Revival

Well, here I go again.  Yet another attempt to revive The Blog.  Seems like whenever I read, I'm motivated to write (what irony).  And tonight, I enjoyed looking at a project that someone did, where they took a photograph of themselves every day for 365 days.  It was inspirational, because she's an amazing photographer... and while I really wanted to do a challenge like that, I knew it was unrealistic, because there's no way I'd have the time or creativity  to take a cool  picture of myself every day ...and I'm sure you'd all be bored looking at the same exact pose 365 different times.  So I figured, why not give you a small verbal snapshot of myself each day, along with an occasional visual snapshot?  Just typing that makes me feel narcissistic, but my motivation is pure.  It really has little to do with showing myself to you because i know you're all desperately waiting, but had more to do with saving moments in time for myself to look back upon --- which i think just made me sound all the more self absorbed.  Oh well... I guess I can't escape it.

So.   here we go.  Snapshot day1 ... oooh! since i seem to be changing the direction of The Blog - yet again- maybe i should change the title -yet again... will consider the title, "Snapshots."  What do you think?
-distracted- let me start again.
Snapshot day 1:

Today I finished reading "Hank the Cowdog" to my kids.  This was fun for me, because I remember reading it (and meeting the author!) when I was in 5th grade.  They all enjoyed it just as much as me, and kept begging me not to put it down. :)  It was also a little sad, though because I know that our cuddling-on-the-couch-around-a-good-book times are coming to an end, because my two big kids will be going to public school this fall.

Choice one:  if you want Karina to be sad about this decision, continue reading here:   *SOB!*  {runs from computer and throws herself on the bed in a fit of tears and cries herself to sleep}

Choice two:  if you want Karina to be happy about this decision, read here:   *WaHoo!!*  {leaps away from computer and celebrates her upcoming freedom by doing the  happy dance until the clock strikes midnight}

Did I mention that I've also been reading a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book to the kids?

Why I love Sandra Boynton

okay... Sandra Boynton is quick becoming my favorite children's author. (it's a pretty tight race with David Shannon) But just the other day, i discovered that she does MUSIC as well!!! after hearing this *great* song the other day, & had to go & research it. Turns out, Sandra Boynton made a bunch of books/cd's. So i bought one (Blue Moo), & got it in the mail yesterday. Her lyrics are just so fun!!! -maybe even as good as Shel Silverstein! here are a few of my favorite songs:

The Uninvited Parade:


We're On Parade! We're on Parade!
We are Marching Marching through your living room!
A swell Brigade!
We're on Parade!
And the Big Bass Drum goes boom boom boom!
And the big bass drum goes boom!
We are marching up the stairs.
We are marching down the hall
We will have to turn around because your hallway is too small.
Parade!
We're on Parade!
We are marching through your closet, unafraid!
We are marching down the stairs.
We are marching out the door.
We will sing our noble ending just like every time before:
We're the uninvited loud precision band!
It's the best intruding band in all the land!

Return of the Uninvited Parade:


We are marching through your kitchen, for we need a little snack.
Now we organize your cupboards, and we exit out the back.
We're the uninvited loud precision band!
It's the best intruding band in all the land!

Loud!/Quiet:


One Shoe Blues: (sung by B.B King!!)


Well, I woke up this morning
Couldn't find my shoe
Yes, I woke up this morning and i couldn't find my shoe.
Although the right one is here, I need the left one too
(Yes, I do)
I can hear my mama calling.
She says it's time to go.
Yes, I can hear my mama calling.
She says:
REALLY now, it's time to go.
I say:
Mama, I can't find one of my shoes!
And she says, Oh now. Not again.
I've got the one shoe blues
it seems they're never gonna stop.
yes, those one shoe blues.
Oh, they might never ever stop.
Mama says,
just come along now!
one shoe.
do you expect me to hop?
Did you look in the close and under the bed?
yes, i did
did you look CAREFULLY in the closet and under the bed?
yes, yes i did.
try and think where you left it.
that's what my mama said.
Last night i left it right here next to my other shoe.
I KNOW I put it right here next to my other shoe.
I think somebody took it.
Bud i don't know who.
No, I don't.
I've got the
one shoe blues.
that's why I'm singing this song.
I've got the
one shoe blues!
And so I'm singing this sad song.
You know it's been
at least twenty minutes
that i 've been looking in every POSSIBLE place
for that...
huh.
There it i.
I guess it was on my foot all along.
Okay, i'm ready to go now.
Anybody seen my coat?

With You: (Sung by Bobby Vee!)

so sweet!

Rabbit Tango: (Sung by Patti LuPone)


If there's a rabbit,
then you should grab it.
then you should grab it,
gently nab it by the paws.
And then sincerely
you hold it nearly
as you await the sudden hush,
and then applause.
now with that rabbit
as if by habit
you begin that thrilling dance across the floor,
while in the hot light
of your own spotlight
there's a magic that you never knew before.
for bingo - bango!
it is a TANGO!
you hear the violins above
and bass beneath
it is dramatic.
it's so dramatic,
as the bunny holds a rose between its teeth
if! there's! a...rabbit,
then you should grab it.
then you should grab it,
gently nab it, as it were.
but if there's not one,
you haven't got one,
and so the tango
that we spoke of
won't occur.

When a Hippo Can Dance:


really funny. no time to type out all the lyrics, but you should listen carefully all the way to the end. :)

Your Personal Penguin: (sung by Davy Jones from The Monkees!)


The Uninvited Parade Strikes Again:

We're on Parade!
We're on Parade!
We are Marching , Marching through the grocery store!
A swell brigade!
We're on Parade! and the big bass drum goes boom some more!
and the drum goes boom some more!
We are marching up row A. We are marching down row B...
Parade! We're on Parade!
We admire how your produce is displayed!
We have marched through every aisle of this crowded supermart.
We are marching through the checkout lane with nothing in our cart!
We're the uninvited loud precision band!
It's the best intruding band in all the land!


There are lots more great songs (and singers) , but i din't want to give away the whole thing. :)

please excuse all the type-o's. it's late, & i'm in a hurry to get this done before chris gets home. :)

More favorite books!

I have some more books that I'm adding to my recommended reading lists:

These first ones are all picture books...probably good for elementary school ages.
The Squire and the Scroll by Jennie Bishop similar to "The Princess and the Kiss", but for boys. --and I like this one better because it has more depth. :) A parable about a young squire who survives many trials by keeping to the words of the scroll. "A tale of the rewards of a pure heart."

The Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop The story of a little girl who is given a precious gift (a kiss) from her parents, when she is born, and how she grows up and has to choose which, of many suitors should be the one to receive her kiss. A sweet story that teaches girls the value of their purity.

God's Wisdom for Little Girls and God's Wisdom for Little Boys by Elizabeth George The girl's book is Proverbs 31 explained in simple language, and the boy's book is the same, except it uses different verses from Proverbs. A great character-building book

The True Princess by Angela Elwell Hunt A parable that teaches girls what a true princess is like. My favorite line: "It is love that marks a true daughter of the king."

Mama Love by Kathy Mallat (preschool to younger elementry) a book about the love of a mother. Don't much care for the illustrations (it's a monkey & her baby) but love the words: "My mama loves me. I'm the twinkle in her eye, her heart's pitter-patter, her star in the sky. My mama loves me. I'm her absolute delight. She guides me and protects me through each day and night...I love my mama. She is everything to me, the rays of my sunshine, the roots of my tree. I love my mama. She's the twinkle in my eye, my heart's pitter-patter...my star in the sky." so sweet!!!

Too Many Frogs! by Sandy Asher cute story about a rabbit who tries to have a nice evening to himself, but a frog keeps interrupting. hate the illustrations. love the story.

I'm also adding the Narnia Chronicles to the chapter book section.

And for parents: The Heart of Anger bye Lou Priolo. I *love* Lou Priolo. Heard him speak at the homeschool convention in July. He has a passion for the life-changing power of scripture that catches. This book is for all parents --not just the one's with angry children . :)

New book

we started a new class at church on Wed. The is part 2 of the "Victory Over the Darkness" book that we did over the summer. Now we're reading "Bondage Breakers." i'm looking forward to it. will let you know how it goes as time goes on. :)

Audiobooks

When Heather visited a couple weeks ago, her son had some audiobooks that she had purchase through itunes. I never knew they had adiobooks! After she left, i did some looking into what itunes had. They've got some great stuff. I'm so excited, because there are so many great books that i'd love to read with my kids, but just don't have the time to read them all. Now, they can listen when i'm busy, and as often as they want. So fun!

I just bought Shel Silverstien's Where the Sidewalk Ends. It's so fun, because he narrates it himself. I'll see if i can get one of them on the blog-player, later.

The kids are also in the middle of The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. That's been fun so far.

I already purchased the book, Charlotte's Web, for school this fall, but i'm afraid of turning into a mushpot when Charlotte dies, & being unable to read it. So, maybe i'll get that one as an audiobook, also.

some other audiobooks that i'd like to get for the kids are:
Pippi Longstocking
Charlie & the chocolate Factory
Peter Pan
The Narnia Saries
The Little Princess

Any other suggestions?

Art class

one thing i'm really excited about w/the new curriculum I'm using, is a book called, "Drawing With Children" It's a kind of art curriculum that was designed for young kids. In it, the author talks about research that's been done that show that children who learn art in school, actually end up doing better in math & language arts than kids who don't. She's broken down drawing into 5 basic shapes, and says that just like you can learn to read music, you cam learn to draw. Very interesting. I think it'll be fun. :)

Your Papa is Especially Fond of You

okay... here are some of my favorite quotes from The Shack. Most (if not all) are God speaking. Let me know if any of these touch you, too. :)

• "The real underlying flaw in your life...is that you don't think that I am good. If you knew I was good and that everything -- the means, the ends, and all the processes of individual lives-- is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me. But you don't...Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved. Because you do not now that I love you, you cannot trust me."
  
• "When all you can see is your pain, perhaps then you lose sight of me?"



• "Remember this, humans are not defined by their limitations, but by the intentions that I have for them..."



• "That is the wonder and adventure of exploration, a piece of what you call science -- to discern and discover what we have hidden for you to find....The choice to hide so many wonders from you is an act of love that is a gift inside the process of life."



• "But without wisdom, imagination is a cruel task master...do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me there with you?...To the degree that those fears have a place in your life, you neither believe I am good nor know deep in your heart that I love you.



• "So many believe that it is love that grows, but it is the knowing that grows and love simply expands to contain it. Love is just the skin of knowing."



• "He chose the way of the cross where mercy triumphs over justice because of love."



• "Guilt'll never help you find freedom in me. The best it can do is make you try harder to conform to some ethic on the outside. I'm about the inside."



• "Faith does not grow in the house of certainty."



• "...religion is about having the right answers, and some of their answers are right. But I am about the process that takes you to the living answer."



• "To the degree that you resort to expectations and responsibilities, to that degree you neither know me nor trust me...to that degree you will live in fear."

Another great book!

the one person who I most respect in life is my mom. She has always been living example of Christ to me. I value the incredible wisdom, insight, and love that come naturally to her, and I admire her passion for God.

My mom is an avid reader, skilled at discovering the incredible treasures of wisdom that are waiting the to be found in the world of literature. The majority the books on my favorites lists have come from her. A couple weeks ago, when she told me about a new book that she was reading, I was intrigued. But when she told me that it was life-changing for her, I knew it was a must-read. My mom is so mature in the Lord, that I am surprised when she tells me about an area in which she's growing. I mean...I just don't think it's possible for her to grow any more! So if this book made her grow, it *must* be good.

So I ordered The Shack by William P. Young. I started reading it yesterday, and finished it today. And can I just say that it was life-changing? My prayer lately, has been that God would make Himself real to me, and reveal His love. This book did just that. It was God's answer to my prayer.


The Shack is the story of a man, who lost his daughter to a violent crime. But in the midst of his Great Sadness, God comes and speaks His love and life into this broken man, & makes him whole again. I don't know how to tell you any more about it w/out giving anything away. (let me just say that I hate any book or movie that makes me cry, & avoid them like the plague. This book was a bit of a tear-jerker, but i would [and plan to] read it again and again.) But I highly recommend this book to anyone!

Actually, here's the little "about-the-book" from the back:

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

That's true! :)

Wisdom that I am Reading

Well, today, I was just going to post a quick picture, but the uploader isn't working. So instead, I thought I'd share some things that I thought were interesting from my book, Victory Over the Darkness. I'll try to just post a picture tomorrow. That way if you don't have time to read this all today, you can finish it tomorrow. :)

*"You don't change yourself by your perception. You change yourself your perception. You change your perception of yourself by believing the truth. If yo perceive yourself wrongly, you will live wrongly because what you are believing is not true. If you think you are a no-goo bum, you will probably live like a no-good bum. If, however, you see yourself as a child of God who is spiritually alive in Christ, you will begin to live accordingly. Next to a knowledge of God, a knowledge of who you are is by far the most important truth you can possess.
The major strategy of Satan is to distort the character of God and the truth of who we are. He can't change God and he can't do anything to change our identity and position in Christ. If, however, he can get us to believe a lie, we will live as though our identity in Christ isn't true."

"I believe that the greatest determinant for how we treat people is how we perceive them."

"Studies have shown that, in the average home, for every positive statement, a child receives 10 negative statements...These studies go on to point out that it takes four positive statements to negate the effect of one negative statement."

" ...We are not supposed to recognize Christians for who they were in Adam, but for who they now are in Christ."

"Too many Christians are trying to show that the bible is true by the way they live. It will never work for them. We accept what God says is true and live accordingly by faith, and this abundant life works out in our experience."

"we should be able to say every year, 'I am more loving, peaceful, joyful, patient, kind and gentle than I was last year.' If we can't honestly say that, then we are not growing."

"We live as though the kingdom of darkness does not exist. Our naivete in this area is exacting a crippling toll that keeps many Christians from experiencing their freedom in Christ."

"We must learn to have enough self-awareness to know when we are living according to the flesh and to assume responsibility for our own attitudes and actions. We need to walk in the light and learn to confess our sins, which means to consciously agree with God. When a deed of flesh becomes evident, mentally acknowledge that to God and ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit. the more you practice that simple little discipline, the more you will live according to the Spirit."

"If you want your faith in god to increase, you must increase your knowledge of God."

"Those distortions often arise when the church is not living to its potential. Consequently, many people think the church is an infirmary where sick people go. We limp along in unbelief, hoping the rapture will come soon and take us out of this miserable defeat. The church is not an infirmary; it is a military outpost under orders to storm the gates of hell. Every believer is on active duty, called to take part in fulfilling the Great Commission (see Mat. 28:19-20)
Thankfully, the church has an infirmary that ministers to the weak and the wounded, but the infirmary exists only for the purpose of the military outpost. Our real calling is to be change agents in the world, taking a stand, living by faith and fulfilling our purpose for being here."

"The primary truth you need to know about god for your faith to remain strong is that his love and acceptance are unconditional. When your walk of faith is strong, God loves you. When your walk of faith is weak, god loves you. When you are strong one moment and weak the next, God still loves you. God's love for you is the great eternal constant in the midst of all the inconsistencies of your daily walk."

"Walking by faith simply means that you function in daily life on the basis of what you believe. In fact, you are already walking by faith; you can't not walk by faith. People may not always live what they profess, but they will always live what they believe. If your behavior is off, you need to correct what you believe because your misbehavior is the result of your disbelief. The writer of Hebrews said, 'Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. (13:7)"

"Happy is the man who wants what he has."

"We can't directly control our feelings, but we can control what we think."

"...take 'every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor 10:5). Practice threshold, first-frame thinking. Evaluate every thought by the truth and don't even consider tempting, accusing or lying thoughts. Should you rebuke every negative thought? No! That is like being in the middle of a pond with 12 corks floating around you, and your entire life's purpose is to tread water and keep the corks submerged. Ignore the stupid corks and swim to shore. Choose the truth and keep choosing it until it becomes the normal pattern of your life."

"your emotions play a major role in the process of renewing your mind. In a general sense, your emotions are a product of your thought life. If you are not thinking right, if your mind is not being renewed, if you are not perceiving God and his Word properly, it will show up in your emotional life. "

"Remember, if what you believe does not reflect truth, then what you feel does not reflect reality."

"The order of Scripture is to know the truth, believe it, live accordingly by faith, and let your emotions be a product of your trust in God and your obedience to Him."

"Emotions are God's indicators to let you know what is going on inside. They are neither good nor bad; they are amoral, just part of your humanity. Just as you respond to the warnings of physical pain, so you need to learn to respond to your emotional indicators."

"...unforgiveness is the number one avenue Satan uses to gain entrance to believers' lives."

"Forgiveness is to set a captive free and then to realize you were the captive."

"God is fully capable of cleaning His own fish. My responsibility is to catch them and love them the way Christ loves me."

More Winnie the Pooh

just had to share another excerpt that tickled me: That Eeyore. :)

"Nobody tells me," said Eeyore. "Nobody keeps me Infromed. I
make it seventeen days come Friday since anybody spoke to me."
"It certainly isn't seventeen days---"
"Come Friday," explained Eeyore.
"And today's Saturday," said Rabbit. "So that would make it
eleven days. And I was here myself a week ago."
"Not conversing, " said Eeyore. "Not first one and then the
other. You said 'Hallo' and Flashed Past. I saw your tail in the
distance as I was meditating my reply. I had thought of saying
'What?' - but, of courese, it was then too late."
"Well, I was in a hurry."
"No Give and Take," Eeyore went on. "No Exchange of Thought:
'Hallo--What'----I mean, it gets you nowhere, particularly if the other person's
tail is only just in sight for the second half of the conversation."
"It's your fault, Eeyore. You've never been to see any
of us. You just stay here in this one corner of the Forest waiting for the
others to come to you. Why don't you go to them sometimes?"
Eeyore was silent for a little while, thinking. "There
may be something in whatyou say, Rabbit," he said at last. "I must move
about more. I must come and go."
"That's right, Eeyore. Drop in on any of us at any time,
when you feel like it."
"Thank you, Rabbit. And if anybody says in a Loud Voice
'Bother, it's Eeyore,' I can drop out again."

I just love Winnie The Pooh!

I've been reading Winnie The Pooh to the kids, and have loved every moment of it! A.A. Milne is just so clever & witty! I love his out-of-the -box thinking, and the way he phrases things. I think a lot of it is over the kids' heads, but I'm really enjoying it, & would recommend it to any adult.

today, we were reading about pooh & piglet as they traveled from house to house, to wish everyone a happy Thursday (as an excuse to visit, in hopes that someone will offer them Tea). After leaving Rabbit's house, pooh & piglet have a conversation:

"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh
"Yes,," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."
"and he has Brain."
"Yes," said piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything."

Chloe couldn't understand why I was laughing so hard that I couldn't read anymore. Maybe it has something to do with all of the Brainy people in my life...

I especially like Eeyore's dry humor:

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.
"so it is."
"And freezing."
"Is it?"
"Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

Here's an excerpt from when Eeyore was knocked into the water by Tigger:

"Eeyore!" cried everybody.
Looking very calm, very dignified with his legs in the air, came Eeyore from beneath the bridge.
"It's Eeyore!" cried Roo, terribly excited.
"Is that so?" said Eeyore, getting caught up by a little eddy, and turning slowly round three times. "I wondered."
"I didn't know you were playing, " said Roo.
"I'm not, " said Eeyore.
"Eeyore, what are you doing there?" said Rabbit.
"I'll give you three guesses, Rabbit. Digging holes in the ground? Wrong. Leaping from branch to branch of a young oak-tree? Wrong. Waiting for somebody to help me out of the river? Right. Give Rabbit time, and he'll always get the answer."
" But, Eeyore," said Pooh in distress, "What can we -- I mean, how shall we--do you think if we----"
"Yes," said Eeyore, "One of those would be just the thing. Thank you, Pooh."
"He's going round and round," said Roo, much impressed.
"And why not?" said Eeyore coldly.
"I can swim too," said Roo proudly.
"Not round and round, " said Eeyore. "It's much more difficult."...

He kinda reminds me of House. :)

anyway, it goes on and on. but it's so very delightful, that I had to share a little.

Another Great Book

I read another great book when I was in Yosemite last month. It's called Don't Make Me Count to Three! by Ginger Plowman. My friend, Jamie recommended it to me, and to be honest, the title didn't thrill me. BUT... it was a GREAT book!

You may know, from reading my "best books" lists that one of my favorite parenting books is "Shepherding a Child's Heart." I had also begun to read "Teach Them Diligently" by Lou Priolo, which is all about using scripture to teach your children. Well, Ginger Plowman's book basically summarized those two books plus another one, in *her* book. Her writing is very simple and easy to understand, plus, it give tons of practical advice.

So...if you'd like a great parenting book, may I suggest, Don't Make Me Count to Three (A Mom's look at hert-oriented discipline)? :)

I will, of course, be adding this to my books-list-link on the side of this page.

Letting Christ do it

we read an excerpt from a book last night, that I really liked. it's from the book, Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning (not sure if i spelled his name right). I've read Mr. Manning's book, The Ragamuffin Gospel and really liked it. If I ever have time to read, again, I think i'd like to read this one, too.

anyway, here's what we read:

" If you feel the call of the spirit, then be holy with all
your soul, with all your heart, and with all your strength. If, however,
because of human weekness, you cannot be holy, then be perfect with all your
soul, with all your heart, and with all your strength.
But if you cannot be perfect because of the vanity of
your life, then be good with all your soul...Yet, if you cannot be good because
of the trickery of the Evil One, then be wise with all your soul...
If, in the end, you can neither be holy, nor perfect,
nor good, nor wise because of the weight of your sins, then carry this weight
before God and surrender your life to his divine mercy.
If you do this, without bitterness, wih all humility, and with a
joyous spirit due to the tenderness of a God who loves the sinful and
ungrateful, then you will begin to feel what it is to be wise, you will learn
what it is to be good, you will slowly aspire to be perfect, and finally you
will long to be holy. "

Favorite Biographies

Here are some of my favorite biographies. Even though I read most of these many years ago, I still talk about and refer back them time & time again. They are a part of my life. Thank you Mom, for introducing me to almost all of these books, and making my life that much richer.

Of course, I'll add more as I read more.

The Autobiography of George Muller
Really any biography of him is good. This is just the one I happened to pull off my shelf. I think George Muller is my all-time favorite Christian hero.

Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss
"One Woman's journey to Godliness" These are journal entries from a young woman's life. Very inspiring.

Tortured For Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
from the back of the book: "Richard Wurmbrand, whose body bears the scars of fourteen years of torture and suffering in a Communist prison, witnessed the indomitable courage and continuing faith of hundreds upon hundreds of Christian believers." Small & easy to read.

Foxe's Christian Martyrs of the World by John Foxe
A must read for every believer. --Really makes you appreciate your faith.

First We Have Coffee and Then We Talk by Margaret Jensen
Great stories about Mrs. Jensen's mother. A lot of it has been inspiring for me as a mother.

Bruchko by Bruce E. Olsen
The story of man who left home at 19 to be a missionary in the jungles of South America.

Chasing the Dragon by Jackie Pullinger
The story of a young woman who ministered to the drug lords of Hong Kong

Prison to Praise Merlin Carothers
The name says it all. Mom gave this to me when I was going through a hard time in my life. --it was very inspiring. :)

My Favorite "Christian Living" Books

okay...here's my new book list with some of my favorite "inspirational books." I have lots of those so I'll probably keep adding as I think of more. :) I did a different section for biographies, but all of them could easily be on this list also. :)

The Shack by William P. Young
A fiction novel about a man who "meets God" after suffering a great loss. There are no words to describe this book, but to say that it brings God & His love to life.

The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee
This book is a must-read for every believer. Mr. Nee is full of wisdom and insight. He explains the basics of Christianity in a very simple, easy-to-understand way.

Practicing His Presence Brother Lawrence & Fank Laubach
Another must-read. About experiencing the life of Christ in a day-to-day, moment-by-moment

Naturally Supernatural Letting Jesus Live Through You by Mark & Patti Virkler
Another must-read. Explains a lot of things from The Normal Christian Life in a simpler, more practical way. A good compliment to that book.

By John Eldredge:
Waking the Dead "The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive"

Wild at Heart "Discovering the secret of a man's soul"
Women should read this book, too, to help them better understand men/boys.

Epic The true story about our lives

Captivating by John & Staci Edredge
A compliment to Wild at Heart. About the beauty of a woman. I think every woman (and every man who loves a woman or has a daughter) should read this book.

Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar
About living a strong life, to the end. Don't begin your life passionately following the Lord, and then become complacent in your later years, like so many people.

The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
"Embracing the unconditional love of God"

Why Grace Changes Everything by Chuck Smith
The title says it all.

A new book for the favorites list:

I just started reading In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson. We've only read 2 chapters so far, but I'm loving it! The author wrote down stories of her grandmother's life that she heard as a little child. so fun! Many of the stories also have life lessons in them, which is an added bonus. :)

It makes me wish I were a writer so I could do the same thing w/my grandma --she has so many fascinating stories to tell! Maybe one of my writing relatives like Heidi or Michael would do that... I think one of the greatest gifts that older generations can give to younger ones is in the stories of the lives they've lived. An old person's mind is like a treasure chest, and the treasures are their memories and wisdom. The chest is always open, and you're welcome to take all the riches you want. But when they're gone, the chest is burried. And you'll never have access to those treasures again.

I've also been inspired by the book to make a quilt out of fabrics from special clothes, etc. (what are those called? heirloom quilts? --I think you were making one, Jody?) It's so neat to hear all the special stories that the Grandma tells & remembers w/all the different fabrics. --plus, then it would give me something to do w/all those special baby clothes that I just couldn't part with. :)

The Joshua Generation

Here is an excerpt from a book I read recently. This book is written by an internationally known children's minister, and it talks about God's heart for this current generation of children. I've already shown this to some of you, but it's so great that I thought I'd share it with everyone. :)


From Born for Such a Time as This by Daphne Kirk
(can be purchased for $8.98 from Kingsgate Publishing http://www.kingsgatepublishing.com/KGInfo/1500687.htm )

Each generation has an edict from God for their lifetime; consequently, it is essential to really understand God’s vision for young people and children today. I hear the heartbeat of a similar prophetic message being given all over the world. The following is not a word given to me, or through me, but the heartbeat of what I hear in nation after nation. The voice of God is being clearly heard.

Many have called this the ‘Joshua generation’; They are chosen to inherit the land. They will not wait for death, in order to come into their inheritance; they will go and take their inheritance. Their inheritance is waiting for them. They will inherit what they have not looked or asked for. They will inherit what others have interceded for. They must remember that others have fought and dreamed for what they will receive. This is a generation consecrated with an anointing for battle, for a high and noble task, namely to rise up and possess the land. They will see things speed up, they will look and the answer will be there, they will speak and it will happen. They will see come to pass what many have spent years looking for. This will be normal to them; this will be their expectation.

There is an awakening sweeping across the earth; this generation will see what others have only heard; they will see the streams in the desert, and they will see the glory of God poured out.
They will not live by the rules of previous generations; they will have life and a vision that cannot be contained. They will look different…be different, and have a power and a zeal different from other generations. They will be what others have struggled to see realized, they will understand divine strategy, and find it easy to walk in.

They will manifest as a wild, radical generation of believers who practice holiness, who know how to love and forgive. They are an elite army, rising from every part of the earth. They are coming from the north, the south, the east and the west. They are rising up from the dry places, and emerging from the wilderness. They have been chosen for advance and not for retreat.
They will take Jesus everywhere - into places of influence, and to the poor and rich alike. They are a massive army being trained right now. There will not be time to train them later. Now is the time to equip and release them to be all they are called to be. They are called to be an army of prophets and prophetesses, to hear the beat of God’s heart, to march to its message, and to stand in the city gates and prophesy.

This is the time for the spirit of Nazarites, for the ‘Elijah revolution’. A radically obedient, holy generation full of grace, mercy and boldness. All over the world, there will be stadiums filled with youth, praying. They will come together for no other reason than to intercede and pray. As they stay close to anointed men, and as they serve them, God will open doors that they have not known existed. They will shake the nations and take his glory to the ends of the earth because they have a vision and a passion for the harvest. It will be seen why the enemy has tried to destroy them . He saw the end-time army, willing to die for what they believe, ready and willing to lay down their lives.

Previous generations have stood through hard times without seeing the result. They stood for this generation; they paid the price for something this generation could inherit.
I cannot stress too much the importance of understanding what God has in his heart for the youth of today. If we don’t understand what God is saying, we may miss the mark for the children and young people, but more importantly, for God himself.

God only knows what the coming years are going to hold for this world. He knows how best to equip our youngest generation for these coming years. We can no longer look to the past and make decisions based on what did or did not work. This is a new day, a time to understand the purposes of god now and for the coming years. Before we equip and disciple our young, we need to be equipped with his vision, his plan and his purposes.

If we really understood...

I just read something really neat in The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. It was really impacting to me, personally, so I thought I'd share it (please excuse the typos. It's a long passage):

Do you know, my friends, that the Spirit within you is very God? Oh that our eyes were opened to see the greatness of God's gift! Oh that we might realize the vastness of the resources secreted in our own hearts! I could shout with joy as I think, "The Spirit who dwells within me is not mere influence, but a living Person; he is very God. The infinite God is within my heart!" I am at a loss to convey to you the blessedness of this discovery, that the Holy Spirit dwelling within my heart is a Person. I can only repeat: "He is a Person!" and repeat it again: "He is a Person!" and repeat it yet again: "He is a person!" Oh my friends, I would fain repeat it to
you a hundred times -- The Spirit of God within me is a Person! I am only an earthen vessel, but in that earthen vessel, I carry a treasure of unspeakable worth, even the Lord of glory.

All the worry and fret of God's children would end if their eyes were opened to see the greatness of the treasure hid in their hearts. Do you know, there are resources enough in your own heart to meet the demand of every circumstance in which you will ever find yourself? Do you know there is power enough there to move the city in which you live? Do you know there is power enough to shake the universe? Let me tell you once more - -I say it with the utmost reverence: You who have been born again of the Spirit of God -- you carry God in your heart!

All the flippancy of the children of God would cease too if they realized the greatness of the treasure deposited within them. If you have only ten shillings in your pocket you can march gaily along the street, talking lightly as you go, and swinging your stick in the air. It matters little if you lose your money, for there is not much at stake. But if you carry a thousand pounds in your pocket, the position is vastly different, and your whole demeanor will be different too. There will be great gladness in your heart, but no careless jaunting along the road; and once in a while you will slacken your pace and slipping your hand into your pocket , you will quietly finger your treasure again, and then with joyful solemnity continue on your way.

In the Old Testament times there were hundreds of tents in the camp of Israel, but there was one tent quite different from all the rest. In the common tents you could do just as you please -- eat or fast, work or rest, be joyful or sober, noisy or silent. But that other tent was a tent that commanded reverence and awe. You might move in an d out of the common tents talking noisily and laughing gaily, but as soon as you neared that special tent you instinctively walked more quietly, and when you stood right before it you bowed your head in solemn silence. No one could touch it with impunity. If man or beast dared to do so, death was the sure penalty. What was so very special about it? It was the temple of the living God. There was little unusual about the tent itself, for it was outwardly of very ordinary material, but the great God had chosen to make it his abode.

Do you realize what happened at your conversion? God came into your heart and made it his temple. In Solomon's days God dwelt in a temple made of stone: today he dwells in a temple composed of living believers. When we really see that God has made our hearts his dwelling-place, what a deep reverence will come over our lives! All lightness, all frivolity will end, and all self-pleasing too, when we know that we are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within us. Has it really come home to you that wherever you go you carry with you the Holy Spirit of God? You do not just carry your Bible with you, or even much good teaching about God, but God himself.

Favorite Parenting/Educating Books

Since I homeschool, these 2 groups go hand-in-hand. There are also some good ones on my biographies page, that have been inspirational to me as a mom:

• The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo. I *love* Lou Priolo. Heard him speak at a homeschool convention in July '07. He has a passion for the life-changing power of scripture, that catches. This book is for all parents --not just the one's with angry children . :)
• Born For Such a Time as This by Daphne Kirk It's my new favorite for parents or children's ministers. I think that every Believer who has any contact with children should read this book.
• Don't Make Me Count to Three! by Ginger Plowman "A Mom's look at Heart-oriented discipline" One of my favorites. Teaches parents how to guide children according to what's in their hearts, instead of just correcting their behavior; and explains how to use God's Word to teach your children. Very practical. Easy Read.
• Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp My "bible" for basic child-rearing/discipline.
• Anything Love And Logic. Heather gave me CD's to listen to, so I don't know what the books are called, or who writes them, but I'd highly recommend anything by them. Wonderful advice for practical (logical & loving) discipline. Teaches kids to think for themselves & be problem solvers.
• Things I Wish I'd Known Sooner Personal Discoveries of a Mother of Twelve by Jaroldeen Edwards full of encouragement, inspiration, and wisdom for mothers.
• 52 Simple Ways to Teach Your Child to Pray by Roberta Hromas The title is self-explanatory. :)
• Start Smart! by Pam Schiller Another one from Heather. Interesting book on child-development. The cover says "Building Brain Power in the Early Years."
• The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Children Great book for practical health issues w/your kids.
• Let's Grow! by Daphne Kirk A excellent workbook for discipling children through the foundations of faith.
• Rivers of Grace by Mark and Patti Virkler "Raising children by the Spirit rather than the law"
• 100 Ways to Teach Your Child About God By Karen Henley

Favorite Chapter Books for Kids

I'm just entering the world of kids' chapter books. Here are some that I've really enjoyed. What are your favorites, and why?

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis what can I say? A classic must-read.
• Dolphin Adventure by Wayne Grover A true story of how a family of dolphins sought a man's help to save their baby's life.
• My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett A fun and silly adventure story.
• James Harriot's Treasury for Children by James Harriot True stories from Dr. Harriot's life as a veterinarian
• The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting We just finished this one. What a fun adventure story! And here's an interesting piece of trivia: Mr. Lofting wrote these stories when he was lieutenant in WWI. He was writing letters to his children, & knew that news from the front wasn't appropriate for them, so his letters became the story of Doctor Dolittle.
• In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson True stories stories from a grandmother's childhood.