"If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil" by Randy Alcorn ~ Book Review

Wow! This review is about a week late in coming, but I wanted to make sure I read at least MOST of this incredible book. The size of this book alone is a bit overwhelming, but once you start reading it, you won't want to quit. The author does not claim to know all the answers, and in fact, says that our finite minds are obviously too small to even comprehend the ways of God, which is something I just said to my husband a few days BEFORE I read it...(GMTA), but he does attempt to explain WHY evil exists in the world. He offers many different compelling reasons, including the fact that God is the ultimate author, of the greatest story ever told. We humans, (who are made in His image), would not enjoy a book or a movie that had absolutely no conflict, and no hero riding in to "save the day", so why would God write the stories of our lives that way? We will not know the ending or the reasons for everything that occurred in our lives until we get to heaven.

There is so much in this book, (and I still have not read it all), that it absolutely boggles the mind...but it has many compelling arguments as to why the existence of evil does not mean there is no God, but on the contrary...it actually proclaims His very existence and glorifies Him by the fact that He is great enough to conquer it all! He says it much better than I ever could though, so you'll just have to read it for yourself. The book is available from RandomHouse.com for $24.99 and is WELL worth it!

Here is a summary of the book:
Every one of us will experience suffering. Many of us are experiencing it now. As we have seen in recent years, evil is real in our world, present and close to each one of us.In such difficult times, suffering and evil beg questions about God--Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist? These are ancient questions, but also modern ones as well. Atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and even former believers like Bart Ehrman answer the question simply: The existence of suffering and evil proves there is no God.In this captivating new book, best-selling author Randy Alcorn challenges the logic of disbelief, and brings a fresh, realistic, and thoroughly biblical insight to the issues these important questions raise. Alcorn offers insights from his conversations with men and women whose lives have been torn apart by suffering, and yet whose faith in God burns brighter than ever. He reveals the big picture of who God is and what God is doing in the world–now and forever. And he equips you to share your faith more clearly and genuinely in this world of pain and fear. As he did in his best-selling book, Heaven, Randy Alcorn delves deep into a profound subject, and through compelling stories, provocative questions and answers, and keen biblical understanding, he brings assurance and hope to all.

Author Bio:
Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspectives Ministries and a bestselling author. His novels include Deadline, Dominion, Edge of Eternity, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, The Ishbane Conspiracy, and the Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written eighteen nonfiction books as well, including Heaven, The Treasure Principle, The Purity Principle, and The Grace and Truth Paradox. Randy and his wife, Nanci, live in Oregon and have two married daughters and four grandsons.

Nine Years, Side by Side...What a Roller Coaster Ride!

Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money,

Maybe we're ragged and funny,

But we'll travel along,

Singing a song,

Side by

side...

Ray and I were married nine years ago today. In that nine years, we've had a lot more "poorer" moments than "richer," but I do have to say we've also had a lot more "health" than "sickness" too...and for the most part, there has been much more "better" than "worse."

In the past nine years, we've been through...5 of our 7 children graduating from High School, (one had already), several of them attending college, with 1 of them graduating and becoming an RN! Two children serving in the armed forces, (including one doing a tour in Iraq). Four of our kids getting married, (and one eventually getting divorced). We've been blessed with three beautiful grandsons (so far)! Suffered a miscarriage of our own, and a stillborn grandson. Endured open-heart surgery (mine), we lost his mother and my sister in the same year...lost our home to forclosure, moved TWICE in the last 3 years...(while staying in the same town). I would say we've literally been through "thick and thin," but unfortuately, we aren't quite to "thin" yet! We did both lose a lot of weight last year, but I've let a lot of it creep back on. He lost more than I did, and has probably kept more of it off too...the struggle continues...

We've definitely had our ups and downs --in more ways than one over the years, but I know that we will be together for as long as we both shall live...Just as long as we remember that it was God who put us together in the first place, and keep our eyes firmly focused on Him... Then we can get through anything, and... "We'll travel the road, sharing our load...Side by Side!" Happy Anniversary, Honey!

"You Were Born For This" ~ Book Review and Giveaway

Bruce Wilkinson, author of the popular book, "The Prayer of Jabez" has come out with a brand new book, with a fascinating concept behind it. What if we are missing out on being a part of someone else's miracle? He says that even though we know that God doesn't NEED us to make a miracle happen, He LIKES to use people in that way. And it makes sense.

We have experienced many of these types of miracles. A lot of people would call them "lucky coincidences", but we KNOW that they have been orchestrated by God. One of the things that the author asks us to do, is to have a "God Pocket" in our wallet or purse. This is a separate place, where you stash as much money as you feel God is leading you to put there, and consider it "God's money" (it IS ALL HIS after all), until you encounter the person that He will tell you to give it to. Hmmm...interesting. We have actually been on the receiving end of this. A couple of years ago, there was an envelope in our church mailbox with our names on it. There was a note in it that said something like, "I've been carrying this around for a very long time, waiting for God to tell me who to give it to. He told me you needed it." In the envelope was a $100 bill! Yes, we DID need it, and very badly. We never did find out who it was from. We have also had money appear "out of nowhere" on many other occasions, when we LEAST expected it...but MOST needed it.

Summary:
His New York Times phenomenon The Prayer of Jabez changed how millions pray. Now Bruce Wilkinson wants to change what they do next.

Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by a direct intervention from God. Around the world these acts are called miracles—not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn the “protocol of heaven.”

In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can be a “Delivery Guy” from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose, and spiritual growth.

You Were Born for This will change how readers see their world, and what they expect God can do through them to meet real needs. They will master seven simple tools of service, and come to say with confidence, “I want to deliver a supernatural gift from God to someone in need today—and I expect to!”

Author Bios:
One of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, Bruce Wilkinson is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. He is also the author of numerous other bestsellers, including A Life God Rewards, Secrets of the Vine, and The Dream Giver. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, have three children and six grandchildren. They live outside Atlanta.

David Kopp has collaborated with Bruce Wilkinson on over a dozen bestselling books, including The Prayer of Jabez. He is an editor and writer living in Colorado.
Here is a link to Bruce Wilkinson introducing his new book: Click HERE

How can you get this book and find out how to be part of God's miracle? Go to RandomHouse.com.

For a chance to WIN a COPY right here, just leave me a comment after this post. I'll enter you into a random drawing to be held on October 5, 2009. You must be live in the continental US to enter and leave me a valid email address, so I can contact you. Thanks, and good luck!

The LORD Does Whatever Pleases Him

Six years ago today, we lost my dear sister Patty to breast cancer. Patty has taught me more about Christianity than anyone else has in my entire life.

While she was fighting this horrible disease, at the end of November, 2002, my family put on a benefit for her to raise money for medical bills etc. Dad, Mom, all of my siblings and their significant others participated in this singing show and silent auction. As a thank-you gift, Patty gave all of her sisters a two-year planner. Here is a picture of mine, the verse is Psalm 135:6

At the time, I remember reading the verse and wondering if it had significant meaning...or if Patty just thought they were nice planners and bought them for us. Here is the verse in context:

1 Praise the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD; praise him, you servants of the LORD, 2 you who minister in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. 4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession. 5 I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. 6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.

Now, for a few years we've been purchasing beautiful calendars from our church's youth group at Christmas time, so in December of 2002, since Ruth was in youth group at the time, we bought one from her. I've always loved these calendars, because they have wonderful nature scenes with scripture verses written across the pictures. However, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the particular verse each month. Perhaps I should. Patty only survived another 5 months...she passed away on April 27, 2003. Here is the picture and verse from that calendar for the month of April, 2003:

Yes, it is the same exact verse, Psalm 135:6. "The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths."

I believe that this was God's (and Patty's) way of reassuring me that it really was His will to take Patty home to be with Him, and that He does do whatever pleases Him. As much as we would have loved for her to be healed... as much faith as Patty and her family had in the fact that she would be completely healed...as much as she loved her parents and her nine siblings...as much as she loved her husband of 21+ years and her eleven children...she loved her Lord and Savior most of all. And I truly believe that God honored that. And even though she prayed to be healed, that the deepest desire of her heart was to be in heaven with HIM...where she is today. Remember, that whenever we pray, we say, "Lord, not MY will, but YOURS be done," but our will is not always His will.

Ten Years Together ~ Our First Date...and Beyond!

A little over 10 years ago, I was divorced and had 3 teenagers...and a two year old. I really thought that one of the reasons my first marriage didn't work out, was because it wasn't God's idea for the two of us to get married in the first place. Well, I don't like being alone, and I figured it might be a little bit difficult to find a husband that would be willing to help me raise my 3 older kids AND a two year old, I definitely wanted to ask God to help. I prayed and asked Him to show me the man that HE had for me. And this is what happened:

I had recently purchased my first very own computer, and had my son Joel hook it all up for me. Since I wanted to find a good Christian man and didn't really want to get into the whole dating thing, (I just wanted to cut to the chase and find the one I was SUPPOSED to be with), I tried searching for "Christian Singles" and came across a website called: "MatchMaker ~ The Christian Connection." That looked like a good place to start. I entered all my statistics, set the settings to go out 100 miles from me and searched for a week or two. I contacted a couple of people that looked interesting, but one had already met someone and the other didn't want anything to do with someone who was divorced. Then one day, I decided to venture out a little farther and changed the setting to 150 miles. After looking for a little while, my daughter, Jessica came in the room and said, "Let me look, I'll find you someone, Mom." After just a few minutes, she said, "Hey Mom, this guy sings!" I said, "Move over and let me see that."

Apparently, he lived 149 miles away from me. I lived in Sauk Rapids, MN and his profile said he lived in Bigfork, MN. He was five years older than me, had been widowed for less than a year, and had 3 kids of his own...a 17 year old girl, a 15 year old boy and an 11 year old girl. My heart went out to those kids, (especially Ruth, who was 11), because they no longer had a mother, and I actually started to cry. The weird thing was that in addition to my 18 year old son and my two year old daughter, I also had a 17 year old girl and a 15 year old boy! Hmmmm...

I contacted him and he wrote back to me. Although he was planning to move to Bigfork at the time, it turned out he actually still lived right here in P-town... only about 30 miles away from me! We exchanged e-mail addresses and a day or two later I found him on YIM. We chatted for a while and then I gave him my phone number and he called me. After two VERY long phone conversations over the next few days we set up our first date. We would go out to dinner on a Friday night--exactly 10 years ago, today. And yes, even though my older sister, Peggy warned me to drive separately, (you can never be too careful about people you meet on the Internet), I felt like I'd known him forever already, and decided to let him pick me up at my apt.

I was very nervous about all this. It had been years since I'd actually dated. What should I wear? What will he be like? How will I know if he's "Mr. Right?" My sister, Patty told me I should "put out a fleece" like Gideon of the bible did. So, as I'm cleaning up my apartment, I look around and see this bright green bracelet on top of my refrigerator that says JESUS LOVES ME. I had gotten it from Molly's grandpa in a box of stuff he'd sent us while I was still with her dad.

So I prayed, "God, if this is the right man for me, let him be wearing a bracelet just like that one." And then immediately thought, "Oops!, I'd better take that back. No grown man is going to be wearing one of those." And then I was thinking of all sorts of other things... like "Let him be wearing the same color shirt as me"... or "If he comes to my door with flowers, I'll know"...but I never really did come up with anything else to "put out there."

Anyway, Ray arrived at my door with a single rose in his hand for me. Little Molly went running to the door with me, and after I answered it and shook his hand, I introduced her to him. She looked up at him with her big brown eyes, (and while curling her little ringlet curls at her neck with her finger), she said, "Hiiii...Raaayy." It was very cute...but a little embarrassing. I have no idea where she got that from and it's the only time she's ever done it (to my knowledge). Jessica was there to babysit Molly, so Ray and I went on our way.

We went to the "China Star" buffet in St. Cloud. We were escorted to a table and sat down. I noticed even before he took his winter jacket off, that the shirt he was wearing and the sweater I had just bought for this date were virtually the same color and style. He took off his jacket...and there it was! This larger-than-life grown man, was actually wearing one of these:

Hmmmm....I was flabbergasted to say the least, but I didn't let on to him at all. I just smiled, looked up and prayed silently, "Okay Lord, whatever you say." I didn't want to scare Ray away after all. We finished our dinner and got our fortune cookies. We opened them...and they were the exact same fortune. Not that I pay any attention to them.. and I don't even remember what they said, but I do recall that they were exactly the same..and took that as yet another sign. We went to karaoke after dinner, and Ray met most of my siblings there. We sat at the table and after a little while he put his arm around me. Everyone said we looked so "comfortable" together. Hmmm...

Ray didn't call me the next day at all, but on Sunday he called and said he was in St. Cloud, and was it okay if he brought his youngest daughter over to meet me! I said sure, and he and Ruth came over. That was that. We've been together ever since. Less than 18 months later, we were husband and wife. My advice? Be careful what you pray for...you just might get it! Just kidding...

While we were dating, little Molly used to tell people this about us, "They love their 'chother." And after 10 years together, we still do. Remember, God IS the ultimate "MatchMaker"...Trust Him!

Book Review - "A Day with a Perfect Stranger" ~ The Conversation Continues...

As the (very recently) late great radio personality, Paul Harvey used to say, And now, the REST of the story. This is a great sequel to the book I reviewed on my last post. I couldn't put this one down either. The story begins shortly after the other one ends. Nick's wife, Mattie can't figure out why her husband has completely changed from the man she married, ever since he went out to dinner with a perfect stranger. Now, for some reason, he's suddenly turned into this "Jesus freak". She's on the verge of contemplating divorce, and decides she'll take the opportunity of a short business trip to think about whether or not this is what she really wants. However...

On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment. As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?

And why does he seem to know her even better than she knows herself? In another compelling conversation with "Jay", we learn even more about our Lord, and why God may have allowed some of the bad things that have happened in Mattie's life, (and possibly our own lives), to occur.

I, for one, am hoping to keep this conversation with A Perfect Stranger going. Perhaps the author, David Gregory will do that.

Author Bio:

David Gregory is the author of the best-selling books Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger, and coauthor of two nonfiction books. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning graduate degrees from The University of North Texas and Dallas Theological Seminary. A native Texan, David now devotes himself to writing full time.

P. S. I was thrilled to find out in this book that Jesus is a coffee drinker...like me ;-)

You can find out more about this book by going to: Random House Publishers It is available for purchase there for just $12.95 plus shipping.

God's Timing! ~ He sure has a sense of humor sometimes...

We bought a pretty pink digital camera for the 12 year old for Christmas. It was on sale for $99.99, with a $30 rebate. I hate rebates, but this seemed like a pretty good deal, and Molly LOVES pink...and besides, we had a credit card we could use at this particular store, and it was 2 days before Christmas... and we hadn't bought anything for her yet.

Anyway, I had cut out the UPC code from the box shortly after Christmas, and then went, "Now where did I put the receipt and the rebate form....hmmmm". Well, I checked my purse, and all the usual places we stash things like that, but never came up with it. I set the UPC on Ray's dresser, just in case we found the receipt and form needed to collect our $30...but had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that they had somehow inadvertently been thrown in the trash.

Well, you know that thing where if you're LOOKING for something in particular you WON'T find it? Yeah. You know what I mean. Yesterday, I was busy on one of my favorite new online hangouts, Crackbook Facebook. I had found some old pictures in my night stand drawer and was uploading them to our Family Group site on there. Late last night, (actually 2:00AM this morning), I decided to go back and dig in the drawer to see what other goodies I could come up with. I pulled out a handful of photos...and a receipt from Office Depot. I saw where it was from and thought, "No...it couldn't be"....it was. Here's the kicker, the rebate form said it must be postmarked by 2/28/2009! That's TOMORROW folks. Ray filled it out this morning, and took it to the post office. Of course it will take some time to get back, but we're sure to need that $30 badly right about the time it shows up. Praise the Lord, and His wonderful sense of humor!

So, now I'm wondering...if Ray quits LOOKING for a job, will he find one???

I'm So Excited, And I Just Can't Hide It!

A couple of days ago, I was excited to learn that I had won first place in Sassyfrazz's baby shower contest for the "sweetest daddy and newborn picture". My prize pick for that, was a blog makeover from See My Designs. Woohoo! Look for a new blog design here soon. Could life get any better than this? Maybe. This morning, I got an email telling me that I'd won yesterday's contest for Toddler Toys, over at Mom Central! It's a prize package worth over $200! I was really excited about that! I called my hubby and told him that our three grandchildren's Christmas gifts were covered. I can't wait to get them and figure out who gets what, and then get two of the packages sent off.

The other reason I'm really excited today, is that my dd Jessica, and grandson, CJ are on their way here! I talked to her a little while ago, and she's just about to MN. They'll likely arrive while we are at church for Awana tonight. Yippee!!

I have been really worried about how we're going to get through Christmas this year, without a whole lot of money, and so many people on our list to give to. I just have to keep remembering that the Lord WILL provide. He has proved this over and over to me before, and has once again.

Thank you, Lord.

Also, thanks go out to Sarah at Sassyfrazz, Pam at Happy Panda Baby, and Mom Central for making my week!

It's Time...

To put my money where my mouth is, (or maybe my F.R.O.G. where my blog is), as it were. You've probably noticed my little frog sitting at the top of my blog with the words, "Fully Rely On God. Basically, I've decided it's time to practice what I preach.

A few weeks ago, I applied for a full time cake decorating position at our local grocery store. I had an interview and it seemed like everything went really well. Then I even found a few pairs of white pants and a brand new white polo shirt at the Used Clothing Center and garage sales, just in case I was hired and needed them to wear to work. The way things were going, I felt sure that this was where God was leading me. He was going to provide a way for us to have a stable income, and either be able to keep our home, or at least help pay the rent for wherever we end up moving to. I had the prayer chain from my church praying for this job and everything. I anxiously waited over the weekend, and then I got the call on Monday. This is what the bakery manager said, "It was a tough decision, but we decided to go with another applicant." She told me she would like to keep my application on file in case something opened up in the future, but this was not to be my job. Okay. I can deal with that. God must have something even better planned for my future, right?

Well, now that it looks as though there is no longer anything we can do to keep our house, we have been looking for one to rent. We thought we'd found the perfect house. In town, within walking distance to almost anywhere we might want to walk to. It was an older home, but had been nicely remodeled. The problem was, there was another couple in somewhat the same situation as we are, that the owner had promised a week to make their decision whether they wanted it or not. They took the full week...and then decided "Yes", they would take the house. Okay. I understand. We still don't have a place to live and I don't yet have a job to help pay for wherever we do end up renting either.

Ray and I have just started a new bible study at church. It's called, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day". Interesting title, don't you think? It's based on a book by Mark Batterson. The title is in reference to a man in the bible named Benaiah, who ended up as one of King David's body guards. Apparently, he had killed a lion in a pit in the middle of winter in his past, which I guess made David decide to hire him as his bodyguard. Anyway, it's all about how we don't see the big picture that God does, and we don't know what He is preparing us for in the future while we are going through difficult times. The things we go through that seem the scariest while we are going through them, are oftentimes the greatest experiences we've ever had, once we are looking back on them. He also talks about how our "unanswered prayers" are usually blessings in disguise.

So last night, after reading some of this book, I got to thinking. I have this friendly little frog at the top of my blog telling people to "Fully Rely on God", but do I really do that??? Not usually. I'm always trying to figure out a way to fix things without going to Him first. I need to get it through my head that God knows what He's doing and that He is in control of everything in our lives... and that He will get us through this too. We just have to trust in Him!