I just finished another book this morning, “A NEW KIND OF NORMAL” by Carol Kent. I got to hear her speak at Women of Faith. Her son is in prison for life without the possibility of parole for murdering his wife’s ex-husband. It is a very sad situation but a very good book.
We all are having or have had difficult things happen in our lives, things like a loss of a child or spouse, divorce, health issues, infertility, wayward child, loss of a job, et cetera. These things affect how we live. They shatter our dreams of what we have thought should be normal. The way of life that we had hoped for has changed dramatically. How do we go on from here? Will my life ever be normal again? What is normal?
Carol Kent uses the life of Mary, Jesus’ mother as an example of learning to live the life you are given. Carol weaves her story with Mary’s and shows that it is possible to persevere against despair, to hold on to hope, and to trust God’s faithfulness in an upside-down world.
I like the title of her book. This is her life now. Every free weekend and every holiday she is at the prison visiting her son. This is her “Normal” now. This is not what she had planned for but this is where she is right now.
God is still in control. It may not be what we would have chosen but God can still work in our lives bringing us closer to Him through the difficult times. We have a choice. Where are we going to put our focus? Are we going to wallow in a pity party or are we going to look up to God? Are we going to allow God to work in us through this “New Normal”?
I want God to work in me in my “New Normal”. I can’t change my circumstances so I will allow God to use these circumstances to draw me closer to Him. His ultimate goal for me is to conform me to His image. This is a refining process. This reminds me of a chorus we sing a church:
REFINER’S FIRE
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiners fire, my hearts one desire
Is to be holy, set apart for You
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within and make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within
Refiners fire, my hearts one desire
Is to be holy, set apart for You
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will
I highly recommend this book. It is filled with hope-filled choices that can be made when life turns upside down. There are thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. Check it out.
Karen
We all are having or have had difficult things happen in our lives, things like a loss of a child or spouse, divorce, health issues, infertility, wayward child, loss of a job, et cetera. These things affect how we live. They shatter our dreams of what we have thought should be normal. The way of life that we had hoped for has changed dramatically. How do we go on from here? Will my life ever be normal again? What is normal?
Carol Kent uses the life of Mary, Jesus’ mother as an example of learning to live the life you are given. Carol weaves her story with Mary’s and shows that it is possible to persevere against despair, to hold on to hope, and to trust God’s faithfulness in an upside-down world.
I like the title of her book. This is her life now. Every free weekend and every holiday she is at the prison visiting her son. This is her “Normal” now. This is not what she had planned for but this is where she is right now.
God is still in control. It may not be what we would have chosen but God can still work in our lives bringing us closer to Him through the difficult times. We have a choice. Where are we going to put our focus? Are we going to wallow in a pity party or are we going to look up to God? Are we going to allow God to work in us through this “New Normal”?
I want God to work in me in my “New Normal”. I can’t change my circumstances so I will allow God to use these circumstances to draw me closer to Him. His ultimate goal for me is to conform me to His image. This is a refining process. This reminds me of a chorus we sing a church:
REFINER’S FIRE
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiners fire, my hearts one desire
Is to be holy, set apart for You
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within and make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within
Refiners fire, my hearts one desire
Is to be holy, set apart for You
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will
I highly recommend this book. It is filled with hope-filled choices that can be made when life turns upside down. There are thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. Check it out.
Karen
No comments:
Post a Comment