Book Review: A Most Peculiar Circumstance

Book Review                          :           A Most Peculiar Circumstance

Author                                     :           Jen Turano

Personal Quality Rating         :           5

[The “Personal Quality Rating” is a score that I give to the book on a scale of 0 to 5 based on my personal liking/disliking of the book.  0 is bad and 5 is great!]

Reviewer                                 :           Yvette van Niekerk

Summary:

This Historical Romance Novel is written using the setting of the New York City.  The story starts with a beautiful young woman who finds herself in a peculiar position.  Arabella Beckett is in jail in Gilman with a young lady she rescued from precarious men.  A private detective comes to her and Miss James rescue.  The private detective and Miss Beckett don’t agree on anything and sparks fly at the onset of their meeting.

Miss Beckett who stands up for the Suffrage movement considers Mr. Theodore Wilder a bit of old-fashioned and set in his ways.  From the beginning of the story the two of them are at loggerheads and don’t find any common ground.  The reason for the private investor was to bring Miss Beckett back to New York City.

The characters in the story are so funny the author really knows how to get you laughing out load, I truly enjoyed the read.  The plot thickens and the story gets truly interesting with the ladies of the night and evil human traffickers.

Social / Historical Context:

As we have established this is a Historical-Christian romance.  The writer wants to narrate the struggle of women in 1800’s.  Focusing on women rights and this, of course, causes great trouble.  The woman is influenced by her and their husbands blame Arabella for the change in their wives.

The writer's imagination is wonderful and I like the chivalry that she brings into play.  The gentlemen crack me up, their naughty antics and mannerisms.  Even the prostitutes are hilariously funny.

I feel that I have learned so much from this storytelling, the time was when women didn’t have much of a say.  Still, the men respected them and treated them properly, the good nature of the people are evident in how they wanted to help each other and stand up for each other.

Writing Style:

I believe the writing style is commonplace and a little evocation.  The writer is narrating the 1800 and the progress the women were making.  There is a plot to the story which uncovers some doggy happenings, and even uncovers a gang of people involved in human trafficking.  The plot thickens and the two main characters Theodor and Arabella are so interesting and funny and adorable all at the same time.  Once you start reading the story, you just cannot put the book down. 

My Own thoughts:

I fell in love with Arabella from the very beginning, she is spontaneous, funny and a real live wire.  Her life is interesting and she is such an outgoing personality.  Once you get into the story you just cannot wait to see what she gets up to next.  Her vivacious and exciting personality is so catching and inspiring.  I admire the way the write, writes and her vocabulary is absolutely fantastic.  Creating a desire within myself to learn how to speak such beautifully in English.

For the romantic and people interested in reading the 1800’s stories this is a definite yes, you will truly enjoy it.  I must say this was such a beautiful story.

How do I know that I am one of the elect?

Let us look what the scripture says about this John 6 verses 37 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition “All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].”   Also looking at John 6 verses 44 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.”  Still in John 6 going to verses 65 “And He said:  “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him [unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.” 

Don’t loose heart carry on reading John 10 verses 6 to 29 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition “Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.  So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.  All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them.  I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live).  He will come in and he will go out [freely] and will find pasture.  The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).  I am the Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.  But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away.  And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock].  Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them].  I am the Good Shepherd, and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me – Even as [truly as] the Father owes Me and I also know the Father – and I am giving My [very own] life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep.  And I have other sheep [besides these] that are not of this fold.  I must bring and impel those also, and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and so there will be [they will become] one flock under one Shepherd.  For this [reason] the Father loves Me because I lay down My [own] life – to take it back again.  No one takes it away from Me.  On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily.  [I put if from Myself].  I am authorized and have the power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have the power to take it back again.  These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father.  Then a fresh division of opinion arose among the Jews because of His saying these things.  And many of them said, He has a demon and He is mad (insane – He raves, He rambles).  Why do you listen to Him?  Others argued, these are not the thoughts and the language of one possessed.  Can a demon-possessed person open blind eyes?  After this, the Feast of Dedication [of the reconsecration of the temple] was taking place in Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was walking in Solomon’s Porch in the temple area.  So the Jews surrounded Him and began asking Him, How long are You going to keep us in doubt and suspense?  If You are really the Christ (the Messiah), tell us so plainly and openly.  Jesus answered them: I have told you so, yet you do not believe Me [you do not trust Me and rely on Me].  The very works that I do by the power of My Father and in My Father’s name bear witness concerning Me [they are My credentials and evidence in support of Me].  But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine].  The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages.  [To all eternity they shall never by any means e destroyed].  And on one is able to snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all[else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.”

The chosen are the men and women and children that have accepted the Lord Jesus as their savior who follows Him.  They know His voice and want to please Him.  If you were not chosen you would not be reading God’s Word, and you also wouldn’t be concerned about your salvation.  Remember the people that call onto Jesus for salvation will be saved – He receives them and He doesn’t turn them away.  Our salvation is eternal and secure (1 Peter 1: 3-5).

Proclaim the Good News, you are saved.

A burning issue … to spank or not to spank your child?

Proverbs 3:12 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

¹² For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

I see that in our society that we “do not spank” our children because they have rights.  The sad thing I believe is that we are cultivating a society of undisciplined spoilt brats.  I have attended a couple of school meetings and it is obvious that the children have more say than the adults or teachers.  

They become rioters when they do not get their way.  

Hmm, something is very wrong with this picture.  What happens to our respect for the people in authority?  What happened to the respect for our elders and parents?  The teacher doesn't even get the necessary respect.

We are failing our children dismally, it is such a sad story but they have no consequences.  Tell me why don’t we step up to the plate and act righteously with our children?  Are we afraid of them?  Why do we let them get away with murder?

Shamefully, we allow these things, we actually don’t care about them.  We say that its part of growing up and they will mature and get over it.  My question to you Mom and Dad, will they really get over it?  You set the example and your standards have they dropped?  Why? 

Being mediocre and living a mediocre life is okay, what happen to my best every day?  What happens to been proud of my work?  What happened to been the best I can be wherever I go?

Shame, shame, shame on you mom and dad.  Shame.  We should stop and take a look at who we have become and start setting the record straight.  Be that example your children look up to and make them proud.

Are you zealous in your religion?

Acts 7: 54 – 60 English Revised Version

“When those in the council meeting heard this, they became very angry.  They were so mad they were grinding their teeth at him.  But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit.  He looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God.  And he saw Jesus standing at God’s right side.  Stephen said, “Look!I see heaven open.  And I see the Son of Man standing at God’s rights side.”  Everyone there started shouting loudly, covering their ears with their hands.  Together they all ran at Stephen.  They took him out of the city and began throwing stones at him.  The men who told lies against Stephen gave their coats to a young man named Saul.  As they were throwing the stones at him, Stephen was praying.  He said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”  He fell on his knees and shouted, “Lord, don’t blame them for this sin!”  These were his last words before he died.

Looking at Saul, he was very zealous in his religion and born in Tarsus.  Saul had the privilege to studying in Jerusalem with the ranking rabbi of the era.  Let's assess Sauls live here, it seems that Saul came from a well-to-do family, which must have lived comfortably with the privilege of a top-notch education thrusting him forward on a pathway of prominence.  It seems that Saul already was passionate and bold when it came to his religion and by the age of 30 he already was a Sanhedrin on his way to becoming a young Pharisees in the country.

Watching Saul’s behavior it's clear that he felt the Christians were blasphemous and had to be dealt with severely.  So then if Saul whom we know as Paul could be forgiven for all his misdeeds, would you say it is possible for us to also be forgiven?  Of course, we can be forgiven, God has sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ of Nazareth for our sins.

Hello World, Yvette's Inspirations
Good Morning Friends

Please join me today on Rainbow Gospel Radio, looking forward to hearing from you, 12 CAT.  :-)


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“Jesus is Lord”

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

"If you confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ...  How beautifully the word puts it ... confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord”...  and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead .... ... we will be saved.

Then in verse 10: We are justified because we believe with the heart ...... and because we confess with our mouth, we are saved.

Prayer: 

Thank you, Lord, that we believe and confess that You are Lord. Thank you that we know that we need to believe can confess that Jesus is Lord. Thank you that our children may be brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus. Amen!

Be blessed and let us live the redemptive life to the full!

Our Father

Matthew 6:9-13Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.¹⁰ Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors. ¹³ And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

T

he Lord Jesus said to the disciples they should say “Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”  Greeting our Father with respect and honoring His name.  “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Accepting that the Father is king and asking that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  “Give us this day our daily bread.”  Asking for what we need today.  “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  Asking the Lord to forgive us and in return, we will forgive the people who have offended or hurt us. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”  Asking the Father to help us not be tempted and keep us out of the devils reach.  “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen” Declaring that God’s is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Closing in agreement with what we prayed.

You are a Blessing!

Isaiah 43: 1

Isaiah 43:1(AMPC)

43 But now [in spite of past judgments for Israel’s sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

Today it is my heart's desire that the word of God will take root in your heart's today.  God has called me and I know that He called me by my name and that I am His.  This is one of the greatest feelings of joy I am not able to express.  

Are you feeling lonely?  Do you feel like nothing is going your way?  Do you think you are insignificant?

Stop and read these words in Isaiah today, God has called you by your name, you belong to Him.

Lift up your head today, stay focused and keep your mind focused on God's words, meditate and study this word and hold it in your heart.  

 But now [in spite of past judgments for Israel's [Yvette’s] sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O [Yvette] Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel [Yvette]: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

You too can put your name in where I put my name and meditate on these words today.  Praying that God will give you the necessary wisdom and understanding for today.

You are blessings, thank you for reading my thoughts, praise God for people like you.  

Critics

I am so glad I have some critics, it makes me feel very important, they are sitting on the sidelines just watching and not doing anything for themselves but are criticizing me.  You go, I just love it ;-)

Word Fast today: Gossip

How to form a defense mechanism when it comes to people that cannot help themselves when it comes to Gossiping.  Something I learned from a friend is the minute you pick up someone is going to gossip about someone else and you don’t want to take part in this conversation, to abruptly interrupt the person while they are still in process of speaking.  

Changing the conversation immediately and discussing the weather or a new recipe you are trying out.  I must say it is a little abrasive and rude but it does work.  The problem with people who gossip is, they just cannot help themselves and it is a contagious thing.  

What we don’t realize is that God wants us to act like the Lord Jesus Christ.  John 17 verse 22 to 23 (AMPC) says:  “I have given them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one:  I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.”

Now moving into the sin part of gossiping we learn in Proverbs 6 verse 16 to 19 it states:  “These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to HIM:  A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,” 

Then the ultimate sin which is deadly “A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.”  This word “discord” means “disagreement between people, or strife, conflict, friction, hostility.”  So in fact when we gossip we are “breathing out lies, telling tall stories.”  God hates this sin without a doubt.

As you focus on the day and listen to the people around you, beware that you do not start gossiping and if you have the habit of gossiping, close your mouth, pray to the Lord to place a watch over your mouth.  Guard your words, because God hates this “A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.”

Prayer

Elohim Bashamayim, God in Heaven, humbly we stand guilty of sin and gossiping.  Please Lord in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth we humble ourselves asking to forgive us.  We pray asking to help us keep a watch over our mouths today and let us not speak ill of our family and friends, in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we pray.  Amen

Rainbow Gospel Radio

Daily Devotional Ebenezer by Yvette van Niekerk, Kellanpublishing.com

LORD God of Truth #Jehovah #El #Emeth - praises to Your Holy Name

Psalms 31: 5 (ERV)

To the director:  A song of David

LORD, you are the God we can trust.  I put my life in your hands.  Save me!

In humbleness, I come before You Jehovah El Emeth the LORD God of truth.  And as David sang I too want to put myself in You.  I entrust myself into Your hands pleading, please save me!

What an awesome God we serve, as I look back on my own life and reflect on where I have come from to where I am right now.  Whoa, God has always been my resource of safe keeping and watching over my life.

As you have seen my excitement is almost overwhelming and I can hardly retain myself.  To me it is a dream come true, a door has been opened that would never have been opened.  God has been supernaturally favorable and He is in control over each and every one of you too.

It has taken me something like three (3) years to write my Daily Devotional Ebenezer and now I am looking at it being published within weeks.  Believe me, this is a supernatural miracle from the Living God to spoil someone like me.

Jehovah El Emeth You are the LORD God of truth, today I praise Your holy name and bring You all the glory and honor.  I pray this in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen