Books

Recently my husband and I were taking a drive somewhere. My husband loves to talk to me of his dreams and future thoughts and I love to listen to them and nudge his inspiration; not this time though. He was telling me of his thought on the future of books and libraries. His idea was to see more and more books readable through Internet and less publication of actual books. This time, I stopped him and said, "Oh, how can you even think that? There is nothing on earth more comforting that holding a book in my hands. The older the better. The smell of books; the place they take you to; the comfort of reading about friends you will never meet except in books; best friends; places and times you can only go except in books; the emotions they invoke; just by holding it in your hands and smelling the cover; no, I hope books will never be replaced."

Well, he looked over at me and gave me his, "That is why I married you; I don't really get it, but I love you for it." look. Books for me are a passion, but most of all a learning time. I realize not everyone, okay.... most people don't love books as much as people like myself but can I encourage you to give it a try? Take 15 minutes a day, and read a good book this year. Read one a month and that would be 12 books this year. Join a book club, invest into your heart and mind by reading books, not just any books, but the right books.

Yes, there are such things as the right books and wrong books. In my opinion, the wrong spiritual books are fad books, books which are the biggest hype in Christianity are generally the wrong books. Avoid them (in my opinion) until a trusted Christian gives a positive review. Read books to stretch you and challenge you, and finally read books which just comfort your heart... Classics are the best for doing so. Tomorrow I will give a list of books I have read personally; perhaps you can choose one to read this year.

Back in the Saddle Again... for a while anyhow!

With a computer breaking and life happening, my blogging life has been in pause mode, with the exception of a short clip here and there. So for my faithful readers er... I mean, reader, I apologize. But there is just no way around pauses in life! For now, I will try to write down everything I have been storing in my brain without going into overdrive- one blog at a time. First off, Treasuring God in our Traditions was a great book with so many wonderful examples of how to honor God in our "everyday" traditions and our "especially" traditions.

Now, I am no special thinker or writer and I can say I am not particularly gifted in any one thing (although I wish I were gifted in just one some thing special), the fact is, I am not. I draw on everyone else's gifting. There are many excellent blogs and books out there that will give far better examples of how their family does special things for their traditions and how they honor God through them, but in my humble little blog, and in my humble little family, I want to share what I am doing in my home for our special traditions.



Noel Piper gave us examples of why Traditions are so important " You can't bequeath God to your children. You can leave them the fur coat from your mother, the forested acres from your father, the carved cane from Uncle Claude, and the clock from your grandmother, but they can't inherit God from you. God can only be inherited from God...Now although God we cannot bequeath God to our children, we can help them know him and understand him in ways that prepare them to believe in his name."



To love God with all of our hearts and pass him on in the daily and special moments of our family's life.



Looking back in my life, there are some traditions that became important to me and I have carried into my home ; though not necessarily traditions intended to treasure God. I carried them into my home because they were so dear to me and in turn, I can point God out in them and widen my children's eyes to the Lord. For example, my Father used to read the Chronicles of Narnia almost every year to me all the way into my teenage years. That was tradition to me- Now, I read it to my children, but I point out the goodness of God in pointing us to the cross even in a fairytale children's book. I point out that God gave CS Lewis such a gift to create a world for their imaginations to be able to accept the gospel message through Lions, witches, and kids such as themselves.

I want to mention a few more, but for now, I'll wait until tomorrow, oh yea! no more promises of blogging consistently! Until next time! (hopefully tomorrow!)

"Break" almost over

Isn't it true that the Lord knows what is best for us? For a while now, I had been feeling overwhelmed and tired out **cough** ...ahemm...too many things going on, perhaps?

Over two weeks ago, while I was typing away ( trying to undo a very badly spelled email I posted to an unknown amount of people) my computer died. Thankfully it was covered by a warranty and so now, I wait. I won't have a computer again for a while yet, and my husband was kind enough to haul his computer home for me to work tonight, but I must say, the Lord knew I needed a vacation and so he took away my computer and he sent a very dear friend from North Carolina, Becky and Riley (her girlie) to me. I had an amazing time with her- I feel so refreshed and comforted- Thank you Lord for your hidden blessings!

I wanted to remind everyone of our upcoming Titus 2 on November the 7Th. We are reading through Treasuring God in our traditions by Noel Piper. Even if you can't come, read this book! It will challenge you to pursue your Savior deeper as you "pass Him on" to your children by how you teach them in everyday and special times. I can't wait to share the few things the Lord has taught me just in the first few chapters of this book.

Treasuring God!

Well, its almost that time again! I love, love, love the Holidays! I love everything about it....before it comes. While I'm immersed in it, I can't stand the money being drained and I can't stand the chaos and the expectations. Sometimes I wish we could enjoy the simpler life like the Ingall's family, when just getting a tin cup and a peppermint candy was the height of Christmas joy!

I need to read a book to help me focus on God and teaching my family to honor God in my traditions, so a fitting book for our next Titus 2, is Noel Piper's Treasuring God in our Traditions.

You can find free down loadable book here: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/2438_Treasuring_God_in_Our_Traditions/

Keep an eye on my "Upcoming Events" column on the left of the page for dates and books! Happy reading, and I hope you have a better Holiday Season that I usually have!

Redeeming Love

Okay Ladies! Our next Titus 2 is coming fast. July the 18th we will be getting together for comfort food, great laughs and maybe a few tears as we talk about our two books, First we have Coffee by Margaret Jehnsen and Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I cannot say enough about these two books! They will stir your heart, they will make you cry and move you to love Your Savior more.
Redeeming Love can be found at the Library- so get it quick!

Titus 2 update

I wanted to share the name of our "reading for pleasure" book for the summer. For those of you desiring to read a good book and encourage your walk toward godliness in your role (whatever that may be) , First we have Coffee by Margaret Jensen is the book for you.
This time, I chose a novel - written as a story or a biography to be our next book because often times it is important and vital to learn through the eyes of someone else. I am an advocate of reading certain novels because of the fact that in reading about somebody else successes, struggles, temptations, sorrows, and oftentimes, mistakes enable us to take a good look into our own hearts and ask "What would I have done in that situation?" Books challenge us to step outside of ourselves and think differently for a little while. I have often times read an extraordinary novel and taken away a life lesson and embraced it, later recognizing that the Lord planned that I read that book all along in order to teach me a valuable lesson.
First we have coffee is a book which will allow you to look into the life of an immigrant family in the early 1900's. It is a true story about one woman's strength of character and her "Titus 2" convictions as she cared for her family. It is touching, lovely and truly inspiring and hopefully we will allow her life lessons to inspire us in our current day lives.
I hope you can order yourself a copy and join us a we all read along!

Shopping for Time

I was hoping to upload a picture of the next book club book choice, but I'm practically computer illiterate and can't figure it out, so I'll post the name: Shopping for Time, how to do it all and not be overwhelmed by Carlolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristen Chesemore, and Janelle Bradshaw. I am so thrilled about this book because this mother daughter team has inspired me for years and I can not wait to hear and learn about all of the ways we can glorify the Lord with our time. I am pleased to join with other women at Destiny as we share our lives in our unique roles and learn from each other, but if you can't join us, you can still be a part. Just pick up a copy of the book yourself, grab a cup of coffee, and share what you are learning with a friend. I am confidant you can bless others through your life because of the hope that is being placed in you through God's transforming work day to day!