I am one week into this, and it's excellent! I have done many Bible studies because they help me focus on my time in the Word each day, and I often enI am one week into this, and it's excellent! I have done many Bible studies because they help me focus on my time in the Word each day, and I often enjoy doing them with a group of friends. Sometimes with a study, I simply benefit from getting in the Word and not from the study itself. Not so with this one! The questions are thought provoking and bring out a greater depth to what I've read. I saw so many new insights during the first week that I had never seen in Scripture to that degree. One small reflection (of many) that I saw in the first week is that the Christian life is one of self-sacrifice, best exemplified in Christ. As I see His faithful love is better than life, it makes me more willing to give of myself and love others in the strength God gives by His Spirit. I am happy to continue to study these lessons on prayer, to recommend to others, and to benefit from the gift this study is. I have never met Crickett personally, but I also love that she is in Women's Ministry, has studied the Bible in seminary, and has so much richness to bring to the study, all the while depending on God's Spirit and giving Him all glory. ...more
I loved this little book. Simple, but not simplistic. Easy to read, digest, and retain the information in this format. Encouraging as we pray, not onlI loved this little book. Simple, but not simplistic. Easy to read, digest, and retain the information in this format. Encouraging as we pray, not only for our kids, but in general. Answers common questions in effective ways regarding fasting, spiritual warfare, examining our own hearts, etc. Highly recommend. ...more
Although a book of fiction, it was interesting to learn more generally about the life of Joy Davidson, C.S. Lewis' wife. It was an unfamiliar story toAlthough a book of fiction, it was interesting to learn more generally about the life of Joy Davidson, C.S. Lewis' wife. It was an unfamiliar story to me. I like Patti Callahan's writing. ...more
This is one of my favorite books! When your life it going along well, it's a good book. When life presents struggles, it's pure gold! I've memorized mThis is one of my favorite books! When your life it going along well, it's a good book. When life presents struggles, it's pure gold! I've memorized most of the chapter titles, because they each contain enough truth to pop into my mind at key moments and remind me of the overall theme of each chapter. Highly recommend. ...more
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” These were the opening words to the soap opera my grMay 12, 2017
Living Purposefully
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” These were the opening words to the soap opera my great aunt watched when I would visit her growing up as a young child. Her interest in the storyline became mine, and much to my dismay today, I watched off and on through high school and college. Today, a new generation is more likely to spend their time watching reality TV or Netflix, playing video games, and engaging with social media. But if these are, in fact, the “days of our lives,” what are we doing with them? Are we living on purpose and with intention? Do our lives have meaning? Or do the days assigned to us simply slip by as those sands through the hourglass? Are we at risk of wasting our lives, distracted by many trivial things, losing focus on the One thing? Each year, I choose a word or theme and a Scripture to focus on. This year, my word is “abundance.” Abundance means extremely plentiful, an over-sufficient quantity, overflowing fullness. It makes me think of more than I could need, lavish, extravagant. We see God is a God of abundant redemption (Psalm 130:6). He doesn’t just offer a little or a partial amount or even just enough, but it overflows. His redemption is plentiful and full. Not only is this redemption abundant, but we are intended to live abundant lives here and now as we wait on an abundant eternal life. John 10:10 tells us “Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly.” What does it look to live life from this abundance that God has given—to overflow to others out of the abundance He has poured out on us?
Living Abundantly
Into my new year with this new theme and verse, Catherine Morgan’s new book Thirty Thousand Days arrived in the mail. I opened the introduction: “Live Abundantly” with John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” As I began to read, I found echoes of all that God has been revealing to me in this perfectly timed book. The title of Catherine’s book (Thirty Thousand Days) is a reference to the average number of days that we have in our lifetimes. The subtitle “The Journey Home to God” reminds us that we are meant for another home, another place. The book is a call to live the abundant life that we are offered in Christ (John 10:10): to see eternally, worship wholeheartedly, walk purposefully, care passionately, give generously, hold loosely, love deeply, stand firm, choose light, and rest (the titles of the chapters). Catherine talks about transformation and asks, “How do we spend the days granted for us? How do we live abundantly, fully, richly, deeply satisfied before the sand in the hourglass is gone?” These are the questions the book answers. Each chapter provides another answer to what the abundant life is. Each one deepens our understanding of what it can be.
Living Freely
Catherine concludes Thirty Thousand Days considering the time when she will meet Jesus face to face, what He might say, and how she might answer—and what that means for life now. “What would it look like to live full, to live free? How might a person’s life be transformed by joy? What would it look like to really understand that you are fully loved, uniquely created, and designed for a purpose, and to live a life abandoned to the will of God?” It’s obvious Catherine wants her life to matter, to pour it all out for Christ, and she wants to show us why we should want this, too. Not only is the book full of biblical truth, it is filled with beautiful writing. Catherine has a gift with words, and when those words communicate truth, they become a gift to the reader. There is also a Group Study Guide at the end so that you can go through this material with a small group or a friend and do more than read, but digest and apply....more
A beautiful book full of encouragement and hope for weary hearts who've been living life in the valley, uncertain of next steps. Using the Psalms as aA beautiful book full of encouragement and hope for weary hearts who've been living life in the valley, uncertain of next steps. Using the Psalms as a guide and lessons from a sabbatical season, Sparrow will take you to a place of worship of the One who sees, knows, and remembers you, much like even the sparrow who finds a home. ...more
I am loving this Advent devotional (on Luke 1 and 2) from The Good Book Company and Christopher Ash! It’s a great way to prepare our hearts for ChristI am loving this Advent devotional (on Luke 1 and 2) from The Good Book Company and Christopher Ash! It’s a great way to prepare our hearts for Christmas and is full of rich reflections and encouragements as we also await the second coming of Christ!...more
A favorite! It’s Carolyn Weber’s conversion story that tells how she found faith at Oxford. I read it in less than a week and would highly recommend iA favorite! It’s Carolyn Weber’s conversion story that tells how she found faith at Oxford. I read it in less than a week and would highly recommend it!...more
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