This is an eye-opening devotional. We can get value from brokenness if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to work inside of us.
Month: August 2023
ettingerwriting.wordpress.com/2023/08/29/judaism-the-holocaust-and-the-great-christian-enigma/
Please go to the original post and follow David. And while you’re there, be sure to answer his final question.
Something New
Don’t be surprised when you see new things happening in your world because God promised that it would in His Word. Something new to me means something unexpected, perhaps miraculous, but definitely something you will recognize as from God. I think that sometimes we miss the new things that God is doing because we are so busy looking for Him to change the old things in a way that we have requested, exactly the way we want Him to answer a prayer. Fortunately for us, God is not limited by how we ask Him to do things and He ends up answering our prayers in new and imaginative ways that we could never think of with our finite minds. God is good…all the time! And He surprises me with His new things most of the time! When was the last time that God surprised you?
Seeking
According to The Cambridge Dictionary, seek means “to try to find or get something, particularly something that is not a physical object.” https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/seek
In order to find God’s will for your life, you have to look for it, not just proclaim that you know it and you’re already following it. When you sincerely try to find His will for you, then He will show you the path that you should be taking. Seeking God’s will first before taking a path is the way to do things to avoid a lot of heartache and trouble. You will still have trouble because we live in a fallen world, but at least you will know that you are on the path that God has led you to and He is walking beside you on it. God walks with us regardless of our choices to follow our own will or His, but we should know that His will is what is best for us and in the end will bring us the greatest joy. Seek and follow.
Lost Sheep
Have you ever seen a real sheep wandering around and making the “Baa” sound that we sing about from nursery rhymes? I haven’t seen one often, but I did see a couple when I visited Iceland many years ago. The sheep are all free range and there are laws against harming them. So, they wander freely, get away from their home and “baa” incessantly as they try to find their way back to something familiar. I think that we can learn a lot from sheep and so did the prophet Jeremiah.
God’s people are compared to lost sheep, but the sheep are not all lost because of wandering away. Their shepherds, the ones responsible for leading them, has led them to the wrong place and then set them loose there. Thus, they are completely lost and can’t find their way home again. Unlike the nation of Iceland in which sheep are protected, the only protection we have against false leaders is God. However, we are only protected as long as we stay in His Word, know what it says and that way we can recognize false leaders and the trails they want to lead us on. Some “shepherds” would have us believe that the Bible doesn’t mean what it says. False! They want us to think that there are many ways to get to Heaven, and one way is as good as another. False! These false “shepherds” want us to call evil good and good evil. False! We don’t recognize the falsehoods unless we know what the truth says, and the truth can only be found in the Holy Bible.
My advice to my readers who are followers of Christ is to read, study, memorize, hold fast to God’s Word. Surely the fake leaders are everywhere these days, so you have to be aware of that in order to avoid being fooled. It’s like the bank tellers who are trained to spot counterfeit money. They know the real thing because that’s what they spend time with! Jesus is the real thing, the ONLY way to Heaven, the One who leads us on the pathway to being more like Him and the One who calls out evil and expects us to do likewise. Don’t be fooled by those who want you to take an “easier road” because that way may lead to being lost and ultimately to eternal destruction. Keep following Jesus no matter how many wolves in sheep’s clothing you encounter. In the end, you will not be a lost sheep but the found one!
An Earthly Example Of An Eternal Principle
By Michael Youssef Aug 4, 2023 We can learn to be shrewd with our time, talent, and treasure in preparation for an eternal future. A company owner …
An Earthly Example Of An Eternal Principle
Your Identity
I don’t know about you, but I was beyond excited on the day that I first got my driver’s license. Like Pinocchio, I felt like a real person, with a real identity card for the first time. As the years progressed, my photo aged with me, but the identity stayed the same.
Fortunately, we don’t need to renew our ID card with God…we accept His free gift of salvation, our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and we are headed to Heaven. At least, that is the way I have always thought of it. But God has been talking to me lately through His Word about bearing fruit for Him, being a real disciple instead of just a card-carrying imposter.
I want to do all I can whenever I can to further God’s kingdom, just because I don’t want others to experience His final judgment and wrath. So, my new ID is the photo above. What does your ID look like?
Review of HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE BEES by Amanda Cox
About the Book
ISBN-13:9780800742737 Publisher:Baker Publishing Group. Publication date:08/29/2023 Pages:336
Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary, until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business–one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her into the position to lose everything they built together.
When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she’s never heard of, she’s not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie’s financial situation rather . . . precarious. She’s sure she has no right to someone else’s farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she’s always craved.
As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets–and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.
My Thoughts
What if starting over means losing part of your past, your heritage that you had always counted on? Beckett Walsh is a beekeeper, working contentedly alongside her father, until his sudden death. Now her plans for her future, keeping the apiary on Walsh Farms going and living a solitary life are in flux because a stranger has arrived and presents a claim to the farm, also. Beckett and Callie never met each other before and have to work at discovering their connection to Beckett’s dad George. Together, they face difficult challenges of finding out about the past and about each other as they also have to decide what to do about the apiary that is part of Beckett’s security. The characters in this book were so realistic that they had me crying real tears over their dilemmas. This is a book that is emotionally rich and it totally placed itself right into my heart. It is an extremely powerful story of family secrets, alcoholism, broken relationships and the courage it takes to create a new path in life. This is a poignant story of learning to adapt, with a hidden mystery and a lot of authentic details about beekeeping. The characters tugged all of my heartstrings, especially a little girl who was a secondary character and who brought humor at the best times. The writing was sharp, eye-opening and thought-provoking. The insight provided by the author into depression, anxiety and substance abuse was profoundly moving and brilliantly woven into the central story. There is absolutely nothing that I did not like about this story, and I would rate it ten stars if possible. As it is, I plan to re-read it just for the sheer pleasure of visiting with the characters again.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
About the Author
Website: https://amandacoxwrites.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandacoxwrites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandacoxwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacoxwrites/
Blog: https://hopeperch.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20033571.Amanda_Cox
Q & A with the Author
Which comes first: characters or plot?
It varies, but I would say that most of the time it is the characters! I usually have a general idea of what the plot might be, but as I develop the characters sometimes the plot changes along the way.
What inspired you to write HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE BEES?
There are a lot of nuggets from many different facets of my life that came together for this story, but a big source of inspiration came from my honeybees! While I was editing my second novel, The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, on my back patio, one of the bees from my hive landed on my computer screen. I joked with readers that my tiny inspector liked the story, but would enjoy it a lot more if there were bees involved.
It was then that I decided that I wanted the next character I wrote to be a beekeeper. Because honeybees are a female-run society, it lent a lot of lovely parallels to the women in He Should Have Told the Bees.
What is the biggest challenge you face when you start writing a new book?
All the possibilities! With a brand new, fresh story idea, the possibilities are endless on the direction I could take those characters. It is easy for me to overthink it. I commit a lot of time to praying over the story before I officially begin writing it. Though I can become overwhelmed by the possibilities, I am learning to trust God through the process, knowing that He will guide me as I write and help me tell the story He wants told.
If you had to choose another profession other than author, what would it be and why?
Before I started writing I was a counselor. I truly enjoy working with adolescents, young adults, and families to find a better way of coping with the trials they face. I found writing when I became a stay-at-home parent. I might go back to counseling one of these days.
Who is your favorite character in HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE BEES and why?
It has to be Fern. Though she isn’t a main character, I love how she interacts with the main characters, especially Beckett. Fern has a way of pulling out the best in others. My main characters have had a tough go of it, and are processing a lot of past pain and hurt. Young Fern has a delightful way of infusing the story with joy, delight, and wonder. Also, she is pretty mischievous, so I had a lot of fun coming up with her antics!
What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t writing?
Beekeeping! I also attempt gardening. Both of those hobbies have a way of keeping me humble. I am constantly learning something new as I experiment in both of those worlds. I love being outside, enjoying God’s creation as much as possible.
What inspired you to write about agoraphobia?
Having a counseling background, I enjoy writing books that explore elements of mental health, but the idea to incorporate agoraphobia into this particular novel came through some of my own life experiences.
The bulk of this book was written after the pandemic lockdown. I started to detect some anxiety arising in my own life whenever I spent extended time away from home. The longer I was away, the more intense the anxiety. I began to examine my own heart, to better understand why I felt that way. Over time, without realizing it, I had internalized a message that home was the only safe place to be. I had a new appreciation and compassion for the intense struggle that people who battle agoraphobia experience.
What did you have the most fun with, the characters or the plot?
Characters! Having a background in counseling, I love analyzing my characters’ motivations and where those motivations originate from. I love dreaming up how their past has influenced their present.
Describe HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE BEES in four words.
Poignant. Hopeful. Tender. Layered.
Available for Preorder Now! Releases on 8-29-23. Purchase Links:
https://bit.ly/3HQPCXf (Baker Book House)
https://amzn.to/3NNDAS4 (Amazon)
https://bit.ly/3HOw3ia (Barnes and Noble)
https://bit.ly/3LQvEgy (Powells)
https://bit.ly/42uOtgp (Google Play Store)
https://bit.ly/44yZVJj (Bookshop)
https://bit.ly/3VOQbXm (Christian Book)
https://bit.ly/3NOanq4 (Target)
https://bit.ly/42A8nWJ (Walmart)
https://apple.co/42xNNGl (Apple Books)
https://bit.ly/3HRizlQ (Books A Million)
God Is Always Strong and Capable
Sometimes in the midst of the storms of life, we forget that God is always the same and is always a strong advocate for us. This weekend was such a time for me. Our daughter was visiting from PA and I got up early on Saturday to do laundry and get it all finished so we could spend time together. The load in the wash finished, I put the towels in the dryer and set the timer. When it dinged, I went to get the clothes, but they were still as wet as when I put them in there. After multiple attempts and checking the vents, I decided that the heating element is broken. So, no dryer. Thus, I ended up going to the laundromat with my daughter and a granddaughter to get the towels dry. Today, my husband explores options of repairs or replacement. The storm of a dryer not working seems small and insignificant, but to me it was a big, unexpected event that tried to throw me off kilter. I prayed, asked God what to do and decided to go to the laundromat and take my daughter and granddaughter to lunch while the clothes dried. We enjoyed our time together and celebrated our birthdays that are this week. God didn’t let us down because He never does. Yes, we are still dealing with that niggling little problem of no dryer, but we will ask God for wisdom and provision and then trust that He will follow through because that is who He is.
When I am faced with little obstacles that seem big, I need to remember this verse and stand in awe of God who faced death and came out victorious!
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 