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Blogs by S L Estes
Journaling Becomes A Book 3/17/2014 12:03:05 PM
A book came almost directly from my personal journal after our Pastor resigned. I spent several months trying to understand what was happening. Why this trouble when it had seemed my home church had been serving well. But were we? "Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit" came into being when I did some serious searching of myself and my faith after my Pastor resigned.
Why was God letting this happen?
Why were we under such pressure?
How far down would we have to go?
Would my home church survive?
Would my home church close it's doors?
Was God moving my husband and I to another church body?
I had a lot of questions. But God had given me even more.
Five months before my Pastor resigned, I had a day of asking some serious questions about my faith. Was I walking by faith or by sight?
In the months following the resignation, I saw where my questions had actually prepared me for this period. I could now see those questions in light of my Pastor's leaving. From that, my personal journal became a series of questions, searching and answers. When I looked into the Bible's examples of what looked like destruction but were actually renewal, I discovered God was doing something awesome with my home church.
(Excerpt)
Forced out of shape is horribly painful but by squeezing our faith through an oil press, we leave behind the pulpy garbage, leaving the oil fit for burning a brighter light. Though we go through the same pressure, no two oils are alike. We are unique to the soil in which we grew up. Pressed out and collected together in His hand is when we can discover where we burn the brightest. What we experience can help others understand how real Jesus is and why our faith is in Him to help us.
Kirkus-Indie Review: (excerpt), “Estes chronicles, in broad strokes, what her church went through after its pastor abruptly left before a Sunday service. The book does use cutting language at times...
(Estes focuses) on ways that readers can be good Christians; and urges readers to follow in his, (Jesus), footsteps (and later, to avoid what he avoids). The author writes lucidly and candidly about faith,...”
I discovered much about myself and my faith. This book can help others with their questions about going through hard times. This is not an in-depth study nor does it have all the answers but its simplicity and easy reading about Bible truths can maybe supply what someone needs.
