Customer Reviews

Refreshment in Refuge

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"Refreshment In Refuge" will do just that, it will refresh your spirit and remind you of God's unwavering love.
A compilation of short stories, from the authors own life experiences make this book very easy to relate to.You can easily feel the authors emotions as she shares her inspirational and uplifting stories of faith.

I found myself completely drawn into this book after reading the first story titled The Refreshing, in this story an owner of a garage thinks that he has run over his beloved family pet Alfie, and unable to bear taking the animal home to bury he places it in a dumpster. He worries all day about how he will break the news to his family, especially his daughters, so when he blurts out the news, and as the family mourns, the heavens open up and rain begins to fall, it was as if God was sharing in their grief. When the man arrives at his garage the next day, a neighbor of the body shop informs him that his dog has been barking in the dumpster, what joy the man must have felt, and what a celebration his family must have had that night. What Alfie needed was a little reviving. Sometimes as Christians we also need a little reviving.
Their is also a chapter titled 10 things a christian must know, and eleven things one cannot live without, that I have found myself referring to several times even after finishing the book. I think because of the straightforward, clear way this book is presented it would be perfect for Bible study groups, but individuals would also find it a useful study tool as well. I feel like it would also make a great gift for anyone who needs a little encouragement or spiritual "refreshing" in their life.

Even though I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author, it in no way alters my opinion of this book.

First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to Gina Burgess and her publisher for sending me a copy of "Refreshment in Refuge" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.

Gina Burgess' "Refreshment in Refuge" is a charming book of lessons learned by the author. These lessons are shared with the reader in short, engaging tales that make this less of a book and more of an afternoon on the couch with a cup of something warm listening to a friend.

The lessons shared are timeless ones. They are lessons that, in many cases, we must learn for ourselves rather than listening to the wise counsel of someone else. Still this volume entertains and enchants and breathes refreshment and advice. It would be a wonderful read for a book discussion group or a cherished gift for a loved one.

Want a beautiful way to start or end your day? Get this book and simply read a chapter or two from it as you awaken or lay down to rest. Also, it would be a great book to carry close to you when you have a time to invest in your spiritual growth.
It transcends time. One chapter will have you back in the heart of a scripture based story as if you were inside the mind of the person as they witness the events unfolding before them. Then Gina brings you to a modern day struggle with the same flair for, "putting you there."
Below are a few key relevant points concerning Gina's book.
« Gina reminds us that God is mightier than our feelings and mightier than our fears.
« She creates a freshness of the truth, "that in Him is our greatest hope, for He most assuredly keeps His promises."
« She states, and brings to life throughout her book, "one thing I have learned during my years with my beloved Lord God, there is no faith where there is no hope."
« Her chapter "Come Rejoice With Me" Won the Editors Choice Award, October 2010, Fiction Writers Platform
« It seems that her book was written with women in mind but as a man, I found it enjoyable and insightful.
« Gina repeats a mantra throughout her book, which is summed up in her words, "Our greatest lessons are learned in the storms of life so that our greatest purpose can be fulfilled on the other side of the storm."
« She also reminds us, ". . . that Satan has no power except that which God allows, or that which we give. Knowing this we are forewarned and forearmed against an evil foe."
This book is a winner! The only sticking point I had with it was that, as a man, I struggled to identify with some of the issues Gina addresses.

About the Author:

Gina Burgess studied journalism, but took a thirty year break to raise her two daughters. She then returned to school and earned a BAAS degree from the Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.


She has been an editor for several publications, writes a weekly column for Studylight.org., As well as a biweekly column@everydayChristian.com.

Synopsis:

This book will bring refreshment to the soul and remind you that God's love will never fail.
This book contains short stories from the author's experience, as well as, studies of biblical man and women. The author writes with honesty about her faith in God. Some stories are touched with humor, while others will tug at your heartstrings.
A couple of my favorite chapters include:
seven habits of highly effective godly women.
Goodness, which retells the story of the two women claiming the same baby. This story was told, so clearly you could feel the pain of the true mother and the joy she felt when King Solomon rendered the fair and just decision.
I was hooked from the first chapter to the last page. I fully endorse this book as one you will read over and over again.
I received this complimentary copy from the author, but the opinions in this review are entirely mine.

Gina Burgess is a woman who has a heart for Christ. She has experienced a great deal of pain in her life, but after reading Refreshment in Refuge it is easy to see that she has also experienced a great deal of joy and grace in the Lord. In this book, Gina has put her life experiences and her observations on paper in an open an honest way and shows us through Scripture how she has been able to heal and she shows us the things that God has shown her that have brought her comfort.

I have always enjoyed reading memoirs, especially if the memoir is written by an average, everyday person like me; a person who experiences all of lives joys and sorrows. Refreshment in Refuge is much more than just a memoir. It is indeed a very personal and very honest look at Gina's life and her faith. I had the distinct feeling while I read this book that Gina's heart was being poured out onto the pages, which not only gave the book a deeply personal feeling, but also a very real look at a very real woman - a woman who has a passion for sharing her faith in Jesus.

I also felt very much like she was speaking directly to me. Gina has a gift for communicating and ministering through her writing, a gift that I embraced from the very start of this book. I loved her honesty and her strong Christian message. There were many times when I felt uplifted, and amused, but also humbled and amazed by God's grace. Refreshment in Refuge is one of those books that I don't want to just read once and put it down. I want to refer back to it again and again because there is much to learn and I have enjoyed learning from Gina. I highly recommend adding Refreshment in Refuge to your collection. It is full of Godly wisdom and comfort.