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| God's Provision in Tough Times by Cynthia Howerter and LaTan Murphy |
Guest Review by Lori Stanley Roeleveld
We
think we have faith until the bank account drops to zero or the job disappears.
Maybe the careful plans we laid become undone or circumstances way beyond our
control put us on the brink of financial disaster. Many of us know all too well
the fear, sense of failure, panic, and loss that come with financial troubles.
Where
is God when this happens? Where is the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills?
Where is the One who has His eye on the sparrow? Has our nest slipped from
view?
Have we fallen into some crack
where He can't see? Have we escaped His notice or is He angry with us and
refusing to provide? Financial struggles often leave us open to these kinds of
questions and doubts and many times, we're afraid to voice them to even our
closest friends.
If you're facing struggles of any kind, but
particularly those that make you wonder how God will provide - you'll want the
inspiration that can be found in these pages. Transparent, gut-level honest, no
easy answers here but solid truth about God's willingness to come through -
even if He does take His time.
It's
clear from page one to the end that the writers who share their stories in God's
Provision in Tough Times - 25 True Stories of God s Provision During
Unemployment and Financial Despair, care deeply about the readers who will invest their time in this
book. They care so deeply, they've been
willing to expose their own hearts along with their stories so that God's
character and actions can be glorified by their testimony about His provision -
both financial and spiritual - through their tough times.
If
you need encouragement. If you need the strength to hold on. If you are
wondering if God comes through for others but not for you, dive into this book
and find company for this rocky section of the road we all travel deep into the
heart of God. You'll be surprised whose story you find here and by this time
next year - you may be ready to write your own chapter.
CFP: Thanks so much Lori for being a guest on OWG! I was blessed to be asked to be a contributor to this inspiring book compiled by Cynthia and LaTan!
Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a disturber of hobbits who enjoys
making comfortable Christians continually late for dinner. Her articles appear
in numerous magazines. She authors the blog, Deeper with Jesus in Rhode Island (http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/).
Lori's a wife, mom, crisis counselor, part-time dragon slayer and has faced her
own tough times.
GIVEAWAY: A copy of God's Provision in Tough Times. Follow Cynthia on Twitter (https://twitter.com/CynthiaHowerter) and/or leave her a message of encouragement and your email address.
Thanks LORI for your wonderful and brilliant review of this inspiring book by Cynthia and LeTan, and for sharing it on OWG!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure many may be convinced they will have the faith should something like unemployment rocks their world. But then the shock, hardship, and sometimes longevity of the situation adds another whole dimension! I believe this book can help provide the encouragement and strength needed from the invaluable insights gained by those who have been there already.
God bless!!
Oops, that's meant to read LaTan! :)
DeleteI agree, Noela. What we think we can handle and what we do when we experience trials are sometimes very different realities.
DeleteWelcome to OWG, Lori, and thank you for the great review! My daughter seriously needs to read this book...she has such a rough time being a single mom and trying to make ends meet. Sounds like a great book for anyone who may be struggling in their faith--not just for financial reasons, but for whatever obstacles they may be facing!
ReplyDeleteI think anyone who isn't struggling right now should buy copies as gifts for those who are, Diana. Single motherhood is a challenging road. Many prayers up for your daughter.
DeleteThanks, Lori, and we appreciate you being a guest with us today! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteMy privilege, Carrie. I don't review often but will for books in which I truly believe.
DeleteSounds like a great book, for those who are in need of encouragement during a tough time. We went through a time such as this--my husband got laid off from his his job and went 3 months with no job. during that time, even though we had zero income (I was a stay-at-home mom of little ones), we did not qualify for assistance (because of his retirement money, which if you use, you are penalized! & a car that was worth more than their determined # (it was only 3 months old--we did NOT expect to lose his job!). If anyone would have told us before-hand that we would go 3 months w/o a job or government assistance, I would have been terrified, however, God provided in ways we could have never imagined. We both worked at temp jobs and money & food showed up in imagined ways. For example, one day we were feeling really depressed, and the feeling you mentioned above of feeling like God, just did NOT do "miracles" that were needed, like he did for others. As we came down the stairs of our church, from teaching a SS class, a person handed us an envelope saying, "I was told to give this to you." Inside was a $20 bill & a note saying there would be the same for 4 weeks. Now $20 may sound like a small amount, but it was just the amount we needed for a weekly bill at that time, & food & housing costs were being provided in other ways. It was God's way of giving us a little "slap on the hand", saying, "Did I NOT say I would help you?" Just one of many such stories in our lives. BTW--It seems that when things go downhill, they tend to come in groups and it was the same year my husband was laid off, that I was diagnosed with breast cancer, & God provided what was needed for my medical expenses too!
ReplyDeleteLove this story, Vicki. Thanks for sharing it. Sounds like you have a chapter ready for the sequel!
DeleteBTW--I would love to win a copy of this book to share with my son who is going through a very difficult time right now--both financial as well as personal.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Vicki
vmarney(at)hotmail(dot)com
(I don't have Twitter--do posts here qualify for the giveaway as well?)
ReplyDeleteVicki
Always, VICKI!!
DeleteThank you, Lori, for reviewing "God's Provision in Tough Times." La-Tan Roland Murphy, my co-author, and I pray that the 25 true and candidly written stories in this book will touch the heart of those who read them. We are grateful that our 15 contributing writers, including Carrie Fancett Pagels, shared experiences that most people would never tell you about. In doing so, every single reader will be able to not only relate to their honesty, but thank God that they now know they are not the only person going through a tough time. I craved a book just like this during my family's 21 months of unemployment. I never imagined that God would use the worst times of my life to help so many others. To God be the Glory.
ReplyDeleteAll of you have hearts for God and it shows through in the writing of this book.
DeleteThank you for writing this book. It sounds like something I can relate to. I want so much to have faith that God will provide. Thanks also for giving away a copy of your book. I'm sure it will be helpful to whoever reads it.
ReplyDeletepmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Faith is a gift from God, Pam. One that He gives freely. Ask Him for the faith you need and I'll pray that for you as well!
DeleteThis sounds wonderful and uplifting in those hard times. I will have to check it out! Thanks for the review and telling us about it.
ReplyDeleteSusan P
farmygirl at Hotmail dot com
It was my pleasure.
DeleteMy darling daughter couldn't post on here from her phone and doesn't have a computer, so am posting her entry for her. :)
ReplyDeleteMy mom is Diana Flowers. I was just talking with her yesterday about this very subject. I know that I need to learn to TRUST God in all aspects of my life, not just financially. I need to get your book! Thank you for sharing and giving encouragement and hope.
Tammy F.
Tflow342[at]gmail[dot]com
Tammy,you'll be encouraged by the writers who were willing to be transparent and who waited on the Lord when you read these words.
DeleteWhat a wonderful sounding book, so encouraging.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the review and chance to know you better.
Linda Finn
Nice to meet you, Linda!
DeleteIt is so hard sometimes keeping my faith when a rock in the road is like a boulder !! Praying for strength to get through today can be very very hard. When my husband lost his job, it was so frightening, and he was out of work a long time. We went through our savings and he sold the tools he wasn't using. I realized that sometimes we have to just believe that with God on our side things will work out, and they did. He got a job after a while and things started to look up, we still struggle everyday, but I know I have a roof over my head and food on my table, and when I get frightened, I have my prayers, so all is good again.. I think owning this book is just what I need. Thank you for the chance to win it. Have a blessed day!!! Rosemary. rfoley@salemstate.edu
ReplyDeleteI've been through the same, Rosemary. Pressing in to God will develop endurance that we all need to grow more like Christ (although it feels more like dying than growing, doesn't it?)
DeleteHello my dear friends. And to Lori, who is new to me. I would love to win this book. GOD bless. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
ReplyDelete