The land of Israel is as much a character of Scripture as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses.  And just as important.  Praise the Lord someone has recognized this . . . and written something about it!

It's always a pleasant surprise when an author knows whereof he or she speaks.  Cyndi Parker does, indeed, know whereof she speaks.  Her extensive, intensive association with the land upon which Jesus walked lends color, sound, and texture to her written words, and provides a solid foundation upon which they rest.

When I was offered the opportunity to review this work, by Hendrickson Publishing, I couldn't get to the ordering site fast enough.  True bibliophiles (of which I unabashedly claim to be) recognize, instinctively, important books "on sight."

This is an important book.

It belongs in the library . . . excuse me, on the desk . . . of everyone who spends anytime in the Word of God.

Get this book, and let the land of Israel tell you her story of Jesus!

This book was given to me without cost, in exchange for my open and honest review.

ENCOUNTERING JESUS IN THE REAL WORLD OF THE GOSPELS

Cyndi Parker

ISBN: 978-1-68307-310-9

Publisher:  Hendrickson Publishers

Pages:  184 pages

$29.95 U.S. paperback

DELIVER US: The Heart Cry Of God's People Everywhere!

“Where there is no vision, the people perish:but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”                        Proverbs 29:18

The Bible is filled with poems. The prophets, along with the books of Job and Ecclesiastes, are mainly poetic. The Song of Songs, Proverbs, Lamentations, and the Psalms are wholly poetic.  Many of David’s Psalms which we find in the collection are also found in the historical books of Kings and Chronicles.  And one of the first “songs” recorded in our English Bible is found in Exodus 15, where Moses and the children of Israel recount God’s deliverance from the army of Pharaoh:

 “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying,

“I will sing unto the LORD,for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”  Exodus 15:1 (KJV)

The impact that the Psalms have in our everyday lives has not escaped the notice of author Michelle Howe.  Having immersed herself in the emotional center of Scripture, author Michelle Howe poured herself into this creative effort to enable people to work through some of life’s most daunting challenges.  The breadth of ground she covers, from loneliness and depression to physical and financial challenges . . . to the one challenge that everyone is currently facing in the COVID-19 Pandemic . . . time and again Michelle Howe draws the reader back to the source of hope: the hymnbook of God’s chosen people, the Psalms of Scripture.

Each chapter begins with a reading from the Book of Psalms; then using real life stories, Howe captivates the reader’s attention, illuminating life’s heartaches with the sweet salve of Scripture.  A personal prayer, relevant application in the Take Away Action Thought, and two or three activities for reader response round out each chapter.

One unique aspect of the book is the reading pattern mentioned in the Introduction, which enables the reader to read through the entire book of Psalms twelve times each year. 

Personally, I would have appreciated more time spent exploring the actual Scripture text itself, opening up the passage in terms of background and context.  Having said that, the fact remains that author Michelle Howe has provided the reader with the key to fanning the flame of hope, to enable the believer to “keep on keepin’ on.”]

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my open and honest review.

HE WILL TAKE ME BY THE HAND . . .

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11  Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12  Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."                         

Isaiah 41:10-13 (KJV) 

THREE EXHORTATIONS, AND 11 PROMISES . . . IN 4 VERSES OF SCRIPTURE.

THAT’S SIMPLY ASTOUNDING. AND WHILE ONE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THESE PROMISES WERE MADE TO ISRAEL, THERE IS NOTHING IN THOSE VERSES THAT MAY NOT BE APPREHENDED BY THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER. BECAUSE THE SAME GOD WHO SAID THESE WORDS TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE HAS PROMISED THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER:

“LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS; AND BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE: FOR HE HATH SAID, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.”
HEBREWS 13:5

THERE’S NOTHING SPECIFICALLY PROMISED TO ISRAEL; NO LAND – SEED – BLESSING CLAUSES, NO ISRAEL/ GOD COVENANT LANGUAGE. WHEN GOD SHOWS UP, ALL OF THESE PROMISES COME ALONG WITH HIM.

AND IT’S SO WONDERFULLY PERSONAL! SO INTIMATE! GOD DOESN’T JUST DROP A BLESSING ON THE DOORSTEP . . . HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, COMES IN (CLOSING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM!) AND TAKES YOU BY THE HAND. THEN, AND ONLY THEN, DOES HE COMFORT US WITH HIS WORDS: THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND ALWAYS PRECEDES HIS PROMISES AND EXHORTATIONS.

THE RIGHT HAND IS MY DOMINANT HAND; IF GOD HAS ME BY MY RIGHT HAND . . . THAT MEANS HE HAS COMPLETE CONTROL. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND MYSELF WITH MY RIGHT HAND; IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHERE MOST PEOPLE WERE RIGHT-HANDED, THIS WOULD MEAN THAT GOD IS HOLDING THEIR SWORD-HAND. THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTACK OR DEFEND THEMSELVES.

WHICH MEANS THAT ALL OF THE PROMISES MENTIONED, IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO PASS . . . . WELL, THAT MEANS THAT GOD IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE THEIR SHIELD AND DEFENDER.

WOW. WHAT A CONCEPT. . . .YOU MEAN ALL THAT STUFF ABOUT "TRUSTING GOD," AND "WALKING BY FAITH," HE MEANT THAT?

UHHHHHH . . . YUP!

HOW DOES ONE MAKE A CRITICAL DECISION?

So much of life depends upon simple decisions.  What if I hadn’t .  . .

What if I had?

Dr.’s Kathy and Darren Hoover are about to experience this principle in the truest sense of the word. 

A former E.R. physician, Dr. Kathy Hoover felt that she’d exchanged the stress of the emergency room for a more wholesome work environment.  Married to Darren, a mathematician and professor, theirs was an idyllyic life that should have been the envy of any couple.

Then the door bell rang.

Now, Kathy has to come to grips with two horrific facts:  1)  Her husband Darren has been kidnapped, and will be killed if Kathy doesn’t do as she is told.  2)  She is being told to violate the medical oath that she swore to uphold upon being conferred the degree, Doctor of Medicine.

Now, it seems that every decision she has to make is a Critical Decision.

Writing with seasoned skill, Dr. Richard Mabry creates strong characters and places them in memorable settings, allowing the suspense to stir the pot until the final result is a well-crafted novella that is seasoned with just the right amount of faith, love and hope to keep the reader savoring the finished product long after the last page has been turned.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my open and honest review.

CRITICAL DECISION

Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

ISBN: 979-86-00229-981-5

Christian Medical Suspense

Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

180 pages

$12.99  U.S. paperback