Book Review:: The Girl's Still Got It

Oh the joys of summer vacation...relaxing in the sun, reading a book, feet up...yeah right....not with an almost 1 year old. So please forgive the gap in the blog...

Now onto the latest book I finally finished. I've had it for a while.

Ruth has always been a favorite Bible story of mine. Who doesn't enjoy a nice love story full of redemption and 'fate'? Liz Curtis Higgins tells this beautiful story as if you, the reader, are standing with Ruth and Naomi, taking the road back home, coming upon the man she is to marry waiting for her (I mean, really, how much more sweet can the be?) and beginning her life with her new God. The Girl's Still Got It takes you step by step through their journey. Right from the very start Curtis makes the characters come to life, makes you feel present in history, and, above all, makes God come alive on the pages of a book written thousands of years later.  Even after all these years, Ruth and her story still have it. Ruth is still worth something.

If you haven't met Ruth yet I'll give you a little background: She comes from a very pagan nation, marries into Naomi's God-fearing family. Her husband dies, as well as her father in law and brother in law, leaving Naomi and two daughters in law. History will tell you this isn't a good situation. Due to a famine lifting in the Promised Land, Naomi heads home bringing with her Ruth (her other daughter in law did most of us would do and high tailed it home). I can't tell you much more because the hand of God works wonders in Ruth's life. Just know she was not only redeemed in love and family but with God as well.

Even though I wasn't real fond of Curtis' writing style, I still loved the book! As I said previously, Ruth is a favorite (Should I have favorites? Eh, why not!). I did enjoy her taking the characters and making them more real, more touchable, more like me. I felt more involved in the story than just being told again. Curtis took the characters and made them more available, made their feelings and thoughts more real.

But that's not the important part of the book.

Curtis made God silent hand in the story more real. God never speaks in the book of Ruth, in fact He's hardly mentioned. But you know He's there. Because of the way her characters came to life, God comes to life also. You can see Him, now, behind the scenes.

"Our desire as believes isn't to be more like Ruth; it's to be more like Jesus. With each admirable thing Ruth does, we will see the Lord's handiwork...when we read the final page, I hope instead of saying 'wow, what a woman' we'll be saying, 'wow, what a Redeemer!'"

 

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: Running for My LIfe

With the Olympics in full swing, it was the perfect time to receive this book. I knew nothing of this runner even though I faithfully watched the 2008 summer Olympics, especially the opening ceremonies, when Lopez Lomong carried the American Flag with pride. I don't remember his story, which I'm sure they talked about at some point during the games. I wish I did. It is a story worth reading. A story of hope and dreams, determination and survival.

In Running For My Life, Lopez Lomong (born Lopepe Lomong in war stricken South Sundan) tells an inspiring story of a six year old boy, ripped from his mothers arms by rebel solders, who grow up in a refugee camp in Kenya and, years later and a dream come true, became an American Olympian. He tells of escaping a rebel camp that turned children into soldiers with three 'angels', being taken to a refugee camp to live off UN scraps on Tuesday and a chicken on holidays. While at the camp, Lomong fell in love with soccer. In order to play he had to run 18 miles everyday. Yes, you read that right: 18 miles. Through God's blessing and mighty hand, Lomong was chosen to come to America through a program for the Lost Boys. He was placed with a family in Syracuse, New York (close to where I grew up!)

"Ten years after the rebel soldiers ripped me out of my mother's arms, I finally had a place to call home." 

He struggled with understanding that someone would actually want him. Who would want a boy with no country, a boy with really no past.

"They were so nice but apparently so clueless. Why would they ever think a lot boy like me belonged in their home."

Though he wanted to play soccer, the cross country coach bribed him with a jacket (yes, a jacket with his name on the back). Many years later, after stating to everyone who would listen since the time he saw Michael Johnson run in the Olympics on a black and white TV in Kenya, he did make it to the Olympics.

We live in American not knowing how blessed we really are, how children long to come here because it is the land of dreams and opportunity. This story proves America is still where dreams can come true. A heart wrenching, inspiring, eye opening read. Definitely one you need to get your hands on, especially during these exciting summer Olympics. And cheer on Lomong as he runs for the USA!

Lomong didn't write this book to show how good he became at running because he, in all seriousness, ran for his life many times but he is also running for the lives of other Lost Boys in Sudan. He travels and back forth, using his athletic standing and status as a platform to share the terror still going on. Visit his website to find out more of what he is doing for the Lost Boys and the Sudan.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: Trusting God

"Dear Lord, help me look past my problem to see Your provision and protection. Help me rest in the truth that Your ways are high than my ways even when I don't understand"

Trusting God is a series of daily devotionals meant to reignite a 'girlfriends' trust in God. Each day one of the three women (Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith and Mary Southerland) take you through some very personal journeys during which they learned a lesson on trusting God. These journeys range from meeting friends, having children, loss and gaining. The fruit of trusting God through everything is evident in the happy endings. Throughout the book, you can see how God is there, always. These women want you to see this, embrace this, live this. Fully trusting God. Always. Their life stories are proof and they want to share. Girlfriend to girlfriend. Heart to heart. Woman to woman. Through their pain and triumphs they want you to know that letting go can be more ever more rewarding than clinging to the stump holding you to earth. God can do amazing things, as the ladies share, when we release and let go to Him. Trust Him. Trust His ways are better. How much more evidence do you need than three women pouring their hearts onto pages and glorifying God for all He has done?

None. Although it would be nice for you to experience it on your own, right? At the end of each section there is a chapter to reflect. Ways to apply what you've just read about to your own life. Ways to 'let go and let God'. Without these chapters I think the book would have been redundant. But hey, God never changes. His blessings come when we trust Him. They never change. So I guess hearing over and over how God can bless any circumstance can never get old. If you don't want to take the time to read, then don't. But if you need to know, need to be reminded that God is in control, His ways are better than ours, His plan is eternal than this book is for you. Trust is hard, especially with someone Who we cannot see. But know that when you do, there is nothing better.

"God is not human. God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He says what He means, and means what He says. God cares for you unceasingly, provides for you immeasurably, and loves you unconditionally. And you really can trust Him"

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. Opinions expressed are my own.