Boook Review - I PRAYED FOR PATIENCE; GOD GAVE ME CHILDREN by Linda Wood Rondeau

Most Christians know better than to pray for patience. God's sense of humor can't help but grant that desire, because, you know, muscles only get stronger when you exercise them. The patience muscle must need lots of exercise, that's all I got to say. Linda Wood Rondeau also found this out, and she's shared some of her stratagems for those times when the patience muscles are stretched nearly to the breaking point. Four stars. Reminds me a bit of Don't Eat the Daisies.

This is not fiction. Nowhere near fiction, but definitely entertaining AND educational. The book is filled with pithy quotes, cartoons, and bits of Godly wisdom. If you didn't know before that God has a sense of humor--after all, He created us in His image--you might get a glimmer by the end of the book.

Available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

I received a free copy of the book from the author, but my opinions are strictly mine.

Monday Morning Devo - How Long, O Lord?

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord—how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! Psalm 6:2-4, NKJV

The psalms are amazing. They so often reflect how I'm feeling or how I'm seeing things happen. It's doubly amazing, seeing a man lay bare his own soul--so many guys are nervous about expressing their feelings. However, King David and the other writers of the Psalms seemed to have no hesitation about standing soul-naked before God--and essentially, before trillions of people for generations and eons to come. Crying was no more shameful than breathing. Depression was easily discussed.

I know God walks with me through all kinds of wildernesses, but still, I wonder how long it will have to be endured. I know that the walks in the wildernesses are, in the long run, good. Good for me, and good because I can really empathize with others in their own wildernesses.

God is wise. He knows how long it will take. I just need to lean on Him, and He'll make sure I find Oases when they're necessary.

How long, O Lord? I know--exactly as long as it takes. Thank You. I love You with my whole naked soul. Amen

Saturday Sermonette - That Day

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before [c]God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. Revelation 20:11-12, NKJV

I know that one day we're going to have to stand in front of God and be judged. I don't believe for one square second that He will be checking out whether we have a Greek-god physique or basketball bellies. He won't notice how many wrinkles or brown spots we have. Blond, brown, gray (or pink) hair isn't going to matter. Brown, red, yellow, black, or white skin won't be important.

He's going to be checking out the condition of the heart. Does it have scars? Good--because that means we've had experiences that, hopefully, have led us to grant grace to others. Soft spots lacking strong muscles? Fully acceptable--tenderness is necessary. Angry, red spots might not be so good, right? Smudges of filth will have to be washed.

What do you think your heart should look like?

O Lord, search me and see if there are wicked ways in me. Cleanse me so that my heart will be whiter than snow. Teach me thy ways that I might look more like a mirror of Thee. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus's name and for His sake, Amen.

Book Review - THE STRING by Caleb Breakey

Gulp. Christian mystery and suspense, oh my! F-Five S-S-Stars. I wanted to give it more, but, but, well, you know. Not allowed. The first of the Deadly Games series, and oh, what a stage Mr. Breakey has set.

Where can we hide? It seems everyone we meet is one of the knots on the string and forced by the conductor to ....

I'm not sure when (or if) I've read a book with such tension. When I had to close the book to go to sleep, it kept running through my mind. Through my dreams too. Caleb, you naughty-naughty knot!

I was given a free copy of this book, but my reviews ALWAYS reflect only my own opinions.

Saturday Sermonette - Biting My Tongue

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. Proverbs 12:18, NKJV

Sometimes I tend to speak without thinking. Have you ever had that problem? Head-slapping, whether physically or mentally, occurs way too often.

Normally, it's not all that big a deal, unless I hurt someone in the process. Yesterday, I blurted out a question, caught myself, gave myself a mental head slap, and said, "Unless it bothers you to talk about it." Caught myself a little too late, didn't I? It all came around okay, thanks to God, but I sure wish that head slap had come around a little quicker and stopped me from asking how the gentleman had become disabled.

He was gracious; he probably was used to dealing with curious idiots like me. Still ....

I guess I need to pray that God will alert me that I'm about to commit a social gaff. That worked when I wanted to stop swearing. God's good that way.

So--if there's some wrong habit you have that you'd like to get rid of, maybe you can pray with me?

Lord, I ask that You be in all my speaking today, that words won't slip out with the power to harm or hurt. Thank you. In Jesus's wonderful name, Amen.

Book Review - DARK OF NIGHT: WHERE NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY by Alice K. Arenz

Suspenseful and Surprising!

When I saw the title of this one--plus the cover--I wondered if Ms. Arenz had taken a dive into the horror genre, but not so. Definitely suspenseful, though. Well done! Five stars-worth easily.

Kelsey Carol has a disturbing gap in her memory. She was twelve; she should have been able to remember who it was that killed her parents. But as some children do, Kelsey had so efficiently repressed the memory that it still didn't show up in her head even now when she's an adult.

Who are the heroes, and who are the villains? What's in the old dark tunnel? It's worth the cost of the book to find out. Available on Amazon.

Book Review - DELILAH by Fay Lamb

This continuation of The Ties That Bind (Book 4), as I experienced it, is a tangle of genres. You've got Christian suspense, romance, mystery, and maybe some women's fiction. Plus a political cause. Hm. Fay, did you have a problem making up your mind? Nevertheless, it was done with all of the beautiful expertise that this lady has. She's a dynamite writer, and she has been and is, whether she knows it or not, my writing mentor. I'd give this one five stars.

Delilah has seemed to be a self-confident, fashion-conscious, domineering, hot-tempered, vengeful snipe. No one knew her ugly past, and that's the way she intended to keep it. Until one determined lady, Libby Carter, loves her anyway. This story begins after that fateful day that Delilah, with Libby's help, gives her heart to the Lord, The changes begin.

She lost the prosecutor race to John Turner, and he expects fireworks when she lands in his court. Delilah tries her best to behave, but words slip out that land her with a contempt of court and a fine that will begin their sometimes friendly-sometimes foe-ly relationship.

Digging into her past to find truths she didn't want to find--or maybe she did--leads to lots of complications.

And you know how we love complications, at least as long as it's fictional, right? Available from Amazon.

I received a free copy of this book from the author, but my opinions remain my own.