I have been reading and studying the book of James. JAMES 2:2-4: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles (trials) come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow...so let it grow, for fully developed, you will be perfect and complete , lacking nothing." Endurance, steadfastness, patience....King James says, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
This has really ministered to me. No matter what we go through, we can count it all joy, knowing that we are growing g in God and that through all the trials God is developing character in US. We are growing and it is an opportunity for our faith to grow.
I was talking to a friend this past week and I was talking to her about this scripture. Her husband has been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and He had to have blood transfusions and got some blood clots. She said they just looked at each other and said, count it all joy!
I think this an important lesson for all of us. Another scripture says that a Merry heart doeth good like a Medicine to our souls. Another scripture, the joy of the Lord is my strength! If we begin to count all our trials/troubles that come our way with joy, we will certainly learn to walk in Victory!
Another friend of mine is famous for telling g other to get in the Word and to get your praise on! To get into the presence of God and worship Him.
This is so true and oh what victory we would all walk in if we just begin to apply this to our lives!
I am convinced that we can either count it all joy or wallow around in self-pity, and become bitter.Bitterness takes our joy...we can't walk in victory and be walking around having a pity party or walking in bitterness. The devil wants to defeat us...but if we begin to count it all joy...get into the Word of God...and get our praise and worship on...we will and can walk in Victory with Jesus!!!!
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
A Home in Drayton Valley by: Kim Vogel Sawyer
Just completed reading this book yesterday. It was a faith filled story. A story that overcomes racial prejudices and shows what the love of Jesus can and will do. In this book, a family and friend travel to escape poor conditions in New York to go to Kansas to start afresh. Just as they are about to enter Kansas, tradegy strikes and the mother of the family dies, but before she does, she asks her friend to promise to love and care for her children and her husband. Her friend has no problem promising to love and care for the children, but the husband??? However, she promises her friend. Thus begins a journey of faith for Tarsie Raines. This book shows how love from our Father above can break down barriers and can change peoples hearts. It was a book that I had a hard time putting down. I really enjoyed this book! Thank you Kim Vogel Sawyer for writing a great illustration of the love of Jesus and how He is the one who brings about a heart change in people!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
At Every Turn by: Anne Mateer
I recently did a book review for Bethany House on this book. The book was not one that I would probably have picked out based on the info I read about the book. However, I was pleasantly surprised. It was inspiring to me and really spoke to my heart. The year is 1916. Alyce Benson is a young lady that loves to drive and loves the Lord with all her heart. In those days, it apparently was not the most popular thing for a young lady to drive. However, driving was something she loved to do and it helped her to relax with the wind blowing in her face. Her father, a very wealthy business man, loves his daughter, but does not share her love for Christ. Alyce goes to church and hears a Missionary from Africa tell their story and they pass around pictures of some of the people in Africa that have touched their hearts. The Missionaries are raising money to go back to Africa and to build a church. Alyce immediately has a burden to help and stands up and says she will give $3,000 to help and challenges the church to match it. Everyone was quite astonished. Alyce was so excited and couldn't wait to give the money. Since her mother was a socialite, and her father gave to her charity causes, Alyce had assumed he would give her the money for this great work. However, she was mistaken...so begins Alyce's mission to raise this money in seven weeks. Alyce decides the main thing she is good at is driving. So she attempts to raise the money by being a "Taxi" type service and asking for donations. This doesn't work out well, especially since she ends up giving the money to others that she see's in need. Then with the help of Webster, a mechanic that works for her father, she learned that her father was entering his race car into a race. She convinces Webster to help her by letting her be the driver of the race car. The problem with this, women were not allowed to race. They were concerned bad luck on the racing field. So in order for her to drive, she has to pose as a man. This book has a lot of life lessons in it. It has suspense, humor, and love all entwined together. I loved it!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Over the Edge (The Kincaid Brides) by: mary Connealy
This is a book review for Bethany House Publishing.
Over the Edge, kept me on my the edge, not just in suspend but in laughter as well. It was suspenseful with just the right amount of laughter as well. It was the perfect ending to the three part series. Every book was great in this series. In this book, Seth, the youngest brother, has finally met his bride, that he had forgotten he had, and at the same time learned that he had a son. The bride, Callie...well, lets just say she is very spunky and tough. She has gone through a lot to find her husband that vanished. When she see's him for the first time since he vanished...she takes a shot at him. He in turn fines this quite amusing and intriguing. The plot continues as the family fines the diamonds that were stolen by one of the brother's wife's first husband. In the previous books the person who had the diamonds stolen from him, had sent people to try and recover them. Now, the man finds himself looking for the diamonds himself with his wife, who is not happy about it, but goes along with it. Bottom line, greed never wins. The man falls to his death...but not before Seth, has had to come face to face with his demons...God brings healing to Seth and both of his older brothers, and brings them a younger brother as well into their lives. The story ends with peace that only comes from God. Wonderful book...wonderful series!
Over the Edge, kept me on my the edge, not just in suspend but in laughter as well. It was suspenseful with just the right amount of laughter as well. It was the perfect ending to the three part series. Every book was great in this series. In this book, Seth, the youngest brother, has finally met his bride, that he had forgotten he had, and at the same time learned that he had a son. The bride, Callie...well, lets just say she is very spunky and tough. She has gone through a lot to find her husband that vanished. When she see's him for the first time since he vanished...she takes a shot at him. He in turn fines this quite amusing and intriguing. The plot continues as the family fines the diamonds that were stolen by one of the brother's wife's first husband. In the previous books the person who had the diamonds stolen from him, had sent people to try and recover them. Now, the man finds himself looking for the diamonds himself with his wife, who is not happy about it, but goes along with it. Bottom line, greed never wins. The man falls to his death...but not before Seth, has had to come face to face with his demons...God brings healing to Seth and both of his older brothers, and brings them a younger brother as well into their lives. The story ends with peace that only comes from God. Wonderful book...wonderful series!
Monday, August 27, 2012
When Hope Blossoms
I reviewed "When Hope Blossoms" by Kim Vogel Sawyer for Bethany House Publishing. This was an exceptional book and I would recommend it to anyone. It is about a Mennonite family, the mother and her three children, that have moved to a Kansas for a new start. Amy's (the mother), husband was killed in an accident that has been questioned whether it really was an accident or suicide. She and her children move to place that they don't know anyone. She buys a house just outside of town. Another group of Mennonites from a different Order from Ohio also move into the area.
Amy's neighbor, Tim Roper, is a former Mennonite, who walked out on his faith as a young man. He lost his wife and son in a car accident, and has become bitter and is pretty much of a loner. However, Amy and her family begin to work their way into his heart. God uses multiple things to soften Tim's heart and eventually he ends up contacting his parents and being restored to his faith.
This book is a book on faith, love, and restoration. It shows how friendship goes out of its way to help others in need. If we all began to work together as those in this story did, the world would be a much better place. This book was an inspiration and an encouragement to my faith. In fact, I felt healing in my own life during reading this book. The writer, Kim Vogel Sawyer, is an annointed writer and I hope this book ministers to all who reads it. It ministered to me.
Amy's neighbor, Tim Roper, is a former Mennonite, who walked out on his faith as a young man. He lost his wife and son in a car accident, and has become bitter and is pretty much of a loner. However, Amy and her family begin to work their way into his heart. God uses multiple things to soften Tim's heart and eventually he ends up contacting his parents and being restored to his faith.
This book is a book on faith, love, and restoration. It shows how friendship goes out of its way to help others in need. If we all began to work together as those in this story did, the world would be a much better place. This book was an inspiration and an encouragement to my faith. In fact, I felt healing in my own life during reading this book. The writer, Kim Vogel Sawyer, is an annointed writer and I hope this book ministers to all who reads it. It ministered to me.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis
Book Review on "The Fiddler" by Beverly Lewis
I have always enjoyed the books I have read that Beverly Lewis has written. I love reading most books about the Amish...I don't really know why, but I guess the simplistic lifestyle draws me in. This book was no different...however, it has a twist that I have not read in most other Amish books I have read...in this book...one of the main characters chooses to actually not join the church and to go English. The story line was awesome...bringing together how different worlds can come together in a relationship based on God. In the Fiddler, Michael and Amelia seem miles apart due to their differences, but in actuality they are not so far apart. The simplicity of the Amish lifestyle and their faith draws Amelia back towards God. She begins to realize that the gifts she has been given or there to be used to glorify God. Michael, on the other hand, realizes that even though he is not going to join the Amish church, he will never leave or turn away from his faith in God. The decision he made not to join the church was not made lightly and not because of a romance...decisions we make today should not be made on feelings or due to what others think or feel...but through prayer and conversation with our maker, God above. I loved this story line. I believe there are numerous lessons to learn from this book if our minds are open to the Lord speaking to us.
Book Review: Confronting Jezebel by Steve Sampson
Well...what can I say...the title must tell you this is a very serious and thought provoking book. I had to read a little here and a little there. It was certainly something I could not read straight through. There was a lot of meat in this book. It makes you examine yourself as well as helping you to understand others that have been in your life. I loved the prayers at the end of each chapter.
This book is not for someone that does not want to grow deeper in Christ or someone that is not willing to take what is said, chew on it...and apply what needs to be applied to your own life, and repent if necessary.
After much prayer and relection...and after disucssing the subject with someone that has known me for years, and whom I trust to speak truth into my life, I do not feel I have a Jezebel spirit...praise the Lord! However, I can tell you that I do feel I have been influenced by and manipulated by some who have had it. It is not fun...and one of the statements in the book talks about how someone with a Jezebel spirit often times attempts to get others stirred up to do their dirty work for them. Though I did not realize it was a Jezebel spirit until I read this book...I do realize now that I fell into their trap...I have repented to the people involved several years ago...and I have had to forgive myself for allowing myself to be manipulated and used. It is not my desire to ever hurt anyone and I pray that never happens again and that I never fall prey to that again...when I start to feel someone leading me down a negative path...now, I have to back away...I am not saying they have a Jezebel Spirit...but for me...I have to be careful and have to use wisdom...You have to know your weaknesses and ask God to give you strength to overcome them. Let me also say, there is much more to a Jezebel Spirit then being negative...they are manipulative, they want to be in control...and do it in sly ways. They often have a critical spirit, use self-pity as a hook...they are cunning and can lie very convincingly, spiritualizes things, even give things in order to hold it over peoples heads. The book gives much more detaiil...
This spirit is not only in the church it is everywhere...in the work place, in families...and of course it is in the church as well. If anything this book has shed more light into what to look for...and how to pray...and I believe if you read it with an open mind...everyone will learn...and if you have a Jezebel Spirit and you read this book...realize that God can help you, if you repent and turn from you sin...admitting it and seeking help to turn from it is vital. I think this is an eye opening book and that everyone who is a Christian should read this book...pray over the things in it...and seek God...let God reveal the things in your life that need to be repented of...or maybe things that you need to be more aware of...It has certainly enlightened me.
I reviewed this book for Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book is not for someone that does not want to grow deeper in Christ or someone that is not willing to take what is said, chew on it...and apply what needs to be applied to your own life, and repent if necessary.
After much prayer and relection...and after disucssing the subject with someone that has known me for years, and whom I trust to speak truth into my life, I do not feel I have a Jezebel spirit...praise the Lord! However, I can tell you that I do feel I have been influenced by and manipulated by some who have had it. It is not fun...and one of the statements in the book talks about how someone with a Jezebel spirit often times attempts to get others stirred up to do their dirty work for them. Though I did not realize it was a Jezebel spirit until I read this book...I do realize now that I fell into their trap...I have repented to the people involved several years ago...and I have had to forgive myself for allowing myself to be manipulated and used. It is not my desire to ever hurt anyone and I pray that never happens again and that I never fall prey to that again...when I start to feel someone leading me down a negative path...now, I have to back away...I am not saying they have a Jezebel Spirit...but for me...I have to be careful and have to use wisdom...You have to know your weaknesses and ask God to give you strength to overcome them. Let me also say, there is much more to a Jezebel Spirit then being negative...they are manipulative, they want to be in control...and do it in sly ways. They often have a critical spirit, use self-pity as a hook...they are cunning and can lie very convincingly, spiritualizes things, even give things in order to hold it over peoples heads. The book gives much more detaiil...
This spirit is not only in the church it is everywhere...in the work place, in families...and of course it is in the church as well. If anything this book has shed more light into what to look for...and how to pray...and I believe if you read it with an open mind...everyone will learn...and if you have a Jezebel Spirit and you read this book...realize that God can help you, if you repent and turn from you sin...admitting it and seeking help to turn from it is vital. I think this is an eye opening book and that everyone who is a Christian should read this book...pray over the things in it...and seek God...let God reveal the things in your life that need to be repented of...or maybe things that you need to be more aware of...It has certainly enlightened me.
I reviewed this book for Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
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