Thoughtful

Where in the world is . . . ?

2013-05-11T20:28:00.000-05:00

Carmen San Diego?

If you remember Carmen San Diego, you deserve a high five.

But actually the question you're probably wondering is where in the world I have been since Easter!

To be perfectly honest, after a year of pushing pretty hard with this blog, between writing, searching for guest bloggers, and publicizing in various places, I went through a pretty severe burnout. I found myself overwhelmed with all of it, to the point that even putting words to paper felt impossible.

Then at the end of April, my husband started having severe indigestion (or so we thought). We shouldn't have waited as long as we did, but after a few days, we decided he needed to go to the urgent care clinic to get a prescription or something, since the OTC medicines we had been using were not helping. The clinic decided to do an EKG, and when it looked somewhat abnormal, but not significantly so, they decided he should go to the ER to have them check it out just in case.

After another EKG and bloodwork in the ER, it was determined that he was having or had already had a heart attack. I never actually learned which. He was admitted to the hospital and quickly taken to see if he had a blockage, and when they discovered a blockage in one of the more minor arteries of his heart, they immediately placed a stent. The doctor gave us before and after images of the artery, and the difference is shocking, once the doctor explained what we were seeing.

We spent the next three nights at the hospital for monitoring, and he was discharged the last Friday of April with a stack of new prescriptions and instructions to show up for cardiac rehab the next week.

He is doing amazingly well. We've changed his diet, though we had already done that to some degree before the heart attack. His blood sugar (he is Type II diabetic) has been amazing. And the cardiologist said that his heart received no damage at all. I find that pretty amazing, and I feel like God was all over this. It was a scary time, but I think that this happened to scare us into making more significant changes so that something worse won't happen in the future.

I have started looking for a second job. I work about 40 hours a week, and Adrian works at least 40 hours a week, but our student loan debt is just not dropping as quickly as I would like. On top of that, we also have whatever medical bills we have left over after insurance covers their part. It's been two weeks since he was released, and I still haven't seen a bill, so I'm slightly hopeful that maybe insurance covered everything, but it's more likely that everything has just not gone through the system yet. Working an extra 15-20 hours a week doesn't exactly appeal to me, but I think I can handle it for a while to put us on a more stable footing. We don't have children yet, and I want to be able to stay at home when we do, so it makes sense to put in some extra time now. I have put in applications at about a half dozen places so far, but I haven't heard anything back yet. I would appreciate your prayers about that.

I've started working on the post about angels that I promised way too long ago, and I hope to have it finished before much longer. I don't plan on keeping up a rigorous publishing schedule like I was before, but I hope to be consistently offering you something, even if it isn't as often as before. Once I am able to find a second job, I'm not sure how often I will be posting, at least until I get into a rhythm with the new schedule.

Thank you all for sticking around through all this rambling. I could keep going, but I'm about to head out with my husband to listen to some music tonight! I hope you all are having a fantastic weekend!

Halos, Harps, and Fluffy Clouds

2013-03-10T17:46:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of AKARAKINGDOMS / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I watched the first part of the History Channel's series on the Bible earlier this week.

There were several things that made me laugh out loud, such as Noah's Scottish accent, and there were also things that made me cringe a little, such as almost completely skipping the entire story of Jacob.

But one thing they had nicely on target were the angels.

When God, likely in the form of Jesus, as the History Channel implied, showed up at Abraham's camp. He had two men - angels - with Him. They did not have wings nor halos.

After their meeting at Abraham's camp. the two angels proceeded to Sodom, where Abraham's nephew was living.

The two angels were not seen as special or out of the ordinary, but only as fresh meat for the townspeople's debauchery.

But when it was time, all hell broke loose.

The two angels shed their cloaks, and underneath were not feathery wings but armor.

The two fought against the people of Sodom as they lead Lot's family out of the town, to save them from the coming punishment.

I was pleasantly surprised by these warrior angels, but I wonder how many were confused.

Next week I am going to post a study on angels and how we came to the ideas we have of them.

For now, I would like to know what you think about angels or what you thought of them as a child.

And don't forget to watch the next four installments of The Bible on the History Channel. It first airs at 7:00 Central time on Sunday nights during March, but I have found it repeated during the week, so check your listings and set your DVR!

Water, Water Everywhere, and Not a Drop to Drink

2013-03-04T21:40:00.001-06:00

I grew up in a town that has a church on nearly every single corner.

And when my husband and I relocated for grad school, our new town was no different, with a church on nearly every single corner.

It has been easy to think that the gospel has saturated the people around me and that if they are not Christians, it is not for lack of opportunity or knowledge.

Today, though, I came face-to-face with the realization that, even in a place so permeated by those who claim to be the people of God, there are still people who are completely in the dark.

I've known for a while that this person is hostile toward the church. It makes me sad to hear her comments and opinions about the bride of Christ, and even more so when the people of God do things that only serve to make her more resolute in her ideas.

But now, I am startled to realize that all she knows of Christ and His church is what she has seen of His people.

It makes me wonder how many times I have been a good or a bad representative of Christ to someone who has only seen Jesus through His followers.

I've often heard the quote, "You may the only Bible some people will ever read," but I never thought that it was completely true. I never imagined that someone, at least in our culture, would be so completely void of the knowledge of the gospel. Understanding that has made me realize just how important my day-to-day actions are to the people around me.

What experiences have you had with people who are unknowledgable or resistant to the gospel? What tips would you have for being a better witness to these people?

Where Is God When It Hurts

2013-02-25T23:00:00.001-06:00

Where Is God When It Hurts? by Philip Yancey presents the problem of pain and explains various reasons why pain is important, even necessary. He begins the book by talking about his friends John and Claudia. Not long after they were married, Claudia contracted Hodgkin's disease. The disease tested both of them mentally, physically, and spiritually. Her sickness was the instigator of this book. Yancey saw the pain of this young couple, and he watched as people tried to encourage them. He saw that the encouragement offered was not usually encouragement at all.

His purpose in this book, first of all, was to discuss the biological reasons for pain, what reason there is for it to exist. He also questioned why God allows us to suffer. After all of that, he looked at how people respond to pain and what can be said to those who suffer.

In researching for this book, he talked with many Christians who have dealt with pain more so than most people do. He spent a significant amount of time in Carville, Louisiana, with Dr. Paul Brand and his patients, people with Hansen's disease. Hansen's disease destroys pain receptors. Yancey told numerous stories about those who suffer with Hansen's disease, giving his readers a new perspective on pain. Quickly one realizes that a life without pain would likely be worse than having pain. People with Hansen's disease inadvertently destroy their bodies because there is no pain to tell them to stop doing whatever hurtful thing they are doing.

This book is very relevant, as it speaks on something that most people have, to some extent, experienced themselves. The topic is also an important one, as a struggle with pain of any kind can shake a person and change who they are. It is a subject that should be dealt with in a way that is clear, honest, and compassionate.

If the problem of pain is something you struggle with, this book is a great place to start.

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy this book, I would appreciate if you use one of the links at the top of the page. Amazon will thank me for introducing you to the book by giving me a small percentage of the purchase. This will not change your cost or shopping experience. Thank you!

From the Bookshelf

2013-02-25T23:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to this week's From the Bookshelf Link Up!

We are linking up reviews of some of those great books out there. You can review something that is brand new or something that has been on your bookshelf for several years. This is all about giving books their well-deserved attention.

Copy the URL to your book review and click on the add your link button below and fill in the required information. Your post will then be shown in the link list. Make sure to check out a few of the other links, especially the ones before and after yours. Also share the link up page on Twitter or Facebook so we can spread the word about the new link up!

Also, take the code for the blog button below and put it somewhere on your blog, either on your book review post or in the sidebar or footer of your blog. If you don't know how to add it, let me know and I'll do what I can to help.

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God, Us, & the Physical

2013-02-24T23:00:00.000-06:00

Image courtesy of FrameAngel / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A woman I know, I'll call Leah, had an experience with God that was grounded in a physical item. Several other people have had experiences that were related to this particular item as well. I find it interesting how often God uses items in the physical world to interact with His people.

This happened in the Bible as well. One particular story comes to mind from Numbers 21.

"The people spoke against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food." The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live." And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived." Numbers 21:5-9 (NASB).

God could have just as easily pronounced them healed if He wanted to, but He chose a physical item for the people to look at in order to give them healing.

Unfortunately, we tend to get attached to those physical items that God uses. I suppose it's because we serve a God we are unable to see with our own eyes, so if He gives us something physical, we grab hold of it as tightly as we can.

The book of 2 Kings tells how, many years later, Israel misused the bronze serpent that God gave them for a specific purpose and a specific moment in time.

"Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan." 2 Kings 18:1-4 (NASB).

Israel began worshiping the tool God gave them rather than worshiping the God that gave it!

Israel's focus on the bronze snake brings me to think about Leah again. I've noticed her beginning to struggle, and I see her return again and again to that physical item, as if it is a talisman that will bring her closer to God again.

I don't know Leah well, so I can't say everything that's going on in her life, but I know that the answer to her problems are not found in something that is created, in something she can touch. It has been used by God many times, but it is only useful as He allows it to be useful.

Over my life as a Christian, I have had more than one special experience with God, and each one came through a certain set of experiences. If I want to have another experience with God, I could try to go back to where one of those experiences took place. I could bring back the same people if I wanted; we could sing the same songs or do the same activities.

But the power is not in the place, the people, the music, the activities, or the things.

The power is in God. Click to tweet!

When you want answers to a problem, look to God. When you want to experience God, look to Him.

He might use a song or an item or a place or a person that He has used before, or He might have something new for you. Let Him give it to you rather than try to take something that isn't there anymore.

From the Bookshelf

2013-02-18T23:00:00.000-06:00

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Think About It Thursday

2013-02-13T23:00:00.000-06:00

Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Please read the scripture below and consider it. Write it down somewhere where you can see it all week. Maybe even memorize it. Over the week, if you have any thoughts about it, or if God says anything to you about it, please come by and let the rest of us know in the comments.

"For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit."

Jeremiah 17:8 (NASB)

Delivered With Love by Sherry Kyle

2013-02-11T23:00:00.001-06:00

Delivered With Love by Sherry Kyle is about a young woman named Clare. She and her sister were raised by her mother in California. A year after her mother died, Clare followed a clue, a letter left in her mother's glove box.

With the help of strangers, she made her way to the small town of Capitola to see the house the letter was mailed from and hopefully to find out about the man that wrote it.

Once she arrived, with persistence she finally discovered all the secrets that were being kept from her and those around her. Many of the people she met had pieces of the puzzle, but no one knew the whole story until a letter from her mother unexpectedly made its way to Capitola and into the hands of Clare's father.

This was an interesting story, even if it did get a bit easy to predict at times. There were definitely some surprises, such as kitchen arrangements between neighbors.

I liked the characters, especially Geraldine, a spunky eighty-something year old woman who was a minor part of Clare's life for a long time but unexpectedly becomes very significant to her.

The book ended with several questions to give the reader a chance to consider some of the themes presented in the story.

If you're looking for a sweet, easy read you might want to try this one out.

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy this book, I would appreciate if you use one of the links at the top of the page. Amazon will thank me for introducing you to the book by giving me a small percentage of the purchase. This will not change your cost or shopping experience. Thank you!

From the Bookshelf

2013-02-11T23:00:00.000-06:00

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A Well-Watered Garden - Guest Post from Donna Sisler

2013-02-10T23:00:00.000-06:00

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We all know people who have a green thumb and can make anything grow. I’m not one of those people. I kill plants! Well actually I forget to water them. Even when they are right in front of me.

After being on staff at LifeBridge Christian Church for several years, I took the position of Hospitality Director. The lady I replaced was very kind and she presented me with a beautiful red flowering plant in a white pot. The colors were perfect, but it was a live plant. That needed to be watered.

I was so determined to make this one live. The gift giver had put so much thought into the gift. So I watered it. And remembered to water it. It received plenty of sunshine in our bright office, but it didn’t thrive.

My daughter looked at it one day and said, “Mom! There’s mold on it. You’ve over watered it!” Hmm. Overwatered? “It’s a succulent,” she continued, “it doesn’t need as much water, so you need to check the soil…” and by this point she had lost me.

The book of Isaiah was written during a stormy period in Israel’s history. Israel was under Assyian rule and Isaiah wrote messages from God to this this nation.

In Isaiah 1:30b (NIV), Israel is described as “…a garden without water.” They were a rebellious nation and had suffered. They were being punished for their rebellion.

But Isaiah continued to give Israel hope throughout the book and in Isaiah 58:11b (NIV) he assures them, “…you will be like a well-watered garden...”

Yes, if Israel was willing to put their rebellion behind them, if they were willing to stop the blaming and gossiping, if they were willing to give to those in need, if they did as God asked them, God would rescue them.

If Israel allowed God to lead them, they could once again be great. A great light would shine from Israel. Their broken lives could be repaired. Their ruined spirits could be restored. Through the Repairer and Restorer. God.

We have the choice to be one of these two gardens. If we are rebellious against God, then we can expect to be a garden without water. If we are obedient to God, then we can expect to be a well-watered garden.

Isaiah also spoke of the coming Messiah throughout this Messianic prophetic book. We know this Messiah to be Jesus. Jesus, the Living Water. “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him like a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 – NIV)

Through Jesus we have the opportunity to be a well-watered garden, with abundant life.

Plants and gardens are green when water is present. We too can be green (spiritually healthy) when Jesus is present in our lives and when we seek out the watering holes.

The watering holes of prayer, Bible study, Bible reading, fellowship with other Christians, worship, and serving others. By continually visiting these watering holes, we will always be green and will have the Lord to guide us in all we say and do.

In retrospect, my plants have died because I didn’t think they needed anything from me in order to survive. Israel ended up under Assyrian rule because they didn’t think they needed anything from God. How wrong we both were.

Under my daughter’s care, the plant did pretty well through those summer months…then she went back to college. Eventually, the plant died and the only thing remaining was the white pot.

I’m so thankful that I am much better at tending to my spiritual life. I’m thankful that my relationship with Jesus showers Living Water upon me. I’m thankful that the “spiritual gardener” within me has a green thumb.

How are you doing with this? Are you green (spiritually)? Does the grass (your spiritual life) crunch under the footsteps of your day-to-day life? Are you parched? Are you feeling the drought of separation from God and His people?

There is an easy fix. A relationship with Jesus Christ in which you can have Living Water. And through the Living Water you will be bubbling with abundant life. Now, who wouldn’t want that?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

Donna is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother living in Colorado where she finds inspiration for her novels and devotional writings. You can find her at her blog Full Measure of Joy.

The Power of Weakness by Keith Giles

2013-02-04T23:00:00.001-06:00

The Power of Weakness by Keith Giles begins by making a very important point. Giles states, "Even as these new ways of thinking and living confound our minds and often defy our human logic and reason, we must constantly strive to remind ourselves that it is not God's system that is unrealistic, but it is our pattern of thinking that needs to be reformed and renewed."

Giles looks at various people in the Bible and shows how clearly God chose to use the weak of the world rather than the powerful. Moses was not a speaker, but God used him to speak to Pharaoh in order to free the Israelites. He used Samson, whose strength only came from God and his obedience to Him. Paul had his "thorn in the flesh" that inspired the beautiful verse, "And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9a (NASB). The climactic chapter came when Giles explained how even Jesus lived His life by weakness. Philippians 2 says that Jesus emptied Himself, becoming a man. Through that weakness, He became completely dependent on God.

After that climactic chapter, Giles explains how all of that is important to us in the church today. He explains to us why and how we should be living our lives through the power of weakness, and dependence on God.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I urge you to read it. Giles' words made me really think about how God wants to use me. He may want to use my strengths, but He will use my weaknesses as well, and maybe even more so. When you read this book, make sure you take some time to consider how weakness played an important part in the lives of those that God has used and how He can use you as you allow God to use your weakness, too.

From the Bookshelf

2013-02-04T23:00:00.000-06:00

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Guest Post from Jo Ann Jordan

2013-02-03T23:00:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week! Today, Jo Ann Jordan is sharing a journal entry and a poem that she has written. I hope you enjoy them both as I have and leave her some love in the comments below.

Omnipresent

His great love letters
Chase me through every single
Day of my living,
He writes His sentences on
The fabric of my moments.

Some say they cannot
See my Lord, but His presence
Is apparent to
Me in the noise and silence,
The darkness and brightest light.

I am surrounded
By His vigilance even
When I run away
From His radiant face, no
Place can hide me from His voice.

He seeks me always
Despite my numerous sins,
Jesus does love me
With everlasting passion
Greater than any other.

His love songs follow
Me wherever I wander
I cannot avoid
The words He wishes me to
Listen to and comprehend.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Friday, February 1, 2013

Jo Ann J.A. Jordan is a full-time caregiver for her mother who has Parkinson's Disease. Her son, Alex, is a United States Marine, and her sweet Shih Tzu is named Hope. Jo Ann is an avid reader who also enjoys writing, photography, art, and computing.

She writes poetry, journals, and dabbles in short stories, personal essays, inspirational writing, memoir, and novel starts. She hopes to put together a book one day.

You can find Jo Ann at her blog Chronicles. She is also on Twitter and Facebook.

Letters from a Skeptic

2013-01-28T23:00:00.001-06:00

Letters from a Skepticwas written by Gregory A. Boyd and Edward K. Boyd. The book is a series of letters between Gregory and his father Edward.

In the preface of the book, Gregory stated, "It is my prayer that this correspondence between my father and me can be useful not only as a source of hope, but also as a resource of information for believers in similar situations." He pointed out that "the questions my father raised are the questions and objections nonbelievers most frequently have concerning Christianity."

The letters were not originally intended to be made into a book, but as the letter-writing progressed, Edward raised question after question that addressed many issues of the Christian faith. As Gregory answered each of those questions, he began to consider the possibility of publishing the letters. Once Edward came to Christ, the possibility became real.

The book is open and authentic. I was surprised over and over again as Edward raised topics that have been debated repeatedly by Christians and skeptics over the years. It was obvious that he had spent significant time considering his questions.

I did not always agree with the answers that Gregory gave to Edward. Sometimes I felt like Gregory's arguments were a little weak, but the weaker arguments were standing next to other very good arguments. In spite of the things I didn't like in this book, there was a lot I did like. The questions and answers were written clearly and the letters were well organized. Even though the topics were theological and philosophical, the reading was generally easy. I think the average person could read this book and learn from it.

If you or someone you know is questioning Christianity, this book will be a great resource.

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy this book, I would appreciate if you use one of the links at the top of the page. Amazon will thank me for introducing you to the book by giving me a small percentage of the purchase. This will not change your cost or shopping experience. Thank you!

From the Bookshelf

2013-01-28T23:00:00.000-06:00

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What to Do About Worry

2013-01-27T23:00:00.000-06:00

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I have always been a worrier.

When I was five or six, I walked out of my bedroom and into the kitchen where my mom was washing dishes. In my little worried voice, I asked my mom, "Is my heart still beating?"

I don't know how at that age I knew that it was important for my heart to be beating, but I was very concerned that it had stopped.

That moment is my earliest memory of worrying, but it certainly isn't my first. I am very good at thinking up all the possible ways a circumstance can turn out. Of course, I never think of the simple, non-earthshattering possibilities.

The Bible is full of scripture that talk about trusting God and not worrying.

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9:10

"But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation." Psalm 13:5

Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalm 37:5

"How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood." Psalm 40:4

"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?" Psalm 56:3-4

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

"'Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.'" Isaiah 12:2

"'Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.'" Jeremiah 17:7-8

(All scripture is from the NASB)

In spite of all those verses, I had decided for myself that I just couldn't not worry. I was born that way, and there was nothing I could do about it. So on I worried, disregarding what the word of God had to say on the topic.

A few weeks ago, I went to a conference at church where Graham Cooke was speaking. I tried to find this particular sermon online, but I haven't been able to. If I find it, I will add it here.

Graham told us about a vision he once had of Jesus. He was looking at him sternly and kept saying to him, "Give Me My stuff back!" Graham questioned Him, not knowing what He was asking for. He responded, telling him that He wanted the anger, the fear, the guilt, the shame, the anxiety that He died for. "Give Me My stuff back!"

Jesus died to take these things away from us. Jesus lives so we know there's nothing to be anxious about. Click to tweet!

Honestly, I tear myself up on a regular basis, worrying about this, that, or the other. But Jesus wants the anxiety back. He died so I wouldn't have to be anxious, but I have taken that back from Him. I'll let Him handle my sin (except that I often "forget" that anxiety is sinful) and my eternity, but I can't seem to trust Him to take care of my everyday life.

As if worrying about it makes any difference.

As if imagining all the ways it will go wrong makes any difference.

All it does is distracts me from what's happening in the present that I need to deal with. It keeps me from trusting my Savior to handle things.

I walked away from the conference with a completely different outlook on anxiety. It was really an amazing few days. It seemed as if anxiety was completely gone from my life!

But of course, it's just not that easy.

A week or so after the conference, something happened that had me worried again. I mulled over what might happen, and what I would do if it turned out that way. Then I came up with another possibility of what could happen, and then I decided what I would do if it turned out that way. I was distracted from what I should have been doing, almost completely focused on all the possibilities.

And then I remembered. Give Him His stuff back.

So I told myself this:

It is what it is.

What will happen will happen.

I trust God to take me through it.

And in the end, what happened? Nothing at all.

I was turning myself into a worried, anxious mess over something that was nothing.

Really, that's how it usually goes for me when I get worried over something. But this time, instead of worrying about it for hours and hours, I shut it down, knowing that He would be with me, no matter how the situation turned out.

I want to end with a song that I listened to in high school. Ginny Owens' song "Free" has always been a favorite of mine, but it is especially suitable now. Putting aside the anxiety makes me feel freer than I've ever felt. I hope you love the song as much as I do.

Think About It Thursday

2013-01-23T23:00:00.000-06:00

Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Please read the scripture below and consider it. Write it down somewhere where you can see it all week. Maybe even memorize it. Over the week, if you have any thoughts about it, or if God says anything to you about it, please come by and let the rest of us know in the comments.

"Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance."

Genesis 45:5-7 (NASB)

The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee

2013-01-21T23:00:00.001-06:00

The Pastor's Wifeby Jennifer AlLee is about Maura and her estranged husband Nick. Both of them made mistakes in the first few months of their marriage, sending Maura back to California and leaving Nick in Ohio where he was pastoring a church.

Six years later, Maura is called back to Ohio for the reading of a will. An unusual circumstance has Maura moving back to Ohio, back into the parsonage with Nick, even though their relationship hasn't been restored.

This was a sweet book that told the story of what it took to break a marriage apart and the struggle to restore and even improve upon it.

I like that it considered issues that were specific to a ministry marriage. Some of the issues Nick and Maura deal with are ones that could come about in almost any marriage, but other issues were specifically because Nick was a pastor.

I really enjoyed the story. It was realistic, and they tried to rely on God to help them through, although sometimes it took them a while to come around.

The book ended with several thoughtful questions for the reader to answer rather than just putting away the book without taking a few moments to consider its implications.

I read the Kindle version, which had a few formatting issues, but they were minor, and only mildly distracting.

If you're looking for an easy read that makes you feel good at the end, this might be a good choice for you.

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy this book, I would appreciate if you use one of the links at the top of the page. Amazon will thank me for introducing you to the book by giving me a small percentage of the purchase. This will not change your cost or shopping experience. Thank you!

From the Bookshelf Link Up

2013-01-21T23:00:00.000-06:00

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" alt="Thoughtful" width="125" height="125" /></a>

Waiting on the Cupbearer

2013-01-20T22:42:00.000-06:00

The story of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, has always been an interesting one to me.

The favorite son is sold by his brothers to Egyptian slavers. The slavers sell him to the captain of Pharaoh's body guard, where he is framed by the man's wife, causing him to be sent to prison, where he meets Pharaoh's baker and cupbearer. Joseph helps the two men, and the cupbearer promises to speak to Pharaoh on Joseph's behalf when he is released. Unfortunately, when he is released, he forgets about Joseph. (Genesis 37,39-40)

If you've read this story, you know that some time later, the cupbearer does remember Joseph. But it's not until the exact right time. Because of that perfect timing, Joseph was brought to the attention of Pharaoh exactly when Egypt and the surrounding lands need him.

Joseph, with God's help, warned the nation of the seven years of famine that would follow seven years of abundance.

With God's blessing, Joseph became second-in-the-command and guided Egypt through the good years and then the bad years. The wisdom God gave him saved Egypt and even saved his own family from probable starvation.

If the cupbearer had left the prison and immediately petitioned Pharaoh for Joseph's release, Joseph could have been reunited with his family more than seven years sooner than he was, but then the Egyptians would have been left without the knowledge and help they needed. Even Joseph and his family may have died from the lack of food.

When I read that short line that says that the cupbearer forgot about Joseph, I always feel a little sad.

Sometimes we feel like God has forgotten us in our struggles as well. In the life of Joseph, God was orchestrating events just the way He wanted them. God brought Joseph to the cupbearer's mind at the perfect time.

In the same way, God acts in our lives at the perfect time. We get impatient or frustrated or angry. We feel like we've been forgotten or ignored.

What we must remember is that God stands outside of time. He knows what is coming next, and He knows when to bring your new job. He knows when to give you a baby. He knows when to make the cupbearer remember you.

There are several things I'm waiting for in my life, and I often have a difficult time waiting for them to come about. On my worst days, I want to reach out and grab those things, with no regard to the repercussions.

But on my best days, I know that as much as I want those things, I don't want any of it outside of His planning. My desires, if He chooses to give them to me, will come about in the way He wants them to and at the time He wants them to. And that will be the best way.

Think About It Thursday

2013-01-16T23:00:00.000-06:00

Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge

2013-01-14T23:00:00.001-06:00

Every Woman's Battle: Discovering God's Plan for Sexual and Emotional Fulfillmentis a worthwhile book for any woman to read. In this book, Ethridge explains how female sexuality differs from male sexuality and how women end up in emotional and physical affairs.

While men in general have to deal with temptation of the eyes, women in general deal with temptation of the heart. A woman needs to work to protect her heart and not seek emotional satisfaction from a man other than her spouse.

I read this book before I was married, and it is an excellent book, whether you are married or single. It is too easy to develop a friendship with a man and have it escalate into an emotional attachment.

I've heard people laugh at the idea of emotional affairs, but I know that if my husband discovered that I had formed an emotional bond with another man, that would be nearly as upsetting as a physical affair.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the idea, and if you've read this book, tell me what you thought of it!

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy this book, I would appreciate if you use one of the links at the top of the page. Amazon will thank me for introducing you to the book by giving me a small percentage of the purchase. This will not change your cost or shopping experience. Thank you!

From the Bookshelf Link Up

2013-01-14T23:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the second week of the From the Bookshelf Link Up!

We are linking up reviews of some of those great books out there. You can review something that is brand new or something that has been on your bookshelf for several years. This is all about giving books their well-deserved attention.

Copy the URL to your book review and click on the add your link button below and fill in the required information. Your post will then be shown in the link list. Make sure to check out a few of the other links, especially the ones before and after yours. Also share the link up page on Twitter or Facebook so we can spread the word about the new link up!

Also, take the code for the blog button below and put it somewhere on your blog, either on your book review post or in the sidebar of your blog. If you don't know how to add it, let me know and I'll do what I can to help.

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Beyond Bible Reading: Living It

2013-01-13T23:00:00.000-06:00

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The hardest thing when you start reading, memorizing, and meditating on the Bible is that it gives the Holy Spirit a greater foothold in your life.

It certainly isn't a bad thing, but once you know something, you are responsible for it.

For example, once you've spent time in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, you realize that as believers, we are God's ambassadors. We become His voice in what is essentially a foreign land.

You can choose to act on what you've learned, or you can remain quiet, choosing to not do the job you were entrusted with.

But you must choose.

The word of God is not simply a volume of stories to read and think about. The Bible calls for action. The Bible calls for change. Click to tweet!

When the time comes to move, when the Holy Spirit recalls to your mind what you've read and studied, if you ignore the promptings, it is as good as if you had never read it at all.

Has the Holy Spirit brought a passage of scripture to your mind shortly after you read it, asking you to take action? Was it difficult or easy to respond?