Tag Archives: trials

by

Book Review for “Kingdom Lights”-Middle Grade Fantasy/Steampunk Fiction

510eQtmtZQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_[1]

I received a copy of “The Kingdom Lights” from the author, Steven VS, in exchange for an honest review. This book is intended for Middle grade to Young Adult. It is a good fantasy, with steampunk elements, including floating cities and magic. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are fleshed out and likable, quite a few interesting new “species” for me. If you are a parent that doesn’t want your children to read anything with magic, then this one isn’t for you. Absolutely no swearing, no sexual content, but there is fighting and “monster” type things used in battle. I give it four stars, I really liked it. Though the story had a clear beginning and end, I am hoping there will be more of these books.

by

Book Review for “Meritropolis”- Dystopian Fiction

51CfBt+P2rL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_[1]

I received a free copy of Meritropolis from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this dystopian story. The writing is an easy style, the characters and likable, and the storyline is good. Residents of Meritropolis are judged by their merit score. Those of lower scores are not afforded the privileges and rights of those with a higher score, but life is hard for them all. This is clearly going to be more than one book as the story isn’t finished. It does end in a good place with a clear resolution to a problem, but is also left open ended for more. I will definitely read more from this author. I give it four stars, I “really liked it.” I can recommend for teens and up, no swearing, or sexual content, but there is fighting and some violence.
At the time of this review Meritropolis is free on amazon, kindle version.

by

Book Review for “Thimblerig’s Ark”- Christian Fantasy

51YFeQNvk-L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX324_SY324_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA346_SH20_OU01_[1]

I thoroughly enjoyed “Thimblerig’s Ark”! This is a story of the ark told through the eyes of some of the animals involved. A shady groundhog finds faith. The storyline was fun, had quite a bit of humor and I loved the writing style. I give it four stars. I really liked it. Great for kids on up. Will be looking for more from this author!

by

Carry Or Be Carried

JESUS CARRIES ME[1]

Isaiah 46:1-9 (NIV), “Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over; their images are consigned to the beasts and the cattle. The things that you carry are burdensome, A load for the weary beast. They stooped over, they have bowed down together; they could not rescue the burden, but have themselves gone into captivity. “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been borne by Me from birth and have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you. “To whom would you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me, that we would be alike? “Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh silver on the scale hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down, indeed they worship it. “They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it; they set it in its place and it stands there. It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer; It cannot deliver him from his distress. “Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressor. “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,”

God is explaining to His people the difference between Him and the god’s of others. They were made into images of animals and had to carried into battle. They were heavy and burdensome. After being captured, they were even a heavy load for the beasts of burden to carry into captivity, with the people. Our God, the one true God, however reminds them that He has carried them since they were in the womb! He goes on to promise that He will continue until into their old age. He doesn’t change. He carries us. He delivers us. It would behoove us to remember what He said, “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,”

So choose today, do you want to carry your god, or be carried by God?
It’s a choice.

Whatever we allow to take God’s place is an idol, a heavy burden that will weigh us down. Eventually it will lead us into captivity.

Idols take, in the days of Isaiah; people were even sacrificing their own children. Idols demand everything you have, never giving back. God gives, He is generous and loving.

Sounds like a simple choice, really.

I choose God.

by

Book Review for “In the Spotlight: Mayne Attraction”- Fiction YA Romance

5181UqwlOHL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_[1]

I liked “In the Spotlight” book one of “Mayne Attraction” series. I would have given it four stars, really liking it except for a few things. In the beginning, the prologue, we meet a couple of shady characters, they come in early in the first few chapters, never to be heard from again, the story ends (with a cliff hanger) never explaining who, or why they are in the story. I am assuming they come in later in one of the other books, but I found myself asking over and over, what about those guys. The characters are likable, similar to a lot of YA characters. The girl is shy, clumsy and doesn’t know she is beautiful, the guys are hot and handsome. I am still not sure where the series is going, I was anticipating a big twist, but was disappointed in the lack of one. Having said all of that, the book is told through the eyes of the 18 year old girl, the writing is good, there was a nice mix of humor, no swearing, the only sexual content is a few insinuations and nothing between the main characters, in fact they begin and end as virgins. So a lot to like about this book, and whenever the remaining books come out, I will read them. I can recommend for ages 14 and up. Definitely a chick book.

by

Don’t Limit God

news.2010.195[1]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV), “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

We have all been in that place at one time or another, or maybe some of you are there now, where we just think our “thing” is too big for God. Sometimes we think that God can do it for someone else, just not us. There is also the thought that asking for more (healing, money, favor, etc) is greedy and we shouldn’t. I am sure we can even come up with even more ways and reasons to limit God.

However, let’s not take our own perspective or worthless word on the subject, let’s look at Ephesians again. To “Him who is able to do immeasurably more,” more than what? More than we can ask or even imagine. I don’t know about you, but I have a pretty huge and vivid imagination, after all I am a writer, it kind of comes with the territory. So the things I can imagine are pretty out there, but God says He is able to do even more. He has the power to work those things in us.

Here are a few more translations of verse 20:
(NLT), “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
(KJB), “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us-”

That is pretty straightforward. God told Abraham, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” When Sarah laughed about conceiving at an old age. I think we all have to answer that same question. Is cancer too hard? Is owing no man (being out of debt) too hard? Is the salvation of our family too hard? How about recovering from divorce, death, or disease? Think of the hardest thing you can imagine and ask yourself, “is that too hard for God.” If your answer was “yes,” then you don’t really know who He is. It’s only our lack of knowledge of Him that prevents us from receiving from Him. Now, I know He is sovereign and His plan is perfect, we also live in a fallen world, and we have to go through some junk, but the key is going through. He is able, that is never the issue.

There are plenty of us who have finally gotten this revelation, only to get stuck in the mud. Usually it is because we aren’t standing in our authority. For example: if God says we are healed and we believe He is able to heal, that He in fact already took care of that thousands of years ago when He took those stripes on His back. So in our authority, which He Himself gave us, we command sickness to leave and healing to come. We tell our bodies, or our minds, to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Then we thank Him for what He has already done. We aren’t begging Him to do something. That is sort of pointless don’t you think? If a child of our continued to beg for a toy when we had already purchased it and placed it in his hands, we would get annoyed. Thank God, He has more patience than us.

Our God is also our Father. He made everything. Take a look around you, think about the ocean, a baby giraffe, a bumble bee, a sunset, or take a look at some of the pictures from the Hubble space telescope, He is limitless. His mercy and love know no bounds. His power is unending. He never sleeps nor shuts His eyes. He is forever watching you with eyes of love. All good and perfect gifts come from the Father and He has wonderful things in store for you.

So don’t put Him in a box, don’t limit the God who made the universe.

by

Lose Control

face_off2[1]

Philippians 1:6 (Douay-Rheims Bible), “Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.”

Most people have control issues. Some need to feel in control of every situation and every person in their lives. After my drug and alcohol use of my young adult years and years of prescription drugs for anxiety, I now hate anything that makes me feel like I am not in control. No gas at the dentist, one glass of wine, or one apple ale is enough, and never hard alcohol for me. My husband after several bad car accidents as a passenger, including one that broke his back in seven places and left him in a body cast for six months, likes to be the one behind the wheel. He hates giving over control of the vehicle to anyone else.

I know people who try to control their spouses, their children, and even their pastors. Wrong or right, they are always right and they know best. Sometimes this ends in abuse, divorce and church splits.

I think most of us will admit that not losing control to drugs, alcohol, or other people isn’t a good thing. We than can also agree that trying to control others, also aren’t a good thing. If you have an overly controlling person in your life, it is like being in prison, and if you have a need to control everything, much of your life is spent in worry, or feeling out of control. That behavior can end up being obsessive, not healthy to yourself or to others.

So when is it ok to give up control? Who is faithful enough for us to give our control over to?
The only answer is God. He knew us before we were born and He knows our end, in fact He knows every second and every minute of our lives. He was our beginning and He is our ending. He orchestrated it all for our good and His glory.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJB), “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

He is the author and the finisher of our faith.

Acts 27:23-25 (NIV), “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”

We can have confidence that if He said it, it will happen that way, as long as we submit to Him and let Him have control.

I know, we have all heard the argument that God is a control freak that says it’s “His way or the highway.” Who wants to be a slave to a hard taskmaster?

First off, I’d have to say why does someone want control? In God’s case, it’s because He knows it all, everything, the end from the beginning. So He knows what we need to do in every situation. He doesn’t tell us what to do for His good, it’s for our own good. Secondly, God is good. Evil can’t be found in Him. Do I want to serve an evil dictator, no! Would I willingly give myself over as a love slave to Him who loves me best? Of course! His “control” protects me, provides for me, heals me, sustains me, encourages me, and sets me free from all other masters!

This is the analogy God gave me about control: Picture yourself of the biggest scariest rollercoaster. You know the ones that go upside down and loop the loop. If you have ever been on one, the first thing they do when you sit down is buckle you in, or lower the safety bar. If the person next to you refused to be buckles or constrained shouting “You can’t control me, I can do this on my own,” and proceeded to try and hold himself in the car, you’d expect to witness a death, a very messy one at that. We easily give up our control for something that keeps us safe or protects us from pain.

I mentioned before that I won’t take gas at the dentist. How foolish would I be if I refused anesthesia during a major surgery? Sometimes giving up control is the best thing for us.

So what do you say? Can you lose control?