I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
We take Communion every Sunday at our church. That was a new thing for me at first because in our previous churches, we took Communion once a month. I like the new way better because I don’t think that there is any time of any week or any church service when we should not be remembering Jesus and His sacrifice for us. After all, He is the reason we are there worshipping and the reason for our hope and our being! How often do you take Communion at your church? Is everyone allowed to participate or just the members? At our church, you may participate if you have been baptized and confessed your belief in Jesus as Lord. Communion is a holy time for me each week. For those few minutes, I reflect on Jesus’s sacrifice and all that He has done and is doing for me. I am thankful always and sad sometimes if I know that I have once again fallen short of His expectations of me. But I know that He loves me, forgives me and remembers me…just as I remember Him.
Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn’t mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.
As the work begins, “Joey” discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls—pages torn from a lighthouse keeper’s log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there’s never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.
When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story—one that’s not over yet.
My Thoughts
This novel is multi-generational, multi-layered and so engrossing that it was hard to put it down to do anything else. I was totally invested in the story of Joey, Walt, Finn and Cay as well as the secondary characters of Peter and Kit. The author made the characters live and breathe in my imagination and I could not wait to continue the story each day, waiting for new revelations of secrets long hidden and a love that was never forgotten. Walt and Cay were friends when they were young, occupying the marshland of the Outer Banks in the time of WWII. Cay’s father was the lighthouse keeper of Bleakpoint Island and her secret about his health changed her life in unimaginable ways. Walt hires Joey Harris to come to Bleakpoint and restore the keeper’s cottage and the lighthouse. When she accepts the job, Joey has no idea of the commitment and history that she will find as she works on fulfilling Walt’s dream. The plot is mesmerizing, with layers to each character’s story that are methodically and masterfully revealed. With family secrets, unresolved disagreements and broken relationships, this book has everything that tugs at the heart in one very neat and well-crafted package. The descriptions of the setting are so realistically portrayed that I could hear the sound and smell the marsh as I read. The entire book captivated my imagination and my desire to see everyone have a happy ending. Amanda Cox knows how to write a story that pulls you into the place, the lives of the characters and the conflict, all with a compassion and love that is at the center of the story. This is one of the best books I have ever read and I cannot recommend it highly enough for its entertainment value as well as the themes of restoration, forgiveness and seeking the lost in order to find peace. Five stars do not do this masterpiece justice! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. 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 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Rated G: Christian Fiction
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read. Amanda is the Christy Award-winning author of The Edge of Belonging, The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, and He Should Have Told the Bees. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 19 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee.(She’s addicted to both.). You can read more about Amanda Cox and her books on her website: Amanda Cox Writes
With deep appreciation to the Revell Reads Blogger Program for including me in this blog tour. I always purchase Amanda Cox’s books, but it is a special blessing to receive an early copy and get to review it!
As a child, I was always devastated when one of my parents made a promise and then broke it. It did not matter to me that there were “circumstances beyond their control” or that finances had suddenly become an issue. What mattered to me was the promise. As humans, sometimes we speak too quickly and make promises that we do not or cannot keep. The problem is that we judge God’s promises by our human standards. We have things backwards! God’s promises are our standards because He has shown us how to always keep a promise. As the devotional points out, God established the Abrahamic Covenant and kept that promise a thousand years later when He freed His people from slavery in Egypt and let them to the promised land. His promise to us today is that Jesus is returning and we will go to be with Him. As I age, I am holding on to that promise as well as the others like God being with me always and never forsaking me, about His peace that He gives, about His never-ending love and patience with me. What promise is special to you that God gave you and that you are holding on to? There are so many! God is faithful and will remember and fulfill all of His promises, and that is a truth that we can count on.
I have read the scripture verse repeatedly and I admit that today is the first time that I see that it is truly about salvation. God can save anyone at any time, even those whom we deem a hopeless cause because He makes all things possible. But then, there is that little sticky point called free will. God can cross that threshold but He chooses not to do so. Thus, it is up to the free will of the individual to accept the gift of salvation. God will do everything He can to get the attention of the unbeliever and to bring him or her to the knowledge that what they really need in life is Jesus Christ. God can and will do the impossible if we believe. He will act according to His timetable and His plan. If this post seems a little muddled and not quite clear, that is how I am actually feeling. I know that God can do the impossible and will save those who come to Him. The hard thing to understand is that they have to choose to come to Him. He doesn’t drag anyone kicking and screaming to the altar of salvation. God will do His part, but we cannot expect Him to force someone to be saved. That is not part of His nature or His plan. So, if you, like me, are believing for the salvation of a loved one, perhaps pray for God to do the impossible but also pray for the person to want to be saved, to see the need for salvation, so that they come to the Lord willingly. That may seem impossible, but God does answer prayers. After all, I’m a living testimony of someone who had no idea I needed Jesus Christ as my Savior until one day I did know and I did come to Him and repent!
Jesus Does the Impossible
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is often taken out of context. Many people have taken this verse to mean that they can do anything they want in life because God can do the impossible. Often this can lead to us asking God to do something selfish.
In order to understand what Jesus is saying, we should read the preceding verses. In Matthew 19:16-22, a young man comes to Jesus asking for eternal life. Jesus tells him that he must give up all of his earthly possessions–something the young man is not willing to do. Because he failed the test, the young man failed to inherit eternal life.
Jesus says in Matthew 19:23 that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. The point is that loving Jesus requires everything we are. Our ultimate love cannot be split between Jesus and something else.
The disciples then ask, “Who can be saved?” Jesus responds in Matthew 19:26 that it is impossible for man to save himself—but it is possible with God. God can do the very thing that man cannot.
We cannot earn our salvation. We cannot work hard enough to attain it, and we can’t achieve it on our own. It is impossible. But with God all things are made possible for us to be saved. It is only through the work and power of Jesus that we have access to salvation. And through the empowerment of the Spirit, we are enabled to have faith in God.
What in your life is keeping you from faith in Jesus? Maybe it’s a relationship. Maybe it’s material possessions. Maybe it’s a wrong mindset. Whatever it might be—God has the power to remove these things from your heart so that you can have faith in Jesus.
So spend some time with God today, and ask Him to search your heart. Ask Him to reveal anything within you that is keeping you from loving Jesus better. Then, do something daring—surrender those things over to God.
I am writing this blog today to encourage my readers to hold up authors by sending them notes or emails just to let them know you are thinking about them. Writing a book is a lonely profession with a lot of bumps along the way and Vickie Escalante, an online friend, recognized that authors need encouragement to get over their hurdles. Thus “The Moses Project” came to be, named for Aaron and Hur who held up Moses’s arms so that the Israelites would be victorious against their enemies.
It’s really an easy form to complete. Once it’s done, Vickie E. will contact you and let you know the name and contact information for the author you will encourage. This is not a big time commitment, nor is it expensive. I contacted my author a couple of times via email, she wrote me back with some basic information about herself and then I contacted her again about a week and a half later to check on her and let her know I am praying for her. Vickie has suggestions in the welcome e-mail that she will send you. I hope some of you will consider joining this group of encouragers. I depend on authors and their books to help me through some tough days, so I figure I can give back a little.
There is also a link for authors to sign up if they want someone to stand alongside them and be their cheerleader. Here is that link for the authors out there:
One more favor before I go…can you share this with other readers who might want to help an author in their ministry to us? Thank you for considering my requests and being willing to bless an author who may just need a little encouragement right now.
The story of Samson has always mystified me a little. He was given great strength from God for the purpose of destroying the Philistines. He fought and won many battles but his lust is what defeated him. That is what befuddles me. He was strong enough in the physical battles but the battle against his own lust he lost and thus lost his sight and his connection to his strength. Even in that, God remembered him so that when it was the right time, He again used Samson in a mighty victory against the Philistines. We have to wage war all the time against the enemies of our soul. The spiritual battles we fight will not be over until we are called home to be with the Lord. So, we have to expect to continue fighting and remember that God never forgets that we are here and waging a battle against an enemy whom Jesus already conquered.
In order to fully appreciate all that God does for us on a daily basis, we should be approaching His throne the way Hannah did, with open hands and a surrendered heart. She wanted a child so badly that she was willing to look foolish to the priest in the temple, then she was willing to give back to God the much sought for child. God, in turn, blessed her with Samuel (whom she dedicated to the Lord after weaning him) and five other children. When we let God be God, He can bless us above what we are hoping for and give us an awesome testimony for Him.
I think being forgotten and feeling rejected go hand in hand. So many times in my youth and after, I was the one not picked for the teams until the teacher pointed out that I had not yet been chosen. I was the one who seemed to be “forgotten” and I did feel rejected. When I got married, I thought those days were behind me. But the wives of the military spouses had their own cliques and once again, I often felt rejected and forgotten. My husband was busy building his career and gaining rank while I was in a new place with no friends. But I quickly found out that God had not forgotten me. Each time I prayed for a job in a new place, I got one. And if there was no job, God opened doors for me to do volunteer work and get to know others that way. I also always found a church to belong to so that when my husband was thousands of miles away, I still had a support system. God has always been there for me and has reminded me over and over that He has not forgotten me. I am thankful that He doesn’t need strings on his fingers or a notepad to carry with Him to remind Him of me. He just remembers, and I pray that I will never forget all of the times that He has faithfully and lovingly remembered me.
Riley Bishop is a single mother, working at home as a security analyst to provide for her two children, Sadie and Oliver. But something is very wrong. Riley starts forgetting things—like appointments, where she put her keys, and where she parked her car. And then she thinks she sees her deceased ex-husband while out shopping. But as Riley begins to question her own sanity, her twelve-year-old Sadie goes missing. Soon Riley finds it harder and harder to know what is truth and what are lies as she is forced to question her own reality while she searches for her daughter.
Apprehending fugitives as a part of the US Marshals Service Special Operations Group gives Tucker Shaw the purpose and drive he needs to fight the demons from his past. When he’s called out on a mission, Operation Jackal, to track down a group of endangered children, he has no idea how drastically his life is about to change. It’s a frantic hunt as Tucker and his team race to save thirteen children, including Sadie. But when Sadie’s mother comes to him with credible evidence on who is behind the girls’ disappearances, the situation quickly spirals out of control with a final twist that has Tucker questioning everything he knows to be true.
Her daughter Sadie is making progress in therapy, and her son Oliver is thriving in school. Deputy US Marshal Tucker Shaw, once a stranger, has become an integral part of their lives. But when a mysterious figure demands the twenty-five million dollars her late husband embezzled, Riley’s fragile peace shatters. With her life at stake, she must not only find a way to keep her children safe, but also find a way to convince Tucker she’s telling the truth while navigating a frightening maze of mind games and deceit.
LISA HARRIS, a USA Today and CBA bestselling author, has penned over sixty novels and novellas, including Christian romantic suspense, medical thrillers, and psychological thrillers. Celebrated for crafting tight, adrenaline-fueled plots, she has sold nearly one and a half million books. Her accolades include a Christy Award for Dangerous Passage and Romantic Times Awards for Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for Blood Covenantand Vendetta. A confessed travel junkie, Lisa has lived on four continents and spent 19 years as a missionary in southern Africa. These experiences enrich her narratives, allowing her to incorporate unique and realistic settings into her action-packed stories. Now residing in Texas with her husband, Lisa enjoys family time, cooking ethnic dishes, and gardening. For more information about Lisa and her books, visit her website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com
Note to my readers: I am currently reading the second book and anticipate that it will be another five star read from a stellar Christian author.
I will confess that it is hard for me to let go of things while I wait for God to act. Like Sarah, I am probably the one who is going to try to help God out so the waiting doesn’t take so long. The advice in this devotional is just to take your hands off, step back and wait for God to act. Easier said than done, but I am working on it. I have a tendency to look around and check to see if there is anything God might need some assistance with, only to find out later that He doesn’t need my help and as I used to tell my children, “I will let you know if I need your help.” God will tell us if there is something He wants us to do while we wait. Meanwhile, just wait, hands off and up in the air, surrendered to Him and His will and timing.
www.bible.com/reading-plans/15112/day/6
www.bible.com/reading-plans/15112/day/5
www.bible.com/reading-plans/15112/day/3
www.bible.com/reading-plans/15112/day/2
www.bible.com/reading-plans/15112/day/1
www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/21
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 