Book Review - You Don't Know Me by Susan May Warren

This book should be made into a movie. In You Don’t Know Me, Susan May Warren takes the reader on an adventure through love, grace, and forgiveness. Her characters wrestle with their deepest, darkest secrets and will discover that life isn’t as bad as they think it will be if those secrets are exposed. There is great opportunity for the reader to grow along with her characters as the story progresses.

Throughout the novel, we get to know Annalise Decker and her seemingly perfect small town family. Except that her husband, who is running for mayor, is the black sheep of the town. Or so he thinks. And so does his mother. Who lives across the street. However, Annalise is carrying a secret no one knows and has kept it for twenty years. Until Uncle Frank shows up. Then, her seemingly perfect life begins to unravel.

Throughout the novel, Susan leaves the reader wondering if it will all work out in the end…or not, which makes it a page-turner. Dealing with the issues of trust, loyalty, judgment, faithfulness, forgiveness, and so many more, she touches on the question of whether one would stick by a spouse who has kept one too many important secrets over a vast number of years. The thoughtfulness that went into her writing makes it incredibly realistic for a fiction read. Emotions run deep, and you may wish to read with a box of tissues nearby, particularly toward the final chapters.

Susan writes from multiple character viewpoints. One moment, we’re in Annalise’s point of view. The next, we’re in Nathan’s. We also get to know Uncle Frank, Grandma Helen, and Colleen’s boyfriend Tucker from these points of view. The only thing I found slightly frustrating (but not enough, apparently, because I devoured this book and can’t wait to read the next one) was the switching. The only reason it bothered me at all is because of the time overlaps. Annalise would be somewhere doing something and then on to the next thing a few hours later, and we’d back up to the moment she left and hear from Frank or Nathan. This doesn’t happen consistently, but when it does, it feels like a rewind in the movie reel of the reader’s mind.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading You Don’t Know Me by Susan May Warren. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy a suspense novel that isn’t afraid to talk about the realities of life that we all deal with.

If you'd like a glimpse into Annelise's life, Susan has interviewed her over at her blog. If you'd like to order You Don't Know Me, it's available October 1st at any of the following:

CBD

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Proverbs 21 - Convicted

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
  But the Lord weighs the hearts."
  ~ Proverbs 21:2

Have you ever had one of those moments when you thought you were in the right, that what you felt was truth, only to discover a minute, an hour, or three days later that you were utterly mistaken? God's voice pierces your thought life and gently whispers, "By the way, you were wrong the other day. You should go back and correct that."

Your heart sinks. You stand convicted.

Many people thought they were right over 2000 years ago. They screamed, "Crucify Him!" They wanted an innocent man dead. They let a convicted killer go free in His stead. 

Later, two men hung on the crosses beside Him. At first, both mocked him. And then, one had a change of heart. He came under conviction. 

"Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." He turns to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." The first sinner's prayer is whispered at Calvary.

And Jesus answers, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise." (See Luke 23:39-43)

Jesus understands what it feels like to be convicted. Whether what we do is right or wrong, our Savior understands the need to make things right. He understands the humility of having to face our sins. 

Sometimes, we think we're just plain right. But the Lord weighs our hearts. And then we discover just how wrong we really are. 

If you hear God whispering a word of correction today, make the effort to make things right. Repent, like the thief on the cross. Confess your sin to your Savior. Get a glimpse of heaven today when God moves in your heart. 

Photo Copyright 2010 Alycia W. Morales 

The Gift of Forgiveness

Photo Courtesy of Kym McLeod

One of my favorite Bible stories is found in John 8. It's a story of forgiveness. Of being set free from the condemnation of others. Of being set free from the bondage of sin.

A woman is brought to the temple by a group of witnesses who wish to stone her to death. She's been caught in the act of adultery. The law requires she pay for her deeds. 

Jesus has been teaching. The people want to know what He has to say. They're looking for his faults, too. They want to find something to hold against Him. They don't like that He's stealing the attention, teaching things contrary to what makes them look good.

Jesus has no response, other than writing something in the sand. Again they question His authority. 

He finally responds with, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (John 8:7 NKJV)

Everyone walks away, leaving the woman alone with Jesus. He wonders where her accusers have gone. "Has no one condemned you?" She answers, "No."

Jesus says, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (John 8:11 NKJV)

Jesus came to save the world, not condemn it. (See John 3:17) He came to forgive us of our sins, not hold them against us. 

The people in the temple were like many people in our lives today, maybe even us. They wanted to look for the bad, the evil, the wrong, the sin in others. They didn't consider the good or what truly lay in someone's heart. 

While considering the pain of being picked on or bullied, ignored or pushed aside, I remember Jesus. Jesus forgave those who mocked Him, spit on Him, beat Him. He gave His life for those people...and me. And He continues to forgive me, every time I round the mountain of sin one more time, trying to find my own way off that path and onto His chosen path for me.

Every time my child comes to me and says, "Mom, they called me fat all day again," I turn him back toward Jesus. "Son, you must forgive them and move on." 

Peter came to Jesus and asked how many times he had to forgive his brother. Jesus replied, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:22 NKJV) 

Sometimes it's easier to forgive our enemies than it is those closest to us. Other times, it's difficult to let go of the pain of our past. I remind myself, my children, and my friends who seek my counsel of the importance of forgiveness. Forgiving someone not only sets them free from bondage, it sets us free, as well. 

When we hold anger or frustration against another person, they become a prisoner in our hearts. We torment them, going back to them throughout the day, wishing for revenge. But God says revenge is His. We need to let go of our grudge and move on with our day. Apologize for any offense we may have caused or admit we've been offended. This frees us and them to move forward in life and leave the past behind. Like Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." 

Forgiveness also allows us the opportunity to continue toward our goal of eternity with Jesus. God requires that we forgive others of their trespasses against us. Matthew 6:14-15 reads, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." 

This is a difficult verse for many Christians. It's hard to forgive someone who has raped you, stolen from you, murdered a loved one, picked on you until you were depressed and couldn't face another day... But, it's required by God. If we are unwilling to forgive others, He is unwilling to forgive us. 

Should it be easier to forgive? One thing I've come to realize in twelve years of marriage is that forgiveness isn't a feeling. It's a choice. Just like love. Just like faith. It doesn't erase the memories. It doesn't make the pain disappear. No. Wounds leave scars. But it does give one the freedom to move on and continue to grow, to become more Christ-like in our attitudes, behaviors, and responses. It also becomes easier to lay down the grudges and freely forgive.

So as my child runs to me for the fifth time today to tell me his brother called him another name, I remind him of what Jesus said. "Forgive." When my husband gets upset with me and raises his voice, I remind myself of what Jesus said. "Seventy times seven." I know there's no way he'll offend me that many times in one day.

And when someone does something to intentionally hurt me or someone I love, I remember what Jesus said. "Forgive." And I wait, because God says, "Vengeance is Mine." And I am amazed when I watch God move on my behalf and the situation is righted. It's happened many times. I trust Him to take care of me. He watches my back, and I am grateful for forgiveness.

 

~ Wisdom for Wednesday ~

~ Forgiveness ~

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

~ Matthew 6:14-15

Many people are afraid to forgive because they feel they must remember the wrong or they will not learn from it. The opposite is true. Through forgiveness, the wrong is released from its emotional stranglehold on us so that we can learn from it.

Through the power and intelligence of the heart, the release of forgiveness brings expanded intelligence to work with the situation more effectively. 

~ David McArthur & Bruce McArthur

Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.

~ William A. Ward