Tag: blessing

A Night to Remember  – Danny and Wanda Pelfrey

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This story is the second installment featuring a brother – a former police officer and investigator – and a sister – who is a law school student – getting involved with investigating crimes and finding the culprits.

You will find the authors’ synopsis on Goodreads.

The “God” Element

The characters provide some advice, rely on God for their lives, pray often, and are open to being guided. They portray the epitome of the Christian life; be kind, do good, help others, make a positive difference, and guide and protect.

MY LIKES

A tertiary character`s redemption. Among all the tragedies occurring in this story, his storyline is the one that touched me the most. Buster is his name.

Another of my likes is seeing the main characters’ lives evolve and watching them seek guidance from God rather than hastily react to their circumstances. They reflect and seek ways to grow rather than make a mess and hurt others. They are unafraid to explore what does not feel right and wait on the Lord.

Many characters have positive arcs; they changed their ways for the better and now live better lives, extending the blessing they received to others in the community. Many of them are humble people, and that’s very noticeable.

MY DISLIKES

It is not a great dislike, but it is noticeable. The main characters don’t sin, barely make any mistakes, and have a word of wisdom ready for anyone who crosses their paths. Even their struggles, if any, are short-lived. I understand this is a mystery novel, and psychological arcs are not a primary focus, but they seem to live in a shallow way despite their reliance on God. I like characters with depth and arcs that are manifested, not “hinted at.” Only Riley does it more to my taste; other characters do not seem “this serious” about their lives. That’s just my personal preference.

If you want to read this novel for the mystery genre, you will be pretty happy. I did not find hints pointing me to the culprit; they were too subtle for me, and it was fine with me.

Takeaways

This novel is as good as the first novel I reviewed from these authors, and although the storyline is quite different, you can feel the similarity aside from the fact that the main characters are the same people.

The last chapter took me aback. It raised a question in my mind, and once I answered it, it left me with only a few words: “That was God‘s will.”

Praise to God for His Word and Providence

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Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.

13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.

14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.

– Psalm 147 King James Version (KJV)

 

God’s Comforting Presence

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4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

Isaiah 54:4 (KJV)

God’s words to me in a moment when I needed reassurance that I would get through the hardship I am experiencing.

This difficult time is making me closer to God. I seek His presence,  His advice, and His comfort. He is who keeps me together, who gives me the strength to pull through and who keeps me strong in my faith in Him.

The Lord is my strength.

His Work in Your Life

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Colorful beachHave you ever felt this eerie sense that you clearly see how He is working in your life?

It happened to me this weekend. I was done reading a book (an essay rather than a novel) on the life of Jesus-Christ; and my husband came to me with a question. Once he voiced it, I could feel how special a moment this was; it was a divinely choreographed moment.

God has been guiding him in a most peculiar way, and my husband asked me why He was doing so. Then it hit me like a brick; I knew God’s purpose in doing that. I said to him, “He’s doing it this way to teach you to trust Him. He also wants you to develop your relationship with Him, and that’s His way to tell you. Following His teachings will also show you your own capacity and grow your self-esteem. It will make you, and others, see that you are, with Him, more capable than anybody thinks, including you.”

For months now, I have been reading how-to blogs and handbooks, attending webinars on writing, and researching the miracle recipe for success and I am nowhere near feeling I am adequate for the job. Oh, I did learn many invaluable things about the art of writing, but I am just overwhelmed with the impossibility of task before me.

I understand practice makes perfect, and I can fathom how something very much imperfect can fulfill its specific purpose; yet I do not feel up to par and can only say that it will all be His doing. Whatever I touch on my own will not amount to anything.

With this said, I figured that I have to do my part, which means I have to learn the craft, I have to write, and I have to have faith in Him, in His work with me. He knew me before He made me; what else do I need to know?

I know what I will gain from doing the work He is asking me to do, but I cannot see how this could help somebody else. This part belongs to Him.

And now, while writing this blog, I see He means to do the same thing with me that he did with my husband; on a different level mind you and rather differently, but the purpose is the very same.

Being aware of these things is a blessing, one I am grateful for. Had I not known God’s purpose in doing what He does with both my husband and me, I would have missed one of the ways in which He makes his presence known in our lives.

Thank-you for the blessings You are allowing in my family and for showing me your presence in it. Thank you for allowing me to see Your handy work and your love.

When God is a Business

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I browse the Internet every day,  and on at least four days out of seven, I research the self-publishing industry, writers’ associations and what not… just about anything related to the task of writing a novel and getting it published.

Needless to say, advice abounds. Everyone (whether individual or associations) has a blog, offers services, holds contests, etc. You name it, you will find it!

This whole thing has me shaking my head; this is all about money. God has become a commercial theme. What happened to wanting to spread stories about God’s love to our peers? What happened to telling stories that soothe the soul and the aching heart? What happened to telling stories about being made whole again through God’s love and blessings? What happened to reminding people that all they need is God, that He loves them? What happened to letting the Holy Spirit work through our words?

The process should be simple; there are too many people involved, too many steps to follow. Only the fittest will survive.

It saddens me to see that there is no room for the innocence of the soul, for the beauty of God’s love painted with words of truth, for the truth in its simplest expression. Publishing is done with a key, one you have to follow, one that gives you the only way to have it done because it has been set up that way.

Personally, I have no choice but letting this endeavor into God’s Hands because He knows (and I know all too well) that I cannot do a thing. I am in over my head. I stare at the finish line, contemplate where I am today, and all that comes to mind is “it will take nothing short of a miracle to get there”.

Thy will be done.