Book Review: Resilience

 

Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times by John Eldredge

 Times are tough, but according to John Eldredge “The story of God has been, is now and always will be the story of the world.” To respond to the turmoil of today’s news, we need resilience.

 We need God’s strength to face hardships and challenges. In a world in turmoil with pandemics and politics, it’s more important than ever to concentrate on the fact that God is good and He is with us.

 Eldredge included some ideas I had not thought of in that light. For instance, he compared the Old Testament temple filled with God’s glory to us as Christians filled with that temple glory.

 In the chapter that most challenged me, Eldredge addresses our “unconverted places,” the times when we cave in to pressures or lose our cool. But, he says, maturity is no longer optional.

 I liked the end-of-chapter “Skill” sections that suggested ways to help us grow. I also liked the way Eldredge introduced each chapter with a short story about someone.

 He concludes the book by helping us write a personal prescription to help ourselves respond to the challenges of today.

 Published by Nelson Books in 2022, this book can surely help each reader draw closer to God in one way or another.

 

 

Book Review: The Deeply Formed Life

 

                          

The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus

This book offers fresh takes on practices you’ve already established, such as prayer and Bible reading, but also approaches topics you may not associate with spiritual maturity, such as sexuality and racial reconciliation. “Instead of being deeply formed we settle for being shallowly shaped,” writes author Rich Villodas.

He calls for self examination and reflection on hopes and dreams or fears and anxieties so that we don’t seal off parts of our lives. He guides readers on looking inward to see what patterns they may have developed from their families of origin.

In discussing racial reconciliation, Villodas quotes Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, a pastor and author: “Reconciliation is an ongoing spiritual process involving forgiveness, repentance and justice that restores broken relationships and systems to reflect God’s original intention for all creation to flourish.”

Villodas is the pastor of a church in Queens with more than 75 countries represented. Published by Waterbrook in 2020, The Deeply Formed Life is easily read and understood. I like the quotes Villodas included from experts in various fields and also the Afterword with challenging questions such as “What practices is this season (of life) calling me to engage in?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's Tout the Hoot!

 The early morning hoot of an owl blessed my heart. In my mind’s eye, I saw him perched high in a tree, awakening the dawn. On occasion I’ve spotted an owl in the daytime, his fuller body and wider head differing from a hawk. I rarely hear owls, so this hoot was a special treat.

            That same morning I saw the first bluebird of the season checking out our birdhouse. And daffodils poked up green fingers at the edge of our yard. To God be the glory for the good gifts of nature.

Five Reasons to Thank God for Nature:

            Nature reminds us of the greatness of God. In Job 39, God reminds Job of who He is and the power He has. He laid the earth’s foundation, fixed limits for the sea, and created creatures great and small, wild, and tame: owls, donkeys, eagles, and puppies, to name just a few.

            Only God knows the path of a thunderstorm and how mountain goats give birth. Only He governs the instincts of animals from the ostrich that doesn’t have the sense to nurture her young to the horse that charges into battle.

            Nature gives us something to explore and talk about with children and grandchildren. At a hunting camp, we walk down trails, dictionary in hand, identifying wildflowers. At home, we consult “the bird book” to identify visitors to our feeder. The rare indigo bunting or yellow-breasted sapsucker have been special treats.

            When grandson Scott was three-years-old, I held him on my lap, pointing out squirrels leaping from branch to branch, high in the trees. I asked him if he would like to do that. With all seriousness he replied, “Mommy said ‘no.’” I treasure such memories.

            Nature offers us opportunities to care for the earth, as God commanded in Genesis 1. We tend our lawn, recycle plastics, paper, and books. Under fluorescent bulbs, my husband, Bill, grows flower plants from seed. He then plants and tends a flowerbed.

            Nature offers opportunities to exercise. Gardening, caring for yards, and raising crops all keep us in shape physically. Taking walks, canoeing, kayaking, or playing outdoor games all offer exercise.

            Along the Susquehanna River in our capitol city, beds of flowers spread between spaces with equipment to do push-ups, chin-ups, and other sorts of exercise.

            Nature entertains us in our senior years. As Bill and I eat breakfast we watch the birds at the feeder. We once spotted an eagle soaring above our home. We enjoy seeing deer running through our yard and nibbling our flowers. Well, maybe not so much the latter. But we only chase them when they chomp on one of our tomato plants. We decorate our porch and deck with hanging baskets and planters. All this brings peace to our souls when we look out our windows or sit on our front porch rocking chairs. To God be the glory!

Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:7-10 NIV).

            Whether we live in an apartment with houseplants, in a house with flowerbeds in our yards, or on a farm with fields of golden grain, let’s thank God for nature and enjoy the treasures He has created. To God be the glory!

Book Review: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy

 

 

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop

 This book will enrich your life and equip you to pray about personal and national issues with a fresh approach. Part 1 breaks down the basic structure of psalms that express grief or sorrow (at least a third of the psalms); Part 2 examines the book of Lamentations; and Part 3 suggests how you can use such biblical expressions to pray for yourself and your community.

 Author Mark Vroegop is no stranger to lament. As he and his wife suffered through the loss of a stillborn daughter and several miscarriages, he sought and found strength in God’s Word. In Psalms, Vroegop discovered a four-part pattern of laments that lead from anguish and hopelessness to renewed hope. 

 In the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah grieves the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the invading Babylonians. As we grieve over today’s world conflicts, we can relate to such feelings of despair. But both the psalms of lament and the book of Lamentations offer a roadway to grace and remind us God is on His throne.

 The book contains helpful appendixes including one that categorizes the psalms and another that offers a “Learning-to-Lament” worksheet. There’s also a bibliography, a general index and a scripture index.

 Don’t be put off by the heavy tone of the title. This book offers Christians a valuable and workable guide to express feelings of depression and despair. 

 

Let Us Pray . . . In a Different Way

 

A Morning Watch opened my eyes in more ways than one. Several months ago our pastor invited us to join him for prayer at 6 a.m. on Thursday mornings, either in his office or via Zoom. I’m a “morning person,” so the time is fine, except at that hour I’m usually in my jammies with a bedhead. Nevertheless, I Zoomed in. And I’m glad I did.

 Each week Pastor Peter shares devotional thoughts, including different ways of praying. Since then, I’ve also read up on prayer. Here’s how three patterns of prayer have blessed my heart.

 CENTERING PRAYER: Read slowly and out loud a verse or a paragraph of scripture. Repeat three times. Then choose a word or phrase from that passage. Set a timer for ten or fifteen minutes, then close your eyes and meditate on the word or phrase you chose. You’re not praying “for” something. You’re listening to hear what God says to your heart about that word or phrase.

 One morning I focused on “living in love” from Ephesians 5:2. As I meditated, I realized if I can just live in an awareness of God’s love at all times and in all places, it will not matter what happens to me. Well, it’s not that it won’t matter, but I will be more aware that God is with me, loves me and comforts me. And furthermore, I can pass on that love to others. Of course it’s easier said than done, but I want to work on “living in love.”

 SCRIPTURAL PRAYER: Pattern your prayer after one of the prayers found in scripture. For starters, there are the prayers of Hannah (1 Samuel 1: 11 and 2:1-10), Daniel (Daniel 9:4-16), Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:2-3), Mary (Luke 1:38 and 46-55) and Paul (Ephesians 1:15-23; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-14). 

 I’ve prayed Daniel’s pattern of prayer for America and Paul’s pattern for family and friends. Paul reminds me to pray for spiritual growth for others, not just for what makes them happy. Many other passages of scripture might prompt prayers.

 PRAYERS OF LAMENT: These prayers spell out your feelings: complaints, anger, sufferings, frustrations and heartaches. Rather than stifle your pain, you tell God exactly how you feel. God knows what’s in your heart anyway, so you let it all out. You pound the table and weep!

 I prayed this prayer before I ever knew it was called a prayer of lament. After the death of our infant daughter, I discovered my heart echoed the cries of the psalmist in Psalm 42. I sought to know God in a deeper way (v. 1 - my soul pants for you), yet I cried at unexpected times during the day and as soon as I put my head on the pillow at night (v. 3 - my tears have been my food day and night). 

 I asked, how a baby could die at birth in the 20th century? I felt depressed (v. 5 - my soul, why are you downcast). Yet I remembered how God had been with me in the past and clung to the hope that He would see me through the present (v. 11 - I will yet praise him).

 That psalm, that prayer of lament, was a lifeline that I clung to during the weeks, months and really years of grief. Grief doesn’t “go away.” You learn to cope with it and move on with life. Many psalms can help you heal as you echo the psalmist’s “lament.”

 Pick one of these styles of prayer and give it a try. God enjoys your company. He longs to talk WITH you rather than just listen TO you. You will feel blessed. And I’d love to hear about your experience.