After having just gone through a similar season of life to Mrs. Austin, I found this book to be extremely helpful and applicable. Although I have never been to Israel or Jerusalem, I am familiar with the area and so could picture where she was. You could feel the dryness of her soul as she travelled and I could completely relate. It gave me great hope and encouragement to trust God more. Thank you Mrs. Austin for sharing this time in your life with us. By the way, this book would make an excellent devotional. Each chapter sort of stands on it's own, with plenty of Scripture references.

MY THOUGHTS

The author let us take a tour of Israel with her, somewhere I probably will never see!! She has a great knowledge of the Bible and of Israel! She makes you feel like you are there with her!

If you are struggling in your faith this is a good book to read, Lynn talks about the dryness and what she did about it!! So this book would be great if you are going to be going to Israel this would be a great tour guide!!

I also like how she starts out with a verse and ends with a prayer in each chapter!

I've read some of her other books and have always enjoyed her style of writing!!

I could relate to some of the things she talked about, such as grown children moving away, when you think they will always be close around! Somethings you have to get used to and resigned too!

Just like we need water to survive physically we need God to survive spiritually!!

Chapter 11 Sabbath Rest

On the Sabbath we remember to rest on God, trusting Him for all our practical needs such as our daily bread and for strength in our trials. The Sabbath helps us to remember to rest in God!!Trusting Him for our salvation, knowing that none of the work we do will ever gain us entrance int heaven!!

Thank you Lord for my children and reminding me that they aren't mine but yours, and that you want what is best for them and are fighting for their souls!!!

Disclosure: This book was given to me for free from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

I don't read a lot of non-fiction. I would much rather read something with a good storyline, characters, a plot. But when I read the description of Pilgrimage, I was instantly intrigued. For years I have had something of an obsession with Israel, and the opportunity to read and review a book about an author's spiritual journey during her time there? I just couldn't pass it up.

Within the first chapter, Lynn Austin had caught not only my attention, but also my heart and soul. It seemed like the book had been written just for me. The issues she was struggling with-- adapting to change, feeling adrift in her relationship with God, desiring a deeper faith-- I was struggling with too. And as I read, I was traveling with her through Israel, seeing the sites and feeling old familiar Bible stories come alive in new ways. As I read the scripture verses she included, I learned with her all the lessons God was teaching her. And I can honestly say my faith has been positively impacted by Pilgrimage. My copy of the book is highlighted and marked so that I can flip through and easily find the passages that influenced me. And to me, that is the mark of a truly great book-- if it impacts you enough that you don't want to forget what it taught you.

I recommend Pilgrimage to everyone. It may not touch each of you in the same way it touched me, but I believe that it will still impact your life and you will walk away from it changed in at least some small way.

I received this book free from Bethany House publishers as part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

This book was free from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

This book, 'Pilgrimage' by Lynn Austin was one of the best books I've had the privilege to read. The author figuratively takes you along w/her on her trip to the Holy Land. It is her journey to a much deeper faith in the land where Jesus walked. She records in great detail everything she experienced on her trip, from the flight over to the trip back home and everything in between.

What I loved most was how she made the reader feel as if they were right there traveling beside her. You could almost see the lush green palm trees, the rocky terrain of the wilderness and the beautiful oasis hidden from view.

Lynn does a tremendous job of tying everything she saw while there in w/Biblical accounts of the same places, so you got a more detailed idea of what Bible times were really like. She gives wonderful examples of what modern day life is like for Jews living there and ties all these things in w/her own walk of faith. It is an amazing account of a most sought after trip of a lifetime and now makes me want to experience it for myself one day. I highly recommend this book!

A ritual happens around this time of year between now and the New Year...resolutions. Some are goals like reading through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation, but how many continue reading, especially when they come to the book of Leviticus? Another resolution many make is in regard to their physical appearance, not that that is a bad idea either. Something I didn't even think to do was ask the Lord if I should make a resolution in the first place. Do you ask the Lord about making a resolution or is it just because it is the time of year to do so? If and what you resolve to do, do you then tell people what it is when they ask? When people ask me, I jokingly say, "I gave that up for Lent!", and then tell them I don't make them anymore.

Lynn Austin has been a favorite author of mine for some time, yet I am always drawn to want to know the person behind the writing. Lynn Austin has shared herself in a very transparent, elegant, nonfiction book released this year called, Pilgrimage. Within the pages, Lynn shares where her heart hurts, what her daily struggles are and what the Lord showed her when she recently went on a tour in Israel. Lynn Austin doesn't share this to garner pity or empathy, at least that is not the sense I got as I read the book. What I gleaned was the heart of a sister in the Lord and her journey here on earth with the trials and triumphs she has experienced. I sense she wrote the book as a journal to remind herself in days to come of all the Lord has revealed to her about Himself and to encourage us, her fellow travelers.

As you read each chapter, you may find yourself agreeing with what she shares or empathizing because you have experienced something similar. There is a call to remember like King David all the Lord has done when we are in a dry place spiritually speaking or a heart broken area. All who read this will be able to come away with encouragement, hope, to drink deeply of God's Word, to gain a rekindled fire for prayer or maybe to practice reminding ourselves what the Lord has done for us and for others.

So before you think of making a resolution or just going into 2014 with whatever you have already planned, please take a little time to read what Lynn Austin shares. Then go to Lord, dwell in the Word and see what adventure He may have for you in 2014 that you would never have thought of before hearing His voice.