Hope Lodge

While it is my sincere prayer that none of you or your loved ones ever get cancer, if that should happen and you can get treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, I highly recommend the Hope Lodge as a place to stay. 

I recently spent a week there with my dad during his last week of chemo/radiation for tonsil cancer.  I was nervous going because I didn't know what to expect, but I found it to be a great experience.  The Hope Lodge is run by the American Cancer Society and will lodge for FREE anyone who lives more than 50 miles from Cleveland and is undergoing cancer treatment.  The main requirement is that a caregiver stay in the room with the patient.  Towels and bedding are provided, but must be washed by the caregivers. (Therefore, I got to be the maid...but it was easy since all cleaning supplies are provided too.)  There are no TV's or food allowed in the rooms, which forces people to engage and form relationships with others.  There are several community rooms with couches, tv's, and computers.  And there is a large kitchen with multiple appliances and all the cooking tools you would ever need.  Each patient has their own private place to store food and there is also a "free" refridgerator and pantry to allow sharing.  Because of this set-up I got to know many people and hear their stories.  Sickness has a way of stripping away all the unimportant things in life such as social status and profession.  Everyone there had something in common and talked with a transparency that is uncommon among strangers.  It was almost sad to leave because I was starting to form relationships and enjoy the community (my dad, however, was quite happy to be going home after 6 weeks!)

My favorite place there was the back patio/garden area.  For being in the middle of Cleveland it was very quiet and peaceful.  Since my dad rested frequently, I came supplied with a stack of books and my iPod loaded with music and podcasts.  The first night I was missing home and uncomfortable in my new environment, so I retreated to the gazebo with a book.  After a while it started to rain, but I stayed put, enjoying the sound and allowing God to rain down his peace into my soul.  I decided to embrace where I was at the moment and allow God to use me there.  I don't know if my presence at the Lodge that week made an impact on anyone else, but it made an impact on me.  I "left behind" a few books in the library.  And I felt led to have one of the patio bricks inscribed with Psalm 34:18 to remind the brokenhearted that God is near.  I wanted to leave my mark on a place that is such a blessing to those who need it.

As for my dad, his treatment is over and he is hopefully on the mend (although it will take a few weeks until he can eat normally again).  He will have a scan in 3 months to make sure the cancer cells are gone, but the docs are very confident they will be.  It was nice to have that time with him even though he wasn't feeling very good.  I am thankful for our time together and the blessing that Hope Lodge was to our family.

No Greater Love by Levi Benkert

This book is the true story of Levi Benkert and his family - detailing the challenges and joys they experienced after moving their family of 5 to Ethiopia in order to save and care for orphans.  He shares honestly and openly about their struggles and how God has changed them in the process.

In 2009, Levi learned about the practice of mingi killings that were happening in some tribes in southern Ethiopia.  A child can be considered mingi, or "cursed", if the parents are not married, if the parents had not declared ahead of time to the elders that they intended to conceive, or if the child's top teeth came in before the bottom ones.  The parents would be forced to kill these perfectly healthy children in order to spare the tribe from "evil spirits".  Levi was asked to go on a 2 week trip to help set up an orphanage to care for a few of the mingi children who had been saved.  Once he was there and saw their faces, the direction of his life changed.

While they experienced many setbacks and changes of plans, Levi and his family did make a difference in the lives of these children.  They now have a ministry that helps widows and orphans in Ethiopia to form families and thrive.  To learn more, go to www.bringlove.in.  Or better yet....read the book!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Unstuck by Cole & Ross

The main purpose of this book is to guide and encourage people who feel stuck in their spiritual growth.  The authors share their own experiences with feeling stuck and share their research findings about how we end up there and how we can get "unstuck".  Bottom line: "Neglecting God's Word is the main reason believers become stuck spiritually."  They found that engaging the Bible four or more times per week (receiving, reflecting, and responding to God's Word) is the key to lasting spiritual growth - especially when it comes to overcoming temptations and changing negative behaviors.  Their research also revealed that "the lives of Christians who rarely read the Bible (less than 3 times weekly) appear identical to those who don't follow Christ at all".  Convicting, isn't it?  The book then gives guidance regarding how to engage God's Word and overcome common stumbling blocks, including a 45-day devotional to get started.

I was very drawn to the first few chapters of this book and the results of the studies that were conducted.  I was reminded of the importance of reading the Bible itself...not merely books about the Bible.  But midway through the book I lost interest.  The content was all good...I just didn't find it to be what I needed at this point in my spiritual journey.

What I do really like is that the authors are committed to helping others grow!  They created a website, www.gotandem.com, to help others engage the Bible in a way that is suitable for their lifestyles.  On the site you can take a spiritual assessment and then sign up for ways to have scripture delivered to you.  You pick the times and the delivery method (text, voicemail, email).  You can even sign up to have a person call you once a week to encourage you on your spiritual journey!

Overall, the book points believers back to the Bible and provides tools and insight to help them grow.  I don't think it's the best book on this topic, but the research findings set it apart and made it worth the read.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

Music for my Soul

I like many types of music.  A full band has its advantages.  But what speaks to my soul the most is the simplicity of a man and his acoustic guitar.  Or in this case, two men and their guitars, with a little drums mixed in :)  Awesome guitarists, great vocals...take a listen!

The Color of Rain by Michael & Gina Spehn

Get the tissues ready for this one! The Color of Rain is the true story of two young people who both lose a spouse to cancer and eventually find hope and healing when their two families join together.  The chapters alternate between Michael and Gina telling their stories.  Part One provides background information about the families, painting the picture of when life was good.  Part Two reveals their painful struggle while watching their spouses slip from this life to the next.  And Part Three is about hope and restoration...the promise of a new day.

This book hit home with me because these people are my age.  Their kids are the ages of mine.  Tragedy, cancer included, can swoop in and change lives very suddenly.  Through this story I am reminded to treasure the time now...the time when life is good.  Faith in God carried these families through.  Faith in the reality of heaven.  Faith that good can come from suffering.  Both Michael & Gina shared with a honesty and authenticity that I think will help others also walking through this type of loss.

As a result of their situation, the Spehns have created a foundation to help families of children who have lost a parent due to cancer.  (You can view more about this book and their ministry here.)  They are using their pain and loss to lead others to healing, which is what we're called to do.  This is definitely a story worth reading.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan in exchange for an honest review.

You Were Born For This by Bruce Wilkinson

What were you born for?  According to Bruce Wilkinson you were born to be "a sent person who shares God's heart for people and who intentionally partners with the Spirit to do God's work through acts of proactive dependence on Him to deliver His miracles to others."  Wow, that's a mouthful!  Through sharing his insights in how God works and speaks to us, and providing many examples, the author tries to awaken the reader to the fact that personal miracles happen everyday and we can be used by God to touch the lives of others in a powerful way.

I liked the ideas and stories that were shared in this book.  I think many times we become so focused on ourselves and our own agenda, that we aren't able to recognize opportunities to bless others. This book helped me to see ways that God may nudge us to help another person, if we are prepared and willing to do so.  My favorite concept was about "The God Pocket" (which is now a separate book written by the author).  The idea is that you carry around money in a separate pocket or section of your purse that you have set apart for God.  Then when you come across a person with a need and sense God telling you to help, the money is already there...and it's not really yours, it's God's to use as He sees fit. 

While the content of this book was good, I do admit that I felt sleepy nearly every time I began to read.  There is something about the writing style that didn't hold my attention well.  I also felt at times like I was being trained to be a counselor!  The chapters about helping others to chase their dreams and forgive were very in depth. 

Overall, the book is successful at showing some ways that God can use us to bless others, and how we can be prepared to recognize those opportunities.  There are also discussion questions included and video clips available online for using in a study group.  To read the first chapter or get more book info, you can visit the book's website here.

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review*

A Simple Act of Kindness

Yesterday on Mother's Day while driving out to visit with my mom, our van broke down.  Great gift, right?  I could have let worry consume me.  I could have been upset that God could allow this to happen when we were 2 1/2 hours from home.  But instead, much to my surprise, I began to see God's fingerprints all over the situation. 

We had been driving along with no problems when all of sudden our "Low Engine Oil Pressure" light came on accompanied by rapid beeping.  We were on the outskirts of a small town with nowhere to pull over immediately, so we drove on for a few minutes.  Just as we got close a small drive thru, our van died and we coasted into the parking lot.  Thankfully we were only 10 minutes from where we were meeting my mom!

While waiting for her to arrive, and feeling a bit discouraged about our situation, the woman who worked at the drive thru came out to offer her assistance.  But then she did something beyond what I would have expected.  She saw my boys and asked if I would be ok with her giving them some ice cream while we waited, free of charge. 

It was a simple act of kindness.  She didn't know us or the details of our situation.  She only knew that we were having trouble and offered what she had.  That small gesture was a huge reminder to me that God was with us and we were loved.  I hope to be able to see opportunities to bless others in the same way.

After checking fluid levels and talking to a friend who is a mechanic, we decided that driving the vehicle was not safe.  Sundays are not a good time to break down either, much less on Mother's Day.  So we were stuck.  But once again, God's provision could be seen.  It just so "happened" that my mom had driven separately from her boyfriend to the lake that weekend and she was able to loan us her Jeep for the week .

I still don't know what the fate is of our van (it could be engine failure...yikes!), but I'm resting in the knowledge that it's in His hands.  I'm thankful for warning lights, parking lots, nice ladies who spoil my boys with ice cream, a working vehicle, a generous mom, and a God who cares about every detail of my life. 

May your eyes be opened to God's fingerprints that are surrounding you today.