Fiction Review: Light from Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker

Description:

When Cohen Marah steps over his father's body in the basement embalming room of the family's funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory. As the last one to see his father, Cohen is the primary suspect.

Over the next week, Cohen's childhood memories come back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his father being asked to leave his pastoral position. The game of baseball that somehow kept them together. And the two children in the forest who became his friends--and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he's been avoiding: Did he kill his father?

My Review:
I found the premise of the story interesting, and Cohen's journey through doubt and pain difficult to follow at times. The supernatural elements of the story threw me off at times, or were they nightmares? I wasn't sure. I felt a tug of war while I tried to go back and forth with the author. The ending left me disappointed. Many people reviewed this book and loved it. I guess it's not my cup of tea. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

She Loved the Children

Colossians 2:2-3
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Our community lost a treasure. Lori Conley fought cancer and lost that battle. But in the ultimate battle, she won. I know without doubt that Lori is rejoicing in heaven. She's talking to God, whom she loves, and singing his praises, even as the folks left behind feel a huge loss.

The first time I met Lori, she spoke at my grandkids' closing VBS program. Her words and compassion gave me goose bumps. I'd never heard anyone so passionate about helping children. Her program, Empower Youth, was getting off the ground. She'd heard God's voice, felt his nudges and jumped in. She and Scott provided a beautiful pathway for folks to help the kids who needed love, sustenance, a chance to experience camp and so much more. One of the things I loved about Lori was her desire to feed the children who were hungry. She made sure their basic needs were met, then she loved on them. A fireball of energy, she worked all the time. Not to have fancy things, but to make sure kids had food. Just Wow!

I don't understand why she passed from this world at such a young age, in the middle of her ministry. But God does. We may never understand. But what we can do is trust God to move forward through the folks left behind. I know there are people who love the kids, too. God will nudge people to serve. He'll call us to give money, he'll ask for our time, he may ask for leadership. He has a plan for Empower Youth.

If God comes calling, listen. Do it for Lori, do it for God, do it for the kids.

Maybe your ministry isn't Empower Youth. Maybe God has called you to something else. Whatever it is, listen and move on it.

Someone, somewhere is depending on you to do what God has called you to do.

Flower Friday: Zinnia

Zinnias bring me joy. 

I fell in love with the colorful heads that sway in the breeze, when I was a child. 

These jewels grace my flower garden. Their bright shades of beauty speak summer!

Has God Called You?

Children's Picture Book Review: The Wonder that is You by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Aurelie Blanz

Book Description:

Every parent dreams of embracing their new child, and when that dream comes true, it’s as if all of creation rejoices with them. In the tradition of Nancy Tillman’s On The Night You Were Born and Emily Winfield Martin’s The Wonderful Things You Will Be comes The Wonder That Is You by critically-acclaimed author Glenys Nellist. This heartwarming book beautifully captures the universal love and joy parents feel as they celebrate the arrival of a new child. A perfect gift for baby showers, baptisms, adoptions, birthdays, or any time you want to tell your little one how much they are loved.

It felt as if the world stood still
The day my dream came true,
And all creation paused to see
The wonder that is you. 

I thought I heard the trees clap hands
And as their leaves unfurled,
They whispered softly in the breeze,
Welcome to our world.

My Review:
Glenys Nellist has penned another beautiful book for parents and children. Her poetic voice and verse sing the joy a new parent has for their child. This is a sweet ode to the child and should be shared often as the child grows. Aurelie Blanz's illustrations are drenched in color and whimsy. Perfect to show to a little one who is exploring the world. As always, I love how Glenys paints a heart-warming picture of God's love. This is a beautiful book to share with grandchildren or any child in your life. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zonderkidz. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

He Sees my Journey

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

My granddaughter shared with me that she rode her cousin's horse. In the pictures she stood tall and handled the horse well. She was a natural.  I surprised her when I told her my family owned two horses and two ponies when I was young; Musket, Babe, Shotgun and Pistol.  She had no idea her Babaw (grandma) rode horses.

Photo by Maggie Wickline-Jowers

The strength and confidence horses exude gave me the trust I needed to climb into the saddle and ride Shotgun through our fields. God created pure beauty when he made horses. I admire their muscular grace. I trusted my pony would carry me across the rough terrain and then lead me home.

In Bible times, the people traveled by foot, horse, and chariot. They trusted their horses to guide them where they needed to go. Even as they relied on their horses they knew that animals could stumble and fall.

But God never fails.

My faith in Jesus outweighs everything. I place all my trust in the Lord because he never falls short . He has a plan for my life, and I do my best to follow the Holy Spirit's nudges and direction. I loved the freedom of riding Shotgun through the fields as the wind blew through my hair and the weight of the world fell away. By trusting God to guide me through life, I embrace the freedom of knowing he understands me and knows my needs. Sometimes fully trusting my life to God is hard. At times, I don't understand the whys and what fors. But God knows me, he recognizes my needs before I do. He created my path and sees my journey. I trust him with my life. 

Flower Friday: Queen Anne's Lace

When I was child, the ditches along my parent's home were filled with Queen Anne's Lace. I was sure these were the flowers the fairies grew. 

Their lacy, delicate heads swayed in the hot summer breeze. 

According to legend these beauties are named after Queen Anne, who sewed her own lace. The tiny purple-red dot in the center is said to represent a drop of her blood when she pricked her finger.

Queen Anne's Lace

“Queen Anne's LaceDaucus Carota.” EdibleWildFood, www.ediblewildfood.com/queen-annes-lace.aspx.