James: Mercy Triumphs, Beth Moore

James: Mercy Triumphs, Beth Moore
One of the privileges of having the Lord lead you through suffering--is comforting those who find themselves walking through heartache.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 
 2 Corinthians 1:3-4


Part of my greatest joy, coming to The Village Church, has been finding a community of others seeking God in the midst of their pain and being able to encourage and uplift. It's brought dignity and purpose to the most chaotic and humbling portions of my life.  Experiencing the God of all comfort work through me has been powerful.   It's also created a thirst for more of Him and a hunger to fill up the well as it runs dry from use.  I'm learning how important it is to ingest God's word in order to pour yourself out in His name, for his people.

James has been a feast to my soul. Not only have I loved the study, the in-depth time in the word and the challenge to memorize it. I've loved Beth's teaching available on-line. As well has the amazing Rush Creek women who've opened their lives to me. I simply set out to refresh my own soul, and the Lord has blessed me with Godly women who inspire and carry me.

My take: 4 out of 5

Book Description: Lifeway Publications
Bible scholars compare James to the prophet Amos. In other ways James more closely resembles the Book of Proverbs than any New Testament book. Come along with Beth Moore on a journey to get to know both the man and the Book of James. You will never be the same again.

Topics in this study include: joy, hardship, faith, reversal of fortunes for rich and poor, wisdom, gifts from above, single-mindedness, the dangers of the tongue, humility, and prayer. Plus, Beth introduces a 5-tiered study approach that she has never done before.

Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie

Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie
   All of Nancy's faith, suffering and perspective find their voice in this brilliant book. Blessing us with her hard earned theology.   Refined in the crucible of suffering, this book is every woman's guide through the difficult questions of life including but not limited to infertility and loss.

 This book has ministered to me and my dearest friends as we have wrestled with God in the face of deep heartache and sorrow. I adore how Nancy mine's the scriptures for the heart of God and his heart for his children amidst the destruction of life this side of heaven.   I'm so thankful for how she has grounded my wandering faith that struggled to hear God's heart in the midst of my grief. This book is great for a support group, or anyone who's trying to shed deeper insight on the theology of suffering.

My take 5.5 out of 6

Book Description by Tyndale House Publications:
In this paradigm-shifting book, Nancy Guthrie gently invites readers to lean in along with her to hear Jesus speak understanding and insight into the lingering questions we all have about the hurts of life: What was God’s involvement in this, and why did he let it happen? Why hasn’t God answered my prayers for a miracle? Can I expect God to protect me? Does God even care? According to Nancy, this questioning is not a bad thing at all but instead an opportunity. It’s a chance to hear with fresh ears the truth in the promises of the gospel we may have misapplied. It lets us retune our souls to the purposes of God we may have misunderstood.

Holding onto Hope by Nancy Guthrie

Holding Onto Hope: Nancy Guthrie This touching, true-story of one women's walk through the loss of a child, will have you weeping and rejoicing as you follow in her footsteps.  I adore the power of narrative to draw in the reader, deepen understanding and grow compassion. This book does all of that while uplifting the name of God. The first of many for Nancy Guthrie this books strength is it's simple honesty. Nancy shares from the heart, her journey through doubt, anger, pain, heartache and back to a stronger, deeper faith in God.  This book is best read by the person who's is new to anguish and simply wants to hear they aren't alone or someone who wants to understand a loved one's pain better.

My verdict: 3.5 out of 5

Book Description from Tyndale Publications:
Framing her own story of staggering loss and soaring hope with the biblical story of Job, Nancy Guthrie takes her fellow sufferers by the hand and guides them on a pathway through pain—straight to the heart of God. Holding on to Hope offers an uplifting perspective, not only for those experiencing monumental loss, but for anyone going through difficulty and failure. Includes a study section for readers who want to dig deeper into what the Bible says about dealing with suffering and grief. Additional sections include a Foreword by Anne Graham Lotz and a Resource section linking Scriptures with each chapter's lesson.
Endorsements:
“Only God could orchestrate such events. And only God could give the Guthrie family the faith and courage to live them. May he use this story to strengthen us all.”—Max Lucado
“Nancy Guthrie's faith shines through some of the darkest clouds of human pain. This book and her story will touch your emotions and inspire your mind in an unforgettable way. Seldom will you read anything with such candor and insight, probing one of life's toughest questions: How can grief be a friend along life's journey?” —Ravi Zacharias
“Holding on to Hope reads easy, runs deep, and enriches the heart! If you are stymied about God's goodness amidst life's heartaches, then this book's for you.”—Joni Eareckson Tada

Collecting Empathy

"Most of us think that this life is the best there is- but as believers in Christ, we should live every moment knowing this is the worst there is. The best is yet to come."Annika Durbin (a conversation collected on my journey.)

It shouldn't surprise any of you that my latest two-week trip home turned into a six-week sojourn into the heart of God paved with dear friends. I've always found God in community, especially those who've shared the cup of suffering. As I work my way back into daily, Dallas-life, I realize how deeply the moments marked me.

Among my mementos, a little-yellow-book, slipped into my hands by a remarkable woman who's endured the loss of her daughter with unimaginable grace. Feeling grateful but emotionally strung-out, I was a little wary of what I would find between the pages.

God sends books to the most personal places of our hearts. The place we don't invite others, where only solitary words can pierce. (Perhaps that's why God wrote his story into book form?) This pint sized story will take your breath away.

Reading the description of a little boys brief but moving encounter in heaven moved my heart. Then I came to his encounter with his 'other' sister, the one who died in mommy's tummy before he was born.

Suddenly the unconscious bulwark of emotion I'd built around my heart crumbled. In one of those unexplainable spiritual moments I realized how much pain I'd been harboring because of my tiny family.

Having only one child (after two miscarriages in a year) I wonder about my daughter's social life? How the loneliness is affecting her child hood? I hurt every time some one remarks about how nice it must be to only have the chaos of one. These worries and pains have been pulling me into a dark place that I haven't even admitted to myself. In my broken grief I could only picture my loss, my interrupted plans, my unstable identity.

Until, thanks to this preschooler's powerful narrative, I glimpsed my eternal family and my eternal home! Overcome with the idea of my large, colorful, family waiting for me beyond the pale I could do nothing but rejoice!

Rejoice for the lives so precious to God that he adopts our little ones into a peaceful and perfect reality.

Rejoice in the fact that my life on this earth is but a breath and it's over to spend eternity in perfect peace.

Rejoice in a God that would send his own child to die in order to cleanse me from the taint of destruction and restore me to a peace that I don't deserve.

² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:2-3

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back