Everything was meaningless...a chasing after the wind.

Dear Readers,

I know I've been M.I.A for the past two or so months, I had started University, and assignments kept piling up, but I do apologize because blogging is a commitment!
Observation of the month: While attending University, I have never realized how easy it is to forget yourself and to become someone you're not. Its appalling really when you think about it, all notions of who you are in Christ suddenly takes a back-corner, and you end up submerging yourself in the non-Christian world.
That is if you're not in a Christian University, which my area is sadly lacking...but even then, nothing is guaranteed...but I digress.

"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun."- Ecclesiastes 2:11 NKJV

or in other words:

"Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."- Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV

It's really interesting when you realize that the wisest man on earth saw all he did as a waste of his life...as a torrential waste of time. Food for thought-
I strongly believe that in the end of Solomon's life, he saw it all like that because he knew that all he had done was not unto the LORD but unto his own desires...fleshly desires that led him to his downfall.
Have you read Solomon's story? Its worth a look I assure you!

Now don't go scoffing at Solomon, because he began the same as we all do; with a determined purpose to serve God with all his heart, soul and might, and by golly he was like a torpedo! He began to build the temple of God with a single intent: build the dwelling place for the glory of God and to honor his Father's (David)- dream. Soon enough, Solomon began to feel he wanted more, his thought pattern changed, it wasn't about pleasing God anymore, it was all about him (i like to call it me-ism). He began to think that he was king after all, wasn't God pleased with him? Didn't he deserve more? (Isn't that always what we tell ourselves? how deluded are we?) but to Solomon that meant 'women' that was his weakness...but enough about that for now.

My point is- it's just too easy to forget that the things you've set out to do for God, If your mind is off of Christ, then your purpose tends to simmer away and complications come to bamboozle you from your walk of faith. Then all that's left is a huge mark of regret and utter dejection, because you wanted to serve the LORD so much, but now, you believe that you can't do it...you can't reach it and you feel guilty. Wake up and smell the toffee my friend! Solomon's fate doesn't have to be yours! Christ came to give us a second chance! Is there a lingering sin in your life that is hindering you and making your walk with God more like a drag? Or more like something that began so awesome and now feels like a pain? It's time to reevaluate your set-out commitments to Christ.

I just want to be blunt and tell you, you can be the best looking, unbelievably talent and whatever else the world holds dear today, but all of THAT stuff is MEANINGLESS! because at the end of the day the Bible says:

"...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal".- Matthew 6:20

Key point- wealth perishes!

The things that hold worth in this life is-

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:22-25

So have you felt slack lately? Losing the joy of your salvation? then read up on David's plight when he had transgressed against God. Psalm 51 is a comfort, it is a prayer of repentance.

You can do it friends, don't you want to say at the end of it all and say:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."- 2 Timothy 4:7

let that be your war cry, keep your eyes on Christ! you can do it, we all stumble, but Christ is always there for us! Stop thinking of what this will profit you, and renew your mind to focus on Christ! and don't forget:

"We love Him because He first loved us" - 1 John 4:19

God bless you Readers!

A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson

Book review

I was given this ARC by Bethany House publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

A sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson is a story of forgiveness as well as how love can bud through loss.
This story portrays two protagonist named Marty (Martha) and Jake, both no longer believe in love due to many hurts from the past and through a 'convenient marriage arrangement' both are either running away from something or seeking to please someone.

Now, let's get to business. I give this book a whooping 2.5 stars out of 5.

I will not lie, I love Tracie's books but this one did not amaze me, to be honest i found that it lacked depth.
I say that because we first meet a still grieving widow who can't bear to remain in her home state, so of course she seeks to run away from the daunting memories. Then we meet Jake, who is also a widower who feels much the same, and after many betrayals and hurts, he's sworn off love.

This book had some really nice themes but again, it felt like everything was too easy. The problems they faced were so easily fixed, faith in God restored without a large amount of struggle despite the fact that the characters appeared to have monumental issues and anger towards God, yet 'BAM!' easy fix...no worries. The Romance...it was too quick! no love comes softly and flourishes into something sigh-worthy, Jake and Marty despite Jake's unwillingness to love and Marty's broken heart, they fall in love so quickly that it made it feel so unrealistic.

But let's be a bit more positive shall we? Tracie Peterson is so amazing in setting the scene, the description of Denver and it's opulent society was really well done! I must say, I praise the Lord that I don't live in those days, i don't think I could handle it! but also i'd probably be a servant...but I digress. I truly enjoyed the household servants! Brighton and Mrs. Landry were so cute, to be perfectly honest, the secondary characters had more depth and complexities to them than the main 2 characters! What up with that?
What I did like though, was the one realistic quality to Marty's character, Tracie Peterson did something a lot of writers don't usually do, and that's to make the character a *wait for it* LIAR...so that was nicely done! I really liked Alice! She's so sweet and strong in the faith, she also had spunk! But again, that means I like a secondary character more than the main.

Now the no-no thing for me...a pet-peeve of sorts- is to finish a book without completing the story. I swear that when i got to the last page, i felt like a chunk had been left out! It didn't say anything on who Mr. Smith was, nor anything about Marty and Jake with the Texas situation nor didn't it explain why Mr. Morgan was investing so much in Jake, I mean, he could be plain nice...but it doesn't feel like the Morgans would invest in someone without an expected return. I know authors like to leave cliff-hangers to make the readers excited about the next book, but this one annoyed me frankly...too much was missing!

You'll like this book if you want an easy and very light read...without lots of conflict and a quick romance.

I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but I promised honesty.
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Congratulations Tracie Peterson on your 100th book!    

- E