Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Review: Walking With God Day By Day by Rachel Jamerson

Walking With God Day By Day 

by Rachel Jamerson

I have always had an inquiring mind. I want to know the who, what, when, where, how, and why of everything. I pay careful attention to what people don’t say-- as well as what they say. You’d be surprised at how much you can learn by simple observation. I also have a habit of asking ‘Why’ in my conversations with others, for which I have been criticized. However, I don’t do it to embarrass anyone. I’ve just always wanted to create in others the desire for knowledge, to get people to question the world around them and the things they do. To think about their own lives and to analyze what they believe and why they believe it. I want them to THINK. That’s why I ask questions and that’s why I wrote this book. God gave us an awesome gift called the brain. Let’s use it! How does this apply to you? You have a purpose. Everyone born on this earth does. From your first breath until your last, every choice you make affects the world in some way, and the decisions you make have a permanent effect on you and those in your circle of influence. That’s why it’s so important to ask the ‘Why’ questions. Just as we leave our marks on others, they also leave their marks on us. Think about the people you have met in your life and how they affected you. Teachers, family members, friends, and leaders from all walks of life. People you admired or those you despised. Those you loved and those who loved you. They all left you with something. Whether it was negative or positive, you were changed in some way. This brings me back to this book and why I wrote it. I am not much of a fiction writer. I like to write about the things I have learned --usually the hard way. I am also not one who reads much fiction instead; I like to read about other people’s journey and what they have learned. Many times, you will find a reference to another author’s work in my writing, because what they wrote meant something to me and I want to share it with others. My hope is that in reading this book, you will begin to understand the importance of asking the right questions. Of looking at things from a different perspective, as well as understanding the cause and effect of our relationships with others. I hope that you will understand the importance of using God’s Word to illuminate your understanding and how to apply His wisdom in your life. What follows is a collection of vignettes, thoughts, and life lessons that are presented to challenge and encourage you. They are the result of my 75 years of life experience, 45 of them spent walking with the Lord. By observing my life and applying God’s wisdom as shown in His Word, I pray you will become wiser, growing in confidence in your relationship with Jesus.

My Take:

Have you ever looked for words of wisdom from someone who has been down the road ahead of you, someone who can give you spiritual advice, a mentor who is invested in helping you ask the right questions and arrive at your own informed answers? What if you boiled down those decades of experience into a handy devotional that you could spend just a few minutes each day reading? Well, look no further, here it is from the pen of Rachel Jamerson, a multi-published Christian author with decades of writing under her belt.


 Content:

As this is a Christian devotional, I'll be skipping the usual ratings of drug, adult content, violence, and language. While such things COULD theoretically exist in a devotional like this, they do not here.
 
Christian content:
You might expect a Christian devotional to have content about Christ, the nature of God, and the Christian walk. And Jamerson does not disappoint. This book is packed with advice on church life, God in politics, how a church should look and how we contribute to its life. She does not shy away from hot topics such as the delusion and spiritual attacks leading our country and even churches away from God's truth, and exposes misconceptions on the nature of God and what a Christian is. Topics such as depression, women's ministry, the Sabbath, and the inclusion of pagan practices in Christian religious holidays are discussed, all from a solid biblical worldview.
 
Final Analysis:
This devotional is a quick read. Each of the 25 devotions in this book take about 2 minutes to read. Each comes with a scripture quote or passage, and each with a quote from a prominent person of faith. I found it challenging, informative, and encouraging. I especially liked her explanation of the inductive study method of scripture, and her take on walking with the Lord. Five Stars!

About the Author:

I have been writing for twenty-five years. My favorite resource is scripture. A hunger for God’s Word took me to the campus of Precepts International in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There I learned the Inductive Bible Study method, which completely changed the way I view scripture.

I served for five plus years in a local chapter of CONTACT USA. While there I served on the board of directors and as a crisis line specialist. In addition I am certified by the American Association of Christian Counselors in Caring for People God’s Way. I remained an active member until 2005. I am currently retired.

After becoming a Christian, my desire to write and quest for answers were dedicated to understanding God’s message to man. What exactly was He saying and why were there so many different interpretations? As a result, I became an avid student of scripture. My book ‘Spiritual Compass’ contains excerpts from various articles written over the years. It also takes the reader on a simple walk through the Word of God and offers insights derived from the personal journey of others.

I am a widowed grandmother of eight, retired and living in Southwestern Virginia.