Whatcha Readin'?

Hey guys - I've been pretty busy lately, but I'm not gonna bore you with that story again. Today I wanted to talk about the books I'm currently reading! I'm not super impressed with any of them, but without further ado...

I started reading this book a looooong time ago. I love Francine Rivers books, but this one has been a little slow. I can't seem to get into it. You can find the book on Amazon here. You can also read the story summary there, it's really not a terrible book and a friend has promised me that it's really good at the ending, I just can't seem to get into the story.


The Harbinger has gotten a lot of publicity in the past few months and the story is really quite captivating. I have to say, though, that I was very skeptical when I first started reading this, I went in with an image already conjured up in my head; go in with an open mind!! That's all I'm going to say. The message throughout the story is so very critical, I would definitely recommend this book. However, I feel like I sizzled out a little bit at the end, I need to get myself together and just read! Read more about the book and author here!


A few friends and I started reading this book together. It's a fictional novel based on the storylines of Job and Dinah. I love how the book makes the characters come alive and I'm excited to get farther into the book. It's really hard for me to read extra stuff right now because of my school work, but this is something that I want to finish! The book is available on Amazon, here!

That's all that I'm reading at the moment! I've never done anything like this on the blog before, but it might be something that I'll do again. Leave a comment telling me what you're reading right now!!

~ Jessica

 

The Light

Hey guys - I'm on spring break and getting back into the swing of blogging! Between midterms and papers being due, I've been busy! But, I'm back to blogging and couldn't be more excited. Without further ado.....

 

"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome (understood) it." - John 1:5

A week or so ago I started reading through the book of John, and not only 10 verses in, I came across the above verse. I've read it dozens of times, and oftentimes I dismiss it; however, this time it struck me. The darkness can't understand or overcome the light. A picture popped into my head, I imagined a flashlight. Ironically, the same day I came across this verse, our electricity wasn't working. As we looked for a flashlight, in the dark, I realized that when you shine a flashlight in broad daylight, you can't see the light coming from it. All you see is the flashlight. But, when you shine your flashlight in a pitch-black room, the light shines brighter than ever.

 

God gives us a light, His light, and it is illuminated by the darkness and the trials that we go through. A flashlight without some source of power behind it means nothing. But when that flashlight, equipped with batteries and power, is turned on in the dark no amount of darkness can diminish the light. How bright is your light shining? Did you turn it off when the darkness surrounded you or did you continue to keep it shining bright?

 

~ Jessica

weary and worn

Sometimes things get just a bit too heavy to hold.  Sometimes in the midst of the hope that you carry, you just become worn out and weary.  Sometimes, you have to acknowledge the baggage so that you can lay it down again.  Sometimes, we need to empty our hands and our hearts so that they can be filled up again, not with the burdens, but with the Hope of Glory.

My hope is not wavering, my heart is just weary.  It's been a tough 2 plus years, the Lord has been beyond faithful and I've not doubt that He will continue to be faithful until the end!  But friends, can I be honest with you?  I'm tired.  I'm tired of running every day, I'm tired of struggling financially. I'm tired of trying to keep my focus on the right things.  I'm tired of seeing people I know and love, and frankly, seeing people that I don't know, suffer. 

(I pulled over to the side of the road, in case you were wondering)

I'm tired of the politics, the pain, the injustices.  I'm tired of the loss, the mourning, the suffering.  I'm tired of saying "no" I can't, we can't, you can't.  I'm tired........I'm ready for the skies to break open or at least my current situation to break open and for change to come. 

At the same time, I am relieved that I do not have to carry the weight of these burdens.  I am relieved that I love and serve a God who is in the midst of these situations and who is actively working in them.  Even if I cannot see it.  He is there.  I am relieved that I have the ability to voice my pains and frustrations and that it will all be alright.  That God does not judge me based on the things that I cannot carry.  I can only carry them so far and then turn them over and  He will pick them up and carry them for me.  For that I am thankful.

Here's a song from Tenth Avenue North....it's kind of where I am today.  If you're feeling worn out, I pray that this lifts you and that the Spirit of God fills you up!!!!  Thank you for letting me get this off my heart.

Have a blessed weekend friends!!  God bless <3 Lorraine