What's Expected?

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.

The calendar declared September 22 as the first day of autumn. But in Ohio the thermometers registered close to ninety degrees. Too hot to be considered the wonderful season of change I look forward to every year. I'm not a summer person. Although I've enjoyed swimming with the grandkids and visiting Lake Erie, I'm ready for cooler days and nights. Breezes with the slight smell of chimney smoke and fallen leaves. And oh the pumpkin flavored goodies. But because of the hot days, I can't wrap my head around the idea that leaves will be changing soon, and I'll be donning a jacket. Because the season hasn't changed as I expected, I feel restless, unsure I can trust the weather.

Expectations can be misleading and disappointing. How often have I expected God to show up the way I thought he should ? I've prayed and assumed he'd answer exactly as I petitioned. When he didn't, anxiety crept in, my imagination blew out of proportion, and I felt restless. But then, guess what. I found out that God knows better than I do. My expectations don't always match the wisdom of my loving Father. I've learned it's better to push expectations to the sidelines and instead embrace faith and trust. I believe God knows best. And I need to put that into practice. Is it easy? Nope. But life is so much better when I anticipate with faith instead of my own assumptions.

Praise God that he knows what's best for me!

Have you had expectations and found out God had a better plan? 

September Wanderings

In our September travels, we headed north toward Port Clinton on Lake Erie. We lodged at the Great Lakes Motel, a throwback from the 1970s, in the town of Fremont, Ohio. There we found a clean room and kind innkeepers.

From Fremont we sped up to Port Clinton to check out the lighthouse that's been replanted back to its original home. The lighthouse, still in stages of reconstruction, stood on a small beach where undisturbed shells decorated the sand. A quiet walk along the water accompanied by ducks and geese lent itself to a peaceful respite. 

While in the vicinity, we stopped by The Tin Goose for a bite to eat and then visited Kelleys Island, always a favorite. The relaxed atmosphere was the perfect way to spend a day. We hiked through The Scheele Preserve to a lovely beach. Then we pressed on to loop around the island and view some of the historical homes. 

 

On our trip home we wandered into the delightful little town of Gibsonburg. That is after we found a way to detour around the Labor Day Parade in Fremont (which took me straight back to the streets of my hometown, when the locals tossed candy from the firetrucks and the marching band played the school song.) 

Nostalgia is a precious thing filled with the memories of emotion. The town of Gibsonburg drew me back to the 1960s and 70s, with a touch of modern. But more about that later...

When Did Jesus Leave the Room?

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

When did Jesus leave the room? I'm at a funeral. I'm staring at the television watching the twins towers fall. I'm reading news on Twitter, appalled by things parents do to their children. I'm at the doctor's office and he mentions cancer. I'm at home with my blinds drawn, huddled in depression. I'm at work...and the list goes on. This could be any of us wondering where Jesus is in all of the suffering and pain.

But Jesus didn't leave. He's been with me all along. Maybe I turned my back on him. Or I forgot he was there. Or I blamed him. But he didn't leave. Instead he held me when I cried. He comforted me when I needed it most. He hung in with me, even when I yelled at him. Jesus doesn't leave. I do. I take a step away, a leap over the edge, or withdraw into myself. Yet he whispers in my ear, "Don't be afraid. I'm right here. And I'm not leaving."

I love Jesus and he loves me. There are times I long to be with him in heaven and shove this world behind me. But guess what. He's with me here. He will never leave me or forsake me. Praise God for his constant care.

YA Fiction Review: Gilt Hollow by Lorie Langdon

Book Description:

Willow Lamott’s best friend is a convicted killer, and no one in the small town of Gilt Hollow will let her forget it. Over four long years, she’s tried to fade into the background—but none of that matters when Ashton Keller comes striding into school, fresh out of juvie and fueled by revenge. The moment their eyes meet, Willow no longer feels invisible. Drawn to the vulnerability behind Ashton’s mask of rage, she sinks deeper into his sinister world and begins to question whether he’s a villain, a savior, or both.

Ashton thought he wanted vengeance, until Willow Lamott stepped back into his life. Now he longs to clear his name and become the person she sees in him. But the closer they get to uncovering the truth, the darker the secrets become, and Ashton wonders if his return to Gilt Hollow will destroy everyone he loves.

My Review:
Wow-I'm not sure where to begin with Gilt Hollow. First of all, it's obvious Lori Langdon poured her heart into her writing. She's created a funky college town as a perfect setting for the town of Gilt Hollow. Her characters are vibrant and deep. And the story left me breathless at times. All of that being said, it's been awhile since I've read young adult literature. I was somewhat surprised to find a sprinkling of curse words and a few heated kissing scenes since I received this book from a Christian publisher (Blink, Zondervan). I'm not going to get on my soapbox, but felt the cursing wasn't necessary and the kissing scenes could have been toned down. I was pleased with the theme of forgiveness and how it played out including some references to God. The book is written for older teens (15+) and deals with violent circumstances and teen romance. Lorie is also the co-writer of the Doon series. I received Gilt Hollow in exchange for a fair review.

Restore me with Joy!

©Penny Frost McGinnis

Christmas Fiction Book Review: The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson

About the book:

Abby Wentworth is the glue that holds her book club together. So when she unexpectedly passes away on the cusp of the Christmas season, the rest of the women in the group are stunned, saddened, and sure that, without her, the group can't continue.

They gather "one last time" to open gifts Abby left behind, little knowing how it will change each of their lives--forever.

What I thought:
It's only September, but I'm already reading Christmas books. That's what happens when you're a reviewer. I've enjoyed every Christmas book I've read by Melody Carlson. But I'm not sure I can put into words the excellence of The Christmas Angel Project. Not just because I love Christmas books, but because this is one of those books that makes a difference. Melody has created four real women with legitimate problems. Through loss and sadness they find hope and joy as they learn to lean on God. My favorite line from the book spoke volumes to me, "Sometimes we have to let our dreams go in order to allow God to bring them back to us—in his way and his timing." This is a perfect Christmas read to inspire the celebration of the giving spirit of the holiday season. 

The Waters Churned and Tossed

Matthew 4:18-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

I sat on a limestone boulder along the bank of Lake Erie with my husband. The waters churned and tossed fishing boats up and down while waves crashed on the shore. Despite the rough surface and the strong wind, the people in the fishing boats held tight and waited for the perfect time to drop their lines. Around the corner of the lake we spied a man who cast from the shore. He watched as his line bobbed in the surge of the unsteady swell.

Two of the first disciples Jesus called were fishermen by trade, Peter and Andrew. They knew how to catch fish, but they didn't understand what Jesus meant when he said he wanted them to fish for men. With great patience Jesus taught them. He showed them through kindness, mercy, and example how they could teach people about Him. He showed them through his stories and words of truth how they could interest people in learning more about Jesus and the salvation he came to bring. As a follower of Jesus I'm called to be a fisher of men, one who tells others about my Savior and King. He's prepared me with the Bible as my guide and prayer as my aid. He's given me determination, understanding, and perseverance.

I remember singing the song in vacation Bible school, "I will make you fishers of men, if you'll follow me." As a child I didn't really understand the meaning of those words. But as a believer in Jesus I know now that I need to hang on in the storms and keep casting my line. Praise God for Jesus and his gift of love!