JOURNAL & BOOK REVIEW - The Butterfly and the Violin

After church today, I felt the pull to work in my art journal.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to get some paint on my fingers.  As I sat down at my art table, I turned on one of my favorite Pandora stations, Classical for the Soul, and the violin strings became my muse for the afternoon.

Earlier this month I read "The Butterfly and the Violin" by Kristy Cambron.  The book takes place in both WW2 and today.  The plot revolves around the story of Austria's Sweetheart, a young violinist named Adele Von Bron.  Together with her boyfriend, Vladamir, they risk their lives to help Jews escape from Vienna and she finds herself a prisoner in Auschwitz.  It was a hard book for me to read because the descriptions of camp life seemed so real.  For me, it was similar to reading "Night" by Elie Weisel because you JUST CAN'T take anymore, but then you NEED to know the outcome.  The story set in today's New York is about Sera James, a New York art dealer, who has a sentimental attachment with a painting of our heroine Adele.  Sera finds herself in California with a gentleman, William, who owns a copy of the painting and they team up to search for the original.  In the book you get to experience two love stories both connected to the painting of a beautiful survivor who found her strength in God to produce creativity in a time of adversity.  Many a tear fell as the book came to a close - well, truthfully, I sobbed.

I tried to capture the idea of the book as my art journal page.  Please meet my vision of Adele in about the middle of her stay at Auschwitz- before she shaved her head, but well enough into her look of starvation.  The book says she had beautiful blond hair and I can't remember if her eye color was mentioned.  I knew I wanted her eyes to draw you in and I hope I was able to carry that off.  Although the butterfly was a brooch in the story,  I added this as a necklace pendant.  I used the idea of her tattoo as a way to date my page.  Since the search for the painting was key to the plot, I put a bold black frame around my image of Adele.  I really felt like "creativity in adversity" was being placed on my heart as I read the book, so I added this as text on my page.  As somebody who has her fair share of adversity, I know the impact creativity plays in healing.  It has been my salve many a time!

BOOK REVIEW - Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe

BOOK DESCRIPTION

What if you could ask God anything? What would you ask? And how would He answer?  Chelsea Chambers is on her own. After a public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea takes a bold step out of the limelight and behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage, expert planning, and out-of-this-world cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help. Better yet, a miracle.  Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea’s door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cupcakes and cappuccino. They’ve come for the internet connection to the divine. Now the café has become the go-to place for people in search of answers to life’s biggest questions. When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask God a question of her own. Heaven answers in a most unexpected way.
Author's Website:  http://maxlucado.christianbook.com/miracle-at-the-higher-grounds-cafe/max-lucado/9780718000882/pd/000882/1529702503?event=MLDTS01

MY REVIEW
Although I am not a coffee-drinker, I was close to trying a mochachino as I read the newest book by Max Lucado.  The book started out a little slow for me, but I perked up when the God Blog modem was installed at the cafe.  The questions being asked by the customers and the answers they received from God were interesting to read and warmed my heart.  The responses reminded me of the Jesus Calling devotions in which scripture is written as a brief note from God.

The variety of relationships seemed to be the theme of this book - there were strong, bold relationships and light, sweet relationships.  The story revolves around the bittersweet, failing marriage of Chelsea and Sawyer.  I am probably the odd reader out because I enjoyed the maturing character of Sawyer.  I respected his desire to salvage his marriage and family.  He knew he had horribly wronged Chelsea yet he sought her forgiveness and tried to regain her love in a humble way.  The fact that he previously played for the Dallas Cowboys had only a small part in this.  Overarching these relationships was the relationship of God and His people.  With the God Blog we see His amazing love and throughout the story you cannot help but see His sovereignty in each of their lives.  My favorite character would be Manny - our "geeky" angel who I'd love to see fighting the Dark Side with his light saber.  

There is a battle brewing in the spiritual world and the book gives you glimpses of demons succumbing to the Heavenly angels.  (They don't need a light saber:))    At one point an angel said he had been delayed and that reminded me of Daniel 10 when the angel was delayed and left Micheal fighting in the spiritual realm.  I easily forget what all could be going on in the unseen by my human eyes.  I am humbled that God finds me worth fighting for.  

Miracles abounded at this beloved cafe and each was such a joy to read.  God is SO good!  For days I thought about the 1 question I would ask the God Blog.  Are You proud of me? Am I serving as You desire?  Why have I dealt with so much pain in my life?  Then came conviction and the remembrance of the TRUE MIRACLE - we don't need a God Blog, we have direct access.  We can ask God infinite questions and, like the cafe-goers, we can expect an answer.  It won't always be a written blog comment, but God knows how He can talk to His children.  Whether it be via music or nature or exercise, He will speak.  Are you listening?

READ - February Wrap-Up & March TBRs

The month of February I was quite excited to have read 4 really interesting books. In my first Booktube video, I have given brief reviews of my February reads and shown my TBR (to be read) books for March.  Thanks for watching!

Two Powerful Words

The last few days I have felt like I'm "going through hell".   Have you ever thought that before?  I certainly have voiced these words on several occasions in my life.  I usually feel guilty because I am sure of the fact that I will not be visiting there, but I go with this cliched phrase.  For the month of February and now early March I have been struggling through some type of sickness- headache, backache, sinus infection, viral syndrome, and a cyst was found in my ear canal.  I just can't seem to catch a break!  During my days of pain, I often relax with reading.  One day last week, I felt like I was walking through that hell of pain and I misread the book text.  I read hell instead of he'll.  I had a short LOL and then a spiritual moment over a forgotten apostrophe.  The Holy Spirit reminded me that when I'm going through my imagined hell of pain, I need to hold onto the fact that He Will.  Wow, the power of two words! 

In His sovereign time, I believe that HE WILL free me from the pains of this life.  His time management is superb and can be trusted. HE WILL guide my steps and make everything work according to His plan.  If I am still and know He is God, I have faith HE WILL fight for me and take care of me.  I have no doubt that HE WILL bring blessings from these storms of life and leave me with His peace - a peace that is beyond all understanding, provides refuge and relief, and removes all fear and worry from my days.  HE WILL!