Musings from the Threshold

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Giveaway Winner!

My apologies for the delay in announcing the winner of the Heart Mender giveaway.

Joyce Griffith is our winner! Please contact me at admin(at)grace-and-glory(dot)net and I’ll get you set up with your new book.

Thanks for entering, everyone.

Review and Giveaway! Heart Mender by Andy Andrews

In the spring of 2010, I received a package from BookSneeze containing not one, but two copies of Andy Andrews book The Heart Mender. How exciting – I had a book to give away on my blog! It was terrific timing for reading the book (as I enjoyed my first few days with newborn Andrew), but lousy timing for getting a review written and a giveaway done. At last, I am posting the review that has been written in my head for far too long. And you have the opportunity to win a hardcover copy of the book!

The Heart Mender begins with the finding of a can of mementos on the Alabama coast. The uprooting of eight buttons, a badge, a ring, a medal, and three unmarked pictures, one of which contains an infamous visage, triggers a journey of discovery into decades-old secrets. The reader alternates between following the storyteller as he seeks the history behind the mementos and stepping back in time to view the story from the perspective of those who lived it. Weaving a tale of friendships, betrayal, submarines, warfare, and southern secrecy and hospitality, The Heart Mender is a powerful story about forgiveness.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Heart Mender. Andy Andrews is an adept storyteller, and he effectively draws you into the South of both yesterday and today. Helen, Josef, and the surrounding characters are vibrant and real, and he weaves the plot with suspense, romance, and friendship. I found the changes of perspective/time an interesting and effective technique for this story.

My only disappointment with the book was one I felt keenly. I’m not necessarily a fan of books whose intent is to preach. But for an author who writes for a Christian publishing house to write such an engaging book about forgiveness and not even mention the One Whose blood makes forgiveness a possibility? Bummer.

My disappointment with the incompleteness of the message of The Heart Mender does not negate the fact that it was a great read that made me laugh, cry, and contemplate. If you’d like to enter to win a copy, just leave me a comment below. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the read!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Big times for Andrew

Andrew has been making big progress lately in his development. His number of steps at a time is increasing daily, so I thought I should get this video from Sunday night posted before it is totally out of date! A record (at that point) eight steps! I think he whooped that record yesterday. 🙂

Link on the thumbnail below to go to the video.

From 2011_12

Multitude Monday, on Tuesday

I was reading in Psalms this morning and these verses popped out at me:
“Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
Psalm 50:7-15,23

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:15-17

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.
Psalm 52:8-9

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
Psalm 54:4,6

I was also reminded of this passage (one of my favorite Scripture songs):
Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said:
“Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.”

1 Chronicles 29:10-14

Gifts #470 – 500
Hazy mornings
Memories in dishes
A walk in the dark
Paint approved!
A lovely home to organize
Boy who loves to bounce
Sunshine on windowsill
Eucharisteo – thanksgiving making time
More than enough
Pages turning
Little man squealing joy
Rest
The sacrifice of thanksgiving
Blessings learning gratitude
Resuming routine
Learning/discovering the new routine
Reading through Passion Week
Servant-love from the Maker of the universe
He washes me!
He uttered not a word
Resurrection Sunday breakfast and fellowship

The joy of watching children play

Spring flowers that remind of new life
A late garden
Lessons in perseverance
Encouragement from my man
Book suggestions
Opportunities to “be called sons of God”
Little boy squeezes
Aching hands – a reminder of limits

The House: First Looks

Here are some of our first pictures of our new home. The first few were taken the very first time we saw the house, the rest when Jonathan came down a month later for some job interviews. All are welcome to view the pictures, but I realize there are way too many for some folks’ taste.

Praise for the Provisions

This week I used Ann’s gift for jotting down gifts, simply tucked in my Bible. Another great option for counting thanks!

Gifts # 279 – 301
His steadfast love endures forever
The hidden struggles that drive me to His feet
God is for me
Late birthday candles
The warmth of family fellowship
Baby glasses – here and fitting

Coconut Oil
Toy Sorting Progress
Sleepless Nights
Songs mumbled out to a miserable baby
Thoughts re-focused
Our wonderful Dr. Mary
Chiropractic Care
Steam Baths
Practice – the hardest part of learning (p. 56)
7th days of rest
The morning song of birds
My sin-shame born by Him
Remembrance – To Calv’ry, Lord, In Spirit Now
Multi-generational spikey-ball battles
Doggy joy
Sunday afternoon naps
Everything I need