Living, Loving and Learning
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On April 28th, I posted a review of The Shack by William P Young. It has been two weeks since that post and I still find myself reflecting on the book. In my initial review, I noted that this book didn’t change my life because, honestly, it wasn’t life-altering for me. But, to say that it has been thought-provoking is an understatement. When a book continues to remain on my mind for days and weeks after I have completed it, as The Shack has done, then I know the message has gone deeper than words can convey.
The main messages that have remained with me since I read this book are these:
Forgiveness – In this novel, the main character, Mack, has to come to terms with making peace with the death of his daughter. He has to find a pathway to forgiveness in order to attain any sort of peace. He has been encumbered by a “Great Sadness” to the extent that the sadness became his very identity. His very soul was being darkened by sorrow, hatred and bitterness. Coming to a place of healing for his heart and soul was not easy. I appreciated the way the book didn’t sugar-coat what he was going through nor make light of the struggles he faced in his faith in the aftermath of his daughter’s death. His struggles were so real and the way he worked through them were emotionally raw and powerful. That element really touched me and made a lasting impression upon my heart.
Redemption - In this novel we learn that Mack has struggled basically all his life. He had a rough and terrible childhood and a hard upbringing. He made his own way in the world and in many ways overcame his past, but it still haunts him daily. He loves his family and is broken by his inability to protect his daughter from death. By grace Mack goes through a process of finding his way to feeling worthy of forgiveness and embracing the love of God. That really pulled on my own heartstrings. I sometimes feel that as a sinner, I don’t have any right to God’s love, but that is absolute incorrect thinking on my part. God doesn’t ask us to earn His love, but He does ask us to accept it. And, forgiveness also comes so freely from God. He doesn’t hold onto our sins, but we hold onto them ourselves making us captive to them. This novel beautifully demonstrates the need to let go and give ourselves completely over to God.
Love - We’ve all heard it said that “God is love” and The Shack resounds that message very beautifully. There are times when the emotional charge of the display of love is emotionally raw and I found that to be the most beautiful message in the story. As parents, we love our children to the depth of our very souls. And, yet, I know that I am guilty of neglecting to remember that I am God’s child and He loves me even more than that.
I don’t want to say much more about the book because I am trying to be extra careful not to give too much away for those that haven’t read it yet. Several staff members at our church are all abuzz about this book! I’ve also had some interesting conversations with others that have read it.I hope that anyone that reads this will pick up a copy of this book. I am not going to say that it will change your life or anything, but I will tell you that it will leave a message on your heart.
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The Shack By William P. Young / Windblown Media Mackenzie Allen Philips’ youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his “Great Sadness,” Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack’s world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant “The Shack” wrestles with the timeless question, “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You’ll want everyone you know to read this book! |
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The Proposal, The English Garden Series #1
By Lori Wick / Harvest House Publishers Lifelong bachelor William Jennings is a fierce-tempered, agnostic 19th-century Englishman—and an unlikely candidate for fatherhood. But when a distant relative dies, he finds himself guardian of three children, and in over his head! Taking refuge at his sister’s home, he befriends her kindhearted neighbor, Marianne. Can she change his mind about faith . . . and family? 300 pages, softcover from Harvest. |
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Kelly’s Review:
This is the first book I have read by Lori Wick and I can say with certainty that I will be reading more of her works. in fact, The Proposal is the first novel in The English Garden series and I will be reading the rest of the books in the series at some point in the future.
This is a novel involving three children (two boys and a girl) who have been orphaned when their father is killed in a tragic accident. They are taken in by a bachelor uncle who is certain he has no want of a wife, but has a fondness for children nonetheless. Initially the uncle finds himself more drawn to the boys as he feels that he doesn’t quite understand little girls. It is discovered that the nanny he hired for the little girl is mistreating the child, so he fires the nanny and sets about to make things right with the girl as well as her brothers. Through the course of the story, the uncle and the children go to visit the uncle’s sister and her family so that he may reconcile with them and learn the ways of parenting in their home. It is at the sister’s home that he meets an intriguing lady neighbor whom the children come to adore immediately. The uncle has also had long-harbored disdain for religion and the church. The novel reveals his growing curiosity about faith and acceptance of Christ along the way. The novel also details the emotional growth of a man who comes to terms not only with being a family and having faith, but also learning to trust in love.
This book is beautifully written. It had such a classic feel to it. I felt myself drawn to the children immediately. I enjoyed the development of the uncle’s character tremendously. In all, I feel that this is a very nice read. As I mentioned before, I am very interested in reading the rest of the novels in this series.
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English Garden Series, Volumes 1-4 By Lori Wick / Harvest House Publishers
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To the moms in my life…
Happy Mother’s Day!
To my mom – aka Nana - I owe you eternal gratitude. You have given me roots to grow and wings to fly. You have taught me what it is to be a mom – how to love with my whole heart and still let go with both hands when the time comes knowing that it’s okay. You’ve been the voice of reason, the arms of comfort and the source of strength for me more times than I can count. You’ve been my rock through all my years and I love you so!
To my step-mom- aka Dorothy…aka MiMi – you came into my life almost twenty years ago and I have been so blessed to know you, love you and be loved by you. I cherish all the times we’ve laughed and cried or laughed until we cried. You always bring a ray of sunshine with you. We have so many little jokes that we share and we’ll always have Mitford! THANK YOU for being you! I love you!!
To my mother-in-law Linda – aka Grammie – I know I’ll never have any of those “horror stories” about my mother-in-law because you have taken me in as one of your own since day one. You have a kindness and compassion about you that radiates in everything you do. Because you loved your son and taught him to love, he can share that love with our own family. I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done and all you do. You’re a blessing and I love you!
To my Gran – aka GranGran - What would I do without you, Gran? My Pearl! There’s never been a facet of my life that you weren’t there to share. Some of my favorite childhood memories were made right there with you and Pop. You tell me like it is when I need to hear the truth. You also let me “just talk” when I’m in a chatty mood. You inspire me to deeper faith and good works and service to others. And, I love you thiiiiiiiiiiiis much!
To my Grandma – aka Grandma Teapot – You have taught me more than you know. You helped instill a work ethic in me which I value to this day. You gave me my first “job” when I was just a little girl. I would go to the cleaning shop with you on Saturdays and use a magnet to pick up straight pins from the floor. That dollar or two you gave me was all the money in the world back then. Later on, you got me a job at the candy store and that was another blessing. You’ve made me feel so special and have given me many happy memories. I thank you! Love you!
To my Grandmother-in-Law…aka Grandma Charlotte – I knew you were a gem the first time I met you. The first thing you said about me was “I don’t like her”, but I knew you did. You were testing me and I like to think I passed with flying colors. I just love your spunk and determination. I love how fiercely loyal you are to those you love. I love how you remind Mickey about what a brat he was a child, but how you do that in a way that shows you really do love him to pieces. We were honored to give Macey your name as a middle name and we know that some of that Matriarch spirit will always live in her. We hope to see you this summer because we all miss you. Love you!
To all the moms in my family and all my mom friends – I learn so much from you. Thank you for sharing your lives, your hearts and even your kiddos with me and my family. May we all grow and learn together as we go along.
Hope today is a blessing all around!
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Just a friendly reminder, I am an affiliate with Christian Book, so if you ever want to order books through me, follow the links provided in my Book Reviews threads. Thanks and happy shopping!! 
Poor Mariana is sick. She caught a cold while we were away a couple of weekends ago. We thought it was nipped in the bud, but it wasn’t. She has RAD (reactive airway disease) and whenever she gets colds, she always winds up with terrible bouts of coughing, etc. And, she typically develops sinus infections secondary to colds too. The poor girl can’t ever have “just” a cold. So, we’re in the throws of a cold/RAD flare/sinus infection these days. She’s going to the pediatrician tomorrow. I have to hand it to Mariana, she’s being quite a little trooper. Kids are so resilient, aren’t they? I always think that I have so much to teach the girls, but I could really learn from them a lot of times too. Anyway, I just pray that our girl is all better soon. And, if you care to join me in that prayer, we’d greatly appreciate it.
![257707: Dawn"s Light, Restoration Series #4](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/product/2/257707.gif "257707: Dawn"s Light, Restoration Series #4") |
Dawn’s Light, Restoration Series #4
By Terri Blackstock / Zondervan In the final book of the Restoration Series by bestselling author Terri Blackstock, the end of a global electrical blackout signals the beginning of the Branning family’s ultimate test. Murder and affairs of the heart form the backdrop for a family sifting through the lessons they have learned-and how well they have truly learned them. |
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Kelly’s Review:
Dawn’s Light is the fourth and final novel in Terri Blackstock’s Restoration series. I have read each of these books almost as soon as they came out, so I was especially anxious to read this last installment and it did not disappoint. The series is incredible and, to me, this is the best book of the series. Terri Blackstock really saved the best for last. Don’t get me wrong, the other three books are outstanding, but I definitely feel that this book had every possible element to be the perfect conclusion to this series.
The thing that touched me the most in this book was the way the central family in the book, the Brannings, deals with the many trials and tribulations that have come their way as a result of the global power outage. In this novel, the Brannings’ faith is put to the ultimate test and the way Terri Blackstock has written it, every element is emotionally riveting and powerful. The way the family, and in particular the mother (Kay), handles this huge test of faith is just so real. Again, I appreciate that this wasn’t written like “cleaned-up Christianity”, but is emotionally raw and true. The way the family works through the trial is inspiring and definitely brought to mind how I think I would react in a similar situation. I was drawn into this element of the story and it was just incredibly powerful.
The other elements of the story are superbly written as well. There are elements of suspense, romance, excitement and renewal. Terri Blackstock ties it all together just beautifully. My reading of this book just flew by. It never had any points that felt like they were dragging or weighing down the story. Everything moved at just the perfect pace and I didn’t want to put it down once I started it.
If you haven’t read the other three books in the Restoration series, I highly recommend reading them first. Save this one because it’s worth the wait. And, if you have read the others and haven’t gotten to this one yet, get it! This book delivers and is one of the best books I have read all year! Kudos to Terri Blackstock for another excellent novel and terrific series!!
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To purchase this book, please see the link above. To purchase others in the series, you can click on the following links:
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Last Light, Restoration Series #1
By Terri Blackstock / Zondervan Terror reigns when electrical power is cut off across the world-creating a global crisis that reveals even deeper darkness within human hearts. What would you do? Whom could you and your family trust, especially if there was a killer in the neighborhood? The first book in this exciting new series from Terri Blackstock. |
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Night Light, Restoration Series #2
By Terri Blackstock / Zondervan * As global catastrophe plunges the world into darkness, survival becomes everybody’s new lifestyle. The Brannings must choose between hoarding their possessions or sharing with others. When young thieves raid their pantry, Jeff Branning tracks them down, uncovering a trail of desperation and murder—and a new purpose that’ll transform their family and the community! 352 pages, softcover from Zondervan. |
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True Light, Restoration Series #3
By Terri Blackstock / Zondervan On so many chilling levels The “what if” question arises as a global catastrophe affects the residents of Oak Hollow. They now have had to deal without electricity for eight months and the deep winter nights have set in. Tension mounts when a young man is murdered. Is Mark Green the killer? The darkness from the blackout also reveals the darkness in human hearts as the survival of the fittest gets more intense. |
I had my first Red Box movie rental experience today. I was at Walmart with the girls and remembered they had a Red Box there in the front of the store. So, I pulled up Inside Redbox on my phone and got the promo code list. The first code that was listed for today didn’t work for me, but the second did. So, I rented Enchanted since I’ve wanted to see it for awhile. Renting with the code was super easy and FREE. All I had to do was enter the code, select the movie, swipe my debit card, enter zip code and my email address. Then I got the movie. Couldn’t be easier and you can’t beat free. So, I have an at-home movie date with Mickey after the girls go to bed. Yay!