Category: Courage Source

Yearend “Thoughts After Bookends”

Published on by Abigail RehmertLeave a comment

It seemed the consistent thing to do to share the last of my 2023 book reviews. This year I’m hopeful to read more NEW-to-me books. But how I love the old favorites! Do let me know if you have any must-reads you think I’d enjoy. My favorite time period for fiction is early 1900s, but I’d love to broaden my horizons in this as well.

Virgil Wander

(Leif Enger)

Virgil owns a movie house in a small, sleepy midwest town. He loses his memory in an accident so he must uncover his own personal history. Quirky, small-town ups and downs unfold. I enjoy Enger’s vivid writing style, but this storyline didn’t have the same depth as Peace like a River in my humble opinion. Not much plot, and sometimes a modern setting can just feel cheesy to me. I gave it three out of five stars on Goodreads.

Betsy and the Great World

(Maud Hart Lovelace)

Betsy decides college is not for her, and she goes off to tour Europe, hoping to broaden the scope of her imagination to fuel her writing. She soaks in the foreign cities, street cafes, and cultural traditions, and even witnesses the first dawn of WWI. When an author plucks a beloved character out of her endearing setting, I always feel homesick right along with them.

Betsy’s Wedding

(Maud Hart Lovelace)

I enjoyed this book more than the other times I’ve read it, perhaps because I’m married now too! Young couple in young America makes me smile and enjoy the authentic history of fashion/economics/etc. woven into the setting. How I wish young couples today could buy their first charming homes besides the lake with only $600 down. I think married Tacy and married Betsy are the best versions of themselves, and I’m relieved Betsy doesn’t chase another immaturity that leads to more heartbreak. Joe brings out the best in Betsy, and Harry brings out the best in Tacy. The young wives turn their energies toward homemaking, hospitality, writing, and babies . . . and trying to marry off the third in their trio, Tib!

Surprised by Oxford

(Carolyn Weber)

Carolyn sets out to study at Oxford as an agnostic, and through the kindness of a Christian, she begins to wrestle with the truth about the universe and her. A clever and honest book, making you really think about how we interact with those who are yet to meet God. Are we able to patiently endure when others ask us tough questions? A beautiful memoir!

Quote: “I’m very particular about mugs: I can taste how it influences my drink. I liked this one right away.”
Carolyn Weber//Surprised by Oxford

Carney’s House Party

(Maud Hart Lovelace)

I had a little trouble getting into this one, but stuck with it until the suspense of Larry’s visit took over. Carney hosts a “house party” for her friends in a hot, Minnesota summer. It includes Betsy! It’s a slow but sweet unfolding romance with some surprises at the end.

Memorizing Scripture: The Basics, Blessings, and Benefits of Meditating on God’s Word (Glenna Marshall)

Simple nourishment for a heart that longs to know His Word better. Thank you for writing this book, Glenna! We can also use compelling reasons to memorize and meditate on Scripture. I enjoyed her personal stories throughout this book, and it was inspiring to see how her different memorized passages encouraged her in various seasons of her life.

Quote by author: “Meditating on God’s Word–thinking deeply about it as we work to memorize–helps us to remember what the world would like us to forget: Christ has died. Christ is coming. Christ will come again!” –Glenna Marshall

         Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva *spoiler*

                  (Samantha Silva)

I wanted a cozy, Chirstmasy book for December. At first, it reminded me of the movie The Man Who Invented Christmas. I begun this book with great enjoyment; the style of it felt true to Dickens, easy to follow, and cast promise of the good feels of A Christmas Carol. I wish I had actually read A Christmas Carol instead for my December read. Mr. Dickens was primarily about his obsession with chasing down a couple different women, while his wife and children fended for themselves to enjoy Christmas. After looking it up, I understand historical evidence lends itself to perhaps make this a believable plot about Charles Dickens. But I didn’t want to read about it.

The Lord God Made Them All

(James Herriot)

More endearing stories from a country vet, with some war stories mixed in. Of course, I wanted more about Tristen, but we do get to meet Herriot’s kids.

The Larger Longing

Published on by Abigail Rehmert4 Comments

400 years of spiritual darkness.

Perhaps it would be another 400. Who could know? From the last of Malachi’s prophesies, to the reign of Herod, God seemed silent.

The scarce faithful hoped quietly. Ordinary prayers, ordinary waiting. Nothing flashy enough to be recorded for all of the future church to read. And yet, a remnant still clung to the promise that through Abraham all would be blessed.

Zechariah and Elizabeth, advanced in years, surely believed the end of their lives weren’t far away. King Herod would continue ruling with an evil heart, and they wouldn’t live to see his successor.

Unfulfilled longing.

“They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.”

No children, and it was too late, of course.

This couple could have succumbed to bitterness. Lose hope. Believe nothing else was left for them in a land ruled by a wicked king of Judea. Become absorbed into the greater masses of those reveling in disobedience.

But they obeyed, treasuring their faith. Even if they would never hold their own baby, the Messiah would come someday. He would right the wrongs of oppression, wouldn’t He?

But one day, while Zechariah served in the temple, they were privileged to see the glimmer of light at the end of a dark tunnel. And Elizabeth’s barrenness itself weaved a thread of yet another miraculous birth in the line of David. The earth pined for what was close enough to touch.

“The whole world would be turned upside down. Lowly shepherds would see angelic messengers. The dead would taste life. Darkness would be snuffed. Proud King Herod would be outmaneuvered. Promises to Anna and Simeon would be fulfilled. Blind would see. Curtains would be torn in two.” —last year’s post

It started with an angelic messenger announcing their parenthood, after all these years, like a dawn after a treacherous night. Their son John would be the one to prepare the way for the Lord! In just six months, God was going to visit His people in the flesh.

“What made the angel’s news so good?” I asked the children in my class.

“Zecheriah and Elizabeth would finally have a baby!”

Oh yes. How much joy for Elizabeth to carry a baby for the first time, to enjoy the laughter, the hugs, the smiles of a precious little one. Earthly longing fulfilled. But this was just a fraction of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s happiness. The gloriousness of John’s humble life would prelude good news STILL YET to reach every corner of the earth, every tribe and every nation — these will be offered an abundance of blessing through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

Through Elizabeth’s miracle baby, in a broader sense, God was setting His stage for the ultimate provision of grace. This baby would herold GOD’S BABY, Emmanuel. He would use John to prepare a dark, sleepy people to receive the Light of the World and the Lamb who takes away the sins of Israel, and even the world.

“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,” the angel said, “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

As I have studied the stories in the Old Testament with my little class, I’m marveling how each account keeps pointing to His Son. A promise to Adam and Eve would be carried like a torch through the generations. His love and redemption brings joy to the world, and the wonders of His love reach as far as the curse is found.

Do you have joy and gladness? Have you received God’s perfect lamb as the substitute for the punishment your sin deserves?

Every reason to rejoice awaits you — when you are called by His grace, He grants the glories of His forgiveness.

We can’t look to the world for our hope. Even Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son would die at the hands of King Herod, but not before John accomplished the ministry God had for Him. He had preached the HOPE of the world as God intended. Hear the good news and believe.

The next day he (John) saw Jesus coming to him and said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 1:29

We’re in another time of waiting right now, but Christ is coming back. Every wrong will be made right, and every tear wiped away. Each of our little and large longings will all be redeemed in the One we wait for — the Lamb! When He returns for His own, we will affirm like an anthem:

“the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.”

( Phillips Brooks )

Our Prayer-Answering God (when He says no)

Published on by Abigail RehmertLeave a comment

The perfect father always listens and responds intentionally to our prayers with an answer. He is all-wise, so He knows when to grant our request, and He knows when a different, later time would best fit this request. He also chooses to answer “no” to our pleas with a reason in accordance with His will. His ways are higher than ours.

Continue reading “Our Prayer-Answering God (when He says no)” →

Our Prayer-Answering God (when He says wait)

Published on by Abigail Rehmert4 Comments

As we send up our petitions in Jesus’ name, He at times delights to answer “yes” to our prayers. At other times, He chooses to bring Himself glory by asking us to wait for our requests. His timing is perfect, and it’s possible to wait patiently in His strength.

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7)

What is God doing while we wait on Him? He is always moving. 

“In our barrenness, in the unanswered prayer,

we must know that God may be silent but he is never still.”  

Christine Hoover

While we wait, we keep on worshiping and drawing strength from Him. We keep on praying, too. God is pleased when we keep persisting. He likes to be approached with our pleas over and over. That’s exactly what the widow did with the judge in the parable in Luke 18. She kept persisting in her cause, and Jesus told this parable to show His disciples “at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged” (Luke 18:1).  

We persist in our petitions not with a demanding, selfish motives for, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.” (James 4:3) Instead, we keep waiting and praying with a grateful heart, a heart dependent on Him, knowing He’s not the God who MUST, but He is the God who can if He chooses. In the waiting, our desires can become more aligned with His.

It’s a gospel picture to the rest of us. To keep praying in the waiting is like demonstrating, “I entrust this to You God, even if you don’t solve this problem, I know you’re able, and I know you can. Not my will but yours be done!” 

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial.” (James 1:12) Waiting seasons provide a beautiful opportunity to practice trust and faith in God.

Often our waiting on God is a trial. We can pray for years and years for a health issue we may have. Or we can pray for politics that feel so out of our control. We can pray for war-torn foreign countries. We can pray for the salvation of a sibling or for a wayward child. We can ask God for our deepest desires, for a husband or a child. And all that waiting is definitely a trial, because we’re feeling the absence of something good. This provides a chance for our faith to be fruitful and genuine.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

I Peter 1:6-9

May our waiting seasons be found to result “in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” We wait on Him. Thankfully. Patiently and with hope. Because He also waits.

“Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,

And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

How blessed are all those who long for Him.”

Isaiah 30:18

Our Prayer-Answering God (when He says yes)

Published on by Abigail Rehmert2 Comments

There’s such good news about prayer – 1) It accomplishes much (James 5:16), 2) it gives us much-needed and enjoyable time spent with the Most High, 3) it changes our own hearts, 4) and He commands/calls us to pray because He loves to answer according to His will.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight…The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 15:8, 29

God always hears His children’s prayers. He hears our cries for help (Psalm 18:6). But do we always receive what we ask for when we pray? No, we don’t. “(God) works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). His sovereignty rules over all (Psalm 103:19).

Because He KNOWS all things and has all the power, He always answers our prayers with what is best! He works everything together for our good, and for His glory. He is the safest place to entrust our requests to, because He knows exactly what to do with them.

Sometimes He answers yes, other times He asks us to wait, or in other cases, he withholds what we asked Him for. But we still pray. And in those moments of waiting for our answer, we recognize WHO we pray to.

One of His names He’s given for us is – ABBA FATHER. Romans 8:15 says, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!'”

What an intimate title! John Macarthur wrote, “When you pray, start out this way: ‘Daddy, Papa.’” That, by the way is still used today in Hebrew-speaking families – a term of tender affection, family love – and rabbis used to note that the first words that a child ever uttered were abba and imma.”

Let me ask you this. Is anything too big, too silly, or too little for a daughter to talk to her Father about? No, a good father delights to listen to his child, and give her what He knows is best for her. 

We have a literal father-daughter relationship with King. 

Sometimes He gets glory by answering YES to our requests

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Matthew 7:8-11

This passage breathes hope into our prayer lives. A good father is a good gift giver. Earthly fathers should be a little glimmer of our Perfect Father.

Since we don’t pray perfectly, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf with groanings too deep for words. He helps us pray according to His will! 

Prayer changes things, because God incorporates our prayers into His sovereign plan. “Prayer is what He uses to do what He does.” (MacArthur)

When a good gift drops in our life, no matter how big or little, it’s not a coincidence. It’s from the Gift giver (James 1:17). Often He delights us with good gifts, even before we ask. He’s so gracious. I don’t pray for my next breath, yet He is faithful to give it.

When He answers yes to our prayers, what a privilege to be part of God’s ministry all over the world. We can effectively participate in places all over the globe, and homes all over your state, and in hearts of people we don’t even know, simply by talking to God about them. 

There are many instances of God answering the prayers of people throughout Scripture. Here are just a few:

“Noah prayed, his family was rescued. Hannah prayed, Samuel was born. Asa prayed, victory was won. Isaiah prayed, the Assyrians fell. Esther prayed, her people were saved. Elijah prayed, fire fell from heaven. Jesus prayed, thousands were fed. God answers prayer!”

Dustin Benge

He is pleased when we continue to come to Him with childlike faith and childlike requests. In the many ways we see Him answering “yes” to the prayers of the saints, we have amble material to constantly praise God for His mighty works.


One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.

Psalm 145:4

If you have trusted in Christ as your Savior, take great delight in praying. He has given us boldness to approach the throne of grace. A throne of undeserved favor!

“Jesus paid it all. I mean all. He not only purchased your forgiveness of sins and your ticket to heaven, He Purchased every blessing and every answer to prayer you will ever receive.” 

Jerry Bridges 

Next in the series: Our Prayer-Answering God (when He says wait)