Book Review - The Tuscan Orphan - By Siobhan Daiko - Publication Date: 14 November 2023

 

It's always interesting to learn about historical events in the gift-wrapping of fiction.  Although some facts may be altered there is still the basic enlightening from which to launch ones own research.  I believe this is the case with this book.

Seeing and experiencing WWII through Carrie, an American army nurse's eyes, gave me some of the 'feel' of the terror and carnage and heartaches that the actual nurses and doctors would have experienced as it happened.  Kudos to them and the locals in Italy.  Namely, Vito and Ezio representing resistance fighters.  Kudos to dear young Mimi too.

 I found the title of the book misleading as I felt the story was more about Carrie the nurse, rather than Mimi the orphan.  I also caution potential readers who may not wish to read about intimate bedroom scenes.

                                             ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                        November 2023

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

Read review on Goodreads.

Book Review - Arsenic at Ascot - By Kelly Oliver - Publication Date: 28 November 2023

 

Another Fiona Figg special.  She's a woman of many disguises who sleuthes her way through yet another mystery and murder.  She'll certainly lead you on a merry chase in pursuit of the culprits.  Oh and if only she can decide which suitor suits her!  Lots of fun especially for those who like some light and quick reading, and a laugh here and there, I'd say.  I enjoyed it.

                                            ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

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

Read review on Goodreads.

Book Review - The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos - By Kelly Irvin - Publication Date: 5 December 2023

 

This work of fiction is seen from Kristen, Sherri and Daniel's perspectives.  I couldn't seem to get into much of the story at first shake; however, I think anyone and their family and friends going through the cancer treatment journey together would most likely have an affinity with Sherri's day-to-day battle with her health.  The author was candid and readers may well have great tugs at their heartstrings and need to keep a box of tissue handy.  

A secondary thread reflecting the struggling 'battle' of a marital relationship was woven throughout.  Accordingly, married couples may well relate.

A third thread, which I appreciated was the faith-based one of the God - human being relationship and the grappling with Him in prayer.  Did He hear?  Did He care?

Discussion questions follow the narrrative's end for those who wish to take a more serious ponder on issues arising from what I feel are the three main threads.

                                          ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                          December 2023

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

Read review on Goodreads.

My Right

 Have you ever heard anyone say, "It's my life, I can do whatever I want"?  The apostle Paul remarked on similar phrasing.  He wrote to the Corinthians,

"I have the right to do anything," - but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything" - but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12).

There is licence to do anything but it won't all be beneficial.  There is warning too to not be overcome and domineered by what we feel we have a right to be doing.

There had been a lot of sexual immorality, greed, drunkeness, slandering and more of such behavior among the Corinthian believers prior to their conversion (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  They had been doing whatever they had wanted and felt they'd had a 'right' to be engaged therein.  However, after they had been sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit, they mostly all  had stopped being mastered by those things of the old nature.

Yet still, they were being mastered by disputes and lawsuits instead of letting themselves be cheated and wronged.  Whoa!  Not easy here.  Paul went through a lot of this against him so he had a 'right' to strongly admonish them (ahem, as well as his being an apostle).  He had endured.

The point I target here is to not be mastered by the things of the flesh even if they may seem harmless and to be your 'right' to do them.

A Christian Chinese couple may feel they have a right to wear the Qun Gua* at their wedding, but the dragon and phoenix embroidered on the resplendant red gowns may cause another believer to stumble in their faith.

If the believer had come out of a background of worshipping  such creatures and then sees other believers wearing such, it may be "harmless" to the couple but detrimental to the 'weak' believer.  He or she may feel, "Oh, it must be ok to still revere those creatures."

Or, someone may feel a sip or two of alcoholic beverage is ok.  However, if the amount and the frequency increases to the point of becoming an alcoholic, that believer has been mastered by having exerted their 'right' to have a drink.

Having a drink had been 'beneficial' for Timothy (see 1 Timothy 5:23).  In fact, Paul suggested it, medicinally, for Timothy.  We do not read of Timothy becoming mastered by his 'medicine' though.

Let us be aware and cautious of the 'rights' we allow ourselves.  Is it only for our own sakes and interest, or are we following the Lord's interests?  Will we further His Kingdom by what we allow in our lives because it is our 'right'?

For the Corinthians, pursuing  their 'rights' got them into a mess (see 1 Corinthians 6).  If we allow ourselves to be mastered by our own interests, that has become idolatrous and definitely not beneficial to ourselves.

Our God and Father, Judge of all, we human beings are often so selfish and wayward.  We want our 'rights' and often insist on having them.  We do not want to be slighted or used or cheated.  No one does.  However, You sanctified and justified us through Your Son Jesus, who had so many of His rights violated, and Holy Spirit, so that we are enabled to follow YOUR interests, relinquishing our own.  Thank You for Holy Spirit who helps us to give  up our 'rights' to You and to not be mastered by them.  May we make Jesus our only master.  This is our right as Your child.  

Thank You in Jesus' name.

                                               ~ERC  November 2023~

Based on 1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV - YouVersion.

Sing, All to Jesus I surrender, along with Robin Mark Lyrics, Praise Adonai.

*Qun Gua - a beautiful, striking, red traditional Chinese wedding gown.

Lord's Day Devotion - Worship (Hebrews 1:6)

 It's that time of year again when we think of our Savior's birth.  I like what the author of Hebrews wrote...

"And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, "Let all God's angels worship Him" (Hebrews 1:6 NIV).

The command and response of God's angels to Jesus' coming into the world for the first time was, "worship".

Worship the one who set us free.  Jesus was born with the mission - to die for our sins.  He came to avenge human beings and take vengeance upon the evil one who perpetrated The Fall and to erase the curse and sting of death for each and every human being (see 1 Corinthians 15:55-58). 

We can rejoice and be glad for the atonement for our souls He wrought on our behalf.  Rejoicing brings forth praise, thanksgiving and worship.

The saints, living creatures, and the elders are seen in heaven bowing and singing a new song, in a loud voice, their praise and worship (see Revelation 5:6-14). However, we don't need to wait until we get to Heaven or any other special place to worship.  Even in prison Paul and Silas sang praises (see Acts 16:25-26).

As we gather together on Lord's Day let us go forth with grateful hearts, full of praise and worship, giving thanks to Jesus, who set us free from the law of sin and death, gave us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.  Let's break bread and drink of the cup of wine with our hearts garnered in reverence and with the voluntary response of worship for He is our God and Savior.

Lord Jesus,  how great You are!  In reverential awe we bow before You, the Living God who is above and superior to all!  You are all powerful and have provided purification for our sins (see Hebrews 1:3). In love, You came and we are so glad You chose to be born upon this earth and fulfil Your mission.

We are glad and rejoice at Your birth but are even more joyful for the salvation You provided.  Indeed, we cannot ignore such a great salvation.  In all our celebrations then, help us remember on bended knees and in Your name, bow before You in worship.  We join the angels singing, "Gloria!"  

 Amen.

                                              ~ERC  December 2023~

Based on Hebrews 1:6 NIV.

Sing,  Angels We Have Heard on High, along with Reawaken Hymns.

Book Review - The Ball of Red String - By Marlene Halpin, O.P. - Publication Date: 5 December 2023

 

This story gets a huge thumbs up from me.  It's so simple yet so to the point for helping any child to understand Jesus loves them and wants a relationship with them, that it's easy to talk with Jesus.  I love the red ball of string idea of how a child can follow where it leads as it unravels and rolls along, leading - so to speak - to find Jesus and commune with Him.

At the end of the book, there are great suggestions on how Sunday School teachers, carers of children and I suppose, even parents, can use the story to greater effect in teaching children to talk with and listen for Jesus' answers, even if it is all silent communication.  Excellent, excellent book!

Illustrations in muted colors add extra garnish to the story.  

A definite 5-Star rating from me!

                                             ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

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

Read review on Goodreads.

Strengthened, Made Level and Healed

 "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.  Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed" ( Hebrews 12:12 & 13 NIV).

When we strengthen ourselves with God and obedience to His Word and make level paths I believe we will find healing, spiritually and even often physically.

When we read the verses preceding our focus verses (see Hebrews 12:1-11), we'll find the prescription for the strengthening, leveling and healing as found in verses 12 and 13.  

"Running with perseverence," "enduring hardship as discipline,"  and "submitting to our Heavenly Father our spirits, so we will live" we will find the further strengthening, leveling and healing that comes from the whole process.

This is for all who are children of God.  Allow yourself to be trained and disciplined by God our Father.

Recently, a friend fell and broke her leg.  She had to have surgery to help her heal.  That was the doctor's part.  Her part now, she told us, is to do the physical therapy needed to strengthen her leg and keep it nimble.

While visiting her, a group of us discovered that several among us have had leg or other limb injuries.  They were enjoying themselves telling their stories.  Some were left with slight limps or restricted movements but they do each manage a more or less normal range of motion and body capacity to function, almost like before. 

Each had had to do their part though.  Similarly, God gives His children discipline but we have to do our part and submit to the training.  After all, He does this for our good.

Yes, we may end up with scars and/or feeble knees, but we can persevere towards the goal of healing.  This is exactly what our friend purposes.  She has set her goal that by Christmastime, she'll be able to come to church and celebrate the birth of Jesus together with the rest of her brothers and sisters-in-Christ.

When we apply this to our spiritual daily Christian living, let us be so focused and fix our eyes on Jesus, and submit to Him and His discipline.  It is good for us and will yield a harvest of righteousness and peace when we allow the training to work in our lives.

May all our feeble arms and weak knees (even as we age) to be strengthened.  May we be making our paths level, so our spiritual lameness and disabilities will be healed through Christ.

Father God, thank You for the discipline You put us through.  Of course, it is painful and we'd rather not have to go through it at all.  Nevertheless, thank You for the training as You create within us the holiness You desire.  You do want us to be healed.

In our feeblenesses and weaknesses, with patience may we still persevere, endure, submit, and strengthen ourselves, taking on the responsibility that is our part to do.

Thank You for the healing that then comes from You, both spiritually and physically.

In Jesus' name we give You our heartfelt praise and thanksgiving.

                                            ~ERC  November 2023~

Based on Hebrews 12:1-13 especially verses 12 & 13 NIV.

Sing, Jesus You Are My Healer, along with Don Moen.