Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus.Once a month six of us gather in a circle for group spiritual direction. Each of us takes a turn sharing where and how God has been moving in our lives. We listen intensely and intentionally in silence to each story, then after prayer share a simple response, hopefully instilled with the Holy Spirit.Often I have to peer deep within me and struggle to find the words to describe my experiences with God. Last month I told them that since my June retreat I have … [Read more...]
What Matters Most – Book Review
“God does not come to us offering rules; God comes offering relationship.”What Matters Most: How We Got the Point but Missed the Person is a new book by Leonard Sweet. The quote above is a good summary of the message of this book: We spent more time debating the “right theology” and creating the“right rules”, than building a relationship with God and with others.I liked this book as Sweet offered new slants to the familiar story of Abraham and I appreciate his method of studying the root of words such as belief, faith, hear and obey to gain insight into their meanings. I enjoy reading a book that offers some “meat” to ponder and innovative viewpoints with stories and words that have grown familiar. This book would be a great book for discussion in a small group. Questions are available in the back of the book and there is a web site with bonus material to add to a group’s conversation.Sweet reminds us that God’s greatest desire in to love us so we can love God and others. God’s … [Read more...]
What’s on Your Nightstand?
I am a reader. I love books and am a firm believer in “there is no such thing as too many books.”I am one of those readers with several books going at the same time. We are called “poly-readers.” I think it is easier to do that with non-fiction, my usual fare.My husband laughs at me: I have books on the living room end table, the nightstand, on my desk and in my car. And yes I have a Kindle with several books in progress there too.I heard on NPR the Chicago Tribune cultural critic Julia Keller say:“I mean, I like the idea of books, not just this thing off to the side of our lives, but they're right in the midst of our lives. We're, in effect, living our fiction and our nonfiction. And you can do that when you're reading multiple books. You do kind of just get this idea that you're moving through this forest of words and stories and characters. It's not just this block of paper or a Kindle or an iPad sitting at your elbow. It's a part of your life. It's something you're moving through, … [Read more...]
You’re Already Amazing – New Book by Holley Gerth
My eyes filled up with tears. Maybe I was just tired or maybe it was the message so many shared that day. I do know and agree with the Frederick Buechner quote: “Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling the secret of who you are, but more often than not of the mystery of where you have come from and are summoning you to where you should go next.”So I paid attention to what they said: “I am not good enough.”“I am never enough.”“I don’t deserve God’s love.”I shook my head along with the knowing I too struggling with that false belief. We need to hear a new message. Perhaps that is why I like Holly Gerth’s new book, You’re Already Amazing – Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be. What a phrase to ponder. What intrigued me though, was the front cover of the book and how the title emphasized the word ALREADY. Just think how our lives would change if we really lived as if we … [Read more...]
Lessons in Growing Old Gracefully – Billie Graham – Nearing Home
What is the best way to grow old gracefully? One of my favorite Bible verses is: “They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing.” Psalm 92:14. We have a wonderful example of bearing fruit at an older age in evangelist Billie Graham. Graham has just released his latest and probably his last book, Nearing Home, Life, Faith and Finishing Well. This book is full of practical, honest, and inspirational advice for both young and old on the art of living fully until the end of life. He gives wonderful examples not just from his life, but also from others such as his wife Ruth and Biblical characters. As I read this book it was like an experience of the sitting at the feet of a wise elder sharing his final words of wisdom with a group. He shares ideas to be best prepared mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for whatever old age brings our way. Graham’s words challenge the readers to consider what legacy we … [Read more...]
Close Enough to Hear God Breathe – Book Review
My father served in World War II while my older brothers grew up. I came along much later. Being the only girl and the only baby he really got to enjoy as an infant, needless to say, we were close. My dad was a physician and was doubly frightened in the 1950s polio epidemic: he knew the devastating effects of this disease after seeing it in his practice and he had a little girl to protect. On day he called me into the living room and said he had a gift for me. He brought home the first dose of the polio vaccine his office received to give to me. I don’t remember the sting of the needle, only his strong loving arms and his tender, slightly shaking voice. When I think of being so close enough to God to hear Him breathe – I think of that intimate moment being in my dad’s arms. It is a powerful image for me.Greg Paul has written a new book called, “Close Enough to Hear God Breathe.” He writes the basic message God says over and over again to each of us is “My child. My … [Read more...]
WITH – Book Review
How do you relate to God? Is He the Great commander giving us laws to live by or one we feel we are obligated to serve? Is He the Almighty Genie in the sky? I know in my heart what I am supposed to believe about God, but find myself many times operating with an entirely different set of images that affect my relationship with the Lord. With – Reimaging the Way you Relate to God is a new book by Skye Jethani. The tag line intrigued me: “Stop living your life under, over, from, and for God and start living in communion with Him.”Jethani describes five postures that Christians often take toward God because of the way they view Him. He writes a chapter on the four most common ways: under, over, from, and for. “Life under God sees the world as governed by the capricious will of God. Life over God places immutable natural laws at the center. Life from God assumes the world orbits around the self and its desires. And life for God sees a divine mission a the core of all things.”The second … [Read more...]
Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go – Book Review
Reading a daily devotional feeds the soul and feeding on God’s word each day is an essential spiritual practice for our walk with Him. But do you ever just plan don’t have time for your morning routine? I sure have had that lately and feel a parchedness in my soul and a disconnect from God.I lived through a series of difficult nights and early mornings helping a dear friend through major health issues.Then this week my husband and I left at 5 a.m. to take another friend to the hospital for early morning surgery.My morning time with God has disappeared.Except for one bright moment:Author Beth Bence Reinke sent me her pocket size devotional to review. Little did she know she sent it to me just at the right time, as I desperately needed a way to communicate with God in a quick and easy fashion. Her words provided nourishment just when I most required them.Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go is unique in several ways. First it is pocket size, so it fits easily into a purse or pocket. Its … [Read more...]