Eat Sleep READ

Day 56: 309 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-27T14:40:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance The Blessing of Health (Nov. 24th)

"Money is going to have to buy a lot in the next few weeks, but it can't buy the gifts that count most: good health, a loving and supportive marriage, healthy chidren, the fulfillment of creative expression, and inner peace."
"'One of the most sublime experiences we can ever have is to wake up feeling healthy after we have been sick.'" Rabbi Harold Kushner, Who Needs God
"If you have a healthy mind, a healthy heart, and reserves of stamina and creative energy to draw on, the world is literally lying at your feet."

Simple Abundance When You're Sick (Nov. 25th)

"Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promises only; pain we obey." Marcel Proust

Simple Abundance Rx if for Harried Hearts and Frazzled Minds (Nov. 26th)

"Sometimes none of it makes sense. Sometimes it just is. But if we can hold on long enough for this night to give way to another day, all shall be well, even if it's different from what we had expected. Even if it's different from what we had hoped for and believed with all our hearts would happen...

All shall be well,
And all shall be well,
And all manner of things shall be well.

Dame Julian of Norwich

Reminds me instantly of hymn, "It is well with my soul" and the proverb "This too shall pass."

Simple Abundance What Women Want (Nov. 27th)

"A nap is not to be confused with sleeping. We sleep to recharge our bodies. We nap to care for our souls."
"'No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap.'" Carrie Snow

Day 56: 309 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-27T13:56:00.000-06:00

Numbers 29-36 End of the Book

"...and you may be sure that your sin will find you out." Numbers 32: 23

Finished with the book of Numbers...on the whole, neither Leviticus or Numbers had a lot of content that I found enlightening...but they do serve an important historical purpose and they do shed light on what life looked like for the believer before Jesus came to earth...

Acts 17-18:23

One of my dad's favorite passages..."Now the Bereans were of more noble character thatn the Thessalonians, for they received the messag with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Chapter 17, 11
POWER CHAPTER: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them, and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone- an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. for he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Chapter 17, 24-31

Day 53: 312 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-24T14:55:00.000-06:00

Numbers 26:52-28

"May the Lord, the God of the spirits fo al mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd." Chapter 27, Verses 16 & 17

Acts 16:16-40

Such an amazing story in this chapter...

"About midnight Paul & Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose." Chapter 16, Verses 25 & 26 But Paul & Silas didn't escape and when the jailer realized the prison doors were opened & went to kill himself for this happening on his watch, they said, "Don't harm yourself! We are still here!" Verse 28 and the jailer responded with, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God- he and his whole family." Verses 30-34 And Paul & Silas were acquitted the next day...

Day 52: 313 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-23T17:43:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance True Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Americans!

Day 52: 313 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-23T17:41:00.000-06:00

Numbers 23:27-26:51

"I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord-" Chapter 24, Verse 13
"...for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them..." Chapter 25, Verse 11
"...because he was zealous for the honor of his God..." Verse 13

Acts 15:36-16:15

Reading Complete!

Day 51: 314 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-22T15:57:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Meditation for Bad Girls

"It's so easy to be wicked without knowing it, isn't it?" Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables...L.M. Montgomery (author)
A few things that sounded interesting about Sarah's take on "Bad Girls":

"Have been known to torture those who break the hearts of pals."
"Bad girls listen to Billie Holiday."
"Know the importance of regular waxing,"
"Bad girls use cigarette holders; really bad girls attend cigar dinners."
"Bad girls like disguise: they like presenting themselves as perfect moms, ice princesses, and librarians."
They "Bare their midriffs, never their souls."
"Bad girls don't just want to have fun, they make sure they do. Bad girls are committed to the philosophy of personal pleasure."
"Most of us are only bad girls in our dreams."
"Bad girls realize this isn't a dress rehearsal. Real life is what you make of it."
"You can be bad. You can be good. You just sure as hell better be authentic."

And that's the word from Sarah today!

Day 51: 314 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-22T15:48:00.000-06:00

Numbers 22-23:26

"I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God." Chapter 22, Verse 18
"'Well, I have come to you now. But can I just say anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth'...'Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you'...God met with him...'I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations'...'Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?' The Lord met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth...'God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it...The Lord their God is with them, the shout of the King is among them.'...'Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?'" Chapter 22, Verse 28, Chapter 23, Verses 3, 4, 9, 12, 16, 19, 20, 21 & 26

Acts 15:22-35

Short reading today....complete!

Day 50: 315 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-21T15:49:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Playing Hooky

Good advice on taking a day off every now & then to indulge yourself...read a book with a box of fancy chocolates, don't answer the phone, get a spa treatment....relax & rejuvenate...I absolutely agree that this is important...but it is a luxury that not everyone is able to actually do, only dream of...

Day 50: 315 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-21T15:46:00.000-06:00

Numbers 18-21

Reading Complete

Acts 14-15:21

"We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself wihtout testimony. He has shown kindness by giving you rain form heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." Chapter 14, Verses 15-17

Day 49: 316 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-20T15:26:00.000-06:00

Alright....it's confession time!

For those of you who may have been following-along as I've attempted to keep-up with daily reading, daily blogging, reading goals....you will surely have noticed that I've been severely falling behind! Yikes! And the baby's not even here yet! Here's the reason...I have finally started taking-on the housewife responsibilities full-boar! And I've actually been loving it! I'm almost finished my 2nd-consecutive week of planning meals ahead of time and cooking consistenly throughout the week...this morning, I even made a hot breakfast for the household for the first time! My goal has been to make 4 evening dinners, 3 lunches & 1-2 hot breakfasts each week, sneaking some baking or desserts in when I can. The gaps are times when my husband Jay doesn't come home for lunch or is working in the evenings and those are mostly accommodated with leftovers and my making myself simple meals with pasta & sandwiches, etc. I've also been committing to general house-cleaning more than ever before...and subsequently, I had to finish reading & then blog about around 5 days-worth of daily reading today! AND, the worst part is....I'm 2 books behind in my challenge! That's the worst I've been behind yet...

So, these next couple of weeks will really be the test of time...of course, I have several To-Do's that I really need to clear off my desk today & some house-cleaning & dinner to make for tonight...but I would love nothing more than to finish a few books and get caught-up....bear with me, if you can & wish me luck....looks like I need it!

Day 49: 316 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-20T15:19:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Riding the Big Kahuna (Nov. 16th)

"We're in this world, but certainly not of it."
"How we feel about ourselves, the joy we get from living, ultimately depends directly on how the mind filters and interprets everyday experiences. Whether we are happy depends on inner harmony, not on the controls we are able to exert over the great forces of the universe." Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Weather Report (Nov. 17th)

"It's terribly amusing how many different climates of feeling one can go through in a day." Anne Morrow Lindbergh
"The only way I got sober was by acknowledging my dependence on personal drama to a Source stronger than my instinct for self-sabotage and finally surrendering the theatrics."

The Blessing of Friends (Nov. 18th)

This is an exceptionally useful chapter for me...I value my friendships so much, but I constantly have trouble putting effort into them & let them weaken or lose ties altogether...

"God speaks to us through all those intimate chats, conversations, and confessions."
"Above all, let your friends know how much you love them. Tell them frequently how much you treasure the gift of their friendship."
"Friends are people who help you be more yourself, more the person you are intended to be." Merle Shain

The Kindness of Strangers (Nov. 19th)

"From this day forward, start becoming consciously aware of your encounters with strangers. Look for them. Smile. Make eye contact. Strike up a conversation. You never know."
"Be kind to strangers. Let strangers be kind to you. Think of it as a positive exchange of comfort and compassion in the circle of life."

Blessed Be the Ties That Bind (Nov. 20th)

"Try to make the effort. Not having time, or 'meaning to', really doesn't cut it. None of us have time, all of us mean to. We can all do it, once we make thoughtfulness easy with a system"
"Simone Weil believed, 'To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul.'"

Wow! A lot to think about from today's readings.....I NEED to make more of an effort with my friends....that quote above hit me hard....no one has the time & everybody "means to"...but that doesn't cut it.....it really doesn't....

Day 49: 316 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-20T14:27:00.000-06:00

Numbers 7-17

The first few chapters of today's readings are mostly unrelatable details...

"At the Lord's command they encamped, and at the Lord's command they set out." Chapter 9, Verse 23 If only we did everything by the Lord's command today...instead of @ our own whim & choosing...
"When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies." Chapter 10, Verse 9
"For the Lord has promised good things to Israel." Verse 29
"Is the Lord's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." Chapter 11, Verse 23
"Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." Chapter 12, Verse 3
"When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions. I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" Verses 6-8 Don't mess with those whom God speaks to face to face....!
"How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?" Chapter 14, Verse 11
"The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion." Verse 18

Acts 11-13

Peter was so in-tune with the Holy Spirit...it's incredible..."The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them." Chapter 11, Verse 12 He so clearly understood the Holy Spirit's prompting & was confident in that...
"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" Verses 15-17 I appreciate Peter's humility in saying, "Who was I to think that I could oppose God?" Many of us think we're really somebody & question God on all fronts..."So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." Verse 18 Good thing, "even the Gentiles" because anyone who isn't Jewish, is a Gentile...so that's me! And even I can now have repentance!
"The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." Verse 21
"When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord...the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." Verses 23, 24 & 26
"Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. 'Quick, get up!' he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists." Chapter 12, Verse 7
"Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." Verse 11
"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." Chapter 13, Verses 38 & 39
"We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" Verses 46 & 47

Day 44: 321 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-15T16:47:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Heaven Watching Over You

Today's reading wasn't in-line with how I believe with spiritual realm exists...I'm not convinced that there is a specific angel who is guardian over just myself alone & I certainly would never bring myself to name them...but, that's me....!

Day 44: 321 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-15T16:44:00.000-06:00

Numbers 5-6

How the priests were expected to bless the Israelites...now a common Benediction

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Chapter 6, Verses 24-26

Acts 10:24-48

"I know realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." Chapter 10, Verse 35

Day 43: 322 days left…88 books to go! The One with the "To Kill A Mockingbird" Review

2009-11-14T12:47:00.001-06:00

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I enjoyed this novel...however, it didn't blow me away as I thought a Pullitzer Prize winning novel would...I can't see myself yearning to read it again....but here are the highlights for me:

"Lawyers, I suppose, were children once." Charles Lamb
"Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies."
"I would be starting a school in a week. I never looked forward more to anything in my life."
"Miss Caroline told me to tell my father not to teach me any more, it would interfere with my reading."
"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."
"Atticus don't ever do anything to Jem and me in the house that he don't do in the yard," I said, feeling it my duty to defend my parent."
"...it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
"I had received the impression that Fine Folks were people who did the best they could with the sense they had, but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was."

Day 43: 322 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-14T12:34:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Miracles

"Actually, the real miracle is not the event, but how we perceive the event in our lives."
"Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lives the peace of God." Marianne Williamson "A Course in Miracles"

Day 43: 322 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-14T12:28:00.000-06:00

Numbers 1-4

All genealogies in these first four chapters...

Acts 9:32-10:23

Accounts of believers worth emulating..."In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor." Chapter 9, Verse 36
"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." Chapter 10, Verses 1 & 2

Day 42: 323 days left…88 books to go!

2009-11-13T22:38:00.001-06:00

Simple Abundance The Gaps

Interesting study on faith & doubt..."Faith breaks a heart in order to make it Whole." I agree with this assessment..."learn the hard-way", "You have to walk through the valley in order to reach the mountain-top"...these are all saying I believe to be true...God brings joy in the morning, through the heart-ache..."This too shall pass"..."It is well with my soul"...only that first quote is from this book....the rest we just all know....but I would say believeing the last one is the surest way to have a whole heart after it is broken...knowing that God has a purpose to come out of whatever you're dealing with and being able to say that your soul is well with His outcome...now, THAT'S faith...

"Perhaps the doubts must be acknowledged, accepted, embraced, and pushed past before our faith is strong enough, not just to talk about, but to sustain." That's an interesting point at the end there...that being strong enough to talk about our pain is important...but being truly sustained in faith beyond that is where the real fortitude shines through....some people get up the strength to talk about it but can't take the next step to live their lives & see what more there is to engage their souls that is out there waiting for them....
"Faith is not making religious-sounding noises in the daytime. It is asking your inmost self questions at night- and then getting up and going to work." And see, I would say that faith is asking your inmost self or God rather, questions at night & throughout the day and living-out the answers....because you WILL get answers....and it's acting on those answers that's important...not just wrestling with the issues in the comfort of your home at night....that won't save the world, or your neighbor next door....

Amazing Grace

"Grace fills empty spaces, but it can only enter where there is a void to receive it, and it is grace itself which makes the void." Simone Weil "We access grace like every other spiritual tool, by asking for it specifically and regularly." "Now that you're awake, gratefully and expectantly ask for one day's portion of grace."

Totally agreed! You have to ASK for grace & you have to make room for it in your heart and then grace WILL be given to you & you'll be amazed at what you're capable of when abiding in His grace...when we're full of ourselves, our pride, our belief that we deserve to be treated better....there's no room for grace....

Celestine Moments

"Strike up conversations with strangers who sit next to you or someone interesting-looking who makes eye contact. Be receptive and alert. See how many celestine moments you can accumulate in the course of a day. The more open you are to synchronicity's role in your life, the more magnetic you become to Divine assistance."

I believe I let this be me this evening...two members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came to my door while my roommate & I were in the middle of viewing a chick-flick...and instead of rudely telling them, "I'm not interested!" as I normally would have, I indulged them, I let them ask me questions, I took the time to answer them and crazily (possibly), agreed to them coming back to my house tomorrow at a set time, to discuss their faith! I'm still not sure how I'm going to handle that or what God could want me to learn from the experience....but I was receptive & alert to a conversation with strangers, I made myself open to a potential celestine moment and I actually do feel more magnetic to God's intervention in my life after doing so...I will provide an update on the outcome tomorrow!

Answered Prayers

"We pray to meet our soul mate, instead of praying for the grace to become the woman our soul mate would be attracted to; we pray for wordly success when what we really long for is a sense of authentic accomplishment; we pray for more money, when what we need is a change in our relationship to money. We pray for a certain outcome in any given situation, when what we should be praying for is peace of mind, no matter what outcome occurs."

Absolutely agree!!! Wow, Sarah & I are on a roll together with the past 4 days' readings! Great advice!

Day 42: 323 days left…89 books to go!

2009-11-13T18:55:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Day 40: Love is a covenant

COMPLETE!!!!!!!

Day 42: 323 days left…89 books to go!

2009-11-13T17:40:00.000-06:00

Leviticus 22-27 The last 5 chapters...

Mostly, I found these chapters to have more unrelatable content to present-day living...but here are a few verses with some poetry or subtance to them...

"Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord. Do not profane my holy name." Chapter 22, Verse 31
"If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit." Chapter 26, Verses 3 & 4
"I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. You will pursue your enemies and they will fall by the sword before you." Verses 6 & 7
"I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you." Verse 9
"I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people." Verse 12

Acts 7-9:31 Living in Fear of the Lord...

Jam-packed chapters just as the first 6 were....such an enthralling book!

"At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child." Chapter 7, Verse 20 God grant me the ability & wisdom to raise a child who is everything but ordinary & useful for your kingdom...
"However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men." Verse 48
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit." Verse 51
At Stephen's stoning...he prayed out to God to receive his spirit and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Verse 60 I can't imagine having the fortitude of character & faith in God's justice to ask Him to not hold such a grievance against my "enemies"....it's unreal to be able to see past such hurt and forgive....
"Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." Chapter 8, Verse 4
The final verse in this reading talks of the people throughout Judea, Galilee & Samaria at the time of Saul's conversion and how they were, "...strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit...grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord." Chapter 9, Verse 31 That is what I see lacking in my life and the lives of many who are close to me....we don't live in fear of God...we abuse our freedom to live for ourselves and however we choose....and it's crippling....

Day 38: 327 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-09T11:04:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance The Sacrament of the Present Moment

Reading complete...!

Day 38: 327 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-09T11:02:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love endures

Reading Complete...

Day 38: 327 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-09T11:00:00.000-06:00

Leviticus 16-21

Still having a hard time gleaning much relateable wisdom from Leviticus...I read 2 days' worth today and did find a few interesting verses....

"Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God." Chapter 19, Verse 3 Two of the commandments that I admit I struggle with....
"Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." Verse 15
"Do not hate your brother in your heart." Verse 17
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself." Verse 18
"Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God." Verse 32

Acts 5:12-6

"...tell the people the full message of this new life." Chapter 5, Verse 20
"We must obey God rather than men!" Verse 29

Day 37: 328 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-08T14:27:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Rising to the Occasion

"Coping well enables you to see beyond the circumference of circumstance, so that the Real in the center o fyour daily round is not hidden by happenstance."

Shepheard's Hotel

Oooh, a reading about romance! "He knows that I was created in a burst of passion, for romance. So were you." Ha, ha! I don't truly believe that I was created for romance...but I as a woman, do have a yearning for it always!
This reading from yesterday's date calls us to remember "The romance of living that we let slip away every day because real life forces us into prudence."
"When you acknowledge your romantic impulses, no matter how implausible or impractical, you strengthen the intimate connection with your authentic self. Connection with those who cherish and love you unconditionally. Connection with those things that fuel your passions, feed your soul, keep you alive."
"What must you do before you die? Where must you go? What worlds must you conquer?"

This reading prompts me to finally make a bucket list...something I've always wanted to get down on paper, but never have.....

Everyday Life is the Prayer

I love it and take notice when two or more of my daily readings are on the same topic...one of today's Love Dare readings was also on prayer...and ironically enough, or very likely, not ironic at all...Jay & I have been lacking in a real committment to prayer...I find it fairly effortless to pull out the devotion book to read & discuss together or sit down here at my desk and read my Bible & blog about it...but to take time to pray....is more difficult. Sarah says in this reading that she believes women pray in many forms, many of which are not audible...but what I need is a dedication to intentional prayer...
"In its purest form, prayer is conversation. Communion. Connection. Intimacy."
..."instead, by praying you will increase your awareness of it (love)."
"Women pray because we need to talk to Someone who's really listening." And this last line reminds me of the words of Elizabeth Elliot in "Let Me Be a Woman"..."In order to learn what it means to be a woman, we must start with the One who made her."

Day 37: 328 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-08T14:09:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love agrees in prayer

"..the unity that grows between a man and woman who regularly pray together form an intense and powerful connection."
"When you know that prayer time awaits you before going to bed, it will change the way you spend your evening. Even if your prayers together are typically short and to the point, this will become a standing appointment that you can orbit your day around, keeping God in the middle of everything."

Love fulfills dreams

"Ask yourself what your mate would want if it was obtainable. Commit this to prayer, and start mapping out a plan for meeting some (if not all) of their desires, to whatever level you possibly can."

Day 37: 328 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-08T14:00:00.000-06:00

Leviticus 11-15

Well, it turns out that the next few chapters of Leviticus appeared mostly as irrelevant as the first 10....so I've scanned 3-days' worth of reading again today...hoping that by tomorrow, there'll be some content in Leviticus to learn from....

Acts 3-5:11

I don't know that realized it before...but Acts might be my favorite book in the Bible...great verses from today's reading...

"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Chapter 3, Verse 6
"...and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." Verse 10
"You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead." Verse 15
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Verse 19
"It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." Chapter 4, Verse 10
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Verse 12
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Verse 13
"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Verses 19 & 20
"...enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." Verse 29
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." Verse 32

Jesus Christ, the author of Life............

Day 36: 329 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-07T17:00:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love in God's Word

Reading Complete

Day 36: 329 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-07T16:48:00.000-06:00

Leviticus 1-10 Start of a new book!

The first 10 chapters of Leviticus are mostly detailed accounts of various offerings the Israelites were required to perform before God...therefore, I skimmed until I found content & checked-off 5 days worth! Tomorrow should be the start of actual gleaning from this book...

Matthew 27:45-28

Wow! Power reading today...literally..."And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." Chapter 27, Verses 50-53
"When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God!'" Verse 54
"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Chapter 28, Verse 6 The entire validity of Jesus as the Son of God & the Savior of the world is wrapped-up in those 11 words...they immediately remind me of a verse in the New Testament that says in black & white that Jesus' resurrection from the dead is everything...that our faith is nothing without that...and I couldn't find the verse on my own, so I called-up my preacher Dad who knows his Bible inside & out...and the verses I was thinking of are in 1 Corinthians 15: 13-14 "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." Also verse 17, "And is Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." One of the most amazing things about believing in Jesus is that we can step out of our sins and take on the redeeming blood of Jesus instead...something I would never exchange...
Jesus final words in Matthew, to the 11 disciples..."All authority in heavn and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Verses 18-20 A lot of speakers working from this passage emphasize the verb, "Go!" and challenge us that it really is an action word, used for a reason...to literally get us off our buts, out of our houses and definitely out of our comfort zones...to find people who don't know Jesus and make disciples...of all nations...

To be caught-up with how far ahead I checked-off in Leviticus...I might as well start the book of Acts and catch that up to the same place for tomorrow....so here are the first 2 chapters of Acts....

Acts 1-2:47

Double-Wow power chapters of Acts!!! There is SO much in those few pages, it's unreal.....so many verses that just cut me to the heart..."But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Verse 8 This means we must not be satisfied with living mediocre lives...God has given us POWER to be His witnesses!!! Can I get a witness?!!! How much courage & fortitude it will take to live as a witness for God...
Reminder that Jesus will return..."After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight...This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Verses 9 & 11
PENTECOST...."They were all together in one place (emphasis on the believers meeting together). Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Chapter 2, Verses 1-4 I appreciate that as it explains in the next verses...that the speaking in tongues that took place on this occasion was the speaking of truth in other actual languages...languages the believers did not already know, but of people who were there in the area, who could then hear the Truth spoken in their own "tongue".....that's what I call effective use of speaking in tongues!
"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Verse 21
"This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose..." Verse 23 Proof that the Jews cannot be blamed for crucifying Jesus Christ...God meant for that to happen...
However, "...it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." Verse 24 Hallelujah!
"You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence." Verse 28 One of the most gorgeous lines I have ever read.....and will read over & over in my lifetime.....
"God has raised this Jesus to life and we are all witnesses of the fact." Verse 32 Even we who were not there so many years ago...are all witnesses of the fact that Jesus is alive....we see Him working in our lives today, and we know the truth....!
"God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified both Lord and Christ." Verse 36
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call." Verses 38 & 39
"Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Verse 40
And my favorite part of these two chapters is the next few verses...the entire framework for how the church should be founded on & carried-out...

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved." Verses 42-47

The One with the Review of "On the Road"

2009-11-07T12:13:00.000-06:00

On the Road

Another belated review here...trying to get caught-up...

I didn't enjoy this book as much as "Brave New World"...I can't imagine ever reading it again...but it's a classic, and now I've read it! Just a very abstract novel with not much of a point, as far as I'm concerned....some good writing dispersed throughout...a lot of narrative about what he calls "the beat generation"...here are a few quotes I enjoyed...

"...and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!'" Chapter 1, Pages 5 &6
"I was halfway across America, at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future, and maybe that's why it happened right there and then, that strange red afternoon." Chapter 3, Page 15
"A pain stabbed my heart, as it did every time I saw a girl I loved who was going the opposite direction in this too-big world." Chapter 12, Page 81
"Just about that time a strange thing began to haunt me. It was this: I had forgotten something. There was a decision that I was about to make before Dean showed up, and now it was driven clear out of my mind but still hung on the tip of my mind's tongue. I kept snapping my fingers, trying to remember it. I even mentioned it. And I couldn't even tell if it was a real decision or just a thought I had forgotten. It haunted and flabbergasted me, made me sad. It had to do somewhat with the Shrouded Traveler...We pondered it. I proposed it was myself, wearing a shroud. That wasn't it. Something, someone, some spirit was pursuing all of us across the desert of life and was bound to catch us before we reached heaven. Naturally, now that I look back on it, this is only death; death will overtake us before heaven. The one thing that we yearn for in our living days, that makes us sign and groan and undergo sweet nauseas of all kinds, is the remembrance of some lost bliss that was probably experienced in the womb and can only be reproduced (though we hate to admit it) in death." Chapter Four of Part Two, Page 124
"Every now and then a clear harmonic cry gave new suggestions of a tune that would someday be the only tune in the world and would raise men's souls to joy." Chapter 10 of Part Three, Page 242

It's interesting that after flipping through the book and re-reading everything I underlined and typing-out above my favorite lines...I do have a greater appreciation for the novel...there really is some great writing in this book...I just still don't necessarily appreciate the intent or overall theme of the book....I understand why it's a classic though...trying to get into "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer now is painstaking!!!

The One with the Review of "Brave New World"!

2009-11-07T11:48:00.000-06:00

Brave New World
This review is coming a few days past when I actually finished reading the book...simply because I've been procrastinating putting my thoughts & exerpts "down on paper"...or blogged! Here we go!
I enjoyed this book. It lost me in a few parts, but the ideas of the future Aldous Huxley presents are mesmerizing...I can see myself reading this book again down the road...it wasn't simply a checkmark on my challenge list! Here are quotes that stood out...

"Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time. On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean." Foreword, Page 7 I'm very surprised that the last line hasn't caught-on as a famous quote...at least it's not one I recognized...it has such a ring to it...
"...Brave New World is a book about the future and, whatever its artistic or philosophical qualities, a book about the future can interest us only if its prophecies look as though they might conceivably come true." Foreword, Page 9
The pregnant part of me reacted to this line..."And in exceptional cases we can make one ovary yield us over fifteen thousand adult individuals." Chapter One, Page 19 That ovary could definitely land its own reality show!
Keeping the children of certain cloned castes away from one of my very obvious favorite things..."They'll be safe from books and botany all their lives"..."though he could see quite well why you couldn't have lower-caste people wasting the Community's time over books, and that there was always the risk of their reading something which might undesirably de-condition one of their reflexes, yet...well, he couldn't understand about the flowers"...Answer: "A love of nature keeps no factories busy." Chapter Two, Page 29 I better watch how much & what I read, or I might accidentally de-condition myself as well!
..."everyone belongs to everyone else." Chapter Three, Page 45 One of the many mottos of the new world...and apparently, an expectation of promiscuity....!
Another fun quote against reading..."You can't consume much if you sit still and read books." Chapter Three, Page 50
"Accompanied by a campaign against the Past; by the closing of museums, the blowing up of historical monuments (luckily most of them had already been destroyed during the Nine Years' Way); by the suppression of all books published before A.F. 150." Chapter Three, Page 50 & 51 A.F. stands for "After Ford" ...the term "ford" replaces "God" in this novel....they revere Henry Ford for his manufacturing of cars and model the manufacturing of human life after his model....craziness!
"Walking and talking- that seemed a very odd way of spending the afternoon." Chapter Six, Page 77
My favorite character, Bernard expresses what is in the book, a most unnatural human emotion of..."I want to know what passion is...I want to feel something strongly." Chapter Six, Page 80
My favorite scene is described here..."'That'll teach him,' he said to himself (the director). But he was mistaken. For Bernard left the room with a swagger, exulting, as he banged the door behind him, in the thought that he stood alone, embattled against the order of things; elated by the intoxicating consciousness of his individual significance and importance. Even the thought of persecution left him undismayed, was rather tonic than depressing. He felt strong enough to meet and overcome affliction, strong enough to face even Iceland." Chapter Six, Page 84
Great lines about motherhood here..."The spectacle of two young women giving the breast to their babies made her blush and turn away her face. She had never seen anything so indecent in her life"... But Bernard sees it differently..."What a wonderfully intimate relationship...And what an intensity of feeling it must generate! I often think one may have missed something in not having had a mother. And perhaps you've missed something in not being a mother, Lenina. Imagine yourself sitting there with a little baby of your own..." Chapter Seven, Page 93
"It was a masterly piece of work. But once you began admitting explanations in terms of purpose- well, you didn't know what the result might be. It was the sort of idea that might easily decondition the more unsettled minds among the higher castes- make them lose their faith in happiness as the Sovereign Good and take to believing, instead, that the goal was somewhere beyond, somewhere outside the present human sphere; that the purpose of life was not the maintenance of wellbeing, but some intensification and refining of consciousness, some enlargement of knowledge. Which was, the Controller reflected, quite possibly true. But not, in the present circumstances, admissible. " Chapter Twelve, Page 141
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against the misforture, none of hte picturesqueness of as struggle with temptation or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand." Chapter Sixteen, Page 174
I hated the ending...but wasn't surprised by it...if I had to live in "The Brave New World", I'd have likely ended-up with the same fate......

Day 34: 331 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-05T23:31:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance The Goddess Within

Descritption of the goddess, Vesta..."Vesta is the one who urges women to be quiet, to sit, to gaze, to listen, to prepare delicious meals, to bring beauty into our daily round, to live through our six senses, to create a sacred haven of security and serenity set apart from the world in order to protect all we cherish. Vesta is the ancient goddess who calls on us to focus our creative energies on the Real."

Day 34: 331 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-05T23:26:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love is accountable

"It is crucial that a husband and wife pursue godly advice, healthy friendships, and experienced mentors." Interesting that today's reading is about accountability...because Jay & I recently picked-up a couples' devotion book and have been going through it together in the mornings....and today's stressed the importance of solid, Christian friends in your life who can not only influence us but the lives of our children down the road...it got us thinking about which of our friends we need to be more intentional about spending time with...You know God's trying to tell you something when He tells you through 2 different sources in one day...
"You look for a person who has the kind of marriage you want. You look for a person whose heart for Christ comes first before everything else. You look for someone who doesn't live by his or her opinions but by the unchanging Word of God." That last part hit me hard....someone that doesn't live by their opinions...that is not easy to accomplish in practice....I have a lot of friends with a lot of opinions and I'm one of them! Really thought-provoking concept.....

Day 34: 331 days left…91 books to go!

2009-11-05T23:12:00.000-06:00

Exodus 35:30-40

Book finished!

Matthew 26:57-27:44

The end of this book describes the torture Jesus endured for us...it's ridiculous to imagine..."Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, 'Prophecy to us, Christ. Who hit you?'" Chapter 26, verses 67 & 68

Day 33: 332 days left…92 books to go!

2009-11-04T19:16:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Return of the Goddess

Reading complete...

Day 33: 332 days left…92 books to go!

2009-11-04T19:12:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love celebrates godliness

Talking about influences all around us..."They'll say that having a knockout wife who dresses to get other men's attention is a good thing. They'll say that bad language and immorality in the movies are fine for mature people. They'll say that church isn't important in a person's life. They'll say that we each must find God in our own way." All lies I so easily believe.....

Day 33: 332 days left…92 books to go!

2009-11-04T19:04:00.000-06:00

Exodus 34-35:29

Reading complete...

Matthew 26:31-56

In the Garden of Gethsemane...Jesus asks his disciples to, "Stay here and keep watch with me." Verse 38 while he withdrew to pray. And 3 times Jesus returns to find his disciples sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Verses 40 & 41 We so easily fall asleep, lose heart, are distracted or desire to fulfill our selfish wants rather than give God the time He asks of us...sometimes just one hour....

Day 32: 333 days left…92 books to go!

2009-11-04T00:08:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Caring for Your Soul

I missed "All Soul's Day"...a day to be more aware of nurturing the souls of others & in turn, nuture your own....I have bookmarked it for next year to remember to do something extra-caring throughout November 2nd next year....

Becoming Real

"Once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always." Margery Williams References made to "The Velveteen Rabbit" throughout this reading..."Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long, time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." The Velveteen Rabbit "In order for us to become Real, we must become lovers of real life in all its complexity and uncertainty."

Day 32: 333 days left…92 books to go!

2009-11-03T23:55:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love meets sexual needs

Got it!

The Love Dare Love completes each other

This exerpt describes Jay & I completely..."One may be more gentle and able to keep peace among family members, while the other handles discipline more directly and effectively. One may have a good business head but needs the other to help him remember to be generous."

Day 32: 333 days left…92 books to go!

2009-11-03T23:49:00.000-06:00

Exodus 30:11-33

Interesting verse about atonement money that made me think of our current H1N1 crisis...."When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them..." Chapter 30, Verse 12 Is our world fighting off plagues & disease right now because of our sin? Is it our sin as a whole, or the sin of each individual? Daunting thought....I don't generally believe that God causes these things to happen but that He sometimes allows them to....the latter is more comforting...
Then this reading gets into the Sabbath...which has be perpetually puzzled...wondering how closely to the Old Testament we should be observing the Sabbath in present day...it's clear from a verse I recently read in Matthew (Chapter 19:16-20) that God still expects us to honor the 10 Commandments, which include, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy..." Exodus 20:8 But since we are no longer bound to the old law, what are God's expectations of our adherence to this commandment? This chapter says of the Sabbath, "This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you...The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever." Chapter 31, Verses 13, 14, 16 &17 The terms "lasting covenant" and "forever" sound to me as meaning this practice is to be continuing today.

It might be easy for my household to practice this as a family as my husband already isn't required to work Sundays and I could likely choose not to...however, there are many who have professions that require work on Sundays (medical personnel, police services, etc.) who would have a hard time accomplishing this today...

In Chapter 32, after the Israelites rebel against God and make themselves idols out of gold, Moses stands at the entrance of the camp and says, "Whoever is for the Lord, come to me." Verse 26 For some reason, I have always envisioned a scenario such as that happening to me in my lifetime, where I will literally be asked, before a group of people, to choose to stand for God or for man...I'm sure I have dozens of instances day-to-day that ask me to do the same but I don't recognize them...however, it would be amazing to truly be in that position one day....probably frightening as well...
I love in chapter 33, how it talks about Moses speaking to God face to face as he would a friend...the way God revealed Himself to Mack in "The Shack"....Verse 11
Moses says to God, "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you." Verse 14

Matthew 25:31-26:30

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father: take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothes me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me...I tell you the truth, whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you do for me." Chapter 25, Verses 34-36, 40 What I want said of me at the end of my life....on judgement day.....more is required of me throughout my days in this accord....

Day 30: 335 days left…93 books to go!

2009-11-01T12:57:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Becoming More Magnetic to Money

"The path to personal wealth is regular saving and sharing, controlling expenditures, living debt-free, increasing prosperity throug prudent investment, protecting the bulk of your wealth from loss, owning property, establishing a future income for old age, and increasing the ability to earn money through perseverance." There were a few ideas in this chapter that are ahead of where Jay & I are in our finances right now...there isn't a $100 bill to be had to carry around with me to remind me of my abundance....maybe one day!

Make Room for Mystery, Awaken to the Magic

Reading complete...

NOVEMBER....."November's beauty radiates from within."

Embracing the Ebb

"Earthly souls ebb and flow in sorrow and joy according to the seasons of emotion, just as the seasons of the natural world move through the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. These are the days to be grateful for the harvest of the heart however humble it might be, and to prepare for the coming of the year's closure...This too shall pass."

Day 30: 335 days left…93 books to go!

2009-11-01T12:39:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love's motivation

"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." Colossians 3:18 I could learn more about being a submissive wife...that is for sure! I believe that marriages would be so much more successful if we learned how honoring & fulfilling submission can really be....
"Being able to wake up knowing that God is your source and supply-not just of your own needs but also those of your spouse-changes your whole reason for interacting with your mate."

Love brings unity

Reading completed...

Love and marriage

"Marriage changes everything." Ha, ha....does it ever?!
I completely relate to the idea of "...clinging to them as your new rock of refuge and safety." I definitely do that with Jay....sometimes I worry that I cling to him too much...but cling, I do!

Day 30: 335 days left…93 books to go!

2009-11-01T12:31:00.000-06:00

Exodus 22-27:19

Thought-provoking verse about how liberally & disrespectfully we discuss & view the leaders in government these days..."Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people." Chapter 22, Verse 28 There are several verses in Scripture about honoring the rulers of government in your country...We consider it our right these days to voice a negative opinion and be perpetually unsatisfied with our leaders...
"Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong." Chapter 23, Verse 2 So easy to do....
"Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt." Verse 9 Makes me think of the "Keep on Standing" book I just completed last week....
This next verse is hard for me to grasp...sounds like a "name it & claim it" concept...which is contrary to what I believe..."Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span." Verses 25 & 26 This promise must have been exclusive to the Israelites at that point in time...because there are people in my life who worship God who have been sick, have had miscarriages and have not lived a full life span...although I do believe God had blessings on their lives...He didn't prevent these things from happening...
"To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain." Chapter 24, Verse 17 Do we sometimes cease to recognize God's consuming fire from day to day?
"You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give." Chapter 25, Verse 2 I wonder if one's heart has to be very in-tune with God for it to genuinely be prompted to give....we tend to hold onto our riches with tightly clenched fists....

Matthew 22:15-25:30

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God'." Chapter 22, Verse 21 Which I believe means, pay your taxes & your bills...no Christian is exempt from what he owes society in this way...
The Greatest Commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Chapter 22, Verses 37-40 The "loving your neighbor as yourself part" is not an easy task to accomplish....it really isn't....my understanding of what this could look like barely touches what I can imagine it can be...
"The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Chapter 23, Verses 11 & 12
"More important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness... " Verse 23
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Verse 39
Signs of the end of the age..."Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various place. All these are the beginning of the birth pains...Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come...'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." Chapter 24, Verses 7, 8, 12-14, 29-31 Let my love of God not grow cold....

Day 27: 338 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-29T23:52:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Affirming Abundance

All about tithing today...lots of great advice...tithing is something Jay & I are already committed to, so I'm not going to hash-out the highlights of this lesson...but encourage you to read it!

Day 27: 338 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-29T23:48:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love makes sacrifices

This chapter is asking A LOT! Wow!

About me..."We're the first to feet it when we're the ones being mistreated or inconvenienced. We're quick to sulk when we're the ones who feel deprived or unappreciated. When life is difficult for us, we notice. But too often the only way we notice that life is hard for our mate is when they start complaining about it. Then instead of genuinely caring or rushing in to help, we might think they just have a bad attitude. The pain and pressure they're under don't register with us the way it does when it's our pain and pressure. When we want to complain, we expect everyone to understand and feel sorry for us."
"Is he feeling 'sick'- physically tired and needing you to help guard him from interruptions?"
"When your mate is overwhelmed and under the gun, love calls you to set aside what seems so essential in your own life to help, even if it's merely the gift of a listening ear."
Today's Dare: "What is one of the greatest needs in your spouse's life right now? Is there a need you could lift from their shoulders by a daring act of sacrifice on your part?

Indeed, a few things come to mind...I will discuss & try to implement and report back when I have some progress!

Day 27: 338 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-29T22:07:00.000-06:00

Exodus 20-21 The 10 Commandments...

And now, the 10 Commandments:

#1: "You shall have no other gods before me
#2: You shall not make for yourself an idol...
#3: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God...
#4: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
#5: Honor your father and your mother...
#6: You shall not murder
#7: You shall not commit adultery
#8: You shall not steal
#9: You shall not give false testimony...
#10: You shall not covet... " Chapter 20, Verses 3-17

"Whenever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you." Chapter 20, Verse 24

Matthew 21:33-22:14 The Parables of the Tenants and the Wedding Banquet

Reading complete...

Day 26: 339 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-28T22:34:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Financial Serenity

Great advice today...I'd like to take some time to see if I can put this into practice...

"...there are certain actions we can take to increase our wealth. The first is choosing to live on less than we earn, so that we can save and share more.

Many of us want savings accounts in theory, but psychologically resist them. That's because we associate savings with deprivation instead of gratification. For in order to save we must do without something else. What we don't consider is that having a savings account enables us eventually to experience authentic satisfaction instead of the cheap imitation of instant gratification...
How much would you save? Start with whatever you can, but aim for ten percent of whatever money comes your way, depositing it in your account before it goes somewhere else."

I shall let you know if I pull this off!

Day 26: 339 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-28T22:25:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love encourages

"You must choose to live by encouragement rather than by expectations." I know I could be more of an encourager...
"The problem is...that few people are able to respond to criticism with total objectivity. When it seems clear that someone is unhappy with you-whether by direct confrontation of the silent treatment-it's hard not to take their displeasure personally." No kidding! I have a very hard time not initially taking confrontation very personally...but I do take it to heart...

Day 26: 339 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-28T22:19:00.000-06:00

Exodus 18-19

Moses meets with his father-in-law Jethro, who says of all that has happened in Egypt, "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly." Chapter 18, Verse 11
Moses walks up Mount Sinai to meet with God...God talks of, "...how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself." Chapter 19, Verse 4
God also makes a statement that clears-up my understanding more on the role of the Hebrew/Jewish nation as His chosen people...when I know that all of humankind are precious in His sight & anyone who believes is a child of God..."Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Chapter 19, Verses 5-6 The whole earth is valuable in God's sight & belongs to Him...but there is a special place in His plan for the sons of Abraham...

Matthew 21: 1-32

Jesus enters Jerusalem...and his effect on the city is unreal..."A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!' When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is This?' The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'" Chapter 21, Verses 8-11 Jesus proceeded to overthrow the tables in the Temple, heal the blind & the lame while there and give us the next two important lessons...

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done.' If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Verses 21-22
And The Parable of the Two Sons is SO profound, I don't know why there aren't more sermons focused on it...

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted? 'The first,' they answered. Jesus said to them, 'I tell you truth, the tax collectors adn the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.'" Verses 28-32 I would call this a warning to those who claim to be Christians but do not truly believe...God knows your heart......

Day 25: 340 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-27T22:34:00.000-06:00

End of the evening Tuesday Hello!

I did in fact complete "Keep on Standing" in time and will start "Brave New World" right away....I guessed correctly about my getting sick and felt much more myself today...hoping to have even more energy for tomorrow so I can clean-up my house & attend to my husband a little! I think I'm off to get a flu shot tomorrow and am certainly uneasy about it...I pray that I am doing the wise thing for my baby...Hope everyone out there is coping with this year's pandemic craziness & sorting-out their views as is comfortable to them...may we all live to talk about it!

Day 25: 340 days left…93 books to go! The One with the "Keep on Standing" Review!!!

2009-10-27T22:30:00.001-06:00

Keep on Standing: The Story of Krystaal by Darlene Polachic

I am so blessed by reading this book. It was 100% worthwhile to have ensured I read some books with Christian influence along this book challenge journey...

This book was...Moving, Stirring, Compelling...Enlightening...We think if it's not happening to us, in our country, it's part of the 3rd World problem which is too big of a problem for us to do anything about....and we think of all people in the 3rd World, including the politicians, leaders & professionals are still inferior to North American politicians, leaders & professionals...But when Mobutu Sese Seko was President of Zaire beginning in 1960, he became the 4th richest man in the world, amassing a fortune that was big enough to wipe out his country's national debt.

The Lwamba brothers spent 5 years in refugee camps before what seems like random events led to them being immigrated to Saskatoon, SK Canada...and now their music has touched people all over the world. They are an inspiration....and everyone involved in getting them to where they are today are equally inspiring...the U.N. affiliates who run the refugee camps, the Doctors Without Borders who volunteer there day after day in terrible conditions, the North American churches who apply to sponsor families to immigrate, and the people at the Open Door Society here in Saskatoon who made such a huge difference.....this story reminds me that I must do more..."To whom much is given, much is expected"....

Quotes that stand-out...

"When God wants to save you, He does miraculous things." Michel Lwamba Chapter Five, Page 56
"At one point Michel happened to catch a French program from Radio Canada. It talked about the rich country that Canada was and the good education system it had. Michel vowed, if he ever had the opportunity, he would go to Canada." Chapter Six, Page 67 This quote brought tears to my eyes...so humbling...how fortunate we are to be born in Canada and live in true affluence by many standards...and we take SO much for granted...

Please check-out Krystaal 's website.....

Day 25: 340 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-27T22:01:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Quieting the Wants

I LOVE that the quote to today's chapter is from the author of "Where the Wild Things Are"...which Jay & I just saw in theatre last night!

"There must be more to life than having everything." Maurice Sendak

Day 25: 340 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-27T21:52:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love is responsible

"Over the past few decades, there's been a decline in personal responsibility...We are so quick to justify our motives. So quick to deflect criticism. So quick to find fault-"
"How deliberate are you about making sure your spouse's needs are met? Or are you only concerned with your mate fulfilling yours?" CHECK!!! This is my biggest goal in completing this book...to learn & force myself to serve Jay at least as much as he already serves me....so far, I feel that I'm still failing miserably at that....

Day 25: 340 days left…93 books to go!

2009-10-27T21:46:00.000-06:00

Exodus 16 & 17

The Israelites are wandering through the dessert now and lose trust in God all over again...they cry out for food & wonder why they didn't stay in Egypt where they were at least fed...but Moses says to them: "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we that you should grumble against us?" Chapter 16, Verses 6 & 7...

Matthew 20:17-34

It's so crazy to me that Jesus knew what was coming to Him in Jerusalem...He knew in detail that He would be condemned, turned over to the Gentiles, mocked, flogged & crucified...and yet He willingly continued on His journey... Verses 17-19...
"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to his His life as a ransom for many." Verses 26-28...

I need to find tangible ways in which God can use me as a servant, so that I can understand how to live the life Jesus did on earth....

Day 24: 341 days left….94 books to go!

2009-10-26T15:43:00.000-06:00

Michelle's Daily Hello for today!!!

I spend at least 80% of my time these days, at home...just chilling...and yet I was so exhausted this morning that I slept-in till an unmentionable hour, stumbled into the living room and realized that my body is once again fighting-off a sickness. If I'm lucky, with my immune system...and I take it easy and rest for a few days, it won't even materialize & I'll sneak away energetic and healthy...but seriously, how do I get even remotely sick when I hardly leave the house? It beats me.... My little brother's boarding-school is shut down this week with all students either sent home or quarantined in their dorm rooms. A breakout of either Norwalk or H1N1 spread through the school last week and 3/4 of the students, including my little brother were quite sick...My parents came into town the other day & brought my little brother with them and I have to say...I stayed at a comfortable distance away from him! I wasn't actually sure I wanted him in the house! I didn't mean to treat him as "the diseased one" or anything...but being 5 months pregnant...I suppose I should be taking precautions, right?

Anyway....I wasted away the day up until about half an hour ago, just couching & watching my 2 favorite shows (Road to Avonlea & Ellen) and a movie....then I finally decided to get my but in gear & get blogging...! There's house-cleaning to attend to today in abundance as well, or course....but for now...I'm basking in luxurious relaxation and using this possible coming sickness as a crutch to not attack the dog-hair all over my floor or the dirty dishes on the kitchen counter.....a time for everything, right?

As I have to have the next book read by the end of tomorrow, I need to get crackin' on it too! Hopefully there'll be a review posted on time! Hope everyone else out there is staying healthy & having a lovely Monday!

Day 24: 341 days left….94 books to go!

2009-10-26T15:35:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Spending Habits

"'Acting as if' can improve the quality of our lives enormously, with one exception: spending money. You can't act as if you have all the money in the world if you don't. You can't spend money as if there were no tomorrow if you can't cover the check..."
"Extravagance offers gratification and a feeling of abundance. Asceticism endows simplicity and a sense of security. Simple Abundance offers it all."

Day 24: 341 days left….94 books to go!

2009-10-26T15:28:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love forgives

I'm not aware of anything today that I need to forgive Jay for...but this chapter does bring to mind other relationships in my life where total forgiveness, over & over again...is required of me...There's a huge chunk of this chapter that's worth quoting...

"Coming to this conclusion usually takes us a while. We see all kinds of dangers and risks involved in forgiving others. For instance, what they did was really wrong, whether they admit it or not. They may not even be sorry about it. They may feel perfectly justified in their actions, even going so far as to blame you for it. But forgiveness doesn't absolve anyone of blame. It doesn't clear their record with God. It just clears you of having to worry about how to punish them. When you forgive another person, you're not turning them loose. You're just turning them over to God, who can be counted on to deal with them His way. You're saving yourself the trouble of scripting any more arguments or trying to prevail in this situation. It's not about winning and losing anymore. It's about freedom. It's about letting go...How do you know you've done it? You know it when the thought of their name or the sight of their face- rather than causing your blood to boil- causes you to feel sorry for them instead, to pity them, to genuinely hope they get this turned around."

Ground-breaking advice for me today......

Day 24: 341 days left….94 books to go!

2009-10-26T15:19:00.000-06:00

Exodus 14:5-15

The Israelites were on their way...trekking out of Egypt, towards the Red Sea...when God hardened Pharoh's herat and he began to pursue them...as soon as the Israelites realized they were being chased-down, they were terrified and accused Moses of leading them out in the dessert to die! After everything God had just accomplished, they still had no faith in Him.....but Moses stood firm, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14: 13 & 14 My husband actually painted me a canvas of the last part of that verse once for a gift....it compels me to believe its' truth....

See how God continues to fight for them..."Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left...The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen- the entire army of Pharoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived...That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant." Chapter 14: 19-22, 28, 30-31
Moses sang out to Lord, "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name...In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strenth you will guide them to your holy dwelling." Chapter 15, Verses 2, 3 & 13

Matthew 19:16-20:16

A rich man asks Jesus what he must do to be saved..."If you want to enter life, obey the commandments...If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Chapter 19, Verses 17 & 21

Day 23: 342 days left...94 books to go!

2009-10-25T17:55:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance On Paying Bills

Talking about how we can view paying bills in a more positive light..."We can pay for those services more serenely, even when we're strapped, by remembering that all financial transactions really boil down to an exchange of energy. Someones provides us with energy in the form of heat, light, food, gas, clothing, shelter, the ability to speak to others over airwaves or watch movies from the comfort of our couches. We reciprocate by paying for those services through energy in the form of money."
Remember that all U.S.D. currency has "In God We Trust" inscripted on it...and in God we should trust all our money woes to...
"Guard me against the arrogance of privilege, against the indulgence of feeling that I don't have enough, and the poverty of spirit that refuses to acknowledge what is daily given me...Keep me truthful in knowing where I spend, where my values actually are." Gunilla Norris "Being Home"

Day 23: 342 days left…94 books to go!

2009-10-25T17:46:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love vs. Lust

"The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.- 1 John 2:17

the last part of that verse was necessary for me to hear today..."the one who does the will of God"...I have opportunities today as I do every day to choose my will over God's....my selfish, worldly need to stand up for myself or my rights or what I feel I'm entitled to from other people...but that's not always in the best interest of God's will.....good reminder.....

The chapter was actually on lusts that get in the way of our marriage & our fulfillment though...although Jay & I don't feel that we have current struggles with sexual lusts...there was the point that, "We see what others have and we want it. Our hearts are deceived into saying, 'I could be happy if I only had this." And that statement can be true about me...I often think we'll be happier when the baby comes, or when we pay off this loan or when Jay graduates and starts working and has a salary, or when we can afford to travel, etc. But material things or worldly statuses will not fill us the way God can.

Day 23: 342 days left…94 books to go!

2009-10-25T15:11:00.000-06:00

Exodus 12:31-14:4 The Exodus

Finally...perseverance & faith pay off..."During the night Pharoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, 'Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." Chapter 12, Verses 31 & 32 Up! & Go! were probably the best 2 words Moses & Aaron had heard in a long time...and it's incredible that after all of that, Pharoh saw the need for them to bless him....he saw that their God was real....
And the miracles the Israelites witnessed by the hand of God are unreal..."By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." Chapter 13, Verses 21 & 22

Matthew 19:1-15

Strong words about divorce..."So they are no longer wo, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Verse 6
And one of my favorite passages about God's love for children..."Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Verse 14

Day 22: 343 days left…94 books to go! The One with "the Catcher in the Rye" Review!!!

2009-10-24T13:56:00.000-06:00

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

I have finally read this book...being meaning to for ages...and it was pretty much what I thought it would be....it actually drew many resemblences for me to a 2002 film favorite of mine, Igby Goes Down starring Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Ryan Phillippe, Susan Sarandon, Bill Pullman, Amanda Peet & Jeff Goldblum.....over 50 years after the novel was published, I found the character of "Igby" very similar to "Holden" in this novel. It's narrated by a wealthy sixteen-year old and tracks his life over the course of just a few days in New York City...I'm really only glad I read it so I know what all the fuss is about and can check it off my list now...but here are a few notable quotes:

Opening Paragraph: "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them." Chapter 1, Page 3
I actually share the same pet-peeve with this next statement: "That's something that drives me crazy. When people say something twice that way, after you admit it the first time." Chapter 2, Page 15 I can't stand it when people rail you for something you've just made yourself vulnerable to...it's rubbing salt in the wound...it's just mean...
Window into Holden's soul; personal quote: "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life." Chapter 3, Page 22
I did respect Holden for his general philosophy about women..."I think if you don't really like a girl, you shouldn't horse around with her at all, and if you do like her, then you're supposed to like her face, and if you like her face, you ought to be careful about doing crumby stuff to it, like squirting water all over it." Chapter 9, Page 81
I appreciated the respect & warmth Holden felt for his younger sister...
"If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a ____ if she's late?" Chapter 17, Page 162
Advice Holden received from his teacher about life..."The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one." Wilhelm Stekel
The End

Day 22: 343 days left…94 books to go!

2009-10-24T13:26:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Worrying about Money

"Worrying about money sends toxic signals: fear, lack, deprivation. When your subconscious mind continually receives negative impulses, it duplicates in your daily round whatever it was instructed to manifest, such as fear, lack, deprivation." Agreed! Less worry always equals more happiness, especially about money.....

Day 22: 343 days left…94 books to go!

2009-10-24T13:20:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love always protects

Talking about how..."Love is a battlefield"!!! All the things that can war against a marriage...

Harmful influences like internet & tv or busy work schedules
Unhealthy relationships with members of the opposite sex or friends who undermine your marriage
Shame by speaking negatively about your spouse publicly
Parasites such as addictions to gambling, drugs or pornography

"Wives- you have a role as protector in your marriage. You must guard your heart from being led away through novels, magazines and other forms of entertainment that blur your perception of reality and put unfair expectations on your husband. Instead you must do your part in helping him feel strong, while also avoiding talk-show thinking that can lure your attention away from your family."

Day 22: 343 days left…94 books to go!

2009-10-24T11:13:00.000-06:00

Exodus 10-12:30 The Last few Plagues

The final plague...the Plague on the Firstborn..."About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throught Egypt-worse than there has ever been or ever will be again...Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel." Chapter 11, Verses 4-7
In preparation for this plague, the Israelites prepared for and celebrated their first Passover..."It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians." Chapter 12, Verse 27

Matthew 18:15-35

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Chapter 18, Verse 20
On how many times I should forgive someone who wrongs me..."I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Verse 22
"Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?...This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Verses 33 & 35 Forgiveness is not an easy thing to accomplish...we as a society believe that we have so many rights these days, including the right to be treated with respect...if someone disrespects us or wrongs us several times...it's one of the hardest things to even consider forgiving them...but as God as forgiven us for all of our sins, we are called to forgive...from the heart....

Day 21: 344 days left…95 books to go!

2009-10-23T13:51:00.000-06:00

21 days-in to this challenge and I have completed reading 5 novels. The longest of these was "Gone With the Wind" @ 1024 pages...which took me nearly 6 days to finish! 2nd longest was "A Tale of Two Cities" @ 520 pages...If I complete the next selection, "The Catcher in the Rye" by the end of tomorrow, I will be on track! So far, so good!

I have definitely had days where reading was not accomplished...I've found it's not easy when I have fabulous roommates vying for my attention! But I'm extremely grateful for my roommates & have proven at this point, so far, that I can devote time to both...when Zion comes, it may be a different story!

Personally, I'm fantastic today! i've been quite tired lately...but have joy in my heart...Zion has been distinctly kicking much more frequently throughout the days now even so that Jay felt a couple of good ones in a row the other evening, which was thrilling!!!

Also.....I have to send out HUGE thank you to one of my favorite readers, also a close friend of mine, Miss Ami Mulder!!!

I felt like a famous blogger yesterday when I received in the mail the sweetest card AND 2 of the books I need to accumulate for this Challenge! What a great friend! That was a major encouragement! Thank you SO much Ami!!! I appreciate you! I've been trying to update the slideshow on the bottom right column of the blog with the books I still need...gradually I will collect them all!

Pretty soon, I'm off to the library to borrow "The Catcher in the Rye"....stay tuned for tomorrow's review which I will hopefully be ready to write!!!

Day 21: 344 days left…95 books to go! The One with the "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" review!!!

2009-10-23T13:32:00.001-06:00

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

I enjoyed this book! It was very entertaining! Absolutely, all of the brilliance in the writing was Austen's and this piece of work does not come nearly as close to my heart as the original...but I'm glad to have read this adaptation nonetheless! Here are some of my favorite exerpts!

"The business of Mr. Bennet's life was to keep his daughters alive. The business of Mrs. Bennet's was to get them married." Chapter 1, page 9
Upon hearing Mr. Darcy's original comment of, "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men." Elizabeth Bennet surmises..."The warrior code demanded she avenge her honor." Chapter 3, page 13 Ha, ha! A great reaction to his arrogant snub! This scene was immediately followed by an attack of zombies which the girls fought bravely!

"...and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine. I dare say I would've cut this throat had not the unmentionables distracted me from doing so." Chapter 5, page 19
"Remember, Charlotte- she is a warrior first and a woman second." Chapter 6, page 20

"Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger of falling in love, and were it not for his considerable skill in the deadly arts, that he should be in danger of being bested by hers- for he had never seen a lady more gifted in the ways of vanquishing the undead." Chapter 10, page 42
What Mrs. Bennet says about poor Charlotte Lucas..."...since she is an unmarried woman of seven-and-twenty, as as such should expect little more than a crust of bread washed down with a cup of loneliness." Ha! My single friends in their mid-late 20's would LOVE that sentiment!
Of some unmentionables they pass on the road, "Let them burn...Let them have a taste of eternity. You see, Mr. Collins...God has no mercy. And neither must we." Chapter 15, page 58 What a violent Elizabeth Bennet we have in this adaptation!
Elizabeth hates Miss Bingley in the original work, but check out what she says in this one, "There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every zombie confirms my belief that God has abandoned us as punishment for the evils of people such as Miss Bingley." Chapter 24, page 103 Them's fighting words Miss Bennet!!!
"I believe the Crown more pleased to have me on the front lines than at the altar." Chapter 26, page 115
"...but the presence of a woman who had slain ninety dreadfuls with nothing more than a rain-soaked envelope was an intimidating prospect indeed." Chapter 29, page 124
Undoubtedly my favorite liberty that Seth takes in the whole book is this..."Elizabeth presently drew her Katana and cut off Lydia's head, which fell into the open hatbox." Chapter 39, page 176 I laughed out loud at this...only to read on that Elizabeth simly day-dreamed she'd taken care of the prattling Lydia this way....Ha, ha!!! What a riot!
"On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when he speaks. And there is something of dignity in the way his trousers cling to those most English part of him" Chapter 43, page 206 Jane Austen would NEVER have added that 2nd statement! Ha, ha!
"...as we are each commanded by His Majesty to defend Hertfordshire from all enemies until such time as we ar dead, rendered lame, or married." Chapter 47, page 226
"It taught me to hope, as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before. I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that, had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have beheaded Lady Catharine without a moment's hesitation." Chapter 58, page 299

And the very final chapter of this book...."England remained in the shadow of Satan. The dead continued to claw their way through crypt and coffin alike, feasting on British brains. Victories were celebrated, defeats lamented. Adn the sisters Bennet-servants of His Majesty, protectors of Hertforshire, beholders of the secrets of Shaolin, and brides of death- were now, three of them, brides of man, their swords quieted by that only force more powerful than any warrior. THE END" Chapter 61, page 317

Day 21: 344 days left…95 books to go!

2009-10-23T13:07:00.001-06:00

Simple Abundance Money and the Meaning of Life

The beginning of a week-long study on money...which is coming at a great time for me...well, pretty much every week is a good week for me to learn more about money!

"The problem of money dogs our steps throughout the whole o four lives, exerting a pressure that, in its way, is as powerful and insistent as any other problem of human existence. And it haunts the spiritual search as well." Jacob Needleman
"Like success, money is an emotionally volatile issue for most women. It's probably the most complicated relationship we have- and the one that most controls our lives because we let it."
"One of our difficulties is that too often we confuse spiritual yearnings with material wants. For instance, you long for serenity...More work, more pay, more stress. More stress, less serenity, no matter how much money you're earning."
Jacob Needleman's advice..."Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's." The chapter doesn't elaborate from there, but from what I've always understood of these words of Jesus' is: Pay your taxes & Tithe and trust God for the rest...

Day 21: 344 days left…95 books to go!

2009-10-23T12:59:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love is Faithful

The verse at the top of the chapter today was part of the inspiration for mine & Jay's wedding vows actually...the traditional wording is, "I betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord." Hosea 2:20 But we used several verses from this passage and switched-up the wording to say "marry" instead of "betroth"....
"As Christians, love is the basis of our whole identity."

Day 21: 344 days left…95 books to go!

2009-10-23T12:39:00.000-06:00

Exodus 7:25-9 More Plagues on Egypt...

After the Plague of Gnats, "The magician said to Pharoh, 'This is the finger of God.'" Chapter 8, Verse 19 The finger of God is likely an ever-present phenomena in our daily lives, not just in outrageous miracles...if we only opened our eyes more to see....

I acknowledge the finger of God working in my life today...I received a paycheck from my work, even though I've been off for over 2 months waiting for a uniform and was under the impression that I'd been cut-off of payroll and although I'll admit the thought of going back to work now that I'm 5 months pregnant stresses me out completely if I dwell on the though too long...parts of my uniform have finally arrived and I should be able to complete my work in November...God's reminded me today that there's more power in his finger than I can imagine & He uses it to work in my life as much as He did in biblical times in Egypt. If I can stop worrying & trust in Him with our finances & our future...I can trust that He'll get me through November, whether I have to drag my but into the air & fly a few times or not...Moment to count my blessings:

I have had the most luxurious pregnancy thus far that anyone could hope for...although there's been some stress involved & I was meant to be working...the very bright side is, that I have not taken for granted...I've been @ home resting for most of my pregnancy....wow! Not a small thing, & I send that out to the heavens...THANK YOU!

After the Plague of Hail, the 7th Plague that God sent to Egypt to convince Pharoh to let the Israelites go, the Lord says to Moses to tell Pharoh, "For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Chapter 9, Verses 15 &16 You never know how God is using someone for a great purpose...even someone who is seemingly evil...
Pharoh's response to this is, "This time I have sinned...The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong." Verse 27 And yet his heart is again hardened and the 8th Plague comes....

Matthew 17:14-18:14

"Because you have so little faith, I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard see, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Chapter 17, Verses 20 & 21 How small must our faith be...smaller than a mustard seed...
I typed these verses about little children up into posters for Baby Zion's room...or maybe I'll convince my husband to paint canvases about them....!

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Chapter 18, Verses 3-5
"If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?...In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." Verse 12 & 14

Day 20: 345 days left…95 books to go!

2009-10-22T23:27:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Complaints (October 20th)

"One of the reasons we love our close friends so dearly is that they allow us to complain knowing that we'll return the favor." That's pretty sad, isn't it?! We use our friends to vent off-of, and that rarely improves either mood or character....good to remember!

Comparisons (October 21st)

"As soon as you can bless the woman you secretly curse; as soon as you can give thanks for her happiness and success as much as your own because it demonstrates the abundance of Real Life." That's when you can receive fulfillment.....

Compromises (October 22nd...that's right, I am now caught-up!!!)

"If you dread it, don't agree to it. If you do end up doig it despite your dread, you'll despise the whole deal, including the woman who agreed to it: you." You know....this is partly good advice....but it's not always true....there are a few on-going commitments in my life that I rarely look forward to fulfilling, but inevitably feel spiritually rewarded when I do...and well-reminded that going out of my comfort zone to serve someone else is necessary in this life......dreading it or not.......That's my 2 cents on that one...!

Day 20: 345 days left…95 books to go!

2009-10-22T23:16:00.003-06:00

The Love Dare Love is impossible

Real love is something only God can do...therefore the only way you can learn to really love somebody is by first having a relationship with God and secondly, getting to know Him, asking Him to show you how to love like He does....the world's definition of love is not enough....no wonder so many relationships end in divorce & failure...we can't love on our own...we don't know how...."That's why if you're not right with God, you can't truly love your spouse because He is the source of that love."
"The truth is, you can't live without Him and you can't love without Him." Him being God....
Today's challenge was to search my heart & ask God whether I am in right relationship with Him....to say the least, it was intense....

Love is Jesus Christ

"One will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:7-8 I'm not sure that I will ever fully comprehend what it means that He did that....
Prepare yourself for a very strong statement...I do not believe that in order to "be saved", you have to pray a prayer....I do not believe that you ever have to "ask Jesus into your heart"....I'm not aware of any phrasing in the Bible that asks us to do that...what I do believe is the need for a verbal confession of some kind & a belief in the heart...."If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 10: 9-10
I needed the reminder at the end of this chapter to love one another too...and that part of knowing God is loving other people...I can't actually claim to truly know God if I don't bring myself to love His people...and I can't choose to simply love those who love me...because even the demons do that.....harsh, but true & I needed to hear it today in particular!

Love is satisfied in God

At this point in "The Love Dare"..."You came face to face with the glaring need of every human heart." If only I remembered to treat every person I encounter with that reality....that they need God....I wonder that I would treat people with more compassion & kindness...
Today's lesson: "...you need God every single day...He alone can satisfy even when all else fails you." I have actually been discussing this very point lately with my husband & roommate...the concept of whether or not we should commit to reading our Bibles & praying every day....I don't believe there's any quota, or condemnation if we...miss a day....! But I do see that when I don't spend time in my day focusing on God, investing in that relationship....we do fall apart....I start thinking the way the world thinks....it's like any friendship....I make a point of spending time with Jay every day....why not God? It's one of those neverending debates....
Today's dare is to try to spend time with God purposefully every day....and thankfully, that has been part of this whole challenge....although I've already missed a few days here & there....I'm trying....!

***Exciting realization.....I am officially half-way done this book! It's been fortifying so far, but challenging.....and I know I will feel blessed when I've completed it entirely.....

Day 20: 345 days left…95 books to go!

2009-10-22T22:38:00.000-06:00

Exodus 3-7:24 Moses and the Burning Bush, Moses Returns to Egypt, God Promises Deliverance...and the Plagues begin....

"Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, 'I will go over and see this strange sight- why the bush does not burn up.'...God called to him from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!'...Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. Then He said, 'I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God." Chapter 3, Verses 2-6 If only we acknowledged more often, that we stand on holy ground....because God is everywhere...
"So now, go. I am sending you to Pharoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Verse 10 I wonder how many times God has asked me to, "Go!" that I simply haven't heard.....and I can only guess how many times I HAVE up & gone without asking Him if it's what He wishes....
"The LORD, the God of your fathers- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob- has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation." Verse 15
"O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. The Lord said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives his sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.'" Chapter 4, Verses 10-12 It's a good reminder that Moses was just another human man, with no more spiritual ability than any of us...and God equips all of us to simply, 'Go!' provided that we trust in Him for our strength & guidance....
Pharoh's response is to be expected..."Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go." Chapter 5, Verse 2 It's right for Pharoh to admit that he doesn't know the LORD...too many people today claim to know Him and don't......my attempt is to not be one of them....
"'I am the LORD...and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm...I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'" Chapter 6, Verses 6-7

Matthew 15:29-17:13

It seems crazy that after witnessing so many miracles by Jesus, the disciples still worry about having enough bread..."...you of little faith," Chapter 16, Verse 8 But then again, isn't that how I am with my faith continually? God teaches me something, or I am blessed with a time of closeness with Him because I choose to invest time in the relationship...and then I inevitably fall away...stop investing the time...stop looking to learn....I'm the same....
I have always been affected by these words Jesus says to Peter...I used to have them on a poster in my room when I was younger...they're so powerful (even if I don't fully understand what they mean)..."...and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;" Chapter 16, Verses 18-19
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Chapter 16, Verses 24-28 Every day, I focus on fulfilling myself rather than denying to follow Christ.....I feel that I hold on to my life so tightly...when all it is, is a gift from God to be used for Him...we all want to "gain the whole world"...but at what cost?

Day 18: 347 days left…96 books to go!

2009-10-20T22:15:00.000-06:00

Exodus 1-2 The Israelies Oppressed, The Birth of Moses

After Joseph passed away, a new king was throned in Egypt and as the Israelite nation grew in numbers, he decided to deal shrewdly with them..."So they put slave maters over them to opress them with forced labor...But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly..." Chapter 1 Verses 11-13
Pharoh then declared that all male Hebrew newborns be thrown into the Nile river to stop their people from multiplying....but inspite of this decree, Moses was born & through his mother's faith & genius, his life was miraculously saved and he was brought-up in Pharoh's court...
"The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God." Chapter 2 Verse 23

Matthew 15: 1-28 Clean and Unclean, The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Jesus acosts the Pharisees in this reading because they are worried about the Disciples' not washing their hands before they eat....Jesus calls them on their own sin, "Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition..." Verse 6 "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." Verses 8-9 It can be so easy to be caught-up in rules taught by men...and I so often wonder how much of my faith is honoring God with my lips but having a heart that is far from Him....Jesus addressed the Pharisees' initial complaint against the Disciples...."What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean." Verse 11
Now to anyone reading this...the rest of my reading today, verses 21-28, The Faith of the Canaanite Woman....this entire story I do not understand....if someone could provide insight, that would be great! I actually found an explanation on this webiste...but it still doesn't fully make sense to me: bibleexplained.com

Day 18: 347 days left…96 books to go! (The One with the "Gone with the Wind" Review!)

2009-10-20T20:30:00.002-06:00

Day 16: 349 days left...96 books still to read....

I just realized that at this point, it has taken me an average of 4.2 days to read each selection....which is a little more than I was hoping for...need to get cracking down & already I've had reactions from my roommates that all I do is read....ahh! "Gone With the Wind" is the longest book I've read in this challenge so far, and it did take me a good 5 1/2 days to finish....but it was worth it! Here is what I have no doubt will be a very long breakdown of my favorite passages!

Part One, Chapter 1 starts right off by telling us about Scarlett O'Hara that, "...her true self was poorly concealed." Beneath the seemingly well-manicured, well-bred exterior...
I love the quote on page 6, "They had the vigor and alertness of country people who have spent all their lives in the open and troubled their heads very little with dull things in books." Ha, ha! Not kindred spirits with me, I suppose....not that I speak as someone who is well-read.....but I love troubling myself with books!

Alright...I just brought myself to the reality that I have highlighted quotes on almost every of the 1024 pages of this book so expanding on all of them would take HOURS!!! For much better time efficiency, I'm going to quote just a few more & assume you all understand how much I enjoyed this book!

Mostly....this novel is an account of the life of Scarlett O'Hara....but the title refers to the loss of the Southern way-of-life where landowners grew rich from slave-labour & archaic customs....but customs the South cherished nonetheless and mourned the loss of greatly. It's a richly written novel with hundreds of notable passages that I will surely read again in my lifetime, inspite of the volume of the novel....Here are just a few more quotes that I can't help but share with you...

"I wish to Heaven I was married...I'm tired of everlastingly being unnatural and never doing anything I want to do. I'm tired of acting like I don't eat more than a bird, and walking when I want to run and saying I feel faint after a waltz, when I could dance for two days and never get tired. I'm tired of saying, 'How wonderful you are!' to fool men who haven't got one-half the sense I've got, and I'm tired of pretending I don't know anything, so men can tell me things and feel important while they're doing it..." Chapter 5 So glad women don't subject themselves to that any longer.....
"Always providing you have enough courage- or money- you can do without a reputation." Part II, Chapter IX Oh Scarlett!!!!
This next quote could be applied by many to our present circumstances of war, I'm afraid: "All wars are scared. To those who have to fight them. If the people who started wars didn't make them sacred, who would be foolish enough to fight? But, no matter what rallying cries the orators give to the idiots who fight, no matter what noble purposes they assign to wars, there is never but one reason for a war. And that is money." says Rhett Butler
One of what I believe to be 2 of the most famous quotes from this movie is the following declaration made by Scarlett: "As God is my witness, as God is my witness, the Yankees aren't going to lick me, I'm going to live through this and when it's over, I'm never going to be hungry again. No, nor any of my folks. If I have to steal or kill- as God is my witness, I'm never going to be hungry again." Part Three Chapter 25
And of course, my final note will be the most famous quote from this novel, the classic words of Rhett Butler, "My dear, I don't give a damn." Part Five Chapter 63 (Last Chapter)

All in all, a great read & one I highly recommend...just be sure you have the time set aside to devote to it!

Day 17: 348 days left…96 books to go!

2009-10-19T20:33:00.000-06:00

Crazy Pregnant Avid Reader's Daily Hello!

Whew! Today has been a hectic day! Although I have completed my daily readings & blogged about them...and I even read an extra day's worth of bible readings today! But I haven't accomplished much on the new read, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" or completed my review of "Gone With the Wind"...but we'll see how the rest of the evening goes...I'm exhausted!

Things in life are relatively good....I've been off from work @ WestJet waiting for my maternity uniform to arrive & it has been weeks & weeks....and I just found-out today that I'm being pulled-off of payroll again because the uniform company claims it took me a month to send the uniforms back for alteration, when in fact, I had sent them back the day after I received them....good times! I'm doing an alright job of not stressing-out about it too much...but my husband isn't handling it quite as well! He's the keeper of the budget, so things are a little more difficult for him!
Baby's doing pretty good....I did get all gassy last night (tmi?!) from a simple glass of apple juice and was up till 4am trying to ease it down....let's hope for a better night's sleep tonight!
I'm really enjoying the new read so far....it's quite hilarious....hopefully finish it on-time, but we'll see!

Happy Monday everyone!!! Hope you endured yours & we all go on to have more relaxing Tuesdays!!! Happy Reading!

Day 17: 348 days left…96 books to go!

2009-10-19T19:46:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Compliments

Talking about how we don't give compliments enough and rarely receive them well...

Day 17: 348 days left…96 books to go!

2009-10-19T19:43:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love seeks to understand

Talking about how much effort we put into learning about our hobbies & interests or even into getting to know our spouse when we first starting dating them...but then typically stop investing the interest after you're married...
Dare is to have a special dinner date and focus on getting to know each other better....

Plan is to have a date this coming Wednesday night....!

Day 17: 348 days left…96 books to go!

2009-10-19T14:33:00.005-06:00

Genesis 46-50 Jacob goes to Egypt, Jacob blesses his sons, Jacob & Joseph pass-on

I found it interesting how God assures Jacob that it is safe to move to Egypt, although knowing what happens to the Israelites during the time of Moses, it seems that the move to Egypt led to tragedy. "And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, 'Jacob! Jacob!...I am God, the God of your father...Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again." Chapter 46 Verses 2-4
And at this point, Goshen was considered a choice place to settle in Egyptian territory..."...settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen." said Pharoh to Joseph...Chapter 47 Verse 6 "Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number." Verse 27
I love the blessings given back in these days....makes me think of formal blessings I could pray over our son...Jacob gives this blessing to Joseph's sons..."May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Issac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm- may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Issac and may they increase greatly upon the earth." Chapter 48 Verses 15 &16
After Jacob dies, Joseph's brothers are again worried that Joseph's favor of them will run out, but again Joseph assures them, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Chapter 50 Verse 20

THE BOOK OF GENESIS IS NOW COMPLETE!!!!

Matthew 13: 44- 14: 36

So many momentous events in today's reading...Jesus tells more parables, Jesus arrives in his hometown and the people there have no faith in Him, Jesus feeds the 5,000 and Jesus & Peter walk on water together.....wow!

Day 16: 349 days left…96 books to go!

2009-10-18T23:11:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance A Lesson from Loss

Moving-on after tragedy in your life....talking about how in the last minutes before your death, your thoughts are likely not centered on your to-do list for the day, but "Surely your thoughts are Real." Because in the last moments, Real is what's important....and it should be more important in our ordinary, daily lives.....Even when tragedy strikes, "You still have life. A choice as to how you will live this precious day...For the love of all that's holy, redeem one hour. Hold it close. Cherish it. Above all, be grateful for it. Let your thanksgiving rise above the din of disappointment-"

Day 16: 349 days left…96 books to go!

2009-10-18T23:06:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare: Love promotes intimacy

Talking about opening-up your secrets to your spouse and letting them be truly intimate with you with those areas of each others' lives...interesting question asking if your knowing all your spouses' secrets makes them feel safe or scared? I had to ponder that one for a time.....If your spouse shares his or her deepest, darkest secrets & personal struggles with you and you've taken that information harshly or held it against them in any way, they may feel more scared that you hold that information in your possession now and regretful for sharing it with you. "If home is not considered a place of safety, you will both be tempted to seek it somewhere else." "They will either know they're in a place of safety where they are free to make mistakes, or they will recoil into themselves and be lost to you, perhaps forever." Thought-provoking read today............

Day 16: 349 days left…96 books to go!

2009-10-18T23:01:00.000-06:00

Genesis 44 & 45: Joseph makes himself known to his brothers

It's amazing to me how Joseph holds no bitterness against his brothers for torturing him, selling him into slavery & abandoning him....at this point in the story, he has risen to greatness in Egypt, but he spent years as a slave and in prison after his brothers betrayed him, and yet he says with graciousness, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you...But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt." Chapter 45 Verses 4-8

May all of us be able to see the good God has brought together in the seemingly negative circumstances in our lives & give Him alone the glory, holding no bitterness or blame on those who've harmed us....

Day 15: 350 days left….97 books to go!

2009-10-17T11:18:00.000-06:00

Crazy Pregnant Avid Reader's Daily Hello!

It's a gorgeous Saturday morning in Saskatoon...it's been quite cold the past week or so here, but today the temperature has risen to at least 5 degrees & we're appreciative of it! I've just completed my daily readings for today & watched my husband & our dog return from their morning run....! In a few moments, I will have to ready myself for the day, pack a few things (mostly books, of course!) and head-out with Jay & the dog to Jay's hometown, Birch Hills SK for the rest of the weekend. Jay has a project due for University that requires him to research his historical family tree & produce actual paperwork evidence of his findings. This can only be done at home. I intend to blog-away from Birch Hills tomorrow but may end up accomplishing that once we're home again, we'll see!

I'm feeling great today, so hopefully the energy stays with me! I intend to take a very long, glorious walk later on today to soak in the gorgeous weather while I still can! Looking forward to having some one-on-one time with Jay that never seems to be enough!

Baby's good today as far as I can tell....he's moving around now & then, but still not as noticeably as I'd like...I know it will come! We're 21 weeks & 2 days along today....!

Reading is going well...."Gone With the Wind" is slow, but sure and I'm enjoying it FAR more than I did the film, FAR more than I thought I would, in fact. I'm highlighting a lot! From my other readings today, I desire to accept the Word of God onto good soil that will produce a crop (Bible Reading), pray for Jay (The Love Dare), & rejoice in a habit of being, a joie de vivre that looks forward to & creates simple pleasures throughout the day (Simple Abundance).

Day 15: 350 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-17T11:09:00.001-06:00

Simple Abundance The Habit of Being

On the life of Flannery O'Connor...who as said to have, ..."a deep joie de vivre".

"Her mornings were sacred, reserved for her writing, but the rest of the day was devoted to being Flannery."
"The habit of being- the exultation in the present moment- is an exquisite concept, one that could enrich our lives beyond measure. We're all habitual creatures, but usually we practice the habits of doing: getting up, making breakfast, getting children off to school and getting ourselves to work. Then there are the habits of brooding: projecting into the future, dwelling on the past, nursing old wounds, holding imaginary conversations, indulging in comparisons, conducting endless mental calculations about money, gnawing on regrets, second-guessing inspiration, ruminating on problems at work, anticipating the worst. The habits of brooding are rooted in the past or the future, they can rob the present moment of all harmony, beauty, and joy."
"The habit of being is a grateful appreciation for the good surrounding us, no matter what our circumstances might be today. What if you knew there was always going to be a simple pleasure to look forward to every few hours? What if you made sure there was? How do you think you would greet the day?
"Wouldn't it be better for you to discover a meaning in what you write than to impose one? Nothing you write will lack meaning because the meaning is you." Flannery O'Connor

Day 15: 350 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-17T10:58:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love intercedes

Good Love Dare today....on I am confident I will actually pull off! I'm meant to start praying for Jay & for our marriage...to pick 3 things where I desire God to work in Jay's heart.....Prayer has always been more difficult for me to "fit-in" than reading the Bible....reading comes relatively easy for me! But Prayer is always something I need to pursue more in my life....I'm not going to share the 3 things I'm praying for, but I do have them written-out in the Love Dare book....I'll expand on them later-on when there's been time for the prayer to do its work.....

Day 15: 350 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-17T10:49:00.002-06:00

Genesis 42 & 43 Joseph's brothers go to Egypt

Joseph is re-united with his youngest brother Benjamin & the prophecies in his dreams from when he was younger come true...

Matthew 13: 1-23 The Parable of the Sower

The Word of God is "sown" on various types of soil...I've often questioned I am an example of the rocky places..."Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallw. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." Verse 5 & 6
"The knowledge of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him....Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." Verses 11-13
Explanation of the Parable to the disciples..."The one who received the seed that fell on the rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he had no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but he worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on the good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it." Verses 20-23

Oh, to be good soil...to not let my faith fall away when troubles or worries come to call....to hear the word & understand it & produce a good crop with it.....

Day 14: Happy Friday!!! 351 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-16T19:59:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love is honorable

Good reading in this book today too!

Talking about people that you truly honor, "When you speak to them, you keep your language clean and understandable. You are courteous and polite. When they speak to you, you take them seriously, giving their words weight and significance." I can think of at least several people off the top of my head that I generally treat with honor.....I watch what I say around them and take their words seriously.....this chapter is calling me to treat Jay the same way....
I am meant to say, "Of all the relationships I have, I will value ours the most. Of all the things I'm willing to sacrifice, I will sacrifice the most for you."
Today's Dare: is to find a way to show Jay that I honor him.......

Day 14: Happy Friday!!! 351 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-16T19:52:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance Ceremonials for Common Days (October 16th)

Good read today Sarah! Thank You! "We actually do most of our living among the common days, taking them for granted just the way we do the people we love."

"A liturgy of commonplace moments ripe for personal ritual might include:

sipping the first cup of coffee
putting on one's public face
eating at one's desk
window shopping
making a long-desired purchase
crossing the threshold at night
changing into comfortable clothes
hearing the sound of a loved one's homecoming footsteps
sitting down to a simple meal
being paid
traveling on business
sharing a laugh or a confidence or both!
indulging in rainy day reveries
curling up to watch videos at home
sleeping in late and having breakfast in bed
starting a good book
losing five pounds
having a good cry
and so on........

I high-lighted the few that are definitely moments to cherish for me that I should recognize more often as they happen...take more ceremony in them....What other commonplace moments would you add to the list? Here are a few more that come to mind for me:

Sitting down on the sofa with 2 pieces of warm toast in the morning and pressing "start" on the shows that taped either the night before or in the early morning hours.....lately those shows are predominantly "Road to Avonlea", "The Ellen Degeneres Show", "Glee!" and "The Office"...as well as Oprah's Live Fridays......and the occasional epidsode of "So You Think You Can Dance"......
Sitting @ my desk in front of my laptop at some point during the day to check my facebook & email accounts and then dive into reading & blogging! I love updating my status on facebook to what's new with me & my day....egotistical? maybe! But I enjoy it all the same! I love hearing what's new with my friends & acquaintances and being reminded of upcoming events....I also receive daily & weekly baby emails from a couple of websites that are often fun to read through....the really interesting or "good" ones I forward to Jay and we get excited with the stats of what's going on in Baby Zion's development that week or a milestone that we've achieved in the pregnancy....it's fun! And the reading with this book challenge has been so rewarding! Especially with the daily selections of the Bible & Simple Abundance.....I do feel more connected to "The Sacred" these days, as Sarah would put it!
This one's for the absolute nerd in me!!! Adding a new book or movie to my Living Social profile as read or watched! Ha, ha! I LOVE adding another title to my collections, rating them, sometimes reviewing them and often adding them to various lists!!! If it's an especially good movie or one with many notable actors, it can take up a chunk of my time, but it really IS a ritual for me!!!
Climbing into bed alongside Jay at night and being pulled into a cozy snuggle.....ahhh....my favorite!

Send 3 or more of your commonplace moments ripe for personal ritual my way! "But as I watch the starts of evening, and in the morning open my window toward the east, I shall observe the Ceremonial of quietness of heart, of simplicity, and poise of spirit, that I may keep my soul and the souls of others free form entanglements in the machinery of a day." Ceremonials of Common Days by Abbie Graham

Day 14: Happy Friday!!! 351 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-16T19:28:00.000-06:00

Genesis 40-41: The Cupbearer & the Baker, Pharoh's Dreams and Joseph in Charge of Egypt

In Chapter 40 Verse 8, Joseph says, "Do not interpretations belong to God?" and then he asks the Cupbearer & the Baker to tell him the dreams they had the previous night that disturbed them both....I don't know very many people who put stalk in dreams these days....at least not from a biblical standpoint. I have acquaintances who journal their dreams and search for their meaning in secular books....but I rarely ask God to reveal the meanings of my dreams to me as if they served any purpose.....Most of my dreaming seems rather ridiculous & energy-draining to me....but it does cause me to wonder.....
In Chapter 41, 2 years after Joseph interprets the dreams of the Cupbearer & the Baker...Pharoh himself has a dream that no one seemed to be able to interpret....and the Cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharoh about him....when Joseph was called from prison to interpret the dream for Pharoh, it amazes me what he says, "I cannot do it, but god will give Pharoh the answer he desires." Verse 16 It would have been so easy for him to take personal credit in the hopes of elevating his status in Pharoh's eyes and possibly being saved from prison.....Of course, being the man of faith that Joseph was, he didn't fall into that temptation...and God blessed Joseph through Pharoh anyhow. "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?...Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you...I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Verses 38-41
I'm also inspired with how people chose names for their children in biblical times....names always meant something significant....We chose "Zion" for our son who's on the way partly because I'm partial to names starting with "Z"....I like the way they sound, partly because it's a unique name and partly because of the significance the name has in the Bible. The "City of God" is often referred to as Zion....but I have considered really branching-out and naming a daughter "Humility" as that's a character trait I struggle with constantly....I'd hope that naming a daughter that would be prophesying over her life.....I'd love to see all of my children christened with names of meaning...and would hope that they won't in turn grow up to resent me for it!

Matthew 12: 22-50 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." Verse 30 "...for a tree is recognized by its fruit." Verse 33 "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Verse 34

These verses strike me tonight....I often contemplate on what God expects from me, from my life but specifically from my days and my immediate actions....The idea that "he who is not with me is against me".....it does cause me to believe that if I do not choose to actively stand with God, with what is important to Him....if I'm just sitting around in mediocrity, coasting through life.....am I actually against Him??? If "a tree is recognized by it's fruit" then there has to BE fruit! I don't take much credit for a lot of evidence of fruit in my life.....I occasionally step out of my comfort zone & selfish well-being to do something for someone else, but that's occasional and rare.......If I would take every day & each moment as an opportunity to " bear fruit", would my life be a more useful tree?.......That last verse is the most striking of the three in this passage......"For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." Much of what flows out of my mouth, I'm ashamed of.....this would mean I have a shameful heart.......this requires immediate attention. Not only am I a child of God with a responsibility to the world...but I am soon to be a mother and I strongly desire to rise to that station with godly character & godly speech....which must come from a God-centered heart.....

Day 14: Happy Friday!!! 351 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-16T18:56:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday everyone! The weekend is here! Although, my life is pretty-much the weekend all the time these days and I'm thoroughly enjoying it, I realize that for most of you, Friday is a pretty exciting thing! I started this blog as a personal venture, a challenge for myself to rev-up some motivation and accomplish a seemingly impossible goal while also tackling some pretty big life changes this year! Of course, after watching "Julie & Julia"...it occurred to me that it would be great if a few people actually paid attention to my little journey with this blog.....but I'm determined to use it as my own little daily therapy, regardless of whether anyone else reads it or not! I'm delighted that a couple of my close friends HAVE been following along already, even though they're not listed as "followers" on blogspot and I am terribly encouraged by that!!!

You may notice, if YOU're one of the possible YOU's who read this blog!....that the past couple of days, I have been splitting my reading commentaries into labels according to the type of reading it is....My daily blogs seemed awfully long & I wondered if as many people were interested in everything I was reading, whether it be from the Bible or Sarah's Simple Abundance or one of the Book Challenge selections....or if you'd rather click on the different labels and see what's new for each type......By splitting my commentaries up, I've stopped giving much of a "Hey, how's it going" spheal with updates on my life & how the pregnancy is coming along.....but I have had @ least one friend come forward that they enjoyed my little blurbs @ the beginning of the daily blog with a personal & baby update.....I'm not sure at this point what the best solution is......If anyone else who's been perusing my blog has an insight, please go ahead & toss your thoughts this way! I'm all ears!!!

For today, I will try giving this "hello" to the world! Possibly highlight on what I'm reading for you briefly, and then divy-out my commentaries on today's reads in their seperate labels....we shall see how that goes!

Personal Update: I've been feeling quite tired this week, I must admit....and I'm curious at that because I was under the impression that I would be on this energy-burst until at least the beginning of the 3rd Trimester (another 6 weeks) or even into the 7th Month.....maybe I'm just fighting-off the sickness that is really going around this house lately! Who knows?! I was thrilled to have my cousin & her 9 month-old baby Ixara visiting with us today...what a sweetheart! I think my favorite part was seeing how my husband Jay interracted with him! I cannot wait to see him as a father! He'll be our babies saving grace on this earth! Such fun! Spending time with my cousin & the tiredness I'm dealing with is why today's blog is coming about so late in the evening....

Baby Update: I am going to introduce Baby Nelson to you officially today, I have decided! Baby's gender & name are not plastered all over facebook @ this point...but as a reward to anyone who may be supporting my blog.....here it is! Ladies & Gentlemen, for the first time.......@ 21 weeks in the oven! Our son, Zion Nelson!!!

Reading Challenge Update: Well, I definitely hit my first few snags this past week! I missed 2 days of reading in a row and had to blog 3-days worth all on one day on Wednesday! And it looks like I'm going to be behind in completing "Gone With the Wind" on schedule....supposed to start the next read tomorrow...we'll see! The sooner I complete today's daily readings, the sooner I can crack-down with Scarlet O'Hara throughout Part 3 & beyond to see how she single-handedly saves Tara! I've been learning SO much in taking-in pieces of Scripture every day in my Bible Reading....something I've always desired in my daily routine & it's been incredibly rewarding....and most days, I glean a wealth of wisdom from Sarah's Simple Abundance.....The Love Dare has been quite difficult for me to succeed in....it is HARD stuff! Although I aim to keep persevering, the reading alone is helpful to my marriage and I'm glad I'm attempting to tackle it! Thanks SO much to those of you who are following along.....this has already been so fun for me and with your continuing encouragement.....(comments please!!!) I will hopefully reach my goals along the way! Click on any of the above label headings for invidivual commentaries on what I've been reading!!!!

Day 13: 352 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-15T12:51:00.000-06:00

The Love Dare Love takes delight

"...You should not just follow your heart. You should lead it."
"It comes from the decision to delight in your spouse and to love him or her no matter how long you've been married."
"If you pick at your mate more than you praise him, it's because you've allowed your heart to be selfish" OUCH! So true!!!
Today's Dare is again a hard one, as Jay is gone all day except for an hour between school & work....I'm meant to purposefully neglect an activity I would normally do so I can spend quality time with him....at the very least, I can make sure to not be on the computer or reading or watching my own tv show when he's home for that one hour....not sure what else I'll have the opportunity to pull off.....we'll see!

Day 13: 352 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-15T12:35:00.000-06:00

Simple Abundance The Quality of the Day (October 15th)

Talking about "-how we greet, meet, and complete each day is our choosing."
Attitude is a choice & that alone can shape any day...rainy or not....

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2009-10-15T12:25:00.001-06:00

Day 13: 352 days left…97 books to go!

2009-10-15T12:24:00.000-06:00

Genesis 38: Judah & Tamar

Crazy story that Francine Rivers spins her own version of in her Lineage of Grace Series ...can't imagine the past-lives where if your husband died, you were forced to marry his single brother(s).....the times pushed Tamar to such measures as to trick her father-in-law into impregnanting her...and to this his response is, "She is more righteous than I." Verse 26 Many things in the Bible I will never understand!

Genesis 39: Joseph & Potiphar's Wife

There are so many notable verses in this chapter about how God took care of Joseph after he was sold into slavery...."The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of hte Egyptian because of Joseph." Verses 2-5
"Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph" Verse 7..... but he continually refused her advances...and because of this, she framed him and he ended-up thrown in prison...."...the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there...the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." Verses 21, 22 & 23b
One of my favorite adaptations of the life of Joseph is this one featuring Ben Kingsley...check it out! Joseph

Matthew 12: 1-21 Lord of the Sabbath & God's Chosen Servant

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." Verses 7 & 8
"How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Verse 12
"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope." Verses 18-21

My church did a beautiful display with this analogy of "bruised reeds & smoldering wicks" a while back....wondering if it's the same idea that God can still use cracked pots....how many of us feel like bruised reeds or only smoldering wicks? God is not here to break us or snuff us out....He's here to bring us to justice and we can put our hope in that.....

Charlotte's Web!

2009-10-14T16:46:00.003-06:00

Charlotte's Web! by E.B. White

Such a cute read! I can't wait to read it aloud to my baby! There were several things that I'd forgotten about the original tale....such as the fact that Fern can hear the animals talk....that was a pleasant surprise! Jumping right into my favorite quotes & story-points:

On killing Wilbur: "If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?"

"This is the most terrible case of injustice I have ever heard of."
On Fern receiving Wilbur as her own pet & Avery being jealous..."I only distribute pigs to early risers, Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice."

On Mr. Zuckerman's barn: "It often had a sort of peaceful smell- as though nothing bad could happen ever again in the world."
"The world is a wonderful place when you're young." Chapter- Escape

On Wilbur escaping & then being put back in the barnyard: "It was good to be home again."

Wilbur's very busy schedule: "From eleven to twelve he planned to stand still and watch flies on the boads, watch bees in teh clover, and watch swallows in the air...From two to three, he planned to scratch itchy places by rubbing against the fence. From three to four, he planned to stand perfectly still and think of what it was like to be alive, and to wait for Fern."

Upon first hearing Charlotte's voice: "You can imagine Wilbur's surprise when, out of the darkness, came a small voice he had never heard before. It sounded rather thin, but pleasant. 'Do you want a friend, Wilbur?' it said. 'I'll be a friend to you. I've watched you all day and I like you.'" Chapter- Loneliness

The first word that Charlotte spoke to Wilbur the next day: "Salutations!"
"Wilbur was merely suffering the doubts & fears that often go with finding a new friend."

"All these sounds made him feel comfortable and happy, for he loved life and loved to be a part of the world on a summer evening." Chapter- Wilbur's Boast

"Children almost always hang onto things tighter than their parents think they will." Chapter- An Explosion

On Charlotte's writings in the web: "On foggy mornings, Charlotte's web was truly a thing of beauty."

First words she wrote in the web: "Some Pig!"
"All said they had never seen such a pig before in their lives."
The pastor about Wilbur: "He said that the words on the spider's web proved that human beings must always be on the watch for the coming of wonders."

"People believe almost anything they see in print." Chapter- A Meeting

2nd Word Charlotte wrote on her web about Wilbur: "Terrific!"
"There isn't a pig in the whole state that is as terrific as our pig."

On Fern claiming she can hear the animals talk: "Perhaps if people talked less, animals would talk more." Chapter- Dr. Dorian

3rd Word Charlotte wrote on her web about Wilbur: "Radiant."

Charlotte, on the creation of her egg sac: "I will show you my masterpiece."

4th Word Charlotte wrote on her web about Wilbur: "Humble."

On Wilbur & Charlotte's Victory: "In the last analysis, we simply know that we are dealing with supernatural forces here, and we should all feel proud and grateful."

"I have the honor of awarding a special prize of twenty-five dollars to Mr. Zuckerman, together with a handsome bronze medal suitably engraved, in token of our appreciation of the part played by this pig- this radiant, this terrific, this humble pig."
"This was the greatest moment in Mr. Zuckerman's life. It is deeply satisfying to win a prize in front of a lot of people."

Wilbur to Charlotte about how she saved his life: "Why did you do all this for me?...I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."

"I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die...By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."
"But you have saved me, Charlotte, and I would gladly give my life for you- I really would."

Wilbur's welcome to her children who chose to stay in the barn: "Welcome to the barn cellar. You have chosen a hallowed doorway from which to string your webs. I think it is only fair to tell you that I was devoted to your mother. I owe my very life to her. She was brilliant, beautiful and loyal to the end. I shall always treasure her memory. To you, her daughters, my friendship, forever and ever."

"It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both." My favorite quote in the whole book & the last line of the story!

Days 10, 11 & 12 Simple Abundance Readings: 353 days left....!

2009-10-14T12:52:00.003-06:00

Simple Abundance A Tale of Two Times (October 12th's reading)

Good Reading for Monday!!! Starts off with a quote from "A Tale of Two Cities", which of course, I just read! "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Charles Dickens And comparing that quote to the 2 different types of time....Chronos & Kairos...

"As the sculptor and poet Henry Van Dyke explains: 'Time is/ Too slow for those who Wait/ Too swift for those who Fear/ Too long for those who grieve/ Too short for those who Rejoice...'"
Chronos time refers to clocks & deadlines, etc....the world's time
Kairos time is "transcendence, infinity, reverence, joy, passion, love, the Sacred."
"Kairos lets go."
"Chronos requires speed so that it won't be wasted. Kairos requires space so that it might be savored."
"We think we've never known kairos, but we have: when making love, when meditating or praying, when lost in music's rapture or literature's reverie, when planting bulbs or pulling weeds, when watching over a sleeping child, when reading the Sunday comics together in bed, when delighting in a sunset, when exulting in our passions. We know joy in kairos, glimpse beauty in kairos, remember what it means to be alive in kairos, reconnect with our Divinity in kairos."
And we achieve Kairos in our daily lives:

"By slowing down."
"By concentrating on one thing at a time."
"By going about whatever we are doing as if it were the only thing worth doing at that moment."
"By pretending we have all the time in the world, so that our subconscious will kick in and make it so."
"By making time."
"By taking time."

"It only takes a moment to cross over from chronos to kairos, but it does take a moment."

Simple Abundance Absolutely Fabulous (October 13th's reading)

Interesting idea....not sure if I agree with it...talking about embracing our shadows....that part of us that's irresponsible & uninhibited....I do agree that we have to let ourselves loose occasionally to avoid "unexpected explosions" but this can be accomplished with a good comedy that makes you laugh or a naughty dessert or an energetic game of soccer outside, can't it? It's important to have a release....but I don't believe in the importance of letting our ugly sides show...not that I don't from time to time, and not that it doesn't usually give me an initial relase....it just doesn't carry with it a lasting one..........

Simple Abundance The Ultimate Result of All Ambition (October 14th's reading)

"To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition." Samuel Johnson
Reminding us that working hard, making money, accomplishing goals....all these things should be meant so that when we are at home, we are "happy"....
Good tool to apply to the above examples of working, etc. If all we do is work, what have we accomplished by way of quality of life? Jay helped me out in a seemingly small way with helping me create my own personal space....I know always look forward to being HOME......and it's true....if what you do throughout your day brings you home in a terrible mood that you can't snap out of....re-evaluate what you're doing with your day!

Days 10, 11 & 12 Love Dares: 353 days left....!

2009-10-14T12:23:00.002-06:00

The Love Dare Love Cherishes

Interesting comparison between how most people handle major car repairs or major physical injuries...."Because of the expensive repairs, he determines to get rid of the car and spend his funds on a new vehicle." But is your hand was crushed in an accident, you'd spend the time & money to get it back to working order. This chapter is saying that most people treat their marriages like the first scenario...when it seems to no longer be working, they trade it in for a new model....but, "You are a part of one another."
Monday's Dare is: To willingly meet a need of Jay's today so that he knows I truly cherish him....

The Love Dare Love lets the other win

Talking about the different areas where we disagree...of which, of course, there are many! "Though these issues may not crop up every day, they keep resurfacing and don't really go away." Talks about the need to be "willing" to put my own feelings or attitude aside for what Jay feels on the other side of the issue.
Encourages though, that we should embrace our differences..."Two people who always share the same opinions and perspectives won't have any balance or flavor to enhance the relationship. Rather, your differences are for listening to and learning from."
Tuesday's Dare is: To willingly choose to give in to an area of disagreement between us....

The Love Dare Love fights fair

"Conflict in marriage is simply inevitable."
"Married couples who learn to work through conflict tend to be closer, more trusting, more intimate, and enjoy a much deeper connection afterwards."
"We" Boundaries:

We will never mention divorce
We will not bring up old, unrelated items from the past
We will never fight in public or in front of the children
We will call a "time out" if conflict escalates to a damaging level
We will never touch one another in a harmful way
We will never go to bed angry with one another
Failure is not an option. Whatever it takes, we will work this out

Wednesday's Dare: is to start working through conflicts with these boundaries in mind....

Days 10, 11 & 12 Bible Readings: 353 days left....!

2009-10-14T11:50:00.003-06:00

3 Days worth of Genesis & Matthew....here we come!

Genesis 31-37

The beginning of these 6 chapters of reading starts with Jacob leaving his father in law, Laban. The Lord said to him, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." Verse 3 Laban pursues Jacob when he leaves in secret but Jacob convinces him that he must go his own way.
Jacob then prepares to reunite with his brother Esau and spends a night wrestling with God..."So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak." Chapter 32 Verse 24 "Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak. But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'" Verse 26 "Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Verse 28 Then Jacob said, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." Verse 30
Jacob & Esau reunite...."But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept." Chapter 33 Verse 4
To the end of the 3 days' reading, we get into the story of Jacob's son Joseph...."Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him." Chapter 37 Verse 3
Then Joseph starts dreaming and his brothers begin to resent him more than they already do....and in the end of Chapter 37, Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery with the Midianite merchants.....

Matthew 10 & 11

Jesus sends out the 12 disciples....He says to them, "Freely you have received, freely give." Chapter 10 Verse 8 "As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town." Verses 12-14

I've spent bible studies trying to understand what those verses really mean...it seems that it's saying it's okay to give up on people...which I'm tempted to do often, but always believe that we're supposed to exercise humility, turn the other cheek, set our pride aside and love.....Those two concepts don't seem to match...

"But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Verses 19-20
"All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel, before the Son of Man comes." Verses 22-23
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Verse 28
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But however disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Verses 32-33
"...and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Verses 38-39
Jesus & John the Baptist "...and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." Chapter 11 Verses 5e & 6

"I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Verse 10

"But wisdom is proved right by her actions." Verse 19
"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Verse 25
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Verses 28-30

Days 10 & 11 & 12: 353 days left….97 books to go!

2009-10-14T11:20:00.000-06:00

SO.....I DID complete all of my readings & blog post on Thanksgiving Sunday....but Thanksgiving Monday was so jam-packed with family-time & flying home & unpacking that I missed my very first blogging day....I was initially pretty disappointed in myself, but my husband thinks missing 1 day over Thanksgiving weekend is to be expected....And THEN, I neglected to get a post in yesterday as well...so I'm making-up for much lost time today! I'm also trying something new today and seeing if I can blog about each type of reading I'm doing on separate labels...Wish me luck!

Day 9: 356 days left…98 books to go!

2009-10-11T10:09:00.000-06:00

On Thanksgiving holidays in Alberta and still completed my daily readings this morning...I am on a roll! But I'm not quite half-finished "Charlotte's Web" yet and I intended to have it read yesterday, so I better get crackin' on that!

Genesis 29-30 Gorgeous love story between Jacob & Rachel, albeit completely unconventional & really, REALLY olde-fashioned! Almost the moment Jacob sees Rachel, it's a steamy scene from a movie..."Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud." Verse 11 Talk about an emotionally & chemistry-charged encounter! Jacob then propositions Rachel's father to work for him for 7 years in order to receive his daughter in marriage..."So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." Verse 20 Sigh!!! But Jacob's father-in-law to be "tricked" him into marrying Leah, which he apparently didn't discover until the morning....not sure how sex was carried-out back then...either Jacob was heavily drunk or Leah was robed from head to.....you know....Who knows? But Jacob was permitted to marry Rachel as well, "Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years." Verse 30 Tough break for both daughters if you ask me.....

When Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son, I love her exclamation, "How happy I am! The women will call be happy. So she named him Asher." Chapter 30 Verse 13 My cousin has a son named Asher, a gorgeous name in my opinion....I wonder if this verse was part of the reasoning....

Matthew 9:18-38 Jesus continues to miraculously heal in this chapter..."Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you." Verse 22 Then he raises a young girl to life while her family is hosting her wake....then He healed the eyes of two blind men....and sends a demon from out of a man that had been making him mute, "And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." Verse 34 I should think they hadn't!

At the end of the chapter, as Jesus was going through the crowds, "He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Verses 36-38

Simple Abundance It's Always Something A saying that Gilda Radner's character Roseanne Roseannadanna on SNL was known for saying....talking about how we take time for granted and sometimes when tragedy strikes, we then start living each day to the fullest..."When you walk this earth on borrowed time, each day on the calendar is a beloved friend you know for only a short time." Then Sarah tells us of a friend, "When she made the terrible discovery that she had breast cancer, she admitted to close friends that in a strange way, she was relieved. Cancer meant she could start saying, 'No', create boundaries, and finally put down the school committee burden without guilt. Now she could ransom back her life."

The Love Dare Love is unconditional Talking about what great reasons we give for why we love our spouses...because of their character or that they're always there for you....but "The truth is this: love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one chooseing to love." Love is a choice. To the one who says they've fallen out of love, what they're really saying is, "I never loved you unconditionally to begin with.' His love was based on feelings or circumstances rather than committment." Today I'm meant to go out of my way to do something for Jay....which will really be a challenge since we're away from home....but we'll see!

Charlotte's Web Nearing the half-way mark!

Day 8: 357 days left….98 books to go!

2009-10-10T09:46:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend everyone! My husband & I are off for Calgary today to celebrate with my Grandparents! I'm looking forward to them all seeing my big baby belly for the first time & letting them in on the secret of what we're having! Baby's feeling restless today with all of my anxiousness with the trip, no doubt! 20 Weeks & 2 days pregnant today!

READING:

Genesis 27-28

Jacob steals his brother Esau's blessing for the firstborn in today's reading...It's interesting to me the importance that used to be placed on being First-Born...especially among sons....and the specific blessings the patriarchs would give that held great significance...
In Chapter 28, Jacob dreams of a stairway to heaven & the Lord speaks to him...he responds by saying, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." Verse 17 And Jacob declares there that the Lord is his God.

Matthew 8:28-9:17 These chapters are so filled with stories, it's hard to process everything...1st, Jesus encounters 2 men who are possessed by demons & the demons immediately acknowledge Him by saying, "What do you want with us, Son of God?" Verse 29 Even the demons declare that Jesus is God! Then Jesus tells a paralyzed man whose friends have brought him to be healed, that his sins are forgiven! Jesus says, "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." Verse 6 And then He heals the paralyzed man, who walks home..."When the crowd saw this they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." Verse 8 At the end of this reading, Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector, a known sinner, to follow Him & He dines with he & other degenerate citizens that night. When He is questioned about this, He wisely says, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick...For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Verse 12-13 He came for you & me....

Simple Abundance Poise Wreckers

"No quality is more attractive than poise- that deep sense of being at ease with yourself and the world." -Good Housekeeping, September 1947
"Never dress to impress others: dress to express your authentic sense of style. The only way we become truly at ease with ourselves is by knowing who we are." This Sarah says after getting a new haircut & outfit and completely nerving herself out of her skin for an appointment with an intimidating person...she learned that she would have conveyed so much more confidence had she just been herself.
"Because when we're not obsessively focusing on ourselves or our shortcomings, our smiles become warmer, our laughter more spontaneous, and our thoughtfulness blossoms."
"When we feel at ease with ourselves, we feel at ease with the world."

The Love Dare Love makes good impressions

Talking about how we go out of our way to greet others politely but often don't think about how we greet our spouses...."When someone communicates that htey are glad to see you, your personal sense of self-worth increases. You feel more important and valued. That's because a good greeting sets the stage for positive and healthy interaction. Like love, it puts wind in your sails."
Today's Challenge is to take an opportunity to greet Jay warmly so that he knows how glad I am to see him & have him around and to think about how I greet him from day to day, in the morning, on the phone, etc. Good Challenge!

Charlotte's Web I spent so much time working on my blog yesterday, I didn't even crack it....luckily I'll have some airport & flying time today to get to it!