Where is God? ~ Book Review

Ever wonder in the midst of all the tragedies in today's world, is God really there? Did He abandon you? Is He too busy? Are you being punished?

Now more than ever in the last few years many people have begun to ask the question, where is God in my crisis? Sometimes our countless days and months of prayer seemingly go by without any answer so we are left to wonder, did God hear me?

We have a family illness or possible death and wonder will God hear our prayer? Will He heal them? Will I be the one to receive the miraculous healing?

So often in these times it is normal to question our God and ask why, much like our children pose that very same question to us as parents so many times when they too, don't understand. Yet despite their circumstances, we are there, we've never left our children, and we are right there by their side enduring whatever it is with them.

God is the very same way. Much like a parent who has to witness some life altering event in the life of their child, parents will hold their childs hand, cry with them, reassure them, and offer whatever comfort they can.

The only difference is that we are physically present and God isn't that physical presence that we would all love to have. Yet He is there right with us, no matter what. He is never too busy. You are that important to Him that He will make whatever time you need and endure it all with you.

I was fortunate to review the book, Where is God? from Dr. John Townsend for Thomas Nelson publishers at a time in my own personal life where I too have asked that question. I found so much peace and solace within the pages of this book and each was reference with many many scripture references and Biblical examples to mirror our own lives. Even Jesus himself was faced with so many of those same situations and He too cried out to God, " My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Even Jesus wondered where God was in the midst of all His suffering, yet we see just how faithful God is in His timing of these situations. While the answer to our prayers might be a speedy yes, it may also be a long one as well taking many years to answer. It may be a No or even the dreaded wait!

Yet in the midst of it all, God's promises are everlasting and the book does offer comfort. An ever increasing number of people are still asking this question daily. People want to know what God is doing. How can He make a difference in their economic downturn, their job struggles, their relational hardships, even their health issues? Maybe you have those very same questions.

"God has not left you twisting in the wind, nor is He playing hide-and-seek," says Dr. Townsend. "He wants to be present with you and powerful for you in your circumstances. He may bring a miracle. He may create a new path. And He may walk with you through a loss. But however your hard time plays out, He is here. He is for you, no matter your struggle."

I am giving away a copy of this book, "Where is God?" by Dr. John Townsend if you leave a comment. I am very confident that this book will help comfort you while you wait for His answer and you will feel His presence in your life. If you post about this giveaway on your blog, I will provide you with another entry, please post a separate comment and let me know. Also if you follow me, I'll add another entry for you. SO you can see three entries per person are possible.

I have received a copy of this book to review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Morning!

Good Monday Morning Everyone!

Here is hoping that you all had a wonderful weekend. For those of you snowed in, frozen solid or simply too cold for words, I hope you stayed warm, in front of a toasty fire and really enjoyed some quality family time.

Today is a simple update post since I have so much going on, I want to update all of you on everything.

1. My Health ~ I was great for about 5 days, no pain, no pain meds and then low and behold on Friday just after someone called and inquired and I actually told them I was doing better, come Friday afternoon, the pain came back. Thankfully I have an appointment today at 4pm PST and hoping to see just what my options are and what is really going on inside.

2. I want to congratulate Chel from Abiding Branch for winning the One Day Way Diet book. If you email me, I can get that off to you as soon as I can. Look for another giveaway this week for Where Is God? once I post that. Great book. I'll probably post it later today so make sure you enter to win.

3. Mea, my niece goes in this week for her eye exam and with so many of you praying for her, we are hoping that God blesses us with some wonderful news. We will know on January 13th, Wednesday so keep lifting her up in your prayers.

4. Steve's Mother is back in the hospital, her third time since I've first blogged about her for her heart arrhythmia again. Since she has diabetes, the doctors have been unable to perform an angiogram to detect what is going on with her rapid heart rate because of her kidneys operating at about 30%. Please pray that God will make this possible so they can figure out just what is going on. For now she remains in the hospital.

5. Kailee's birthday is coming up in about 2 weeks if any of you would love to send along a Birthday card to her, I know she would just love to get something in the mail. Simply email me and I'll send you our address. She is turning the big 11 on January 28th.

Thanks for you many continued prayers for our family and for me. I've definitely felt it over the last few weeks and know that even in the middle of the storm, God's healing waters are still washing over me.

Rapture...Fantasy or Reality?

In the second part of my blog posts on the end times Bible Prophecy I am continuing where I left off. If you missed yesterdays blog, I would suggest you start here and then come back.

Because I truly believe in the pre-tribulation theory, my studies are based around those Bible events that lead me to believe that our next major event in Bible history will be the rapture of the church.

What is that you may ask? It is being taken by force as a believe in Jesus Christ, to meet with Him and our loved ones that have gone before us that also are believers to be with Him forever. We will not have to physically die in our bodies.

This will be the ultimate family reunion with our loved ones who have died before us. No more sorrow and sadness and will experience joy in an instant.

In the twinkling of an eye is how quickly this will all take place. That is faster than we can blink. It is actually 1 /1000th of a second. Your mind can't even comprehend just how fast that is. One second your here and the next you are reunited with family and God.

Will we be the generation of believers to see this happen? No one really knows, however quite some time ago believers thought it would have happened already based on world events that were occurring at that time. So why didn't it?

Have you sat in church recently and seen anyone come to God? That is the very reason it hasn't happened yet. God is waiting for that one person to believe and then we are outta here.

2 Peter 3:9 " The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance."

So where does the Bible say all this rapture stuff will happen?
2 Peter 3:10 "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the coice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead is Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to met the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Matthew 24:40-42, "Two me will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on which day our Lord will come." 1 John 3:2 "But we share know that when He appears we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, "Listen, I tell you a mystery; We will all not sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."

Can you imagine just how many current Christian believers are living on the Earth currently among a population of 7 billion? Can you explain how much that would impact the World to have all those people gone from all over the world in an instant?

Can you see how it would set the stage then for the anti-christ to rise up? This can't happen until the church is removed from the world.

Think about how the economies and the businesses would be impacted during that rapture of the believers. This is the perfect time for a charismatic person who is wise in economic and military strategies to come to power and fix everything.

We won't have to worry about a one world currency even though they have been talking about it for years, it will be more likely to see a one world government with a cashless society thanks to where technology has us all headed in the future.

This can not occur until the existing restraining force is removed. What is that? The church through the rapture will provide no more resistance on the Earth.

Christians for the most part are the ones that speak up for what is right and true in the world today. We are the ones helping when natural disasters strike, when the homeless and hurting need help and to restore and hold together families and marriages.

Once that is gone from the face of the Earth, evil can pretty much do what it wants with no one to speak out against what is right or wrong anymore.

So at this time let your thoughts be on heaven and eternity with God.

Here are some of the effects of the Rapture.

1. No death! The generation that witnesses this event will not die a physical death.

2. It will happen in a instant. 1 Corinthians 15:51

3. Transformation - New Bodies, no more aging, health issues or disabilities.

4. Rescue Operation - God's Special Ops Team will come to remove us all to avoid the tribulation period. 1 Thessalonians 1:10, "to wait for his Son from heaven, who he raised from the dead ~ Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." This is where I come to believe in pre-tribulation.

So what is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming? Aren't they the same? No. Here are the differences.

Rapture: will be a stealth event, we will meet Jesus in the air, He comes for His church and before judgement.

Second Coming: It will be a public event, Jesus comes to Earth, with His church, and with Judgement.

So what should we as Christians do? Walk with God. Like Enoch who was the proto-type who experienced a solo rapture.

Genesis 5:24, "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." He did not die. He took a walk with God and went home with Him.

That is how we need to live our lives, walking with God, consistently and constantly!

Are you sure you'd be ready when God returns or will you be left? Do you have that ultimate certainty behind any reasonable doubt? If not, let's fix that now!

We need to repent or turn away, stop doing sin filled things and stop living in both worlds even as Christians. It's time to get right or get left. Ready? Pray this prayer!

Lord Jesus,

Come into my life!
I know that I am a sinner!
I thank You for dying on the cross for me and rising again from the dead.
Now fill me up with Your Spirit and write my name in Your Book of Life,
and help me follow You all the days of my life.
Thank you that my sins are forgiven and that I am now going to heaven.
In Jesus Name I pray! ~ AMEN!

If you just prayed that prayer, you are a new creation and a believer in Jesus Christ. This is the reason for His delaying of the rapture of the church. You will now be part of that ultimate family reunion and I can't wait to welcome you when I see you!

Look for what happens when the church is gone and see just why you want to make sure you aren't here for what is coming next tomorrow!

Bible Prophecy's Coming to Pass?

Do you think based on our current world's events that we are living in the end times?

Do you think the rapture of the church is just around the corner?

Do you think the prophecies spoken of in Daniel, Ezekiel, Matthew, Mark and Revelation are really coming to pass?

I've been a lover of Bible Prophecy since I first came to God. I spent so many years caught up in the worlds view of prophecy with astronomy, astrology and even witchcraft and the darker arts. It was just part of my childhood to remain curious about the things we can't explain yet happen anyway. That is until I knew better.

I personally feel that God drew me to Him through that curiosity and pointed out to me through some major life changing events during those times just what war was really going on in my life waging war in the unseen world for my soul.

I can remember consuming end times Bible Prophecy books that I could get my hands on. I wanted to know just how close we were to seeing all this happen. How soon was the rapture of the church going to take place?

I remember watching my first movie on the old movie projectors in church about the Rapture and quite honestly for my age, that movie did more to scare me than it did to bring me to God. I didn't want to lose my family. I certainly didn't want to be left behind either while my family was taken.

So just where does that leave us in regards to Bible Prophecy for today?

Have you been watching anything in regards to the world events? Natural disasters becoming more frequent and coming in greater intensity. Let's just take a gander at that one.

Al Gore would like us all to believe that it comes under the Global Warming umbrella, however we are seeing signs that this is not true. Places all over the globe are seeing record low temperatures or even snow and ice in places it hasn't happened to ever. Look at the headlines today. Even the once great Inconvenient Truth is being questioned that the documentation isn't exactly as accurate as they wanted.

Yet what has happened when it comes to greater intensity and greater frequency in our natural disasters. Here are the indisputable facts.

1. Earthquake in China killed 69,000
2. 2005 in Pakistan, earthquake killed 80,000
3. Tsunami in the Philippines and Malaysia in 2008, which is an underground earthquake moved the entire island of Sumatra 100 feet to the east and over 290,000 people died.
4. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 claimed at least 800 deaths.

These are just a few of the handful of daily world wide major reports that should be a warning sign to all that something is changing, something is shifting and it isn't global warming.

Mark 13: 8 "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains."

Coincidence? Not hardly. Yet are these the things we should be concerned with as Christians? Yes and No! We should be on alert that they are happening but we will all be removed from the Earth before they get really bad, I believe.

I believe in Pre-rapture which means to me that we, as believers in Christ, will not have to endure the trials of the Tribulation period. We will be taken from here before any of that happens. This is not referred to as the second coming of Christ. We will go to meet Him, Jesus, but He will come to us. Not yet!

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 "According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left til the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. "

So we are to be encouraged. We have hope. But where does that leave us with where we are at today?

Mark 13: 2 "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus, "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

I believe that Jesus is referring to the destruction of the temple that Herod had built that occurred in 70 A.D. It took Herod 47 years to build it and only 7 years for it to all come down. Even the gold that used to line the top blocks of the temple were taken down and melted away for the gold. This temple has not been rebuilt since.

So I believe that the rapture is the next big event waiting to unfold, despite the call for a one world currency and the tensions going on in the middle East. That I will save for tomorrow when I take you through Ezekiel 37-39 and lay out the major players against Israel in the beginning of the Tribulation period that lies just on the horizon.

So Christians take heed and be blessed by reading this according to Revelation 1:3 "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those that hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."

Time to begin my study once again of Bible Prophecy and share the good news to all who come this way. Rejoice for there is hope!

2009 Survey Say's?

I found this a few days ago while stopping by to visit Tami at Hearts Make Families. Since I missed out on my opportunity to blog on December 31st, 2009, a recap of all that 2009 did for me in my life, this came at a perfect time to share with all of you. Join in and have a blast!


1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I began blogging. I awoke on January 1st with divine inspiration and a name from God to begin this process and carry it through for at least one whole year. It's been so much fun and I've met so many new friends, I have to keep on going.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make them because I can't keep them. I do try and set goals for myself. I completed some but need to re-evaluate those for 2010 and see how much better I can do for myself in 2010!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope, most of the people I know are done with having kids and are now enjoying raising them.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I had a very close friend, Loren whom I call my sister, lose her dad to God's heavenly home! Can't wait to meet him when it's my turn to go.

5. What countries did you visit?
Not this year but who knows what God's plans are for 2010!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More time with my husband. He worked so many hours for a company that doesn't see that hard work pays off and will grant him time with his family if he has to take them away from us.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
All the times we wished Steve was home with us, but was called out to work out of town. Too many to list!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing my blog after a year!

9. What was your biggest failure?
My health failed in the final months of 2009!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Still waiting to be diagnosed!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Two new little kittens to add to love in our home!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Kailee and Caitlyn. They are both excelling at their school and maintaining A's in all subjects!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My brothers and my husband's boss!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Household expenses!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Loren's dad was saved before he passed away!

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Matthew West - The Motions

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
I am happier because I have hope in Jesus, my appearance never matters to anyone but me, and I will always be rich because I have God!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Served in our church!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Housework, my family never notices as much as I do!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Sick in bed, asleep for most of it, but my family was home!

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes, because God is now more prevalent, He has allowed me to share that with family and friends more

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy, Hell's Kitchen, Survivor, Three Rivers, Mercy

23. Do you hate anyone now that you did not hate this time last year?
I never hate anyone, just hate what they do.

24. What was the best book you read?
Twilight Series by: Stephenie Meyer

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Any Upcoming Christian Artist for 2009!

26. What did you want and get?
Willow Creek Nativity Set

27. What did you want and not get?
A new car

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
New Moon and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Princ

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Hubby was away from home working, so nothing until he got home. 45

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To help someone come to Jesus!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I've never been fashion trendy, so it's always been t-shirts and jeans!

32. What kept you sane?
God!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't envy any of them. They don't have privacy and their smallest mistakes are played out before the entire world and judged!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Anything related to our current economic situation

35. Who did you miss?
My hubby each time he has to leave home to go to work out of town!

36. Who was the best new person you met?
All of my followers. I love each and every one of you.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Give it to God and rest in His arms. He will take care of the rest!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Even when the rain falls, even when the floods start rising, even when the storm comes, I am washed by the water. " This song has given me so much hope in the midst of all that I find myself going through and the reminder that I am not alone! It's from Need to Breathe - Washed By The Water

Don't forget to check out my book giveaway by leaving a comment here on this link. The contest ends on Monday, January 11th and you'll definitely want in on this one! You may also want to check out my Acts of Random Kindness blog for ways to make a difference in the lives of others if you haven't become a follower yet. Trust me it will make a huge difference.

New Blog and a Prayer Request

This year so far is going to amazing and I can already sense God's hand in everything I do. Like Paul, though I pray for my illness and health to improve, God has not in His timing allowed that to happen just yet. I praise His holy name for He knows when and where this will happen so I am holding on to His promise that He will remain faithful and not forsake me. Thank you so much for all your wonderful well wishes and keeping me in your prayers.

Thank you goes out to Christy Rose at the Secret Life of An American Wife and Mom for sending me a great book entitled PS God Loves You! They are simply messages from God to you. Already I have been so touched and feel God's love just by reading them one at a time. Thank you again Christie for your loving gift.

I wanted to bring to your attention a new venture that my youngest daughter started to improve her writing and give her a chance to share her world with all of you. She started her own blog and would love it if you all stopped by and gave her a bit of encouragement. It's up to you if you want to follow her as well. Here is the link to her blog called Hand In Hand.

The last update is also my most important. My husband, Steve, received a phone call last night about his mom being admitted to the hospital for irregular heartbeat. She was waiting to see if they could stabilize it enough to get her an angiogram to see what is going on in her heart.

Unfortunately as of this afternoon, they are still unable to get her heart under control again. I would love it if you could please lift his mom up in prayer and ask for God's healing hand to slow and restore her heartbeat. I would also ask that the right doctors be directed towards her to offer her the reasons for this issue and that they can find a cure for her to be released from the hospital and back at home. Her name is Vera Smith and I would love for you all to lift her needs up at this time.

Giveaway and Book Review ~ WOO HOO!

The One Day Way
By Chantel Hobbs

I am sure you have all read one diet book at some point in your life, especially if you are a woman. The problem with most is that they all sound wonderful, promise great incentives and even provide the motivation to get you going. The downfall is usually not in the book, but in us, to keep the program going until we achieve the results we are seeking.

I was given the opportunity to review this book from Chantel Hobbs through Waterbrook Mulnomah Publishers and the concept sounded great. What better way to begin any challenge to lose weight, or to define our bodies that to tackle it differently than any diet book has ever suggested. You do it one day at a time. You set daily goals not weekly, monthly or even exact dress size or pounds lost. What better way to gain success than to do it for one day. How can anyone lose motivation to achieve some form of success on a daily basis? Anyone can do that. I love how Chantel has broken down this book in different parts to provide you with all the tools necessary to guarantee success where in past methods have only led to failure for me.

I know that just making a small change such as giving up fast food for one day for me is a huge accomplishment. Can I do that for one day? Of course, I can. If I can make changes in small steps, I will succeed in this endeavor once and for all. The best part of the One Day Way is that Chantel teaches you to not compare ourselves to anyone else. We are born to compete in anything in our daily lives whether it’s our bodies, our homes, our jobs, we are live in some degree to compete with our friends, neighbors or even perfect strangers. Yet it is that competition that will also lead to our failure because we can never measure up to someone else. We will always want more or something better. However if we simply change the mindset to compare ourselves with only ourselves, we will achieve the results for the right reasons. For example, I want to lose 40 pounds to not only be healthier from a overall weight statistics but I know from past experience, I look and feel great when I weighed 150, not comparing myself to anyone else that I know that has weighed 150.

It is a great must read for anyone that has tried to lose weight and can’t, or who has lost weight only to gain it back again or just those that lack the motivation to even begin with a win in mind. Trust me, I loved this book and would love to give a copy away to anyone who would love to win a copy. Simply leave me a comment on what your motivation is, and why you would think this book may be the final shinning light you’ve needed to make that life change once and for all. I will pick a winner by January 11th and email you to let you know you’ve one, so please make sure I have a way to reach you. Trust me, this is truly worth the money spent to purchase this book.

If you would like more information on where you can purchase a copy of this book from Random House, please click on this link.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. Don't forget and leave a comment for a entry in the giveaway for January 11th!