Book Review of "Redeeming Love"

If you've ever wondered what relevance the Bible stories and scriptures have to us today, you will be reminded in characters in this book. Sometimes, creating fictional characters is the best way to demonstrate it. When the stories come a little to close to home, the picture becomes clearer.

In "Redeeming Love", written by Francine Rivers that is exactly what happens. The first few chapters were difficult to read because the picture is painted very clearly of the cruelty that humans are capable of placing on others. You don't have to have had those experiences to shutter and the thought of them.

The story is taken from the Biblical scriptures in Hosea. At first, I didn't know if I would be able to continued reading the book. I am very sensitive to those who are hurting. Even though they were fictional characters in a book, I felt helpless because I couldn't save them. It sounds funny, but that's how it is for me.

I stuck it through to the end. There was a happy ending. There were several life lessons. One is that each of us can be redeemed if we will accept it. Another was that if we will listen and obey God's voice, he will direct our path. The most difficult thought to understand is why God allows the helpless to be hurt. It is something we will never understand. What we can do is to be an extension of his love and help those who are hurting and trust him to be in control.

At the end of the book, the author included a personal note as to how God has worked in her life. Although each of us has different experiences, we have something to offer to another.

I believe it is alright to ask questions about why things happen. When we begin searching for the answers, we being the journey of finding God, ourselves and our purpose. Once we find our purpose, we can reach out to others.

If giving this book to a friend to read, I would tell them ahead of time what the story is about because the opening paints a very clear picture. Then, tell the friend to stick it through to the end.

Whatever your personal life experience has been, I wish you all the joy and happiness that can be. You are precious in God's sight. From one reader to another, God bless.

Author, Laura Schroeder, has experienced life change first hand. To join an online community of care, visit her website at http://lauramschroeder.com/. To contact Laura, email at laura@lauramschroeder.com. Please make any comments family friendly.

http://EzineArticles.com/6427338

Spiritual Fiction Books - A Review of "Crow Lake"

Crow Lake" by Mary Lawson is a #1 National Bestseller in Canada, and is also popular in seventeen other countries. I love it when someone recommends a book to me and it turns out to be somewhat spiritual and very enjoyable and easy to read. Although most wouldn't term this book as spiritual, there is an important lesson to be learned in that life doesn't always turn out the way that you plan. Tragedies and unforeseen twists ALWAYS present themselves in our lives. Mary Lawson tells the story of a family that originates in a remote Northern Ontario town, however it could have taken place in virtually any remote town anywhere.

When the main character, Kate Morrison, is only 7 years old, her parents are killed in a car accident. This leaves her, her 1 1/2 year old younger sister Bo, and her two older brothers, Luke who is 19 and Matt who is 17, on their own. Initially plans are made to allow Luke to attend university as planned prior to their parents' death, Matt to be sent to a relative in Eastern Canada and Kate and Bo to another relative. Although this isn't the ideal situation, with financial constraints and none of their relatives able to care for all four of them, this appears to be their only alternative.

As with any decision affecting an entire family, and especially one that is being forced on them fairly quickly, Matt and Luke decide that they will raise Kate and Bo. Luke forgoes his education to find whatever work that he can, and Matt works after school and weekends to provide as much income as possible. On top of their work responsibilities they also manage to look after Kate and Bo as best they can. Needless to say this situation is less than ideal, and the subsequent choices that they have to make and the events that follow provide a very real, believable tale that could happen to any family.

As the story unfolds, several things happen that manage to make the young Morrisons' lives interesting to say the least. Every time they seem to get things worked out, life jumps in and forces them to adjust and move on. Their lives are by no means easy, and as Kate grows older, she eventually moves away from Crow Lake to the "big city", leaving her siblings behind. Ms. Lawson uses this perspective of Kate's in the present day, telling the story of her life while dealing with the reality of a planned trip back to Crow Lake as an adult. Some of the plot twists are predictable, but no more so than if this had been a true story, and it certainly could be.

The family tensions, disagreements, conflicts and dynamics are presented very truthfully and are easily identifiable to anyone who has had a family member and experienced a crisis of any sort. There is an incredible sense of community portrayed, and the small town aspect of life is showcased through the incredible amount of support that the Morrison children receive. Although technically left on their own, their neighbours are constantly looking out for them, and help always seems to show up when they need it. Their initial plans come no where near to how they thought they would turn out, but that happens to most of us if we are really honest about it.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a little different than the spiritual fiction books I normally read, however I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read a book just for the sake of a good story. You can immerse yourself in the circumstances, choices and lessons that are to be learned, yet you can also read it simply to enjoy a good book. I chose to look at it from both perspectives and I was not disappointed. Although the author currently lives in England, she was born and raised in Canada and has done a great job with this novel. I hope that you will enjoy it as well.

Laughter and love,
Rick Fess

"Crow Lake" Mary Lawson
Vintage Canada/Random House of Canada http://www.NewFaceofFiction.com

And if you would like to know more about me and my upcoming book "Is There More?", please visit http://www.spiritualfictionbooks.com/ to access my weekly blog. I regularly review books on spirituality and self-improvement, particularly spiritual fiction books. You can also contact me through the website if you have any questions or comments. Thank you for your interest.

Laughter and love,
Rick Fess

http://EzineArticles.com/6413740

Gifts of the Spirits Found in the Bible

Skeptics are numerous but those who have personally experienced spiritual engagements of various kinds, now that they are real. It could be a prayer who makes the difference. It could even be a deep study of Bible. On the other hand, it could be the manifestation of something very unusual happening to him. It could, in deed, be a gift of the spirit. The most curious aspect of the gifts of the spirits which can be found in the Bible is that someone who goes through the experience may not even realize the gift which had been bestowed upon him.

Charlatans abound too, but even more dangerous is when a completely normal being takes it upon him to believe that he has been gifted with some extra-ordinary power and goes about spreading false doctrines by the name of the spiritual gifts that he believes he had apparently received. Another, very real problem is when one is born with some natural talent and finds that there is a disproportionate spurt in the said talent. The surge could be taken to mean either way. That it is a natural growth, or it is the gift received suddenly through grace of God. It may be some earnest prayer could provide the answer.

The genuine gifts from God are as real as the faith itself. The incredible incidence at the congregation on the day of Pentecost as narrated in Acts 2 was the first time that Jesus Christ presented his promise of gift of eternal life after his resurrection. Jesus Christ has left behind a treasure of gifts. Some of the recipients can hardly believe that they had been fortunate enough to receive those gifts and are apprehensive about using them. Their tentative steps, if not accompanied by complete faith, may deteriorate into stagnancy and, in time, completely disappear. That, in deed, should be sad for the concerned person as well as the intended beneficiaries of those gifts.

Some of the gifts of the spirit are given to believers of Christianity to aid spreading the good news of Jesus Christ far and wide. An intelligent Christian should not only recognize his gift but use it diligently and sparingly so that the impact of the gift does not lose its significance. He should even know that he will not be receiving this gift time and again. It also means that the gift should not be bandied about and flouted in some irresponsible manner.

Find out more about the Gifts of the Spirit and please visit Jesus Quotes to learn what other gifts Jesus can bestow upon you.

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