In Laneen’s book, “A Spiritual Famine: The Testing of Your Faith”, she tells through her own life experiences how we can we be starving and in the middle of a “spiritual famine”. It is not hard to find yourself in the middle of a drought-stricken spiritual wilderness that is as barren as the Sahara. As Laneen writes about her life’s circumstances and the devastating blows that are delivered to her emotional, physical and spiritual health, you feel pain. As you read on, you begin to identify with how life’s stressful events have impacted your own physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
At midway through reading Laneen’s journey, I realized that I was in a spiritual famine in my own life. I had to stop and look at myself – my total self – body, mind and spirit. What I saw in my mind’s eye was a picture of an emaciated, scarred, wounded and still bleeding shadow of the person that I once was. This famine had truly taken a deadly toll and I wanted it to end.
It is easier to dismiss the symptoms of a spiritual famine than to question if we are in drought. It is not easy to be transparent with others. It is even much more difficult to be honest with ourselves. We go to church and do the expected activities. When asked, “How are you?” our tendency is to reply, “I’m good in the Lord!” Rarely would we consider saying that we are in a place where we cannot feel the presence of God in church or in our hearts.
Laneen’s book takes us to a place of understanding like none other. She takes us into that blind part of our hearts; that blind part of our souls where we unlock the causes of our spiritual dryness. Laneen courageously shares with us her triumphs and tragedies. She is not afraid to say that life can be hard. She is not afraid to say that being a victorious, delivered and sold-out Christian can be hard. There is no Santa Claus kind of Jesus that brings a bag of our wants and spreads them out before us. The Life of Jesus was one of suffering and sacrifice. When we choose to follow Him, we will begin to experience suffering as well.
In “A Spiritual Famine: The Testing of Your Faith”, we see how a soul is bombarded and tested by life. We see the bruising and the bleeding of the human heart. Laneen had a choice. She made a choice. It is the choice that all Christians are called to make in our hearts and minds, since the first century to the present. When the pains of life befall us, even when we walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, each Christian must settle this question: “Do I have a God that is too kind to be so cruel, or do I serve a Master that derives joy from my sufferings? Does God really love me? Does he really care?" It is these very choices that determine our relationship with God.
As you read Laneen’s journey, witness for yourself the choice that she makes. See how she discovers a loving God that allows difficulties in her life. Witness how her God is lovingly preparing her, as He does all of us, to seek Him and His Kingdom first; to become and receive all that He has destined us to in His purpose for our lives.
Naomi Elaine Findley-Russell
Buy it now! This 169 page book with the bonus motivational CD will empower you to endure any trial and gain strength from understanding the purpose of being tested.
A Spiritual Famine:
The Testing of Your Faith
Front and Back Cover Previews
