Sunday Words of Encouragement August 7, 2022 The Wisdom of Waiting

This morning I attended church with my son and family at their neighborhood church. The Pastor shared a message on The Wisdom of Waiting based on Psalm 27:1-14.
We live in a fast-paced world and have become a society that wants things now. How well do you wait?
We want God to line up with us instead of us lining up with Him.
The news is rapid and continuous and often we feel we need to do everything in microwave moments.
These are verses that speak to waiting on the Lord:
Psalm 33:20, 37:7, 38:15, 40:1, 130:5-6, and 27:1-2, 5.

1. THE WISDOM OF WAITING IS DOING.
Psalm 27:4-6 “In the day of trouble...seek the Lord”. But that doesn’t mean you sit and do nothing. If you need funds, you may need to go out and work, rather than beg at the church or from the government. We are in a time when we need to pray for no empty seats in your church.
Are you waiting for worship? Step up and worship. How are you doing? Don't live in neutral.

2. WAITING IS PRAYING.
Psalm 27:7-9 “Your face, Lord, I will seek… Do not leave me nor forsake me…”
God's silence is not absence or rejection. He is waiting for you to seek His face, not just His provision.
As the church shares 21 days of prayer, be mindful to pray on each hour. Write 10 people on a list to pray for them to come to Christ.

3. WISDOM OF WAITING IS LEARNING.
Psalm 27:11 “Teach me your way, O Lord, And lead me in smooth path…”.
We are often too busy. Stop stirring up the dust, let it settle. Allow the Spirit to stir in you.
Where are your pauses?
Write on paper the answer to “What do you, God, see in me that I don't see?”

4. WISDOM OF WAITING IS TRUSTING.
Psalm 27:13-14 “I would have lost heart unless I believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Wait on the Lord. Are you secure in your Trust to wait on the Lord? For every death or failure there is a resurrection.

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength.

I found this song video which fits today and is a reminder of our frustrations during quarantine.

Verses for Today:
Isaiah 40:29-31
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Lord, please help me wait on you to give me a smooth path.

Audible Book Review: Sidekick, Raptors, Book 1 by Jaime Castel and C.J. Valin

I found this to be a hero, comic book type story.

Sidekick
Raptors, Book 1
By: Jaime Castle, C.J. Valin
Narrated by: Jack Meloche

Series: Raptors, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins
Release date: 03-23-21
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Action and Adventure, Comic, Teen and Young Adult
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Winner of the 2021 Best Indie Book Award for Young Adult Fiction.
My name is Sawyer William Vincent - I know, it sounds like three first names - but most people know me as the Red Raptor.
Well, technically no one knows I'm the Red Raptor, he's just a bit more popular.
Wow. Enough about my name. Let me start over. I’m a superhero - the legendary Black Harrier’s partner. Not sidekick. I don't care if I'm still in high school. We work together to bring down the city's most dangerous villains.
When the Black Harrier gets a mysterious note, then goes missing in New York City, things are pretty much left up to me. But don’t worry...I’ve got this. Piece of cake.
If you like Tim Drake as Robin or ever wondered what Peter Parker would be like if he lived in Gotham, Raptors is right up your alley.
From number one Audible best seller Jaime Castle and CJ Valin comes a new superhero universe perfect for fans of both DC and Marvel.
Actually, it’s for fans of anything superhero-related. You’re gonna like it. Promise.
©2021 Aethon Books (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Sawyer has a very unique and helpful talent. He has been recruited and trained by a superhero, the Black Harrier. Sawyer knows the real identity of the Black Harrier, but the public doesn’t, and they don’t know the identity of the Red Raptor, formerly known as the Red Kite, either. Actually, Sawyer is the third Red Kite and he is becoming frustrated that his hero won’t tell him about his predecessors and really won’t share much at all. Plus his ‘partner’ has loaded his AI interface with a seductive woman’s voice that teenage Sawyer finds annoying.

Sawyer meets another masked person on the roof top during his nightly rounds. After a short confrontation the two begin to face a gang of thieves. Sawyer and Osprey may have good skills against normal criminals, but they aren’t prepared to take on super villains without the help of others. Sawyer wants to continue to work with Osprey, but the Black Harrier tells him she is not licensed by the guild and Sawyer shouldn’t work with her.

Sawyer is facing two difficulties: hiding his superhero status from his mother and classmates and trying to find the Black Harrier when he disappears. Sawyer finds another superhero at headquarters, and they learn that a super villain previously thought to be captured or dead is threatening Black Harrier. As crime increases in the city, will they be able to find Black Harrier and rescue the city while maintaining Black Harrier's primary rule: "No killing"?

I picked this out as a short and lighter listen. It definitely has a Batman and Robin or Superman and Super Boy theme and tone. There is an interesting plot, but I wasn’t enthralled with the delivery from the perspective of a teenage boy. It just isn’t my cup of tea but would very likely be fun for young adult readers and fans of the superhero genre.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Jack Meloche. He delivers a wide range of voices for the good and evil characters. The pacing is good and moves along well. I am glad I had the opportunity to listen to this.

Source: 6/10/2021 3 books in the series Free from Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: After It Happened Books 5 and 6 by Devon C. Ford

This is a good Post-Apocalyptic with struggles, defeats, and finally victories.
After It Happened
Publisher's Pack 3
By: Devon C. Ford
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
Release date: 01-10-18
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
This publisher's pack contains Sanctuary (book 5) and Rebellion (book 6) of the After It Happened series.
Set in the UK in the immediate aftermath of a mysterious illness that swept the country and left millions dead, the series follows the trials facing a reluctant hero, Dan, and the group he forms around him. They must battle the elements, find sufficient supplies and equipment to survive, and protect themselves against the most destructive force on the planet: other people.
Sanctuary, book 5: Scattered, the group must come to terms with their new reality. They face more danger than they can deal with. They have no idea if they can win the race against time before one of them becomes critical. Meanwhile, back at home, a plan is hatched to overthrow a tyrannical rule.
Rebellion, book 6: Steve, now recovered from his horrific injuries, forms a plan to restore the balance of power in their camp, but his opposition is also playing a dangerous game. Meanwhile, Sanctuary reveals its secrets to Dan and the others, and they find safety and comfort behind the high walls. But safety is an illusion, and there are forces converging on them with a malevolence that they have not battled before.
©2017 Devon C. Ford (P)2018 Podium Publishing

Review:
These two books continue to tell the stories of several groups of survivors. Dan and his group are traveling through Europe to get to Africa where Emma believes she can find a cure to help Melissa (Dan’s woman) safely deliver their baby. They face killing marauders, lose supplies and become separated along the way. Having heard a radio message, they seek a fortified town called Sanctuary. When some of the survivors reach Sanctuary they need to prepare the town for the evil that may follow them.

Meanwhile, the original home base has been taken over by a fascist military leader who controls his troops by fear. Steve and the remaining members of the group have been captured and the others are conscripted into various jobs while Steve recovers with a doctor who agrees secretly to help lead a rebellion coup.

There are four young people who escaped from the troops who head out to find Dan. At least one of them, Chris is angry and blames Dan for leaving the home base insufficiently protected. This group is captured by the vicious marauders who almost captured Dan. Two of them are horribly torture before they break free.

I found these books to be very realistic which includes danger, oppression, torture and other traumatic events. There was a point where I wanted to have a better result for the good guys, but I had to continue in hopes of victories. There is some swearing and, of course, brutality. I recommend this series to true fans of post-apocalyptic adventure.

Audio Notes: I always enjoy the narration of R.C. Bray. He conveys distinct voices and energy that fits the scenes of the story. His narration enhanced my enjoyment of this story.

Source: June 2021 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Forget Nothing by Jason Anspach and Michelle C. Meyers

I liked this quick listen which was full of action.

Forget Nothing
By: Jason Anspach, Michelle C. Meyers
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Series: Galaxy's Edge Series, Book 0.6
Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 06-04-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

About This Audible Original
She Chose the Hardest Way
The daughter of a Legion war hero, fighting was in Andien Broxin's blood. But the battles Republic marines face on strange and alien worlds are a far cry from the vaunted, brutal, no-holds-barred conflicts fought at the edge of the galaxy by the elite legionnaires.
Until a devastating war erupts right in the Republic’s stellar backyard.
Newly stationed on a mid-core planet being harassed by terrorist revolutionaries, Andien and her fellow "hullbusters" find themselves right in the middle of a desperate fight for survival. All their training, standards, discipline—all the hard paths—have led to this. If she and her fellow marines are to come out of this alive, Andien will have to find out who she truly is...and what she can become.
Best-selling military science fiction author Jason Anspach and USMC/US Army veteran Michelle C. Meyers explore the rigors of combat, survival, and the human will in this edge-of-your-seat account set in the Galaxy’s Edge universe.
©2020 Galaxy's Edge, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Andien grew up under a marine father who was an elite member of the Legion. Andien may have to push herself harder, but she can shoot better than most men and she can take most of them on for one-on-one combat. Always remembering her father's words: "Forget nothing", she has been advanced in rank on her own merit.

Andien and her troop are serving on a foreign planet where they are assigned to protect the locals and colonists from hostiles in the wild. Unfortunately, it that turns out the worst hostiles are a gathering of revolutionary, terrorist colonists. Her crew has to team up with the Legionnaires assigned to the planet. The Legion men have all the tech and enhancements but this group, not like others, is appreciative of Andien’s efforts.

When negotiations for Republic marines ends up agreeing to allow women to join the Legion, Andien’s name is submitted as a candidate. She is encouraged by others, but she has to decide if she is willing to work extra hard to go in the first class.

I did enjoy all of the action, strategy and tactics in this book. I like Andien and the supporting characters. Although it is set in a series, it is set in a different time and place and does not continue the characters from the other books. I enjoy this author and have more to listen to in the series. I recommend this shorter story to fans of space and high tech military action.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Khristine Hvam. She provided distinct voices and good energy. I am glad I had this in audio.

Source: 6/20/2020 a free Audible title. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Limited Posting Due to Travel, Vacation, and time with Grandchildren!

Hi all. I'm stopping in for a quick post to let you know I am fine but have limited computer time. I was traveling Friday and expected to have computer access that night to prepare a couple of posts. Unfortunately the internet at the motel did not work. 

Of greater issue, I forgot the computer plug of all things! I had to preserve computer battery for work items due on Monday and Tuesday. The cord arrived mid-day on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, my daughter-in-law had another cancer surgery Tuesday so I am here in Illinois to help with the children. My grandchildren are a 9 year old granddaughter and almost 6 year old twins (boy and girl). They are a great age to spend time with playing games, reading books, and swimming in the pool. They've helped me in the kitchen too!

I have made two meals so far. The chicken breast Parmesan was a great success (my son has a picture I will share later). My scrambled eggs not so much. I used milk in the eggs and they didn't seem to like the softer texture. Also, there were no seasonings as they all said "no" to various suggested seasonings and additions other than cheese. The bacon was good though - "not soggy and not burnt" the eldest proclaimed.

I hope to post a couple of reviews this week but am not going to plan on anything specific - even Friday's post. 

I hope everyone is well as we move on into August!