What 'cha reading?

I love books ... the real life - hold it in my hand - kind of books.  I love turning pages, folding corners, highlighting and starring.  I love the weight of a book and remembering where a quote is based on what side of the page it's on.  I know a lot of you have moved to a Kindle and you say you love it.  I want to believe you but I can't.  There's just something about a book ...

Some of you are big readers too.  You {who devour books like me} ... what are you reading these days?  Here are some of the latest books on my self:

1.  Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman

2..  Hole in the Gospel by Richard Stearns

3. Tune In: Hearing the Voice of God by Jen Hatmaker

4.  Leadership as an Identity by Crawford Loritts

5. Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman

6.  Radical by David Platt

7. The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry

8.  Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

Actually the top two books are next on my list.  I would recommend all of these books, but so far my favorite is Leadership as an Identity, by Crawford Loritts.  It's a great book for anyone in ANY kind of leadership position.  Ok.  Maybe it's my favorite because it's the one I just finished.  Really.  There are some great books out there. 

I'm also always reading one of these:

1.  Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

2.  My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

3. Sparkling Gems by Rick Renner

These are my go-to devotional books.  For those of you interested in knowing and understanding scripture better, I think you'd really like  the Sparkling Gems Greek word study devo. It's not  an over-your-head read - which is good for all you non-theologians out there like me!

OK.  Enough about me. I want to hear from you. I'm currently working on putting a list of books together for our women's ministry Summer Book Club and I would love to hear any recommendations that you have.  So ... what 'cha reading????

Anyone?  Anyone? 

Hidden Blessings

Blessing come in all kinds of packages. I usually like the ones that are wrapped in shiny little boxes. With pretty little bows. Happy, feel good type blessings.

But this past week, I've experienced a blessing of an unusual kind.

{Brace yourself, girls.} Grace flowed freely this time in the form of ... vomit.

I know (and I'm sorry).

Usually the fear of the stomach bug puts me in panic mode. The sheer amount of laundry is enough to drive any woman to her knees. So. Much. Laundry.

Yet in spite of all the barfing, I've spent the weekend feeling remarkably thankful. Thankful that we're all together. All five of us. And even on a weekday!

Ann Voskamp calls it ugly beautiful, and I think I understand what she means. Only our God can make what is otherwise horribly ugly (and stinky) and turn it into beautiful. That's what this weekend has been for me. All kinds of ugly beautiful. It's all grace, isn't it? Just wrapped a little differently than I expected.

I found this tucked into the pages of my Bible the other day - written by my middle miss.

Yes, I too bear proof of ugly beautiful ... because 'God is in the business of changing lives' ... and He's changing me. Changing me to see throw up as a blessing. Changing me to count it all joy.

God, give us all eyes to see your grace -

even when it comes disguised as ugly beautiful!

Whispering

My kids are not listening, and I'm worn out.

Lately our habits (theirs and mine) have gotten pretty ugly. They don't listen. I yell. It doesn't help. I get mad. I yell more. They finally hear me and look at me like, "What is your problem, crazy lady?" I lecture. They try not to roll their eyes. We all walk away grumpy.

I know ... Mom of the Year - here I come!

So, yesterday I decided to do a little experiment. I called the troops in close - their three little bodies and mine - and in a hushed voice, I told them the plan. "Today, I will only be whispering, so you may have to try a little harder to hear. Got it? Ok, go play!" And off they went - Cole on his scooter and the girls, straight to their friends waiting nearby, ready to play.

And that's what I did - I whispered to my kids all day long ... and it was quite a lesson FOR ME. Here's what this experiment taught me (don't laugh people, I'm a slow learner sometimes):

1. It's hard to be mad (and act like a crazy woman) when you are whispering. With my volume in check, my tone changed too - so even when I needed to correct or discipline, it was done softly (imagine that!!)

2. Whispering forced me to get more physically involved with my kids (ie: I couldn't just yell at them from the couch.) I had to be where they were, where they could see me, if I expected to be heard.

3. I was a whole lot less tired (and peaceful) at the end of the day.

... but my favorite part of whispering to my kids was this: they had to get so close to hear me that we were forced to spend the day in sweet proximity. Face to face and uncomfortably close for most. A few times my Little Mr. would actually press his sweet face into my neck so that he didn't miss a word coming from my lips - and I loved every minute of it!

Towards the end of the day, I was reflecting and with a gentle nudge, God reminded me that He likes to whisper too. Not in a great and powerful wind. Not in an earthquake. Not in a fire. But in a gentle whisper, he speaks (1 Kings 19:11-13). And now the thought of it overwhelms me, because I have practiced and experienced with my three the intimate way that God so often chooses to speak to me. He whispers. He stays close and maintains His presence all of the time so that when He speaks, we can hear Him. And He invites to press in close - uncomfortably close at times, so that we don't miss a single word He says.

This is goose bump kind of stuff, my friends! Our God whispers.

Today's challenge: If He was whispering to you today, would you even hear Him? Our God speaks! Press in to hear what He might say.

Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. Isaiah 55:3

A Worthy Response to Easter?

Easter has come and gone, and this year (like never before), I don't want to start my week the same. I can't walk into this week and go about my normal routine ... because Easter happened!!

Now, I know - Easter happens every year. But this year was different for me. God lavished His grace upon me and opened my eyes to see Easter more clearly. To feel the weight of Jesus on the Cross. The sin and separation. The death. Did you feel it this year too? How we were united with Him in His death and then raised with Him through our faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead? (Romans 6:5, Colossians 2:12)

How do we respectfully walk away from Easter? What is the appropriate response to what He did?

Maybe one way is found here ...

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

Walk in newness of life!
A life no longer slave to sin - no longer alienated from God- no longer objects of wrath.

Walk in newness of life!
A life no longer desperate for approval or acceptance -freed from independent living and working to save ourselves.

Walk in newness of life!
A life characterized by the new self - created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24).

God has made us alive with Christ ... but are we really living in His resurrection power? Are we really living IN CHRIST - walking as if we have been set free, cleansed from all unrighteousness and made whole? Do we approach each day with our hearts and minds fixed on things above, where our lives are now hidden with Christ in God (Col. 2:13, Col. 3:2-3)?

Walk in newness of life ... Yes! That's how we can walk worthy of our Savior. That's how we can please Him in every way. Walk in newness of life!

Today's challenge: Jesus Christ is alive! Let's choose today to allow HIS resurrection life to be lived out through you and me! Just imagine the possibilities?

**Are you interested in more on this subject? The Wardrobe of Christ may be the perfect next study for you ... click on the link above labeled "Books" for more info.**

Goodies for Easter

I'm a girl of few words this week, but I thought I'd share some fun Easter links that you might enjoy.

A friend gave me this beautiful "He is Risen" print but you can get your own here. She also has ideas for gorgeous place settings for Easter dinner. Way outta my league!!

I like this Easter subway print too ... and it's FREE. You can find it here.

If you are looking for an Easter egg filler for you kids other than candy, you may like these.
For the FREE download, click here.

And this is my favorite song for Easter this year ... kind of amazing!

May the One who LIVES capture your heart and fill your heart with wonder this Easter weekend!