Quiet the Noise

1 Samuel 3:19-21
The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

Do not let the noise of the world keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord.

When I worked at the college library, a storm passed through and knocked out the electric. The silence felt intense. No computers hummed, the students had gone home, the HVAC shut down, and the fluorescent lights no longer buzzed. I'm not sure I realized how much noise filled my ears when the electric worked. I found the quiet peaceful.

Physical sound isn't the only noise of the world. Opinions, commercials, chaos, directions, voices on all sides of every topic fill the void. Sometimes they make so much noise and cause so much distraction, I no longer hear the most important voice, because I'm no longer listening.  

In 1 Samuel 3, Samuel heard God's voice, but he didn't recognize Him. God called to him, but Samuel thought his mentor Eli spoke to him. Samuel didn't know God well enough to hear Him. He'd been learning and serving, but he didn't know the voice of God. Eli explained to him, God is calling you, and He wants to know you and for you to know Him. Go back to sleep and wait for God to call on you. Samuel did and just as Eli said, God revealed himself to Samuel.

Amid the noise, seek to hear the voice of God. His is the one I want to listen to as He guides me through this crazy life. When I hear from God, I know I'm on the best path, the one He's paved for me. I may not hear an audible voice, but I do know in my heart when He speaks because the Holy Spirit reminds me to listen. He nudges me to be quiet and hear my Father's voice.

Quiet the noise and listen to God.

Soul Care

I see lots of commercials and products that encourage me 

to take care of my body. 

Eat right, exercise, watch cholesterol, go for checkups. 

What about taking care of my soul? 

When my soul is weary or hurting, I'm drained.

Where do I find soul care?

From my heavenly Father, his words in the Bible, prayer, worship, nature,

His love, and the love of my family and friends.

Thank you God for restoring my soul.

 

Historical Fiction: A View Most Glorious by Regina Scott (American Wonders Collection Book #3)

Book Description:
Reluctant socialite Coraline Baxter longs to live a life of significance and leave her mark on the world. When her local suffragette group asks her to climb Mount Rainier to raise awareness of their cause, she jumps at the chance, even though she has absolutely no climbing experience. If she can do it, any woman can do it. And after her mother issues an ultimatum--that Cora marry the man of her mother's choosing if she is not successful--Cora must do it. But she can't do it alone.

Noted mountain guide Nathan Hardee initially refuses to help Cora, but has a change of heart when he sees what is at stake. He knows enough about the man Cora's mother has chosen to know that the headstrong young woman should have nothing to do with him, much less marry him.

Climbing Rainier will require all of Cora's fortitude and will lead her and Nathan to rediscover their faith in God and humanity. These two loners make unlikely partners in righting a wrong and may just discover that only together is the view most glorious.

My Thoughts:
Coraline Baxter has spunk and purpose. She's level headed and adventurous, qualities that go against her society upbringing. Nathan Hardee is hardworking and thoughtful, yet he's fallen from the grace of society because of his father. Mount Ranier, the star of the story, shines as a beautiful creation to be respected and admired. When Coraline's step-father hires Nathan to lead them on a climb to the summit, Nathan isn't certain it's a good idea, but Coraline has plans and is determined. Coraline's mother adds another layer to this delightful story. She's a lady in the societal sense of the word. Her daughter climbing a mountain leaves her spinning. Oh, and there is a potential suiter for Coraline. Let me say, he's not the nicest guy in town. Regina Scott has spun an enjoyable tale of determination, faith, and courage. I've read all three of the American Wonders Collection and loved each one. If you enjoy adventure, history, and romance you'll love A View Most Glorious. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Start Fresh

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Sometimes we need to think like a relief pitcher.

We watch a lot of baseball at our house. Tim works as an usher for the Cincinnati Reds. Two of our grandsons play (and a granddaughter plays softball,) and when the Reds are away, we watch their games on television. We root for the starting pitcher to get the game going, then for the relief pitchers who, we hope, finish the game well. In baseball, the relief pitcher enters the game after the starting pitcher has a high pitch count, or has become ineffective. Games often employ more than one reliever. Those guys do their best, but in the games where they just can't get the other team out, they are relieved by another reliever. Here's the thing, the relief pitcher can't let themselves get stuck if their performance fails to meet the needs of the team. Instead, they have to shake it off and keep their bad day from spilling into the next game.

Think like a relief pitcher. Each day gives me a new opportunity to start again. Just because the previous day stunk, doesn't mean today has to follow suit. We all have those times we'd just as soon forget or at the least, push behind us. I thank God He's the God of second chances. He urges me to repent from sin and start again. He renews my spirit every day. He encourages me to not lose heart.

I can imagine how a relief pitcher feels when they fail to live up to their potential. I've been there. I get discouraged when I fail. But each day is a brand-new opportunity to renew my faith and seek my Father in heaven. Earthly troubles are just that—earthly. God gives us hope through Jesus and help through the Holy Spirit.

Start fresh each day with Jesus.

Adjust the Sails

There may be days when the winds of life blow in difficulties.

We can't change the circumstances, but we can change how we react.

Jesus brings hope to every situation. Ask Him to help adjust the sails.

 

Book Review: Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Amant

Book Description:
Rory Perez, a food truck owner who can't cook, is struggling to keep the business she inherited from her aunt out of the red--and an upcoming contest during Modest's annual food truck festival seems the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her a solid financial footing and keep her cousin with special needs paid up at her beloved assisted living home. Then maybe Rory will have enough time to meet the man she's been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.

Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father's law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. But if he loses the contest, he's back at the law firm for good. Failure is not an option.

Complications arise when Rory's chef gets mono and she realizes she has to cook after all. Then Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he's been falling for online the past month.

Will these unlikely chefs sacrifice it all for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?

My Thoughts:
Tacos for Two is a delightful tale with a You've Got Mail vibe. I love that texts and messages between Rory and Jude quoted the movie. Rory is a spitfire who loves her family dearly. Jude is a disgruntled member of his family. The two of them show a very different side to their online counterparts than in person. Of course they don't know who the other really is and that's where the fun begins. If you want a light-hearted story with family insights and yummy food talk, you'll love Tacos for Two. Not to give anything away, but the heart of the story lies in a sweet Hannah. Read to find out who she is and why she's a blessing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Crayons and Hope

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The delicious scent of crayons fills me with hope.

In my elementary years, I owned a large coffee can filled with broken crayons. The tin held every color you could imagine, some with the paper intact, some free of wrap. Instead of tossing the colorful sticks when they crumbled under pressure, mom gave me a can to store them. I loved digging through the pile of color to find just the right one for whatever I was drawing. And the smell—an aroma that signified the beginning of a beautiful creation. 

I scribbled with them until they smashed down to a nub. Some of the tiny pieces, melted with wax, were recycled into candles. That glorious can of broken crayons gave me hours of joy.

I may not be a crayon, put to the test by little fingers coloring vigorously and snapped in two, but I relate because I'm a broken person. We all are in some way. It's difficult to live in this world with all the violence, negativity, distress, and grief. At some point emotions, spirits, and bodies break. I've never broken a bone, but my spirit and emotions have been crushed, sometimes through my own actions and at times by others.

But the good news, yes, the great news is—God loves the broken. He's close to the brokenhearted, He heals the one whose heart hurts. He renews the crushed spirit and offers hope.

I love that about God. He doesn't discard the person whose life looks like a pile of fragmented pieces. Instead He takes the cracked spirit, and the emotional mess and creates a brand-new work of art.

God embraces broken people every day. The love He gives wraps around anyone who seeks Him. He adores His creation and wants the best for us.

God opens His arms to the broken. Run to Him.