When the Day Begins

Psalm 143:8-10
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.

I don't wake up like I did when I was a kid.

I used to bound out of bed in the morning. Now arthritis reminds me, I best not jump at the crack of dawn. Even though my body wakes up with slow twists and turns, my heart leaps with joy. God has allowed me another day. He's gifted me with new experiences. The morning brings me his unfailing love, just as he did for King David.

In Psalm 143, David called on God in the morning to pour out his love. He prayed for help and guidance. He sought protection and direction. Shouldn't we do the same. Our first line of defense or offense requires prayer.

Here's what I learned from David as he sought out God's wisdom.

Ask God to:

• Show me-as I trust in him
• Protect me-as I hide in him
• Teach me-as I do his will
• Lead me-as I follow his Holy Spirit

I love the last part of verse ten. David asks the Lord to lead him to level ground, through the Spirit. On level ground we can plant our feet, with prayer, in the word of God. 

When the day begins, seek God first.

Majestic!

Fiction Book Review: The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

Book Description:

An invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.

Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.

Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.

Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.

Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.

Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.

When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to reveal their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.

Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls. 

My Review:
Everyone has a story. The five New Yorkers invited to The Fifth Avenue Story Society soon find out their stories stand between their tendency to hide from themselves and their need to live a full life. Rachel Hauck has created flawed characters you'll come to love. As in life, the reader gets to know each one, in a slow deliberate fashion. By the end of the book I was rooting for them to figure out what they needed and to accomplish their life desires. I especially enjoyed Coral's journey. She's the most honest, even when she holds back a bit of her story until she can't. Ed is lovable, Chuck's story tugs at the heart. By the end of the book, I was reminded of the beauty and importance of friendship and the joy of encouragement. This is a great read to cozy up with on a long winter day. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Take my Fear

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Remember being afraid of the dark?

The monster under the bed?

Reading out loud in class?

Anxiety, fear's best friend, has plagued me for as long as I can remember. I counted how many paragraph's my classmates had to read before my turn, then practiced the words in my head. All while I wrung my hands in worry. At night, I'd pull my arms and legs in tight, so the monster under the bed couldn't grab a dangling limb. If I was caught outside in the dark, I'd run so hard that I panted like a dog.

Those were the fears of childhood.

Those childish fears morphed into adult anxieties. Fear of failure, uncertainty at work, clutching material possessions too close, worrying about the very things I could do nothing about. Or worse, worry over things that would never happen. And the list grows. The more fear takes over—the more anxiety and worry explode.

Fear can be crippling. Many of the things we dread, never happen. I've learned to examine what I'm afraid of, and most of the time I'm relieved to find there was nothing to be alarmed about in the first place. When I am truly afraid with legitimate concern, I pray. I transfer my fear to the One who loves me. He promises to give me strength and hold me in his hand.

Through faith, I trust Jesus to take my fear and calm my soul. In 1 John 4:18 I read, "There is no fear in love." Jesus is the love that drives out fear.

I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened. -Mark Twain

Fear?

Fear of failure

Fear of the dark

Fear of success

Fear of bugs

No matter the fear, Jesus love overcomes all fear.

Children's Book Review: Piper and Mabel: Two Very Wild but Very Good Dogs by Melanie Shankle, illustrated by Laura Watkins

Book Description:

When the family plans a vacation to the beach, Piper and Mabel are shocked to discover they won’t be joining their people. Instead, they’re headed to doggie day care at the Happy Tails Ranch where they create all kinds of mischief when they discover the accommodations are not exactly what they were expecting.

My Review:
Piper and Mabel are two adventurous dogs. When their family sets out for vacation and leaves them at a kennel, they are less than impressed. So begins the adventure. I love the detailed illustrations by Watkins. They will entertain the littlest reader to the adult reader. The color palette she uses is a bit muted, which is a perfect contrast to the two very wild but very good dogs. Children will enjoy the mischief the two dogs get into and the very satisfying ending. My granddaughter loves animals, especially dogs. I know she'll enjoy Piper and Mabel. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Big Dreams and Powerful Prayers Illustrated Bible: 30 Inspiring Stories from the Old and New Testament by Mark Batterson, illustrated by Omar Aranda

Book Description:

Big Dreams and Powerful Prayers Illustrated Bible, written by Mark Batterson, the New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, presents 30 inspiring stories from the Old and New Testament that will help children understand and embrace the power of prayer in their everyday lives. With Scripture references from the NIrV and stunning illustrations from Omar Aranda, this powerful book will touch the hearts of young readers and help connect them to God. Short Prayer Points after each story encourage children to talk to God and allow him to work in their lives.

Prayer changes things. It brings us closer to God and allows us to communicate with the One who loves us most.

My Review:
One of the most important elements of following Jesus is prayer. Teaching children about the many facets of this powerful communication may be complicated. Mark Batterson's book is filled with Bible stories, examples and explanations, simple prayers and verses that help explain the wonder of talking to God. Children will enjoy the colorful well drawn illustrations. Big Dreams and Powerful Prayers would be a great tool to use in Sunday School or for family devotions. Sometimes understanding the Bible can be overwhelming, this could even be a great tool for adults who are new to following Jesus. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.