Janet Sketchley's Blog: Tenacity, page 102
January 24, 2014
For Christian Parents (and those who love them)
Familiar with these questions?
Parenting comes with a lot of second-guessing and what-ifs. We need friends, listening ears, prayer partners.
We also need to keep a good connection with God. He’s the source of hope, wisdom, strength, patience… and everything else that equips us to raise our kids well.
That’s why I’m excited about Powerline365 from Choose NOW Ministries. Yes, I’m published by a branch of this ministry and can’t claim to be impartial. But I’m not obligated promote this; I’m sharing...
January 22, 2014
What Are You Looking At?
And Moses answered, “Look at me. I stutter. Why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
God told Moses, “Look at me. I’ll make you as a god to Pharaoh and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.”
Exodus 6:30-7:1, MSG*
God called Moses to a mind-breaking task: to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Oh, yes, and to be messenger to Pharaoh, who had no intention of letting them go.
Poor Moses, no wonder he felt overwhelmed from the moment God first called him. Exiled from Egypt...
January 21, 2014
When God Says “I’ve Got This”
I’m guest blogger this week at author Christine Lindsay’s site, sharing one of my key life-lessons from 2013: When God Says “I’ve Got This”. Click over and say hello!
January 20, 2014
Review: Butterfly Palace, by Colleen Coble
Butterfly Palace, by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson, 2014)
In 1904 Lily Donaldson leaves small-town Texas to work for the wealthy Marshall family in Austin. It’s not the best time to enter domestic service in the city, with the Servant Girl Killer on the loose. When Lily saves a young woman from an attacker, does she catch his attention?
Lily is a confident young woman, hard-working and skilled, but the opulent home they call the Butterfly Palace takes a bit of getting used to. And she’s creeped...
January 17, 2014
2014 Writing Goals
Do or do not. There is no try. ~Yoda
Master Yoda is my favourite Little Green Man, but I disagree with him on the subject of trying. I think his context uses try in the sense of “maybe, I wish I could, we’ll see.”
Sometimes we try honestly and in our full strength—and we fail. Because of ourselves or because of things outside our control. We have tried. Our best. But it wasn’t enough.
I’m learning to hold my plans lightly, knowing God reserves the right to redirect my schedule. As such, I keep i...
January 15, 2014
Into the Inner Sanctuary
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20, NLT*
The hope this verse mentions is the hope of our salvation, of eternal life in restored relationship with God.
Think about the Temple imagery for a minute: only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. First he...
January 13, 2014
Review: The Emperor’s Soul, by Brandon Sanderson
The Emperor’s Soul, by Brandon Sanderson (Tachyon Publications, 2012)
Shai is a Forger. On her planet, that means a whole lot more than it does on ours. Instead of fabricating a reproduction of an original art piece, these Forgers replicate it through magic.
Forging is convenient. The Imperial Palace is furnished with junk—junk that’s been Forged into beautiful, period pieces. Unfortunately, humans can be Forged too. Thus it’s illegal outside of carefully-controlled use.
Shai is one of the best....
January 10, 2014
Picks from 2013
My favourites from 2013:
Books
Best of the year: also most satisfying series wrap-up
A Memory of Light , by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
MOST SATISFYING MYSTERY, AND VERY CLOSE TO BEST OF THE YEAR:
How the Light Gets In , by Louise Penny
most can’t-wait-to-read-the-next-one mystery:
Speaking from Among the Bones , by Alan Bradley
Most life-changing (fiction):
The Merciful Scar , by Rebecca St. James and Nancy Rue
Most life-changing (non-fiction):
A Better Way to Think , by H. Norman Wright
Most satisfy...
January 8, 2014
Unbelief, or Rest?
So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.
Hebrews 3:19, NLT*
“They” were the Israelites, led by Moses. The people who heard God’s voice on the mountain and begged in terror not to hear it again. The people who experienced the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna in the desert. The people who swore to follow and obey God.
Hebrews 3:16-18 says they rebelled, made God angry, sinned. Disobeyed Him. Not just with the golden calf, but by refusin...
January 6, 2014
Review: God’s Daughter, by Heather Day Gilbert
God’s Daughter, by Heather Day Gilbert (Createspace, 2013)
If all you know about Vikings are the names Eric the Red and Leif Ericsson, God’s Daughter is a great way to learn more and to perhaps break some stereotypes. For example, I didn’t know they had any exposure to Christianity. Or that Eric’s name is properly spelled Eiric.
Many of the novel’s characters are genuine historical figures, and their voyage actually happened around 1000 AD. The setting and events have been meticulously research...
