I am thoroughly enjoying several devotionals by Sarah Young. Here is a reading from one of them called Dear Jesus: Seeking His Light In Your Life:

 

An ongoing problem is like a tutor who is always by your side. The learning possibilities are limited only by your willingness to be teachable.

Dear Jesus,

I confess that I don’t like this tutor at all! What I really want is to break free and run away from my problems. Haven’t I spent enough time with this teacher? Surely there must be other ways I could learn.

Beloved, I don’t expect you to like your tutor. No one enjoys having problems. However, I do require you to accept your tutor’s presence with you as long as I choose. The bottom line is whether you trust Me to use the difficulty for good in your life. Beware of feeling entitled to an easy life. I actually promised the opposite when I said, “In this world you will have trouble.” If you want to learn all that I have prepared for you, you must accept My teaching methods. Remember that I am the Potter and you are the clay. You need to be flexible-malleable in My skillful hands.

Try to see your problems as a disguised blessing, gradually transforming you into My likeness. When you accept My ways with you trustingly-without rebelling or running away-you find freedom through My Spirit. Even more wondrously, I empower you to reflect Me to others with ever-increasing Glory!

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Yet, o Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18

From the book:

Dear Jesus: Seeking His Light In Your Life
Sarah Young Copyright 2007 by Sarah Young

Check out her books here: Sarah Young

“I know the Unknown God,” said the little priest, with an unconcious grandeur of certitude that stood up like a granite tower. “I know his name; it is Satan. The True God was made flesh and dwelt among us.  And I say to you, wherever you find men ruled merely by mystery, it is the mystery of iniquity.  If the devil tells you something is too fearful to look at, look at it.  If he says something too terrible to hear, hear it.  If you think some truth unbearable, bear it.  I entreat you to end this nightmare now and here.”

From The Purple Wig – The Innocence and Wisdom of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton.

This book has 24 mystery short stories involving Father Brown a Roman Catholic Priest.  The mysteries are wonderfully written and you find yourself admiring the wisdom and humility of Father Brown and his knack for solving crimes and mysteries. 

Here’s a quote from the back cover of the book…

“For to hear Father Brown tell it, crime is a manifestation of sin: the criminal must be caught, but he or she must also be saved; the culprit has to be locked up, but the spirit must be freed.”

Good stuff!  I highly recommend this book.

You may want to consider adding it to your list for this upcoming event:

Click the button for all the details!

Woman to Woman is hosting a book report today. You are to choose any book that falls into the category of either Fiction or Mystery and write a report to share it. So read, report and recommend a book that you have read within the past 3 months.

 I just finishded The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart:

 

This story is about an 11-year old orphan Reynie Muldoon who responds to an advertisement recruiting “gifted children looking for special opportunities.” Reynie is one of four children who are recruited and trained by Mr. Benedict to travel to an isolated school where children are being trained by an evil man who wants to rule the world.  These children must work together and use what they learned, their talents and abilities to thwart the evil man’s plans.

The story is for children 10 and older.  I enjoyed it and I am way older than that!  It is well written and the story keeps you on the edge of your seat.  I would highly recommend this book.  Great ending!

To see more book reviews go to Seeds in My Garden and My Many Colored Days.

 

I just finished Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore.  I must confess that this is the first book I have read by Beth Moore.  She has a way with words and stories that drive a point home.  I enjoy her writing style. (Forget the fact that I also really like her hairstyle and will be asking my hairdresser/great friend if it would work for me! What do ya think Christi?)

This book is exactly what the subtitle says it is:  Straight Talk about God’s Deliverance.  I found the book to be refreshing, encouraging and down right in your face about tough issues.  She speaks truth and doesn’t apologize for it.  She doesn’t mix punches, so be prepared.  She uses lots of scripture – Love it!  She uses examples from her own life, which give her the credibility and permission, in my opinion, to “testify” and share a scriptural solution for pit dwellers (myself included).

Its like any addiction or affliction, if you are at a place where you want victory in your life, this book will help you and will encourage you.  If not, you will find something to dislike about this book.  Keep it on your shelf until your ready!

Beth Moore truly loves the Word of God and it excites her.  I want to be that excited about the Word of God.

I had so many favorite quotes from this book and it is really hard just to choose one.  So, I am choosing a quote that I think is the heart of why Beth wrote this book:

“Every one of us who authentically calls Jesus Lord has the right and power to be victorious.”

Can I get an AMEN!

I just finished it! Marvelous. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The author has a way of drawing you into the story, so much so, that you feel like you are sitting along side each character.  You can see what they see; taste what they taste; and most definitely feel what they feel. 

Being that Ruben, the main character of this book, narrates the story, makes this book a success.  You laugh, cry, and feel awe inspired.  You feel the hair rise in terror on your neck.  You are thankful for every breath you are able to take!

My favorite character:  Swede!  I love her spunk and the way she writes!  She always had words!

Favorite quotes: 

“Here was the whole dizzying sky bowled up over us.  We were inside the sky.  It didn’t make the stars any closer, only clearer… Swede should’ve been there, she’d have had words.  She’d have know that orange to be volcanic or forgestruck or a pinprick between our blackened world and one the color of sunsets.  I thought of God making it all, picking up handfuls of whatever material…rolling it in His fingers like nubby wheat. The picture I had was of God taking these rough pellets by the handful and casting them gently, like a man planting.” (Page 224-225)

“Fair is whatever God wants to do.” (Page 294)

Run to your bookstore and pick this book up today!