Elizabeth: a woman of faith and extraordinary circumstances

 Elizabeth is best known as the mother of John the Baptist, the forerunner for the Messiah. Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron and was described as a woman “upright in the sight of God” (Luke 1:6). She is praised for observing all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations without blame. She is also the first to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 1:43). Her greatest sorrow was she was childless and aging. She faced the stigma of childlessness within her community. However, her greatest strength is her deep faith. She kept her focus on God and his promises. What is her story? Why is there a stigma of childlessness? What lessons can we find from her life? 

Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah found contentment in their quiet home. As a descendant of Aaron, Zechariah travels to Jerusalem once a year to perform his priestly duties. This particular year, he was chosen for a high honor. A once in a lifetime privilege to burn incense before the Most Holy Place. As he is performing this duty, a figure appears and declares that Elizabeth will bear a son and he will be called John. Zechariah responds, as we probably would too, with skepticism. As a consequence, Zechariah is rendered mute. Six months later, Elizabeth is well into her pregnancy when Mary visits. As Mary approaches, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt, which causes Elizabeth to proclaim, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! (Luke 1:42-45). Elizabeth recognizes the amazing privilege Mary has been given and rejoices with her. When Elizabeth delivers her son, she proclaims his name is John as the family protests. Zechariah confirms the name by writing it down. When he does, his ability to speak returns and praises God. The people are filled with awe and wondered what this child would be (Luke 1:66). 

For many cultures, a woman’s value is largely measured by her ability to have children. To be aging and childless was a personal hardship and a public shame. Barrenness was viewed as a sign of disobedience and divine disfavor. Deuteronomy 7:12-14 directs the people to follow the laws and He will bless them with children and the crops of the land. Those who don’t follow the laws will not be blessed. However, despite Elizabeth and Zechariah’s piety and faithfulness, they are childless. There is a deep stigma attached to childlessness. When a couple gets married, the first question they are ultimately always asked is when are you going to have children? Having children is a deeply personal choice and emotional journey. For some, it is as saying “yes, we’re going to have a baby” and while others agonize over why it isn’t happening or why it is so difficult. For Elizabeth and Zechariah to be so devout and upright and remain childless must have been a debate among their community. A similar debate would be why a devout and faithful Christian is still struggling. Many people would simply state that there is some sin that needs confessing. But is it as simple as that? I think the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah shows us that it is not always the case. 

There are two lessons or themes we can take from the story of Elizabeth. First, God does not forget those who have been faithful to him. In the Parable of the Loaned Money, Jesus describes three servants who were given a task. One wasted the opportunity and the other two took the task and performed above and beyond. To this second servant, the master says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21, 23). It is an illustration of how we serve God. Serving him with our time, our talents in order to do our work and tasks out of love for God. When we do, He will remember us and bless us in ways that are beyond our understanding. Second, God’s timetable and methods do not have to conform or follow our timetable, methods or our views on how something should be done. Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” We foolishly think we know how God will work within our lives. There’s a famous quote from a Yiddish adage that states, “Man plans, and God laughs.” It is foolish to put limitations on a God who is limitless. Matthew 19:26, Jesus tells us “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” A faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20-21). 

In conclusion, Elizabeth’s story is another example of God’s use of ordinary people for extraordinary events. God used her and her husband to be the parents of John the Baptist. Their faithfulness was rewarded by being the parents of the forerunner of the Messiah. Like with Hannah (1 Samuel 1:2-2:21), I relate to Elizabeth. As someone who struggled with infertility, it was hard to accept God’s timeline for my journey to motherhood. Accepting my journey came with peace and humility. I did not have the journey I thought I would; but I believe it serves a purpose that I may not see yet. Her story is also a reminder that God does not forget those who are faithful.  

Storming Meg: a disappointing second chance romance suspense mystery

Storming Meg by Pamela Burford is the first book in the Wild Ones series. Meg Wolf was planning on spending Thanksgiving with her quirky relatives on her uncle’s private island with her three daughters and her fiancé, Winston. The person she didn’t expect to be there was her ex-husband, Jack. When a violent nor’easter storm leaves them stranded, their only option is to wait it out. When the storm takes out the electricity, she finds herself fighting to resist her sexy ex. The situation gets more complicated when her uncle is found dead at the bottom of the stairs and one of them is a murderer. Everyone has a motive and fingers start pointing as accusations fly. Will they find the murderer? Can they survive the weekend? 

With a book blurb like this, you would expect a steamy suspense story, right? Maybe for some readers; but for me, it fell horribly flat. Right from the opening chapter, I did not care for Meg. Her relatives weren’t quirky, they were downright cruel and vindictive. The only person I liked and cheered for was Jack and even that was difficult at times. Advertised as “a witty romantic suspense novel about second chances,” I didn’t find any humor in the story at all. Many cringey moments and eye rolling dialogue, though. The sex scenes were quite explicit. I don’t mind steamy but geez louise! I did not like Storming Meg. It was essentially a game of Clue with a romance thrown in. I do not recommend Storming Meg. 

Storming Meg is available in eBook. 

His First Love: a second chance at a first love

His First Love by Liz Isaacson is the first book in the Ivory Peaks series. Hunter Hammond is back in town after completing his degree at MIT, ready to take his place as a part of the family company. On his first day back in town, he runs into Molly Benson, his childhood sweetheart. Molly had broken up with him in high school. Seeing her again, Hunter realizes the old flame still burns for Molly. She may have ended their relationship due to parental pressures but Molly never forgot him. Now divorced and carrying emotional scars and feelings of unworthiness, she feels she doesn't deserve Hunter now. As their paths cross in their small Colorado town, they can’t help being drawn to each other. Is this their second chance at their first love? Or will family pressures tear them apart again? 

A continuation of the Hammond brothers saga, readers are introduced to Gray’s son, Hunter. Readers do not need to read the original series to enjoy His First Love. There is so much wrapped up in this second chance romance. Mental health, family obligations, personal sacrifice, expectations of marriage and what it means to be truly happy. I enjoyed the honesty and openness of the characters’ conversations and conflicts. It felt realistic and not forced or oversimplified. I also enjoyed the depiction of prayer and the crisis of faith. Unfortunately, the image of a Christian and their families is perfect with no conflict. That is farthest from the truth. Christians are still humans with real shortcomings, real conflicts and real hurts. I enjoyed His First Love. I look forward to the rest of the series. I recommend His First Love. 

His First Love is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Body in the books: a fun, humorous cozy mystery

Body in the Books by Heather Huffman is the first book in the Nora Jones Mystery series. Nora Jones inherits her estranged uncle’s estate which includes a dusty old bookshop, a Greyhound named Margo, and a murder. She moves to St Augustine, Florida to settle the estate and meets a quirky group of people including a ghost hunter and a charming homicide detective. When her uncle’s death is determined to be a homicide, there is no shortage of suspects including a local mob boss, a hostile neighbor and a tenacious real estate developer. A group as quirky as the Scooby Doo gang, Nora and her new found friends band together to search for clues, could the killer be closer to home than she realizes? 

Body in the Books is a fun, humorous cozy mystery novella. A quick read to kill a lazy afternoon, reader will follow the clues with Nora and her new friends as they deem themselves the Scooby Doo gang on the hunt to solve the mystery. Who the killer was surprising and not at all on my radar. Overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Nora, her friends and their adventures. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend Body in the Books. 

Body in the Books is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Brotherless Night: one woman's journey through civil war

Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshanathan is the story of one woman’s journey through a thirty year civil war. Jaffna, 1981, sixteen year old Sashi wants nothing but to become a doctor. She wants to follow the path of her grandfather and older brothers. She has come to believe the medical mantra of “do no harm,” she studies harder and longer than anyone else. As she is ready to enter university, a vicious civil war rages on the island of Sri Lanka. Her dreams take her on a different path than she ever imagined as she watches those she loves and cares for get swept up in the radical political ideologies and the consequences of those beliefs. When she realizes that both sides are willing to commit atrocities, she finds herself on a dangerous path. Sashi finds herself asking: does anyone go through life without doing harm to others? 

Brotherless Night is set in the early years of the Sri Lankan civil war. I was intrigued by this period of history that I was not aware of. Sri Lanka, an island off the coast of India, is home to diverse cultures, languages and ethnicities which have led to conflicts. Brotherless Night is a compelling read with the heartbreaking choices that many had to make for the life they felt they deserved. While the outside world may have seen them as unworthy and expendable, through Sashi’s eyes, readers see people trying to do what is right and others taking extreme measures to have a place in the world. The author writes sweeping, lyrical descriptions of the people as they fight this battle, as one quote stood out to me and stuck in my mind as I read: “Divided by colonial power, ancestral angers and bullheaded pride.” I recommend Brotherless Night. 

Brotherless Night is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook. 

Change of Heart: love is found in the most unexpected places

Change of Heart is a Seashell Cottage book by Judith Keim. Emerson “Em” Jordan always dreamed of a Valentine’s Day wedding. She believed her boyfriend would be proposing soon and she couldn’t wait. But she is blindsided when he suddenly breaks up with her, leaving her wallowing in what could have been. At the suggestion of her sister, Em spends ten days at the Seashell Cottage with Davin Gerard, a family friend who has no interest in her or any other woman as he’d rather concentrate on building his pediatric medical practice. Em doesn’t mind as she is there to regroup and not get romantically involved. She is focusing on achieving other dreams and a friendship is all she accepts. But as their friendship grows, she realizes that Devin may be the one for her. With their lives seemingly going in different directions, would it be possible? Will a new dream take the place of another? 

Change of Heart is a very sweet romance with a theme that great loves always start as friends. It was a fast paced and engaging read as I finished it in one day. I was not able to put it down. I enjoyed Em and Devin and their cast of supporting characters. I loved that they weren’t looking for a romance despite their obvious attraction to each other. My favorite quote from the story is “It wasn’t the wedding that counted; it was the man you chose to marry.” So very true! One of the things I enjoy with Judith Keim’s Seashell Cottage series is that the books do not need to be read in order. The only thing really connecting the stories is a cottage on the Gulf of Florida. I like the idea that a rental, a temporary home, has so many lasting stories to tell of the people who have passed through its doors. I highly recommend Change of Heart. 

Change of Heart is available in eBook and audiobook

The Bandit Queens: did she or didn't she?

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff is a story of one woman’s determination to live life as she sees fit. Geeta’s no-good, abusive husband disappeared five years ago. Everyone in her village thinks she killed him. She didn’t but no matter how much she protests, the rumor still flows from people’s lips. Since her husband has left, she has built a life as a self-made “widow” that has a few perks. No one messes with her. No one threatens her and no one has tried to marry her. Freedom looked so good on Geeta that other women in the village started asking for her help to get rid of their own no-good, abusive husbands. Her reputation seems to be a double-edged sword and she must now protect the life she has built. How far will she go to protect herself and the life she has built? 

The Bandit Queens is filled with very dark humor and even darker depiction of the reality of life for women in India. The powerlessness they feel as they have nowhere to turn to for help. The acceptance of domestic violence where men could do no wrong and women are always at fault. It is no wonder that these women are looking for a way out, any way out. Throughout the book, Geeta looks to the story of Phoolan Devi, the real life Bandit Queen, who was convicted of killing 22 men, serving prison time before being elected to the Indian Parliament. Did Geeta follow her example? The women in her village seem to think so. Overall, The Bandit Queens was a mixture of mystery, thriller and a detailed social commentary on the very real circumstances for women in India. I recommend The Bandit Queens. 

The Bandit Queens is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook