Margaret

I'm still reading in the introduction and this book is fascinating. My book is being returned due to due date, but I'd love to get my hands on this again. (02/07/2012)

My first introduction to the writing of former protestant minister and Catholic convert author Scott Hahn was through his book on Mary during my research for my senior independent study for my Bachelor of Religious Studies. My three favorite religious writers that speak to my soul are C.S. Lewis, Henry Nouwen, and Scott Hahn. The way that details are used in Hahn's book create an understanding, but also a desire to continue a study on my own. Through The Lamb's Supper, Hahn goes in depth to not only the gospels, but also Revelations and many Old Testament and other scriptures in between.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah/Doubleday Religion for providing a copy for review through FIRST Wild Card Tours.

Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2010/12/15/the-lambs-supper-by-scott-hahn/

This book is just utterly fabulous. I wish that I had this book to read back in 2002 or 2003 when my life was really confused, but it is even wonderful to read now.

It's neat actually... on Thursday I was reading a book, Deirdre by Linda Windsor , and the main theme and verse Jeremiah 29:11, that keeps coming back throughout the book is the idea of a “relationship” with God and how he is always there in a complete give and take when you seek him.

Then on Saturday, I went to an Emmaus Candlelight (if you don't know what that is and want to, just ask) and in preparation I got out my old Chrysalis Flight #33 t-shirt with my flight's verse on it... Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I cannot tell you how many times I have read that over the years. But it was not until recent times that I continued to read the next few verses that mean even more so to me that the former. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (TNIV Jeremiah 29:11-14). It seems that so many times that I have felt that I have gone through troubling times, the words that I have needed were here in “my” verse, when I call upon Him and pray to Him, he listens, and when I seek Him with all my heart, I can then find Him. So many times I struggle and fight with myself, and “cannot hear Him”. With this I can realize, I'm not hearing Him, because I'm not really seeking Him whole-heartedly.

If first the historical Christian fiction novel was interestingly leading me to my verse, and then a Chrysalis reminder (FYI: North Georgia Chrysalis Flight #33 Table of the 7 DOCS Daughters of Christ Savior) then on Sunday, the sermon was about John 10:1-10 about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV John 10:1-10) The sermon that our pastor (at the church we're visiting Monroe FUMC) went on to speak about how those that belong to Jesus as His flock and spend time with Him, in prayer, in service, in devotion know Him. They know His voice. If you do not seek Him out, you will not know Him when He is there. Whenever I have been so frustrated and so certain that “I cannot hear Him anymore!” Why have I never been able to realize, that He is there, I've been away in my mind and have not fully sought Him and recognized Him when I could have. Make sense? I know, I'm rambling now...

Well to the point. In the midst of all the rest of these circumstances screaming in my face what I have known for years, but have been blind to the fact of is that He is there, and the way that I can live my life thoroughly in His love and grace is through a relationship that He fully wants to participate in. Characters of a novel can do it, but so can I. Sometimes you have so many questions that you just don't know where to begin... This book The Handbook to Discovering God's Will is a good tool to help you begin and pursue that relationship with Christ our Lord that you have always known is possible and sometimes had, but sometimes have found hidden from you.

Everything in our life is one circumstance then another, one cross roads then another. We have to make thousands of decisions all the time every day. This book gives the tools for being able to think things through and put them into a perspective. It reminds of those bracelets back in middle school, W.W. J.D.? What Would Jesus Do? That is the appropriate question and this book goes beyond the basic question and delves into the actual thinking process of deciding. If I keep going I'll give away the whole book, not to mention bore you. Gordon Jackson, author, is much better with his wording and humor at explanations and now I leave you to read this first section of the book and not see if you are just hooked and want to read the rest for a tool of how to grow and really make that “relationship” work.

My youngest childhood reading hours were filled with reading The Babysitter's Club Little Sister series while my closest in age sister, five years ahead read and collected The Babysitter's Club series and Mysteries and Special Club editions. So now as an adult and collecting books for my own daughters to read in the years to come I was very enthusiastic to see author [a:Ann M. Martin 21616 Ann M. Martin http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1208461887p2/21616.jpg]'s first attempt at a historical and the beginnings of a new series. Last week I saw a copy of the book in Barnes & Noble and knew I was expecting one so I had to stall myself and my excitement, but then this morning when the delivery man left a package at my door including this beautiful book I knew everything else was going on hold. Quite often when I get a middle grades reader, I read about 20-40 pages or so, may or may not enjoy it but often forget to go back or other things grab me. Today was different. [b:Better to Wish 16043634 Better to Wish (Family Tree #1) Ann M. Martin http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358993088s/16043634.jpg 21820893], or at least the copy I have is gorgeous. It's a hardcover with an illustrated jacketed that is embossed and very attractive. Actually if you take a look at my blog you'll definitely know I enjoy the color theme as my colors are green and lavender and that is exactly what this is. As Abby, stands in the grass looking onward, inviting a reader to pick up this book and read her story. It is elegant and in a realistic way enchanting. Now for the story itself... this is not really a story, rather not in the way that I normally find when I pick up a book. It is written more as if you're reading a diary or memoir from a woman looking back on her life from 2022, she tells from the age of eight in 1930 up until a questionable ending in 1939. As a reader I am not a fan of cliff hanger endings, but this was done in a good way and even if you never did pick up the story later on (this is the first is a series of at least four novels I believe) the reader will be left content or at least with an imagination to bring it to an end as it should be. Technically this is a read for ages 8-12, but I wouldn't stop at 12 for readers, however I would be cautious with what type of eight year old you suggest this to. It's tough, and sad, and realistic. After all it's a story set in the Great Depression and ending in war times. In an attempt to not fully give away the plot I have to say it is sad in a way like [b:Bridge to Terabithia 164539 Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1255615470s/164539.jpg 2237401] as well as [b:Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 137791 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Rebecca Wells http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1368313817s/137791.jpg 1010054] or [b:The Swan House 325637 The Swan House (The Swan House, #1) Elizabeth Musser http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348293836s/325637.jpg 316286] yet there is even more to it than that in the introduction of facilities for the “feebleminded”. It's definitely a conversation starter. Easily I would suggest this as a school read as a spring board for a study on the history of the depression as well as a glimpse into the importance of diaries and memoirs for studying history. Overall, it is not a very happy book, but it's not entirely sad. Especially considering the time period things could have been much worse for our Abby and she survived very bravely and well and in the end it's all the little moments that count. There are friendships, and good-appropriate-adjustments to changes in life as well as a positive attitude to overcome adversity. Pretty much the villain in this book is the father and aside from a sentence or two I cannot think of anything good to say about it, yet he's real and a prime example of what not to be in life. Abby as a young girl could have spurned him and become angry and thus injured everyone around her even further but she was able to raise above his spite and actions and mature into a person that was very likable and admirable. The fact of the matter for myself is that I read this book during the girls' quiet time followed by naptime and really had no desire to put it down. It wasn't a “I have to read this” feeling, but I didn't desire to leave it either until the very end. The end made me smile and makes me curious for an outcome, but doesn't leave me outlandish or gasping for more, or even angry at a stall. While I am left with a big question on little Fred... then again, it may be life that some things just fade and are never really answered. It cannot always be wrapped up in a white silken hair ribbon... I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2013/07/05/better-to-wish/

Great for science discussion.