Cross and Crown

James 1:12

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Sunday morning at church, the worship team led us in a beautiful rendition of "O Come to the Altar" by Elevation Worship. As they strummed guitars and voices rose, I focused on the words. The song talks about Jesus and how he has his arms open to us who may be hurting or searching. The words reminded me that Jesus wants me to come to him and bow down, seeking his love. As I sang along and we came to the end of the song, this line grabbed me—"Bear your cross, as you wait on your crown."

That line describes life. Temptation and testing happens every day. The devil never misses an opportunity to poke his ugly fingers into our lives. He'd love more than anything for us to succumb to his wily ways. But that's only part of the story. The second half of the line, "wait on your crown" is overflowing with hope. As I seek Jesus, he shores me up and equips me with the tools to fight back and knock Satan out of my life. Jesus provides resistance and strength. As you bear your cross and wait on your crown, know that Jesus stands with you.

...hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Ephesians 6:16

  

Sing Thanksgiving!

The View from Caesar's Head

Psalm 95:4-7
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
    and the mightiest mountains.
The sea belongs to him, for he made it.
    His hands formed the dry land, too.

Come, let us worship and bow down.
    Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
    the flock under his care.

Tim and I drove down to see Hannah in South Carolina. On the way we cruised through the Great Smokey Mountains. As we powered along, I watched the landscape for any signs of autumn. And bears—I always watch for bears. From the highway, we looked over the ridges and felt we were well above the tree-strewn valleys. That is until Saturday, when Hannah took us to a place called Caesar's Head. From our point of view, about 3200 feet above sea level, the scene took my breath away.  A valley, that stretched as far as I could see, housed a vast forest dotted with gold and red. A lake as smooth as glass sprawled between hills. The majestic mountains rose in the distance.

We stood on top of this rock formation called Caesar's Head

Gazing over the beauty, reminded me of two truths from Psalm 95. Number one: Everything was created by and is owned by God. As I stood on the top of Caesar's Head, I saw wonder in God's natural world. I drew in fresh air. I imagined what animals roamed those mountains. (Maybe, a bear or two.) Number two: God watches over me. He cares about me and loves me just as I am. I needed that reminder, because sometimes I forget or take for granted our incredible Lord. He has more love than we can imagine, and he wants to pour that out on us if only we seek him.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving. 

Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

                                      -Psalm 95:2

Nonfiction Book Review: The Most Important Women of the Bible: Remarkable Stories of God's Love and Redemption by Aaron & Elaina Sharp

Book Description:

From well-known women like Eve and Esther to those lesser known like Jochebed and Zipporah, women of the Bible play a vital role in God's timeless story of redemption.

This book traces the stories of three dozen of the most important women in Scripture, each handpicked by God to play a crucial part in his gracious plan for all humanity. Every chapter begins with a short biography followed by an explanation of how each woman fits into the overall narrative of the Gospel message, pointing to God's love for the individual as well as his larger plan to redeem sinners through the sending of his son. The Bible is the story of God's relationship with his people--men, women, Jews, Gentiles, saints, and sinners. But this book reveals that it's also the story of his relationship with you.

My Review:
I love to read about the women in the Bible. Aaron and Elaina Sharp have chosen 32 biblical ladies in 31 chapters. From Eve to Priscilla, they summarize the story surrounding each woman, then share about their "Role in Redemption." I love that they show how each woman played a part in God's ultimate plan of salvation and grace. The authors bring out Bible truths from each woman's story that we can apply to our lives today. I also like that the authors breathe life into some stories that might otherwise be overlooked. The Most Important Women of the Bible would be great for a women's Bible study or a devotional reading. I received this free from Bethany House.

Children's Book Review: 'Twas the Evening of Christmas by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova

Book Description:

For over 200 years, families have gathered on Christmas Eve to hear the much loved words of Dr. Clement C. Moore’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. This year, families can gather together to share the real Christmas story––the story of Jesus’ birth. ’Twas the Evening of Christmas echoes the familiar language and rhythm of Dr. Clements’ poetry, but instead of focusing on Santa, it focuses on the baby Jesus, who is, after all, the true hero of Christmas. All families will delight in this simple retelling of the most famous story ever told. With a cover that comes alive with foil and sculpted embossing, this book is sure to become a Christmas classic.

My Review:

I am excited about sharing Glenys Nellist's rendition of  this well-loved Christmas classic with my family. For years, our family has read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Bible's story of Jesus birth during the holidays. This year I want to add this new classic, 'Twas the Evening of Christmas.  Glenys did a lovely job rewriting the story to reflect Jesus' birth. Her rhyming is smooth and flows beautifully, the rhythm is consistent with the original story. The colorful illustrations add charm to the story. But, my favorite part of the book is the very end, where we hear sweet words from Mary, Jesus' mother. This would be a sweet book to share on Christmas Eve or morning. I received this free from Zonderkidz.

Children's Book Review: God's Great Love for You by Rick Warren, illustrated by Chris Saunders

Book Description:

God’s Great Love for You, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author and respected pastor Rick Warren, takes children on a whimsical and heartfelt journey that lets them know God’s love is with them wherever they go. With breathtaking illustrations by Chris Saunders, the simple yet poignant text comes alive as a child journeys to places far and near and discovers God’s great love is perfect, and everywhere, and will never end.

My Review:
God's Great Love for You is absolutely beautiful. The spare wording gives a heartfelt reassurance that God loves us. The illustrations made me feel like God's love is huge. So big, he is everywhere. This book is perfect for preschool through Kindergarten. And could be used to teach a class of little ones about God's amazing love. The main character is a little girl. Her expressions create a sense of wonder which adds a layer of delight. This is definitely one I will share with my youngest granddaughter. I received this book for free from Zonderkidz.

October