River of mercy, p.28
River of Mercy, page 28
She was enjoying this even if she was uncomfortable. “Doc thinks… he can’t be sure, mind you…but when he examined me today, he thought he might have heard two heartbeats.”
“Two…” He looked at her. “What does that mean?”
“Well…it could mean I’m carrying two babies instead of one.”
He reared back on the chair. Stared at her. “Two?” He sounded as if he were about to strangle.
“Two,” Rachel echoed, unable to stop a smile. She had never seen Jeremiah look so positively thunderstruck, except perhaps on their wedding day. “It’s just possible that we’re going to have twins.”
As she watched, he struggled so hard to swallow that she feared he might choke.
Finally, a somewhat stunned grin broke over his face, and he made a move toward her.
In that instant, something clamped down hard in Rachel’s middle, and she caught her breath.
Apparently, Jeremiah didn’t notice. “Rachel…I’m at a loss. This is—”
She lifted a hand to stop him. “Jeremiah…”
He dipped his head to kiss her, but again she put out a hand of restraint. “Jeremiah, you can kiss me later. But right now there’s something else you need to do.”
“Aye. Anything,” he said, his voice still unsteady.
“You need to go and fetch Doc and Mamma. And, Jeremiah…”
His eyes wide, he shook his head as if to clear it. “What, sweetheart?”
“You need to hurry. I do believe you’re going to be a father tonight.”
River of Mercy
Like a great and mighty river is God’s mercy,
Flowing through God’s people who believe.
His power is ours in fullness beyond measure,
Forever pouring out as we receive.
Though obstacles may rise and block its passage,
Slow it down or modify its course,
There’s nothing that can halt its steady flowing,
For the Living Water is the river’s source.
Life’s struggles won’t impede God’s stream of mercy
If we trust His love to always make a way,
And the river will flow out from us to others
If we keep our eyes on Jesus day by day.
—BJ HOFF
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Gideon Kanagy has moved away from the Plain community and is living as an Englischer in Riverhaven while he works for Jeremiah Gant in his carpentry shop. Why, then, isn’t he under the Amish Bann for not living according to the Ordnung, their unwritten rules for proper living?
2. Do you understand the reason for the Bann—the shunning—employed by the Amish? Can you explain its purpose and express whether you agree with it or not?
3. How do you see Samuel Beiler? What kind of a person is he? What do you believe is responsible for his tightening of the rules in the Riverhaven Amish community? What do you think accounts for his conflicted treatment of Rachel?
4. Is the embarrassment or humiliation Rachel feels after Samuel Beiler confronts her about her “wrong behavior” with Gant justified? Do you believe she actually did sin with him, or did Beiler’s accusations influence her opinion of herself and her love for Gant?
5. The story told in River of Mercy takes place almost entirely in the winter. Did this affect your mood as you read the book? How?
6. When did you first begin to think you knew the identity of the troublemaker(s) in the story—early in the book, later, near the end, or not at all? Was your assumption right? Did anything in particular trigger your realization?
7. Dr. David Sebastian advised his stepson, Gideon Kanagy, that things have a way of working out if we follow God’s leading:
“The most important thing for you, son—for any of us—is to heed God’s will, though His will may not always seem like a possibility. Sometimes it won’t even seem to make sense. But as I said, things have a way of working out in the long run if we let the Lord put us where He wants us. You just follow where He leads and let Him take care of any obstacles.”
Do you believe that? Can you recall a time in your life when you’ve followed that advice? How did it work out for you?
8. Is there a particular character in River of Mercy to whom you especially relate? How and why?
9. Did anything in River of Mercy change your preconceived ideas about God’s mercy or enlighten your understanding of it? Explain.
10. Did Rachel surprise you with the way she handled the approach of a likely intruder in the dead of night? How would you handle a situation like this?
11. How do you think the arrival of Silas, and Asa’s eventual recognition of the boy, might ultimately change both their lives?
12. If you’ve read all three books in the Riverhaven Years series, who was your favorite character? Who was your favorite in River of Mercy? Why?
ABOUT BJ HOFF
BJ Hoff’s bestselling historical novels continue to cross the boundaries of religion, language, and culture to capture a worldwide reading audience. Her books include such popular titles as Song of Erin and American Anthem and bestselling series such as The Mountain Song Legacy and The Emerald Ballad. Her stories, although set in the past, are always relevant to the present. Whether her characters move about in Ireland or America, settle in small country towns or metropolitan areas, or reside in Amish settlements or in coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.
BJ and her husband make their home in Ohio.
Visit BJ Hoff’s webpage at www.bjhoff.com
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
To learn more about books by BJ Hoff or to read sample chapters, log on to our website:
www.HarvestHousePublishers.com
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
BJ Hoff, River of Mercy
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“Two…” He looked at her. “What does that mean?”
“Well…it could mean I’m carrying two babies instead of one.”
He reared back on the chair. Stared at her. “Two?” He sounded as if he were about to strangle.
“Two,” Rachel echoed, unable to stop a smile. She had never seen Jeremiah look so positively thunderstruck, except perhaps on their wedding day. “It’s just possible that we’re going to have twins.”
As she watched, he struggled so hard to swallow that she feared he might choke.
Finally, a somewhat stunned grin broke over his face, and he made a move toward her.
In that instant, something clamped down hard in Rachel’s middle, and she caught her breath.
Apparently, Jeremiah didn’t notice. “Rachel…I’m at a loss. This is—”
She lifted a hand to stop him. “Jeremiah…”
He dipped his head to kiss her, but again she put out a hand of restraint. “Jeremiah, you can kiss me later. But right now there’s something else you need to do.”
“Aye. Anything,” he said, his voice still unsteady.
“You need to go and fetch Doc and Mamma. And, Jeremiah…”
His eyes wide, he shook his head as if to clear it. “What, sweetheart?”
“You need to hurry. I do believe you’re going to be a father tonight.”
River of Mercy
Like a great and mighty river is God’s mercy,
Flowing through God’s people who believe.
His power is ours in fullness beyond measure,
Forever pouring out as we receive.
Though obstacles may rise and block its passage,
Slow it down or modify its course,
There’s nothing that can halt its steady flowing,
For the Living Water is the river’s source.
Life’s struggles won’t impede God’s stream of mercy
If we trust His love to always make a way,
And the river will flow out from us to others
If we keep our eyes on Jesus day by day.
—BJ HOFF
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Gideon Kanagy has moved away from the Plain community and is living as an Englischer in Riverhaven while he works for Jeremiah Gant in his carpentry shop. Why, then, isn’t he under the Amish Bann for not living according to the Ordnung, their unwritten rules for proper living?
2. Do you understand the reason for the Bann—the shunning—employed by the Amish? Can you explain its purpose and express whether you agree with it or not?
3. How do you see Samuel Beiler? What kind of a person is he? What do you believe is responsible for his tightening of the rules in the Riverhaven Amish community? What do you think accounts for his conflicted treatment of Rachel?
4. Is the embarrassment or humiliation Rachel feels after Samuel Beiler confronts her about her “wrong behavior” with Gant justified? Do you believe she actually did sin with him, or did Beiler’s accusations influence her opinion of herself and her love for Gant?
5. The story told in River of Mercy takes place almost entirely in the winter. Did this affect your mood as you read the book? How?
6. When did you first begin to think you knew the identity of the troublemaker(s) in the story—early in the book, later, near the end, or not at all? Was your assumption right? Did anything in particular trigger your realization?
7. Dr. David Sebastian advised his stepson, Gideon Kanagy, that things have a way of working out if we follow God’s leading:
“The most important thing for you, son—for any of us—is to heed God’s will, though His will may not always seem like a possibility. Sometimes it won’t even seem to make sense. But as I said, things have a way of working out in the long run if we let the Lord put us where He wants us. You just follow where He leads and let Him take care of any obstacles.”
Do you believe that? Can you recall a time in your life when you’ve followed that advice? How did it work out for you?
8. Is there a particular character in River of Mercy to whom you especially relate? How and why?
9. Did anything in River of Mercy change your preconceived ideas about God’s mercy or enlighten your understanding of it? Explain.
10. Did Rachel surprise you with the way she handled the approach of a likely intruder in the dead of night? How would you handle a situation like this?
11. How do you think the arrival of Silas, and Asa’s eventual recognition of the boy, might ultimately change both their lives?
12. If you’ve read all three books in the Riverhaven Years series, who was your favorite character? Who was your favorite in River of Mercy? Why?
ABOUT BJ HOFF
BJ Hoff’s bestselling historical novels continue to cross the boundaries of religion, language, and culture to capture a worldwide reading audience. Her books include such popular titles as Song of Erin and American Anthem and bestselling series such as The Mountain Song Legacy and The Emerald Ballad. Her stories, although set in the past, are always relevant to the present. Whether her characters move about in Ireland or America, settle in small country towns or metropolitan areas, or reside in Amish settlements or in coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.
BJ and her husband make their home in Ohio.
Visit BJ Hoff’s webpage at www.bjhoff.com
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
To learn more about books by BJ Hoff or to read sample chapters, log on to our website:
www.HarvestHousePublishers.com
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
BJ Hoff, River of Mercy
