Book Review: What Momma Left Behind by Cindy K. Sproles

What Momma Left Behind by Cindy K. Sproles

My Personal Review ~ 4 stars

Cindy K. Sproles certainly knows how to write an unexpected adventure. I’d only read one other book of hers before What Momma Left Behind, but I wasn’t worried about this book boring me. Cindy’s writing style is so unique and different, it’s bound to capture you in one way or another.

I was transported back to 1877, in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains. Worie Dressar is a tough, seventeen-year-old, mountain girl. She’s used to the hardship of her people’s way of life, but with influenza and typhoid snuffing out lives left and right, the burden on her shoulders becomes heavier than she thinks she can carry.

Worie was a unique character. Her battle with bitterness, anger, grief, love, and faith was thought-provoking and moving to watch unfold … The emotions. The relationships. The tragedy. The hope. The love. It was intense. My heart was especially touched seeing her heart change with the children as this story progressed. It was so tender and deep. I really loved how things turned out – it was profound and filled with purpose.

But there was at least one thing about the story that I really struggled with. *Spoilers* A faith-filled woman who commits suicide. I wrestle over that, because if you’re in the Word daily and pressing into the Lord, how can you not know that He bought you at a high price – yes, His own blood! – and that your life is not in your hands to take? You are not your own. Because of despair or self-sacrifice, suicide is not right, and I struggled with how this book portrayed it. It is so grievous and such a heavy subject. My heart aches for those who have lost someone to suicide or struggle with suicidal thoughts, and I think we have to be so careful how we approach this topic. Your life is precious and sacred and belongs to God.

So in many ways, What Momma Left Behind was raw and harsh … perhaps much like the mountain life back then. There were a lot of awful things that happened. But there was also such a beautiful, redemptive aspect to this tale. Where love triumphs. Where faith runs deep even in the brokenness. A well-done story. I sincerely look forward to reading more Cindy K. Sproles.

I received a complimentary copy of What Momma Left Behind from Revell Publishers. This review is my own, honest thoughts.

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Book Review: A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy

A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy

My Personal Review ~ 4 stars

A Mosaic of Wings is another enjoyable, Christian historical romance novel. And it definitely had it’s unique aspects that set it apart. I found myself transported to another era and culture … which is always a delight.

Set in the late 1800s, this story focuses on Nora Shipley, a young woman going to college for entomology and trying to find her purpose in life. It explores father/daughter relationships, and we walk alongside Nora in grief, bitterness, confusion, hurt … and hope. Friendship, faith, conviction, and love blossom on an exciting trip to India.

I really liked getting to know these characters. Nora was a little harsh and headstrong at times, but there were also moments when we saw her heart softened and heard her apologies. The complexities of some of the relationships were intriguing and thought-provoking. I loved the depth and the hard decisions made in India – and the ultimate beauty coming from destruction and chaos.

There were some aspects of the book that got a little edgy in my opinion. Feminism was pushed a bit. Some sinful behaviors and attitudes seemed to go unchecked.

But overall it was a good read. A touching historical fiction. I enjoyed learning more about butterflies and insects, journeying through Indian forests, and watching Nora grow.

I received a complimentary copy of A Mosaic of Wings from Bethany House Publishers. This review is honest and my own. 

To Be A Sweet Fragrance

I want to be liked. I want to be affirmed. I want people to enjoy being around me. I want to have something special to add to the world.

As a teenager and even into my adult years, I was severely insecure and self-conscious. I was never part of the inner circle … felt like I was always on the outside looking in. I was awkward and shy, and worst of all, I wasn’t anything special. Nothing about me or my abilities made me stand out. I often felt overlooked. And when I was noticed, I stammered and blushed and felt stupid.

There was always this longing inside. I wanted to belong – to be wanted!

Over the past couple years I’ve worked through a lot of these insecurities and have even become a part of some “inner circles”! It’s an incredibly sweet thing, I must say.

But I still find myself drifting to that insecure place deep in my heart at times. I wonder if I’m being real and if I was being real would people still like me?

People say I’m sweet. But am I really sweet inside? Or is that just how I come across because I’m quiet when I’m first getting to know people?

Am I truly calm, kind, wise, mature, sweet, and happy? Or are those just fronts I find easy to put on for a day … but would fade with time and show that I hide an unstable, unlikable person inside? Maybe my true self is actually more critical, tumultuous, selfish, prideful, and passionate to a fault?

I’m afraid that time will reveal my true colors and people’s admiration or liking of me will ebb and vanish. And I’ll be alone again.

So there’s that.

And now here’s what I believe God’s been teaching me.

I do hold a lot of ugliness inside. I am a fallen, broken, sinful human being. I am selfish, prideful, critical, tumultuous, and can be intense/passionate to a fault. I have a big capacity to hurt people and drive them from me. I walked in darkness, and at times it shadows me still.

But there’s a beautiful part to follow … I am also a new creation in Christ! As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17-18: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

• Made in the image of God, as it says in Genesis 1:27: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
• A child of light, as it says in Ephesians 5:8-10: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
• Of a special people, as it says in 1 Peter 2:9-10: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
• Christ’s ambassador here on earth, as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• Holy and beloved, as it says in Colossians 3:12: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
• Cleansed, as it says in Hebrews 9:14: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

So on one hand I am at war with my old self. And I don’t have much to offer when I’m letting my old self get the upper hand. If I try to be liked, worthy, acceptable, and beautiful to people around me, I struggle and strive in vain. Because I’m broken! And my broken edges often wound and push people away.

But on the other hand, when I press into Christ and my identity in Him, I do have something to offer and there is something beautiful about me.

Psalm 127:1-2

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

And people can affirm Christ in me! This is glorifying to God.

Because truly, without Christ I am not a pretty picture. But with His Holy Spirit within me, radiant things spring forth! The fruit of the Spirit starts blooming in my life – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

And when people affirm those qualities in me, I can rejoice without fear, knowing that God is working out this loveliness in me and it is good.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I (and you) don’t have to struggle to be liked, accepted, affirmed, and wanted. We don’t have to fear that the real us is unacceptable.

Because in Christ, the real us is beloved. Dearly loved children of God. And He will finish the work He started in us. And He has prepared good works in advance for us to do them. And the Holy Spirit does dwell within us. And we are new creations. And it is beautiful and worthy to be affirmed.

Ah. To be a child of God. To be a daughter of the Most High. To be chosen. Pursued. Adopted. Cherished. To be Christ’s representative here on earth. To be part of the Bride of Christ! To be the fragrance of Christ to those around me.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

¹⁴ Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

It is incredible. I don’t deserve this. These titles.

But I find myself in sweet wonder wanting to grow in those identities. And I no longer desire so desperately to be liked, and fear so deeply being rejected, but I long for people to see and affirm God in me.

And I have this faith that as I keep growing in the Lord and living in His Word and walking by the Spirit, they will and they do.

And this is an identity I don’t have to fear losing because it is Christ doing the work in me. I can rejoice when people say I’m kind or sweet or wise or steady because this is the Spirit within me. This is God’s work in me. Glory be to His name! He is worthy! He is good! He is faithful.

How rich and sweet it is to belong to Jesus Christ and to His Church.

So, dear brother or sister in Christ, do not fear being unwanted. Recognize your identity in Christ. Recognize the Spirit’s work in your life. Press into the Lover of your soul and delight to spread the beautiful fragrance of Christ wherever you go. ❤

My pastor recommended a book to me called “Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God” by Sam Crabtree and it talks a lot about the idea of affirming the character of God in others and wanting to be affirmed in Christ. It’s been an amazing read so far and I highly recommend!

Walk forth in grace, dear readers!