God's Love is Always Like a Sacred Song -- Mesu Andrews has brought that to life in her new book.

     MESU ANDREWS is an author and speaker who has devoted herself to passionate study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep love for God’s Word, Andrews brings the biblical world alive for her audiences. Mesu and her husband, Roy, have two grown children and (Praise God!) a growing number of grandkids. They live in Washington, where Roy teaches at Multnomah University. They have a Rottweiler-pitbull named Bouzer who keeps Mesu company while she writes. She's published two books, Love Amid the Ashes and Love's Sacred Song. Two more are scheduled for release with Revell in March of 2013 and 2014.  

Mesu is generously offering an autographed GIVEAWAY of her newest release.  No doubt, you are as excited as I am.

Provide your answer to a question Mesu wants you to reflect upon. (See below) We look forward to reading your comments and will draw the winner's name in a few days.

Let's find out what Loves Sacred Song is all about!

 Standing in the overpowering shadow of his famous father, young king Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, longing for a love that is true and pure—a love that can be his cornerstone. A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah has known since she first laid eyes on Solomon that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father secures a promise from King Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams will come true. But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon’s harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart?

I wonder! WILL HE? Now, we're going to have to read this book to find out.

Shall we take a look at an excerpt?

Arielah tiptoed around the sleeping forms of her surly brothers. Empty wineskins served as silent witnesses to their drunken slumber. Kemmuel and Igal would be snoring till dawn. They’d been a disgrace to Abba Jehoshaphat and to the tribe of Issachar since they were old enough to tend sheep.

Kemmuel rolled on his side and smacked his lips, and Arielah stood like a stone. A moment later, she reached for the iron handle and tugged open the rough-hewn cedar door. The bottom corner scraped the dirt and creaked on leather hinges. She held her breath. Glancing slowly over her shoulder, she sighed her relief at the steady rise and fall of her brothers’ chests.

A shadow of melancholy swept over her. They looked so peaceful lying there, but their rage was a living thing boiling just beneath the surface. If only they would let her love them. But her big brothers rebuffed even the love Abba and Ima tried to offer. Arielah had learned at an early age to keep her distance or reap her brothers’ wrath, and now she spent most of her time avoiding them. Tears blurred her vision.

Check out Mesu's first chapter free on her website.

http://www.mesuandrews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Chapter-1-Excerpt.pdf)

And to see Mesu's Book Trailer, check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYCpTmNVCQo

Mesu's Reflection and Question for you.

Oftentimes I hear Christ-followers describe God as a god of love in the New Testament and a god of wrath in the Old Testament. It breaks my heart. Our Abba-God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and it’s my passion to write Old Testament stories that reveal His enduring love.

     Parents who only sacrifice for their children, and never discipline, aren’t very loving parents at all. Part of that loving discipline is establishing clear boundaries in order that children know right from wrong and know the consequences of disobedience.

     In the Old Testament, our Abba-God establishes the Law of Moses and pursues His people with a relentless passion that is downright frightening.

     We see His love best described in Song of Songs 8:6-7 – “…love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” Now, marry this definition of love with the words in 1 Cor. 13:4-8 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking…”

MY QUESTION FOR YOU:

When you merge the two definitions of love,

and apply them to our infinite God, how does it change your image of Him?

How does it change your image of human love?

Zeph. 3:17 - "The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."  

And Mesu's final comment to all of us:

      It’s funny how even extroverts have to deal with low self-esteem. When we added the myriad of chronic illness symptoms that sap my ability to DO those things that make me feel worth, the battle against depression rages. Zeph. 3:17 has become my sword and shield. The LORD is with me. I’m not alone. The LORD is mighty to save. Even when my strength is gone. The LORD delights in me. Really? Who knows why, but the Bible never lies, so I’ll take His Word for it! He will quiet me with His love. Even when fibro-fog (a symptom and by-product of fibromyalgia) muddles my thoughts, He loves me. And here’s the real clincher…He rejoices over me with SINGING. I’ve heard of angels singing, but God? Nuh-uh! But He does! And He’s doing it because He’s rejoicing over ME!!! Now, if God can rejoice of pitiful ol’ me, surely I can work up a little joy for the amazing God I serve.

      He is truly amazing…and He sings! J 

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