Book Review - No Quiet Water - By Shirley Miller Kamada - Publication Date: 15 January 2023

 

Injustice reigned in America during the 1942 - 1945 years at the behest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  World War II struck on multiple planes, one of which was the internment of hundreds of thousands of American-Born Japanese, interned because there might be one spy in the haystack.  These mostly law-abiding US citizens, who had nothing in their hearts of the country of Japan's war schemes, were herded in droves to these camps that had been slapped together without proper care and conditions were often primitive.  

This historical fiction story, No Quiet Water, traces the wonderful Miyota family and their dog Flyer who also had wonderful neighbors who helped and supported them during their years of incarceration, first in a California "facility," and then one in Idaho.  Their grace, endurance and perseverance without bitterness, despite the deplorable conditions, was amazing.  Fumio was an amazing half-grown boy who really did the best he could.  The dog Flyer adds many tender moments.

The book is based on the author's relatives' account as well as researched sources, some of which you will see listed at book end.  Although I have heard of the interments before, this was still an enlightening read.  Therefore, I believe all Americans would do well to read this valuable account and learn positive lessons from it.

                                              ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                         October 2022

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Blessing of Peace and Ceasefire

 Father God, You bless Your people with peace.  It's the kind of peace in our hearts and minds afforded through our trust and faith in Jesus, our Prince of Peace and Savior.  You are majestic and Your voice thunders over the waters.  You are great, greater than all else in this world and universe You've placed us in.  Thank-You for this blessing of peace.

May there also be peace for the Ukrainians and Russians.  Father, it really sickens me to think of all the death and destruction.  There's so many lives being hurtled unceremoniously into eternity.  Many of them say there is no God because of the ideology fed to them by their country's SOP in regards to religion and relationship with You.  On the other hand, there are those whose god has been materialistic and only nominally Christian.

Father, forgive them.  Have mercy upon them.  Intervene, letting them know that You DO exist, that You 'are'.  That You are love and love them.

I weep Father, over this carnage of lives - body parts splattered here and there; scorched, singed, maimed; mental and emotional anguish; scarred for life, at least for those who survive.  There's no peace Father, unless You will bring it about.

May Your people bring the peace of Jesus that surpasses all understanding that will keep the hearts and minds of the survivors.  Lord, You are the One sitting enthroned over all and can give Your people strength.  Bless them with Your peace today.  Bless them with this peace and the peace that can come from "ceasefire!"

I beg You in Jesus' name.  Amen and Amen.

                                                ~ERC  January 2023~

Based on Psalm 29:7-11.

Sing, The Lord Will Bless His People With Peace, by Michael Bulaong.

Book Review - Dark of Night - By Colleen Coble - Publication Date: 10 January 2023

 I very much appreciated the faith based aspect of this suspense thriller where some of the main characters like Annie, Jon and Kylie, prayed to God, trusted Him during their troubles and even mentioned Jesus.  The story was clean and good, and justice was administered for most of the scenarios.  I liked that search and rescue dogs featured, doing their thing in finding abducted persons.  

Although I found the narrative a bit slow going and confusing at the start of the story because it seemed to jump from one thread to another without connection, it did get going and finished satisfactorily in the end.  I had to realize that adage, "fools and bairns see unfinished work" so eventually, I did get the connection.  This Dark of Night novel could stand alone but readers may like to know that it is a second book in the Annie Pedersan series, with a third apparently under way. 

                                             ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                          November 2022

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own, and honestly given.

Read review on Goodreads.

Lord's Day Devotion - Imitating God

 Children like to micmic other children to the point of being irritating to each other.  If they imitate their parents in trying to sweep the floor with a broom three sizes too big for them, or clatter along in their Mom's high-heeled shoes, it's amusing.  The imitating of good things is a good thing.

An especially good, good thing is to imitate God.  Paul told the Ephesians to do just that.  He said,

"Be imitators of God...live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV).

God so loved us that He sacrificed His One and Only son Jesus for the redemption of our souls.  He gave.  He gave out of love and this is what we, as His children, need to imitate.

This godly virtue will cause us to be compassionate, gentle, tell the truth, have patience and self-control and so much more as we relate with one another.  It will propel and compel us to love others over and above ourselves.  We will go with God's desires and interests and not our own.  In so doing, we show God's love in action to others.

Furthermore, imitating God and His love for us, we will be better listeners, more generous with our time, effort and assets, do acts of kindness - not randomly but at every opportunity presented to us; we will pray more consistantly and earnestly for others in humility and sincerity.

I like to imagine God our Heavenly Father looking on from Heaven above, with an amused smile on His face.  He's nodding His head in satisfaction and saying, "Hmmm...good 'boy' or good 'girl'.  Maybe a little clumsy but they got the right idea.  That's my son, or that's my daughter," He calls to the angels, pointing it out.

This is what we as children of God do ... imitate our Heavenly Father God.  The more we imitate the better we'll get the hang of it.  Let us give God the best possible sacrifice and offering He deserves.

Think on all of that this Lord's Day as we gather together with our brothers and sisters-in-Christ to remember the sacrifice Jesus offered on our behalf.  He offered Himself.  He offered Himself to redeem us for God, His Father.  Out of love and compassion, He shed His blood upon that cruel cross of shame...for you...for me...for the whosoever.  This is something truly remarkable to imitate.

Give thanks with a grateful heart as you pass the broken bread and partake of it.  Think of our Savior's sacrifice as you then pass the cup of wine one to another.  

Will you be a mature imitator of God?

                                                   ~ERC January 2023~

Based on Ephesians 5:1-2; John 3:16 NIV.

Sing, Remember Me. (Hillsong)

Know. Understand. Do.

 

The barometer gauge swings from wise to foolish but hopefully doesn't get stuck there.  Knowing and understanding God's will, will determine the position of the barometer needle.

Followers of Jesus also called, children of light, need to understand God's will.  However, knowing and understanding are two different ballparks.  We may know and be able to recite swathes of memorized Scripture, and be able to win in a Bible knowledge quiz but do we understand all of that?!

Head knowledge creates swelled heads.  Understanding galvinizes to action.  If we're to understand God's will, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us to understand what we know.  In order to know, we must read God's Word.  He set it out rather plainly for us - even bluntly.

For example, 

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality..." (Ephesians 5:3 NIV).

No mincing of words there.  

Once we know and understand, then we can put it all to good purpose - to God's purposes in living holy lives; bringing others to Christ; building up our brothers and sisters-in-Christ.  If each of us are doing this - amazing things will happen, I believe.  Imagine it!  Let's all be as wise as possible.

                                                 ~ERC  January 2023~

Based on Ephesians 5:15-20 especially vs 17.

A Different Tick-Tock

 

Another year has dawned and its already the third day of a new year, as of my writing.  Time flies but some people think more than a 2000 year time frame is a long time.  Some of us may become skeptical about Jesus telling us He's "coming soon" for us.  Two thousand years is NOT soon, by earthly calculations!

Yet, we have to remember God's timing goes by a different tick-tock.  A day is like a thousand years and a thousand years as a day, to God (2 Peter 3:8-9).

We can hope and pray all our relatives and friends come to Christ so they don't perish.  Jesus' shout will call us soon but I'm also glad God is patient and doesn't want anyone to perish.

May this be the year our loved ones come to Christ as we live as a child of light for Him.  May our 'light,' or rather the Light of Jesus in us, be that beacon that draws others to Christ.

The clock is ticking however, pray we'll all 'be in time'.

                                                      ~ERC  Januarty 2023~

Based on 2Peter 3:8-9 NIV.

Sing, Be In Time, along with Shobana David and A New Day is Dawning, along with savedandkept.

Book Review - Loyola Kids Book of Seasons, Feasts and Celebrations - By Amy Wellborn - Publication Date: 5 January 2023

 

Even though a person may not be a Roman Catholic (RC), this book delineating the Liturgical Calendar Year of their beliefs, explaining the major Seasons, Feasts and Celebrations of their year, for children, it is of great interest.  It appears well thought out with step-by-step spelling out regarding Advent, Christmas, Easter, Ordinary Days, their many saints, and more, in simple, succinct manner.

I believe any child, along with his or her parents, would be able to follow the seasons well, and understand the significance in hands-on style as each section maps out the history and what the congregant will hear, pray, see, sing and do, throughout each of the celebrations and relating rituals.  Whoever sincerely follows along will be thoroughly catechized in satisfying solemnity and religious education.  

I found this work fascinating and learned a lot despite not being an adherent to the RC beliefs.  I believe that those families of the RC faith will definitely love this very helpful handbook.

                                           ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                          October 2022

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the Publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.