It is Well with My Soul: A Book Review...

"It is Well with My Soul" is a devotion that the reader will be able to use over and over again. It is not like many devotions, which are finished in a year then stored on a shelf to collect dust. We all have seasons of struggle, disappointment and pain.  Even though we have these seasons, we are living in a culture where it is unfashionable to admit to such a thing. This devotion will become a comfort. Especially, when we walk through one of the aforementioned times in our lives where everything is not sunshine and smiles.

It is reassuring to people to come to the full realization that we are not alone or the only ones to walk in despair, but “It is Well…” doesn’t leave you there. The devotions reveal how God is with us when we hurt.  The format is designed for the reader to be able to read a devotion per day but not necessarily in order. The framework allows for the reader to focus on one devotion for multiple days without feeling guilty of not staying on a predetermined schedule. This is exceptionally nice when God is speaking to them through a particular devotion. Readers will find comfort and agreement of “It is Well with My Soul” even when my circumstances may be rain and frowns instead of sunshine and smiles. 

***A free copy of book given in exchange for review***

Wishing on Willows: A Book Review....

The story of Robin Price and Ian McKay in "Wishing on Willows" will keep the readers interest until the end. Will Robin lose her beloved cafe? Will the culprit be the handsome Ian McKay, who just happens to produce feelings within Robin that she hasn't felt since Micah died? How will it all play out in Peaks? Come and journey with Robin, Ian, Bethany, Amanda and the rest of the curious, unique and eccentric character in Peaks.

The author Katie Ganshert describes the people of Peaks and their feelings with just right the flair. I like the way the story in certain chapters is from Robin Price first person but the rest is not. The story is easy to follow even while dealing with difficult situations.

Soul Connection: Shelly Faust Guest Post

I am taking a break this week from my OBS Blog Hop. Shelly Faust, my OBS leader wrote my guest post for this week. Shelly sees my heart and reveals a part of it in this post.

To be totally honest, this thrilled and scared me at the same time. Thrilled me because we have never met in person and scared me cause God has revealed a part of me to her,
 even though we haven't met in person. 

I truly hope and pray her words will speak to you. 

After reading her post go and give her some love on her blog: 

Is That You Lord?

SOUL CONNECTING 

A GUEST POST FROM SHELLY FAUST

We live in a time where communication travels through wires and bounces off towers. Not limited by miles or oceans we can instantly connect with almost anyone anywhere and anytime. But it is easy to lose touch with personal interaction when online connections are so convenient and accommodating.

God has truly blessed me with online connections and even the opportunity and ability to participate in online ministry. But I must be careful to not neglect building and nurturing face to face relationships.

We were created for companionship. Our souls long for connection. And our hearts expand in community.

But personal connection does not come without risk. Perhaps that explains the appeal of online interaction. We can pick and choose what we share or how much of our heart we give away.

Face to face fellowship and day to day relationships require honest vulnerability. We lay bare our soul and hold our breath, trusting the recipient of our confidence to be gentle and kind.

When we get hurt it is natural to retreat and tempting to view new relationships through the eyes of our pain while hiding behind broken promises, betrayals, and unforgiveness. Our hearts shrink back and if we are not careful we can become prisoners within the borders of the fences we build.

In seclusion, we feel safe but we are denied the beauty of intimacy found in the closeness of a friend who can look into our eyes and know the issues of our heart.

It’s in the risky, vulnerable places we are faced with the greatest potential for hurt, but it is also here we feel God most as He expands our hearts and awakens our souls. This place of soul-connecting is where we feel the deepest and love the biggest.

Maybe together we can be brave? Might we offer each other support here while risking out there?

In her book, “Strong Women Soft Hearts,” Paula Rinehart says “God bids us come into the vulnerable place His Son occupied where the power of His life was born out of fearless trust in His Father.”

God’s best is not found within the confines of our fences but in wide-open fields of vulnerability and fearless trust in our Father.

Let us choose transparency and openness so God’s power can be displayed in our lives. Let us dare to risk for the possibility to love and be loved.

And let’s go there together.

Today’s Post is shared by:  Shelly Faust.  She is a wife, mother of three, Writer/Blogger, life-time learner, recovering people pleaser and mental perfectionist, follower of Jesus (disciple), lover of dark chocolate. You can check out her blog –> Is that you Lord? – connect with her on Facebook here or follow her on Twitter @shellyfaust

"Cry Out to the Lord"....Week Two of Stressed-Less OBS Study

"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress."

  ~ Psalm 107:19 (NIV)

Upon pondering this scripture, it became apparent the verse states "their distress" not God's. God is not stressed by the happenings in our world and lives. He is God and He is in control. Our distress which is defined as "to cause strain, anxiety, or suffering" happens when we try to control. I tell myself frequently, "He is God and I am not!" 

Yes, God's heart is broken when explosions take lives. God cries more for us and this fallen world than we ever will. He told me once when I heartbroken over the choices of a young woman who means a great deal to me, "Child, for every tear you have cried for her, I have cried more." 
He showed me a bucket and my tears barely filled it. 
Whereas, His tears overflowed the bucket and became a river. 

In the coming days, as my parent's house gets closer to being finished, my aunt is recovering from surgery, and we prepare to say good-bye to my parent's 14 year old German Shepherd
 our stress levels will be given prime opportunity to rise. 
Therefore, today it was good for me to remember:

GOD IS GOD... AND I AM NOT!

Joni and Ken: A Book Review

An truthful and revealing story written in third person showing the struggles and love between a husband and wife. Who just happen to be in ministry. A world wide ministry. And one is a quadriplegic. 

"Joni and Ken" shows that marriage is not all roses, candy and sweet nothings but it is standing beside one another through the ups and downs. They freely admit to not being perfect as we journey with them through courtship to the present. 

The only negative is near the end of the book. The scene is laid out that now after decades of marriage, Joni and Ken would sit on their back porch and reminisce. After the scene is set, the book jumps into what seems to be the reminiscing. It is not the fact of looking back that bothers me it is more how the reminiscing is handled. It jarred this reader into of flowing smoothly. Yet, this is strictly from a reading preference standpoint. 

This minor negative is definitely not a reason to mark "Joni and Ken" of your reading list. 

If you are in ministry, read this book. It shows how people in ministry struggle even when God is using them greatly for His Kingdom. 

I love how Joni describes that "She (Joni) had always, always felt loved, But now she felt treasured. Cherished. Even Beautiful."

**The book's publisher provided a preview copy of the book in return for an unbiased review of the book**

Stressed Less OBS Week One: Blessed

 "Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."                                                                               1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 The Message

God is a God who is blessing us all the time. The problem is we fall into a trap of forgetting to look for the blessings. The challenge in our OBS (Online Bible Study) this week is to list five things God has blessed you with throughout the past week. Some people think blessing, do you not know what is happening in my life? I may not but God does. 

Joni Eareckson Tada once said, "There is nothing I am going through that God has not allowed. If He allowed it then there is a purpose for it." With this thought in mind, I went to God and asked Him what are the blessings in my life this week and I encourage you to do the same. The following are my five blessings for this week.

I am thankful to God for:

~ Lack of sleep because we have been given the wonderful opportunity to help family through loving on an adorable 3 year old

~ The opportunity to live near my parents and help them through the rebuilding of their home

~Having a Sweetie who provides for me and encourages the endeavors God has called me to in my life

~A daughter who loves God and will be graduating soon to live her calling of being a teacher

~The opportunity to participate in an Online Bible Study and the Word of God with my Mom

Ok now it is your turn what are 5 things you can be thankful for this week?

"Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected if it is received with prayers of thanks." 1st Timothy 4:4 GWT

W.I.M.I....

This post on biblical encouragement has been in the works for awhile. 

However, every time the blog writing would begin, the subject would end up being delayed. It became frustrating because this is a topic on my heart ever since reading about it in Pastor Tullian's book, Unfashionable

Yes, for those of you wondering I have been reading this book for months. Pastor Tullian is like Watchman Nee for me...little bits to digest at a time. 

While having a minute with the little one watching her newest Veggie Tales, I decided to begin this week's blog. Oh wait a minute, you are probably wondering: "What little one?"

 She is my niece's three year old granddaughter. We have her for the week, while my Aunt is having surgery. Ok...now that confusion is cleared up back to the post at hand. 

My idea for the biblical encouragement post went along the lines of "this is the definition of biblical encouragement and these are the characteristics of God seen in each of these women I know..."

My loving Daddy, oh how He loves me said, "No." Not once either but each time I blogged.

He instead showed me two things:

The first one is a BIG OUCH for me:

Abba Daddy said, 

"Darling daughter you can't write what you don't understand." 

See, He was showing me, I don't understand biblical encouragement. How can one write about something they don't understand? 

Secondly, there was more to learn. This lesson would be learned at Second Touch Fellowship, when Pastor Ron Melton asked the following question:

"Who is the most important person in the room...

And you can't answer God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit."

Upon him asking the question, I leaned over to Sweetie and whispered, "Not me." Others in the room, were answering, "Me, yourself, etc..."

Pastor Ron's answer? 

"Not you. It is the other people God puts in your life." 

While driving back to the apartment, my mind kept hearing Pastor Ron's question. He said during the sermon, he was trying to think of an acronym to help people remember the question. 

However, W.I.T.M.I.P.I.T.R just didn't have the ring of WWJD. Laughter filled the room.

Being the way God created me, I kept wondering what acronym there could be to help us remember the question. The following is what God gave me:

Now, what in the world does this all have to do with biblical encouragement? 

EVERYTHING!

Pastor Tullian explains biblical encouragement, "the verbal affirmation of someone's strength, giftedness, or accomplishment, along with the realization that God the Creator is the ultimate source behind whatever is being affirmed. The secret to true biblical encouragement is learning to see God's reflection in others." 

Your and my challenge: Share biblical encouragement with people in our lives. Not flattery. Tullian defines flattery, "If I tell this person something nice, he'll do for me what I want him to." 

Boy, did that one hurt. How many times have I given flattery instead of encouragement. 

Did I mention a fellow blogger with the right motives? Or did I  hope they would be so flattered

 they will mention me in their posts....see it is right there "they will be flattered and what will it benefit me, instead of giving biblical encouragement."

My goal is to have God help me build up and give biblical encouragement without expecting anything in return. He has quite a job in front of Him. So glad, I serve a BIG GOD!!!

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: 

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,"---Romans 12:3a

Signs, Wonders and a Baptist Preacher: A Book Review

Have  you ever read a book, where at one time you liked it and at the next you disliked it?

I just finished reading "Signs, Wonders and a Baptist Preacher" and still am not sure how I feel about it.

At times, I was agreeing with the author, Chad Norris

 and at others scratching my head and thinking..."What in the world?!?!?!"

Here are a couple examples:

Norris states, "For most of my life, my Christianity has been defined by what I am not doing. I thought I was good with God because I did not have any gross sins in my life." This is a statement, in my humble opinion is true of a large portion of today's church and people who say they are 'Christians'

According to Norris, Luke 9:2 is proof "that following Jesus means to preach the Kingdom of God and heal the sick." I am not 100% sure if Luke 9:2 proves this is what following Jesus means for all believers. This is not to say healing the sick is not a gift from God, 

which is alive and well today in 2013. 

As I continued reading, I liked the fact Norris admits to people being uncomfortable with the gift of healing and how he understood this struggle because he had been there.

My own struggle continued as I read the book. 

Then Norris made a statement near the end of the book, 

which made me say, "OK he does get it..." 

What statement could that be? 

Here it is...

"This whole Kingdom story is about LOVE...

It is not about the healings or miracles in themselves.

 Healings come and go. 

Miracles are here and gone. 

However:

LOVE REMAINS"

If you are up for a challenge and want to have your mind exercised for awhile then pick up a copy of 

"Signs, Wonders, and a Baptist Preacher"

What's In A Name...

Photo Credit: Jeff Lowe Flickr

While working on a post for my photography blog and explaining the reason behind the name of our business, one question kept crossing my mind...

"What's in a Name?" 

New parents spend weeks and months deciding on a name for their new little one

Girls of all ages spend hours determining what the names of their future children will be

However, do we truly understand what's in a name? 

Sure there are cutesy name books and online ways to find out the meaning of one's name. 

Yet...my initial question got deeper while reading a book for review.

Do I comprehend my name, 

Child of the King?

Photo Credit: Darrell Creswell

We spend our days living as paupers instead of as daughters and sons of the Most High God. 

This is not easy for me to type but it is the truth. Why do I accept less than when my Abba Daddy has so much more for me? The truth: Because deep down there is still a part of me which believes I don't deserve to be a princess. It is hard to admit after all these years this is still a struggle for me. One would think why keep coming back here. This struggle should have victory written all over it. Yet, it doesn't and as I ponder why, victory is not here because I don't fully understand what is in my name? 

My Father God loves me more than any other being ever could or will. 

We tend to think of Him in terms of conditional love when He gives us unconditional love. 

I am reading a book that talks about the fact we tend to rarely call God "Father" even though this is how Jesus spent the majority of His time describing God. There are tons of reasons we don't refer to God as "Father", "Abba" or "Daddy"...what I am seeing is until I come to terms with the truth of my name...victory will continue to be elusive. 

God wants me and you to start walking in the calling of our name.
The one He has given to each of us:

CHILD OF THE KING
May we cry out so all will hear...
My Daddy calls me Princess.

Photo Credit: Dew Photography VA

Let's start today by going on a walk and begin living what's in a name.

Secrets: A Book Review....

"Secrets" is Book One in Robin Jones Gunn's Glenbrooke series. I had read one of the later books in this series and enjoyed going back to Book One to get the rest of the story. In the later book, Jess and Kyle's story is mentioned but it was only enough to be able to build on the story. Now to go back and get their story from the beginning was a nice thing.

The story is a little simplistic at times. However, we get enough of real life everyday and from time to time I like a sweet simple romance. Simplistic is not meant as a derogatory term either in this sense. Take a day to yourself and spend time with the people of Glenbrooke. Real life with all of its issues will be waiting for you when you get back. 

**The book's publisher provided a preview copy of the book in return for an unbiased review of the book**

Live All Out...A Guest Post

Today's Guest Post is from Jamy Whitaker.

I have participated in two online Bible Studies with Jamy. She is a kind and compassionate woman with a heart for God. She is also the author of "Get Real"which deals with removing the masks we wear and living a real life with and for God. 

Live All Out

I absolutely love roller coasters, from the methodical click-clack up the first hill to the invigorating twists, tunnels and turns. I simply cannot get enough - the faster and higher, the better.  However, even I have limitations on what I will ride.  Some roller coasters, like the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, are just too much for me.  At amusement parks, we have the choice of which rides we will go on and which we will pass on by.  Life, however, does not offer the same kind of choices.  Many times, we are on the ups and downs, twists and turns of life’s roller coaster and cannot get off.  What about you: do you see life like a thrill ride or more like a merry-go-round?  Do you play it safe or take risks?

I truly hope that you are not one of the people that live in the Land of Someday: a person who keeps putting everything off until the timing, finances, etc. are perfect.  Well, let me let you in on a little secret, it will never be perfect this side of heaven.  You have to pack your bags or move out of Someday and live in Today.  This is your life and it is happening now.  We must keep in mind that God did not create us simply to stand by and watch life pass us by, as we wonder why we aren’t fulfilled.  God made each one of us to take risks in faith and to conquer the giants that so often paralyze us with fear.  What are the giants in your life that you need to step out in faith and go against? 

David did this very thing in a literal way when he faced Goliath.  Compared to God, David’s giant, just like the one in your life, will seem so much smaller.  Think about your life for a moment, what are you doing right now that requires faith?  If there isn’t anything, then why not?  Are you living your life with God’s perspective or your own?  God has so many wonderful things in store for each one of us.  However, in order to reach many of those things, we have to sit back and let Him lead. 

I don’t think anyone would argue that our most precious commodity is time.  God has given us the choice to decide how we will spend it.  We need to evaluate our lives and make certain we are using our time wisely.  We need to keep in mind that tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14).  Don’t waste another moment.

What ever twists and turns your ride may take, God is right there next to you through it all.  Today, I would like to encourage you to take a risk and let God lead your life instead of fear. Live passionately and love completely – reconnecting with those around us so we do not miss the important things in life.

Floundering or Fulfilled....

Is it possible to be both floundering and fulfilled at the same time? 

This the question, I have been wrestling with personally. My conclusion is yes it all depends on whose eyes we are looking through. When my Mom, one of my biggest cheerleader's looks at my life, she sees things I don't.  She sees a successful blogger, writer and photographer who has it all together (don't burst her bubble and tell her differently....lol) 

What about when we look through the eyes of a child? 

Boo capturing her "flags"...

Do we see the wonder of a leaf and the delight in chasing it across a tennis court? The fun in being outside partaking in God's playground for us? Unfortunately, our answer on most days is "No" because....(fill in the blank).

What about when we look through our "fleshly" eyes? When we lean on our own understanding.

"Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5

When I look through my "fleshly" eyes. I see:

• An unfinished book
• Being overwhelmed by my critique group's suggestion for the parts of my book
• No prospects of any one being interested in publishing said unfinished book
• A blog that only a couple of people read
• A love for photography and a new business venture being stagnant
• My parent's not being back in their own home yet
• A house in another state with major decisions still needing to be made
• No church home after 18 months in a new state
• Battling health issues since August 2011

Does any of those sound familiar to you?

As I have read fellow bloggers recent post, it is clear my struggle with blogging and whether Dawn's Dialogue is reaching anyone or making a difference is not just how I feel? 

HOWEVER, when I look through God's eyes the view becomes:

• He is making my unfinished work in progress His work not mine
• A blog being written for Him...as Kelli Wommack says, "Writing for an Audience of One"
• God's timing in the business venture...HIS TIMING IS BEST
• My parent's being grateful for each day they have a temporary roof over their head
• Trusting God for the decisions on home in another state
• Relying on God to provide a church home for us...in the meantime, providing a great group of loving Christian Sisters in my life through various online sources
• Learning God is control of all aspects of my life even health isssues

Whether my life is Floundering or Fulfilled depends on whose eyes I am looking through? Maybe I need to become more diligent (remember this is My One Word for 2013) in seeing my world through God's eyes and less through my "fleshly" eyes? 

Whose eyes are you seeing through today?

 

Finding God in the Dark: A Book Review...

"Whatever end of the receiving line of doubt...it all stems from a fundamental disbelief that God is as good as He says He is. We can affirm it in our minds and say it with our mouths, 

but until it penetrates our hearts it will never transform our lives."

---Ronnie Martin, "Finding God in the Dark"

Ted Kluck and Ronnie Martin tackle a subject people dislike in their new book, "Finding God in the Dark"... that God allows us to have doubt and suffering in our lives. 

Kluck reminds us, "God's actions are never arbitrary" and "God takes drastic measure for us to have hearts that are transformed by His severe mercy and sovereign grace." This is not a popular message. We don't want to acknowledge God's mercy can be severe.

We want to be blessed. 

We want a gentle loving God and yes, God is gentle and loving. 

BUT...

Kluck and Martin in their own style expound throughout this offering, God's plan for His children is so much more. He wants His children to live transformed lives. When doubt and suffering come along, do we see it as an opportunity for transformation or a time for preservation?

Speaking of writing style, not everyone will enjoy it. 

Originally when reading, I kept trying to figure out why the writing voice and style seemed to change with each chapter. This mystery cleared when I realized the book had two authors. How could such a misunderstanding happen? One word...ebook preview. 

While reading, the "highlight" option on my ereader device was put into use roughly 15 times. It is apparent God wants book reviewing to be a part of my journey. Therefore, since not all writing styles and voices are my favorite, the "highlight" feature becomes valuable. 

Why? 

Because, the readers of the review want more than if I liked the book. At least this blogger wants to know more than whether the reviewer likes a book. We may not have the same taste in writing. You might like dark mysteries. I don't. 

Now, for those of you still reading...LOL, you understand why the "highlight" feature is valuable.

Here is a brief summary:

 ~Some will be angered and turned off by the subject matter

~ Others will not like the writing style

~ If you review a book...don't just tell me you liked it :-)

~The authors have done a good job with a subject people normally deny

My Rambling is done.
Go and check out "Finding in the Dark" and decide if you agree with my summary.

**The book's publisher provided a preview copy of the book in return for an unbiased review of the book**

"God Said What???": A Guest Post

I am pleased to have Tracy Steel from One Degree Ministries guest post on Dawn's Dialouge today. 

The best way to describe Tracy...One sweet, adorable, Jesus-loving Mom, who gives awesome hugs.

After reading Tracy's guest post, I encourage you to hop over to One Degree Ministries.

Tracy's blog is a place of life and love fully for Jesus. With no further ado, here is Tracy:

"GOD SAID WHAT???"

"When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son."

~ Hosea 1:2-3 NIV

Do you ever wish that God would repeat Himself, because you probably heard Him wrong? Have you ever thought that maybe the Divine Author overlooked a typo? He couldn't possibly mean what He commanded in that verse, could He?

And what about that persistent "nudge" to be kind, honest, or loving towards someone who clearly does not deserve it. Surely this isn't something that Jesus would do, or is it?

When we start dabbling in the probably, maybe, couldn't possibly, or surely this isn't, we are going to miss out because:

We all have a call similar to Hosea's in our life.

We are called to love as God loves...

I admit that I feel sorry for the prophet Hosea. God told him to go and marry a woman that was promiscuous. Hosea had to have been confused by this. Unfortunately, Scripture does not reveal what his initial reaction was upon hearing the news. We only know he obeyed and married Gomer.

In the verses that follow we learn that God also chose the names of the children Gomer bore after Hosea married her. Commentators believe that these names indicate the declining condition of Hosea's marriage, as well as the deteriorating relationship between God and Israel (who was turning away from Him and pursuing idolatry).

Check out these lovely names and the meaning behind them:

·       Jezreel (God Will Scatter, as well as the location of a massacre),

·       Lo-Ruhamah (No Mercy),

·       and Lo-Ammi (Not My People).

Really? Really.

So Hosea continues to love and raise God Will Scatter, No Mercy, and Not My People. Sadly, Gomer continues to... do her own thing:

"The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”

~ Hosea 3:1 NIV, emphasis mine

"As the LORD loves..." This tiny phrase is why I love reading through Hosea.

God called other prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Ezekiel to address the issue of idolatry too, but these prophets were God's mouthpiece. (They were the "big kahunas" of the Old Testament prophetic world) But this wasn't the call Hosea received.

God called Hosea to marry, grieve, and redeem. Hosea was to love as the LORD loves.

So be encouraged, God may not call all of us to be a "big kahuna."

However, we all have a call similar to Hosea's in our life.

We are to love as God loves (1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:7-12).

If God's nudge or call on your life seems a tad bit odd, overwhelming, or impossible, do not dwell in the probably, maybe, couldn't possibly, or surely this isn't.

God may want to use this Hosea-type moment in your life to love the unlovable and unfaithful.

Really? Really.

Have you ever had a Hosea type moment? Did you think that God was calling you to be an "Isaiah," but you ended up in Hosea's shoes? How was God faithful?

Learn a little about Tracy here. Then visit her site.

Tracy is proudly married to Chad, a pilot in the United States Air Force.  Whenever they are not being relocated, she loves to drink green tea and watch re-runs of LOST. She also enjoys chasing their two children, Jackson (4) and Katherine (2), throughout their toy-infested home.  Tracy graduated from Phoenix Seminary in 2005, and served as the Director of Student Women at Scottsdale Bible Church from 2005-2007. She is also the author of Images of His Beauty, a newly released Bible Study, for young women who struggle with self-image issues and eating disorders. You can find out more information about the study and follow her blog at www.onedegreeministries.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OneDegreeMinistries, or chat with her via twitter @tracy_steel.