So Many Books . . .

I'm not sure what you might call it, but if there is a name for book ADHD - I have it. At any given moment I am reading three different books. I have been trying REALLY hard to read one, finish it, start the next. Not doing so well. On top of that there are several others that I am just dying to dig into. Some I have owned for awhile and others I just got from the library at work.

One of my inspirations for reading, outside of just loving it, is that I seem to think far outside myself when I read. My mind and thoughts grow and I am encouraged to keep learning, keep reading, keep pursuing the passions that God has placed within me. If it is possible to keep getting smarter after 40, well then reading is my method of doing that.

This week I started this:

I am actually reading it as part of an on-line discussion/blog group. I had no doubt that I had a long list of insecurities, I just didn't realize the impact they were having on my life. Without question, God will be speaking loudly to me through this book. Thank you Beth!

Then there is this one:

I believe that all followers of Christ need to raise their awareness of spiritual warfare. It doesn't mean that every believer is called to the same level of warfare or same level of involvement. But if Jesus Christ is your Savior, you are already involved in it. We need to know what we are up against.

Then there are these books that are calling my name:

Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas
The Feasts of of the LORD, by Kevin Howard/Marvin Rosenthal
Life Support, by Robert Whitlow

Did I forget to mention a couple bible studies? Yikes. Praise God for good books, eyes to see, a mind to understand and Starbucks to keep me awake!

Pioneer Woman to the Rescue

I absolutely love taking care of my family and my home. I may not win an award for interior design and I will not be appearing on the Food Network any time soon, but I really do enjoy all the aspects of homemaking. (That includes cleaning) But lately, I have found myself in a "no idea what to cook for dinner" rut. Our cupboards and freezer are overflowing, but my mind is empty on ideas. And then God sent the Pioneer Woman to my rescue.

First, may I point out that her recipes are like a picture book with step-by-step instructions. Gotta love that. So I figure there is a good chance I will get something similar to what she is making in the end as long as I stick to things like salsa, bbq meatballs and crash-hot potatoes. The salsa will be a great date-night snack for my husband and I. The bbq meatballs and potatoes will be fantastic some night next week.

Next week our small group will start meeting again after a way-too-long break and I really want to try some new stuff out on them. They are fabulous like that - they won't complain, so long as it is edible.

I have got to get back to bible study stuff, but had to share the Pioneer Woman in case anyone else was feelin' the need to be rescued in the kitchen.

What's with PB&J?

Within 48 hours: our daughter had given birth to our first grandchild, my husband preached his first sermon (twice) and my husband, our son and I all had the stomach flu. Seriously do not know how much more we could have crammed into that time frame. On top of that, after literally crawling off the floor and out of bed on Monday, I had to finish preparing for the first night of our new Tuesday night women's bible study.

Feeling spiritually, physically and emotionally spent - there just wasn't much left to offer in the way of domestic skills this week. Want to make something with items from the fridge? Well whatever you can make from the butter and milk, please have at it.

By the time Tuesday morning rolled around choices to pack for lunch and supper were not looking so good. Not to mention the fear of eating anything that might cause the stomach flu to revisit. So I did what every respectable woman would do, I grabbed the PB&J sandwich that was actually leftover from husband's untouched lunch the day before and threw it in my bag before heading out the door for work.

Here's the catch, I have never eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my entire life. Not one single bite. Made 'em, served 'em, packed 'em in plenty of lunches, but never ate one. I made it through the day at work without getting sick again and decided that I would enjoy this first time delicacy on my way to the camp for bible study. After all, I am now Nana and how could I tell our grandson Simon that I don't eat PB&J. Pulled it from the lunch bag, gently (not really) unwrapped it, took the first bite and waited for the revelation that so many others have had. Thud. Nothing exciting. It was boring. Yeah, PB&J is boring. What is all the fuss about? Is there a proper way to make them and I don't know how? Can you ruin a PB&J sandwich? Should I have used strawberry jam instead of grape? Seriously.

Scripture Memory 1/30/10

This is the part where accountability really counts for me. I want to just leave up the pics and post announcing the birth of our first grandchild, Simon. But thankfully there will be more of those in the days and weeks to come.

So my verse to memorize this week is actually part of our upcoming women's bible study.

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer".
Psalm 19:14 NIV

I have a portion of this verse hanging in my kitchen. There have been many days and occasions when the words should have been much lower and larger on the wall, if you know what I mean. I certainly have way too many occasions when the words of my mouth are not pleasing in the sight of my Lord. Those are usually easily recognizable and I feel an immediate conviction when my tongue speaks without my brain engaged.

The meditations of my heart have been a different matter. It isn't that I intentionally ponder and meditate on things I shouldn't, but God has been shining a bright light onto the meditation of my heart lately. Even if I'm not speaking it, am I holding onto thoughts that might be displeasing to God?

For the last several days since I actually decided this would be my verse this time, God keeps nudging me when my thoughts maybe aren't so pleasing to him. I'm talking about thoughts that don't line up with truth of scripture or when I choose anxiety and worry instead of believing and meditating on the Word of God! I praise God for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God as we meditate on it and let it all soak in.

So if you want to join me (go here for original post) in this year of scripture memory, just leave a comment with the verse written out that you will memorize, with which translation you are using and your name. We will choose our next verse on February 15th.

The Newest Addition to our Family

Introducing Simon Ryan Humphrey

6 lbs. 15 oz. 19 inches

Graced our presence for the first time on 1/29/10

Shane and Jillian and Simon - the first family pic!

Kenny - with the new title 'grandpa'

Simon has already stolen his heart

Justin - first time uncle
Would have held Simon all night if we had let him
Has plans to spoil his little nephew

But I think, Nana gets to spoil him more!

What an unspeakable blessing

Welcome to the family Simon. You are already loved beyond words.

There Are Days

There are days when:

1. You have been told you still need a root canal
2. You have been told you will then need another crown (cha-ching!)
3. Your husband also needs a crown (double cha-ching!!)
4. You are told that you may have to wait yet another day for your daughter to be induced to welcome your first grandchild into the world
5. You didn't budget enough in your Health Savings Account to cover so much dental work
6. You are wondering how great a vacation you could have gone on for the price you will pay your dentist
7. You believe your metabolism has officially shut down
8. It is time for dinner and you have no idea what you are making
9. You get the opportunity to invite someone to church who doesn't know Jesus and they say "yes"
10. You get to invite two women to bible study who probably don't own a bible and they say "yes"

The eternal ALWAYS outranks and outshines the temporal. Thank you Jesus!

Scripture Memory

As a little girl I remember memorizing scriptures at church camp to earn points for our team. The more you memorized; the more points you got. I wasn't very good at sports and wasn't much help there, but I could memorize. 30+ years later I still know some of those verses.

Last year I signed up on Beth Moore's blog to memorize 2 new scriptures a month for a year. It was wonderful. The accountability of having to sign-in and list your scripture on the 15th and 30th of every month caused me to pay attention to whether I was actually memorizing or slacking. I have to confess it was fun to sit in church, hear a verse and immediately think "I know that one!". Made me want to learn more.

While there are a lot of reasons to memorize the Word and apply it, something really cool happened last year that has been part of my inspiration to keep pushing on. One night my sweet husband said or did something that upset me. My verse that week was 1 Thessalonians 5:15: "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." My flesh wanted to respond by paying back wrong for wrong. My heart and mind went to the scripture and my tongue stayed quiet. I immediately kept repeating that verse over and over and over in my head. It wasn't too long until my feelings of being wronged were gone. I honestly cannot tell you what it was that upset me, but I can tell you what stopped it. If I had answered in the flesh, I most likely would be able to remember what happened. God tells us that he will purify us with his word.

Although that group is not doing the same scripture memory idea this year, I have decided to keep it going in my own life. I could just do it and not post it on here. But I know my flesh too well, and after awhile it would be a verse here and there instead of at least two a month. I wanted to stay with the 15th and 30th because it is easy to remember and I am already in the habit of that. So although it is almost the 30th, I am actually posting my verse from this week and will start another on Saturday.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV)

I need to remember that hearing the word and memorizing the word are not the same as doing what it says. This will undoubtedly be a great foundation for the rest of the scriptures this year. I am so excited to see what God has in store.

Feel free to join me if you like. Just list your verse, the reference and translation and your name.