"Rainy days and Mondays" should not happen at the same time, but neither should I allow them to "get me down." Instead:
Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make
known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of
all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the
Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face *continually*. [And
the Lord will *continually* guide you and satisfy your desires in scorched places. . . . Is.
58:11] Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the
judgments uttered by His mouth. Psalm
105:1–5
Monday, October 13, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Verse of the Day
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no
longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are
hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours
through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate
us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons
can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of
hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the
deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from
the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35–39 not
“Therefore will the Lord
wait, that he may be gracious unto you (Isa. 30:18). . . .
“When thy God hides His face, say
not that He hath forgotten thee. He is but tarrying a little while to make thee
love Him better; and when He cometh, thou shalt have joy in the Lord, and shalt
rejoice with joy unspeakable. Waiting exercises our grace; waiting tries our faith; therefore, wait on in hope;
for though the promise tarry, it can never come too late. —C. H. Spurgeon” Streams in the Desert
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Verse of the Day
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with
joyful singing. Know that the Lord
Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His
people and sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His
courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. for the Lord is good; His lovingkiness is
everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100
Monday, October 6, 2014
The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski
About the book:
One searcher's honest and fascinating journey to encounter God, love others, and discover his true self through a year of spiritual practices.
Frustrated and disillusioned with his life as a Christian, motivational speaker Michael Yankoski was determined to stop merely talking about living a life of faith and start experiencing it. The result was a year dedicated to engaging in spiritual practices, both ancient and modern, in a life-altering process that continues to this day. Whether contemplating an apple for an hour before tasting it (attentiveness), eating on $2.00 a day (simplicity) or writing simple letters of thanks (gratitude), Michael discovered a whole new depth through the intentional life.
Stirred on by the guiding voice of Father Solomon, a local monk, Yankoski's life is slowly transformed. Both entertaining and heart-wrenching, Yankoski's story will resonate with those who wish to deepen their own committed faith as well as those who are searching --- perhaps for the first time --- for their own authentic encounter with the Divine.
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/BFhp6
About the author:
Michael Yankoski is a writer, aspiring theologian, and urban homesteader who dreams of becoming a competent woodworker, musician, and sailor. He received his MA in theological studies at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a (novitate) Oblate of St. Benedict, and has authored four books. Michael grew up in Colorado, feels at home on the Pacific Coast, and currently resides in Indiana, where he and his wife are pursuing PhDs at the University of Notre Dame.
Margie's Comments: I signed up to do a review on The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski because I, too, have felt the dissatisfaction the author felt before he made the decision to actually experience what living a life of faith truly meant. Many times I have felt like I'm missing something vital, something the fathers (and mothers) of the Christian faith experienced, but that I can't seem to grasp in our modern world without shutting off everything. This isn't a book that will gain a lot of rave reviews. I admire the author's courage to do something about the emptiness and frustration he felt. And I read with interest and even conviction the steps that he took to remedy the lack of intimacy he had experienced so far in his Christian faith. Some things I have implemented in my own faith-walk. Some I will consider for future reference. So do I recommend reading The Sacred Year? Yes. But be prepared to be challenged to step outside your modern "comfort zone," to set aside your preconceived notions about certain faith practices and to get to the "why" of how they were implemented in the first place. I especially enjoyed reading the Q&A with the author at the end of the book. I encourage you to maybe read it before you read the rest of the book. It helped me get past some of the more "difficult" portions of the book; it may help you, too.
The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski #EmbraceTheSacred FREE Book Offer
God is at work everywhere. And
every-when. We only need to open our eyes and take the time to
notice.
Michael
Yankoski became jaded and disillusioned with his life as a
Christian motivational speaker, feeling as though he was another act in
the “Christian Carnival.” Religion started to become a façade instead of
a deep, nourished, lived experience of faith. He knew he needed to stop
talking about his faith and begin living and practicing it. In a sort
of desperation, Michael dedicated the next year to engaging various
spiritual practices, and The Sacred
Year is a firsthand account of the downs
and ups, the failures and successes of an honest search for answers to
the human yearning for life, love, and God.It’s time to stop talking about your faith and begin living and experiencing it.
Join Michael and #EmbraceTheSacred—seek out
God at work in the mundane and attend to what God is doing in your life.
Share those moments on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
and make sure to use the tag #EmbraceTheSacred.
As a thank-you for ordering The Sacred
Year, Michael is giving away a free ebook!
Email your proof of purchase of The Sacred Year to
TheSacredYear@gmail.com, and you will receive A
Straightforward Guide to Three
Essential Spiritual Practices ebook
for FREE! Learn more here.
Verse of the Day
But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)
"Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove
this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will." (Mark 14:36)
Friday, October 3, 2014
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Celebrate the Treasury of Bible Stories by entering the Rhythmical Rhymes Kindle Giveaway!
Part of the Magnificent Tales series, Treasury of Bible
Stories: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical
Times will delight children ages
4–8 with rhyming Bible stories pairing spiritual
truths with playful illustrations.
Enter the Rhythmical Rhymes Kindle Giveaway 9/15 – 10/12.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle HDX
- Treasury of Bible Stories by Kelly Pulley
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry,
the giveaway ends on October 12th. Winner will
be announced October 13th at Kelly's
blog.
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Kelly's
blog on the 13th to see if you won!
Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times by Kelly Pulley
About the book: Children ages 4-8 will be delighted by these rhyming Bible stories pairing spiritual truths with playful illustrations.
Featuring lyrical stories full of lighthearted moments, this colorful collection of Magnificent Tales is perfect for reading out loud. As families read these stories night after night, they will make memories together while learning about the Bible.
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/BotGV
About the author: Kelly Pulley works from his middle Tennessee home writing and illustrating children's picture books, most recently Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn and The Cycling Wangdoos. He is best known for illustrating dozens of books in the Beginner's Bible series, including The Beginner's Bible (over 1.25 million copies sold).
Margie's Comments: My review copy of the Treasury of Bible Stories: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times by Kelly Pulley came when my son and daughter-in-love were visiting with our granddaughter earlier in the month. So I immediately opened it and read a couple of the stories to my son. We fell in love with them. Biblically accurate and fun to read as well as easy to listen to, these stories come to life through rhyme. With catchy titles like "Tricked by a Snake," "Daniel for Lunch," and "Lost and Found," and kid-friendly illustrations, the stories of both the Old and New Testament come alive. While my granddaughter is still a little young to understand the stories, her daddy decided this would be a good addition to her bookshelf. In the meantime, she can enjoy the rhythm of the language and the bright colors of the pictures as we read the stories of the Bible to her. For parents of young children (and maybe some not-so-young), I highly recommend this book for use at home, church, and/or school.
Verse of the Day
If the LORD had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge. (Psalm 94:17–19, 22)
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