The Seraph Seal ~ By Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner

The Seraph Seal is an apocalyptic fiction story. The story is an end-times tale of good vs. evil and the promise of a new dawn for humanity. This epic tale of good and evil is based on the four horsemen of the Apocalypse found in the book of Revelation.

The story starts out on December 12, 2012 with "eight" people being born at the exact same time and have the exact same birthmark. They are the ones that hold the key for the future. The story then fast forwards to 2048, when planet Earth is suffering from the damaging effects of years of misuse and abuse, cultural history professor Paul Binder receives a mysterious letter that leads him to examine a lost 2nd-century Diatessaron manuscript. Ancient prophecies, cryptic letters, and strange events set him on a course to uncover the missing clues that could lead humanity into a new age. Each character embodies elements of the four horsemen in a race to save the world from total destruction. Layered with forgotten symbolism from the ancient, Jewish, and Christian traditions, the novel is a type of engaged fiction in which the main character's lost journal serves as a guide to the reader in interpreting clues and understanding the novel's conclusion.

Starting off, this book was intriguing and then after a few chapters that changed for me. It took me a very, very long time to finish this book. My brain felt very unequipped for this type of read. The story jumped around a lot and was quite boring in many areas. There were almost too many characters to keep up with as well. As I made it to the end of the story, the only part I enjoyed was that it was over and I could move on to something else. For the ending, I definitely would have chosen something better. I think I'll stick with books that are closer to the truth from now on.


I received this book free of charge from BookSneeze.com in return for a review.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

 

Love

If I could learn to do one thing perfectly, it would be to love. If I had no other talent, skills or anything else to offer, I know it would be enough. I hope to one day get to a point to where I am unoffendable. To where nothing anyone says or does makes me see them or feel about them differently then how God sees and feels about them. I don't want to put expectations on others because when I do I set them up to disappoint me. See if I were to truly love them, I wouldn't love them for me, I would love them for who they are created to be. So regardless of how unkind or unfair one is toward me, I want to respond with nothing other than love. Why? Because I couldn't go wrong. Love never fails. When I do this I am representing the One many people don't know....Jesus! And to show someone the love of Jesus who has never seen it before or maybe even in a long time, is what we are supposed to do everyday.  So many people don't realize that this is the true reason why they wake up everyday. They have been given a new opportunity, a new day to go out and represent Jesus! How? Love. Just think about it, if we all made a conscious decision to go out and just love on people, we could change so many lives. Maybe that girl who is always alone and doesn't have any friends. If we would just take a moment to show her love and let her know how special and amazing she is we could change the course of her actions of going home and taking her own life. What about that friend or neighbor that was in a car accident and broke his leg and can't do a simple thing as mow his lawn or go out to get his mail? Help a brotha out!! It doesn't have to be something huge and cost a lot of money to show someone you care and that they have value and worth. Sometimes the smallest action can have the biggest impact! As long as it's done with love, you can't lose! God sees your heart and is ready to reward you for being obedient! So go....have fun....live....laugh....but most of all LOVE!




 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing."

New

I'm expanding my horizons. I finally signed up for Twitter. Now the real question remains....Who do I "follow"? So far I have some awesome people like; Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, Bill Johnson, Bob Hazlett, Joyce Meyer, Jesus Culture etc. just to name a few. Well, the cookies are done! Have a great night! 

Shalom!!!

Today's assignment

Well, I started school and so far it has been amazing! Yay!! My online peers are just fabulous and such wonderful people. They're so encouraging and I pray I bless them as much as they bless me. 
Yesterday we started a conference called "Living Jesus" and we have had some of the most amazing speakers. 
We've also had these assignments where we are to go out and find people to pray for. Now if any of you know me, I've wanted to do some street witnessing for a long time. Anyway, today I decided to go to Wal-Mart and before I left I got a picture of a older lady with reddish hair, glasses and a blue shirt over in the cleaning isle. So I go to Wal-mart and while I'm walking toward the front doors, the whole time I'm praying "God please let there be a lady in there with red hair, glasses and a blue shirt. Please give me the words because I don't have a clue what I'm supposed to say or do". I get in there and I'm walking toward that section of the store and I'm just looking for this woman. I get to the cleaning isle and there was a woman that had red hair, glasses on her head and a blue shirt. I thought to myself "NOOOO WAY!!" and kept walking. I stopped and was like "I need to go talk to her", so I went back and she had left that isle, but I found her one isle over. I was so nervous and felt so awkward, but I pressed in and walked up to her. I explained why I was there and that I was supposed to talk to her. She smiled and said "Oh bless you, I'm gonna give you a hug and kiss, but I'm in a hurry, but you're gonna do great!" and started telling me what she needed to do and rushed away. She almost over emphatically blew me off. I was left a little stunned and wasn't quite sure what to think. I thought "God, surely that's not what was supposed to happen". Left a little discouraged, I decided I was gonna walk around and see if there was anyone else that might fit that description, because surely that wasn't the encounter that was planned! I walk around starting to feel defeated and found a bench where I sat down. I sat for a few minutes and I thought to myself "NO! I'm going to step out in faith and pray for someone"!! So I jumped up walked around the corner into the halloween isle and asked the lady there if I could practice praying with her and why. She gave me an answer (which I don't recall exactly) that gave me indication she didn't believe and didn't want to pray. So I asked if I could pray for her in my own time and she said that would be fine. She gave me her name and some things to pray for and we went our separate ways. That's TWO strikes!! I thought "I'm not giving up yet" all the while I'm feeling very discouraged. So I go back to the photo department and there is an older lady with red hair. No glasses, no blue shirt, but I thought " what the heck, I'll give it a shot". So I walk up to this lady and told her that I was suppose to talk to a lady with red hair. I didn't mention the other things thinking maybe I had misinterpreted. She is very apprehensive to talk to me. I ask her if I could pray with her about anything and she told me that she attends church regularly and has people at her church to pray for/with her. I asked if there was anything right then and she replied "Well I pray for myself" as she is backing away from me. I could see that she couldn't get away from me fast enough, so I told her Jesus loves her and to have a good day.  I walked away very hurt and wondering if there was something wrong with me. But as I was typing this out I felt the Lord say to me "You stepped out in faith. That's what matters to me".  Amazing! God is good. 
Well, I have to get back to school! Love ya all! 

What's Crack-a-Lackin'???

Hey all you people out there in Blogger Land, this is Desert Fox comin' at you live....owwwww! LOL

Back in my CB days, that was my handle, but back then I didn't live in the desert. Now I do.....ironic. I think I'm gonna bring it back. :) Along with sexy!  (Sorry I couldn't resist)

So what's been goin' on?? Well, let me fill you in. Just spending some time...doin' nothing really. Ha. Nah, just waiting on my school to start. I am attending Global School of Supernatural Ministry and I am stoked! Tomorrow is my first day. I can't wait to dive into God's Word and use what I learn to help others! I proclaim it right now....It's going to be AMAZING!!!!  I just know God is going to do some great things in these next 8 months! I'll try to keep this updated as best I can. I'm not sure how much work it's going to be, but honestly, I'm hopin it keeps me pretty busy. Other than that, there's not a lot to tell. Love ya all and may God bless you abundantly!

I want to add, if anyone has any prayer requests, please let me know. I'd love to pray for or with you. 

Peace!

~Stephanie~

The Search Is On!!!

OK, so here's the deal. I am wanting to reach out and show God's great love by helping people. The issue is that I'm not really quite sure how to go about doing this. In what ways can I go out and make a difference? I am doing a little bit of research to figure out an answer to this question and part of that research is getting YOUR opinion! I am not interested in getting paid for anything that I do. My goal is to go out and let people know that someone cares and that Jesus loves them. Expecting nothing in return. Do you have any ideas you would like to share?? 

Thank you and God bless!

Wow! Time flies doesn't it?

Sometimes it's crazy to think of the things that can occupy our time. I am blessed to say that my time has been spent in the Word and with family. Two of the most amazing things in the world! And in doing so, I have found some truly great things! I have found a peace that I've never known before, I have come to know and love the Lord more and I am building better relationships with my family! 
Have you ever stopped to think about what things are occupying your time? How are you spending the time God has graciously given you? How do you start your day? How do you end your day? I will tell you that if you are not spending time in the Word and building your relationship with God, then things are not headed in a positive direction. 
I'm not gonna beat around the bush....It doesn't matter what you've done, where you've been or how far you've fallen...God loves you! You are AMAZING!! He sees you in a way that we don't allow our own eyes to see ourselves. Sometimes we think we have to be perfect before we can attempt to enter into the presence of the Lord, but that just simply is not the case. Honestly, the more broken, the better. It's only then we realize how much we need Him. We can't do it on our own or in our own strength. So what do you have to offer HIM? You! Just the way you are. All He wants from you is ALL of you! However, in order for us to give ourselves to Him, we have to be careful where we are spending our time. Not only that, but we have to be careful of the things we even think about. Where the mind goes the heart follows and if it's not on God, then you might want to stop and reassess the situation.


With much Love,

~Stephanie~