Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Review: Tales of the Defended Ones



--About the Book (from back cover)--

Ben and Joseph lose their mothers, but find a family. Antonio is rescued from what seems like a hopeless end. Caitlyn dares to trust in the truth. Jorani is delivered from into arms of grace.

Follow these real-life stories on a journey to foreign places and extreme struggles. Travel through their challenges and see the hand of the great Storyweaver--our Defender God--shielding and defending the defenseless in amazing ways.

These are the tales of the ones left wounded...

--My thoughts--

~Beth Guckenberger succinctly addresses her target audience of preteens, younger siblings, and their parents wanting to learn about foreign missions and ways in which every individual is capable of making a true impact in other lives.   

~This book's structure is brilliant, with each child's story filling a chapter, and faceted information added as the story progresses, exemplifying as needed on the countries, languages, diseases filling the stories. 

~Subtlety, Beth Guckenberger weaves the interwinding stories of the children and the people that God provides to give each a loving home.

~Rather than merely sharing stories of God's providence in the children's lives and leaving the reader to find their own personal applications, "Remember This" facets give examples for practical action. For example, one chapter shares: "...just remember that you can't outspend God. His economy is different from ours; when you pour out, he more than fills you back up...it God brings them into your path, it's because he wants to bless you in ways you would have otherwise missed out on!" Further, another example states: "Do you want to help struggling families?...check out Safe Families for Children (www.safefamilies.org)."

Tales of the Defended Ones skillfully laces story lines of multiple children and families--struggling, fearing, yet remaining faithful--for a united purpose: showing "Their Defender is strong"(Proverbs 23:11).

For more information, visit www.backtoback.org or check out the leader's guide.





I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my unbiased review.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

unbeautiful alien --> without blemish & unaccused

I do not feel beautiful. I feel that I am overlooked and unimportant. Lord, please show me the answers.

"how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" Ephesians 3:18b

"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together...once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now, He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body though death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven." Colossians 3:17, 21-23

"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together...I need that. I'm falling apart, fading away...I have no confidence in myself so I need to take confidence in Him. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. I am fighting a battle against myself every day.  I AM evil. I have sinned and I have caused very significant pain and damage and I am a ruin. But now, He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body though death to present you holy in his sight, To have a chance to be seen with Christ's pure white in front of all my blackness and guilt, to receive GRACE that doesn't depend on me...insanity. without blemish and free from accusation I am so afraid of being condemned. I live in fear of it every day, and I'm going to have to deal with it in real life and I am so afraid. I thank You so much that somehow You won't? --if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. I have to live it; live the fact that Jesus is alive and He died to set me free. Live the gospel, wear it on my sleeve as I proclaim: I'm not alright, I'm crushed and bruised, and there is a God that takes even me. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven." Colossians 3:17, 21-23

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I wrote this post a long time ago, back in August, and didn't publish it. What's crazy is how much I needed to read it today. Maybe it will help you too?

~Elissa