Sweet By and By – a book review
Jade has been through a tough childhood. She’s stuck between the life she’s wanting to live and her past, with all its memories, mistakes and scars. She’s going to get married and with that, she must not only come clean with her future family, but the one she was hoping to leave behind. The story reveals that God meets us wherever we are and no matter how long it takes for us to reach out to Him, He was always there.
I could easily imagine myself in many of the situations and felt transported to the times and places. This is a charming, funny, humbling story of redemption, loss, love and forgiveness. For a 305-page book, I didn’t expect a quick read, but I became engrossed and breezed through it in two sittings. I would definitely recommend to others.
I laughed and chuckled at the descriptions and nuances of the characters; grumbled and furled my brow at some of their misdeeds; and yes, cried. I think women will identify with holding grudges, cutting people out of our lives, wondering if God loves us, coming to terms with our pasts and finally finding true love and acceptance. I’m glad the book dealt with those emotions and didn’t button everything up neatly. I appreciated the vulnerability of the characters.
And, as I closed the book, I did feel a bit sad that the story had come to an end. I’m happy to hear a series has been started and another book is on its way. I’ll gladly pick that up when it’s available. Sara should be commended for her writing and I’ll be eager to read what she and Rachel come up with next for the Fitzgeralds and Bensons.
I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program http://brb.thomasnelson.com/
Why couldn’t I?
I couldn’t possibly start a new career in my thirties, one in which I had no prior experience. I could never record an album. I could never go and sing in front of people and share my testimony.
Those were just words, but they were excuses stuck in my mind, playing over and over – seducing me into complacency, accepting the status quo, saying NO to God.
Why couldn’t I – just because I carpool?
Why couldn’t I – just because I’m in my thirties?
Why couldn’t I – just because I live in MN?
Why couldn’t I – just because I didn’t grow up going to church?
Why couldn’t I – just because, just because, just because …
God isn’t a God of excuses – He’s not a God that says,
Ok, I’ll come back when you’re ready – I’ll come back when
you’ve got it all together and you have free time. No, He asks
you to go even when it’s inconvenient, He asks you to go
or do or be when it’s improbable, when it’s scary,
when the world says it’s impossible -
Whether you go or do or be is up to you … but He’ll
ask just the same.
And when you know the answer is yes, even when
your life is saying no, that’s when you go -
that’s when you go and say yes to God.
“God is most thrilled with us when we are most satisfied in Him” – John Piper
I think about that a lot – being satisfied. It’s a contentment issue really, isn’t it – Phillipians 4: 12,13 says “I have learned the secret of being content in any situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” – EVERYthing through Him who gives me strength
God didn’t come to make a way for just a few people; He didn’t show up so an elite group could preach the gospel. He said “GO and make disciples of ALL NATIONS.” You can be ready to teach and preach, you can have a lot of answers, but you first have to GO … that takes action
As a follower of Christ, we can’t sit stagnate in our faith … we can’t
sit idly by while the last, the lost and the least aren’t being reached out to.
I was talking to my 10 year old daughter and we were discussing God’s name -
G-O-D. I had said that 2/3 of the word God is GO and we were talking about that. In the next breath, my daughter piped up and said 2/3 is also DO. I was struck by how right she was – isn’t that what God calls us to accomplish in the Great Commission?
If we’re truly following Christ, we need to be moving – we need to GO AND DO.
So this year, I knew my answer was YES and though my life and the world was saying NO, or ARE YOU SURE?, or ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!, I went …
And, I’m still going and doing things that I never dreamed of, taking on challenges I never expected. And, I’m not done saying YES yet.
What are you saying YES to?
don’t you see them?
an outstretched hand reaches for compassion
tear-filled eyes look for a place to belong
empty stomachs cry loud for filling
a weary body aches to rise up strong
they are sons and daughters, in every state, in any town
a brother or sister needing comfort – don’t you see them standing ’round?
we pass by with hope to offer
we keep our faith tucked safe inside
we turn the other way and just ignore the silent cries
Christ died for your family, He came for neighbors & friends,
But He also died for the worn and weary, for those at the very end.
Remember a time you were wanting, think of a day that you had none.
Now, look at all your plenty and remember what Christ would have done.
Why it’s cool that I have an album
A lot of people make music for a living and a lot of people have put out albums, CDs, EPs, singles, etc. Depending on the style or the flavor of the day, it seems anyone can do it. So, why is it a big deal that I, too, have released an album – specifically a contemporary Christian CD? Why does it matter?
It matters because NO ONE saw it coming – not my friends, not my family – not me. No one, but God, that is. He woke something up inside of me and things haven’t been the same since.
1. I started this adventure a year and a half ago (not working on the album, but writing songs and singing – I know, crazy right?!)
2. From writing to recording and releasing, the process took 5 months (& 5 trips to Nashville) – quick by a lot of standards
3. I didn’t grow up singing in choirs – I was a jock
4. I didn’t grow up going to church – I was baptized at 18 & confirmed at 22
5. I do not read music, nor do I play an instrument
6. I am a stay-at-home Mom of 3, living in Minnesota
7. I had never written a full song before last year
8. I started singing at women’s shelters, fundraisers and prayer gatherings
9. I held songs & melodies in my head, until a friend helped me record the raw vocals
10. I met an amazing musician, told him my story & he offered to produce my album (yes, just. like. that.)
11. the musicians who played 0n, co-wrote & produced the album, have worked with Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, Chris Tomlin, Mark Schultz, Kenny Loggins, Kathy Troccoli and a LONG list of other spectacular singers, songwriters and musicians
12. I had never set foot in a studio or recording booth until this year
13. I never dreamed this big of a dream
14. this is ONLY the beginning, all by the grace of God
15. I pray every day to have the faith and courage to follow in obedience where He’s calling me to go
I ♥ FACES – Balloons
This is my middle child – S, when he was 3 (he’s now 7). Oh, how fast it went – so cliche’ and so true.
He came around the corner and froze when he saw us with the camera. I’d love to go back to that day and just squeeze him a little more.
You Want Me To Do What?!
I had been asking God that question more and more, as I began to no longer see the safe confines of my comfort zone. He was leading me into new areas, testing my faith and my abilities.
When I started listening to His whisper and felt His leading, I started to get nervous. Could He be serious? Could He really want me to do this? Was I brave enough, confident enough, crazy enough to take the leap of faith?
Let’s face it –I’m cautious and usually play it safe. I like to know how deep it is before I jump in. I don’t mind the jumping – I just prefer to have the facts before I make the decision. I don’t do spontaneous. Spontaneity is for those who have nothing to lose, who are so comfortable with themselves, that the thought of doing something out of the ordinary, is thrilling. That is not me. I purposely order the same thing at restaurants or even go out of my way to choose the same restaurants, to avoid potential bad experiences. Even if another dish would taste better, I’d prefer to take the one I’ve already experienced – if I enjoyed it; it’s my new, and for all intensive purposes, my future favorite. I like the chopped chicken salad at Pei Wei for instance and I could eat it (and for the record, have eaten it) every time I go there. I like predictable – I am predictable.
I figure it isn’t worth the risk. Now, I’m sure like with a lot of people, I wasn’t always this way. I wasn’t a daredevil by any means, but as a child, I guess I wasn’t as easily frozen by fear, as I am now. Of course, it could be maintained that I engaged in an activity, only after seeing if my older brother could do it first. That’s probably more accurate. And, I was raised in a household, where girl or boy, you are good at everything – you just do it! I wanted to be my older brother. He was fast and strong and could throw, kick, catch and hit. I was the only girl on the little league baseball team. Later on, he was the star running back in football and ended up being a state champion pole vaulter. How’s that for risk taker? He even broke his wrist when the wind swept him far over the pit and smacked him on the concrete. By that time in my life, I think some of the wanting to be him, had worn off – or at least, I was in high school and it was more important to have sprayed your hair into a wall of curls, than to win a track medal. Just for the record, though, I have plenty of those too.
So, somewhere between adolescence and first dates, I decided I needed proof of pay-off before I would partake. That’s definitely not a faith thing. Faith is believing even when you can’t see. I get that now, but it’s taken me 30-some years to get here. This is the first time I’m putting it into practice. Still, I have moments where I wonder if it’s just crazy, delusions of grandeur that have me in this position.
Stay tuned for more from “FIGHTING OFF FEAR TO FIND GOD’S FAVOR,” the new blook (blog book) from contemporary Christian artist, Mela Kamin.
