Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 524

Our Hope Is in Him

Webster's Dictionary defines hope as "to long for with expectation of fulfillment." Hope can sustain us through suffering, hardships, and waiting. Without hope, the human soul despairs, gives up, and withers.

However, misplaced hope can lead to profound disappointment. When we place our hope in an improved economy, political change, success, or finding the perfect job or mate, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Continual disappointment can lead to despair, apathy, anger, or cynicism. Sound like our world today?

While it's fine to want these things and work for them, we must be very careful where we place our true hope—the kind that expects fulfillment.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He seemed to fulfill the people's hopes of the Messiah. But even those hopes were misplaced—they longed for a savior who would defeat Rome and establish an earthly kingdom. What Jesus gave them was far greater—a Savior who defeated sin and death and established an eternal heavenly kingdom.

Jesus' triumphal entry fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah riding in on a donkey, a symbol of bringing peace—not war. His life fulfilled dozens of ancient prophecies, and His resurrection proved His divinity. Jesus has made many promises—to cleanse us from sin, to give us eternal life, to be with us always, and to take us to heaven to be with Him. Our deepest longings will be met. Our expectations will be fulfilled. The Lord alone is truly worthy of hope.

"'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest!'" (Matthew 21:9).

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 15, 1941: Germans take Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Four killed in clash between miners and company officials in Middlesboro KY.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 14, 1941: King Peter and Yugoslavian government escape to Athens. Kaiser shipyards in Richmond CA lay keel for first ship, the Ocean Vanguard; 747 ships to be built in Richmond.

Book Beat - Delivered with Love

Several years ago at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, I met Sherry Kyle. She and I both hoped to be published, and have since navigated the world of being contracted and then debut authors together.

This fall her debut book, The Christian Girl's Guide to Style came out (see my review here: Christian Girl's Guide to Style), and this month her debut novel, Delivered with Love , released.
In Delivered with Love, we meet Claire James. After her mother dies, Claire inherits her mother's '72 Volkswagen Bug - and a mysterious love letter to her mother. Out of work, Claire heads to Capitola, California to find the author of the letter and learn more about her mother's past. In Capitola, Claire meets handsome Blake Coombs, stressed-out realtor Michael Thompson, and Michael's mother Geraldine - eighty-going-on-eighteen. As Claire investigates the old letter, secrets unravel...and so do lives.
The cover screams cute beach read, and Delivered with Love is definitely that - you can smell the surf and the interior of that '72 VW. But it's so much more. Sherry Kyle writes from the heart. I cared deeply for the characters as they grappled with identity, forgiveness, and whether or not to reveal their own transgressions. This is a touching story, and I'm looking forward to more novels from Sherry Kyle.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 13, 1941: USSR and Japan sign five-year nonaggression pact.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 12, 1941: Germans take Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Germans take Bardia, Libya.

Medications in World War II

Last week I was a guest blogger on Redwood's Medical Edge, a wonderful blog on medical topics for writers, posting a three-part series on medications in World War II.

In Part 1, I discussed general principles of medication use in the 1940s - generic/brand names, dosage forms, administration, and measurements - all very different than in 2011! Medications in World War II - Part 1

In Part 2, I described which medications were used to treat various illnesses - pain and fever; cough, cold, and allergy; gastrointestinal; endocrine and metabolic; dermatologic; respiratory; cardiovascular; and psychiatric. Medications in World War II - Part 2

Part 3 covered the new class of drugs that saved countless thousands of lives during the war - antibiotics. Medications in World War II - Part 3

All of this made me very thankful for the breadth and depth of medications available today!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 11, 1941: Italians and Hungarians join German invasion of Yugoslavia. German forces under Rommel surround Australian forces in Tobruk, Libya—siege will last until November 1941. US forms Office of Price Administration to plan wage & price controls. Movie premiere of "Road to Zanzibar," starring Bob Hope & Bing Crosby.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 10, 1941: US signs agreement with Greenland to aid in its defense. First clash between US and German ships—destroyer USS Niblack drops depth charges on aggressive U-boat. Germans take Zagreb, Yugoslavia and establish puppet state in Croatia.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 9, 1941: Germans take Salonika, Greece.