“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” ~Psalm 23:4
Daily Inspirations – April 27, 2016
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” ~Deuteronomy 10:12
Fearless
Fear. All throughout Scripture Christ commands us not to fear. However, as humans that is easier said than done. Sometimes the circumstances of life can be so overwhelming, and you don’t know how to be unafraid. Sometimes the future can seem so dark and scary in that you don’t want to move for fear of what will or won’t happen next. It would be so much easier if we could just know what was around the bend, but as one of my favorite Amy Grant songs says, “Sometimes, it’s better not to know, which way its going to go, what will die and what will grow, it’s better not to know.”
Those are simple but very true words. We may not know what is next in life, but there is one who does, and His name is Jesus. I have never been more grateful for His presence than I have been in this season.
If you have been following my journey for the past year or so, you know that I have been having some serious health problems. In January of 2015, I had my colon removed and following that spent over five weeks in the hospital due to life-threatening complications. Following that, has been a huge recovery process, but in November things started to get worse again. After several months of pain and problems with my ostomy, I saw my surgeon in March and he told me news that I didn’t want to hear — more surgery. More surgery for me could be complicated and very risky, but it has to be done. Dr. Dobson said there are possibly partial blockages and scar tissue but he will not know the extent of what is going on until he goes in. Due to my previous surgeries, this one is not going to be easy and there are more risks involved than normal — we are not sure what to expect or even how long I will be in the hospital. Because of what happened last year, not knowing more details has been hard, and I have been fearful of the outcome.
However, the Lord has so gently and lovingly reminded me this week of all the times He commands in His word not to fear or be afraid. Jesus is my everything, and He deserves my full obedience in all circumstances. No matter what occurs, God wants me to obey His word and trust Him. The situation is out of my control so worrying about it is not going to change anything. But there is one thing I can control and that is my choice to trust the Lord and surrender my will to His which means trusting Him with my life and believing that He is powerful enough to handle what comes my way.
[clickToTweet tweet=”If I believe Jesus like I say I do then I should be fearless. ~@ameliamcneilly” quote=”If I believe Jesus like I say I do then I should be fearless. The only person I need to fear is God, and He will take care of the rest. “]
Lately, as I have been meditating on different Scripture passages related to this, God has given me a peace that passes all understanding. My circumstances have not changed, but my heart has. As 1 John 4:18 says, “perfect love casts out all fear.” Other verses that have encouraged me are:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~Isaiah 41:10
“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” ~John 14:27
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:9
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ~Matthew 6:34
In closing, I want to thank all of you for your encouragement and prayers. It means so much to me. Several have asked how they can specifically be praying for me leading up to the surgery so I have decided to send out an email with regular prayer requests and updates regarding my surgery. The surgery is set for May 20, and I would love for you to be a part of my squad of prayer warriors cheering me on in this journey.
Send me a message by visiting this link and I will add you to the list. Thanks friends!
https://ameliamcneilly.com/contact/
Daily Inspirations – April 26, 2016
“There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for.” Elisabeth Elliot.
The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder Book Review
About the book:
The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder (Harvest House, April 2016)
In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.
Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city’s underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.
While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto’s premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever—if they can stay alive long enough to do so.
My Thoughts:
Filled with mystery, “The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder” is my new favorite. Set in Toronto, this is the story of two friends Merinda and Jem who make it their mission to help solve the murders of two Irish woman. Even though it is highly unacceptable for women to be detectives in their society these ladies have the skills to be top detectives in their field. Their journey is not a dull one and the author’s clever writing will keep the reader turning the page for more.
I am a huge fan of British television, especially Sherlock Holmes and this book makes me feel right at home. This was the first book that I have read of McMillan’s, but I hope it will not be my last! I look forward to many more fun mysteries from this author.
Purchase a copy: https://bit.ly/1RRdypX
To read what other reviewers are saying visit here: https://litfusegroup.com/author/rmcmillan
About the author:
Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.
Daily Inspirations – April 25, 2016
Happy Monday. I am so thankful for the peace Jesus gives me in my daily life. “Lord, you establish peace for us.” ~Isaiah 26:12
Sit, Stay, Love by Dana Mentink Book Review
About the book: 
Sit, Stay, Love (Harvest House, April 2016)
Take one abrasive professional athlete, a quirky out-of-work schoolteacher, and an overweight geriatric dog, and you’re ready for a lesson in love . . . Tippy style.
Pro baseball pitcher Cal Crawford is not a dog guy. When he inherits his deceased mother’s elderly dog, Tippy, he’s quick to call on a pet-sitting service.
Gina isn’t thrilled to be a dog sitter when her aspirations lie in the classroom. Furthermore, she can’t abide the unfriendly Cal, a man with all the charm of a wet towel. But with no other prospects and a deep love for all things canine, she takes the job caring for Tippy.
As Gina travels through Cal’s world with Tippy in tow, she begins to see Cal in a different light. Gina longs to show Cal the God-given blessings in his life that have nothing to do with baseball or fame. When her longing blooms into attraction, Gina does her best to suppress it. But Cal is falling in love with her too . . .
Discover the charming story of Tippy, the dog who brought a family together.
My Thoughts:
“Sit, Stay, Love” by Dana Mentink is a delightful read. Life has been crazy for me the past few weeks and this book is exactly what I needed. Yes, it has many silly moments, but it is laugh out loud funny and the witty dialogue keeps the reader interested until the very end.
When a happy and eccentric dog sitter, an elderly dog named Tippy, a cocky baseball star, and hilarious relatives come together — it makes for an amusing story that kept me laughing. The characters came together well, and I wanted more when the book was over. Even though the story line was very unrealistic, I loved every minute of it. There is nothing better than a good book to help you escape the crazy reality of life. This is the first of many books that I hope to read by Dana Mentink.
I was given this book by Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my review.
Purchase a copy here: https://bit.ly/1W95mqe
Read what other bloggers are saying here: https://litfusegroup.com/author/dmentink
About the Author:
Dana Mentink lives in California, where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Dana is an American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers Literary Contest. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third and fourth grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with her husband, two daughters, a dog with social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle, and a feisty parakeet.
Daily Inspirations – April 24, 2016
Happy Sunday! Shine the light of Christ today. “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” ~John 8:12
Daily Inspirations – April 23, 2016
Happy Saturday, friends! My mom is speaking at a women’s retreat this weekend and the theme of the retreat is “Count it All Joy.” My mom is one of the most joyful people I know. She loves Christ and shares His joy with everyone around her. She has shared one of my favorite quotes on joy this weekend and I wanted to share it with you. Find your joy in Jesus today and rest in Him.
“We can find true joy when we realize there is something bigger than me here, and learning to trust God even when we don’t understand what is going on. ” ~Sara McNeilly
Daily Inspirations – April 22, 2016
When we consecrate ourselves to God, we think we are making a great sacrifice, and doing lots for Him, when really we are only letting go some little, bitsie trinkets we have been grabbing, and when our hands are empty, He fills them full of His treasures. ~Betty Stam
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