Tag Archive | God

Where’s my Glasses?

May20

IMG_0328I was visiting with a 20-year-old young woman and she said something profound. “My problem is I need to see myself the way God does.”

I told her I struggle with that too. My problem is I keep losing my glasses! Or the lenses get smudged or they break. It’s hard to look clearly at yourself when your looking glass is warped or the wrong prescription.

Can anyone relate? I mean, I would love to have  rose colored glasses personally and see myself as wonderful and perfect and adorable.

Unfortunately the lens that so often is before me is the one that significant others in my life had filled with messages like “You’re fat,” or, “You’re lazy,” or “Can’t you do anything right?”

Now why would I hang on to those glasses? Because they are practically riveted to my skull and difficult to remove.

I need to work harder at seeing not only God correctly, but myself, through His eyes. After all, Scripture says he delights in me. Sometimes that feels like a fictional sentiment. But it’s not. It’s real (Zephaniah 3:17).

How about you? Having any vision problems lately? I wonder how many of our problems would melt away (like butter in a hot frying pan) if we could only see ourselves like God does. After all, His opinion matters far more than that of those around us who cannot love us nearly as well as our Creator does.

Trauma Plan (Book Review)

May17

I picked Trauma Planup a copy of Candace Calvert’s book, Trauma Plan the other day and was happily drawn into a lovely romance.

Chaplain Riley Hale has tried to rebel against her wealthy and overprotective parents, by becoming an ER nurse. She loved her job but her career was sidelined after a brutal physical assualt left her with serious and permanent deficits in her physical ability to do the job. As she tries to recover she works in the ER as a Chaplain.

Life drastically changes the day she meets the ER Doc who some referred to as “Rambo.” Dr. Jack Travis has served his country, and devotes the majority of his time to helping the indigent people who lack medical care, by operating a free medical clinic.

The two meet but initially clash. Jack realizes he could use Riley’s name to help get positive support for his clinic, which is under attack by the local community. Riley realizes that Jacks offer for her to volunteer at the clinic would be a way for her to practice her skills and possibly et back into full time nursing as she desires.

What neither of them expect is that they would fall in love. As events unfold around them, they learn what is more important than their own selfish desires and that God uses everything as part of His perfect plan.

I really enjoyed this book. Candace is a former ER nurse herself and is able to give credibility to the life of those people who struggle to help those in their most desperate hours. She weaves lovely details into the story and a few surprises. Most of all she treats the issue of physical and emotional pain and the way that can interfere or draw us closer to God, in a realistic way without being preachy. I loved this novel and look forward to reading more of her work.

Broken Things (Book Review)

Apr26

Broken thingsBroken Things, re-released by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, is an unusual romance novel by Andrea Boeshaar, that looks at the choices of Allie Littenberg and Jack Callahan. Both were in love long ago in Chicago but separations and miscommunication led to them never reuniting. Well, at least until Allie returns to Chicago for a consulting job and decides to look up her former love. She’s a widow now with one son who is in ministry and married. She’s hopes repair some bridges that may have been burned by her choice to leave.

Jack Callahan is not happy to see his former girlfriend, the woman he had wanted most to marry. Sure he had eventually married, but his wife had left and was dead and he had to raise their son. Wounded and broken by life, this cop had abandoned God and would like to keep it that way if his son and now Allie would leave Him out of the equation.

Allie is hurt by Jack’s refusal but understands it, so she steps back and does her job which leads her to taking on abuses at the nursing home she is working for. The woman she found being abused is dying and has no family interested. So Allie pours her time and heart into ministering to this broken woman on the verge of eternity.

Andrea does a beautiful job weaving in the emotional turmoil of the characters in her book. As Jack struggles with his conflicted feelings towards Allie, he’s forced to confront his anger towards God and own up to his past mistakes along the way. How this all blends together is beautiful. Broken people can be used by God and God never gives up on those who have been broken and living apart from Him. He always stands ready and waiting with open arms. He is the master of fixing broken things (aka hearts).

Life on God’s “D” List

Apr8

This was originally published in 2010…

Many years ago, a dear friend had emailed me about being depressed. Today, here in Wisconsin it is dark and stormy. Many of us go through storms of life that do leave us feeling: dark, down, depressed, defeated, deflated, discouraged, disabled. I shot the below “D” list to my friend then and ironically she has shot it back to me over the years and I have saved it because sometimes we all need some encouragement. So if you are in a dark place, if life is tough and the “D” words (kind of like Kathy Griffith’s “Life on the ‘D’ List”) have got you down – then take a look at life through GOD’s ‘D’ list instead:

Delightful – He lights up our lives!

Delectable & Delicious - Savor the sweetness of God!

Daring and Dangerous - Isn’t He just? And sometimes He calls us to be as well.

Dancing – In the arms of God! More fun than Dancing with the Stars!

Darling - That’s how He sees You!

Determined – To overcome Satan, we have that power through His Holy Spirit!

Demanding -We have a right to come before His throne with our requests!

Daddy - We can call Him this! Abba, Father!

Daughter - That’s who you are to Him! – If you are a woman.  Sorry guys – you’ll have to wait for an “S” list!

Delirious – How we should be in love with Him!

Discipline -He does this because He loves us!

Deep – How the Bible describes His love for us!

Done - Our salvation in Christ.  What a relief!

Trusting God (Book Review)

Mar8

trusting godI know that often I do reviews of fiction, especially romance, because that’s what I love to read and write. But sometimes I come across a book so good, that I have to share it with others.

Trusting God by Jerry Bridges is one such book. Originally published in 1988, and re-released in 2008, it has lost none of its value for the time that has elapsed.

Much of this book is about how we can trust God even when life is painful. In order to do that one has to have a good grasp of the sovereignty of God. I love Bridge’s quote (pg. 53):

“Let us not be guilty of breaking a bruised reed (a heavy heart) by insensitive treatment of the heavy doctrine of the sovereignty of God.”

Bridges walks the line between Calvinistic (Predestination) and Armenian/Wesleyan (Free Will) in a wonderful way. “…the Bible’s consistent teaching that God is able and does move upon the hearts and minds of people to accomplish His purposes. Yet it also seems equally clear from these passages that God does this without violating or coercing their wills, but rather that He works His mysterious way through their wills to accomplish His purposes.”

Bridges asserts that while Scripture explains both concepts of sovereignty as well as freedom and personal responsibility, it never fully explains the relationship between the two. He at length explores these concepts with a light touch and deep understanding with practical application.

If you struggle and hurt and life is difficult (and when isn’t it for all of us at times?), then I recommend this book to you. It is easily read and understood even though a big word like “sovereignty” can put one off, it is an essential characteristic of God for us to understand if we are to walk in faith and confidence into the life He calls us to. This is a book I will be going back to again and again.

Contaminated Love

Feb25

Sometimes our wounds are more significant than we realize.

Let me explain. I’ve struggled with some spiritual inertia lately. Difficult chronic issues contribute, as well as some health stuff, but it dawned on me today that the real issue is that I have come to feel defeated in my walk with God.

But this is not from God.

It started with another person I looked up to and trusted. A person who repeatedly wounded me and I prayerfully confronted with much fear and trembling. A person who turned on me and lashed out in even more deeply painful ways.

It was not so much the fact that this happened but the fact that the things I had been devalued for by this person involved prayer.

Prayer. An intimate conversation with the Most High God.

And this individual left me feeling like a failure in this area.

*Sigh.*

So there’s a double whammy for me.

1)      I tried to confront in love because God asked me to – and came away feeling beaten and bruised at the core of my being. My attempts to get help to confront again were not successful and I gave up because too much time passed for it to seem meaningful. This made it hard for me to go back to God because didn’t it all start with Him anyway?

2)      I still feel inept.

Now this is all entirely ridiculous, isn’t it? I mean, who else should care about how well I communicate with God – except for – God!

And He knows my heart and my hurt and it was never His intention to open me up to such soul-searing pain as what I experienced at the words of this woman.

So I go back and try again – to sit at the feet of my Savior recognizing that it was not this individual, but Satan Himself using that person to derail my relationship with God.

Amazingly enough, God has continued to speak to me and lead me even when I’ve not been as faithful as I think I should be in coming to Him. Another dear friend has told me that she thinks I’m praying more than I realize. Pray without ceasing? In some ways I do that. Simple prayers from a simple servant heard by a gracious and abundant God.

And I’m grateful because He has never wasted any pain that I’ve endured from others who have sought to wound me. Ultimately He has taken what they meant for evil and used it for good.

So I will hold on and I will persevere because He is faithful and loving even if some people have not lived that out in the ways I expect. Chances are I’ve wounded a few on my path as well. I only hope and pray I can be humble when confronted and not hurt in return like I’ve been hurt.

How about you? What derails your relationship with God?

 

Rodeo Ashes (Book Review)

Dec11

Rodeo ashesI’ve come to love western themed novels, whether they are historical or contemporary. Rodeo Ashes is a sweet Texan romance written by author Shannon Taylor Vannatter.

Laci Gentry is trying to make a new life for herself after losing her husband in a tragic death. With a son to care for she settles down near friends and reconnects with a former classmate, Quinn Remington. She accepts a job teaching kids how to ride at his ranch, returning herself to a former passion of her own, barrel racing. But soon she finds herself enjoying the company of a certain cowboy, Quinn.

Quinn had not seen Laci in years. He had admired her from afar in High School but has lost track of her. He had not known that she had been married to the famous Mel Gentry. In spite of a secret he keeps regarding Mel’s death, he cannot stop being drawn to the lovely widow.

This truly is a sweet and tender romance. New love is challenged and tested and faith and forgiveness put into place in a very real way. Healing is possible in time and God does bring beauty out of the ashes of our grief and guilt. This book shows those truths powerfully.

The Fiddler (Book Review)

Apr27

When I first met Beverly Lewis at a book signing, my first thought was “She is so sweet.” The Fiddler was my first read of anything by her and the book is definitely a reflection of the author’s personality (from my limited acquaintance).

The Fiddler is a story of an Englisher, Amelia, who is a classical violinist of world class caliber who is struggling against the demands and expectations of her father, agent and musician boyfriend. So she takes up “fiddling” on the side and in secret. Discovery forces her to look at what it is she really wants out of life and an unexpected rainstorm, wrong turn and flat tire, bring her the doorstep of Michael.

Michael has his own challenges to face as well. Raised Amish, he has lived in the world and yet struggles to defy his parents’ wishes for him to be baptized and committed to the Amish way of life.  Doing so would mean giving up his work as a drafter. His own foray into the world was followed by his neice’s as well, with her also wandering from God. Can one leave the Plain way and still love and serve the Lord?

Both Amelia and Michael struggle to come to grips with their dreams and how God could use that in the face of opposition from those closest to them. Or could God work that out in time? And what about the attraction each feels for the other? One Englisher and one Amish? Could there ever be a meeting point there?

As I stated earlier, this story is sweet, easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable. Beverly herself told me that if I was going to read any novel of hers as a first visit to her Amish fiction, this was the one to read. I think she was right. The only thing that could have made this better would have been an audio (CD) of some of the fiddling music, although I experienced in my heart regardless.

Rejection is Part of the Game

Apr14

I’m in the midst of some changes in my involvement in church ministry. It’s been hard being in leadership because being in a position like that is like putting a target on your back and letting everyone practice shooting arrows at you.  The hard part is that it is rarely that people criticize you for things failing or not going well – the attacks get personal.

I have been slandered over the years more times than I can count. The attacks are more on my personality or character and often judging my motives.

This kind of thing is hard. If you need affirmation and encouragement – this is NOT the place to find it. Sad isn’t it? The church, where we are to be “building one another up and encouraging one another as the day is drawing closer” can often be the place of our greatest pain.  Yet God has given me a deep love for the body of Christ.

I do get affirmation from close friends and leadership.  I am blessed by so many people I have served with. Still, it hurts to maligned and misunderstood.

Maybe that’s why I’m such a champion of respecting and praying for our church leaders. I know firsthand the pain of attacks and the difficulty leaders face in leading a group of volunteers who are trying to be “family” in the body of Christ.

But, I’m a writer too. Writing is also ministry. There is something different about rejection in writing. For instance,  I just got a rejection of a manuscript that had been requested in full. Ouch. It hurts whenever someone doesn’t think your work is good enough. But that’s just it – it’s my work. I can improve.  I can grow.  This editor was a blessing in the way she delivered  her rejection. She took the time to give me specific areas where there were problems with my writing and how to change them.  She encouraged me to submit again in the future. This is highly unusual in the publishing industry. She didn’t blacklist my name or say I was a crappy person too full of myself to see how awful my writing was.

Rejection is part of the game with writing and seeking publication. It just is. The more I’m on line the more I see how many of us are out there pursuing our dream, writing our stories and trying to honor God with our gifts. Sometimes I admit, I feel jealous of the success of others when they finally get that contract, that book art, that first box of books with THEIR name on the cover.

I know I could have those things if I self-published and ignore the opportunity to grow. But I want to give God my best effort. That takes work and I’ll admit that sometimes I fear I’ll never be good enough. I’m so blessed by my readers cheer me on.  They remind me of how God has already used my writing for His glory.

In writing the rejections are usually not personal.  My writer friends know I’m zany and crazy and fun. They believe in me because they know I desire to grow and I’m not so full of myself to think I’m the next hot thing since Stephen King.

So I’m going to keep writing and serving God here until He says no more or calls me home. I’ll still serve in the church but the way that happens is shifting, and I embrace that. The Scripture God keeps bringing to my mind is this:

How do you handle rejection? What is God doing in your life that is new and fresh?

The Preacher’s Bride – Book Review

Jan19

The Preacher’s Bride is set in 1650’s England against the religious persecution that the Puritan’s of that time faced. This is the debut novel by Jody Hedlund and was written in such compelling way, I couldn’t put it down.  The characters are realistic and likeable and the emotion that flows through this story is palpable.

When John’s wife dies, leaving behind an infant son and some other children, a teenage Puritan girl, dedicated to serving however God would lead, steps into the breach to provide for this infant. The child, not expected to live, begins to thrive under Elizabeth’s care as do the other remaining  children who are grieving their mother. John, however, blinded by grief and obsessed with preaching to the masses, regardless of the cost, initially opposes Elizabeth’s interference in his household but soon becomes to depend on her completely for the care of his children and home.

As religious persecution increases, Elizabeth becomes a target to try to undermine and stop John’s ministry. Elizabeth suffers severely but does not give up the task she feels God has clearly given her to care for this little family. Her sacrifice costs her the possibility of her own marriage that had been planned.  Eventually John wakes up to the woman who has sustained him and who has loved him for years while she served and supported his preaching.  Eventually marrying, the challenges the couple faces are not less severe and crippling.

John’s passion for the work of God and Elizabeth’s zeal for service against tremendous odds paints a compelling image of the sacrifices that many in that time period would have encountered.

This was a book I could not put down. I had to keep reading to see what would happen next. When I finished I had to go back and re-read parts because they were so compelling. I found myself swept up into the story and empathetic to the characters as they struggled with obedience and faith  in the midst of circumstances most of us will never be challenged with.

I strongly recommend this book. It is worth the time to read and let the  characters resonate within your soul and call you to a deeper walk and faith in Christ. The courage they exemplify is something we lack so much of in our own culture.  Thank you, Jody for pouring your heart and the talent God has obviously gifted you with, into this story. To Him be the glory!