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. 

Obedience

The price of disobedience is very high, much higher than we should be willing to pay.  The rewards for obedience are wide and far reaching even into eternity.

A Deadly Business – Mixed Emotions

I’ve watched her on Fox News and I’ve seen her mystery books in Christian bookstores, but this is the first novel I’ve read by author Lis Wiehl. 

A Deadly Business in the second book in the Mia Quinn mystery series by coauthors Lis Wiehl and April Henry.  The main character Mia is mother of two children, widowed and a prosecutor in Seattle.  

This is a fast-paced novel, filled with action from the get go.  Starting on page two, buckle you seat belts because you are on a roller coaster ride as Mia, her family and coworker are thrust into danger, mystery and intrigue.  Questions arise on her husband’s death seven months earlier, that may indicate murder not an accident.  In the middle of dealing with that duty calls as Mia is assigned a case prosecuting juveniles who critically injure a woman by dropping a shopping cart on her from two stories up.  Mia has to make the tough decision to prosecute these criminals as juveniles or as adults in a highly volatile and politically charged atmosphere.

Now what did I think of the book…well the book held my attention.  I found that I didn’t have a chance to get to know the main character early on because the action started so abruptly.  I connected with two of the characters, Detective Charlie Carlson and Mia’s fourteen year old son Gabe because they seemed good and real.  There were times I found myself put off by Mia’s thoughts and approach to the criminal justice system.  Rather than punishing criminals for their acts, the character approached it as a place to help rehabilitate criminals.  I wondered is that the authors view point or just what they wrote about the character?  

Another question that came up, as I was reading this novel, is that I’m not sure what would qualify this book as “Christian Fiction”.  If a writer is a Christian does that mean what they write is Christian fiction?  I don’t think so.  There was precious little in the book about God, faith or prayer and nothing that would stand out to suggest it was a Christian book.  I wouldn’t have guessed this book was from a Christian writer unless I had known this was put out by a Christian based publisher.

Nevertheless, I did appreciate the fact that the book did not contain filthy language or promote sexual immorality, etc. 

Would I recommend this book?  I would advise customers to read the book synopsis, reviews, and choose based on an informed decision if it sounds like something you might like.  I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for someone who likes to read books that include characters dealing with God, scripture, prayer and wrestling their faith.  But if you are looking for a good mystery you might like it.

I would like to thank the people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. 

I Bless You

For my precious friend, I pray and bless you

I bless you with faith that rises

Faith that burns brighter

In the darkness of trials

I bless you with faith like a jewel

A multifaceted diamond

Sparkling and reflecting the Light of God

I bless you with faith that takes God at His Word

“All things are possible to him who believes.”

A responsive heart that confesses, “I believe.  Help me with my unbelief.”

I bless you with faith that remembers

Your Savior suffered and was tempted

And is able to help and strengthen you today

I bless you with faith that trusts God

When all others tell you to abandon ship

You will remember that God still calms the stormy seas

I bless you to remember your Savior’s compassion

He stands ready to wipe away your tears

With His nail scarred hands

I bless you to praise God,

Unapologetic, out loud and with boldness

Though others may tell you to curse God

I bless you to know with confident assurance

That God is perfectly weaving your trials and pain

Into a beautiful tapestry of your life

I bless you to recognize

That God will never waste your trials

Be confident that He will use them to help others

I bless you to remember book by book

Who God has revealed Himself to be

In holy and inerrant Scripture

I bless you to recall the names of God

Reflect and remember

How He has proven Himself over and over in your life

I bless you to rejoice always

Pray without ceasing

In everything and for everything give thanks