Thy Will Be Done

October 25, 2016 / Gail Johnson / 4 Comments

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10

Did the Lord realize how hard it would be to say those four little words? Thy. Will. Be. Done. I think so. Alone, in the midst of Gethsame, just before his death, the Lord prayed. Twice.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:38-39

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Matthew 26:42

Thy will be done…

…is letting go when we want to cling

…trusting when we don’t understand

…hoping when all seems hopeless

…believing He is able

Thy will be done…

Do you ever struggle with that phrase?

Falling

October 18, 2016January 10, 2017 / Gail Johnson / 6 Comments

Isn’t the view spectacular this time of year? Everywhere you look you catch a glimpse of the Creator’s majestic handiwork. The seasonal changes offer an opportunity to slow down and take a moment to enjoy the blessings around us. Fall is a colorful season resembling the diverse hues on a painter’s palette. Take a moment and enjoy the view and remember the Creator of it all.

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The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1

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Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. Psalm 19:2

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There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Psalm 19:3

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Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19:4

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Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. Psalm 65:11

In which season do you enjoy God’s handiwork the most?

Sarah’s Smile ~ Dawn Kinzer

October 11, 2016October 11, 2016 / Gail Johnson / 6 Comments

I have been waiting for this book for quite some time. And I can tell you it was worth every minute of the wait! Dawn Kinzer held nothing back in her first novel, Sarah’s Smile. Don’t you just love that cover? I do. Sarah’s Smile is available for pre-order. The release date is October 14. Thursday! Let me tell you about the story.

14671105_10209383243651205_4309553720707887664_n Forsaken by her parents and Peter Caswell, Sarah McCall lives with a bitter grandmother in a town filled with nothing but bad memories she had no part in making. Desiring to leave it all behind, Sarah makes plans for a mission trip to Africa.

But when her childhood sweetheart and widower, Peter Caswell, comes back to town as the new pastor, Sarah begins to rethink her plans. When she receives a denial from the Mission Board, Sarah believes God is giving her another chance with Peter.

With hope renewed once more, Sarah sets her heart on a future with Peter but quickly finds the past isn’t the only thing between them when others in the town make plans to keep them apart. Will Sarah finally let go of the past and embrace a future with Peter? Will Peter finally man-up and fight for Sarah?

Of course, we know the real question isn’t will or if, but when and how.

My Thoughts

Where do I begin?

This story touched me on so many levels. The inner child in me empathized with Sarah’s pain. The reader lived the story. The woman of God experienced the Message, meticulously woven throughout the lives of the characters. And finally, the writer appreciated the author’s ability to make her forget it was only a story. And that is almost impossible to do!

Another thing I liked about this story is Sarah and Peter may have argued, but they didn’t allow misunderstandings to go all the way to the end of the book. And clarification of a simple misunderstanding wasn’t what brought these two together. Their relationship naturally grew out of their mutual love for helping others in their community.

I also liked the fact that I couldn’t figure out how on earth Peter and Sarah would get out of the mess created by a sanctimonious busybody. Would Peter, as the community leader, resolve the wrong done to Sarah? Could Sarah convince others of her innocence? The reveal was a complete surprise! Bravo!

Sarah’s Smile has it all: a heroine, a shepherd, an addicted lost soul, the tormented soul, the self-righteous saint, and the down-to-earth town folks. Who could ask for more? I couldn’t. Dawn Kinzer is now on my must-read list, and I’m looking forward to the next installment in the Riverton Series, Hope’s Design.