Book Review: Stronger Than the Storm - Highly Recommend

This riveting debut novel, Stronger Than the Storm, by Deena Adams, had me locked in from the start. With well-drawn characters and intense conflicts, the story demands just another page. It resonated with me because of our journey with a wayward adult son. However, any parent will put themselves in these shoes and learn something about themselves from the journey. We all regret our mistakes. The book is gritty, real, and raw. Life is the same. God grows us the most in the midst of storms. It could be summed up in a simple sentence: The scars of sin run deep, but God's grace soothes and heals.

Beth Holbrook is elated by an offer of publication for her parenting book. As a pastor's wife and parenting coach, things are at a high point. Within the space of one day, those successes begin to crumble, when her 18-year-old daughter runs away. Leesa is on a self-destructive path. Indeed, she digs her hole deeper and deeper as the pages fly by. (Oh, how I could relate!) 

Beth and her husband Kevin, like many couples parenting a prodigal, have differing opinions on the necessary response. These pages articulated the very difficulties I fought in seeking the best course of action with my wayward son. They illustrate the gamut of emotions parents and prodigals experience. Will the ripples from Leesa's sin spill over to fracture Beth and Kevin's marriage? Can God bring good from hopeless, unwanted situations?  

The book has won several awards. It earned first place in the American Fiction Awards for the religious fiction category and Contemporary Novel of the Year in the Christian Market Book Awards. I was grateful to read this story of God's redemption, prior to Trevor's death, because it reminded me of God's presence in the battle. Pain drives prodigals, but their pain spills over into other lives. This book is important! Sin scars the entire family. But God... works with our weaknesses to reveal His strengths, and praise God, He is stronger than any storm we face! We can count on God's providential hand to carry us when wounded and weary, and redeem us when broken and spent.

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I moved this review up in my queue as it is currently on sale in e-book form for a few more days. Snag the savings! You won't regret it!

 

Series Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion - Highly Recommend

Following the buzz, in June, I dipped my toe into the delightful world of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion and did not want to depart. In very short order, I listened to Volumes 1-8 on the Hoopla app. I cannot wait for the ninth installment to release (although I worry my library will not have access, or I will be far down on the hold list). I will seek it in audio form again. The narrator Genevieve Gaunt does an outstanding job! If you enjoy Victorian England, these books will surely hook you!

Emma M. Lion is a young woman alone in Victorian England. Although her parents' deaths should have left her with Lapis Lazuli House, an odd relative has been living there and ripping through her inheritance monies. Now that she is finally ensconsed in the house, she seeks to rectify these wrongs and find her place in society. Her journals are delightful. The cast of characters surrounding her make the reader wish to enter this world for real.

I was thrilled when Emma mentioned the very street I lived on when I spent six months on a work visa in London, Sydenham Hill. With each installment, I was sucked deeper and deeper into the story. Emma is fiesty and independent. Her friends are colorful and conflicted. You cannot help but be swept away into this alternate reality.

My only complaint is that the books attempt to push a feminist agenda. I know Victorian London. Emma would not have waltzed independently through life in those times. Yet, still... I absolutely loved these books! I'm willing to suspend disbelief, to overlook historical inaccuracies, because I love Emma and all her entourage of young male friends (suitors?). I love her stream-of-consciousness commentary. Each book ends with a listing of her growing library of books. This is enchanting! I highly recommend this series, and especially in audio form. I'm even hoping the books will continue well past book nine.

Book Review: God's Smuggler - Highly Recommend

This was another book I chose from our shelves to supplement my devotional reading. My husband has been a long-time contributor to the ministry of Open Doors with Brother Andrew. What an inspiration for prayer and faith! Brother Andrew's book, God's Smuggler, was published in 1967. Our copy is a beautifully bound book from The Christian Library published by Barbour and Company, however I do love this cover shown at left.

Brother Andrew was an advocate for persecuted Christians and an intent missionary whose main goal was to smuggle Bibles into countries hostile to faith in God. He is best known for his singular prayer, "Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture that I want to take to Your children across this border. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see." Time after time, he tested and proved God's faithfulness. Oh, that I had faith like that!

The other day I was pondering this book and thought to myself, "How I want the faith of Brother Andrew (for provision of open doors for ministry) and George Muller (for provision of financial needs for ministry and daily life). These two relied entirely on the supply of God. Instead, so often, I want the life of Dave Ramsey. I want to figure out how to eliminate my debts and live such a lifestyle that I can have what I want and need, while still meeting the needs of others. 

This test of faith is pressing at the moment. My husband and I have a tendency to take on the consequences of irresponsible people (including our prodigal son). While I argue we should let true consequences fall and step out of the way of enabling, he fears the results of that and argues God will always meet our needs, even if we give away what little we have left to live on for our remaining years. Internally, I struggle. I see the verses commanding provision for the poor. Yet, I also see the truth that enabling does not help irresponsible people, it only encourages them to push their responsibilites onto anyone who will provide. It is the whole give a man a fish vs. teaching a man to fish illustration!

Thus, this book bolstered my weary faith. So, what lessons stood out? Apart from utter dependency on God, I was convicted by the author's statements about not labeling churches. So often, in his missionary trips, he saw the emasculated church (defused by government dictates) as a "puppet church." Yet, he wrote on page 156, "It is never safe to call a church a puppet--no matter how dead, no matter how subservient and temporizing it may appear on the surface. It is called by God's name, it has God's eye upon it, at any moment He may sweep the surface away with the purifying wind of His Spirit." From this, I took encouragement that God can work and win others, even in churches that put God in a box, even in churches where I don't necessarily fit.

I loved a challenging story on pages 165-166. Brother Andrew encountered a problem because of the language gap (neither spoke the other's language). To remedy this, he picked up a Bible and began having a conversation using various scripture verses, going from 1 Cor. 16:20 and Prov. 25:25 to Philemon. Oh, that I knew my Bible well enough to converse with foreigners simply by pointing to a passage. I long to be so Biblically fluent!

I took heart from the many examples of God's perfectly timed provision. Brother Andrew needed a car. God provided a VW. I loved his story (page 108) about that "Miracle Car." The roads of Yugoslavia kicked up tremendous dust and every morning they prayed, "Lord, we don't have either the time or the money for repairs on the car, so will You please keep it running?" Not long after, they encountered another driver who stopped and said, "I know who you are.. and this is the Miracle Car?" He had heard about this car maintained through prayer and asked if he could take a look at it. After looking over the engine, this man declared, "I have just become a believer. It is mechanically impossible for this engine to run." He was a mechanic and offered to take the car to his shop and cleaned every part of the engine for them. When, after driving it for almost 200k kilometers, it required a new engine, they found themselves 50 marks shy of the cost. Just then, they received a gift from a random stranger of 50 marks God wanted them to have.

When Brother Andrew's growing family needed a house, God led him to someone just convicted to sell and God provided the funds to cover the purchase. He writes on page 173, "Immediately, mysteriously, as soon as the house was paid for, the flow of excess funds stopped--and it remained dried up until there was a need for it again. In the years of living this life of faith, I have never known God's care to fail."

Later, Brother Andrew was convicted to purchase a large supply of pocket Bibles. He and his wife talked about selling their house. They prayed, expressing to God that the house belonged to Him but admitting their private struggle with the idea. "Lord, if You want us to sell the house for the Bibles, You will have to work a small miracle in our hearts to make us willing." I was moved by this example of faith, as well. I often don't want to give what God wants me to release.

When they got an appraisal on the house, it came to the very amount needed for the pocket Bibles. He writes on page 206, "How faithful God is, how utterly trustworthy, how good beyond imagining! He asks for so little in order to give us so much." Then, the Dutch Bible Society arranged to pay for the printing, only charging Brother Andrew for the supplies on an as-needed basis. His response is inspiring, "I could hardly wait to tell Corrie what God had done with the thimbleful of willingness we had offered Him."

Another story told of a time Brother Andrew accidentally changed more currency than he should have. He and his partner ended up having a car accident. The other driver agreed to let the incident go, and let them head off on their way, if they provided him with cash to cover the repairs. That amount was the exact amount they had!

If you are low on faith, if your trust in God needs bolstering, you will find inspiration and encouragement aplenty in Brother Andrew's life and testimony. God shows up with the exact provision at the exact moment in the exact power needed! Brother Andrew concludes, "God is never defeated. Though He may be opposed, attacked, resisted, still the ultimate outcome can never be in doubt. Every day we see fresh proof that indeed all things--even evil ones--work together for those who are called by His name."

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" - Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)

Book Review: This Book Made Me Think of You - Highly Recommend

This book made me think of why I love books! They can meet you right where you are and tap into your most intimate wishes, hopes, and dreams. They can soothe sorrows! I don't know if I was merely ripe for this book by Libby Page (daughter to author Sally Page). Perhaps, This Book Made Me Think of You is merely brilliant for anyone and everyone. Oh, how I adored it! The characters are relatable. The premise is perfect. Plus, the book is brimming with book recommendations. Like I said, it is a brilliant book! My favorite read of 2026!

Listen to this outstanding first line: "The right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever." That's what Alfie, the owner of Book Lane believes. When Alfie calls Matilda Nightingale to tell her she has a book to pick up at the bookstore, she insists she didn't order anything. Alfie explains her late husband scheduled a year's worth of monthly books to get her through the first full year without him. Of course, ever since his death six months ago, Tilly hasn't been able to read. What follows is a year-long adventure as Tilly regains her reading mojo and learns to live again without the love of her life.

I immediately thought, "Man, if my husband died and left me twelve selected books, I would be utterly blown away by the gesture." Like Tilly's husband, my husband is not really a book reader (he does read some, but only in his slim selected categories and, primarily, God's Word) so I know I'll never experience this scenario. Ah, but because of this book, I was able to live through it vicariously, through Tilly. Even though it deals with grief, it is incredibly life-affirming.

It took some time but I jotted down all 96 book titles mentioned in this book. Probably half to two-thirds are titles I've heard of or know. I have only read 19 of the books listed. So, now that I have the whole list, I have much to add to my endless file of books to read. Book recommendations are always welcome, as are books that feature a bookshop. And how can you not be sucked in by characters who love books?

I adored Tilly! She and I would be friends IRL. We would be two peas in a pod. Here's a line that could describe me: "After reading, crafting has always been her way of relaxing, but what she has in enthusiasm she does not possess in skill." Ha, too true! Like Tilly, I took a leap and visited Paris on my own. What fun when she explores Shakespeare and Company and finds this quote: "I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being." So many parts of her story gutted me.

I also want bookish friends like Alfie and Rachel. Everyone should have a special bookstore, and a special bookseller, like Alfie. His role in this book is tremendously touching. Rachel's part of the story made me squirm. If Tilly can forgive Rachel and restore friendship, I know I should be able to forgive and restore a friendship with a "Rachel" in my life. Bookish friends have a value beyond expression.

Indeed, this is a love song for books, both in the long recommendation lists and in the way individual books meet Tilly's need at just the right moment. Here's another line that resonated: "Maybe this is what books do, she thinks, whether stories real or imagined or poems compiled in one place for people to flick through in search of what they need. They offer something universal but allow you to find your own meaning among the words. They are for everyone and yet they are for you too." At the end, Tilly says, "I am the person I am because of the books I have read. My reading history is a map that shows the path of my life." I want to be like Tilly, a "bookish soul eager to help steer you on your way." Indeed, I wish I could read this for the first time all over again!

Word of caution: The emotions in this book are very raw and real. If you've recently lost a loved one, the story might be bookish cryptonite for you - just a place you cannot go for the moment. Still, there is merit in following Tilly's journey as she heals from the grief and finds solace in books. Moreover, I did mark this as a clean read, but should note that there are one or two curse words and a few times the Lord's name is taken in vain.

Mid-month Mention: Must-See Movies of 2026

I'm not generally a movie-goer, but this year, I've viewed 3 movies (2 in theaters) I highly recommend. All 3 were on my 2026 bucket list. Last month, I wrote up a whole movie review for my favorite movie of the year, A Great Awakening. It was powerful! Definitely a must-see! I saw it twice in the theater and would have happily gone again, if it had remained in our local theaters longer. To be honest, I might even consider purchasing the DVD eventually. 

I was anxiously awaiting May 8th, the release day for the Netflix movie adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt's outstanding book, Remarkably Bright Creatures. The big draw was Sally Field playing the main human character, Tova Sullivan. Man-oh! Man-oh! It did not disappoint. When I wasn't laughing, I was wrecked with tears. Once again, I found myself raving about the movie to anyone who would listen. I watched it again on Wednesday night with my youngest son. He loved it! I hope to watch it some weekend with my husband (a very reluctant movie-goer).

Sometimes readers worry that a movie will not live up to the book (because so many don't deliver). This fit those rare occasions when the movie actually hones the book and conveys the essence clearly. The movie cut away much of the background information for the drifter character, Cameron. But, in doing so, it gained strength for the bond between Tova and Cameron. My heart ached with the grief they each carried (Tova for her dead son and Cameron for his dead mother), grief that deepened their friendship. Add in the excellent narration of Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, and the relationships resonated abundantly. I did see a few readers on Facebook mourning the loss of things like the missing house key, but the majority are raving about how well the adaptation communicated Van Pelt's intended story. The emotional impact is strong, characters well-developed, and take-away profound.

My third favorite movie of the year is another unexpected one. When I first heard the premise of Remarkably Bright Creatures, I didn't think I'd like the novel because it includes, well... a talking animal. Seriously. But some storytellers can pull off talking animals. On Tuesday ($6 day), Sean and I went to see The Sheep Detectives. Sean's girlfriend was bummed when she found out because she had wanted to see it, too. Thankfully, it will show later at the $5 theater near her.

I was expecting a humorous little talking animal tale about a flock of sheep solving the mystery of their shepherd's murder. I loved the idea that the shepherd read to his sheep each night from mystery novels, assuming they couldn't understand because they were only sheep. This movie was fun and entertaining, yes. But, it also led to a great deal of deeper thought about biblical metaphors. The movie stirred reflection on how we, as sheep (sometimes as shunned winter lambs), often go astray. The shepherd saves us from danger and destruction. He calls us by name.

The movie addresses deep concepts amid animal hijinks. The sheep must contemplate leaving the safety of the fold, consider death and grief, and wrap their heads around the concept of God. Sean and I tried to communicate the clever scene discussing God, but couldn't remember it enough to do it justice when regaling my husband. I found a movie reviewer who captured the scene well. I didn't feel like it made light of God or led to nonsensical views. Personally, the whole movie made me think about God and our relationship to Him. Here's how Daniel Blackaby reviewed the God-explanation scene:

"There is a humorous moment in which the sheep walk through the church grounds, and one sheep tries to explain God to the other. God is a shepherd, but also a lamb. He also “damns people”, but this only leads the other sheep to assume God must be giant beaver. God is invisible, but he is also bread, and people eat him every Sunday, says the one sheep to his increasingly confused friend. Some viewers may feel this dialogue makes light of God or equates faith in him with nonsense, but I found the honest questions endearing."

The movie is family friendly and could open up conversation about the deep scriptural metaphors portrayed in the movie. God is, indeed, "complicated," but I welcome even humorous tales that drive home spiritual truths. The writing is incredibly clever and witty. It holds appeal to children and adults alike. Good shepherds, bad shepherds, beloved sheep, wayward rejected sheep - we each can find God and ourselves in this story. May I be an attentive sheep and listen to my Shepherd.   

Mid-month Mention #2: Recent Articles Worth Reading

Transported Curiosity

I now have another place to put on a larger bucket list (not my small local one). I would love to visit Lake Havasu City, Arizona. This is the site of something very cool. Did you know that London Bridge was transported to Arizona in 1968? Seriously! What a random and highly unlikely fact! Naomi Xu Elegant writes a fascinating explanation of it in her piece, "The Ideal City." It contains photos of the transporting process and all that went into creating a river to run under the bridge. The whole article is so delightful that I immediately sent the link to my brother (just promoted to Senior Construction Field Representative for the architectural firm where he works, so I knew it would interest him).

Content Caution

My smaller bucket list lost one item after I read this scathing article, by Sarah Reardon, about the modern take on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Sarah's essay, "We're Being Shaped by Smut," is one I agree with wholeheartedly. It is utterly depressing. What depths our society has sunken to! I despair when modern books constantly sanction immorality by inserting it ad naseum into almost every book published. How disheartening that you cannot go to see a movie depicting a literary classic without being assaulted by trash and smut! If, like me, you had wanted to view that movie, I highly suggest seeking an older, cleaner version. Emily Bronte, a clergyman's daughter, must be shuddering in the grave! I'm so glad I didn't attempt to go see this current presentation. It would have made me uncomfortable enough to walk out.

Sitting with Suffering

Speaking of being uncomfortable. Lent is a time leading up to the cross. We say we want to sit with Christ and share in His suffering, but so often it makes us uncomfortable. We squirm and would rather get to Sunday, to the moment of redemption. With Tony Campolo (who I heard speak when I was at Wheaton), we say, "It's Friday, but Sunday's a'comin'!"

I stumbled upon this excellent article by Zeke Smith, The Armchair Chaplain. It is titled, "Ilia Malinin: Is This What You Wanted?" In the article, he discusses Ilia's Olympic performance and the reaction of the press. They hounded Ilia after his failures and pushed him to look to 2030. At the end, Ilia presented a flawless performance in the exhibition gala, when there were no judges, no points, and no pressure. You can view that performance here. It is set to a tune I'd never heard, "Fear," by NF. It immediately made me think of my son because apparently it was written at a time in the artist's life when he suffered a relapse. As far as I know, my son hasn't relapsed, but we're still sitting in the suffering and the struggle. We still would love to see the redemption at the end of this road.

Zeke Smith shifts from the question of the song, "Is This What You Wanted?," to a story about Derek Redmond's emotional Olympic injury. Apparently, after breaking a hamstring, his father broke from the stands to help him cross the finish line (a beautiful picture of a father's love). Smith writes, "None of us want to be known for our worst moments, even when our worst moments are the ones that make us most recognizably human.... The truth is, none of us want the path of the cross. We're not good at sitting with suffering." When people are suffering, we must be willing to sit in the suffering with them, rather than pushing them to the purpose, the redemption that is not quite there yet. These are great words. It is an article well worth reading.

Motivational Mantra

I also found these incredibly motivating lines in Alice Lemee's article, "A Love Letter from Thailand." 

"Everybody wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to die to get there. Morbidly, I want to engrave this into my brain. It is the ultimate motivator. Forget the Pomodoro or Eat the Frog. One day, you will die. Are you juicing every drop from our sun? Or are you postponing yourself?"

Book Review: When Life Feels Empty - Highly Recommend

I can't remember who recommended Isaac Serrano's book, When Life Feels Empty. Perhaps it was someone in the Rabbit Room Chinwag group on Facebook. They recommend excellent books. I needed the content of this book to remind me where to plug into the source of power and hope. This was another book I listened to in audio form and then accessed in ebook form, so I could take notes.

We live in a world ruled by a materialistic worldview. As such, we are influenced by that mindset. We cannot get away from this lens that assumes the physical is all that exists. Without telos (life purpose and meaning), we feel empty. With excellent structure, Serrano outlines why we feel empty, 7 practices to address this, and why those practices work to shape us into who we were meant to be.

From the book of Ecclesiastes, we explore the idea that "everything is vanity (hevel)." If our gaze is horizontal, we will feel that way. Only when we fix our gaze vertically, do we grasp the telos necessary for enduring this life. We were meant to be trees, growing vertically. Instead, we waste time in emptiness and addictions. Serrano emphasizes that "belief must be embodied." The seven practices he outlines seek to help us do just that.

The first practice stunned me. I realized if I had incorporated this practice into my weekly fasting, I would have left my prayer times impressed instead of distressed. The first of seven beneficial practices is song. Singing releases oxytocin. Even heartbeats sync when singing together. Singing of God's mercy and love roots us in those promises. I intend to pursue this practice far more.

Serrano explains the next two practices. Baptism is storytelling with our body, a physical manifestation of the new life we receive in Christ. Communion roots us in time. We celebrate the past (Christ's body broken), the present (the new covenant through His blood), and the future (His return). Another way he puts it: baptism is the wedding and communion is the wedding ring.

The fourth practice is another one I intend to hone in on more. Serrano demonstrates that God's will is for us to express thanksgiving. He recommends we even face the east (the position of Christ's return) while we do so. I have implemented prayer far more in the past several years, but have I sufficiently incorporated thanksgiving in those prayer times?

The final three practices? Read the Bible (so essential for fixing our gaze vertically instead of horizontally). Attend church (we were meant for community - indeed, isolation destroys health and longevity and even breeds addiction). Pray the Lord's Prayer (there is a reason Christ gave this as an example. Why don't we use it more regularly?). 

The last section is equally instructive as he outlines why we should not be "conformed to the spirit of the age." God is a sculptor, forming us into a masterpiece. Following these ancient spiritual practices lends meaning to our lives and works with God instead of against Him. I highly recommend this deeper consideration of well-known practices that are proven essential. What a great book! I intend to visit this one again in the future.

Mid-month Mention: Substack Fare

Since Just Between Us published my article, "When the Journey Becomes the Gift," on their Substack-based site, I have been frequenting Substack more than usual. It appears this is where all the creatives hang out. Although I don't like to be out of the loop, I'm not technologically savvy, so I feel mystified by some of what goes on. I gather writers post notes and articles and some people access this on a free basis, while others pay the writer to subscribe for more content. Personally, I cannot afford to subscribe to every writer I wish to read (thus, my great love of the library). 

I get it! As a writer, I want people to find my words. My main struggle has always been with that drive that seems imperative for writers, to establish "platform." Oh, how I hate that word. To me, it is like waving a flag that says, "Look at me! Look at me! Look at what I can do" (to quote a Saturday Night Live sketch with the obnoxious child who is always drawing attention to himself). When I put the Substack app on my phone, it began to offer up categories I might wish to explore. Through that, I have indeed found writers I enjoy.

I think I entered Substack Land originally to access the poetry of Randy Edwards, writings of Jeanine Joyner, and The Rabbit Room. Now, I have signed on for some Spurgeon. Spurgeon, in turn, recommended a new page with Advent content from one of my favorite prayer writers, J. C. Ryle (author of the outstanding pamphlet, Do You Pray?). This new Substack with J. C. Ryle content can be found here.

What blew me away, earlier this month, was finding a writer who understands and articulates the discomfort I feel with the marketing side of writing. Grant Herbel's Substack, called "The Writer's Calling," is another recommended site that I am so grateful to have found. He posted a two-part article on "How Christian Writers Can Use Substack Notes." In the first segment, he expressed my internal thoughts on how icky marketing makes me feel. 

He writes, "On the one hand, we feel the pressure of the internet age: the demand to be loud, to be everywhere, to build a platform, to 'stop the scroll.' Honestly, it feels exhausting. It often feels like the opposite of the quiet work we are called to do. On the other hand, we carry a fire.... You have been given a message that could help someone. And lighting a lamp just to hide it under a bowl doesn't feel right, either.... The answer lies in shifting our perspective from promotion to stewardship.... When we view visibility as stewardship--as faithfully carrying the bread to the hungry--all of that changes. We stop trying to be 'famous' and start trying to be findable."

His words articulate the internal struggle I have battled. His advice rings true. I hope to glean encouragement from his writing, so that my writing doesn't remain hidden under a bushel. I want to shine whatever light God has placed within me into a dying world, desperate for His light, and witness to His transforming power.

Of course, I don't even fully understand how all of this works, but am eager to learn. I really wanted to pay for a full subscription to Herbel's writing, but with lots of money going out for our prodigal and his needs, I will hold off on that for now. Still, I wanted to provide a link for my readers. If you follow this link to The Writer's Calling, I will receive a free month subscription for every 3 individuals who subscribe (paid or free). Win for you! Win for me! 

After so many months without writing, I am back to caring about where my words (the words God plants in me to bloom for others) land and grow. I am back to praying about my calling to write. If you are a regular reader, you know that I dedicated 2025 to fasting and prayer for my prodigal and other needs of friends and family. It has been rough going. Often, the extra time spent focused on the many impossibilities we face stirs exhaustion and defeat. Throwing a spotlight on the challenge, in spite of full belief that God's got this, tends to make me introspective and low.

This morning, I found a small note on Substack from Chloe Elizabeth. It is a Corrie ten Boom quote. She writes, "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at Christ, you'll be at rest." Words to live by, indeed! And a fine example of how these notes/words on Substack provide something of value to the reader.

Book Review: Heaven and Nature Sing - Highly Recommend

Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World, by Hannah Anderson, is a book I wanted to place on my Christmas list. The writing is beautiful, and the insights fresh and deep. I wish I had read this earlier in the year so I could recommend it in time for Advent use. Since I listened to this in audio form, I struggled with two prevailing desires. I wanted to savor the words and take notes from the reflections. Plus, I hungered to see the illustrations provided by Hannah's husband Nathan. I'm so grateful someone recommended it in The Rabbit Room Chinwag group on Facebook and also grateful to find it available in audio form through Hoopla. Still, I think this is a book better consumed in hard form, and I would love to own a copy.

Heaven and Nature Sing contemplates various natural aspects of the Christmas story, exploring minor details like snowflakes, snakes, and swaddling clothes. It looks at Christ's birth through a new lens. It certainly earned its selection as an ECPA Christian Nonfiction Bestseller for Christmas 2023. I wish I had known about it in 2022, when first published.

Several points stood out. When feeling common and even sometimes worthless, we must remember that we have been sanctified and made holy by the Holy One. "When you feel common, remember that the holiness of God never runs out and His grace is as limitless as He is." I loved the Day 5 reflection on silence. Considering the silence between the Old and New Testaments, and the silence of Zachariah from his doubt (after years of pleading with God), was a great reminder for times when we feel we cannot hear God or He cannot hear us. She writes, "Our inability to hear God's words is no measure of His ability to hear ours."

Discussing family land, she remarks that inheritance is more about stewardship than about possession. She talks about our "kinsman redeemer," who takes responsibility for His offspring and calls us His own. How important it is to give our children a sense of the habits of faith! We long for peace in this chaotic world. She notes that in tolerance, we often ignore wrongdoing in order to avoid conflict. But, "the peace of God does not acquiesce." The habits and traditions of Advent rehearse the truth that, with heaven and nature, we sing, looking to the One who will crush the deceiver.

This is perhaps one of my favorite Advent books. I have been mentioning it to others. I also think this would make an excellent selection for a Christian book club in November or December. So much to contemplate and discuss. The thoughts are enlightening, personal, and universal.

Book Review: Five Mere Christians - Highly Recommend

How thrilling to find Five Mere Christians, by Jordan Raynor with Kaleigh Cox, available through Hoopla. The smaller free e-book about Fred Rogers whetted my appetite. I prefer my biographies intense and full of detail. Yet, this small book is one I would highly recommend reading. You may think you know the stories of the most famous individuals showcased here (Mr. Rogers and C. S. Lewis). I promise you will learn new perspectives and glean great insights.

The five mere Christians highlighted in this book include Mr. Fred Rogers, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ole Kirk Christiansen, Hannah More, and C. S. Lewis. Rogers, the famed television personality, emphasized service and slowing down (to "Fred time") in order to focus on others. The world is better off because he chose a pulpit with puppets instead of podiums. Civil rights activist Hamer provided an example to follow when confronting injustice. Her tenacity and unwillingness to resort to hate changed her state and nation. I knew nothing of Christiansen, the founder of the Lego company. What a testimony of faith under trial, commitment to excellence, and a quiet faith revealed while pursuing play! Recently, I encountered Hannah More in a women's biography devotional I am using this year. Her wisdom in marketing tracts and starting Sunday schools led many to know Christ. She worked alongside William Wilberforce fighting the slave trade in England. Finally, a well-known figure, C. S. Lewis, didn't think his work for the kingdom would last, but it outlived him and made him a household name in Christian circles.

I love the tight structure of these biographies. Each story is enticing and well-written. At the close of each section, the authors focus on 3 important points. This book does more than merely tell of interesting lives. It encourages readers to see opportunities to advance Christ's kingdom wherever personal passion and vision lead. In the section on Hannah More, they recommend readers reject isolation and embrace insulation. One example of isolation is only reading Christian books. Instead, seek insulation. A jacket insulates you from the cold so you can be out in the cold. 

I'd love to outline all these points because they made a significant impact. Instead, I'll encourage you to read the book and take notes, as I did. I will go back over those notes for daily pointers on attracting others to Christ for His kingdom through whatever I do (I don't have a specific job - even my mothering job is now defunct, with the youngest off at college). If you've never read a Jordan Raynor book, start with this excellent one. It is full of practical wisdom, packaged in story.

Book Review: The Deconstruction of Christianity - Highly Recommend

In college, I took a literary criticism course. I hated that class. We discussed Derrida and deconstruction theories of language. Derrida and others despised the idea of absolute truth. They argued that language is unstable and offers too many meanings. To me, it was a lot of pointless discussions like, "Cat is not rat because it has a 'c' instead of an 'r'," and other such nonsense. 

Religious deconstruction is all the rage these days. I have plenty of friends who talk about stepping back from the faith of their upbringing to reevaluate. They want to reclaim the good parts of Christianity and reject the bad parts. Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett explain with candor and clarity what "deconstruction" is, why it attacks those who claim "faith," and how to respond. I fall outside of the deconstruction camp because I believe in the inerrant and steadfast Word of God. I believe in absolute truth. So many want to relativize truth and say, "Well, that's your truth. I have my truth." To claim your own authority, separate from the Bible's authority, puts one on shifting sands. Yet, deconstructionists, who call themselves "ex-vangelicals," parse God's Word, picking and choosing parts to support their own societally sanctioned standards. They magnify Christ's love but disregard the hot holiness of His love. They share the sound bite, "No one condemns you," ignoring, "Go and sin no more."

The Deconstruction of Christianity articulates this agenda. The goal of an ex-vangelical is not to "re-construct" their faith, but to "de-construct" a belief system they feel is outdated and oppressive. Indeed, they see historical Biblical Christianity as "toxic," "patriarchal," and "confining." They seek a custom-made spirituality, separate from the moral "rigidity" of the Bible. They run from the Bible's authority and demand their own. Ex-vangelicals reject 5 things: 1) a literal reading of the Bible; 2) the belief that women should be submissive to men; 3) the sanctity of heterosexuality; 4) American exceptionalism; and 5) political/moral conservatism.

Part II of the book outlines the how, what, and who of deconstruction. I weep for these individuals. Often they are deconstructing as a reaction to a crisis, be it suffering, doubt, politics, or abuse. Gregory Koukl, author of Tactics, calls individually determined truth "the primal heresy." He likens it to the lies Satan presents in Eden. Many progressive leaders are brazen. Pastor Chris Kratzer encourages his followers to "spend less time reading the Bible and more time writing your own." The authors of this book remind readers that every ex-vangelical is made in the image of God and scarred by sin. They are captives who want to seek God on their own terms.

Part III offers hope for responding to those who reject the Bible and historical Christianity. I love that the first piece of advice is to pray. Second, believers should stay involved and share the burdens of their deconstructing friends. Third, seek God's wisdom for how to best assist them while being loving and sensitive. Finally, set boundaries and abide by theirs. It takes courage to stand on the truth of God's Word in a sin-scarred world that seeks individual authority and relative standards of right and wrong. But it is so important! Their final destination looms. This is a life or death matter. Everyone should ask themselves, "Where do my beliefs look more like the world than God's Word?" Toward the end of the book, the authors offer a prayer template. I copied it for myself and intend to use it when praying for my relatives and friends who have been enticed into the ex-vangelical camp. If you have a heart for the lost amid a cacophony of swirling perspectives, this is a must-read!

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for

doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;"

- 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

*Alisa Childers is also the author of Another Gospel?, one of my top reads in 2021.

Book Review: Coming Clean - Highly Recommend

Did someone highly recommend Seth Haines' Coming Clean to me? I don't recall. Someone should have! This book, once read, demands passing along to others. It resonated to my core! 

Although it chronicles his first 90 days of sobriety, it is not merely a book for addicts. It is for anyone who has wrestled with the Lord over the pains and trials of this life. Seth paints vivid pictures of the searing despair that drove him to the bottle. Why do we seek our petty pleasures and diversions instead of allowing God to lance our wounds and heal our soul-sickness? It is easier to numb the pain than to bring it to the altar. 

And besides, pain has a way of giving rise to doubts... about God's goodness, will, presence, and purpose. It is much harder to turn to One you worry has betrayed you or abandoned you. Seth's raw honesty hit me between the eyes. It reverberated in my soul! If life has battered you, if you've sought artificial alleviations, or doubted the very One you claim to love, you need to read this book. Even better, try to find it in audio form because Seth's lyrical prose is breathtaking when read by the author.

How did I miss the buzz about this book? Coming Clean: A Story of Faith was published ten years ago and won a Christianity Today Book Award. I'm certain I wasn't ready for this book in 2015. God knew when my soul needed to hear the poetic words this author weaves about faith and forgiveness. Not only am I more familiar now with an addict's journey, but I recognize my own tendencies to wrestle with faith and seek comfort in clumsy coping mechanisms.

When Seth's infant son, Titus, fails to thrive and literally shrinks, faith and prayer feel insufficient while alcohol promises to numb the pain. He writes, "Is God with us? If faith starts as a mustard seed, maybe doubt does too.... Anyone who's felt the sting of unanswered prayer, shares the same searing question. Where did our God go?" This book is a journal of his process toward sobriety, his coming clean. He apologizes for his swirl of memories and metaphors, but that is the exact reason it packs such a powerful punch. That, and its honesty.

Seth seeks to identify the genesis of his pain and doubt. It seems to go back to a faith healer in his youth who promised God's cure for his severe asthma if he had enough faith. When the cure didn't come, his family moved on to a rigid church that shunned the miraculous and opted for personal holiness. Systems became the idol of choice. In the middle of his ruminations on the various theological approaches (and the inevitable pain they inspire), he poses this passionate question: "If you are not a people that believes in healing, what framework is there to reconcile a sick world?" Jesus didn't come for those who have it all together; He came to save sinners like me.

As Seth attempts to avoid relapse, he often relies on The Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." In brutal honesty, he observes, "If he doesn't act in accordance with our felt need, we see him as absentee, capricious, or a predestining God of sorrow." In our desperate groaning for redemption, we must submit our will to the will of God, just as Christ did in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he felt abandoned. We must forgive the kind-hearted people with their burning words, their platitudes of "it's all to bring God glory." Seth outlines his journey, "moving from doubt to belief, from drunk to sober, from prodigal to unified with the Christ of my youth." Who knows, his thoughts while coming clean might just fortify you on your journey.

Book Review: Good Catastrophe - Highly Recommend

Benjamin Windle's outstanding book, Good Catastrophe, met me in my deepest need. It offers a dynamite blast of hope. If ever I needed hope, it is now. The author references J. R. R. Tolkien's concept of "eucatastrophe," first introduced in Tolkien's essay, "On Fairy-Stories." This word means "good catastrophe." In literature, it is a turning point that takes an expected terrible outcome and, instead, brings triumph out of tragedy.

As soon as I finished this book, I began recommending it to friends and family. I'm not the only one facing significant odds, carrying tremendous burdens, and expecting impending doom. The author notes that life's challenges "trespass into our homes, they blindside us in our relationships, they hijack our health, and they rob us of our finances." But what if those very catastrophes take us to a grander future than we expected?

May and June were brutal! The circumstances in my life demand something to ease the pain. The hope Windle is talking about is not cliché or photogenic hope. Hope has tide-turning power! He says, "It's more than a feeling... it's a worldview.... At the point of deepest pain is the start of the greatest good... [because] pain provokes an accelerated growth response.... What we initially consider as inconveniences or hardships can later be celebrated as tools that developed us." Windle offers relatable examples. In one, he speaks of Stephen Curry, a basketball player known for tremendous accuracy. Curry learned to play on an uneven and rutted court. Those obstacles taught him to strive for greater accuracy so he wouldn't be constantly chasing the ball. In another, the author highlights a musician forced to play a concert on a broken piano. The maestro, maneuvering around non-functioning keys, ended up creating a new and magnificent sound.

This is a simple, yet powerful, book I will come back to again. I know my need for hope will not diminish. Windle's look at the hard life of Job sings of the hope that springs up amid draught and loss. He references the image of the tree in Job 14. Verses 7-9 say, "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant." (KJV) Trees can sense the mere scent of water. Let the hope of Christ be like that faint scent of renewing water in your life. If you are demoralized by your trials, if life seems more than you can bear, this book provides a dose of hope that your catastrophe will bring good. 

Book Review: The Story She Left Behind - Highly Recommend

Seeing the buzz, I put my name on the hold list for Patti Callahan Henry's book, The Story She Left Behind. Although I've heard of this author, I had never read one of her books. My impetus to read quickened when I learned she was speaking at a library event south of Indianapolis. I snagged a ticket to the event and plunged in, reading the book in 3 days. What a great book! It deserves its recognition as an instant New York Times Bestseller. What a fantastic opportunity! I loved the reading and the author talk.

When she was eight, Clara Harrington's author mother disappeared. Now, twenty-five years later, her divorce propels her to return to live in her childhood home with her dad and her eight-year-old daughter, Wynnie. The mother hunger lingers. Then, she receives a phone call from a stranger named Charlie in England who claims to have found her mother's papers in his deceased father's study. Clara and Wynnie cross the ocean and arrive just as London is shrouded in the fog of the Great Smog. They flee London with Charlie, heading for his home in the Lake District. Can they, together, solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance? Will they learn why Charlie's father had the papers?

It is always a privilege to hear firsthand tidbits about an author's journey. Plus, it enhances the reading. For example, I was surprised to learn that this story is actually based on a true literary mystery. It weaves together small details from one author's disappearance with tidbits from the life of Beatrix Potter. If you read the novel, do not neglect the author's note at the end. It explains which parts are drawn from history and which parts are improvised to complete the story. This was an easy read and the pages fell away. I immediately recommended it to a friend with a special love of Beatrix Potter. When I told Jen about the book, she was already familiar with Potter's personally-created language. This was all new to me.

I loved hearing about Patti Callahan Henry's journey into the rabbit trails of her research. While reading The Story She Left Behind, I felt Wynnie's character seemed precocious beyond belief. Then, I attended the talk, and learned that the author whose disappearance led to Henry's novel was indeed that precocious as a child. The book emphasizes the importance of words and language. It addresses the difficulties we sometimes have when we cannot find the words to communicate what we wish to say.

The talk also whet my appetite to read more by this author. After talking about her book, Becoming Mrs. Lewis, I decided to stick around, even though I had no book to sign. When my turn came, I eagerly asked if she had done research at the Marion E. Wade Center (where I worked, in my college years, transcribing C. S. Lewis' personal correspondence). She had! We talked briefly about Dr. Lyle Dorsett and his wife, Mary. She kindly took a photo with me before I dashed off to keep the line moving. Oh, how her wrists must have hurt by the end of the evening! I noticed many people in line carrying multiple copies of her books, all seeking a signature. I'm thrilled to have personally encountered this author and her book.

Wishing you had the privilege of attending one of Patti Callahan Henry's book talks? The author wrote an interesting article, on creating personal languages, for the Readers Digest web magazine. On her author website, you can read a blog post on live video interviews which aired on her Facebook page in February and March. Plus, her book was highlighted on the Friends and Fiction podcast. This is a podcast that she created, together with 3 other bestselling authors, to highlight and discuss books. Don't have an hour to get engrossed in this story? Well, here's a ten-minute interview with the author:

Book Review: Saving the Saved - Highly Recommend

I grew up in The Salvation Army. They believe a child of God, a Christian, can lose their salvation. One of the primary dangers in this view is an inflated sense of self-preservation. It leads to believing one has the power to negate what God has done on your behalf ("void His promise") because your actions supersede God's act of forgiveness that He has declared as FINISHED. Contrary to what they think, we are not the lynch pin holding our security in place! Praise God, He paid the debt I could not pay. He holds me, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a seal of promise, assuring my eternal ("eternal," not "temporary," not "probationary") life! He is the author/sustainer/perfecter of our faith.

While Salvationists would agree that we cannot DO anything to gain our salvation, they say we must DO something to keep our salvation. They assert we can "choose to come out from under that seal." In that case, what's the point of a seal? Living with constant fear one has not repented from each infraction (and, yes, we continue to struggle with SIN) leads to a performance-driven faith. I now believe that is an error, and a grievous one. It makes me think of a phrase I once heard stating there are only two religious camps: DO and DONE. I rest in what He has done, not what I do.

Salvation is a gift, an act of grace, "Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:9) First, He justifies; then, He sanctifies. On the cross, Christ paid the penalty for our sin. Once we are His child, sealed with the Holy Spirit, that Spirit helps us fight against the ongoing presence of sin we will battle until death. We are not out from under the consequence of sin, but we are FREE from the condemnation of sin. Again, I trust in Christ's act, not my actions, for my heart is desperately wicked and the battle against sin continues (Romans 7:14-25).

We are neither co-saviors, nor co-judges. God will decide each individual's spiritual destiny. Indeed, it is not our place to speculate. (We cannot determine someone in scripture ended up in hell because they did not repent of their waywardness.) Praise God, it is not our call. Yet everyone will answer for where they place their faith. Are you trusting in your sufficiency (your ability to remain obedient) or in a deep and abiding trust in Christ's sufficiency (His obedience in taking your sin penalty on the cross)? Are you wearing His robes of righteousness or your own?

I face tension with family members who believe in the Army's 9th doctrine, that "continuance in the state of salvation DEPENDS upon continued, obedient faith in Christ." It rankles all the more because I have a wayward son. I have a child who, despite attesting dependence upon Christ for salvation, makes harmful choices that others perceive as unrepentant rebellion. Indeed, if they pronounce judgment on one in scripture who, despite writing books of the Bible, strayed, they believe my child is in danger of hellfire. Yes, it's personal! Yet, Paul's letter to the Corinthians reveals it is possible to follow Christ and still indulge in seasons of sin. Indeed, those willing to pronounce judgment on my son should examine their own sin indulgences.

Perhaps all of this led me to Bryan Loritts' book, Saving the Saved: How Jesus Saves Us from Try-Harder Christianity Into Performance-Free Love. Loritts is determined to teach the reader how to rest in God's performance-free love. He argues against spiritual meritocracy (using our performance to gain God's approval). I loved this comment, "If anything I ever do of eternal value is because of God's grace, and if anything I ever do that brings shame is covered by God's grace, where is the boasting... the shame?" He urges us to come to Him "with the outfit He supplies. Life in the kingdom means I come out of my old clothes of performance and receive the new ones of abiding in Christ."

I loved his comments on prayer. He likened it to a 3-year-old, with arms outstretched, asking her daddy to carry her. He argues for the humility required to pray fervently. "Every day I spend in prayerlessness is a day wasted in pride--a day in which I say to God, 'I got this.'" And we don't hold the results against God. "He's worthy to be praised when breast cancer is cured--and just as worthy when the disease takes a life. We don't follow God for outcomes or for the benefits package; we follow Him because we love Him."

His discussion on Matthew 11:30 ["my yoke is easy; my burden is light"] brings special encouragement to my weary soul. He explains that, in the Greek, these words mean "custom-made." A carpenter measured the yoke to fit a specific ox's neck. "As the Divine Carpenter, Jesus knows you inside and out.... He customizes the yokes and trials of our lives so there's nothing we go through that we cannot handle.... You and Jesus are yoked together. He's in this with you, and there's nothing... you can't handle... in God's amazing love."

As Loritts speaks of why our failure is never final, he focuses on Peter's denial and subsequent use for the kingdom. He talks about our need for fresh, daily grace, and how that should make us gracious with others. Here is where the message hit me between the eyes. Unforgiveness is an affront, a sign of hypocrisy. I have exhibited this very problem and must repent of it. Loritts writes, "The unforgiving 'Christian' puts on a display of arrogance, assuming in their unforgiveness that they are the only ones truly worthy of being forgiven, of receiving God's performance-free love." Oh, how I need repentance.

Our repentance is not, however, to GAIN his love, but is an expression in RESPONSE to his performance-free love. We must be careful not to confuse salvation with sanctification. First, we repent of our sin and seek His forgiveness and His atonement (eternally expunging our sin debt). Then, our further repentance is a process of sanctification. It expresses our desire to become more like Him out of gratitude for the reconciliation we had no hope of attaining on our own. 

Our salvation makes us a child of God. It is an act of adoption that renders us secure. I would never look at my child and say, "That's it! You've gone too far. I no longer love you or call you my son." He is and will always be my son and nothing he does will negate that status. The truly saved do not need to be saved again, and again, and again. Indeed, believing such renders Christ's atoning work as equivalent to the Old Testament covenant sacrifices. (Here it would be good to look at Hebrews 6:4-6 - do we crucify Christ over and over to reclaim our salvation?) No, the saved rest in God's performance-free love and will greet the bridegroom wearing His robes of righteousness, not their own (filthy rags).

Book Review: The Wright Brothers - Highly Recommend

What a fascinating book by David McCullough! I highly recommended this to my son, Sean, who plans to pursue aeronautical engineering. I even read bits aloud to him and shared a story from Wilbur's youth that resounded with an important life lesson. As a teen, looking forward to attending Yale University, Wilbur encountered an accident that altered his life for three years. A neighbor boy (by intent or accident is unknown, although that boy proved in later years to be a serial killer) knocked out Wilbur's upper teeth with a hockey stick. He could not go away to school. Complications and emotional alterations held Wilbur hostage. During that time, he read voraciously, no doubt studying much that he would one day use in his invention. I observed to Sean (and later told Trevor), sometimes the worst things to happen to us can end up being the best thing to happen to us because it turns into something productive we could never have imagined.

Wilbur and Orville Wright, the famous Dayton, Ohio, brothers, dreamed of creating some means of flying. Many scoffed, imagining this an impossibility. It surprised me that the United States seemed disinterested in the brothers' advancements. Although the initial test runs took place in North Carolina, most of the introductory flights occurred in Europe. The French were especially interested in flight and several French aeronautical engineers were also working on making this dream a reality. Equally surprising, I learned Orville suffered an accident that claimed the life of his passenger (the first death associated with flight).

I enjoyed this dip into the history of flight. The dogged pursuit of these mild-mannered brothers was inspiring. Refusing to listen to naysayers, they quietly and persistently worked to understand the mechanics involved. Their invention changed our world. Even if you are not interested in exploring history, this book provides a human interest story full of inspiration and hope. Most of us will live ordinary lives of little to no consequence, but the Wright brothers deserve every accolade for their determination and courage.

My Top Ten Reads of 2024

2024 was an outstanding year for reading! Out of the 67 books I read and reviewed, 42 of them (63%) were 4 or 5 star reads. Only 3 books (4%) received a 2 star rating from me. One third of the books were 3 star reads. In looking back over the quarterly lists, I highly recommended ten books:

Do You Pray? by J. C. Ryle - Christian Nonfiction

Loving Him Well by Gary Thomas - Christian Nonfiction

A Lifelong Love by Gary Thomas - Christian Nonfiction

Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner - Historical Fiction

If I Were You by Lynn Austin - Historical Fiction

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan - Middle Grade Historical Fiction

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Fiction Classic

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - Fiction

Catching Foxes by John Henderson - Christian Nonfiction

Waiting Isn't a Waste by Mark Vroegop - Christian Nonfiction

I would like to give an honorable mention to the following five books:

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - Historical Fiction

Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham - Humorous Christian Romance

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold - Christian Fiction

Hope is the First Dose by Dr. W. Lee Warren - Christian Nonfiction

Funny Story by Emily Henry - Humorous Romance

Book Review: Waiting Isn't a Waste - Highly Recommend

How thrilling to find another book by Mark Vroegop. Last year, I highly recommended his book on lament, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. Once again, I felt drawn to his subject; this time, it was because we are waiting for God to break the chains of addiction that bind our son. In Waiting Isn't a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life, Vroegop unpacks something we'd all rather avoid. There's treasure in learning how to wait well. 

I started this book the morning after a full day of waiting. Knowing our son's wedding would keep us up late, we rejected the early morning direct flight home and took one departing at 8 p.m. After spending the day sitting around in the hotel lobby, they delayed our departure another hour. We headed to the airport anyway and waited again. As we sat near our gate, watching the flight before ours load, we noticed a disturbance on the floor by the doorway. A young girl of about 7 or 8 was pitching a fit. As far as we could tell, her mother was attempting to put her on the plane by herself (a required parental visit?). She was having none of it. After much cajoling and crying, she boarded the plane, holding the hand of another young passenger. Those waiting for that flight and for our flight all held a collective breath. She held up the process for at least a half hour. We were weary and eager to return home, so when we saw the girl break through the entry way yet again, demanding her mother, it stretched our patience. We had visions of our flight cancelled, requiring a night at the airport. The girl eventually returned home with her mother and our flight departed at 9:45 (we didn't arrive home until 1:20 a.m.). It was as if God primed the pump for my reception of this book.

In our pressurized world, waiting feels inconvenient and annoying. Normal sympathies waned as we saw our expectations thwarted by this poor child's plight. Waiting Isn't a Waste is very well-structured. Vroegop encourages the reader with the key message, "Don't waste your waiting!" He breaks the "how" of waiting down into 6 characteristics: honestly: waiting is hard; frequently: waiting is common; thoughtfully: waiting is biblical; patiently: waiting is slow; intentionally: waiting is commanded; and collectively: waiting is relational.

Thanks to reading this book, I feel encouraged to embrace the gaps as opportunities to put my hope in God's timing and rescue. It's hard to live with only enough manna for the day at hand. But, as Vroegop points out, "God designed waiting in the world and in redemption [Christ was 3 days in the tomb] so that he's central, not you or me." Our desire for control often leads to anger, anxiety, or apathy when faced with times of waiting. Vroegop recommends, "Intentionally rehearse what [is] true about God." He suggests making a map of God's faithfulness, actively practicing waiting, and shifting your focus from what you don't know about the future to what you do know about God.

As Vroegop observes, biblical waiting is "active and intentional," "purposeful and productive," and trusting and hopeful. How I need more patience when I wait! I loved the definition given for patience, the Greek word "makrothumia." It is "a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation." Perhaps I wasted my waiting on the day after Bryce's wedding, but I don't want to waste the possibly lengthy wait for our prodigal to return to God's desired path for his life. When our future seems uncertain, may I rest in the certainty of God's sovereign hand orchestrating and carrying us through every moment.

Book Review: Catching Foxes - Highly Recommend

Several months back, I mentioned my desire to send my son and future daughter-in-law a pre-marital discussion guide. The one I wanted to send, written by Gary Thomas, was called Nine Essential Conversations Before You Say I Do. At the time, they were not seeking pre-marital counseling, but my husband urged me not to send the book. He argued they were both very busy and would not have the time to read the book. Moreover, I think he didn't want me inserting myself into the process. Fair!

Thanks to certain changes in their lives, they sought pre-marital counseling from a mentor couple in their church, the Eastside Community Church. I asked what book they were using and then went online to see if I could access it through my library. The book they worked through is called Catching Foxes: A Gospel-Guided Journey to Marriage by John Henderson. Now, I'm wondering if God intended the book as much for me as it was for their journey. I listened to this book during my treadmill time and completed it the day prior to our (my and John's) 34th wedding anniversary.

Amid a chaotic and stressful week with our prodigal, I requested prayer from my Facebook friends. Things did not go well. They played out the opposite of how I believed God willed. Mistakes were made, and I was angry that my opinions were ignored. I allowed resentment and bitterness to take hold of my heart and soul. It doesn't surprise me that God used this book, Catching Foxes, to draw me back and reveal the pride, arrogance, and sin within my own heart.

I was right in the sections on marital roles/responsibilities and resolving conflict. How timely! God used this book to open my eyes to my lack of trust in Christ. I went in thinking I knew exactly what should happen. When that didn't happen (and I felt part of this was due to the behavior/decisions of my husband), I justified my anger because if things had gone my way, it would have fallen out in God's will. This was believing somehow that my will was God's will. This was placing my trust (and then disappointment and discouragement) in my husband's ability to do what I felt he should in the situation. I had my trust centered in the wrong place. I asserted my will for my own desires, not in submission to what God allowed to play out.

Of course, I sometimes need a 2x4 upside the head. So, in my devotions, I came upon a passage in Matthew 12:25 - "a household divided against itself will not stand." In my personal Bible reading, I came to Psalm 112: 7 - "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." Then, not even knowing the dynamics of my situation, my good friend, Anne, wrote to me:

"Our devotions lately have become so meaningful as we have been reminded of God's faithfulness, His work in us, and His weaving of our life story for His glory. I am not so good at the trusting part of this, but so often want to do things my way, and then pray for God to affirm the choices/decisions that ultimately I am making instead of relying on Him to meet all of my needs! (Ha! What an eye opener it is when I realize that I'm basically saying, 'I'll take the wheel on this one!')"

The Gary Thomas book I wanted to send is very good and practical. Catching Foxes is very gospel-focused. Indeed, the Nine Conversations book helps a couple think about how to prepare their relationship for marriage. Catching Foxes goes deeper and helps a couple recognize attitudes and positions in Christ necessary for the arduous task of staying married. Getting married is simple! Can be fun! Staying married depends upon a reliance on Christ and a dedication to live for His kingdom. It demands a self-sacrificing focus that fixes its gaze on Christ instead of self or spouse. I highly recommend this pre-marital workbook, not only for young couples starting out, but for us older folk, who just might need a brush-up course on surrendering one's will and one's marriage to the Lord.