Changed By Love

Changed By Love

Following the Lamb wherever he goes… Revelation 14:4

Review of Felice Gerwitz Books

The Truth Seekers Mystery Series

By Christina and Felice Gerwitz at MediaAngels.com.

Book 1 The Missing Link: FOUND

by Christina and Felice Gerwitz

From what I understand, the reason that Felice and her daughter wrote these novels is that Felice noticed the lack of good books for younger readers to learn about Creation Science in an enjoyable way. Her daughter, Christina, suggested that Felice write one herself. So they wrote one together. And then they wrote another… and another. The results were exciting, action-packed mystery novels that contain lots of good Creation Science information.

Although these books are geared toward youth, I enjoyed them so much, I read them to myself before I read them to my kids.

As I was reading Book 1, I was continually amazed that Felice’s daughter, Christina, was only 14 years old (I originally wrote that she was 17, but Felice informed me that she was only 14 when they started writing these books!) when she helped her mom write this. I thought they wrote very well, and I truly enjoyed the story, the characters and the knowledge I gained from reading it.

The writers interweave Creation Science facts with an exciting story of a couple of mysteries that teen brother and sister, Christian and Anna Murphy, get tangled up in and help to solve as they help their dad with his job. They display good character, even as people around them show less than ideal character and behavior. They influence the people around them, but they don’t act stuffy or superior. They pray whenever they get in a tight spot, and they give thanks to the Lord when He delivers them. They seem like real-life kids, very likeable, not perfect but definitely learning to be Christ-like.

The mystery surrounds an excavation of a fossilized man that the paleoanthropologist leading the dig believes may be the “Missing Link”. Christian and Anna, along with their dad, hold onto their faith and their unswerving belief that man did not evolve and this fossil could not be the “Missing Link”. They watch and pray, and they find out in the end that things are not always as they seem.

I read the second book Dinosaur Quest at: Diamond Peak to myself first, too, because I was already reading enough books to the kids at the time, and I couldn’t wait! It was just as good as the first one. This time, the kids were on their own away from home, but they still maintained their integrity and behaved in a godly fashion in spite of extra freedom that they knew was more than their parents had expected them to have.

The mystery was exciting and was tied to the photography job they were there to do. They were to photograph a dig of a very large T-Rex dinosaur that the paleontologists believed was fully intact. The Murphys had lots of interesting discussions with the man in charge of the dig. Fortunately, one of the men on the team also believed in biblical Creation and helped them defend the faith. There was some foul play as someone tried to get rid of this man by cutting his climbing rope. Other mysterious things happened that caused the Murphys to seek out the truth that someone was trying to cover up. And through an accident, they made a very surprising discovery about the dinosaur fossil. But you’ll have to read the book to find out what it was.

The third book is just as exciting and action-packed as the first two. Keys to the Past: Unlocked has the Murphys exploring a sunken ship and finding an artifact that helps prove that civilizations were more advanced from the beginning than evolution models claim. They also have some very enlightening discussions with the researcher who is studying the ocean’s sedimentary layers to try to prove that evolution is true and the earth is billions of years old. The Murphys and their dad tell him some things that really make him think in a new way.

Felice wrote study guides for each of these books that help to extend the study of Creation Science and other topics that are explored in each book. They also help budding writers study literary techniques and help the teacher check for reading and vocabulary comprehension.

I would recommend these books to anybody who likes mysteries and is interested in learning more about how to defend the biblical account of Creation.

You won’t be disappointed. Your kids will love them, too!

I just found out about a neat interview that Felice did with her daughter, Christina, for the Ultimate Homeschool Expo in which they talk about their homeschool experiences and some of the background experiences for the writing they did in these books.

You can find that here!
Check out all of Felice’s other resources at MediaAngels.com.

Our Baby Turns Three!

Abby turned 3 Saturday.

We went to see Cars 2 as a family. It’s the first movie we’ve all ever gone to the theater to see. We took up a whole row! We were all able to go because we have the van! PTL!

We enjoyed it, except halfway through it, Abby came over to me and said, “I hate this movie.”

I started explaining to her in simple terms what was happening – which wasn’t easy because the plot was pretty complex, and I had to really concentrate to follow what was going on myself. She seemed to hate the movie less after that, but it was still a little over her head. I bet she’ll watch it if we get the DVD, and she’ll probably like it better if she can move around or make noise or leave whenever she wants to.

Then we made a Strawberry-Jello-7-Up Cake for her birthday party. It was so delicious.

Then she opened her presents which we got in the reduced aisle at Walmart. We spent about $5 on each gift, except for the Hot Wheels cars. They were only $1 apiece. So we spent about $17 on her gifts and they made her very happy and kept her and Emma and the twins happy for hours that night.

So much Hello Kitty stuff!

Oldest daughter always decorates the Strawberry Cake.

She loved her presents! I have GOT to cut her bangs.

Dadgum! (as Mater often said in Cars 2)

As I uploaded this picture, Abby said, “Look at all my friends!” Her brothers and sisters are her friends.

Batman vs. My Little Pony: Who will win? I have GOT to cut her bangs!

On the Trail of the Civil War

We have interrupted our study of the Middle Ages to study the American Civil War because – that’s how life has taken us! Actually we’re studying both at the same time.

We just spent two weeks in Charleston and visited the harbor where Ft. Sumter is.

We had been planning a trip to Gettysburg since it’s so close to where we live but I was struck by dizziness and vertigo symptoms. I couldn’t drive anywhere until time for us to leave for South Carolina, and then I couldn’t drive us there, so Gary had to fly here and drive us down.

We had a wonderful time in Charleston, South Carolina, even though I was still struggling with dizziness.

When we got back, the kids were ready to see Gettysburg. I drove them there. I’m not comfortable with my role as chauffeur, but that’s how it is right now. So we went to Gettysburg, saw some artifacts from the Civil War and walked around the cemetery. It was a HOT day, but we all enjoyed ourselves.

And we did some identificational repentance and cleansing the land while we were there.

God has us here for some reason, and we’re just doing what He tells us to wherever He leads us.

So we really did follow the Civil War trail from Charleston and the South up to the North to Gettysburg. I’m still planning to read a book about General Lee to the kids that my friend Heidi recommended. And I want to read to them about Stonewall Jackson. They were such great men. We’ve already read tons about Abraham Lincoln.

I am so thankful that the Lord has enabled me to drive and do things with my kids in spite of the way the enemy has been attacking my health.

The devil is a liar, and I am healed in Jesus’ name.

Passed Your Tests

The following is a prophetic word from Sandy Warner. Her contact information is at the bottom.

This is a great explanation of why God lets us go through trials and testing.

The first part is a prophetic encouragement that I believe God has for those of us who have been going through an extensive time of testing – like the past ten years – and I believe we will be receiving the promises of our own land (physically and spiritually) very soon. I believe we have passed the tests of waiting on Him many times.

Here is what Sandy wrote:

RHEMA 4/12/11 PASSED YOUR TESTS

HEARD: You landed on your feet, you passed all your tests. I’m so proud of you. Every one of them? Yes all of them.

[Lord how does one pass a test?]

HEARD: Wait on Me.

Ps 105:19-22

Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free. He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his possessions, To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.

HAVING BEEN TESTED:

Until the time that Your Word comes to pass, Your Word has tested me.

My foot has held fast to Your steps, my foot has not been moved.

I have kept Your way and not turned aside.

Like gold and silver is tried in the fire, I shall come forth as gold.

The genuineness of my faith You find even more precious than gold.

For even when I do not see You, I love You.

I call upon Your Name and You hear me as I abide in Your consuming fire.

In humble wanderings, You know what is in my heart.

You know whether I will keep Your Word or not.

I have learned that I can not live without Your Word.

You have chastised me and prepared me to possess the land You have promised.

I have learned that You alone give the power to prosper.

There is no strength in me to gain anything by my own hand.

You withdrew from me to manifest what was in my heart.

Upon You alone do I lean and trust oh Lord.

I rejoice when I see the maturity of patience, which is

The fruit of various trials and tests.

I have learned to suffer long as I have waited upon You to

Perfect faith, hope and love.

TO BE TESTED IN SCRIPTURE

Job 23:8-11

“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. 10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.

Ps 66:8-12

Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, 9 Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved. 10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. 11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. 12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

Ps 81:6-7

“I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the baskets. 7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Ps 105:19-22

Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him. 20 The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his possessions, 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.

Zech 13:9

I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.'”

1 Peter 1:6-9

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.

Gen 22:1

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”

Deut 8:1-10

“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5 You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

6 “Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

NKJV

Ex 16:3-8

3 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

6 Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening you shall know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your complaints against the Lord. But what are we, that you complain against us?”

Deut 8:13-19

13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end — 17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’

18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deut 13:1-5

13 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’ — which you have not known — ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.

2 Chron 32:30-33

This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart. 32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, indeed they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

Prov 17:3

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts.

James 1:2-8

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

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Words from the The Quickened Word are excerpts from the journals of Sandy Warner. To better understand how God speaks, read Sandy’s book, “101+ Ways God Speaks, And How to Hear Him.” Website: www.thequickenedword.com Email: swauthor@usa.net
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Highlights from South Carolina Trip

My kids love the ocean!  The darker-skinned boys are our new sons, Daren and Tyler.  We adopted them while we were there, since Patrick had already adopted them as his brothers.

Daren likes to act like a beached whale.

Emma loves the sand.  I like the beach – except for the sand.

Sandy girl

Clean girl!  Much better.

We celebrated Kelsey’s birthday there.

All 12 of us plus 2 more in a 2 bedroom apartment.  Can you say “crowded”?  Not really.  The more the merrier.

All the boys

Most of the girls

Daren is… not shy.

I love this fountain.  The little girl with her foot up is so cute!

Charleston is a beautiful city!

Fort Sumter was out there in the harbor –  along with several other forts.  We need to go back so we can go out to see them.  We pretty much followed the path the Confederate army took to Gettysburg when we drove back home.  Next field trip – Gettysburg!

South Carolina is the Palmetto State.  I’m glad Kelsey got a picture of one.  Kelsey got a 3DS for her birthday, so she took some great pictures with it.  She also did some funky things to some of her pictures!

Feeding turtles at the apartment complex’s pond

Getting ready to go back to PA

All of us except Daren, who’s not shy.   He was kind enough to take the picture so I could be in it.

 

We loved being all together again and are looking forward to the time that the Lord puts us all together again in one place.  Where will that place be???  He knows.