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Tasmania 2019, pt. 2: The Community

February 23, 2019 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

…and here is part two of my trip to Tasmania! I’ve shared pictures of the community multiple times since I’ve left, mostly with family, but I’m not tired of looking through them yet! Sometimes I wonder if the maxim “a picture is worth a thousand words” would be more appreciated as “a picture is worth a thousand memories”. 🙂

I stayed with two other girls in a house while I was there, and some of my “off” time was spent there. All family-oriented occasions were spent with my host family, so in many ways it felt like I was with family even though my own was across the ditch many kilometers away!

Monday Inspiration: The Gospel

February 18, 2019 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

I’m sure I’ve shared this video before, but it’s something that always strikes a deep, deep chord in my heart. It’s a message I know I need to hear often. And perhaps you do today, too. Stand in His strength!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPIOkdNL-QQ

Tasmania 2019: My Favorite Month (so far) This Year

February 14, 2019 by Esther Filbrun · 4 Comments

Early this year, I was incredibly blessed to have been given the chance to go with a friend, Truly, to visit some friends of hers in a little community in the northwestern corner of Tasmania. We landed on January 1st, and the next two weeks were some of the most stretching, yet most enjoyable weeks I’ve had in a while!

It’s a different feeling to know you’re walking into a situation where you’ll have to get to know a bunch of new people all at once…and then proceed to live with them for the next few weeks! For me, an introverted homebody that loves to have plenty of “me” time with little other interaction, the idea was a bit stressful. (Please tell me I’m not the only one!)

But as soon as I got there, I started to feel at home.

Monday Inspiration: Blessed

February 11, 2019 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

The song “Blessed be Your Name” has been running through my head today. We don’t always understand why the Lord brings testing into our lives, but I am so thankful that no matter what the situation, we can still praise Him!

Today, I’m thankful for sunshine, summer weather, and a God we can rely on!

“And he answered, fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” (2 Kings 6:16, emphasis mine)

Shelter of the Most High: Blog Tour and Giveaway!

December 4, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · 2 Comments

After years of reading very few Biblical fiction stories, I think I’ve come across an author I’m going to love. Cossette writes in such a way that you are drawn into the story, and held captive there until you reach the thrilling conclusion. And one major bonus point in her direction is that while her stories have a lot of romance (something I struggle with at times!), the rest of the story outweighs it so much that I still have to give it a high rating even though I might not have otherwise! She’s an expert at the craft, and I’m thankful. (She’s also Biblically accurate, as far as I can tell, which is another huge bonus point!)

Today, I have the privilege of sharing the second book in the Cities of Refuge series with you. As I mention in my review, I loved the first book in the series as well (hopefully that review will go up on the website sometime within the next couple months), and this is a great continuation. I do recommend reading the first one before this second, because of spoilers.

Following God in Our Inciting Incidents (Thoughts from My Bible Time)

November 29, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

In fiction writing, there is almost always an “inciting incident”, when the main character is called—or forced, depending on the situation—to step out of their comfort zone to change their life or work to help or save someone else.

The only reason why this is used in story is because it happens in real life. All the time! Once one has responded to the call, there is no going back—quite literally! Their life has changed forever, and there is no handy “undo” button hanging around, either.

This morning in my Bible time, I was reminded of the inciting incident when reading about Mary and her calling. For Mary, when the angel appeared to her to tell her what God had chosen her for, she had a choice to accept or deny God’s call on her life. She accepted, as I’m sure we all are thankful for, and that singular incident catapulted her into a completely new (and not necessarily very easy!) life. And it changed world history…forever.