Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

I know I always say I'm bringing it back and then never write about books again.  One of my personal goals with the blog has always to do book reviews of either new or old books that I have read that have either inspired me or made me questions things.  I love to read and do read a lot.  I just can't seem to find the time to blog about them.....must be reading too much.

Earlier this year I was privileged to receive a copy of the Good Wife's Guide by Darlene Schacht, from the Time Warped Wife.  I know, I should have reviewed it way back then.  I just didn't seem to find the time to read it until summer vacation and only now am I able to write a review of it.  (Sorry, Darlene).  

I really enjoyed this book.  It was quick and simple to read.  It made me think a lot about my role in my marriage and my job as a stay at home wife and mother.  It encouraged me in what I have been doing and also encouraged me to re think some things that I do.  I appreciate that Darlene does not get involved in the working mom and the stay at home mom.  I appreciate her value of both moms.  It is too easy to point fingers at each other and Darlene never does this.  She does ask what our motivations are for both though. 

I also enjoyed the fact that she did not preach to me in her book.  Earlier this year I purchased a book that was supposed to get me out of thinking organization and into Christ.  It turns out it was more of a cleaning guideline book.  It made me more stressed than I already was.  Darlene does have some cleaning tips in her book as well she shares how she deep cleans areas in her house.  Never does Darlene say you should do it her way.  She always advocates that this works for her and if you want, to try it. 

I never felt while reading her book that I was doing it wrong or she had all the answers.  I felt like I was sitting in her home and talking to her about what works for her and what doesn't.  When she talks she always focuses on God and His guidance in our marriage, our families and our homes.  That is what it comes downs to - God and His expectations and guidance, not the worlds or our own dreams.  

I would definitely recommend this book.  At no time did I feel deficient in what I was doing and at no times did Darlene ever demean others for their decisions.  She simply guides us to realize that we are called to better through God.  

God summoned the ancient Israelites with the blast of a ram's horn. And he still calls people to action today! Dynamic young preacher Paul Hudson is committed to building his church---but at what cost? As he and his congregation struggle to live out their faith, they must choose between man's will---and God's. 450 pages, softcover from Tyndale.

I know many of you may have already read this novel and if you haven't, you need to.  This novel looks at a dying congregation who brings in a new pastor and how that pastor and congregation start to look at the larger picture and their own ambitions and not on God and His will.

I try to read this book every year.  I've hightlighted and taken notes in it.  I know this isn't a Bible, but it is a book that forces us to reflect on where and what our hearts are focused on when we are in ministry.  Is it God and how what we do reflects him to others?  Or is it we look to others or to the world?  These are things I always ask myself when I am involved in ministry.  For example I love to sing.  It took me three year at our previous church to allow myself to ask if I could join the worship team.  Not because I was unsure of whether I could sing or not, but so I could examine my heart as to my motivation to join.

I love how Francine Rivers tackles some of the questions I have regarding ministry  :

How often do we do things to please others, rather than what God tells us to do.
How do we view our church leaders?
Do we see submission in passive or negative terms?
Are we simplifying our message to assist or deceive?

She may not give us the answers that we want, but she gives us the places to look for those answers, namely God and His word.  She doesn't splice words in this novel, even while cleaning up the ending.  

This book is well written and explores our hearts as Christians and our motivations in our Churches.  I would recommend everyone reading this book not just as an eye opener as the Church today, but also to see what God can do when we do get caught up in us and not Him.

Last summer I tried to start an on line book club where we would read and review books that we had stacked on our bookshelves.  Those gems that we were drawn to, recommended to, or given that we haven't read.  I know I have a stack of them.  Unfortunately, I only had one person who was interested so I gave up the idea.  However, God has been leading me to re-evaluate the Lost and Found Book Club. 

I believe my guiding to the book club was to share my love of books with everyone.  I read constantly.  I read for pleasure and knowledge.  I also have very eclectic reading habits.  So what do I do with it.  I have felt God telling me to share this love, but in another fashion.  Every Thursday, I am going to post about a book that I have recently read - new or old.  Knowing me though it will rarely be one that just came out.  It will most likely be one that has been out for a while.  I rarely buy new books and I usually wait until all the "hoopla" has calmed down reading a popular book so that I can make my own opinions.  The books I read may not all be spiritual, but they will be books that have encouraged me in my walk and push me to those places I don't want to go. 

I first heard about this story during the American Presidential Election.  I was intrigued, but never really looked into it further.  Recently while perusing our audio library system, I came across it and decided to look into it.  I knew this book was endorsed by Focus on the Family, but didn't know if it was just a pro-life story or someone's testimony.  It's about both.

I am familiar with her story of being 18 and ideological.  I was raised in a very liberal home.  I was raised being pro choice and that abortion was ok, especially in cases of rape and incest.  I was raised that no one could tell me what to do with my body, that it was mine and mine alone.  These ideas changed when I had my first ultrasound.  My daughter was 13 weeks.  She was fully developed and looked like a little baby, in fact she was sucking her thumb.  She already was active, it took longer for the ultrasound because she was moving around the whole time.   At that time I could have still had an abortion if I had wanted one.  But the pictures shown to me were of a baby.  I wonder how many women on that same date, pregnant for as long as I made a choice that I could and would never make.  I'll admit that rape and incest were still a grey area for me.  That is until I read this book.  Abby (I hope I can call her that) talks about some instances where women she counseled after rape did not abort and gave their babies up for adoption, these women were able to work through their pain.  

This book is also about her own testimony - about forgivness, the power of prayer and redemption.  Abby went from working for Planned Parenthood to Coalition for Life in one day.  This was after 8 years with Planned Parenthood.  It was also after 8 years of prayers from different persons of Coalition for Life and her family.  God worked in her in so many ways, although it took something drastic for her to listen to Him. 

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.  It is not an easy book to read as her story is hard and very visual.  She does not mince words regarding the abortion that changed her life forever.  I think though that it's what God wants her to share with all of us.  Just as the Cross was messy, we need to acknowledge what happened to get the full picture of the gift He's given us.