What was happening while Noah was building the ark? The people of the known world were going crazy. Sin was rampant.
Did Moses ‘just’ build the ark or was he also busy trying to get the mockers and scoffers to believe and understand?
Are we destroying ourselves again? Chaos, sin, violence, corruption, perversion…
Save our sons and daughters, friends and neighbors… Come quickly, Jesus!
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
Read more in When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams by Jill Eileen Smith
Several weeks ago I received an invitation from Blythe Daniel to review and launch a book she and her mother had written. To be honest I was a bit hesitant because my own mother and I did not have a good relationship. (To be honest, we didn’t have a relationship.) My hesitancy came because I’ve really wanted to understand and forgive her and I’ve not been able to do so. Plus, she passed away several years ago and it’s hard to rebuild a relationship with someone who isn’t here. But…
Through reading Mended I’ve come to understand a bit more of the person. This book contained some of the most healing words I’ve ever read. Most importantly, we are only responsible for the words we’ve said and the things we’ve done. We cannot and should not let ourselves think we can fix everything. Nor should we make ourselves totally responsible for the healing that must take place. We can only handle what is ours.
Forgiveness is a huge part of mending any relationship. We can always choose to forgive even if they don’t deserve it. Jesus did!
Verbal, emotional, and sometimes physical abuse was part of daily life for me. I was a hostage in a very controlling situation and truly felt I was the person at fault. It wasn’t until I left home for college and had very limited contact that I was able to put the situation into some sort of focus. Through these words of Helen McIntosh I was able to reach a level of forgiveness that hadn’t been possible before: When we are the victim and need to forgive someone who has hurt and offended us… They may never even apologize or make amends. They may be deceased or in jail or another place you can’t reach them or oblivious to their offense. But we remain their prisoner until we let the offense go. pp.94 Letting the past go and committing to not dredging it up again has given me a kind of peace that has freed me from the pit of my mother’s words and actions and my own self-condemnation.
For me, this book was worth every word. Did I regress into the bad memories? Sometimes? Did I have moments of clarity when I started to understand? Yes! Can I move on and begin to understand the person behind words and actions? Yes! Can I forgive? I have to! There’s really no other choice.
Thank you, Blythe and Helen, for these incredible words! I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to rebuild (or build up) any relationship. It’s truly powerful and worth the time.
Consider these Words that are gems of light scattered throughout the book:
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15
Words kill, words give; they’re either poison or fruit–you choose. Proverbs 18:21 (The Message)
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Harvest House Books and Blythe Daniel. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Do you want the best possible relationship you can have with your spouse? Try praying for and with them. So, how do you do that?
Set aside part of your daily prayer time to intercede. To know and name his/her struggles you’re going to have to communicate those to one another. Talk about what your goals are as individuals and as a couple. Find out what challenges they’re experiencing.
In your prayer thank God for them. Thank God for the person they are, for their provision, for their love.
Ask God to show Himself in and through them. Support them in their daily walk.
Be willing to change so that they can grow. If you’re part of a problem they’re having give it to God. Humble yourself!
So, what happens when you pray for your spouse? It connects both of you with and to God.
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
I have all I need!
God. Ray. Family. Friends. Food.
What more could I want!
Jonah didn’t get it. Like us, Jonah thought he was in charge, he could control his life, he knew what was good or not so good for him. What he didn’t realize was this was not about him. pp. 28
How many times have you read this story? What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you see the name Jonah? I’d bet it’s the fish. But you know what? Jonah is not about the whale. It’s not about what’s going on inside the fish. It’s about what’s going on inside of Jonah. Surprised at that? I was. We want it to be about the whale because we don’t want to face our own fickleness which is so much like Jonah’s.
Am I saying we’re fickle Believer’s? Yes, I am. When life is going as planned (by us) and we’ve achieved a measure of success (Jonah was a known prophet.) we can start believing we can control our own lives and destiny. We can’t! That’s part of what this story is about. Jonah had to learn (the hard way) that once he committed to being God’s servant it was no longer about him. It’s all about God’s mercy! ALL! Even for someone as fickle as Jonah. Someone who thought he had it all together. Someone who knew God intimately, heard His voice, helped others understand Him.
What Jonah didn’t recognize in himself was his sinful nature. He thought everyone else was sinful. (i.e., the Ninevites) He certainly didn’t want to be in contact with that kind of sin. So he ran away. He didn’t get that you can’t run away from God. But he certainly tried.
We all know that God is the God of many chances. When He sets His sights on one of us He never gives up. That’s how I see the story of Jonah. God would not give up! From the pit (in the hold of the boat) to the prison (in the belly of the whale) to the palace (maybe the home of Shalmaneser lll) God pursued him.
I’ve studied the book of Jonah several times, with different authors, and let me say this is the first time I saw myself in this Old Testament parable. I’ve never grown tired of this story and I hope I never will. God will continue His pursuit of you and me. My fervent prayer is we will hear Him and respond so we don’t end up in a giant fish.
Powerful words in Running from Mercy by Anthony J. Carter:
…He is not going to stop until He gets you. Goodness and mercy shall pursue you all the days of your life (Ps. 23:6). pp. 48
God keeps his appointments and has every intention of making sure we do too. pp. 57
If you have people in your life who love you enough to talk to you about your sin, don’t cut them off. Don’t shut them down. Don’t blame them. They are the grace of God to you. pp. 87
In every church gathered in this world today, people are either changing the gospel, or the gospel is changing them… We must not seek to change God’s Word but seek to be changed by it. pp.106
I highly recommend this book. It’s a life changer!
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Broadman Holman/Lifeway Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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