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
While they [the disciples] were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood
among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They were startled and frightened, thinking they
saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you
troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my
feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and
bones, as you see I have.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands
and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and
amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything
here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he
took it and ate it in their presence.
He said to them, “This
is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be
fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the
Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then he opened their minds so they could
understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This
is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the
third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in
his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ”
Easter—the
day we remember Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
Prophets spoke of the Messiah, how he would die
and on the third day break the chains of death. The Lord himself taught the
disciples about his purpose on earth. They traveled with him and witnessed
miracles. They heard the Pharisees mock him. Every one of them knew Jesus'
story inside and out. But here they were humming and hawing about the very
truth he showed them.
They thought they saw a ghost.
They'd witnessed Jesus being drug through the
streets and beaten. Yet, the man they loved and missed, the one they'd seen
nailed to a cross, and placed in a tomb, dead as could be—stood in front of
them in full flesh and blood and declared victory over the grave.
Peter's guilty conscious plucked at him because he had cowered and denied he ever knew him.
Thomas shook his head in disbelief. The other disciples stood with their mouths
hanging open. Yet, Jesus didn't give up. He opened their minds to the truth.
In this time of pandemic, stop doubting and open your minds to the
truth and hope of Jesus. The world is a mess. Not just from COVID-19, but from evil and
sin. That's the bad news. The good news is, Jesus opened the doors to hope and
heaven.
Jesus stands with outstretched hands in hopes everyone
will trust in him.
I thank God for the opportunity to worship my
Savior this Easter. Let's sing praises to him from our couches. Lift up prayers
from our living rooms. Search our hearts and accept Jesus as Savior. He
died so we can live, here on earth with purpose and one day with Him in heaven.
Bestselling author Lisa Wingate brings to life startling stories from actual
“Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the
Civil War, as newly freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones who had
been sold away.
Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous era of Reconstruction, three young
women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed
slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau
Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half sister. Each carries private wounds and powerful
secrets as they head for Texas, following roads rife with vigilantes and
soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau
Jane, the journey is one of stolen inheritance and financial desperation, but
for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery’s end, the
pilgrimage west reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family
still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the limitless frontiers of Texas and,
improbably, hope.
Louisiana, 1987: For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job
at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student
debt—until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine,
Louisiana, is suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely
comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled
live oaks and run-down plantation homes lie the century-old history of three
young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change
everything.
My Review:
Lisa Wingate has written an amazing story. I'd never read about the "Lost
Friends" ads that posted for folks to find family and friends after the
Civil War ended. I love the way she approached the story with a split-time
perspective. Benny Silva is the perfect character to guide her students into
the history of their town and their families. She has her own interesting
story, which you'll discover as you read. I absolutely love Hannie and her
spunk and courage. She's incredible. As I read each different time period, I
couldn't wait to get back to the other one. Both stories are told in rhythm with
one another, even though separated by 112 years. Being reminded how families
were split apart is heartbreaking and thought provoking. The struggle to find
their people took strength and an amazing amount of courage. If you read
historical fiction or contemporary fiction, you'll enjoy The Book of Lost
Friends. This is a 5++ stars story. I received a complimentary copy of this
book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pecca
Gallegos moved to the tiny town of Walton, Georgia, to protect her son and
escape the dangerous lifestyle that once defined her. When a series of strange
circumstances evolve into threats, Pecca finds herself confiding in an unlikely
ally--her stubborn patient.
Army veteran Colton Crawford is desperate to recover from the undiagnosed
disorder that is ruining his life, and his instincts are on high alert when
threats against his nurse and her son force him to take action. But Colton's
involvement only ramps up the danger when he uncovers a family secret revealing
that whoever is after Pecca is closer--and more deadly--than they realized.
With this suspenseful new story, Natalie Walters welcomes you once more to
Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name--but no one knows your secret.
My
Review:
Silent Shadows is a great suspense story. I enjoyed
the interaction between Pecca and Colton and the friendship that developed
between Colton and Maceo, Pecca's son. I also liked the older veterans who
rehabbed with Colton. They reminded me of my dad. There are surprises and
twists I didn't expect. The small town setting where the people are supportive
and kind create the perfect community for Pecca and Maceo to start over. The
thread of romance adds a sweet touch. I haven't read the first two books, but
picked up on their stories in this one. They sound intriguing, also. If you
enjoy suspense with a twist, pick up Silent
Shadows. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed
in this review are completely my own.
