Archive | October 2016

The Old House by Julia Wilson

Oct16

A Short Story

peaceThe old house had stood since 1896 when Mrs Appleby’s father had finished building it. In those days it was beautiful – a single storey dwelling built of wood and painted white. The sun used to bounce off the boards. A wraparound porch contained several rocking chairs where Ma and Pa sat at the end of the day reading their Bibles and thanking the Lord for His many blessings, as they watched the sun disappear beyond the horizon.

As Summer turned to Autumn Ma spread quilts over both their knees to keep the chill out. Quilts that had been made with love and prayer. Every stitch contained thanks for her husband and little girl Bessie.

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Blue by Danielle Steel

Oct16

Beauty For Ashes

blue-dsBlue by Danielle Steel is a contemporary tale of loss, guilt, forgiveness and new beginnings. It has some difficult issues and is a love story with a difference.

Blue has the theme of loss. Ginny lost her husband and son, Blue lost his mother. Both are thrown together by circumstances. Can they help each other heal?

There is the theme of guilt. Past incidents mean both Blue and Ginny feel guilt, and not just guilt, they feel worthless. Ginny tries to assuage her guilt with humanitarian work. She tries to save people one at a time. “You can’t heal all of the broken and wounded in the world.” Working her way in the hope of feeling better about herself is futile.

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Forgiveness by Marianne Evans

Oct14

The Vibrations Of Truth

forgivenessForgiveness by Marianne Evans is a contemporary Christian romance. It has a strong message of forgiveness and God at its heart.

Forgiveness is as essential to life as breathing. We have all been forgiven and we all need to extend forgiveness. We are all covered by God’s grace. Forgiveness is not easy. There is no gradient on forgiving – we just need to do it. Forgiveness sometimes needs help from God. It is not always possible to do but it is God’s way. “Forgiveness… accept it and give it on His terms.” Extending forgiveness frees us from bitterness and hurt. It is as much, if not more, for our sake as for the one we’ve forgiven.

The theme of hurt goes hand in hand with forgiveness and runs throughout the novel. We may have been hurt as a child and then held on to it for years. Today is the day to let it go and stop being bound by the past.

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Faith Is… by Julia Wilson

Oct13

A Poem

faithFaith is knowing there is more to life than what I can see and feel and touch

Faith is knowing there is a God Who loves me unconditionally. For everlasting.

Faith is looking at the world around me and knowing there is a Creator.

Faith is looking into a newborn baby’s eyes and feeling overwhelming love and knowing that God loves me with an even greater love.

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