Friday, February 3, 2012

Rooms


"Rooms" by James L. Rubart

This book was good but not my favorite, a little to sci-fi for me, but sci-fi with a spiritual twist. A man who appears to have it all gets a letter that makes him look at all that he has with new eyes. The letter is from a deceased great uncle he has never met. A great uncle that has built him a home in a place he loves, a place he never wants to visit again. He goes to see if the house is for real and finds the house feels like home. He is drawn to it. Many strange things happen in the house, spiritual things. "Songs from the deepest part of you: your heart. So many good things are trapped there. So much of My glory. Your good heart cries for that glory. Remember who you are." Songs can speak to the deepest part of us and here is where God resides. Sometimes music can bring us back and help us remember who we are in Christ. "A stronghold is anything that keeps us from the freedom of being in Christ Jesus." This sentence made me think about strongholds in my life, things that are keeping me bound up and not able to experience the freedom Christ gives. "To heal a wound the Lord needs to bring it to the surface." That sentence hurts because so often we just want to put a band aid on our hurts and will them away. In order to fully heal they have to be brought to the surface, talked about and dealt with so that Jesus can completely heal. This is usually not a fun process but the wholeness and growth after is worth the pain. "The King calls us to a life of risk, adventure, and a continual journey into the unknown. The Bible says the Word is a lamp unto our feet. Not a lamp unto our head or a set of running lights where we can land our aircraft. So take one step at a time. Right now you're desperately trying to figure out how your journey ends. But you must have faith enough to let it go and let Him unveil it in His timing." Oh how I always want to know the end, how all things will work out. How will this new job look in a year? Where are we supposed to live? What will my girls excel at? So many end questions, wanting the answers now. Faith is taking one step at a time, one step at a time into the unknown.

"Utterly engulfed,
And wanting more.
Buried,
Drowned,
Intoxicated,
With the vastness of Love.
Losing myself as the waves wash over me,
Through me,
Surrounding me,
Caught up in a hurricane of overwhelming peace,
I have let go,
And He has found me."

Admission

"Admission" by Travis Thrasher

This book was really good. Jake is in his last semester of college and all seems to be going his way. Then something terrible happens and his life is turned upside down. He comes back to college 11 years later to sort out the questions of the that last semester and make amends with his past, his friends and his lost love. This book was really gripping. I loved the mystery involved and the story of how lies can ruin lives. But also that truth can bring redemption and it is never to late for truth. This author is worth the read.