Serving Those Who've Served—And a Book for You!

Liz Curtis Higgs spent years making women laugh at her speaking engagements, on video, and with her first books. In the late '90s she wrote Bad Girls of the Bible (and its sequels), combining fiction and nonfiction to teach us lessons on life. Then she moved into historical fiction transferring the Biblical story of Jacob to 18th-century Scotland in her Lowlands of Scotland series.

Higgs must love Scotland for now she is back with Here Burns My Candle. (See the trailer here.) Having loved the first Scottish series, I couldn't resist Waterbrook Multnomah's offer of a free copy to review. (I know,  I know, just 5 days ago I said I was trying not to accept review copies; I can't help it; it's an addiction.)

This book was just the mental escape I needed from my current stress. It, too, is the retelling of a biblical story, but I won't tell you which one so you don't know too much of the end before the beginning. It's thoroughly set up for the sequel, due out next spring.

The story revolves around the Kerr family in Edinburgh, particularly Lady Elizabeth Kerr and her husband Lord Donald. Donald's widowed mother doesn't accept the beautiful Elizabeth, a humble seamstress before Donald married her. When bonny Prince Charlie arrives in Edinburgh on his way to reclaim the throne for his father, the Kerr men join his army and Elizabeth, her mother-in-law, and her sister-in-law become those who wait and watch. Family secrets and sins threaten both family ties and livelihoods.

The war intrudes on the lives of the Kerrs in the same ways it does on the lives of military families in the 21st century. Fear, heartache, rumors, misinformation, changing loyalties, and disfiguring injuries plague the family and their countrymen. The story unwinds in a way that kept me reading and rooting for a marriage that seemed doomed to fail. You'll have to read it yourself to find out what the outcome is. If you want your own copy, you might win one by making a comment below. A winner will be chosen on Easter Sunday. Or you can buy your own copy through this link.

War has intruded into many American lives this decade as well. Maybe you're one of the mothers who waits. If so, check out Military Moms or Blue Star Mothers for encouragement. All of us can find ways to encourage military members on Linda Jewell's Support Our Troops weekly blog.

Thankfully, in our generation, fewer soldiers die from their war injuries. But it means many need to move through society with new limitations. If, like Lady Elizabeth you are good with a needle, consider joining Sew Much Comfort, an organization that creates adaptive clothing for those in military hospitals.

Let's not forget those who have served us by serving their country. Pray for them. Lady Elizabeth learns the power of prayer as she waits for Lord Donald. It's a power that still serves us well.

Start Doing Hard Things and Get Something Free!

I've been doing a few hard things lately—watching my mother die, writing new speaking topics, trying to comfort my daughter as she deals with her daughter's problems. 


One thing that's been hard for me lately is not getting to read much. I've even stopped ordering review copies of books to read because I just don't have time to read them all. Well, I've mostly stopped ordering them. When the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group offered to provide me with a copy of Start Here for review, I had to take them up on it. It sounded like it fit the purpose of this blog, that of helping people make a difference in their world.


I was right. Start Here is the second book by twins Alex and Brett Harris. Their first, called Do Hard Things, evolved from a blog they began at the age of 16 called TheRebelution.com. Rebelution is their compound word using rebellion and revolution and is defined as "a teenage rebellion against low expectations."


The Harris brothers through their blogs, conferences and books are inspiring kids to make a difference in the world, to listen to God and to do hard things. Start Here is the follow-up book, geared to helping teens take the practical steps to bring their dreams—God's dreams for them—to reality. I can't promise that it is inspiring writing, but the stories of what kids are already doing that illustrate their points are inspiring.


From sailing solo around the world at 18 to befriending lonely kids at school, from creating websites for nonprofits to creating nonprofits to provide wells in Africa, the projects these kids commit to are amazing. The brothers answer 30 or so questions that anyone (teen or 50-year-olds alike) might ask when trying to figure out how to get started making a difference in the world. (Although the 50-year-old might not need the part on what to do if your parents disapprove of your idea.)


Here's a sample:

A good exercise in planning a hard thing is to first ask yourself the question, What would I do if I had unlimited time and unlimited resources? That question helps you identify the big target—your vision as large as it can be.

Then ask yourself, What could I do toward reaching that goal within the limitations I face?

Finally, in light of the answers to the first two questions, ask yourself, What should I do?

The first question is a visionary question about what you would do. The second is a practical question about what you could do. And the third is a moral question about what you should do. All three questions are important.

I think this book might be more valuable if you've first read Do Hard Things (which I haven't). So if you know a teen who is excited about God and wants to make a difference in the world (or who you want to inspire to that level), get them both books. You can find options for ordering Start Here using this link. And you can find Do Hard Things here.


It's not easy to do hard things. (If it were they wouldn't be hard things.) We can get tired. We can get discouraged. We can get overwhelmed and give up before we start. Alex and Brett Harris's book Start Here can ensure we get started and keep moving into all the exciting avenues where God wants to use each of us. 


You can get started doing hard things by winning a free copy of Start Here. Simply post in the comment section below one hard thing you've attempted. Winner of the free book will be chosen randomly from all comments made by Sunday, March 28.