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
Jeremiah 4:3-4
This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:
“Break up your unplowed ground
and do not sow among thorns.
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
circumcise your hearts,
you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no one to quench it.
An angry sky loomed overhead.
As we drove, the sky turned gray and the clouds rolled. Tim commented
that the sky looked angry. Indeed, it did. No sun peeked through, only gray.
The sky darkened the further we drove, and within the hour the clouds burst with
torrential rain.
I've been reading the book of Jeremiah, which is not warm and
fuzzy. It's full of anguish—God's anguish over Jerusalem and the
Israelites. They had turned their back on God and gave their attention to the
idols they created. As I was reading, I understood and recognized God's deep feelings
for these people.
I write a lot about how much God loves us, and He does, more
than we can comprehend. Along with the emotion of love, God feels all the other
ones, like anger, frustration, and hurt. He made us in His image, with all the
feels, so of course He experiences the same emotions.
God and the Israelites had journeyed together for years.
He'd saved them so many times, yet they turned on Him and chose to sin rather
than follow God. His righteous wrath was well founded and His heart broke over
these people who betrayed Him. Sounds kind of familiar. God sees similar
behavior out of people today that He saw from the Israelites, yet even in His
anger and hurt, He longs for us to turn to Him and seek forgiveness.
Later in the chapters, He offers to forgive the Israelites
if they will repent. He doesn't give up on them regardless of how they made Him
feel. God's heart breaks over people, yet He loves fiercely.
Seek God. Turn to Him and give Him your heart.
Book Description:
With a fulfilling job and a home of her own, former foster child, Merritt
Hastings, relishes her stable, respectable life. Dreaming for more is a sure
way for heartache. When a contested will turns her world upside down, she must
revaluate what’s important to her, what’s worth fighting for, and what’s worth
sacrificing.
Patience has never been Sam Daniels’ strong suit with his
history of acting quickly and asking questions later, and he’s ready for changes
in his life…now. Too bad the plans for acquiring a radio station didn’t include
a contract. Now he’s out of a job, out of a radio station, and out of prospects.
While his life is in flux,
at least he can help Merritt steady hers, or will he rush in and overstep
…again?
My Thoughts:
Dougherty has written a beautiful story full of emotion and heart. I love
learning as I read fiction, and this book opened my eyes to the life of Merritt
as a foster child and how difficult it is for kids who get moved around and
feel lost. As an adult, Merritt is thankful for the woman, Millie, who took her
in and loved her, but Millie has passed away and now Merritt has to deal with
Millie's ruthless relatives. Along comes Sam, who grew up with stability and
has dreams of owning a radio station. Merritt is practical while Sam is more of
a dreamer. She's not sure she can trust him, and he wants her to give him a
chance. I enjoyed this lovely story and all the great characters. If you want
to read a novel with charm, faith, and hope, read Forever Home. This is the
third book in the series and it can stand alone. I received a free copy with no
expectations.
What it’s About:
A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but
she's determined to save her community.
Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island
every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building,
it's not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and
drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at
the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the
theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure
there's more to the quiet man than meets the eye.
For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can't seem to find the
words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the
aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi
realizes that the time has come to speak up--or lose the heart of the woman he
longs for.
Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of
rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward
Island Shores series.
My Thoughts:
I've loved the Prince Edward Island series by Liz Johnson, and I think this is
the best one yet. Levi spares his words and keeps to himself until it comes to
helping Kelsey. He's the quiet, unexpected, and handsome hero and she's the
woman who has a heart of gold. Johnson has written a heartwarming story that
shows how a person can make a difference. You'll cheer for Levi and Kelsey as
they struggle to reach for their dreams and discover where life is taking them.
If you love a good romance with wonderful characters, you'll want to read
Summer in the Spotlight. And the cover is gorgeous! I received an early reader copy. Opinions are my own.
Psalm 65:8
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
My zinnias are blooming.
This time of year, as I'm driving through the country toward
my hometown to visit family, I roll past fields of soybeans and signs with
sweet corn for sale. Abundant gardens filled with tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers
catch my eye, and one home offers pick your own flowers. The cosmos and zinnias
dance in the breeze, inviting people to stop by and cut a bouquet.
My daughter, Maggie, and her husband, Michael, grew a lovely
garden this year. From their abundance, she gave us green beans and zucchini,
and I can't wait to see her blue pumpkins. As I sat in my chair and snapped the
beans, I considered how amazing it is that God gave us so many incredible
plants. He offers a variety for us to eat and a multitude to enjoy.
The zinnias I planted from seed have sprouted and bloomed.
Their rainbow of color welcomes people to our door and brings joy to my day.
I am in awe of all God created. From the tiny pea to the
giant redwood, the woods to the rainforest, the ocean to the mountains,
everything He made He gave us to explore, discover, use, and enjoy. God also
gave us responsibility to take care of the earth and the natural resources He
provided. As I soak in the beauty, I long for us to appreciate and care for the
environment we live in.
The whole earth is filled with wonder and I rejoice in God,
the Creator of everything. Even as I love all the plants and animals, I adore
and worship the One who made them, and I'm thankful for the bounty of summer
and the beauty of the season.
Thank God for His gift of creation and rejoice in Him.
