September’s reading list has been a joy because I’ve had more time to read, but it has also been full of deep, provocative, and sometimes painful words and stories.
This month I’ve revisited an old and dearly loved devotional, met a brand new fiction author whom I have come to love, along with the characters and storyline she is weaving, and I was blessed to be on yet another launch team for a precious writing friend who has shared a hard story that stems from deep grief.
Here are the books that have currently been on my ranch table:
Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman
Years ago, after the loss of my mother, I discovered this devotional by L.B.(Lettie Burd) Cowman. Written in 1925, and updated by publisher Jim Reimann in 1997, “Streams in the Desert” is exactly what the title says it is, a refreshing oasis in the midst of dry, desolate, “desert” circumstances. Mrs. Cowman and her husband were missionaries in Japan in the early 1900s, until her husband’s ill health forced them to return to the United States in 1918.
It was during those years of watching her husband’s health decline that she began to write Streams in the Desert, born out of her own heartbreak, suffering, and struggle. These daily devotions include a scripture verse, quotes or poems from other writers, and her own reflections and deep insight into the blessings and joy of God’s provision and purposes as we wearily walk through desert seasons.
So many days the words in this devotion reach me exactly where my heart is hurting, where my fear is overwhelming, or where my faith feels weak. It has become a dearly loved book that I have shared many times with others who are facing difficulties.
These personal words from L.B. Cowman on the front cover are an indication of the way this book has ministered to hurting and weary souls for almost 100 years: “In the pathway of faith we come to learn that the Lord’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways. Both in the physical and spiritual realm, great pressure means great power! Although circumstances may bring us into the place of death, that need not spell disaster – for if we trust in the Lord, and wait patiently, that simply provides the occasion for the display of his almighty power ‘Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth’ (Ps. 105:5 KJV).”
You can find “Streams in the Desert” here:
Abiding Light: In the Shadow of Your Absence by Heidi L. Paulec
When a loved one dies suddenly, young, or by suicide, families, and friends are often left in shock-riddled grief. In the case of suicide, that shock along with the stigma that goes along with it often isolates and stalls healing. Even as those who grieve are yearning to connect with others, time and compassion are needed for healing to occur.
Abiding Light is a four-generation testimony-rich resource for those grieving this kind of loss, as well as a great resource for the community that loves and supports them. It can be read alone or in a group as it serves as a companion to foster compassionate care and conversation through deep grief. Simply through reading through the personal stories within Abiding Light, empathy and sympathy are found and can give seed to courage and deeper connection through patient conversation about the incredibly hard topic of suicide.
A fellow Hope*Writer friend, Heidi and I connected over our similar Wyoming roots and shared acquaintances. When she began looking for help in launching her book, I jumped at the chance, not realizing at first the difficult story she had written.
In Abiding Light Heidi shares with her readers the excruciatingly hard loss of her cousin, Jamie, to suicide. Heidi and Jamie grew up together, more like siblings than cousins, and his death rocked her once peaceful and perfect world. It took her 28 years to write this story that affected four generations of her family; but her writing was cathartic, helping her find healing and grace as she processed this hard loss. Her hope is that now the words and experiences she shares in her book will go on to help others who have faced this same kind of loss and the pain that goes with it.
From Heidi’s book: “When we step out of our shadows (trembling as our knees may be) and speak out of those deep places, we can delight and ignite hope. Despite death’s haunting, hope relentlessly delights, still. And as we release shards and beams of our story here, I pray you come to know and delight in hope’s tender, yet mighty, eternal embrace.”
You can find Heidi’s book here:
Alaska’s Firy: Book 1 of My Mama’s Mama trilogy by Cheryle Coapstic
Another new writer friend, Cheryle Coapstick and I met through Bodie Thoene’s (another favorite author), Facebook page. I was instantly intrigued by Cheryle’s recently self-published book, “Alaska’s Firy” and we began having a wonderful conversation about all things writing and self-publishing. We had a book swap and sent our books to each other.
I couldn’t wait to dive in and read the story Cheryle weaved surrounding the life of her mother, Glaphira “Firy” Oskolkoff-Baas. As a young girl growing up in Sitka, Alaska, Firy never felt like she completely fit in anywhere with her Russian and Yupik Indian, and possibly white, heritage. And yet, the townspeople in Sitka referred to her as “Our Firy”, revealing how beloved she really was. Deep grief stemming from several losses in her life, Firy held tightly to the words given to her by her mother, “Love Bozhe and do what’s right.” Within the first few pages I discovered that “Bozhe” was the Russian word for God and that doing what was right was not always easy for Firy.
Like the townspeople of Sitka, I too came to love “Our Firy” as well as all of the men, women, and children in her life. The tagline of the book says it perfectly, “Tough Times, Tougher People”; Firy’s life was anything but easy, but she clung to Bozhe and found Him to be faithful. She eventually discovered that loving Him needed to come first because when she tried to do right before loving Him, it became excruciatingly hard and empty, but when she chose to love God first and allowed Him to love her back, doing right became easier.
From Chapter 37 of the book:
“Firy whispered, ‘I try to love Bozhe and do what’s right.’
(Miss Ruth replied,) ‘I think you use all your energy to do what’s right and have little strength left to love Him. and what’s worse, you won’t let Him love you.’”
I am anxiously waiting for “About Miss Ruth” to come out later this fall, but you can get your own copy of “Alaska’s Firy” here:
Let me know what great books you are reading this Fall, and maybe I will add them to my ranch table stack of books!
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