A Book Review ~ Memory's Door by James L. Rubart

 Taking a line from James L. Rubart's latest novel, "That was a ride on the far side of extreme." Memory's Door had me pinned to my seat as I flew through the novel.


The sequel to Soul's Gate, Memory's Door is a journey into battling the spirit of religion that reigns in today's society. But that isn't where it ends. Underneath is the story of forgiveness. And this is the part that touched me the deepest.

I'm a self-proclaimed perfectionist. I like to do things right. I like it when others do things right. And I grit my teeth when I make mistakes or fail. When my sin nature rules, my flesh strong and spirit weak. Which brings me to my personal struggle with forgiving. Sure, I can easily forgive another. It's myself I have the hard time forgiving. Because I know I could have done it better. Because I know the hurt or inconvenience my mistakes have caused others. Because I want to be better than I am. I don't want to accept my human flaws. I want to be more like Jesus.

Page 300 of Memory's Door is my favorite.

"It didn't make sense. Why wasn't Jesus showing him? There was nothing to see. Nothing to see. Nothing." 

Marcus is realizing that God wipes away our sin. Forgiven. Nothing remains. Only Jesus. I cried as I read this on an airplane, stuck between two passengers. Nowhere to hide as I wiped my cheeks with the cuff of my sweatshirt sleeve. It takes a good writer to make me cry while I'm reading a book. I think this is only the second time it's happened to me.

Memory's Door isn't just a novel. It's a call to live free. Free from the condemnation of the enemy, who would have us bound tight and unable to fight for the kingdom of God if he could. It's a call to free ourselves from the mistakes of our past, to have no regrets, and to learn to forgive ourselves as Jesus Christ has forgiven us.

I highly recommend Jim's novels. Every one of them has something significant to say about our spiritual well-being, about the choices we make every day. Memory's Door is now my second favorite. Please read it. It won't disappoint you.

You can obtain a copy of Memory's Door {here}.

PS - That first book that made me cry was Gina Holmes' Crossing Oceans. And my still-all-time-favorite novel of Jim's is Rooms.

Has God Provided for You?

I read the words again for the thousandth time this morning. The red ones. The ones that say this:

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? ... And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:22-26, 29-32).

How often in life do you stay awake into the dark night wondering how you're going to make it through another day? How often do you worry about when the next paycheck is going to come in as you stare at an empty refrigerator and empty closets? How often do you look at the pile of sneakers your kids have just outgrown - all at the same time - and know the bills will use the entire paycheck while your kids are running barefoot in the wind?

You're not alone.

We all go through trials and tribulations in life. Many have found themselves standing in the unemployment line over the last five years and before. Many have wondered the same. Many face financial hardship even when they have a job, living paycheck-to-paycheck and watching costs of basic necessities increase.

What's one to do?

Based on Luke 12, we should do (or, not do) the following:

1. Do not worry about your life. God has His hand on it.
2. Do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear. God will provide.
3. Consider all of God's creation - the ravens, the flowers of the field. God takes care of them, and they aren't the height of His creation. We are. You are. You are of more value than all of these. If God feeds them, He'll feed you.
4. Do not be anxious for the rest when you are unable to do the least. Let God show you the way.
5. Don't seek the physical things in life - what you should eat or drink. God knows you need these things.
6. Don't have an anxious mind. It's not getting you anywhere but worn out.
7. Seek first the kingdom of God. All of these things will be provided by the hand of God. Watch for His hand in your life every moment of every day, and be grateful. Seek instead the spiritual things of His kingdom. Serve and love one another and watch what God will do.
8. Do not fear. It's God's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Receive your inheritance, child of God.

I've recently had the pleasure of editing a book entitled God's Provision in Tough Times. I even have a story of my own in there. This incredible book is filled with testimonies of people who have found themselves in dire straits, financial difficulty, and the unemployment line. Some have had to apply for food stamps, as humbling as that is to admit. But each one tells the testimony of God's provision. Every one has a thread of hope woven throughout. If you are facing difficulties in your life, financial or not, this book becomes a gift of encouragement. I hope you'll order your copy today and allow God to minister to you through your reading it.

Book Review - Book of Days by James L. Rubart

There are some authors whose novels are so precious to me, I'd cry if someone were to remove them from my shelf...

James L. Rubart is one of those authors.
 

He ran to the top of my favorite authors list this week. After reading both Rooms and Book of Days, I find myself astounded by his story-telling. His descriptions inspire me. I enjoy phrases like “something about you crumbled his Oreos” on nearly every page. His wordsmithing is refreshing, like ice cold sweet tea on a hot summer’s day.

Both novels are deep, searching, and thought-provoking. They challenge a believer to reflect on their faith, to look for a deeper relationship with God. And for the unbeliever or the doubter, Mr. Rubart writes in such a way that one can relate to his characters’ stories without preaching a sermon to them.

In Book of Days, we meet Cameron Vaux. Cameron already lost his wife and his father, and now he thinks he’s losing his mind. Afraid of what that may mean, he decides it’s time to go on a journey to look for some answers. His wife and father asked him to search out an ancient book upon their deathbeds. Either they were both crazy, or the book is real. Will Cameron be able to find it before he forgets them altogether?

James Rubart weaves an intriguing tale of Cameron’s search for the Book of Days. Filled with obstacles and characters who don’t want to reveal secrets hidden for decades, Cameron faces many challenges during his quest. Several secrets remain untold until Cameron nears the end of his journey. Filled with gripping suspense peppered with subtle hints, one will not find closure until the final chapters.

This is one of the first books I’ve read where I’ve been tempted to skip ahead a bit in search of answers to the questions each chapter brings.

I also enjoyed the movie and music references throughout the story. Being a lover of both, they assisted in my ability to relate to the characters.

A perfectly engaging read, I highly recommend Book of Days. I enjoyed every second of reading it. I’d also encourage you to pick up a copy of Rooms. Mr. Rubart will not disappoint. 

Find your copy here:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

CBD