Christian Bookworms
Ladies do you believe we are now in the 3th month of the year. I love our book for this month it was a very deep moving story. I know allot of you read it so lets have fun talking about it.
How was Sarah/Angel rejected and betrayed? What were her earliest experiences with God and/or the church?
What experience did Michael have with rejection or betrayal? Contrast Michael’s and Angel’s examples in coping with life’s circumstances.
Who else in the story suffered from rejection or betrayal, and how did they cope?
Which character do you identify with the most and why?
Describe a time when you were rejected or betrayed. To whom did you turn and why?
Which scene do you feel best shows how Angel was resigned to relying on no one but herself? What events caused her to do so? Why do you think she never cried out to God?
Contrast Michael with Angel in regard to authority.
Describe Miriam’s relationship with God. Why were her attitudes and beliefs so different from Angel’s?
On whom do you rely and why?
Who helped Michael escape his past? In what ways was he rescued?
Angel repeatedly tried to escape her circumstances. Describe the various plans.
Discuss Michael’s rescue of Angel from the hand of Magowan.
Why do you think Angel returned to her former ways?
From what or whom are you trying to escape and why?
What causes you to return to old habits?
Angel was bought and sold on numerous occasions. What was different about Michael’s redeeming her? Discuss the role of trust (or lack of trust) in Angel.
When Michael and Angel helped the Altman family, what did Angel learn about Michael? Herself? God?
What trust issues do you have? Who has God placed in your life as positive examples?
Describe the changes in actions and thinking that took place after Angel was rescued a second time by Michael. What do you think caused the changes?
What caused Angel to leave yet again?
How is this different from before?
Why was it necessary for Paul to be the one to find Angel?
What did he learn about himself? How did this help him?
What did Angel learn through this experience?
What was Michael learning through this difficult time?
Is there someone who needs to be reconciled with you? Or, do you need to be the one who does the reconciling, like Paul did? Explain.
What steps had Angel taken to restore her spirit?
What were the lasting effects of Angel’s soul search?
What steps did Angel take to restore her marriage? How did Michael respond?
In what ways did God reward Sarah and Michael?
. What have you learned about the love of a man for a woman?
. What have you learned about the love of God for all mankind–including you?
Ladies I do not have time to answer the questions today but I wanted to get them posted. Please answer any or all of the questions as you wanted to. Also tell us what you think about the book in general.
Replies
-
I was not able to read this book as our library does not carry it. But, wow, that's alot of questions! Have fun, everybody!
-
I found the list on the net and had tried cutting it down. I am miss you were not able to read the book I believe it is a wonderful read everyone should have the chance to read. It will move you so much.
-
These are really hard questions. To start with =-- the first thing I wanted to expand upon (and not sure which question this would fall under) but what really struck me as I was reading the book -- I think its towards the middle -- Angel's character needed freedom. Michael's character was focused on her being his wife.
I feel that is Michael's real character flaw. That he could not understand her need for a true sense of self. He kept seeing it as her LEAVING him. It made sense to me that her 3 yrs asserting/proving herself ON HER OWN is what allowed her to come back to him as a full wife.
He did help her - but her whole life she was searching for freedom and even tho her previous escapes didnt work out - she needed to do it on her own somewhat. KWIM?
-
Quoting Alieda:
Ladies do you believe we are now in the 3th month of the year. I love our book for this month it was a very deep moving story. I know allot of you read it so lets have fun talking about it.
How was Sarah/Angel rejected and betrayed? What were her earliest experiences with God and/or the church? She was betrayed and rejected by many people in her life to started with by her own father who never want her in the first place. She had a mother who pray but never live accounting to God's word so she had a bad image of who God was.
What experience did Michael have with rejection or betrayal? Contrast Michael’s and Angel’s examples in coping with life’s circumstances. Micheal know betrayed and rejection from Sarah of cause and a little from his dad if I remember right in that he was not always the kindest person do him saying some unkind things. Micheal had learn to cast his cares on God and listen for his stay small voice. While Sarah on the other hand saw God as someone who did not care about her so , she try to do everything on her own in her own strength.
Who else in the story suffered from rejection or betrayal, and how did they cope? Sarah Mother , her grandparents, and Paul. Paul was betrayed by God or so he felt because he had let his young bride dead. Sarah mom was betrayed by the man she love and by her parents escapology when she try to take the baby home and do the right thing with her life. Sarah grandparents by a daughter who rejected what they try to teach her as she was growing up and they stick back by turn their back on her. Paul get bitter and hard over his lost.
Which character do you identify with the most and why? I identry most with Sarah because too have be sexualy abuse , and found a man who truely loves me and has allow God to be a tool in healing my breaking soul in ways he truely does not understand completely.
Describe a time when you were rejected or betrayed. To whom did you turn and why? The last time I feel betrayed was by my body when the Dr's told me I have diabetes And I truing to God because that was the only place to go. I also talk to my family and my sister Marie because she has be a diabetic fro over 40 years.
Which scene do you feel best shows how Angel was resigned to relying on no one but herself? What events caused her to do so? Why do you think she never cried out to God? She felt God was someone who never hear her prayers and did not care.
Contrast Michael with Angel in regard to authority.Micheal understand that authority can be a good thing escapology if it is God's authority.
Describe Miriam’s relationship with God. Why were her attitudes and beliefs so different from Angel’s? Minam love God will her whole heart she was raise to believe in him by people who did.
On whom do you rely and why? God first of all , then my sweet Lannie
Who helped Michael escape his past? In what ways was he rescued?
Angel repeatedly tried to escape her circumstances. Describe the various plans. She tried several times to buy her own place with the move she mistakenly thought she had, She try to use Micheal at first,.
Discuss Michael’s rescue of Angel from the hand of Magowan. He marrage her.
Why do you think Angel returned to her former ways? As bad as they were she know what she faced.
From what or whom are you trying to escape and why? I can not think of anything
What causes you to return to old habits? I know and understand them .
Angel was bought and sold on numerous occasions. What was different about Michael’s redeeming her? Discuss the role of trust (or lack of trust) in Angel. He do not buy her and want to love her not use her.
When Michael and Angel helped the Altman family, what did Angel learn about Michael? Herself? God? She learn how kind Micheal was and how much he could be trusted. She learn she was falling for Micheal and it full her with fear. God that he will supply your needs.
What trust issues do you have? Who has God placed in your life as positive examples? I use to have the same lick of trust in guys before Lannie and one other boyfriend before him.
Describe the changes in actions and thinking that took place after Angel was rescued a second time by Michael. What do you think caused the changes? She really love Micheal but she still hated her self and was not willing to forgive her self.
What caused Angel to leave yet again? her self hated.
How is this different from before? She do not want to hurt Micheal but mistakely though that Miran was better for him then she was.
Why was it necessary for Paul to be the one to find Angel? Yes
What did he learn about himself? How did this help him? He learn how self righteous he could be.
What did Angel learn through this experience? That she woulld relax and let God take control of things.
What was Michael learning through this difficult time? He had to allow God to work on Sarah , he had done everything he would for her. Sometimes we just have to walk away and let God have it.
Is there someone who needs to be reconciled with you? Or, do you need to be the one who does the reconciling, like Paul did? Explain. No
What steps had Angel taken to restore her spirit? She pray to God for forgiveness, her to love herself and to forgive her self. She use what she learn to help other young ladies who was where she use to be.
What were the lasting effects of Angel’s soul search? The Home for young ladies.
What steps did Angel take to restore her marriage? How did Michael respond? She went to Micheal without any borders between then fully at his mercy.
In what ways did God reward Sarah and Michael? He cause they love to grow strenght and give them a family.
. What have you learned about the love of a man for a woman? I do not know if I learn this as much as just been reminded that no matter how strength and true it is , it still does not measure up to God love. I also relearn how our love for our mate are a gift from God.
. What have you learned about the love of God for all mankind–including you? He loves so fully completly no matter what.
Ladies I do not have time to answer the questions today but I wanted to get them posted. Please answer any or all of the questions as you wanted to. Also tell us what you think about the book in general.
-
I believe I will take you up on your offer to just write my reaction to the book...
At first this book was extremely painful to read...It took me back to a time where I was mistreated by an older brother, who was jealous that I was born...Through him alone is where the beating down of my self-esteem started..
My mom told me as young as three I used to share, but after that I became withdrawn and began to stutter...The gifts that God gave me at birth were there...and tried to peek out from time to time...like singing alto, by ear and gymnastics..I also got a medal in 9th grade for being in the top 15% of my class..This helped...but I still wanted desperately to get out of the small town atmosphere where I lived...
It is here I will comment on Sarah...From little on her spirit was crushed at every turn...by pretty much everyone...Her self-esteem was a tender flower...but as time went on, she was given no real genuine love...so she withered up inside, acting the only way she knew how to cope from the rejection and betrayal was to begin to rely on herself...and not go to God for her answers...She blamed God because her only experience was watching her Catholic mother (not a very good example of how a Catholic should act) and others who were religious in name only...(For me it was just the opposite...my mom loved me through everything....especially the stuttering and believed me because she knew I always told the truth...She was, and still is the purest example of a Catholic that I know...)
Here I will once again share a little about myself: I did find ways to escape in my teens and 20s from my "prison"....I became an exchange student to Bolivia and there began to learn Spanish...I didn't realize it then, but after that year my life was going to change dramatically. After my last year of high school I once again "flew away" ...I joined the Army studied, Russian for a year and was eventually stationed in West Berlin, while the wall was still up: A wonderful location for my foreign traveling and cultural pursuits, but once again NOT the place to trust many people....I was away from home and drifted away from my church..
I find it very interesting that the name Michael was chosen for the man's name. In the Catholic religion we have Michael the Archangel...whom we ask to defend us in battle..(spiritual) ....
God spoke to this Michael and told him in his spirit what He wanted him to do. He questioned, but was obedient...and never gave up on Angel...
Getting out of the Army I had a "Born Again" experience and was called to the Catholic Charsamatic movement...I was little by little being freed...My self-confidence, experiencing the gifts God gave me was growing...learning to trust people in general and beginning to know the word through music and scripture....
After putting myself through college earning a degree in elementary education, with the help of the GI Bill and working and grants...I moved back home for a short while and taught in a Catholic school for three years...
Like Angel, who got out of Pair of Dice and moved to the country (kicking and screaming and not trusting all the way) I moved to the great state of Texas quite happily from PA and small town thinking and felt a freedom I had never felt before...I met many good souls through being a guitarist and Catholic school teacher...and I began to be loved and I loved as never before...I was home in Central Texas...Most of my time I veered toward the Mexican people....I felt safest there...I was able to make a transition that few people make: a white girl learning to speak fluent Spanish and mingling among the people of poverty...
Angel's biggest hurdle was trusting Michael: that he was not going to use her, then reject her...She was shown by his example of how he followed God that this man was worth trusting..Eventually she would find that God was worth trusting....
I too, had a hurdle when I met my husband (a Mexican Permanent Resident) ...I loved him so much...knew he was special, but I was so scared!!!! I put him through the "trust" wringer, called off the wedding twice and through a friend and a priest came to the conclusion I was just scared...After all, I was 39 and wanted this to last forever...So he and I were joined in Holy Matrimony May 23, 1992.
My prayer was answered!!!! I found the man who God sent to me to help me totally heal from the hurts of domination and rejection...just as Angel did...Through this union of man and wife...we have become one ...and now our Down Syndrome daughter makes us a loving family of three, bound as one, like a three-ply cord...never to be torn apart...as long as God is in the center of our lives...
I have also found that the only way to be at perfect peace is to totally surrender myself to God...(I had quite an experience not too long ago that helped me arrive to that point...Actually several...Once again I found my freedom though following God's will for me..(finding out what it wasn't -the hard way!!!) I have also found it in my heart to forgive everyone who has ever hurt me...including the person who probably shaped me into the person I became first-in a negative way...but through God's grace coming out positive and whole in the end....
I always had this habit of writing a little bird beside my name when I would sign guest books or wrote out a name tag at a conference...Now I know why...
To conclude...I have been given the desires of my heart over the years...in traveling, teaching in a Catholic school and in a bilingual classroom, playing a musical instrument and singing in public and at church (even though I do not read music) and being able to live now as a SAHM as I wish, and able to homeschool my child not only in religion 24/7, but able to take my time with her to enjoy a beautiful relationship with her and my husband, of course in the way God would want us to live....
It goes without saying I loved this book....
-
Ok well i just received Redeeming Love from the library does anyone mind if i read it late and still join the discussion? I unfortunately am still unable to get a hold of God's Guest List!
-
OF cause you are more welcome to join the discussion later that is one reason I leave the discussion open for at least a month if not more. You will love this book so much.
- VeronicaTex I am so sorry that you had a hard time with your brother my brother and I have always be close. I am also sorry you had a hard time in Germany , from my time there I remember the people being friendly and very sweet. It may have be because I was a young bride station there with my hubby. The country over there is lovely. I am so glad God had heal your soul using your hubby that way he did mine for me . we are too lucky girls to be marriage so some great guys. I also happy to hear you have forgiven the people who hurt you because if we do not do that we continue to hold our-self in jail and not free to fly.
- Thank you for sharing the part about Micheal and the church , I do not even think of that being baptist. I am so happy to know God has given you the desire of your heart, We serve a wonderful God who longs to bless his children.
-
Alieda, thank you so much for your kind words...
I actually did have a wonderful time in Europe, traveling from Frankfurt, Germany to Spain and back, on a trip with my parents. We visited Germany, of course, Austria, Switzerland, France and Spain...The trip of a lifetime!!!! I was also on another excursion able to visit London and Stratford Upon the Avon, England...
Being in Berlin, I liken myself in a way to Angel and the goldminers...Many of them were single and others might have been away from the security of being in their homeland, with a family...In my situation, this was the Cold War where people from all over were "thrown together" so to speak and that creates a very strange situation...People will do anything to cope...I did have a few real good friends and roommates, plus my job as a Russian Voice Intercept Operator....and in my formative 20s, when life can be pretty precarious...It made life bearable..:) I am a survivor...
I know I have given you a glimpse of how much I loved this book and what it has done for me, reading it in this time of my life...It has been very much a checkpoint to see where I am at in years from the pain and through the amazing healing, that God was with me every step of the way!!!!!!!
I already see that next month's book promises to be another great book..I am so looking forward to this one, also...to continue the healing and forgiveness...
-
God is so wonderful to mat his children where hey needs are in some usual ways. If the list I drew up can be a blessing to you and the other ladies I am most blessed from our father. I am going to drew up my own God's Guest Lost to see what people he has brought in to my life and for what reasons.
When Lannie and I was in Germany we did not get to travel so mush but Lannie was there once before as a single man who work 4 days and had the next 4 off. He went all over the place. And loveth it.
-
I am running a little behind...been on vacation and haven't had time. Still don't have much time so this will be short. But one of the things that came to my mind when reading this book was.....Was it easier for Micheal to trust in God. I do trust in God but I can say that I take a lot in to my own hands. So how would not having a tv or computer change your relationship with God?? I know it would change mine a lot and for the better. To much junk to keep me from reading the Bible.
Also the way he trusted God with marring her in the first place. I know he asked God why but don't we all. His walk just really made me step back and look at my own life and think about what others would say about my life. Would they know who my savior is my watching my everyday life?? This also lead to my husband and I talking about if back then it was easier to trust God with EVERYTHING.
I know there is so much more to this book but that is what I keep thinking about over and over after reading it. I'm sure I will think about more later also but I need to get off of here for now. Just wanted to share these thoughts.