Summer Reading Program @ The Library

Soon you will see a new addition to my "Reading Challenge 2010" page and my notations on books and book reviews. From now until (I believe) August 13th, our library is running it's summer reading programs. They actually all began on June 7th, but I wasn't signed up until later. The first book I was able to enter with was Forgiven. I will notate this on my book list with SUM.

I have no goal associated with this, just to do it. There are prizes in a raffle and I don't really even care about that! LOL BFF actually told me she'd signed me up for it, and that was fine with me. :)

Read more...

Book Review: Forgiven, by Karen Kingsbury

Forgiven, by Karen Kingsbury

Challenges: 100+ Books, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd Challenge, Summer Reading

Forgiven continues the saga of the Baxter family. This is the 2nd book of the Firstborn Series, the 2nd of three series of the Baxter family. This series concentrates primarily on the relationship between Dayne and Katy as well as Dayne's and John Baxter's simultaneous searches for each other.

As Kingsbury has such an ability to do, the book sucked me in and made me want to finish it quickly (much to the detriment of my sleep last night!)

We see each of the main Baxter siblings at least briefly, but quite a bit of Ashley as she seems to play a big role in John's search for his missing Firstborn son.

A beautifully written book that has me eager to read the next in the Firstborn series!

Read more...

The next week or so...

It's been a busy week to ten days. We went to PA to go to church camp meeting and see BFF's BIL be ordained. What a great experience. It was fun to camp out in our tent too! :)

I am back in the swing of work, and training in my position as a back up book keeper. I am spending the next week or so catching up on some reading I am behind on. I have books sitting here that I've had out from the library for like 2 months!! I think the one book I'll have to return and reborrow at a later time. It comes HIGHLY recommended too. But I'd rather finish some others first. Great thing about the library, I can get them later!!! :)

Well, off to read!! :)

Hope you are having a great week

Read more...

I have decided not to stress about finishing the bible before restarting it on july 5th

Read more...

B90, Day 63: Prophesy

WOW!!

I don't believe I can pick a verse or even a single passage today. There is so many amazing prophesies of the future. Especially knowing what is now history, but at the time was the future. It's just so amazing. I absolutely LOVE Daniel!!!

I am reporting now that I will be ending my "Bible in 90 Days" reading with today's reading. Yes, I am not finishing. The next session begins in less than one month, and I feel like I would need to cram too hard to get it all in. I think I would just end up frying my brain and NOT be in the right place, mind, heart, or soul, for the next session if I try to finish.

I have learned so much just from reading THIS far though, I am excited to start again and will be working harder to make it a priority this time.

Read more...

B90, Day 62: Nothing to say

Very interesting, but nothing screamed out at me. A lot of explanations and measurements of the new temple.

Read more...

B90, Day 61: You can change

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:12

12 "Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, 'The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.'

Observation: Much like Day 60's verse, God is telling them that they have an ability to change.

Application: God says he will not save the man who disobeys, despite his former righteousness. But He will save the formerly wicked man that turns to good. In other words, before Christ, it was all in the hands of the individual. But it still shows an amazing ability to change. And for God to see what is the true state of our hearts. Why won't God save the one who used to be righteous that sins? Because his heart is corrupt. But the heart of the man who used to be wicked and who changes his ways, his is the heart in line with God.

It's true with us too. We can change both good and bad. At least Christ has come and died for our sins.

Prayer: Dearest Lord, Praise you for sending your son Jesus Christ to die for my sins and help save me! I know I should still strive for a righteous heart at all times so you are pleased iwth what you see.

Read more...

What's been going on.

So, it's been a while since I've just blogged a general blog.

Life has been BUSY BUSY for me lately. I've been doing a LOT of reading. As you can probably see from my list on the side!

I've been working HARD on finishing reading the Bible before restarting Bible in 90 Days again on July 5th. I am now over two-third's of the way through, finished with Day 60!!! :) I'm going to finish and then restart!! :)

I am working hard, have a small prospect for a new job, but don't want to talk too much about it yet. I have taken on the position as State Rep for our twin club and am looking forward to the challenge for the coming year.

The Adventurer year at church is coming to a close soon, and I am concerned that we may not have a leader for next year, time will tell I suppose. I have been eagerly soaking in all the seminars our pastor has been giving, including one tonight that was on a simple way to give Bible Studies. Now to find someone to practice on. Any volunteers??

Well, I am pretty tired tonight, I will try to get up some more of my SOAP's from my reading!

Read more...

B90, Day 60: Take responsibility

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:20-22

20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.

21 "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22 None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.

Observation: God is speaking of taking responsibility for your own actions and not forcing the blame onto others and of having the ability to make change for the better.

Application: How easy it can be to place blame on others rather than take responsibility for our own actions. Why is it so hard to admit to our wrongs? Because we don't like facing the consequences. And back then, the consequences were quite severe. But even now, we need to consider the moral consequences. What do our actions cause people to think of us?

That is why I like verses 21 and 22. They speak of the ability to change our actions for the better and be spared. And as it is true with God, so it is true in all of life. Change your actions, set a different example, and how people view you and thus treat you changes too. You will be spared in this life as well as the next.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, Once again, you have shown me how wise the people around me can be. They tell me things such as this and then in no time at all, I find the words from you! You are truly working through those around me to change me and make me the person you desire me to be. Thank you!!

Read more...

B90, Day 59: Compassion

Scripture: Lamentations 3:25

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

Observation: The writer knows that God has compassion and will not give up on his people who have hope and seek him out.

Application: Throughout His word, God repeatedly shows he has compassion. He just wants his chosen people to obey him. But most of them are just very rebellious!! As children we always seem to want to push our parents limits. As children of God, we are no exception. Fortunately for us, God is compassionate, as long as we seek him.

Prayer: Father, thank you for being so compassionate. Please help me to stop pushing your limits, help me to see and understand the limits. Help me to seek you out more so I may more fully bask in being your child.

Read more...