As I was reading this book, I was all ready to tell you how I enjoyed it, how I was captivated by the preface, engaged by the story and how I continue to be impressed with Lynn Austin's ability to write clever, intelligent, stories that are not formulaic. I was looking forward to the rest of the series. (And all of this holds true throughout the book.) 
 Then I read the last 1/4 of the book, and I really felt God speaking to me. I've been going through a very challenging season that has dragged on and on in my life. Obviously, set during the civil war, you can imagine the plodding struggle people must have faced and what Austin's characters encounter the fear, the loss of a lifestyle, the loss of luxuries, the constant big decisions forced upon a person, the doubt about whether or not you've done the right thing, the desire to protect those you love, the longing for peace, the longing for dreams of the future to come true. And it doesn't get any easier at the end of the war when Austin shows the consequences of the choices the characters made... even the negative consequences of POSITIVE choices made. It is true that things do work out in the end (somewhat), but Austin does such a compelling job of exposing us to the "messy-ness" of: life, trials, civil war, and obedience to God. 
 After I finished, I turned to my Bible Study/ Prayer reading for the day. The readings for the day are too long to recount in their entirety, but here are the ones that hit me: 
 "My mouth shall recount your mighty acts and saving deeds all day long; though I cannot know the number of them." Psalm 71:15 "And they will say, "Surely, there is a reward for the righteous; surely, there is a God who rules in the earth." Psalm 58:11 "...so there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:31 "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and said, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." Psalm 81:10 "And they will say, "Surely, there is a reward for the righteous; surely, there is a God who rules in the earth." Psalm 58:11 (That's the refrain verse, which is why i have it twice). 
 And it was then that God hit all the themes home to me personally: God loves me. He cares about my struggles. Even when the challenges of life bring me to the end of myself He is there. He sees me trying to live for Him, and He will support me. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen... And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:1,6 
 And I could only respond, as Lynn Austin's characters did "Massa Jesus, Thy will be done."