Life is Full of Surprises

Life is full of surprises. We never know what is around the corner, do we?

Only seconds after I posted last week, I received a phone call from my husband's workplace. "Your husband has been in an accident."

My breathing froze as my heart thundered to my head. I pictured a mangled body and a smashed up truck until the man burst out, "But don't worry. He is ok except for his arm."

Whew! My husband took a tumble from the back of his truck trailer and ended up with a badly broken arm that required surgery and a plate. Though bad, we thank God it wasn't worse.

Next week we plan to travel to a pulmonary specialist for some appointments to get a second opinion concerning my chronic lung condition.

Life is overwhelming right now, but we will make it. God remains faithful and He will carry us through whatever comes our way.

Praising God in the Darkness

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’”  Job 1:21b NIV


When we give our hearts to God, Satan stamps with rage.  He never wants us to trust God and His purposes, let alone praise Him in the midst of devastating circumstances.

Satan stripped Job’s life to the marrow of the bone.  His possessions and livelihood down the drain.  Every one of his precious children, seven sons and three daughters, swept from this life with a whirlwind and a collapsed roof. 

Bowing down in his grief, Job tore his robe and shaved his head.  It hurt, oh so much.  But what did he do?  He acknowledged all he had was in God’s hands to give and to take.  He even went a step further and said, “May the name of the Lord be praised.”  

Job was further tested, and he lost his health.  Some of his friends arrogantly told him he must have some hidden sins that God is punishing him for.  But sitting in the ashes with painful sores, he cried, “I know my Redeemer lives.” 

Because our Redeemer lives, Satan was forced to retreat.  Because our Redeemer lives, Satan will never have the final victory with us either.  Because our Redeemer lives, we can learn to praise God even in the darkness.

© 2011 - Trudy Den Hoed

What losses have you experienced?

What was your lowest point of darkness?

What gave you hope?

 

 

Terri Blackstock - Intervention Series

I love to read Christian novels that emanate "real-life" issues and situations where Christian characters don't always have pat answers and perfect faith. In reality, Christians are human, too. They are not exempt from turmoil in their lives, and they sometimes do question God.

Terri Blackstock

Terri Blackstock's Intervention Books reveal gut-wrenching true-to-life situations mixed in with fast-paced mystery.


Intervention (Intervention Series, Book 1)

Widowed Barbara Covington tries to raise two teenagers, but her daughter Emily dives into the devastating world of drug addiction.  As they try to intervene, Barbara and her son Lance are drawn into the evil of the drug world, kidnapping, and murder.



Vicious Cycle (Intervention, Book 2)

Jordan is a drug-addicted teen whose mother manipulates her with drugs and doesn't care about anything or anyone except her next "fix."  As Lance tries to get Jordan to break the vicious cycle of drugs in her family, he finds himself thrust into the horrific world of baby trafficking.  Meanwhile, Emily graduates from rehab and discovers how much courage and determination it will take to keep herself from sliding back into the drug world.


Terri has just finished Downfall, Book 3 in this series, but it won't be released until March of 2012.

Terri Blackstock's Podcasts and Book Trailers

Help For Teen Drug Abuse
Help fight teen drug abuse, we provide information to help fight teen drug abuse by prevention, intervention and have a support network for those in need.
http://www.teendrugabuse.us

What novels have you read that can be of help in tough, real-life situations?

Heaven Is for Real

My heart yearns for heaven even more since I read Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back.  Without being prompted, 3-year-old Colton told his parents about his "visit to heaven" when he nearly died from a ruptured appendix.  He shared Biblical truths that he couldn't have known unless God had shown him. 
This simple, childlike account reminds me of Jesus' faithful love and favor towards children.  Jesus openly and willingly invites them to come to Him.  He values them more than anyone else does.

Back in Bible times (Matthew 21), the chief priests were furious that the children were shouting praise to Jesus.  “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “Have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants You, Lord, have called forth Your praise?”
In another passage, Matthew 11, Jesus praises His Father, the Lord of heaven and earth, and openly and joyfully acknowledges that God has hidden things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children.

God revealed His truths to children in the past and He still does today.  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8)

Note: In Heaven Is for Real is a picture of Jesus painted by a young girl, Akiane.  Akiane has amazing Spirit-led insights in her art and poetry. 

Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry

How has this book impacted your life?