... I realize God must look at us in the same way we look at a messy room. He is supposed to be dwelling inside of us through the Holy Spirit, but our lives are so cluttered, spiritually and physically, we just don't have time or room for Him. Physically, we may need to prioritize our schedule with God being number one. Spiritually, we may need to clean up our room.
That's what confession does. It cleans out our soul so God can come in and relax, have room to walk around, and possibly do a little work. He, too, is probably amazed sometimes at what He finds: characteristics and qualities. He hasn't seen them in us in months, maybe years. God has a purpose of every Christian, and He seems to do His best work with a committed heart ... and a cleaned-up room. (p. 136)
When Did Caesar Become a Salad and Jeremiah a Bullfrog? by Martin Babb contains 100 Clever, Funny, and Insightful Lessons for Life. Babb's essays are very brief (2-3 pages), full of down-to-earth stories (many personal), and based on Christian living (he's a pastor) and lessons in life (he's full of life). Ten essays in each of the ten chapters sprinkle humor through words, everyday examples, and memories. My three favorite chapters were If Love Makes the World Go 'Round, Why Do I Feel So Square? (Lessons on Loving Others), If Home Is on the Range, Then Someone Is on the Hot Seat (Lessons on Family Living), and It's Not Christ's Shoes That Are Hard to Fill; It's the Holes in His Hands (Lessons from the Example of Christ).
Although this was not the best book of this type that I have ever read, it was very enjoyable and well worth my time. I found myself laughing out loud and nodding my head in agreement several times. And Babb's sense of adventure and humor capture the lessons he tried to portray in each of the essays. I recommend this book to others who enjoy this type of book.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Winter's Secret
A knock sounded on the back door.
"Now who could that be?" Her grandfather opened the door. "Well, I'll be. Come in. Come in."
When Wendy heard the voice answering her grandfather, she almost dropped the casserole dish. She turned slowly.
Sheriff Rodd Durand stood within feet of her. A shock like electricity shot through her from her toes to her scalp. A blush warmed her cheeks, and she hoped she could blame it on the heat from the oven.
"Miss Carey, I didn't see another car," he said, eyeing her like a man watching a geyser ready to spout.
"Call me Wendy, Sheriff. I always park in the machine shed." Shaking inside, she made herself walk casually to the table and set down the dish. She wanted to ask, What are you doing here? Had he followed her? (p. 19)
Mystery and romance can both be found in Winter's Secret, the first book in Lyn Cote's Northern Intrigue Series. Set in chilly Wisconsin, the new Sheriff is having a tough time catching the Snowmobile Burglar. The townspeople, especially those who have bitter rivals to bad mouth or fight, are giving Sheriff Rodd Durand a hard time about it. He quickly realizes that there is one common thread to the home invasions --- Wendy Carey, the home health nurse who works out of the clinic. But as the sheriff enlists her help during the investigation, he also begins to experience feelings that he hasn't felt in a long time: the need to rely on another person for help, the need to release his fears and rely on his faith, and the need to share his life with the woman he is falling in love with. To complicate matters, both Rodd and Wendy have pasts that make them believe they are unlovable for a partner; also, the home invasions become more vindictive and the verbal attacks in town become more personal. But with encouragement from family and friends, these two find much more than they were ever looking for: love, faith, and strength in one another and in God.
I discovered Lyn Cote and her Northern Intrigue Series last year when I found the second book Autumn's Shadow at my local library. I enjoyed the book so much I decided I wanted to read the entire trilogy. I found Winter's Secret was just as good as Autumn's Shadow. The two books have completely different stories yet they weave together the characters and setting to make it into a series. I am definitely looking forward to finishing the trilogy with the final book Summer's End.
"Now who could that be?" Her grandfather opened the door. "Well, I'll be. Come in. Come in."
When Wendy heard the voice answering her grandfather, she almost dropped the casserole dish. She turned slowly.
Sheriff Rodd Durand stood within feet of her. A shock like electricity shot through her from her toes to her scalp. A blush warmed her cheeks, and she hoped she could blame it on the heat from the oven.
"Miss Carey, I didn't see another car," he said, eyeing her like a man watching a geyser ready to spout.
"Call me Wendy, Sheriff. I always park in the machine shed." Shaking inside, she made herself walk casually to the table and set down the dish. She wanted to ask, What are you doing here? Had he followed her? (p. 19)
Mystery and romance can both be found in Winter's Secret, the first book in Lyn Cote's Northern Intrigue Series. Set in chilly Wisconsin, the new Sheriff is having a tough time catching the Snowmobile Burglar. The townspeople, especially those who have bitter rivals to bad mouth or fight, are giving Sheriff Rodd Durand a hard time about it. He quickly realizes that there is one common thread to the home invasions --- Wendy Carey, the home health nurse who works out of the clinic. But as the sheriff enlists her help during the investigation, he also begins to experience feelings that he hasn't felt in a long time: the need to rely on another person for help, the need to release his fears and rely on his faith, and the need to share his life with the woman he is falling in love with. To complicate matters, both Rodd and Wendy have pasts that make them believe they are unlovable for a partner; also, the home invasions become more vindictive and the verbal attacks in town become more personal. But with encouragement from family and friends, these two find much more than they were ever looking for: love, faith, and strength in one another and in God.
I discovered Lyn Cote and her Northern Intrigue Series last year when I found the second book Autumn's Shadow at my local library. I enjoyed the book so much I decided I wanted to read the entire trilogy. I found Winter's Secret was just as good as Autumn's Shadow. The two books have completely different stories yet they weave together the characters and setting to make it into a series. I am definitely looking forward to finishing the trilogy with the final book Summer's End.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge - January Update
What is everyone reading this month for the Winter Holiday Reading Challenge?
Let everyone know what holiday adventure you experienced through reading this month! Leave your comment with the title and author, as well as a link to your review if you have one. (Remember, reviews are optional.)
Happy Holiday Reading!
Ana T. finished the challenge and her final review can be found here.
AlleluiaLu read A Christmas Gift by Saperstein and Rush.
December update can be found here.
November update can be found here.
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge original post can be found here.
Thank you to all the readers who participated this year!
Let everyone know what holiday adventure you experienced through reading this month! Leave your comment with the title and author, as well as a link to your review if you have one. (Remember, reviews are optional.)
Happy Holiday Reading!
Ana T. finished the challenge and her final review can be found here.
AlleluiaLu read A Christmas Gift by Saperstein and Rush.
December update can be found here.
November update can be found here.
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge original post can be found here.
Thank you to all the readers who participated this year!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Crazy For You
Just a little selfish. A dog was such a small thing to want, not a change in life or a change in lover or really a change of anything much. Just a little change. Just a little dog. Something new in her life. Something different. (p. 8)
Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie was just the book I needed to start my new year out right. A crazy chick-lit book that is filled with romance, fun, suspense, and happy endings. And changes are what it's all about: women who want a change in their daily lives because they are taken for granted; couples who want a change in their relationships because they've gone stale; and men who just don't understand what change is all about but eventually realize that changes really aren't all that bad. Of course, there's always one character who just can't stand change and will make everyone's life miserable because of it. (He's the stalker.)
Fun to read, a couple of steamy scenes to make it dreamy, and the women all get their men... that's what Crazy For You is all about! I discovered Jennifer Crusie a little over a year ago and wanted to read her again... and I will, again and again and again! I have more of her books on my shelf so that won't be a problem. I definitely recommend Crazy For You if you enjoy a good crazy chick-lit book now and then.
Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie was just the book I needed to start my new year out right. A crazy chick-lit book that is filled with romance, fun, suspense, and happy endings. And changes are what it's all about: women who want a change in their daily lives because they are taken for granted; couples who want a change in their relationships because they've gone stale; and men who just don't understand what change is all about but eventually realize that changes really aren't all that bad. Of course, there's always one character who just can't stand change and will make everyone's life miserable because of it. (He's the stalker.)
Fun to read, a couple of steamy scenes to make it dreamy, and the women all get their men... that's what Crazy For You is all about! I discovered Jennifer Crusie a little over a year ago and wanted to read her again... and I will, again and again and again! I have more of her books on my shelf so that won't be a problem. I definitely recommend Crazy For You if you enjoy a good crazy chick-lit book now and then.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Finishing A Year Of Book Challenges (2009)
As I reflect back on my 2009 reading and book challenges, I find that my reading was more diverse yet still included many of my favorite genres. I discovered new authors and series that I am excited to read in the future. I didn't have the quantity of books that I read in the previous year, but I did improve the quality of what I read this year. I also accomplished one huge goal that I set out for myself: I discovered audio books, found that I actually enjoy them, and completed the audio book challenge.
I set out to complete 14 challenges and 1 reading club during the 2009 reading year. I am happy to say that I completed 10 of those challenges! Of those that I did not complete, two were perpetual challenges (one I never started and one just never "fit" my reading this year) and two were not given enough attention over the year to complete. As for my reading club, I lost interest this past year and gave more attention to my challenges instead. I am also in the process of finishing one challenge that ends this month.
Overall, I feel like it was a successful reading year!
Challenges Completed:
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #1 - completed 1/25/09
New Classics Challenge - completed 1/18/09
Soups On! Challenge - completed 3/21/09
A to Z Challenge (titles) - completed 12/5/09
Audiobook Challenge - completed 12/24/09
Celebrate The Author Challenge - completed 12/31/09
Chick Lit Challenge - completed 11/28/09
Read Your Name Challenge - completed 8/6/09
Series Challenge - completed 5/5/09
What's In A Name? Challenge - completed 9/6/09
Challenges Not Completed:
Disney Literature (Perpetual) Challenge - never started/not completed
Books Into Movies Challenge - books read; movies not seen
2009 Mini-Challenges - 5/12 mini-challenges completed
Just4thehelluvit - due to the diverse challenges I had, I didn't feel the need to do this challenge
Challenge yet to be finished:
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #2 - ends 1/31/10
Unfortunately I did not write wrap-ups for all of the challenges that I completed this past year; however, for links to those challenges that do have a wrap-ups and for links to the selection of titles read to those challenges that don't have wrap-ups, I have included them in my summary above.
As for the new year and my 2010 book challenges.... well, I'm still considering my options!
Happy Reading Everyone!
I set out to complete 14 challenges and 1 reading club during the 2009 reading year. I am happy to say that I completed 10 of those challenges! Of those that I did not complete, two were perpetual challenges (one I never started and one just never "fit" my reading this year) and two were not given enough attention over the year to complete. As for my reading club, I lost interest this past year and gave more attention to my challenges instead. I am also in the process of finishing one challenge that ends this month.
Overall, I feel like it was a successful reading year!
Challenges Completed:
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #1 - completed 1/25/09
New Classics Challenge - completed 1/18/09
Soups On! Challenge - completed 3/21/09
A to Z Challenge (titles) - completed 12/5/09
Audiobook Challenge - completed 12/24/09
Celebrate The Author Challenge - completed 12/31/09
Chick Lit Challenge - completed 11/28/09
Read Your Name Challenge - completed 8/6/09
Series Challenge - completed 5/5/09
What's In A Name? Challenge - completed 9/6/09
Challenges Not Completed:
Disney Literature (Perpetual) Challenge - never started/not completed
Books Into Movies Challenge - books read; movies not seen
2009 Mini-Challenges - 5/12 mini-challenges completed
Just4thehelluvit - due to the diverse challenges I had, I didn't feel the need to do this challenge
Challenge yet to be finished:
Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #2 - ends 1/31/10
Unfortunately I did not write wrap-ups for all of the challenges that I completed this past year; however, for links to those challenges that do have a wrap-ups and for links to the selection of titles read to those challenges that don't have wrap-ups, I have included them in my summary above.
As for the new year and my 2010 book challenges.... well, I'm still considering my options!
Happy Reading Everyone!
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