God vs. Giants

I think I’ve gotten my eyes off the Lord and have been focused on the giants in the land.  I see myself in comparison to them and see how weak and inadequate I am for the challenges ahead.  Lord…help me to lift my eyes unto You and keep my focus on You alone.

C. S. Lewis & Mere Christianity – Interesting & Insightful

It’s been my privilege to read Paul McCusker’s book C. S. Lewis & Mere Christianity.  I didn’t want to rush through this book because I was learning about C. S. Lewis, the events that help shape him and the formidable works he produced that would impact Christianity and the common everyday Christian, even up to this present day. 

In the book, as the subtitle states, I was learning about “The Crisis That Created a Classic.”  I must confess I am woefully ignorant about much of World War II history.  It was very sobering reading about the long and great suffering that the people of Great Britain enduring during World War II.  I learned a lot and gained a new appreciation for the people, what they suffered, and the strength and character of the WWII generation.  How different our world would have been if they had not persevered and triumphed over evil.

One of the things I appreciated about this book is that the author interspersed sidebars with detailed information about people, places, and events that were part of C. S. Lewis’ life.  The reader will benefit and learn from the detailed research that went into this book.

I feel like I gained peek into the life of C. S. Lewis and I think that will help me as I read his work.  It was very interesting learning how some of his most well-known works came to be. 

If you are an admirer of C. S. Lewis, apologetics or have an interest in World War II, I would highly recommend this book.  Paul McCusker did an excellent job of painting a picture of C. S. Lewis and Great Britain during this transformational time in recent history.

I would like to thank Tyndale House for providing me with a copy of C. S. Lewis & Mere Christianity to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Scripture Art

At church this summer the Women’s Ministry is offering a class on Scripture Meditation and Art Journaling. 

Last week we had our first class and it was great fun.  It was a time to slow down and read through a passage of Scripture and ask questions and dig deeper. 

After the studying the scripture we had time to learn how to do scripture art. 

I’m not an artist by any means.  I love photography and I love to write…but that’s where my creative juices stop.  Nonetheless, I would love to learn how to do scripture art and journaling.  So I’m giving it a try.

This is my first attempt at scripture art based on a Scripture verse from our Sunday morning Bible study.  I hope to improve overtime.  One great thing about this technique you are writing out the Scripture verse several times so it will help with memorizing a verse.

I’m learning that just because I’m not great at something, especially when I first try it, doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t continue to work on it.  Hopefully, with time I’ll improve but more importantly that I will let the scripture work in me and change me as I focus on the Word of God.

Providence

It seems Your hand of providence

Is best understood when looking back

As I move forward in faithful obedience

I see that You have prepared the way

I feel Your gentle hand guiding me

Directing my footsteps

With each step taken I can clearly see

That You have gone before me and prepared the way

Lord, I must confess that I don’t understand

The whys and wherefore of this new chapter

I’m not certain what You will be doing in me

Or how You might use me as part of Your plan

When I feel weak and overwhelmed

Help me to cry out to You for strength, wisdom and peace

Help me to not hesitate in fear of the unknown

But unwaveringly follow Your lead

by Susan Wachtel

July 10, 2014

Spoken For – A Great Pleasure to Read

What a great pleasure it was to read Spoken For by co-authors Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke. 

The subtitle, embracing who you are and whose you are, encapsulates what the book is about.  In each chapter, both Robin and Alyssa, share from scripture about what God thinks about you as a child of God and the bride of Christ.  The chapters tell you are wanted by God, pursued by Him, loved, have been called, are of great value, a peculiar treasure, set free, covered, promised and spoken for. 

What I especially appreciated about the book is how transparent both authors were about what we feel inside about our worth, desires and insecurities.  They openly shared and were vulnerable about painful times in their own lives that included rejection, loneliness and the resulting pain that doesn’t go away and can continue to impact us years down the road. 

There are some real gems of wisdom in this book.  I wish I had this book when I was a new Christian and learned to see myself through God’s eyes and not through the broken mirror of this world. 

I highly recommend this book for young Christian women, teenagers, and even older women.  Goodness knows we don’t escape this life without incurring much pain.  I think this book can be used to begin healing the scars from the past and helping girls and women to make better choices because they can have confidence in who they are in Christ.

As I was reading Spoken For, I thought of a number of girls and women who could benefit from this book.  Don’t just buy one copy, but get a second copy because you will want to pass it along.

Spoken For is a book I will definitely read again. 

I would like to thank the people at Blogging for Books for supplying me with a copy of Spoken For to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.