Book Review - Talala - By Vita Murrow - Publication Date: 7 September 2021

 

The striking features of this children's book are the fantastic illustrations.  In fact, these artist's impressions compelled me, an adult, to imbibe them before even reading the story!  Very satisfying.  Children will certainly delight in them and eagerly point out the various safari-like animals; some here, and "Oh look, some there too!  What are these?  What are those?" they'll surely ask.  Then they will be lost in them.  Once the pictures "release" the readers, they will see the story unfolds in India's Gir National Park.  They'll follow the wee orphaned leopard cub, Talala, as she roams this wilderness to try and find a safe haven.  She does, in an unusual way....

For those parents who are keen conservationists and wish to teach their children to appreciate and care for nature, this captivating book would be just the thing.

                                            ~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                            August 2021

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the review copy given by the publisher.

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Lord's Day Devotion - Prayer - I Love You, LORD

 

You have been so good to us, LORD.  We love You and lift our voices in praise, for You have heard our pleas for mercy and grace.  We will call upon Your name as long as we're blessed to live.

This is our hope.  Keep us ever cleaving to You, O Father God.

When the "snares of death" and pangs of ageing creep and settle in, deliver our souls oh gracious Lord of righteouness and mercy.  Perserve our life 'til then so we may go about doing the good deeds You have ordained for us since before the foundation of this world we, Your children through Jesus, live in.  

You have "dealt bountifully" with us, delivering our souls from the death of destruction in Hell because You offered "the cup of salvation" to each of us through Jesus Christ, Your one and only Son, and His affliction and shedding of His blood upon the cross for our sakes.

We will call upon the Name of the Lord, and offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and live our lives to please You in the presence of Your people and of those You surround us with who do not yet know You. This until we find ourself in the "courts of the house of the Lord" (v 19) in heavenly places.

We love You, Lord.  Thank-You for first loving me.  We remember the travail for Your soul, Jesus, and pass the broken bread and the cup of wine, each Lord's Day, in remembrance of what Your love accomplished for us.  

In Jesus' most precious name we pray, praise and give grateful thanks.

                                                      ~ERC  April 2021~

Based on Psalm 116:1-19 (ESV).

Sing, I Love You Lord, along with Latria Modern Music.

Prayer - Where is Your God?

 

Heavenly Father, God...when men ask, "Where is Your God?" we can confidently reply,

"Our God is in the heavens..." (Psalm 115:3 ESV).

What's more, we can continue,

"...He does all that He pleases" (Psalm 115:3 ESV)

They may counter-question, "And what exactly is that?"

Oh boy!  That's just the question we were waiting for!  We tell of all the blessings, and help You have given us over the years, and of our relationship with You.

What's more, in contrast to the idols of silver and gold which cannot see, hear, speak, feel or smell; we know Your eyes are upon us watching out for us.  Your ears are ever open to our cry and Your mouth is ever ready to reply.  In addition to that, Your Word leads and guides us and Your hand is not shortened that it cannot save ( Isaiah 59:1 KJV).

Add on to that again, You are holding us in Your hand and no one can snatch us out of it (John 10:28-30 NIV).  We can "feel" the comfort and security of that.  You walk beside us every step of the way, 

"leading us to safety, so we do not fear" (Psalm 78:53).

The more we trust in You and stay by Your side of love and compassion, justice and righteousness, the more we will become like You, through our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Abiding in Him (John 15:4).

So we put our trust in You and You are our shield and help.  May we ever fear You, Heavenly Father, and draw near to You, walking in Your ways.  We thank You for the blessings we have through Jesus, for any of Your children, whether young or old.

You are our great and mighty LORD of the Heavens and we thank You for the earth You have given to us children of men (Psalm 115: 15 & 16 ESV).  May our earthly walk be pleasing in Your sight as we win souls for Your treasure house; and as we care for all Your creatures and earth's environment in our several ways of so doing in our niche, or niches of the earth.  

May each of us who know Who You are, where You are and who fear You, be able to boldly answer well, those who ask, "Where is Your God?"

Then confident reply,

 "My God is alive and living in Heaven and in my heart through Jesus Christ and His indwelling Holy Spirit.  He has eyes, which see; ears, which hear; a mouth, which speaks to me.  My God has a nose which smells the sweet incense of the burnt offerings of my life, which comes from the sacrifice of purity and holiness (being holy as You are Holy, Father [Leviticus 11:44 & 1 Peter 1:15-17]).  Further to that, He has feet, which walk with us and hands, which hold us!"

This is my God and I fear only Him.  My God is in Heaven and all is well with my soul.  Your children thank You, Father, for being there for us.  Our faith and hope are in You.  In Jesus' Name we give You thanks and praise.

                                                         ~ERC  April 2021~

Based on Psalm 115:1-18 ESV.

Sing, It is Well with My Soul, along with, Audrey Assad.

spirit or Spirit?

 "What do you do with a drunken sailor?" sang the Irish Rovers.  What can you do?  Not much except get out of his way.  Sad sight, really.  The alcoholic spirit is nothing to glorify.

It brings the drunkard down, down into a slippery, miry pit; difficult, although not impossible position, out of which to climb.  A place you would not wish to be, nor to have a loved one.  Degrading, addictive spirit.  Lord, preserve all our loved ones out of, and from such a state.

Praise the Lord, there is the Holy Spirit Whom we can have through faith in Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit indwells each one of the followers of Jesus Christ.  A new "creation," alive in Christ.

He can make a whole different sort of man, as sung in Rise Up, Oh Men of God.  Men who will give "heart, soul, mind and strength" to God to serve the King of kings; to serve the needs of his family and others in the strength of Christ; to tread the way Jesus had done - in their right minds, and in step with the Holy Spirit; "drunk" only with the Holy Spirit.

I do not make jest.

These are the kind of men our Heavenly Father is looking for.  Yes, they will have their share of setbacks and challenges but they will be empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.  Excellence, dignity and integrity will characterize them.  Useful men, willing to serve their King, Master, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Amen!

                                                      ~ERC  August 2021~

Sing, Rise Up Oh Men of God, along with Kenneth Jennings, Northern Light Chorale.

Good Book - Surprised by the Power of the Spirit - Dr. Jack Deere

 

This is a book I was reluctant to read, yet curiosity persisted and drove me to peruse its pages.  I'm glad I did.

Dr. Jack Deere, in his book Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, gives a somewhat autobiographical account of his "pendulum swing" from staunch conservative views in regards to the Holy Spirit and what He can and cannot do in post Bible time days, to a more "liberal" acceptance, that He is the same yesterday, today, and will still be tomorrow.  My experience very much mirrors Dr. Deere's.  Of course, I could not explain it nearly as effectively as he does, so you'll just have to read his book. 😊 BTW, he also does not swing too radically left.

Before getting too deeply into this book review, I'd like to insert a 'rule of thumb' I recently learned a wee bit more indepth about, for whenever we read God's word.  It is an important aspect of Bible reading that Dr. Deere also alludes to and notes that, when a person reads a single Bible verse, he or she should then read the context fore and aft of it.  Read also in context of the whole chapter, the specific book of the Bible it's from (its basic theme or purpose), and keeping in mind the whole word of God itself.  Do the thoughts the one verse generates in the mind, harmonize with the context nearby and as a whole of the rest of Scripture?  If it does, that's rightly dividing the word of God.  Theologians refer to this practice as 'hermeneutics'.  These guidelines are important so that there is less likelihood the reader does not misinterpret and/or misapply what the Lord is saying to the reader.  We must always keep this in mind when reading any portion of the Word of God.

Let's get back on track...

"Conservative" thought is all those signs and wonders purported and attributed to the Holy Spirit, mostly do not happen nowadays.  Deere gives detailed, supposed back up for these views that the staunch theological right have.  It is rather constrictive and does not allow the Holy Spirit's dynamic, everlasting power of God out of the rigid box they attempt to stuff Him into.

It is sad and it is confusing to one who really does "hear" from the Holy Spirit but then the mind says, "No that can't be, because we already have the complete word of God in the Bible and the Holy Spirit doesn't say much anymore."  This is putting it very simply.

On the other hand, those "Pentacostals" and  "that type" of thinking are way out of whack!  No way, cannot accept such "liberalism" and the staunch restricters look down their noses at these "fanatics," often with contempt.  In fact, folks are warned against being associated too closely with them.

Deere debunks much of this prejudice and has excellent blow-by-blow arguments to substantiate the excessive conservatism in what I'd say, in a Christ-like manner.  However, he also does give words of caution re:  some of the legitimate quibbles the right have in regards to the far left pendulum reach, or to it's misuses, and misapplied interpretations.  Some of this is rather deep so you'd need to read for yourself to follow his thesis.

It will be wonderful liberating knowledge and understanding to be able to freely "meet and greet" the Holy Spirit, daily, for ones own self.  I say this reverently as He is God the Holy Spirit.

If you've met God through faith in Jesus Christ, and have gotten to know Jesus as your Savior and Friend, You will get to know God, the Father and God, the Holy Spirit.  As you read more and learn more of God and Jesus, their character and attributes, you will surely come to understand, meet and value the Holy Spirit who indwells you.  You will learn to be more sensitive to His voice, leading, comfort, and counsel.  You will surely "be surprised" by His active power that is still mightily at work in you and that can and will, flow out to others.  Yes, even in signs, wonders, healings, knowledge about another's condition and needs, as well as ones own, if you are listening.  

I encourage believers from both sides of the pendulum swing to read this book.  It's eye-opening, revealing both sides' strengths and weaknesses.  We can learn more of God's grace, love and power and energize our spiritual life more in the way our heavenly Father intended us to have abundant life in Christ.

You won't be disappointed and I hope and pray you will learn not to be so afraid of the Holy Spirit and His workings within and through your life as you live to please the Lord Jesus; for His glory and honor.  May you continually be surprised by the active, working power of the Holy Spirit Who indwells you even in this day and age; Who is still performing many supernatural acts.

In Jesus' name, I ask our Heavenly Father.  

Amen.

                                                   ~ERC  August 2021~

Note:  It would be helpful to read the book of Acts a few times in a row before reading this book.

P.S.   At the end of the main discussion, there are Appendices and Notes for further study on the subject.

Prayer - Psalm of Rhetorical Questions

 Heavenly Father, we bow our heads in reverent fear and trembling in Your awesome presence.  We dare to ask You rhetorical questions, though, as we then stand and look on in amazement....

When a missionary went out from his home -- to a people of strange, tongue-contorting (to him) language for forty years to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and gained much "treasure in Heaven", Who sustained Him and met his needs?

When the lady linguist spent twenty years or more of her life learning the foreign language and its nuances; customs, culture, and legends of a particular people group in the middle of a remote jungle, Who was her Personal Company to uphold her in her loneliness and through the frustarations, challenges and obstacles of relating to the people, learning, gathering, assimilating and documenting it all so that in turn, she could translate Your Word into said people group's language?  Oh, and have it all make sense to them?  Who was He, Who sustained her to see Your "project" through to the end so these dear people could read Your precious word in their own mother tongue?!

Father, here's another question.

Who was it who kept the circuit riding preacher-teacher and his wife, safely on the road for forty years?  Oh, and the one "major" accident where he got out of his car and although addlepated, climbed back up the ravine he had accidently driven into, despite his sustained broken back?  Who healed that back over the ensuing weeks so he could get behind the wheel again and continue bringing Your word to Your people, helping to build them up in their "most holy faith"?

Who was He, Father, who comforted that couple who had just lost their precious little, firstborn child to leukemia, or brain tumor or drowning or miscarriage or stillbirth?  Who's love surrounded and comforted them; Who kept them strong in faith - ever cleaving to You?

These rhetorical questions could go on and on.  However, like the psalmist, we'd like to say, Father, we 

"tremble...at the presence of the LORD" (verse 7).

WE tremble, Oh God of Jacob, of that missionary, of that linguist, preacher-teacher and of the bereaved couples; we tremble in Your presence, giving thanksgiving for being with us, walking with us, and bringing us through the valley of the shadow of death.  We know He was You and that You are with us still.

Thank-You in Jesus' most precious name and by His enduring grace we praise.

                                                   ~ERC  April 2021~

Based on Psalm 114:1-8 (ESV).

Sing, To You, O God, I Lift Up My Soul, with Bob Hurd.

Prayer - The Barren Woman's Joy

 

Heavenly Father, as we peek or pry open our eyes at the rising of the sun, may we actually praise You, because Your Name is to be praised!  Blessed is Your name above all others!  Your name and Your glory are forevermore.

You look far down from Heaven, with love and care and compassion that is not only international but "inter-galactal;" -- all the way from Heaven to Earth!  You lift the poor and needy up from degrading circumstance and sit them among the royalty of Your sons and daughters, in Christ.  For this we give You praise, especially when You get us to do some of that "lifting".

Another thing You see is the barren woman.  Oh how she desparately wants to have the joy of motherhood, of holding a wee one in her arms.  Praise You Father, You do, do this!

We think of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Mrs. Manoah, Hannah, and Elizabeth; women of the Bible to whom You brought joy and laughter.  This after years of barreness, despondancy and what they felt as disgrace of not being able to bear a child.  They had come to the years that brought many of them beyond usual child-bearing years; for example, Sarah was 90 years old!  Old apparently, even for those ancient times.

You are still doing this for many women; opening their wombs, giving them a home and making them the "joyous mothers of children".  I salute them all.  I even salute those who have adopted babies or more grown children into a "barren" nest.  

I salute those women who may not even be married but who have chosen to foster and/or adopt children and raise them up in the nuture of the Lord.  These women can be termed as "barren" too, but they opened their home for this noble and challenging role.  An excellent example is of Amy Carmichael, who chose to 'adopt' hundreds of children in India.  I also know of  others who have done similarly, just not quite so many children.  

No wonder we can praise You and join those mothers in joyful rejoicing for those miracles only You can create.  May they each be able to "burst into song".

We praise You Father God in Jesus' most precious name.

Praise the Lord!

                                                       ~ERC  Apil 2021~

Based on Psalm 113:1-9 ESV; Isaiah 54:1.

The at first, childless couples, & the eventual child(ren):

1.  Abraham & Sarah = Isaac

2.  Isaac & Rebekah = Esau and Jacob

3.  Jacob & Rachel = Joseph, and Benjamin

4.  Manoah & Zlelponi = Samson

5.  Elkanah & Hannah = Samuel

6.  Zechariah & Elizabeth = John the Baptizer