What I'm Reading...& Learning

So. You know by now I am an avid reader. Scott likes to tease me about being a nerd, but he has embraced the value of book reading and can be caught on any given night reading books to Sienna. :) (Victory!)

Well, with Scott out of town, the girls away, and the pain back, it has given way to lots of reading time.
I am a big Karen Kingsbury fan. I have read almost ALL of her books--every one of the Baxter/Flanigan series books. But I discovered one I had somehow missed. The timing could not have been more perfect--as it was a true tear jerker and I cried like a baby, while loving every word on the pages. I was glad Scott didn't walk in on my reading and crying and think something was terribly wrong. :)

This Side of Heaven. A stand alone book, not part of a series. However, does have Cody Gunner and family in it, from A Thousand Tomorrows & Just Beyond the Clouds.

Now, ALL of Karen's books have a million things that tug at your heart, make you smile, and, most importantly, direct all the focus back to God. But this book. This book resonated with me in a completely new way. Maybe because I could identify with the main character's pain and life being on hold as you wait for healing. Or maybe because I could see how I used to be a person that didn't value the least, last, or the lost as I do now. Maybe because the theme is knowing that on this side of heaven, things aren't always easy and don't always go as planned. Or maybe it's because of this one verse used throughout the book.....
"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." Psalm 119:50 (NIV). The Message version states, "These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me."

How powerful is that?! On this side of heaven, there will be trouble. There will be pain. It will not all make sense. We will not have all the answers. We can choose to get wrapped up in the what ifs, whys, why nots, etc, or we can choose to take hold of God's Word. His promise, the Bible, is the only truth we have that is never changing and always with us.

Maybe this hits me like a ton of bricks because of my current situation. However, I pray it rings true with you. Take time today to love deeper, speak love, show gratitude, display affection, pray, & move in compassion towards the least, last, and lost around you.

The happiest day of my life, shared with those closest to me. Living life and loving life. Thank you Jesus!