May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
1 Peter 3:15-16
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an
answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear
conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior
in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
April 21, 2021 surprised us with about two inches of snow. When
Tim told me to look out the window and see the surprise, I had mixed feelings.
I love snow, but I adore the beauty of spring. Now the plants that thrived with
green wore white coats, and crystal crowns. I hadn’t covered my plants, yet my
lovely lavender tulip survived the unexpected chill, as did the columbine. Many
of the flowers who peaked from the ground could endure the weather, because
their roots dug deep and their stems had soaked in sun. God created spring
flowers with durability, for all kinds of weather.
The unexpected snow made me wonder how prepared I am. 1
Peter says to be ready to give an answer for my faith, and Matthew 24:42-44 says
to prepare my heart for Jesus second coming.
When I’m traveling, I fill up my fuel tank and pack a bag of
snacks. Both prepare me for the trip. But how do I ready myself for the time
someone asks me about Jesus and my faith? I fill my heart and mind with the
wisdom of Jesus and the scripture. I eat the words of the Bible in order to
fill my spiritual tank and increase my understanding of God and grace.
Even as I prepare for the unexpected, what about the
expected. I know Jesus will return to this earth to take his children home,
even though I don’t know the day or hour. Even in not knowing the time, I know
he’s coming. I want to have my heart ready. The hope I have in God and the
promise of eternal life bolster me as his words feed me.
I may not know when Jesus will return. I may not be on this
earth any longer, regardless, my heart and soul need to be ready for that
glorious day.
Be ready for the unexpected and the expected. Jesus is
coming again.
Book Description:
To live an unforgettable life, she would defy all expectations—including her own.
Ever since she was a child, Audrey wanted her life to be
extraordinary. But as the daughter of a viscount born in late fourteenth-century
England, the only thing expected of her was to marry—until an act of malice by
her sister, Maris, four years ago damaged her prospects even further. Though
Maris was sent away, twenty-year-old Audrey is still suffering the scars of her
sister’s cruelty. So when her father announces his plans to marry off his
damaged daughter and bring Maris back home, Audrey decides to flee in search of
her true destiny.
However, life outside her home is dangerous, and she soon
finds herself attacked, sick, and in dire straits. She is taken in at Dericott
Castle to be nursed back to health. While there, she decides to keep her
identity a secret and work as a servant in the castle. But she doesn’t count on
falling in love with the young and handsome Lord Dericott, who lost his arm
several months earlier and bears scars of his own.
Meanwhile, Edwin—Lord Dericott—is curious about the new,
well-educated servant’s identity. When the man Audrey’s father wanted her to
marry comes looking for her, each must make a life-changing decision about what
to believe and whether or not love is truly worth trusting.
In this Ugly Duckling retelling, New York Times bestselling
author Melanie Dickerson brilliantly crafts a highstakes, encouraging tale
about the power of love.
My Thoughts:
I love a good fairy tale, and Melanie Dickerson always delivers. In Castle of
Refuge, Audrey has a formidable enemy, her own sister. Edwin has an unexpected
burden to bear. Brought together by Audrey’s desperation to leave home, the two
fight the evil that surrounds them. Castle of Refuge is a beautiful tale of hope.
Audrey and Edwin must both confront their self-identity and see themselves as
those dear to them see them. This story has so many wonderful characters, even
the evil Maris. Dickerson does a wonderful job showing why Maris is the way she
is and how Audrey loves her sister despite her nasty ways. If you enjoy fairy
tales and Medieval times, or a good romance, you’ll love Castle of Refuge. I
received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review
are completely my own.
John 4:39-42
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the
woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the
Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two
days. And because of his words many more became believers.
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because
of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man
really is the Savior of the world.”
I was thirsty.
After knee replacement and other surgeries, I experienced
the ice chip diet. To keep my stomach from upset, the nurse offered me small
chips of frozen water. As refreshing as the chips were, they didn’t quench my
thirst. I longed for more.
In life, searching and reaching for dreams has led me down
some roads that didn’t satisfy. A rabbit trail into a writing foray God never
intended. A job that led to frustration. No matter how hard I tried to make
them fit my life, they didn’t.
We tend to search for answers and not like the results. The Samaritan
woman Jesus met at the well had struggled with relationships. She’d veered from
God’s path for her life and found herself thirsty. When she met Jesus, she realized
she’d been missing out on the living water. The water that quenches all thirst.
She’d lifted the bucket and dipped from Jacob’s well many times, but she’d
never tasted from the living water Jesus offered.
When he opened his heart to this woman and spoke truth to
her, she believed in the power of Jesus to save her from a life of sin. She
longed to dip into the waters of eternal life, and she shared her experience
with everyone in her town.
Whether you’ve dipped in Jesus’ well or are drawn to
consider his plan of salvation, know that his well of living water never runs
dry. He asks us to believe then he offers understanding. With his living water
he promises life everlasting.
Book Description:
Celebrate the joy, wonder, and innocence of being a child with this love letter
to the loved ones in your life that encourages them to celebrate their own
special qualities now and into the future.
Inspired by the endearing qualities she sees in her own son,
Linsey Davis, ABC News correspondent and bestselling author of The
World Is Awake and One Big Heart, has written another beautiful book
that parents and grandparents can share with their little ones to let them know
how special they are. With charming illustrations from bestselling artist Lucy
Fleming paired with playful and heartwarming read-aloud rhymes, this book can
help make a lasting impact on young minds as they discover their own unique
qualities.
My Thoughts:
With Lindsey Davis’s beautiful words, celebrate the joy and innocence of
childhood. In this rhyming picture book, an adult expresses their love for a
child and the wonder of a child’s heart. The message resonates to keep some of
the delight and purity of childhood. As I read the lovely sentiment of this
gorgeous book, I choked up a bit. Having lived life loving the pure joy children
and grandchildren can express, I have to say, Ms. Davis captured my thoughts. This
is a wonderful book to read to any child to encourage them to explore and
experience the beauty of the world. Enjoy Lucy Fleming’s lively, imaginative,
and vibrant illustrations. I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
