Home Is Where God Sends You

Rethinking an Ugly Prayer

2013-05-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

“I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.” –Jeremiah 32:41

I caught myself praying a rather ugly prayer this morning. I was thinking about plans to resume work on a project that I truly believe God wants me to pursue. I've learned, however, that God leading you to do something doesn’t necessarily mean He’ll miraculously open every locked door or remove all obstacles from the path. As baby chicks and butterflies must struggle to release themselves from eggs and cocoons, we must sometimes struggle, too. God allows this to strengthen us for His future plans. He’s making us into the people, He intends for us to be.

I forgot about that this morning, though, as I reviewed my plans. To myself: “First I’ll do this, then this, then this . . .” Continued to God, now a prayer, “. . . unless, of course, Lord, you decide to mess it all up again!”

I immediately knew in my heart that God has never messed up anything. I remembered, or rather, He reminded me, that He loves me and has good plans for my life. Jeremiah 29:11 assures me of this. So does Jeremiah 32:41, above.

Side note: I find it interesting that Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, is the one most well-known for assuring God’s people of His plans for their good, not harm. Perhaps Jeremiah had a moment or many like I had this morning.

In any case, I’m thankful that Jeremiah wrote God’s promises down. I am even more thankful that God rejoices in doing us good. When we enter a new land, literally through a move or figuratively through a new or resumed endeavor, He will assuredly plant us there with all His heart and soul.

Next time I decide to review my plans for a project, I’ll start by talking to God, instead of to myself, and I will prayerfully remember God's words through Jeremiah.

Father, thank You for Your patient love and for reminding us of it when we become frustrated. You rejoice in doing good for Your people. I choose to believe this. Thank You for planting me wherever You choose with all Your heart and soul. Such devotion . . . to me? I gladly and gratefully devote my life to You in return. In Jesus’, I pray. Amen.

A Leading Attitude

2013-05-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

“Jesus replied, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” –Matthew 19:14

What a privilege these mothers had! The opportunity to physically take their children to Jesus, to let Him touch them, to set them on His knee and listen to Him pray for them--imagine the awe they must have felt! What joy!

Then imagine their disappointment when the disciples tried to hold the children back. The disciples meant well for Jesus’ sake, but those mothers who came so close must have hurt deeply at the thought of having their children turned away. Thankfully, Jesus saw the hearts of these mothers and their children. He welcomed them with open arms and gave the blessing they sought.

As mothers today, we can’t physically set our children on Jesus’ knee, but we are still able to lead them to Him. To do so, we must be careful not to make the mistake of the disciples. Our attitude means so much. If, in the grief or loneliness of a moment during a move, we even hint that God is responsible for our pain or show bitterness to Him for our troubles, our children may follow our example. And, unfortunately, as we heal and ask God’s forgiveness for the lapse into blame, our children may not. They may carry our bitterness in their distress and pull away from God.

On the other hand, when we live with gratitude and joy, anticipating God's blessing in each new place, our children may choose to do so, too! A mother’s greatest privilege is to lead her child to Christ. As you enjoy this Mother’s Day, ask God to give you the attitude that will help you to do just that.

Dearest Jesus, more than anything, I want my children to know and love You dearly for all time. In my prayers, I bring them to You. With my words, actions, and attitudes, I show them the way. Bless them, Lord! I thank You. Amen.

Leaving KC

2013-05-04T04:33:00.000-07:00

“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” –Psalm 18:19

Kansas City was a hard place for our family. Mike worked two part-time jobs while attending school full-time. I worked full-time as a children’s Sunday school curriculum editor. We also had two small children to care for, one plagued with chronic ear infections and day care crud (the doctor’s term, not mine). By the time Mike graduated, we were tired. We just wanted to escape.

But God must have been pleased with our Kansas City work, for He allowed us to move on--to Maine. No. We didn’t move to coastal, picture book Maine, where fisherman, lobsters, and lighthouses abound. We moved to rural Maine, right in the middle of the state.

Suddenly my husband was a pastor, and I was a stay-at-home mom. One job, no school, lots of space! Mountains, forests, lakes, blue sky--space! A two-story home with three-bedrooms, a dining room, and a basement in place of a two-bedroom cracker box. Abundant space! Naturally, we had our share of trials while living in Maine, but we remember our time there fondly. Maine was a blessed time of release and recovery in preparation for the next busy phase of our lives.

If I serve God faithfully through the tight and challenging times, He will delight in that. Eventually, He’ll rescue me and lead me to a spacious place.

Thank You for relief, dear Lord. You know when I need it. Amen.

Being Blessed and Blessing Others

2013-04-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Today the ladies at Wives of Faith are asking: What’s one lesson God is teaching you right now? I’m glad they asked! I made a pretty exciting discovery this morning.

I’ve been reading Henri J.M. Nouwen’s book, Life of the Beloved. (And I highly recommend this one!) This morning, I read Nouwen's definition of the somewhat abstract term, blessed. We Christians go around blessing God and blessing each other all the time. We know it’s a good thing to do. We know it’s something we want others to do for us. And, thanks to a few modern translations of The Beatitudes, we know it has something to do with happiness. Beyond that, though, at least for me, the definition of the word has always been a bit elusive and obscure.

Have you ever said to God, perhaps while reading Psalm 103 or singing Matt Redman's song, 10,000 Reasons (embedded below this post for you), "I know how You've blessed me, Lord, but how exactly do I bless You?" Just what does that mean?

I probably could have researched it on my own, but until Nouwen defined it for me this morning, I think I thought I pretty much had a handle on it. Isn’t it amazing when God provides something we need before we even consciously recognize we have the need?

But I’m beginning to wander off the path. In his book (on p. 68), Nouwen tells us that the word blessing comes from the Latin word benedicere. He goes on to say, “The word ‘benediction’ that is used in many churches means literally: speaking (diction) well (bene) or saying good things of someone.” Nouwen continues, “That speaks to me.”

That speaks to me, too!

When I bless the Lord, I speak well of Him--worship, praise, thank, adore. When I bless others, I speak well of them, too--respect, encouragement, trust, Christian love. But Nouwen points out that we can’t effectively bless anyone else at all until we realize we are blessed by God—until we realize that He speaks well of us, too.

Wow! God speaks well of me—and you! He created us. He declared us good (Genesis 1:26-29). He sent His Son to die for our sins to restore a healthy and eternal relationship. God actually and highly values us. We are His beloved—we are blessed by God.

We don’t always remember this, but it's something God wants us to do. Once we’re secure in our state of blessedness, we are able to bless others, too. We do this by learning to see them through God’s eyes, by recognizing their state of blessedness. God values them, too.

And so, when I’m tempted to grumble or complain about someone, I must discipline myself to take a step back, pray about the situation, realize that God values me even when others don’t, and try to see the person through God’s eyes.

This doesn’t mean I can never prayerfully and gently offer constructive criticism when it’s warranted. If my comments are welcome and offered with love and intended to bless someone, constructive criticism can accomplish this. The saying-good-things-part-of-this is showing genuine confidence that the person will respect my words enough to prayerfully consider what I’ve had to say, knowing I honestly want what’s best for everyone. (That said, I should receive constructive criticism as a blessing, too.)

I may have wandered off the path again just a bit, but I think that was an important clarification to make. We bless others when we think and speak well of them, when we sincerely want good things for their lives, when we respect, encourage, trust, and love.

We are blessed. We can bless. Thank You, Lord! Amen.

Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) (Official Music Video) from matt-redman on GodTube.

Seeking God's Face

2013-04-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek.” –Psalm 27:8

One of the hardest things, if not the hardest thing, about moving is leaving people behind. At first, we leave family and first friends to strike out on our own. Then we start leaving new friends who’ve become so dear. Somewhere down the road, if moving is a regular part of our lives, we even start leaving our children, as they settle into homes of their own while we’re called to move on and on and on.

Though there are so many more ways to keep in touch these days, none of them, at least yet, quite compares to being able to meet with someone face to face. I’m eagerly watching for the day when one of those Star Trek-follower scientists invents a real teleportation device! Or maybe a Stargate! A girl can dream, can't she? Simply push a button or walk through a portal and be where a loved one is.

Until then, and even after, should teleportation or wormhole travel actually come to be, I am so thankful to know that wherever I go, there God Is. This will always and forever be true. I can count on Him.

Therefore, whenever I move (and every single day), like the psalmist, I seek God’s face. I study His Word to glean His daily messages to me. I talk with Him about every concern and need. I gratefully and with awe consider Who He Is and all He does. I watch to see Him at work all around me.

God is here. God is there. We only have to seek His face!

Father, thank You for being wherever I am. I’ll never have to leave You behind. You are ahead and behind and all around me all the time. Whenever I feel lonely or move to a new place, remind me to seek Your beautiful face. I love You, Lord! Amen.

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The Lesson of the Wind and the Waves

2013-04-14T06:08:00.000-07:00

“But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’” –Mark 4:38, NKJV

The storm threatened.

The disciples panicked.

Jesus slept.

The disciples assumed Jesus didn’t care, when in truth, He just wasn’t afraid. He had no need to fear—He created the wind and the waves. And so, He expected His disciples to share His lack of fear. They’d been with Him long enough to know Who He Is and what He can do.

Thankfully, along with being all-powerful, Jesus is all-patient, too. Instead of making His frightened disciples wait out the storm to see for themselves that He could see them safely through, He displayed His power by commanding the storm to stop. He left His disciples in awe.

Sometimes when we cry out to Him in fear, Jesus tells the storm to stop. He has the power to do so, no matter what crises we face.

Sometimes, though, He lets us wonder if He’s fallen asleep. When this happens, we need to remember The Lesson of the Wind and the Waves. Jesus cares—always! He’s also always in control. The storm will stop when He tells it, too. Until then, we hold on tight and trust our Lord to take us home.

Jesus, forgive me when I fear and begin to doubt Your loving care. Help me to remember that You are always in control. You created all things; all creation submits to Your call. When it seems You are asleep, help me to see it as an opportunity to express my confidence in You. I may need to close my eyes for a time, but help me to hang on in awe of You. Amen.

Book Review: What's Your Mark?

2013-04-09T05:03:00.002-07:00

What’s Your Mark? compiled by professional photographer Jeremy Cowart is an inspirational gift book, a work of art to encourage those who view its pages. Inside, the 16 chapters of the Gospel of Mark taken from the New International Version are interspersed with the stories of 16 people who are making a difference in our world, people who are making a mark. A question for the reader follows each of these stories, helping the reader to brainstorm similar ways to make a mark. The message is clear: followers of Jesus follow His example, loving other people in His name however they can. What’s Your Mark? presents a great variety of ways.

Some of the people in the book were familiar to me, but how they are making a mark right now was fairly new information. I found that interesting. Others, I’d heard of, but didn’t know their story. Some were introduced to me through this book. Quotes from Donald Collins were especially inspirational to me, personally. Katie Davis’s story prompted me to go right out and find her book at the library.

Reading the book on an eReader, I’m not sure I was able to get the most out of the photography. Each biographical entry includes a picture of its subject holding a picture representing what he or she does. On my eReader, the pictures were too small to clearly see. To get the most out of this book, I’d recommend getting the real book one can hold. Still, I greatly enjoyed reading the Gospel of Mark presented in this unique way with stories of people who are following Jesus’ lead. I thank Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending a complimentary copy for this honest review.

Applying That Mustard Seed Faith

2013-04-06T05:38:00.000-07:00

“Don’t measure the size of the mountain; talk to the One who can move it.” –Max Lucado

This simple statement helped me see the following verse in a whole new light:

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” –Matthew 17:20, NKJV

As we journey through life, we’re bound to run into mountains—some more challenging than others. This is especially frustrating when we know we’re going God’s way, when we’re confident that He wants us to travel from point A to point B, yet there’s a mountain in our way, one that we can’t travel over, under, or through.

Upon reaching the mountain, we have a choice. We can size it up to decide whether or not we have enough faith—even the faith of a mustard seed—to tell the mountain to move and have it obey. Or we can go directly to God, knowing that He can move any size mountain and will faithfully do so in order to help His beloved children reach their goals in His name. We don’t place our mustard seed faith in our ability to move mountains. We place that faith in God! We talk to Him about the mountain, then, with the authority He grants us, tell it to move right out of our way.

Father, help us to remember this. It doesn’t matter how much faith we have, so long as we place it in You. You are the One Who enables us to tell the mountains to move away. It’s Your power working through us that makes the mountains obey. Remind us to come to You first whenever we encounter obstacles on our earthly journey to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Book Review: Prayer Warrior Mom

2013-04-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

Marla Alupoaicei obviously cares very deeply about the women she is writing to in her new book, Prayer Warrior Mom: Covering your kids with God's blessings and protection. It is evident that she has read through many books on the topics she wants to share with her readers in order to offer as many helpful ideas as she can. In her new book, she opens up her brain and lets all that she’s taken in spill out. (Readers who don’t recognize ideas from these books within the text itself will find the books listed as resources in the back of Marla’s book.) Marla wants women to learn how to pray.

Prayer Warrior Mom wasn’t exactly what I expected, though. First of all, because of the subtitle, I expected a book full of ideas on how moms can pray for their children. Instead, the book tells women, in great detail, what they “should” or “must” do in order to become Marla’s definition of a woman qualified to pray effectively. Instead of focusing on the children, Marla's book focuses on fixing their moms.

Second, I expected this book to be a small group Bible study. A few times in the book, including in the introduction, Marla recommends it as such. Though the book does, in fact, have Scripture scattered throughout, this is not presented as a Bible study. In a true Bible study, one reads the Bible to learn what God has to say. In this book, Marla uses, and sometimes misuses, Scripture to make her own points.

Overall, I was disappointed in this book. Marla’s writing style is hard to follow. She jumps very quickly and randomly from one idea to another. Trying to keep track of them all was exhausting. Trying to accomplish all she suggests would be exhausting, too. Women need encouragement to go to God just as they are, right now, to build a loving Father-child relationship with Him that will naturally include fervent prayer for their children. The more time we spend in His Presence, the more He will make us into the mothers He’s meant for us to be. It’s His work, not ours, that turns us into prayer warriors.

Thomas Nelson Publishers sent a complimentary eCopy of this book for my honest review.

Shake It Off and Move On

2013-03-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

“And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.” –Matthew 10:14, NKJV

Maybe it’s because of the words that follow this verse: “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” But I’ve always viewed the act of shaking the dust off one’s feet as a curse. At the very least, it seems, at first glance, as if Jesus is calling His disciples to soundly reject those who reject them.

That doesn’t quite mesh, though, with the way Jesus lived His earthly life. Nor does it match God’s actions toward sinners. God is not in the business of rejecting people who reject Him. Rather, He does whatever it takes—what-ev-er-it-takes—to draw them safely home. When His very own people rejected His Son, putting Him to death painfully and wrongfully, God raised Him back to life and invited any of them or of any one who would come to join His Kingdom, to enjoy an eternal, personal relationship with Him.

So what’s up with the shaking of the dust off one’s feet?

As I’ve thought on this, I don’t think it has anything to do with the person who rejects Christ’s follower. Quite the opposite, I think it has everything to do with the follower continuing on.

Let’s take some time to think about this. Try to recall the last time you felt rejected by someone. Perhaps you tried to make a new friend only to be ignored or snubbed. Maybe you offered an idea for ministry, only to have someone tell you it wouldn’t work before you even finished presenting your thoughts. Maybe you showed compassion and got your head bit off.

What did you do after you felt this rejection? Did you happily go on about your day? Probably not. Did you pout? Did you stew? Did you decide to try again and again and again, determined to win? Did you share your sorrow and anger with your husband or best friend—or any stranger off the street whom you could get to listen?

I think these are somewhat typical reactions to rejection. I also know that Jesus knows this. And I think that’s why He told His followers to shake the dust from their feet.

When we suffer rejection, especially for trying to share Jesus’ love, we should immediately stop what we’re doing as soon as we’ve left the scene. We tell Jesus what happened and how we felt about it. We ask Him to forgive us if any part of it was our fault. Then we pray for the person who hurt us, leaving him, her, or them in God’s hands. (He’ll deal with them in the way that He knows is best—for their sake, for ours, and for the glory of His Name.) Then, we shake the dust from our feet (forgive; let go) and move on.

If we stay in the grief of rejection, we can’t do anyone any good. Once we’ve turned it over to God, though, we can move on to share His love with others—others who need it, others who may accept it, not reject us. There are so many people in this world who need to experience God's message, His forgiveness, His acceptance, and His love. When one rejects us, we forgive so that we can effectively carry on.

Jesus, thank You for these instructions. Help us to remember them as needed and to immediately obey. It’s hard to move on, but with Your help, we entrust those who reject us, who reject Your message, into Your care. We want to carry on without letting that which we can’t change slow us down. We serve in Your Name, forever. Amen.

Book Review: A Clearing in the Wild

2013-03-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

A Clearing in the Wild by Jane Kirkpatrick is an extremely well-written novel. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I began to see where Kirkpatrick was going, I became engrossed. Then, in my opinion, the story ended perfectly. I was glad I’d kept reading!

Based on a true story, A Clearing in the Wild is the story of a young woman finding her grown-up place in the religious community of Bethel, Missouri. Wilhelm Keil, the leader of this community, makes all decisions for the community and holds all property in his name. When Keil announces that he is sending Emma’s husband and eight other men west on a one to two year journey to find new land for the community, newly wed Emma finagles her way along. Readers get to watch Emma, her marriage, and her Christian life mature.

Discussion questions at the end of the book help readers process its themes. An interview with the author reveals the history and fiction of the story with a promise of a second book to come in this series.

I thank Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for sending a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction and to those concerned with women’s issues.

I Love It!

2013-03-21T03:47:00.000-07:00

“For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.” –Isaiah 64:3

As a family, we love to watch reruns of old TV shows. Mike and I get to reminisce about life when we were kids, and the boys get to laugh at what we used to think was cool. Star Trek and Andy Griffith are our favorites, but every now and then we'll catch something else. Not too long ago, we watched a few episodes of The A-Team. At the end of each program, Hannibal Smith smiled and said, "I love it when a plan comes together." Of course, the plan hadn't come together. The team had come up with a fool-proof plan, everything had gone wrong that couldn't have possibly gone wrong, the team had improvised dangerously, and the outcome had been successful--in spite of the unexpected upheaval.

Life's like that! Perhaps you're in the middle of a moving mishap, wondering how you'll ever pull it all together. As you struggle and fret, you're becoming convinced that this is one plan that will never come together. Relax! God is on your team. He knew about your mishap before it mis-happened, and His plan is not spinning out of control! So do what you can, but relax while you're doing it. God is going to do awesome things that you don't expect, and when He's done, the mountains will tremble. When the dust clears, you'll look around and smile. Then you'll know that God is nearby, and He's smiling with you. Don't you love it when His plans come together?

Father, my plans often fail, but Yours never do. Remind me to trust in the midst of much chaos. Amen.

Going Forward with Faith

2013-03-13T13:36:00.001-07:00

“For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.” –Psalm 71:5

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a definition of confidence that changed my whole view of that word and its role in my life. Perhaps this will surprise you, too. The word confidence literally means with faith.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I often view confidence as something I’d like to have more of—especially if I’ve just moved to a new town and have to talk myself into walking boldly into one new situation after another after another. I’d like to always enter the room or answer the phone with confidence. But sometimes, if I feel I’m lacking confidence, I choose to slink in quietly and hope no one notices me. After all, isn’t being invisible preferable to making a fool of oneself?

Alas, my new awareness of the literal meaning of confidence is now challenging me. If confidence means with faith, and, if I’ve put my faith in Christ, and, if He’s with me all the time—which He is—then, technically, I should never lack confidence.

Heavy sigh.

Now I have no excuse for not walking boldly into that room, ready for anything God brings my way. He is my confidence—and He sends me forth as His representative.

This reminds me of Proverbs 3:26, which also speaks of confidence:

“For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.”

I kind of hope that means He won’t let me trip over my own feet as I walk confidently into new situations, but, even if it doesn’t promise that, it does promise He will be with me wherever I must go. The Lord is my confidence. I can live my life with faith.

Father, thank You for faith. Thank You for Your Presence wherever I go, and the assurance of that which gives me confidence. Help me to live my life boldly, doing whatever You lead me to do. Knowing You are with me is all the confidence I need. Thank You, Lord! Amen.

Did You Know?

2013-03-09T05:54:00.001-08:00

I know I've mentioned the Tyndale Rewards program in the past, but did you know you don't even have to have a blog to participate in this program and earn free books? Unlike book blogging programs that give the reviewer free books in exchange for honest reviews posted on their blogs, Tyndale Rewards lets the reviewer post reviews on consumer retail sites like Amazon.com or ChristianBook.com. No blog required! And they'll let you review any Tyndale book you'd like to review, so, if you've read a Tyndale book in the past that you remember well because you enjoyed it so much, you can post a short review about it on any retail site that carries it, then earn yourself 10 points toward your choice of a free new book that you can review or not--your choice. I've earned four books since I joined the program in October--I happily recommend it to anyone who loves to read.

To join, simply click here and enter your e-mail above the nifty little promo code that will give you 25 free points to start with. Then follow the instructions to start earning great new books!

Book Review: Reclaiming Your Heart

2013-03-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my review of Secrets over Sweet Tea, Reclaiming Your Heart, also by Denise Hildreth Jones, is its companion book—the non-fiction book that clearly explains concepts illustrated in the work of fiction. I love the way Jones planned that out! She has lived what she teaches, and she teaches it well. Both books minister effectively to those who are willing to be open to the message Jones presents.

In Reclaiming Your Heart, Jones talks about ways that people or life events can cause people to shut down their hearts. Some run away. Some hide. Some indulge in addictions. Others indulge other people—to their own detriment. But people who live with shut down hearts live mostly alone and in pain and are unable to pursue God’s best for their lives.

Jones uses the analogy of playing a round of golf to help readers understand that, just as they must choose the right club for the right circumstance on a golf course, they must let God help them choose the right responses to each circumstance as they live their lives. (I don’t play golf, but I still understood. Jones explains everything well.)

Once readers grasp that concept, Jones goes on to present several chapters on different kinds of heart responses to life’s harsh circumstances: performing, disappointment, control, criticism, shame, anger, fear, and weariness. Jones explains problems that develop from each of these and how the reader can overcome and heal. Each chapter identifies a lie that a person who chooses each kind of response believes and the truth that must replace it for healing to occur. Throughout the book, Jones shares Scripture, insightful analogies, and her own life experiences to help readers understand. She closes the book with a chapter full of good advice for continued living with a fully reclaimed heart.

If your past is impacting your present in such a way that you feel you have no future, Reclaiming Your Heart is the right book for you. I thank Reclaiming Hearts Ministries for arranging to have Tyndale House Publishers send a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

Book Review: Secrets over Sweet Tea

2013-03-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

Secrets over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones is the fictional companion novel to her non-fiction book, Reclaiming Your Heart. I’ll be reviewing that book in the near future, as soon as I finish reading it. But I think it’s important for readers to know that the books complement each other. They don't have to be read together, but can be for greater insights into what Jones is trying to teach. Secrets over Sweet Tea is a fictional story that helps readers see how the concepts presented in Reclaiming Your Heart apply. They get to watch, so to speak, as characters in the book who have chosen to shut down their hearts in defense of this world’s pain learn to see how and why they responded the way they did, then how to make things right, reopen their hearts, and really live.

Writers of fiction are taught to show, not tell. Jones is really good at this. Due to the nature of this book, though, she’s cleverly included mentors in the story who do quite a bit of telling as they counsel those who’ve been hurt. These mentors have lessons of their own to learn, too, so we get to see their counselees, who’ve taken the lessons to heart, turn around and remind their mentors of their own teachings. It’s clear that Jones really believes the message she’s teaching can help change people's lives for the better. It's one she’s learned through personal experience and wants her readers to experience for themselves.

I’ll write more about that message when I review Reclaiming Your Heart. For now I want to focus on Secrets over Sweet Tea, the stories of three people who’ve been deeply wounded by life and their recoveries in the small Southern community of Franklin, Tennessee. These characters and their friends are amazing—and so is the community. If all the restaurants Jones mentions in this book really exist, I need to go visit that town! I enjoyed the story and its message. I’m happy to recommend this book.

I thank Reclaiming Hearts Ministries for arranging to have Tyndale House Publishers send a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

A Prudent Wife

2013-03-03T06:20:00.001-08:00

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” –Proverbs 19:14

People don’t use the word prudent often anymore, yet it is still a valuable trait. Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines it this way: “1 capable of exercising sound judgment in practical matters, esp. as concerns one’s own interest 2 Cautious or discreet in conduct; circumspect; not rash 3 managing carefully and with economy.”

In Proverbs 19:14, wise King Solomon tells us that a prudent wife is from the Lord. She’s a gift. The godly young man will ask God to lead him to her when he’s ready to marry. The foolish young man may stumble across her, blessed by God in spite of his folly. In any case, because my godly, still-youngish husband is stuck with me, I pray God will make me ever more prudent as time goes on.

Let's look at what this means in practical terms, using the event of a move:

When I ask God for prudence, I hope that He will give me capable wisdom to deal with all the practical matters of moving. For instance, when the realtor has shown the house ten times in one week, and our family is tired of leaving at a moment’s notice or keeping the house cleaner than company clean, I hope I’ll find the sense to say, “Enough! Let’s try again next week.”

I also hope that God will make me cautious and discreet in conduct. First impressions are hard to overcome. Further, when I’m around the people my husband has to work with, I must be on my best behavior or his reputation will suffer with mine. Because we’re married, people tend to see us as one. Any wrongful words and actions coming from me will count against him, too.

Finally, I hope that God will help me manage each move carefully and with economy. This could mean knowing how much money to have on hand, what to pack in suitcases, and what to send with which movers so that everyone will have what is needed when it is needed in spite of the chaos we’ll endure. A prudent wife is a blessing to the entire family. I pray God will bless mine through me.

Father, Solomon asked for wisdom, so he could be the king you meant for him to be. I ask for prudence to be the wife my husband deserves. Amen.

Pray Now, Then Know

2013-02-24T06:33:00.000-08:00

“Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.” –Ezekiel 20:42

As you move into a new land or transition into a new phase of life (i.e. career, empty nest, marriage, family), be sure to talk to God often about whatever concerns come into your mind. Ask Him to lead you to the perfect home for your family at this time. Ask Him to show you your new place of service, to help you meet the neighbors, to help your kids make new friends. Ask Him for guidance when seeking a new doctor or hair stylist. Because these are important to you, God cares about these things.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that if you pray before getting your hair cut, your stylist will always get it right. No. Life is full of little struggles, and sometimes we just have to endure.

I’m also not saying that if you pray before going out house hunting that God will place a neon arrow over just the right house for you.

What I am saying is that when we pray often, we’re reminded that we are walking with God. He is with us. He cares. We’ll also remember, even when we don’t see neon signs or when we do suffer a less than happy encounter with the new neighbor, that God is providing wisdom in His own quiet way.

Best of all, as time goes by and we find ourselves settling contentedly into our new, yet becoming comfortable, situation, that the Lord is our Lord, and He is faithful to establish us where He wants us to be.

Trust Him as you prayerfully enter your new land. Then, look back, and you’ll know.

Thank You, Lord, for Your faithful ways. Lead us, step by step, into the unknown. Give us Your wisdom in each new circumstance. Then, when the time is right, guide us to look back, so we’ll see clearly what You have done. You are our Lord. Bring us into the land You’ve so graciously prepared for us and for our families. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Book Review: Moon over Edisto

2013-02-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

Set mostly on an island off the coast of South Carolina, Moon over Edisto is the story of a woman forced by her compassionate nature to return to the home she ran away from. When the woman who destroyed her family comes to her in desperation, Julia just can’t say no—though no one, except maybe her aunt, would have blamed her if she had. In a moment of crisis, Julia abandons overseas plans with her employer and fiancé in order to care for her three young half-siblings while their mother undergoes surgery. Back in her childhood home, she reconnects with the family and friends she left behind for a glamorous career as an artist in New York.

I loved this story of forgiveness and reconciliation. I especially loved the way God is portrayed as giving Julia what her heart desires through what seems to be great sacrifice. At one point, Julia thinks Marney is destroying her life a second time, when really she’s inadvertently offering what Julia most wants and needs.

As I reached the end of the story, I started hoping for a sequel, though. Julia’s story was complete as written, but the author left me with so many questions about Etta, Meg, Mary Ellen, and Jake. There’s plenty of material there for a second book, if this is what Hart has planned. I’ll be eager to read it if it shows up on the bookstore shelves.

I received a complimentary eCopy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for this review.

For the Sake of the Kids

2013-02-13T07:26:00.000-08:00

“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’” –Matthew 2:13

When Jesus’ physical life was in danger, God sent an angel who told Joseph to run! The family moved away until the threat was gone (see verses 19-23). As I try to imagine the brutal scene (see verses 16-18), I’m certain that other families who learned what was coming made attempts to run with their children, too. Though parents sometimes fail, God designed them with great desire to protect their young.

My husband and I chose our first-ever owned (alright mortgaged) house with great care. Knowing our oldest son could possibly start school while we lived there, the mother in me was thrilled to see the elementary school across the street. Nine months before Justin was to start Kindergarten, however, we learned that he wouldn’t be allowed to go to that school. The city practiced bussing and planned to send our precious, oh-so-little-and-still-quite-vulnerable child to school in an unfamiliar neighborhood an hour away. That was unacceptable. We began seeking options such as home or private school.

Thankfully, the matter was taken out of our hands. God sent us to another state that summer where we discovered with joy that our son’s new school was once again right across the street from our new home! As I walked Justin to class that very first day, I prayed that God would be with him. Then throughout that memorable day, I praised God for His wisdom and care.

While it’s true that we must teach our children to cope with difficult situations, we must also ask God to show us when the difficult situation is more than they can bear. When life greatly threatens a child’s body, soul, or even self-esteem, there’s no shame in moving to a safer place. In fact, it’s a bold and loving step.

Father, please warn us when the danger is great. Give us courage to do what our children most need. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Note: In honor of Ash Wednesday, I've written a post about the significance of this day on my other blog, Wildflower Thinking. If you're curious to learn more about this holiday and the beginning of Lent, I invite you to click here.

Book Review: Clouds

2013-02-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

Clouds by Robin Jones Gunn is the second book I’ve read in the eight book Glenbrooke Series. I’m not reading the books in order, but each book stands alone. They’re simply sweet stories about God drawing people to Himself and to each other, with subtle lessons and comparisons on both counts. In fact, in Clouds, the parallels between God’s relationship with Shelly and Jonathan’s relationship with Shelly almost, not quite, but almost, made this particular story a parable.

I love that. And I’m truly enjoying this series of books.

In Clouds, Shelly leaves her childhood sweetheart behind in order to chase her personal dreams. When these don’t work out the way she’d planned, though, she misses Jonathan and wonders if God may be working to reunite them. A surprise encounter convinces her this isn’t so after all. So Shelly works to rebuild her life—and discovers more than she’d ever thought to dream.

As a bonus, Gunn weaves some of her travel experiences into this story--as she did in her Sisterchicks books. Readers get an up-close-and-personal view of Heidelberg, Germany and a little, tiny taste of overseas ministries to American military kids.

If you enjoy happily-ever-after romances, I recommend Clouds and the other books from the Glenbrooke Series to you. Thank you, Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for sending a complimentary copy for this honest review.

Book Review: Broken Wings

2013-02-03T14:05:00.001-08:00

Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore is the sequel to Angel Eyes and Book Two in its trilogy. I was curious to read it because I enjoyed reading Angel Eyes. Broken Wings didn’t make quite the same impression on me, though.

First, there seemed to be a lack of continuity between the two books. Angel Eyes was fairly complete in itself. Broken Wings, though, is mostly a set up for Book Three, Dark Halo, due out in August of this year. Broken Wings begins about six months after Angel Eyes ends, introduces new characters whose place in the story won’t really be clear until the next book, and seems to significantly alter Brielle’s dad’s character, turning him from a loving, but confused single father into a grieving alcoholic so overwhelmed with his own issues that he has only frustration to offer his struggling daughter.

As I read this fictional story, I was uncomfortable with some of the author’s ideas about the spiritual realm. If an author is writing about werewolves or vampires or zombies, that author can take all the liberties she wants and make up just about anything because those monsters are fictional. But the Bible tells us that angels and demons and unseen spiritual warfare exist. We don’t know much about these, but I’m not sure we’re at liberty to just make up our own picture for lack of actual knowledge. Readers who don’t know much about the Bible might assume the Bible really says that cherubs sneak into Hell as spies to learn what Satan is up to in order to tell the Archangel Michael when God doesn’t give Michael the information Himself or that the Bible really describes all the different kinds of angels and demons that Dittemore includes in her story. I wasn't quite comfortable with this.

That said, when Dittemore writes of Brielle learning to worship God with the gifts He’s given her or discovering that human songs of praise and prayers for help are powerful, she helps readers understand what really matters in this life. Those parts of the book are beautiful! So I’m still curious to read what happens in the next book, trusting that questions and confusions brought up in this one will be perfectly resolved in it.

I thank Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending a complimentary eCopy of this book for my honest review.

Using Worry Productively

2013-01-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

Whoever came up with the catchy, little cross-stitch quote, “If you worry, don’t pray. If you pray, don’t worry,” never had to rush a child to the emergency room . . . or wonder where the mortgage payment would come from after losing a job . . . or suffer the shock of having someone break into her house while she was sleeping and rummage through her stuff . . . or move a family overseas . . . or kiss her husband good-bye for a year as he deployed during a time of war.

If you’ve ever had to do any of these things or others like them, you know that to worry or to pray are not either/or choices like to be or not to be. One of these doesn’t necessarily have to exclude the other. As you are rushing your child to the emergency room your mind will be full of worries and concerns even as prayer pours from your lips or filters quietly through your heart straight to the very throne room of God.

And yet, all through the Bible, we’re commanded not to worry or fear. Just how does that work?

When Jesus told His followers not to worry or fear, I doubt He meant for them not to experience the emotions. Emotions aren’t something we choose to experience or not. They just happen. And God understands this. He made us this way. Emotions are a gift from God.

Our choice, then, is how to react to emotions whenever they broadside us. Feeling angry, for example, is not a sin. What we choose to do with the anger we feel, though, may be sinful or not. Letting that anger fester until you seek irrational revenge is very wrong. But letting the anger prompt you to take positive action for healthy change and stronger relationships is a good use of that emotion.

It’s the same with worry and fear. In some situations, we can’t help but experience these emotions. When we do, we will be tempted to let them carry us away to a place of panic where our imaginations run wild conceiving all manner of possible tragic outcomes and leaving us wallowing in despair.

I believe this is what God, through His Word, commands us not to do. He commands us not to linger in a worrisome state of mind. In other words, when we experience worry or fear, we're not to let these take us to a scary dwelling place.

Instead, if we immediately and continually turn our worries and fears over to God as we work our way through challenges and crises, we’ve found a great use for those emotions. They draw us closer to God. They invite us to linger in His Presence. They prompt us to reaffirm our trust in His goodness and sovereignty. This calms us down, keeps us from panic, and helps us think clearly for whatever we must face.

Father, thank You for the gift of emotions. Help us to respond to them wisely, using them for our good. We honor You when we turn them back over to You, placing loved ones and difficult situations in Your care. You are faithful, and You love us. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

At Home in God's Presence

2013-01-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

“One thing I ask from the LORD,

this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the LORD

and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

and set me high upon a rock.” –Psalm 27:4-5

The key to turning any house into a home is learning to dwell in God’s Presence all the time.

David really had a handle on this. He was a long way through his life before he found himself in a stable home, and even then, thanks to his son Absalom, he found himself booted out for a time. David spent his young adult years in the fields with the sheep. Then he spent years in hiding, living in caves, running from King Saul who wanted him dead. Even as king with a palace to call home, he spent much time on the road, leading his army into one battle or another. David lived a life on the go!

But David dwelled in the house of the Lord. Whether he was in a cave or a field or a palace, he (almost always) sought God’s face. He worshipped God’s beauty. He went where he knew God would be. When David did this faithfully, he enjoyed God’s peace and security.

We can do the same. We can read God's Word eagerly, seeking His personal messages of comfort, encouragement, direction, sometimes conviction, and always pure love. We can seek out the beauty of His Creation, and praise Him for it, looking to see what He’s hidden of Himself within. We can meet Him with other believers at church. True. He’s everywhere. But He’s also wherever two or three are gathered in His name. When we seek Him together, we make bigger discoveries!

Then, when the day of trouble comes, whether it’s the minor trouble and unsettledness of a move or something major like running for your life from a king, we will not be displaced, not really, because we dwell in the house of the Lord—our true home for the rest of our days.

Father, please keep us safe in Your dwelling. Hide us in the shelter of Your sacred tent. Set us high upon a rock as we continually seek Your face. We love You, Lord. Our home is with You. Forever and always! Amen.

Trip Tip: Proceed with Caution and Be Steadfast

2013-01-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” –Proverbs 4:26

Whenever we visit our son and daughter-in-law in Washington, they like to take us hiking. Washington State is full of mountains and waterfalls and rivers and tide pools and islands and eagles hanging around in trees watching to catch salmon swimming upstream. There is just so much of God’s creation there to search out and explore.

Sometimes Justin and Bridget take us on well-worn paths. Just as often, though, they take us off the beaten path, down steep hills with ruts worn all over by descending rainwater, up even steeper hills covered over with exposed tree roots. The effort is always worth it, leading us to lakes or future Christmas trees. But to reach our destination, we must give careful thought to the paths for our feet (so we won’t trip and fall down) and be steadfast in all our ways (so we’ll actually get to our goal).

The author of Proverbs knew that life is just like this. As we travel through life toward Heaven, we must carefully find our way through or around potential hazards. We ask God to help us make the best choices, remembering always that each decision we make adjusts our course. There are consequences for wrong choices and straying from the path will mean working our way back from however far we go. As we move forward, we give careful thought to where we place our feet.

And when we have to go through something difficult, we must choose to be steadfast. If we’re feeling tired or weary or discouraged, we may be tempted to stop. Instead we ask God for help, just as I sometimes took my husband's or a son’s hand when jumping over ditches or going down steep hills. We may slow way down to reach our destination safely, but we keeping moving forward steadfastly.

Jesus, thank You for these words of wisdom from the author of Proverbs. Please help us to choose our paths wisely, then to proceed forward with determination. As we follow You, set a pace that we can stick to steadfastly. We love walking with You, Lord. Thank You for leading the way. Amen.