New Books for NOW or Your Summer Reading

  

I'm featuring two new Christ-proclaiming books today because who doesn't love a good reading recommendation—especially with summer coming? Both of these authors are friends and ministry partners with Walk Right In Ministries. Your purchase of their books directly impacts outreach in the name and power of Jesus Christ. One book will give you some kick-back-and-have-fun type of reading; the other provides memorable inspiration and encouragement. 

Christian mystery-romance author Sandra Orchard is a generous supporter of Walk Right In Ministries. I devoured yet another of her books over vacation in March and wanted to encourage friends of this ministry to check out all of her titles.  In “Deadly Devotion,” she develops curious and friendly characters in a horticulture town modeled after the area where she and I both grew up. (We met through Inter Varsity and became close friends back in high school.)  She captures the essence of small town relationships where lives seem more transparent yet vulnerable to misunderstanding. Orchard has a genius for pacing and it caught me up again in this murder mystery romance where affections heat up, cool down and heat up again amidst circumstances that are never quite what they seem.  I'm left excited to dig into “Blind Trust” (Book 2 coming in June 2014) and discover how past pain and mysteries will be redeemed. 

Click here for the Amazon link to Book 1 in the Port Aster Series. 

"Collision with Joy" is Melody Richard's first book and it reflects her passion to point people to true hope in the face of anguishing loss.  In this autobiographical reflection, you'll learn how, six years ago, Melody's oldest daughter Danielle (then 20 years old) was killed in a car accident. The despair and anguish of Melody's grief process is contrasted with a vision of Danielle's warm and profoundly joyful welcoming into heaven.  You'll be captivated in the experiences of the two stories woven together with sensitivity, insight and raw honesty.  I was personally drawn into the anticipation of heaven by Danielle's delightful personality and her sheer joy of meeting Jesus for the first time.  This book connects readers with a vision for eternal things that is both comforting and empowering.  
Order directly from Hope Renewed Counseling and mention "WRIM" in your order if you want 100% of the proceeds to go to Walk Right In Ministries.

Click here for the Amazon link to "Collision with Joy."

Remembering Paul: Jan's Glory Story

Encountering the presence and power of God can happen at unexpected times and in unexpected ways.  Today's story is heartbreaking yet a beautiful example of how one family experienced the deepest kind of shock, sorrow and loss while taking a courageous step in the grace of God.  As we read, may we all be encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus when the storms under our feet threaten to sweep us away.  

I can still hear my sister’s voice. She called my Duluth campus apartment in January of 1981 to tell me that her son Paul had been hit and killed by the kindergarten school bus after he'd gotten off that morning. He went to get the paper he was bringing home to his mom—the one he had colored that day that had blown away from his grip. It landed just below the curb next to the bus. His friend said, "Paul, don't..." and before he could finish, Paul said, "it's ok…"

I had seen Paul exactly two weeks before at my Uncle Raino's funeral in North Dakota.  Raino was a giant of a man to me, a gregarious Finn and a farmer who let me feed the lambs with a bottle when I was a little girl, and I loved him. He had a heart attack and was gone. At the dinner for the family, Paul was wearing the new cowboy boots he had gotten for Christmas a few weeks before. I had cowboy boots on too, and I remember the smile on his face when I showed him mine. 

It was surreal. I was completely in a fog. I was still in shock during the 22 hour Greyhound bus ride to Montana, riding along with my brother, Ric. We talked about how unreal this was, how we couldn’t imagine how this could happen, and about our mom's indescribable grief over her grandson. We talked about God and how He was undoubtedly present with our sister right now.  

When we arrived at my sister, Renee, and brother-in-law, Brian’s house in Billings, many relatives were already there. I didn’t know what to say to anyone.  Nothing was fitting for this event. Later that day, any of us who wanted to see Paul were invited to a private viewing at the funeral home. Paul had on his cowboy boots but nothing else looked familiar about that sweet little boy. There would be no memorial service or open casket, just the funeral.  

My sister fainted when she saw Paul.  It was all so unbelievable.  Every sound was amplified, especially the sound of our hugs and tears. 

The next day, something happened that impacted me forever. Renee and Brian, along with their pastor, asked the bus driver, Dianna, to come over to their home with her own pastor, to pray with them. Diana was devastated. While I was still trying to comprehend Paul's death, I witnessed this amazing grace given to the person who was responsible for their son’s death.  

They told her that they forgave her. It was profound to me. I will never forget it. God’s light was shining through them, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Their act made me think of these words from 1 Corinthians 2:5-7. I know the context of this verse is church discipline but the words are fitting for any situation where we ought to forgive and comfort:  

“If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent--not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow…" 

My shock wore off at the funeral when, as we all walked into the sanctuary together, the church was singing Away in a Manger. The reality of all this finally hit me and I wept so hard I could barely walk to our pew. Yet I still couldn't fathom what my sister was going through. Hopefully I will never know.  

Once I became a mother, more than 18 years later, I finally understood the kind of love she had for her son. My empathy and compassion for her and her family grew even stronger than at the time of Paul's death because I now understood that kind of love.  
I've asked God why he would allow this to happen, and I know Renee and her family have asked God many times over.  In the weeks and months that followed, their grief didn’t leave.  They were suffering. But their obedience to God spoke to others.  

I know God didn't make Paul die. When tragedy strikes, however, He will use the situation to show us His love and grace. I saw His love and grace through the selflessness of Renee and Brian. So did Diana, the school bus driver.  Even in their pain, they allowed God to work through them, so His glory could be seen to give us hope for the day we’ll all be together again. 

“…but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” John 9:3 

“See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.” Isaiah 48:10.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the example from this family and others who persevere through sorrow today. Thank you that nothing about sorrow like this is wasted when we experience it in the grip of Your love.  Please continue to comfort and strengthen these loved ones as the years go by teaching them how to rediscover your power, presence and goodness.  Thank you that when everything’s falling apart on us, you put us back together again with your Word.  AMEN

What is the "Right" Way to Pray?

"You're my place of quiet retreat;  I wait for your Word to renew me." Psalm 119:14

Here's a good question: What IS the right or best way to pray anyway?

Most of us struggle in the area of prayer. Depending on the day or moment, we desperately hope for a tangible sense of connection with our Creator. We long for guidance and wisdom that is clearly from God and we wrestle with desires for personal intimate connection with that same Jesus the disciples knew.

Obstacles seem endless. We're busy, intimidated, impatient, confused, tired and curious but frustrated that time in prayer seems like such hard work sometimes.  Perhaps you're tired of feeling guilty or inadequate about prayer.  It's been recommended that you do it "this way" and "that way." Some have even insisted that there is a perfect time of day to do it. And now, here I am suggesting that you should journal more?!?

Well...yes, I am offering a workshop about journaling in April (two options, actually, so that you can schedule one that works best for you). But before you get carried away with assumptions that some book author who is already really comfortable with the writing process (maybe not like you) is going to teach you how to do something revolutionary yet something that will quickly fall by the wayside with so many other "should-haves" in your life—think again.

This is NOT your typical journaling or prayer workshop!

Think of it more like a 2-hour renewal event.  I'm going to get really personal with you.  More importantly, God Himself is going to get really personal with you.

What happens at this workshop is likely to surprise you. Between laughter, conversation, maybe a few tears, some quiet...and yes, just a little bit of writing...You'll make some life and relationship-shifting discoveries.  Whether you've never journaled before (maybe even despise it) or have done it for a long time, this event promises to reveal new ideas and perspectives that you'll wonder how you lived without.

You will learn the "right" way to journal—because, yes, there actually is a "right" way to pray.

I promise.  

And, if you're not satisfied, you can have ALL of your money back. 

But, you ask, aren't there as many methods, techniques and manners for praying as there are temperaments, passions and giftings?  Good question!  And here's an even better one: What if God didn't care so much how you come but that you come?

Have I whet your appetite yet?  I hope so because I know this really could be a moment in time that sets you on a whole new course in your conversations with God!

What better way to celebrate the Easter season than to discover afresh —or maybe for the very first time— your intimate connection with the resurrected Jesus!

It's easy to register and you have two options in April:

• Saturday, April 12th — 9:30 to 11:30 am
• Tuesday, April 22nd — 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Visit Eventbrite for information and tickets.

"Most of my life, I thought that you went to church to worship. But now I see that the better approach is to go worshipping to church. Trust me, church is better...filled with people who have been pursuing God for six days before they get there. Church as a "refill" or a "tank-up" is a disaster. Corporate worship works best when we arrive with something to offer God, as opposed to coming only to get something for us. Church is supposed to be a celebration of our personal journeys with God since we were last together."  —from The Air I Breathe by Louie Giglio