I'm going to make this short so you can read through it quickly, then take advantage.
One of the feature books on inspiredreads.com today is The Dead Saint by Marilyn Brown Oden. And it's FREE! My hubby & I both read this awhile back and it's really good: it's riveting, exciting, and keeps the momentum going the whole way. So go get your Kindle version free right now!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Lent
I never quite understood the whole "Lent" thing.... but today when I read another blog, I was really inspired. Karen Ehman at Live Your Priorities, Love Your Life is choosing to "take on something for Lent" instead of "giving up something for Lent." She is taking on writing a note to someone everyday during Lent... a real note, sent in the mail with a real stamp on it. It is a sacrifice of time & a little money, but what a great way to be an encourager!
Luke 9:23
I LOVE this idea. I never understood the whole "giving up something for Lent" but did it sometimes anyway. That was in the days I was still trying to "earn" my way to heaven. At age 28 when I discovered that nothing I did or did not do could earn me a place in heaven because Jesus had already paid my "entrance fee", I felt so liberated in many ways. One of the ways was that I could show my love for Him in many ways, & observing a man-made event was not necessary. We practice Advent as preparation for Christ's birth: it seems we should do something as preparation for His resurrection! But denial of something I like (chocolate, cokes, etc.) did not really seem to me the way to prepare.
Since reaching out in love to others, even those who are not the "loveliest", is the thing Jesus did, it seems to be a great way to prepare for Easter. The art of communicating through hand written notes has nearly vanished, so what a great way to reach out & give the love of Christ to others! I"m going to get out my note cards & stamps, make the time to put some thought into this, and prepare for the greatest event of all time - the resurrection of the Living God, Jesus Christ!
If you'd like to be on the receiving end of my notes, I need your address...
Luke 9:23
I LOVE this idea. I never understood the whole "giving up something for Lent" but did it sometimes anyway. That was in the days I was still trying to "earn" my way to heaven. At age 28 when I discovered that nothing I did or did not do could earn me a place in heaven because Jesus had already paid my "entrance fee", I felt so liberated in many ways. One of the ways was that I could show my love for Him in many ways, & observing a man-made event was not necessary. We practice Advent as preparation for Christ's birth: it seems we should do something as preparation for His resurrection! But denial of something I like (chocolate, cokes, etc.) did not really seem to me the way to prepare.
Since reaching out in love to others, even those who are not the "loveliest", is the thing Jesus did, it seems to be a great way to prepare for Easter. The art of communicating through hand written notes has nearly vanished, so what a great way to reach out & give the love of Christ to others! I"m going to get out my note cards & stamps, make the time to put some thought into this, and prepare for the greatest event of all time - the resurrection of the Living God, Jesus Christ!
If you'd like to be on the receiving end of my notes, I need your address...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Mysteries
If you don't like mysteries, you can skip this post.... I don't like the "blood & guts" type of mysteries, but I do love a good mystery that doesn't have so much description of that sort.
One of my favorite authors is Lorena McCourtney. She has more than one series (I do like to read a series of books, in order). One that I've read and enjoyed starts with Invisible, followed by In Plain Sight, then On the Run, and finally Stranded. Most libraries have these books and they're also available on Kindle. I'd advise you to go to her website: www.lorenamccourtney.com
Another series that this author has is The Julesburg Mysteries:
One of my favorite authors is Lorena McCourtney. She has more than one series (I do like to read a series of books, in order). One that I've read and enjoyed starts with Invisible, followed by In Plain Sight, then On the Run, and finally Stranded. Most libraries have these books and they're also available on Kindle. I'd advise you to go to her website: www.lorenamccourtney.com
Another series that this author has is The Julesburg Mysteries:
Sunday, February 12, 2012
THE Book
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
Galatians 5:24-26
I'm always inspired and challenged by THIS book (The Holy Bible), but as I read this I was perplexed. I know I belong to Christ Jesus! I know this book is true! So why do I feel that I still struggle with some "passions & desires?"
I'm not talking about having lusty thoughts about some good looking movie star (couldn't even tell you the name of one off the top of my head), or desiring a million dollars or something terrible. I'm talking about desiring that others would think highly of me (instead of desiring that they think highly of Christ); of desiring to make others happy (instead of praying they would find their joy in Jesus); of desiring to be comfortable (instead of desiring to be uncomfortable enough that I rely totally on God); of having a passion for chocolate (instead of having a passion for the gospel, enough that I am willing to make a fool of myself to share that gospel with someone who may never have heard it and needs to know Christ!)
It would be easy to "feel" overwhelmed and like a complete failure in these things if I think, "if I already crucified these, why are they coming back up?" But the good news is that I have put to death the reigning power of the old sinful life! Yes, I sometimes let those things back into my life... temporarily. But I now have the freedom to experience the power of the resurrection life of Christ by faith. Christ has taken up residence in my life by the Holy Spirit without submerging my own personality. So when I admire someone else for something about which I feel inadequate, I need to be happy for them... not be discouraged because I don't have that gift! And I need to tell them that I admire that in them. That's a privilege, to encourage others.
I'll continue reading THE Book until I go to heaven because there is always something to chew on, learn, remember, be comforted by, and humbled by in this book.
Galatians 5:24-26
I'm always inspired and challenged by THIS book (The Holy Bible), but as I read this I was perplexed. I know I belong to Christ Jesus! I know this book is true! So why do I feel that I still struggle with some "passions & desires?"
I'm not talking about having lusty thoughts about some good looking movie star (couldn't even tell you the name of one off the top of my head), or desiring a million dollars or something terrible. I'm talking about desiring that others would think highly of me (instead of desiring that they think highly of Christ); of desiring to make others happy (instead of praying they would find their joy in Jesus); of desiring to be comfortable (instead of desiring to be uncomfortable enough that I rely totally on God); of having a passion for chocolate (instead of having a passion for the gospel, enough that I am willing to make a fool of myself to share that gospel with someone who may never have heard it and needs to know Christ!)
It would be easy to "feel" overwhelmed and like a complete failure in these things if I think, "if I already crucified these, why are they coming back up?" But the good news is that I have put to death the reigning power of the old sinful life! Yes, I sometimes let those things back into my life... temporarily. But I now have the freedom to experience the power of the resurrection life of Christ by faith. Christ has taken up residence in my life by the Holy Spirit without submerging my own personality. So when I admire someone else for something about which I feel inadequate, I need to be happy for them... not be discouraged because I don't have that gift! And I need to tell them that I admire that in them. That's a privilege, to encourage others.
I'll continue reading THE Book until I go to heaven because there is always something to chew on, learn, remember, be comforted by, and humbled by in this book.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Quick!!
I rarely post twice in one day, but I just noticed that one of the FREE reads for the Kindle today on www.inpiredreads.com is Sweet Baklava which I just finished reading. So if you'd like a little "fluff" for free, I recommend this one. Usually they are only offered free for one day, so QUICK, go get it!
Here We Go!
I've left my book on the shelf and my Kindle in its case today.... But enjoying "life experiences" always tops even reading for me. I got to spend the whole day with my almost (in less than two weeks) 11 year old granddaughter! We did some pretty exciting things: went to Costco (she'd never been before) and tasted all their samples, went to Trader Joe's (and bought some things that she doesn't usually get to partake for her to take home to share with her family), went to Tropical Smoothie for a late lunch (had the WHOLE place to ourselves... that's what a 2:30 lunch gives you, but after all our "appetizers" at Costco we were just then getting hungry), went into Tuesday Morning for a quick pick up, and made a quick stop at Kroger's. Yes, I think we have all the groceries I'll need for awhile! But the best part was having no interruptions on our conversation, laughing giggling, taking our time with no rush, and having each other all to ourselves. PRECIOUS!
So back to the books: on my Kindle I have 6 audio books (waiting in line for me to listen to); 38 archived items (some to delete because of inappropriate language, some to put in the finished collection because when I finished them I didn't yet know how to start a collection....), 44 that are waiting to be read, and 32 in my finished collection. Before you get all "impressed"... several are what I call "fluff" reading; romantic/mystery/relaxing, but with a Christian influence. Then there's a cook book, two "organizing" books (everyone who really knows me knows I need to put those at the top of my list!), 2 Bibles, 17 non-fiction, 2 dictionaries (not sure why I'd need 2...) a devotional, and a sample. I recently signed on to receive daily updates from "Inspiredreads.com" and anything that looks like something I might want to read goes onto my Kindle. I can (and do) delete them later if I don't want to read them.
Waiting on the bookshelf is The Twelfth Imam and coming in the mail soon is The Harbinger (our book for March book club.)
The best book I've read over the past year (other than the Bible): Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. The life of Louis Zamperini, Olympic runner, bombardier, crash survivor, & POW held me spellbound (once I really got into it) and left an impression on me like no other. I learned things about history that I never knew before. I held my breath at times, waiting for what would happen next. I finished the book wishing I had met Mr. Zamperini, who is nearly 90 years old. Up until last Nov. he was still traveling the country for speaking engagements. "He has already been the subject of a 60 Minutes documentary, represented his country in the Olympics, survived wartime military service and prison camp, and lived to tell about more than one brush with death." (www.americainwwii.com)
So there's my first recommendation with many more to come. Now it's your turn... what have you been reading?
So back to the books: on my Kindle I have 6 audio books (waiting in line for me to listen to); 38 archived items (some to delete because of inappropriate language, some to put in the finished collection because when I finished them I didn't yet know how to start a collection....), 44 that are waiting to be read, and 32 in my finished collection. Before you get all "impressed"... several are what I call "fluff" reading; romantic/mystery/relaxing, but with a Christian influence. Then there's a cook book, two "organizing" books (everyone who really knows me knows I need to put those at the top of my list!), 2 Bibles, 17 non-fiction, 2 dictionaries (not sure why I'd need 2...) a devotional, and a sample. I recently signed on to receive daily updates from "Inspiredreads.com" and anything that looks like something I might want to read goes onto my Kindle. I can (and do) delete them later if I don't want to read them.
Waiting on the bookshelf is The Twelfth Imam and coming in the mail soon is The Harbinger (our book for March book club.)
The best book I've read over the past year (other than the Bible): Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. The life of Louis Zamperini, Olympic runner, bombardier, crash survivor, & POW held me spellbound (once I really got into it) and left an impression on me like no other. I learned things about history that I never knew before. I held my breath at times, waiting for what would happen next. I finished the book wishing I had met Mr. Zamperini, who is nearly 90 years old. Up until last Nov. he was still traveling the country for speaking engagements. "He has already been the subject of a 60 Minutes documentary, represented his country in the Olympics, survived wartime military service and prison camp, and lived to tell about more than one brush with death." (www.americainwwii.com)
So there's my first recommendation with many more to come. Now it's your turn... what have you been reading?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Reading Between the Lines
My blogging has been on hiatus (once again) and I don't really have a reason other than that I have returned to a true love: reading. When I was a little girl I was thrilled when I got my first library card! The closest library branch was in the basement of what would one day become my junior high school. So not only did I get to go the library alone (back in the days when children could actually walk a long distance and not have parents be duly alarmed by it), but I got to go into THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL! Later on I got to ride the city bus downtown to the MAIN library and stay until my daddy got off work (a few blocks away), then walk to the main post office where he worked and ride home with him.
I can remember times when I was supposed to be cleaning my room and I would be hiding behind the open closet door devouring a book until I heard my mother's footsteps coming my way, at which time I would hide the book and begin ferociously picking up strewn clothing.
I barely passed one college exam because I stayed up most of the night reading.... not class materials but a huge novel that had enveloped my penchant for reading.
So although we have had a mild winter, it still has been cold enough to keep me inside... with my books and my Kindle. I am not opposed to either: I still like to turn pages, but I also like the convenience of the Kindle. My reading preferences vary (as long as it doesn't have filthy language... I've deleted more than one book from my Kindle when I had only read a few pages). Joining a group of ladies in a book club about a year ago has certainly broadened my scope of reading choices: some I have really enjoyed, some not so much, and a couple I chose not to read.
So.... since I've spent all this time readinginstead of blogging, I thought I'd recommend a few good books, do a couple of "mini" reviews, and do a couple of book give-aways. I'll also be looking for suggestions from you to leave in my comments section!
Here's hoping I still have some blog followers... and that you'll enjoy this little journey.
I can remember times when I was supposed to be cleaning my room and I would be hiding behind the open closet door devouring a book until I heard my mother's footsteps coming my way, at which time I would hide the book and begin ferociously picking up strewn clothing.
I barely passed one college exam because I stayed up most of the night reading.... not class materials but a huge novel that had enveloped my penchant for reading.
So although we have had a mild winter, it still has been cold enough to keep me inside... with my books and my Kindle. I am not opposed to either: I still like to turn pages, but I also like the convenience of the Kindle. My reading preferences vary (as long as it doesn't have filthy language... I've deleted more than one book from my Kindle when I had only read a few pages). Joining a group of ladies in a book club about a year ago has certainly broadened my scope of reading choices: some I have really enjoyed, some not so much, and a couple I chose not to read.
So.... since I've spent all this time reading
Here's hoping I still have some blog followers... and that you'll enjoy this little journey.
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