What I am Reading Right Now...

I have never taken the time to share about the books I am reading, mostly because I am not a "book" person most of the time. It is hard for me to sit still, calm my mind enough to focus on a book for any length of time. Sometimes it comes from reading so much for schooling our kids as well, it makes me anxious to work with my hands which seems to be almost nessasary for me to function, BUT! All that said, I thought through what I was reading recently and I guess, I am actually kind of a book person considering the list I have right now. Here is what I am reading and why.

The first is "Everyday Talk" by John Younts. i am going through this with a close mom friend that I am mentoring (although I think I learn more from her)! It, if anything, is a strong reminder of how much our everyday speech(conversations, frustrations, murmurrings, questions, discipline, etc)effects our children's world view of God. Convicting! For myself, it has helped me to take a breather before I talk without thinking first.

This book is beautifully done. It is the story of Ruth told in a poetic form from the perspective of Obed sharing with his Grandson David about the life of his great grandmother Ruth. I have been reading this to the kids when we are around the table off and on. Love love love it!

I am reading this book with Joslyn for school. Joslyn will read a few pages and then I will read a few. It is a book telling about 10 women that have changed the world. Godly examples of women who loved the Lord. Among them are women such as Isobel Kuhn, Amy Carmichael, and Corrie ten Boom(of course). Causes Josie to ask questions and begin to see the joy that comes from serving the Lord with our whole lives. There are others in this collection for girls and boys.

Desiring God is my "brain hurts" type of study but in a good way. This one I spend a good amount of time flipping back and forth through scripture with. This is one I do later at night when the house is completely quiet. It takes all my focus, and allows me to pray while I listen( I am doing this with the audio version so I can hear and read. I listen to it in the car as well. This is my challenge right now.

This is a book we are reading as a family. it is one of the books written about the life of Corrie ten Boom. I want the kids to have a real eye opening view of the holocaust and about what Jews and Christians went through during this time. Corrie ten Boom has a way of connecting with young and old and a way of applying the living Word of God to everyday life. Awesome!

And this one is my favorite and will most likely remain in my top of all time. It is another book by Corrie ten Boom called "Not Good If Detached". It is almost like a journal of hers, each chapter is a conversation or experience she had while traveling around the globe sharing the gospel after being freed from the consentration camp. This book goes everywhere with me, it is always in my purse, and I have read and reread this book multiple times. It has caused me to treasure Jesus so much more in my own life, it has so often given me clarity on situations in my own life and the scripture that applies. It is a most precious gift and get this, it was nestled and hidden away on a shelf of books in a little thrift shop up in MN that my mother in law took me to. We got stranded at this shop due to a violent storm that came through, so unlike my normal visits to thrift shops, I had time to leaf through the books. This tiny little beat up book captured my attention immediately. The title actually made me think of the verse in John 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me, you can do nothing.

And after that thought crossed my mind , I looked down and saw "Corrie ten Boom" And I thought, well, of course. God had sent that storm just for me and had hidden that little book away just for me, knowing my heart and mind, knowing even the little details of what catches my attention -old and worn objects overlooked and overloved. I am now on a mission to track down as many copies of this book that I can so that I can give them away to friends, family, and students.

So for now, those are what is on the reading list. I will make sure to share a few more of my favorites sometime soon.

Lessons From My Son

My son Cole has gone to bed for as long as I could remember, listening to books on CD. The all time favorite is of course all of the Narnia stories, I think he could quote them word for word now! But among some of the other favorites were star wars. Around the time he began listening to them, he also was getting out of bed really late at night in tears and completely worried, but he could not tell us why, he didn't know himself. We would pray with him and talk with him, listen, and just sit rubbing his back trying to help him fall asleep. It went on for quite awhile and one of the things he decided to do was to quit listening to the star wars, not that he didn't enjoy it, but it wasn't something that was helpful to his mind while he was falling asleep. But even after that, the worry still persisted and made it difficult to fall asleep. I just kept praying for him asking that the Lord would show Cole what he needed to do or what it was bothering him. I was stumped and needed the Lord to take care of Cole in a way that I could not. One night, Cole came out and told us that he was going to begin reading his Bible at night before he fell asleep. He was going to start at the beginning and just read it all the way through. Cole even wrote out the date he began and put it above his bed as a reminder. Cole replaced everything that was not beneficial for that, that was. I have looked back on that decision of my young son, and I have seen that the Lord had given him wisdom beyond his years, the Lord answered my hearts prayer and healed Cole's mind through his Word, which He has promised to do! Cole has gobbled up the Bible and has an amazing memory for what he has read. I will never tire of having Cole tell me about the passages he read the night before, picking out details that I did not remember. My own son has made scripture come alive for me! I have told some of my friends that I never thought I would hear myself saying to my child, "Stop reading your Bible and go to bed"-although I can't really bring myself to doing that very often! And when he gets out of bed at 11pm just dying to share something, I am trying to remember to listen instead of shooing him off to bed again. I will continue to pray that Cole hides God's word in his heart, never to depart form it. My long haired baby boy of 11 years old blesses my heart everyday with the reminder of God's great love for us! All of our cares really do belong to the Lord, trying to solve them any other way is just pointless, what an awesome way to learn-by being a MOM! Cole has continued his journey through the Bible faithfully almost every night and fear has been a distant issue from the past. I love picking up that well worn, binding torn book of his that seems to follow him throughout the house everywhere. It is a tough bedtime if that Bible is nowhere to be found! Sleep will not come! May I live my life the same way!


Phillipians 4:6-9

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.