Tracking

Lately I've ordered several items online, some for work, some for personal use. I love knowing that something (especially if it's something fun) is on its way to me. And I really love being able to track its progress and have a good estimate of when my order will arrive.

However, I have to confess that sometimes I find it frustrating to track an order and see that it is still far from here. Why does it have to sit in a warehouse in Chicago for a day and a half before it leaves? When it arrives in my city, why does it take another day before it's delivered to me? I can see by the online tracker that it's THIS close, and yet I can't have it just yet.

I've thought before that being able to track the progress of my prayers might be handy. If I could look online and see that whatever I've asked for is just a few days away, then maybe I wouldn't worry or doubt. Then again, if I knew that the answer was delayed by several weeks, months or even years, I'm not sure I'd have the patience to wait gracefully. If I get antsy anticipating the arrival of some new books from Amazon, I can't imagine how anxious I'd be knowing exactly when an answer to a prayer would arrive.

So it's really for the best that God keeps certain things like His timing a mystery to me. After all, not knowing how or when He's going to answer helps build my faith as I wait and learn to gratefully accept whatever (and whenever) the outcome. The anticipation gives me an opportunity to experience His peace while I wait. And sometimes the best deliveries are the ones that come unexpectedly.

Book Review: Curiosities of the Civil War

My most recent Booksneeze review is of Curiosities of the Civil War by Webb Garrison.

Growing up in the Heart of Dixie (and in a city that was, for a brief time, the capital of the Confederacy), I was naturally exposed to much Civil War history. Webb Garrison's book uncovers some hidden stories that aren't mentioned in high school history books. Many of his stories involve the ordinary citizens who were pressed into action, men (and some women) whose names are not familiar to most of us.

The book spans more than 500 pages, and most stories are only a couple of paragraphs in length. Although I do enjoy history, I would prefer for there to be fewer stories but stories that are longer and more detailed. Many of Garrison's stories were just tidbits of incidents that occurred throughout the war; perhaps being a details-oriented person makes me long for more information in these stories.

Subtitled "Strange Stories, Infamous Characters, & Bizarre Events", Curiosities of the Civil War provides just that. If you're a big history buff (and especially a Civil War buff), you'll probably find this book quite interesting and will likely learn some new facts.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Song on My Mind

I woke up this morning with the song "Our God" by Chris Tomlin in my head. Not a bad way to start the day.

The lyrics are below, and you can listen to the song here. I especially like the words of the bridge: "And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us And if Our God is with us, then what can stand against?" May you be encouraged and refreshed by it.

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Say a Prayer

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned my friends Betsy and Chad who are adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia. Earlier this week Betsy and her mom traveled to Ethiopia to finalize the paperwork and bring the baby home. Little Addison is now officially a U.S. citizen, and she is now flying home with her new mom and grandma. Tomorrow they'll arrive in the U.S. and Addison will get to meet her brand new family, which includes three big brothers.

Please take a minute to say a prayer for their loooooong plane trip and especially for this season of transition for Betsy, Chad, their boys, and Addison, as well as their extended family.

You can read more about Betsy and Chad's journey to adoption on Betsy's blog.

Good Advice

I've seen this on a few other blogs and appreciated the advice offered. Thought I'd share it with you.

What advice would you add to this?

Light Gives Heat: Buy One, Give One Special

I first heard about Light Gives Heat through a friend from church, Allison. She and her family recently moved to Colorado where LGH is based and she got involved with the organization. Through its sales of jewelry and handbags made by Ugandan women, LGH helps provide economic stability for Uganda while raising awareness of the needs of Africa. Combining fashion with humanitarian efforts? I love it!

Throughout February, LGH is running a special Buy One, Give One offer. Every day an item will be featured, and when you buy one you'll get a duplicate item free. The point is to give the second item away to help share the story of LGH. You can read more about the special here.

If you have a Facebook account, you can also go here to sign up for their daily notifications of what's on sale.

Happy shopping!

Beginnings and Endings

I've been offering up a lot of prayers lately for friends (and friends and family of friends) who are beginning or ending journeys. One such person is John, the father of my friend Ashley. He is in the final days (perhaps hours even) of his battle with a brain tumor. John is a faithful man of God and his family is comforted by the knowledge that, while his earthly journey is ending, his eternal journey is about to begin. Still, I can't imagine the pain of saying goodbye.

Another person beginning a journey is Sara, a young mother in Nashville. She grew up in my hometown, attended the same school that I did (although she is several years younger than me so we didn't really know each other). She was recently diagnosed with colon cancer that has spread to her liver and some lymph nodes in her abdomen. She just began chemo earlier this week, and has set up a Caring Bridge page to share her story. She is confident that the cancer is another opportunity for God to be glorified, and I am confident that many people will be touched by her story and encouraged by her faith in God.

On a happier note, my friends Betsy and Chad are moving ever closer to completing the adoption process and beginning their new life as a family of six with daughter Addison. They made their first trip to Ethiopia a couple of weeks ago and got to finally meet Addison in person. They received news today that they received clearance from the U.S. Embassy and could be returning to Ethiopia in just a couple of weeks to bring Addison home! It is exciting to see how quickly God has been moving over the past couple of months, and I can't wait to finally see the little cutie in person. You can read about their journey to becoming Addison's parents on Betsy's blog.

Would you please take a moment to join me in praying for all of these people, and countless others, who are beginning and ending these journeys? There are so many opportunities for God to be glorified, both in suffering and in rejoicing. His timing and His ways, while often a mystery to us, are truly perfect.