you did not disappoint us with a sequel; I personally think your writing has improved a lot in this)

Okay um. I'm speechless but let me say this first:

This story was like a slap to the face. Not a bad one, it was like a happy slap if that even makes sense. It was like someone dumped cold water on me and slowly, things shifted into view and one by one, I started to understand and realized all that I'd been doing wrong. My analogies are horrible but I think I've proven my point. xD

I read The Boy Who Talks To God the first time months ago, back in January and back then, I wasn't really 'in' to God. I mean, I loved that this was about God and it was REAL for that matter, but I just wasn't as interested in God as I was in the romance. And let's be honest, when I started the sequel I was looking for the same thing and gave up on about 1/4 of it.

It's June now; and something inside me made me /want/ to reread your story and go through everything carefully this time; drinking in God's promises and the lessons learned; focusing on HIM not just the romance. I'm pretty sure God urged me to read it because right about then, my relationship with Him was meh; crumbling. It moved me so much more than it did last time, but it turned out that God hadn't finished opening my eyes yet, so I read Where Cross and Crescent Meet and it was so much /deeper/ and had so many relevant topics and spot-on beautiful lines that made me tear up. I highlighted so much of the verses and lines on my Kindle. Ally's (your) character developed significantly; and so had Nate's and what really hit me was that, all this time, all the things that I'd been doing were wrong. I'd been calling myself a Christian but I was far from it in my attitude and thoughts and it hit me like a ton of bricks and I just wanted to start crying and praise Him and pray, but I couldn't in the place I was in so it was all in my head.

You know, I've always heard the "God's plans are greater than mine" thing, and a lot of my friends really love the verse from Jeremiah, but I'm never actually understood it completely or seen it in action. What this story proves though, since it's very much real, is that God's plans are INDEED greater than our own and He truly DOES take away in order to give us things of much greater worth (a theme that was talked about a lot).

I can just go on and on about this, but let me just say: your story is amazing! I'm really happy for you and Nate, and your love for each other and Christ makes me tear up. I hope one day I'd be able to know that kind of love. And last but not least, we serve such an amazing God! Thank you so much for sharing this story with us; it encouraged and helped open my eyes to things that I've been so oblivious to.

God bless! ]

- silentsings

I admire you. I really do. I only wish I could be as strong and brave as you.

I believe in Jesus. I love him with all of my heart. But a lot of the time I feel I don't worship him enough or I don't try hard enough to spread word of him. I feel I'm not good enough for him, and I know nobody is but sometimes I wonder how he can love me.

I wish I could believe the way you do. I know you aren't perfect just as much as I'm not, but I wish I had the courage to go through what you did.

God Bless you, Ally. And Nate, too. I will pray for you both.

I don't know if you'll ever see this, but if you do, I have several things I'd liked to say.

One: You probably hear this a lot, but this inspired me. It opened my eyes to how selfish I've been, and how angry at God for insignificant things, like loneliness. I realize now that I don't have to be lonely because I have God. Hopefully this will help my relationship with him.

Two: I hope that I could be as strong as you in that situation. I know you aren't perfect, as no one is, but I hope to become as brave as you. I'm sitting in my nice bedroom, warm in the middle of winter, feeling like a coward.

Three: Words cannot describe just how happy I am for you and Nate. This story almost made me cry, but especially when he returned.

Four: I am SO glad for Kaveen and her husband. I took a particular liking to her and Brooke, and I was happy that it ended well for them both.

Overall, this story made me want to shout: GOD IS GREAT! Many blessings to all of you, may God continue to bless you and guide you.

Mekayla

It's good I like it so far

Thank you very much for sharing your story! I have been following your postings since somewhere in the middle of the boy who talks to God. I'm going through a hard time right now in my relationship with Jesus. I always thought I loved Him more than anyone or anything and that nothing could affect that. I failed Him in little ways, 'we have all sinned.' but I thought that whenever a big thing would come up I would say yes. I loved Him didn't I? Just recently though I said no to Him regarding an important life decision and although I may get a chance to go back again it would not be for at least another year and it can never be the same. I haven't been praying because it hurts too much. I know He still loves me and that nothing will stop that but I don't love myself even for His sake. I feel as if I have hurt Him so badly and I have hurt myself so badly and I am scared to try again. You're story has inspired me but I'll be honest - I'd like to be like that but I no longer feel like I can do it. Please get back to me in some way! I need help! I'm scared to go to HIm and I don't feel like anyong understands or cares. I don't feel comfortable sharing contact info on a public forum and I don't have a fan fiction account so if you are unable to contact me I understand. Please pray for me at least, you and Nate both. It feels so weird to be asking someone I don't even know to pray for me and confiding in them but I guess in Christ we are never strangers. Please get back to me if you can and thank you for everything.

Wow! What an amazing story! I can't thank you enough for sharing your story with us. You must get them published! I would love to share it with my "Nate". You could really see God's Hand throughout each chapter. There are not enough words to express how inspiring these stories have been. I will continue to run alongside you as you continue to run to Him and I look forward to meeting you and "Nate" in heaven one day. May He continue to bless you abudantly.

R

As i was reading this chapter, i just couldn't control my tears anymore. The horrible things that they had done to Nate had really hurt me. I can't imagine anybody going through all that torture, and i wonder how you could stomach all the details. Oh, Ally (or insert real name here), my heart breaks for you! I imagined something like that happening to someone that i loved, i would wish that i could take their place instead. Yet, it's something that i couldn't shoulder, because i would have caved in and "denied" Christ. Nate had such a close relationship with God, and i'm so amazed that he could praise God at a time like that, yet i am partially asking God how He could let this happen to him. And i realized, God wouldn't make us shoulder something that we cannot handle, and everything He does has a easy to question God's love when we suffer, and i really pray that you guys would not lose faith in Him ever. Praise the Lord.

Dear Lizzie,

Praise the Lord! Really rejoicing with you to see the amazing way that the Lord has led you and Nate over the years. I'm glad...and sad that Where Cross and Crescent meet is at an end. (Obviously, you know why i'm glad :) )I'm also sad because my own meeting with my husband and marriage took place alongside the year that this story evolved. The Boy who talks to God was a real Godsend while I was waiting and praying for my life partner, reminding me not to lose hope that I would find a man of God who loved Him and His word so much...and after our marriage, there were so many times during our first year together that God encouraged and blessed me through your story. I really wish I could have known you and Nate in person! :) All things are possible with God, as we have discovered together...God bless you, dear sister in Christ and keep writing... You have a real gift for this too.

This chapter made me cry too.

February 23rd is the birthdate and deathdate of my nephew Ean, who I mentioned in the last review. Reading Nate's words chills my soul but fills me with hope.

I can't stop reading this story, even though it's very late and I desperately need sleep...

I was going to wait to review the story until I was finished reading it, but this chapter made me cry so much. My little nephew would have been six years old now, but he died less than an hour after he was born. I am so thankful we were able to baptize him in the name of Jesus, but it breaks my heart to read this chapter and know it actually happened. Six and a half years and I still cry when I think about little Ean.

I don't really know what else to say. But I wouldn't wish what happened to my family on anyone. Seeing a newborn child die is one of the worst things in the world.

God bless you.