let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do
not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go.
Playing a sport as a youngster is not for the faint of
heart.
I opened my calendar and spread their schedules in front of
me. Grandchildren in track, baseball, and softball filled the pages, not to
mention Tim’s schedule as a Red’s usher and my author obligations.
We’ve watched our children and grandchildren compete in sports for years. Tim and I even coached our own kids.
I enjoy all kinds of sports, especially when the grands are
participating. Watching Eli throw the discus and shotput was a new experience.
I love his attitude. He’s brand new to the sport and willing to learn. He wants
to do his best. Zeke, in his baseball, has grown by leaps and bounds and this
year, the coach is tapping into his potential. Again, he has a great attitude,
he wants to learn and do his best. Ella Cate, in softball, is the same as are
Max and Aiden in basketball and track and Dylan in tennis. All of these young
folks have approached their sport with an attitude of courage and a
determination to be strong in their sport. They each want to enjoy the game,
but also learn and grow. They know their parents and grandparents are there cheering
them on and encouraging them to do their best.
When God tapped Joshua to take over for Moses, Joshua stepped
up and told the people what would happen next. God reminded him, “As I was
with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor
forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5) Several times, God reminded Joshua to be strong
and have courage. And he did.
Just as we encourage and support our grandkids in their
sports, God reminds us to be strong and have courage as we serve Him. That may
require learning something new, spending time in His word or on our knees in prayer.
God’s courage goes before me as I serve Him and minister to others. He gives me
the strength and courage to do the things I hesitate to do on my own. I’m
thankful for God’s love and encouragement.
Take heart, and be strong and courageous.
1 Peter 2: 22-25
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he
suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him
who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the
cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by
his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going
astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of
your souls.
The Easter eggs were plucked from the tufts of grass.
The pink, blue, green, and yellow orbs held a mystery.
Something sweet. Only two of the children in our family were young enough to
seek out the treats, but I got to hide them. Like a child, I scattered them
about the yard and admired the shiny plastic as it sparkled in the sun.
Joys of childhood still thrill my soul, even as I experience
them through my grandchildren.
Albert Einstein said, “Do not grow old, no matter how long
you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery
into which we were born.”
I stand in awe of the wonder of God’s plan, His creation.
God created everything on this earth. He spoke and the moon
and stars shone. The animals moved and the plants grew.
In the shadow of Easter and the resurrection, give thought
to the One who commands the rain to fall. In His original plan, God created a
perfect garden, then humans came along and destroyed the perfection with sin.
God knew. He always knew He’d have to clean up after us. So, He sent Jesus. The
one sacrifice for all people. The One who showed the disciples how to love the
unlovable. The One who preached sermons that encouraged compassion. The One who
saved my soul.
The eggs are gone, but the power of the resurrection
remains. Have childlike trust in His love and grace.
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Rev. 5:13
Description:
Three friends. Two broken promises. One missing manuscript.
As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony--two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she's also desperate to find the closure she's convinced will come with Cecelia's missing final manuscript.
My Thoughts:
The Words We Lost tells a story of friendship, love, and grief and how the
three twined together. Ingrid had stepped away from the life she knew after grief
and sorrow pushed her into a fog of confusion and despair. When she finally
returns to the only place she knew as home, a whole plethora of emotions throw
her into a search for a missing manuscript, along with a search into her heart.
Joel’s love for Ingrid is steadfast but shadowed by the past. As the two look
for their friend’s final piece to a wildly popular series, they discover
something far more important than Cece’s last fiction manuscript. This is a
thought-provoking story with a strong faith thread. I especially loved Ingrid’s
unique back story and the setting at a beautiful hotel on Washington’s coast.
And don’t miss the heart-rending story of Wendy, Cece’s mother. This is a book
to be savored. If you enjoy excellent story with strong characters I recommend
you read this book. I received a free copy with no expectations. Opinions are
my own.