Read with Me: Getting back to the root of it
We returned from vacation almost a week ago. Unfortunately, I think I left my brain and whatever spawns motivation there. I miss the serenity of walking on sun-kissed sands, the rhythmic sound of ocean waves crashing over each other, the knowledge that I have nothing to do each day but revel in family and a good book.
The beach house we stayed in had its own little boardwalk out to the beach. A lovely little gazebo perched above the dunes introducing the stairs that descended to the oceanfront. In the mornings we could sit there and watch the sunrise, the sound of bagpipes floating peacefully on the breeze. (I don’t know which of our vacation neighbors had the bagpipes, but his wife obviously sent him out of the house at 6am every morning. A heartfelt “thank you” to her!) Brilliant pinks and oranges would glisten off the water with overwhelming intensity. I couldn’t help but think it only a glimpse of heaven. Only a shadow of the Light that is our God.
My favorite favorite part of our trip was a morning like this. The four of us gathered there. My husband read from the Psalms. We prayed and praised God. Hand in hand we turned toward the water, one ear-bud for each, we listened to one of our favorite worship songs as the morning sun washed over us.
This Read with Me Challenge has focused much on meeting goals. When I become overwhelmed I tend to keep my head down and push on through my tasks, often forgetting the reason I do any of it. I just want to get it done so I can move on to the next thing or even just a moment of rest after it’s completed. Please forgive me if I have fostered this attitude toward our challenge.
We didn’t start it because we wanted to get something done. We didn’t set the goals to earn gold stars on our sanctification charts. We didn’t start that way, and I don’t want us to end that way.
Why we read the Bible is the main motivator of this challenge. Why we read it together is the second.
Two weeks ago Kellie hosted our check-in with a great post about why we read the Bible. If you missed it, be sure to click over and read it. As we finish these last few months, I want us to be fully aware of the power within our grasp. This isn’t an ordinary book and this challenge is not homework. We have so much more at our fingertips than the ability to cross off boxes.
And why are we reading it together? For those moments in the sunrise. Our worship is magnified when we do it together. Sure, accountability is important, but corporate worship, corporate study, this challenge is greater than accountability.
“For where two or three have gathered together in My name,
I am there in their midst.”
– Matthew 18:20 (NASB)
Girls, we’ve got way more than two or three of us here! I don’t want us to get to the end of this and realize we’ve completely missed the presence of God, the awesome brilliance He wants to show us together, just because we’ve got our heads down pushing through.
We can still share where we are in reaching our goal (I am still WAY behind!), but I would love to spend the rest of this challenge getting back to the root of our purpose: to know God better together.
So, jump in the comments and feel free to tell me how you’re doing. What I really want to know, though is what are you learning. How have you encountered God through your reading? What are you learning about Him and about what He has for us?
Add comment September 3, 2010
I want to tell you the good news!
Tenth Avenue North has a new CD! Okay, it actually released in May, but after waiting so long for their next “new” stuff, this still feels fresh. If you’ve not yet met this band, you must. Do it now. They’re music is amazing. The soulful lyrics evoke true worship while their sound both haunts and rocks. This, however, is not really my point, just a happy little side-plot to what I really want to tell you.
Sometimes God orchestrates a number of details to “coincidentally” reiterate the same point. A sermon message may cover the same passage you read the week before which tackles the exact issue you’ve been struggling with. Or maybe a friend unwittingly recommends a song that perfectly reinforces a point made in the book you’ve been reading and the movie you rented last week. Lately I’ve encountered a collision of “coincidences.”
This not-spanking-new CD has resonated with the very theme of three novels, a nonfiction book and a perpetual personal hurdle.
Here’s the good news: Salvation does not depend us, but solely on what Christ has done for us.
This may sound elementary to you. Decades-old Christians may roll their eyes and whisper under their breath a desire for something new to ponder. But think about it: isn’t that the best news you’ve ever heard?
Too often the Gospel is reduced to a discussion of hell, death, sin and work. You have to believe, confess, repent, and then work out that salvation. There’s no dancing, no cursing, no drinking, no lying. You have to dress appropriately, talk the right way, give the right answers and never let anyone see the truth behind your ever-present smile.
The problem is that none of this sounds like “good news.” God’s Message, the Gospel, is indeed good news. It’s GREAT news! And I fear the joy of that news too often gets lost in theological details. The Gospel is simple, yet we find wonderful ways to complicate it.
Some want to have a part in salvation. They want credit for the good they do and the doctrine they preach. The delight in the attention and admiration their “perfect” lives receive.
Others simply can’t believe salvation could be that easy.
How could something so valuable be free?! Does God really know what I’ve done?
How could He forgive ME? Maybe He’ll forgive me once, but not again and again and again.
I have to get this right! And what happens if I don’t? What happens when everyone sees how imperfect I am?
One group struggles with pride and a reluctance to give grace too easily. The other struggles with insecurity and fear. One doesn’t want to accept grace; the other doesn’t feel worthy of it.
Let me tell you the good news again: Salvation doesn’t depend on us, but solely on what Christ has done for us. It’s not about who we are, but who He is and what He has already done. He did it all. It’s finished. Complete. There’s nothing more to do, nothing more to earn.
“You are more than the choices that you’ve made. You are more than the sum of past mistakes. You are more than the problems you create. You’ve been remade. This is not about what you’ve done, but what’s been done for you. This is not about where you’ve been, but where your brokenness leads you to.”
“And He’ll break through the clouds to save those who cry out His name.
The One the wind and the waves obey is strong enough to save you!”
All this because of His unfathomable, unexplainable love for us. He is strong enough, his love extends far enough to save even me. Even you. Now that’s good news! I can think of nothing better.
~~~~~
If you want to enter into my recent collision, here is a link to the CD titled “The Light Meets the Dark.” (The lyrics quoted above come from tracks 3 and 2, “You Are More” and “Strong Enough to Save”, respectively.) And here are links to the books I’ve been reading: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (a nonfiction book) by Joanna Weaver and The Noble Legacy series (a trilogy of contemporary Westerns, subcategory: romantic suspense) by Susan May Warren.
1 comment August 31, 2010
You still with us?
How’s everyone doing? Are you still reading??
I am still reading — SLOWLY — but I’m still reading. More importantly, I am not allowing myself to become discouraged with my less than stellar pace. It’s been an insane summer. Faithfulness and consistency declare some measure of success – right? I may be months behind, but I’m still in the race.
Kellie has graciously agreed to cover the rest of this month’s Read with Me check-ins. I’ll be back in September, hopefully with some regular blog posts, too. Take a minute to hop over to Kellie’s spot. She’s got a great blog and you’ll love getting to know her better! Then you can go back next Friday to chat up with her all about what you’re gleaning from your reading.
7 comments August 13, 2010
Listen— I mean READ with Me!
Since our last Read with Me check-in, I have finished Joshua, Judges and half of Ruth. Ruth is short, so I fully plan to knock her out before the end of today. It sounds like I’ve done nothing, but read my Bible this week, but I must admit I’ve listened to much of it (a la The Bible Experience) while cleaning, unpacking, folding clothes and ripping down wallpaper. I have a few notes.
First, I do not like the voice they put to Naomi. I don’t know exactly why; I just don’t.
I also did not like the productions interpretation of Ruth’s speech. Where’s the passion, people? Ruth – widowed, 10 years barren, bankrupted and alone — is clinging to her last thread of hope and yet the actress played her with such serenity and calm. I don’t think so. Were I in Ruth’s shoes, I would have been sobbing, clutching the legs of dear Naomi, throwing dust on my head and begging for any respite from the pain. Anything. This lady (the actress playing Ruth) obviously did not understand the context of the story.
That’s all about the CD version I have and really has nothing to do with the actual Scripture. Let me try to get some meatier notes here.
I have no idea why Samson is a childhood hero. Did you see anything redemptive in his story? (I know most of you are way ahead of me. Humor my very tardy discussion.) I mean, he bossed his parents around; he married outside God’s chosen people; he repeatedly lied to the woman he “loved” and foolishly trusted her after her repeated attempts on his life. He doesn’t seem like the sharpest knife in the drawer and the dude has a serious problem with anger management! Sure, he was strong and, yes, his parents responded beautifully to God’s instructions, but I’m still confused. What was honorable about this man?
To be honest, most of Judges reminded me of children. People fighting over stuff, throwing tantrums, acting irresponsibly … everyone did what was right in their own eyes. They did not have a king. In such a state, they were left to their own depravity. The whole thing is quite despicable.
The thought of which makes me rejoice that we DO have a king. And when we do what is right in His eyes, rather than our own, we can be protected from the depravity that lurks within us. Oh, and thank you, Jesus, for grace!! Only by His grace can we be saved and only by His salvation may we garner the strength to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
You’re turn. Talk to me! How are you doing with your reading? Any notes you’d like to share?
3 comments August 7, 2010
Who’s caught up and happy?
Dori specifically asked me to do a Read with Me check-in today. As of yesterday, she was almost caught up. How are you today, girl?
And how is everyone else? Are you still with us?
I wish I could say I’m caught up, but I’m not. I wish I could say I’ve been reading, but I haven’t. I wish I could say all that is because I’m simply undisciplined and lazy. I may be undisciplined at times and I definitely have days of laziness, but lately my life has been so full. I have craved quiet times with God and simply haven’t found any.
The ironic bit about all of this is that I am scheduled to speak next month on rest. Yup. The title of my speech is “Finding Rest in a Restless World.” We booked the engagement a year ago having no idea what God would bring into my life between then and now. A year ago I thought I understood rest and peace, but God had so much more to teach me about it before I taught others about it.
Just imagine what I know now that He’ll teach me throughout the next year. I get excited just thinking about it.
4 comments July 31, 2010
Adjusting to a new “normal”
My days used to be pretty predictable. As much as I dislike monotony, I must admit our house had a consistent rhythm. My time possessed a routine. Of course, these were the normal days.
I would wake and get the family ready for the day with showers and clothes and breakfast. We would enjoy a leisurely morning of the kids playing nicely together and me getting some writing done. I’d work on a few projects, book reviews, blog posts … check my favorite blogs. I’d update facebook and twitter and maybe look for a new craft or recipe to try. The afternoons were equally delightful errands, household chores and trips to the zoo or parks.
Life has changed.
My husband, who typically stalks me on facebook and twitter, complains each night that he no longer knows what’s going on in our house while he’s away! I have been online very little lately. I haven’t blogged in two weeks. I am adjusting to a new normal.
I am tempted to say this new routine (or lack thereof) is just the house stuff and soon it will all settle back to what it used to be. But I’ve been saying that for six months now. “Oh, when we get past this milestone, things will calm down.” And then something else happens to stir our anticipated calm. We raise hope for a respite from activity just in time for the next milestone to remind us our “normal” has changed.
Gone are the days of calm routine. Single-tasking is a thing of the past. Drama abounds and I am finding a weird sort of serenity in that consistent unpredictability. This is my life now.
Our latest drama: My mom graciously drove more than 700 miles from her home to ours to help us unpack and fix up the house. What was meant to be just a few days will soon be three weeks. She was here less than 24 hours before we had to take her to the ER with stroke symptoms. Her “vacation” has included four nights in the hospital, seven new medications (including a weekly injection), lots of naps and a whole new diet. She’s adjusting to a new normal, too.
Add that my mom is now living with us to the list of recent adjustments.
This was not the best year for me to host a Read with Me challenge.
Maybe the point of all this was simply so that I could encourage some of you to do it. My mother-in-law, who is doing this with us, is so excited about it! She’s already planning to do it again next year. Rick, who doesn’t want to admit he’s part of this nearly all-girl challenge, reads almost an entire book a day. It’s fabulous! He’s loving it. I’m loving seeing him love it. I’m sure there are more of you with testimonies of great encouragement.
But as for me, I’m getting nowhere fast.
Let’s see … I am in Romans 1 (the beginning of March), Joshua 10 (beginning of April), and Psalm 59 (the middle of March). I can admit I’ve skipped ahead and read through Esther already and I am at least in the right month for the Gospels. I’m up to John 10. All told, I’m a combined 14 months behind. I may finish this challenge before I turn forty, but that may be pushing it. At this rate I’ll need more than six years.
I don’t want this, my first post in two weeks, to seem negative. That is not at all my intention. I’m not upset about this new “normal.” It just is what it is. The redemptive truth is that no matter how my life changes, God never does. He is always the same, eternally faithful, good god He has always been. He is my God and He is awesome.
So how are you doing?
4 comments July 23, 2010
Read with Me: Check-in!
Hey folks! Right now I am not feeling well at all. On top of that, my dishes are stacked way too high, boxes surround me, walls wait to be painted and I have at least three professionals coming to work at my house today. Needless to say, blogging is not at the top of my priority list. However, it has been a while since we’ve had a “check-in” and I don’t want y’all thinking I’ve quit. I haven’t!
I’m still behind, but I’m reading. I’ve read through the first few chapters of Joshua and I’ve started Romans. I’m still chugging along in the Psalms and the Gospels, too.
So, how are you doing? Who’s still with us? Who is on the two-year plan with me? 
4 comments July 9, 2010
If I could have tweeted …
If you’re wondering at the deafening silence around here, it’s because (1) we were living with my in-laws for two weeks and (2) once we got into our new house, we didn’t have the internet. Oh the things I could have shared with you! You know, if I hadn’t been crazy busy with new house stuff. So, here are a few things I would have tweeted if I could have.
June 28th, 11:37 AM
Our walk-through is scheduled for noon. Why is a moving van still in the driveway?!
June 28th, 12:02 PM
The previous owners are not out. I think I just saw kids shuttling stuff to the neighbors’ garages. This isn’t good.
June 28th, 1:20 PM
Guess who gets to buy a new washer and dryer this week. #alwaysgetitinwriting
June 28th, 1:49 PM
Um … they’re still not out. Guess this means we get to do all the cleaning. Lucky for us, they left a tushy-load of cleaning supplies. I wonder when they were last used. (!)
June 28th, 5:02 PM
I know I should be uber-excited to be in our new house, but it feels rather surreal. Are you sure there aren’t any more hoops we must hurdle?
June 28th, 6:50 PM
They took the carpet!! Guess that means “re-finishing hardwood floors” moves to the top of our to-do list.
June 29th, 7:18 AM
I love waking up here. All the windows and surrounding foliage … I feel like I’m in a gorgeous tree house a la Swiss Family Robinson. THANK YOU, GOD!
July 29th, 11:04 AM
ACK!!! I finally found the coffee maker only to discover I have no mugs! Why didn’t I pack those in the same box?!
June 29th, 2:02 PM
Oh, yay. The kids just introduced our family to the neighborhood by screaming for Satan to stop chasing them. That should build normal friendships.
June 30th, 9:08 AM
I have a clothes line. Oh, the mixed feelings …
June 30th, 10:11 AM
Okay, I *think* our stuff will be here next week. Is Monday really a holiday? C’mon. Can’t we have fireworks on Sunday? Oh, well. Camping isn’t so bad.
July 1st, 11:12 AM
My son just flashed the Verizon guy. At what age will he learn to close the bathroom door?
July 1nd, 12:31 PM
My children ate oreos and ice pops for lunch. Where is Peapod when I need them? Oh, right. I need the internet for that … maybe tonight.
July 1st, 1:33 PM
I think my heart has started beating again after the near-death of my children. Who throws throws carpet rolls from a second floor balcony without warning?! Do you not hear my very loud children playing there??
July 2nd, 9:17 AM
I just found a grasshopper in my bedroom. When I said we would be “camping” I only meant sleeping bags — not critters.
July 2nd, 11:29 AM
I feel suddenly short. While putting away groceries I discovered I can’t reach any of the top two shelves in my kitchen. Are these 9′ ceilings? #Ineedacuterstepladder
July 2nd, 2:01 PM
Packing paper takes on a whole new purpose when your daughter is an artist. And the clothesline has found a purpose holding watercolor masterpieces.
July 3rd, 8:20 PM
WOW. Prices have gone up since the last time I used a laundromat! Five bucks per load in the washer. This is CRAZY! Oh, and a quarter for EVERY seven minutes in the dryer?! I’m quickly going broke.
So that’s my recent life in a nutshell. I’ll fill in details on another day. Perhaps when I’m not so exhausted and the kids are calling for my attention. Later, peeps!
4 comments July 6, 2010
How My Children Keep Me Humble
In addition to being a nurse, cook, maid and therapist, mothers often need to be dictionaries. I am constantly defining words for my kids. Recently they asked me what “humble” means. I explained that being humble is to know exactly who you are. You don’t think too much nor too little of yourself. I also told them that God wants us to be humble by knowing who He is and who we are before Him.
It seems they’ve taken this lesson to heart and, always my little helpers, have decided to encourage my humility.
Here are a few conversations we’ve had lately.
Zach: “Do you know who is the very best mama in the whole wide world?”
Me, welling with pride at the expected answer: “Who?”
Zach: “Grandma!”
Ellie: “I want to be a writer when I grow up.”
Zach: “What’s a writer?”
Ellie: “It’s what Mommy does.”
Zach: “Write books?”
Ellie, laughing: “No, silly! Mommy doesn’t write BOOKS; she writes EMAILS! She READS books.”
Zach: “I love all mommies. Mommies are the BEST!! (long pause) Even you, Mom.”
3 comments June 21, 2010
