Hearts of Fire (Book Review)

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

“The blood of Jesus is all powerful”. As Adel was forced from her home and abused by jihad soldiers, she repeatedly shouted these words. Her captors seemed surprised that she did not perish from their repeated attacks on her.

After many weeks of torture, labor and a forced marriage to her captor, she crumpled in despair and was ready to kill her unborn child. Her young daughter who was held captive with her, saw the knife pressed to her womb and forced her to stop.

Adel realized that her hatred of her captors had blocked the healing power of God's love. She confessed her hatred to God and begged forgiveness. Healing began to work in her soul.

Read to find out how she was rescued from her captors.

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Purnima as a thirteen year old girl is strong in her faith through many trials. As a fifteen year old, banished from home and country, she stood firm in her faith. Prayer and singing with her Christian friends in captivity kept her strong for many days of torturous interrogations.

“Losing herself in the presence of Christ helped her immensely as she prayed for God to forgive her tormentors and give her strength for whatever came next.”

Long imprisonment nearly brought her to despair. But the Lord was faithful in showing her what was important and she became His witness in the prison.

“Although she didn't know what the future would hold, Purnima resolved to face it bravely. She recognized her weaknesses but refused to let them imprison her. She would rise to the challenge and leave the rest to God, just as Moses (her biblical hero) had done.”

What does God have in store for Purnima?

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Sabina remains faithful to God and her husband through long years of abuse, imprisonment and separation from family. For years she heard nothing from her husband who was also imprisoned.

She was tempted by church and state to marry someone else but God helped her to stand firm. She was overjoyed when her husband was released.

Read about how they continue to face persecution and how God gives them deliverance.

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Gladys, a missionary to India, chooses forgiveness toward those who brutally murder her husband and young sons. She becomes a voice of forgiveness in the world, though public speaking had at one time terrified her.

Read the entire story.

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These are a few stories from this book that I received as a complimentary copy. It is written by The Voice of the Martyrs. You can find it on Amazon. Or if you've received an offer for a free copy, take it.

Read eight stories of faithful women who stand firm through suffering. In China, Indonesia, Bhutan, Russia, Romania, Pakistan, India and Vietnam their hearts are ablaze for Jesus.

Though these women face fear, anger, pain and great hardship, their commitment to Jesus is strong. He helps them through every situation. When we are weak, He is strong.

He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 1:5) He said to expect to suffer for His sake and promised to give words when they're needed. (Luke 21:12-15)

Reading about suffering is difficult for me. The confirmation that God's grace is sufficient through the suffering is what encourages me.

Life Today

Outside my window...

The day is very cold. The nights are very cold. (High of 21, low of 8) The animals' water needs to be checked periodically to see if they are able to drink it. The ice is thick and smooth on the pond, much to the boys' delight. 

But the sun is shining! And the days are lengthening now. Ever so slowly, but it helps my mind to know that it's happening. The boys keep quoting, "When the days lengthen, the cold strengthens." Must be truth to that.

I am thinking…

The thought has come to me a number of times recently how incredible it was for Jesus to come to earth. He had such a wonderful home of love and light, where everyone did His bidding. And He chose to enter a dark, sin-cursed earth where He chose to do what others bid Him. It hurts to think about the awful exchange. But He did it for the joy it would bring. To Him. To His Father. To us, as His inheritance.

I am thankful for…

...warm fire.

...freedom.

...the Bible.

From the learning rooms…

We read how The Wilder family (Farmer Boy) gathered in their harvest for the winter. We decided there is so much we could raise to feed our creatures. We raise our food so why not theirs?

From the kitchen…

We prepped our supper this morning so we could follow our own interests this afternoon. There is a sweet potato souffle in the oven, waiting to be baked. Lettuce, onions and tomatoes are diced; rice is cooked; burger is browned and mixed with beans and taco seasoning; and nacho chips are crushed for a haystack supper. All that's left is the cheese. The question is, "Do I make cheese sauce or shred cheese and serve with Ranch dressing?" 

I am wearing…

...the usual. Prayer veiling on my head, reading glasses, a dress (maroon), socks, shoes.

I am creating…

I feel excited. I'm actually getting a dress cut out, slowly but surely. I normally cut one out all at once but this one is taking at least three days. I know. I'm weird like that sometimes.

I am going…

I'm not going. I'm staying put. Lol. Seriously, I'm a homebody and don't go more than I really need to and then sometimes not. 

I am reading…

Not sure what's next. I just finished Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang. Not a happy story.

I am hoping…

...to get some apples canned. Just got a few bushels for $5 @. The boys really like canned apples with a topping of whipped cream (real cow cream).

I am hearing…

...my little, three-year-old nephew's prattling. He is telling his daddy that he was out hunting. He had gone out with Christopher and a toy bow and arrow. Little ones are so cute!

Around the house…

Melvin, Christopher & I are tackling kitchen cleanup and organization. They are constantly hounding me with the questions, "When did you last use this? Is this something you use? Do you want this? Do you need that?" We are decluttering for sure. Look out landfill and thrift stores. Here we come!

One of my favorite things…

Solitude.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Keep decluttering and cleaning. 

Keep the men fed and their clothes clean. 

Make menu plans. 

Have a lonely boy over while school Christmas vacation is in session. 

Work on a dress. 

Plan the food assignments for the next sisters' sewing. 

Oops. That was supposed to be a few. Well, it is a few... relatively.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Creative son once again. This was made
using the whole set of Rummikub tiles.

Jesus is the Reason?

"Candles and Holly Berries"

"And now to Rome, as always in December, came the Saturnalia." 

"Io! Saturnalia!" was the call that ushered in, and the greeting that echoed through, the holiday season. This gay carnival of thanksgiving was in honor of Saturn, the kindest and most provident of gods. "Io! Saturnalia! Io! Io!"

Merrymakers sang through the streets in red pointed caps. 

Every child would want a doll and every household would need candles. The makers thereof were busy ahead of time in preparation. 

Evergreens and holly branches, with their red berries, were brought in to grace the buildings.

Gifts were selected and wrapped for family and friends. After a family dinner of roast pig there came the exchange of gifts.

Many tiny masks of Bacchus (the Roman god of agriculture, wine and fertility) were hung on small fruit and olive trees.
(Excerpts taken from Augustus Cæsar's World and paraphrased.)

What modern-day holiday comes to your mind as you read about the Saturnalia?

Christmas, of course!

I hear Christians, this time of year, lamenting the lies that children are told concerning Santa Claus. It is indeed lamentable. 

The clause that follows this lament always stirs my heart- "We know that Jesus is the reason for the season!" It does not stir my heart with joy but sadness. 

How can adults blindly follow the myth of Christmas, year after year, continually passing on to the following generation a belief that Jesus is indeed the reason for the season? Traditions are very strong.

I was taught from a young age that Jesus is not the reason for the season. Christmas is a pagan holiday. 

A few years ago, as we studied ancient history, this truth was more deeply etched in my mind and heart as we read about the Saturnalia.

This was a holiday to worship a god of the people's making and it was practiced long before the time of Christ. This is why you read about "Christmas trees" in the Bible. (Jeremiah 10:3-4)

People say it couldn't be the Christmas tree because it was before Christ. Well, surprise! Do the research. It is the very same holiday. 

The apostles and early Christians did not observe Christ's birth, but his death, as was customary for great people in that time. This He also implored them to do. (Luke 22:19)

The only purpose I see for Jesus in this season is to help people make it through. This season is not about Jesus, but about family. About gifts. About traditions. About food and festivities.

The spirit is not one of giving but of getting. One family decided that for Christmas one year they would only give presents to needy people instead of exchanging them among themselves. The children (who were not young) said, "Let's not do this again!"

The same thing that "Santa Clausers" say, Christians repeat. "It's for the children. Let's not spoil their fun." To be honest, I don't recall ever receiving a Christmas gift and I never felt cheated in the least.

Our young son once chose a "Christmas" song at some other time of year and the song leader made some remark about it. Something like, "Oh, a Christmas song! Hmm. Well, we could sing it." Some twittered. Like, just don't sing songs of Jesus' birth "out of season". 

Yet no one knows the time of Christ's birth. Only, we do know it was not in December because shepherds would not have been in their fields at this time of year.

So we limit songs of Christ's birth to one month when there's no possibility of that being the month wherein He was born.

What if we sang only songs of the Resurrection the whole month of April?

Or, for a month before that, we would sing only songs of Jesus' crucifixion and death? (This would, in reality, be more scriptural than singing of His birth for a month.)

Then we would leave it at that. Don't sing these songs any other time of year. 

Anyway, you get the drift. I'll let you do the further research. How did Christ-mass come to be? 

Why are you celebrating it?

What is the "Spirit of Christmas"?

Why are there more suicides this time of year?

Why are Christians exhausted and left feeling "high and dry" when January comes? 

Today I am thankful for...
...parents who taught me the truth.
...the calm of not celebrating Christmas.
...the wisdom God will give, if we only ask. (James 1:5)

Death, Defeat, Destruction and Victory

Alex of The Frugal Couple was recently posting videos of himself doing push-ups. Twenty-two a day for twenty-two days. Why?

To raise awareness of the twenty-two veterans who kill themselves daily.

President Trump either did or is wanting to declare a national health crisis because of the forty-eight people who daily kill themselves through the use of opioids.

That's seventy people a day, dying because of defeat.

Add to that the destruction of lives in Las Vegas. New York City.

Yesterday 26 people were killed in their country church house in Texas. What makes a man murderous?

Let me ask you some questions.

Did you grow up in a two parent home with no divorce?

Did you have the privilege of being home educated or have you had a good private/public school experience?

Do you have enough food in your house for a week?

Do you have a clean record with the state?

Do you have a home that you do not fear having to move from any day soon?

Do you have a clear conscience?

Is there one person in your life who cares whether you live or die?

Are you debt free?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have much more than most people.

If you think about these things and realize how much people are hurting throughout this land, what does it do for you?

It makes me cry.

It makes me realize why someone wants to destroy themselves or others.

Pain is pain and too much pain is overwhelming.

We have the answer for these people if we know Jesus. If we know God the Father. 

Theirs is a wondrous plan. Jesus came to earth to take all the pain there ever could be and nailed it to His cross. 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: (Isaiah 53:4)

When we believe in Him, He takes all the pain away and gives peace in its stead. Peace that passes all understanding.

As humans we feel like we need to be angry. Or sad. Hurt. With everything that has happened to me, poor me, how can I have peace? It just isn't fair the things I've suffered.

And that is the truth. Life isn't fair. It also isn't fair that Jesus offers to take all that for us after He lived a sinless life and suffered unbelievably and unjustly. But it's the truth.

And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

And once you know that truth and it has set you free, you will have incredible compassion for those who do not know it. You will want to share the truth with them. 

They don't need to live in fear. In shame. In hurt. In anger. In hatred. In "control". In depression. In defeat. In destruction.

There is hope. There is peace. There is joy. There is freedom. There is love.

Let us find and apply this truth to all areas of our lives. We are a broken people who face pain daily. What we do with it- carry it or give it to Jesus- makes all the difference. 

Is something in the past still painful? Do you still feel awful when you think about it? Jesus will heal that as well, if you allow Him to.

Allow the Son to shine through and bring you light and hope and then spread it to others.

Why would I wish to be all things negative when Jesus gave so much to make my life positive?

Prayer: Jesus, my heart hurts so much when I think about what ___________did. It makes me feel so ___________. I choose to forgive ___________ and I take upon myself all the pain he/she caused me and allow him/her to go free. What is Your truth about this situation?

The amazing thing about this prayer, prayed from the heart, is that Jesus transfers that pain to Himself and we go free, praising Him!