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Wake up

Oct19

{This is my monthly book review.  Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts.}

I credit my mother for instilling the discipline of daily devotions. I first remember her giving me Streams in the Desert, by Mrs. Charles Cowman, when I was just a girl. It was her way of teaching me the importance of daily time with Jesus.

By now, my collection of devotional books has grown by stacks.

The opportunity to review Awaken: 90 Days with the God Who Speaks, by Priscilla Shirer, was a no-brainer for me.  I’ve participated in Ms. Shirer’s Bible studies a number of times and always enjoy the journey of her teaching. Awaken is her first devotional book, and it is a gem.

Awaken

Priscilla Shirer is a Bible scholar who writes with the authority of one who knows the Author and His works. Awaken affirms that God wants to speak to us as individuals. Without dated pages, one can begin this book anytime and pick it up again when the schedule permits. No guilt if you miss a day. Just continue to the next entry.

But don’t wait too long to read another daily devotional because this is good stuff. For each day Ms. Shirer gives a short Bible illustration, coupled with her own experiences, then re-enforces both with Scripture verses.

Finally, she asks a question to help the reader make application to his/her life. The questions are thoughtful and thought-provoking. A blank page gives plenty of room to journal one’s thoughts.

It is in the writing that I often understand more clearly what I’ve read and how it pertains to and connects with me. Thus, I am able to hear from the God who speaks. Because He does want to speak to me.

This is a great book for teens or adults. Someone on your Christmas list might need Awaken: 90 Days with the God Who Speaks to help her start the day with Jesus. (You are already thinking about Christmas, aren’t you?)

A day without the Word and listening for God’s voice is not the way to start a good day. Just sayin’.

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NOTE:   I received a copy of Awaken: 90 Days with the God Who Speaks, provided by B&H Publishing, for an honest review.  The book was free.  The words are my very own. 

All in all

Sep6

{This is my monthly book review.  Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts.}

Sophie Hudson is already one of my favorite authors. I was reading one of her books about a year ago in the doctor’s waiting room and broke out into unrestrained laughter while most of the other patients looked like they had lost their wallet. It was a great moment, for me at least.

This time I’m reading All in All Journaling Devotional, Loving God Wherever You Are,  by my good “friend” Sophie.

As I opened the book to Day 1, I felt like Sophie was across the table from me chatting. She is very real as she expresses herself. And her experience working with teens and young women gives her the perspective to write in a way that will appeal to them. She speaks their language.

The devotional in not dated, making it easy to begin anytime and to read at one’s own pace. Let’s be real, the young lead busy lives like the rest of us. Being able to pick up a book today and then a couple of days later takes away the perceived guilt of not keeping up. The young don’t need anymore guilt and unreal expectations placed on them. (In fact, neither do any of us.)

Each day is broken into segments:

  • Sophie’s encouraging and understanding devotional words on a particular theme
  • A passage of Scripture to read
  • Three or four questions related to the devotional
  • A place to write out a verse of Scripture that relates
  • A half page of space to write out “Today’s Prayer”

 

 

All in All Journaling Devotional is targeted for the young and young at heart. It is perfect for personal quiet time or could equally be satisfying if done with a group.

Life is busy. Let’s admit it. There are many things calling for our attention every day. We need a little help in keeping ourselves focused and setting aside time to spend with Jesus. All in All Journaling Devotional is a book that calls to us to come away for a while and rest.

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NOTE:   I received a copy of All in All, Journaling Devotional, provided by B&H Publishing, for an honest review.  The book was free.  The words are my very own. 

The journey begins

Feb25

Day 1 of 40 Days to Resurrection Day

Today’s suggestion:  

Ask God to reveal Truth to you during these days of preparation.

Plan on spending time with Him, not just doing things for Him.

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I’ve been a busy girl most of my life.  Sometimes, often, I’ve been too busy.

To Do List taped to a wooden board

I may have been more of a Martha than a Mary at times.  Yet when I think of it, Jesus loved them both and enjoyed visiting in their home at Bethany.  He surely valued the traits in both women, saw their strengths while being aware of their weaknesses.

The story in Luke 10 is all too familiar to me. Martha is busily making preparations because isn’t that what you do when company comes?  Feeding her guests and making them comfortable would certainly seem a priority.  Meanwhile, Mary is sitting at Jesus feet listening to what He has to say.  Impatiently Martha actually accuses the Lord of not caring about her and all the work she has to do.  And she gives a command to Jesus, “Tell her [Mary] to help me.”

Wow.  The audacity of Martha.  Does she hear herself speaking words of accusation and bossy-ness?  I hate to admit it, but I think I have been Martha at times.

Jesus’ reply is classic and so relevant to me today.  “Only one thing is necessary.  Mary has made the right choice.”

It would do us well to find out, what is the One Thing?

Time with Jesus.  Listening to Him.  Stopping the anxious thoughts and multi-tasking that always, always looms ahead.

Just.Be.With.Jesus.

Hard to do, isn’t it?  The “being” part.  It’s not something I put on my to-do-list or check off with accomplishment each day.  I wonder why it is so hard for us to come away and spend time with Him, just be in His presence, listen to His words from the Word and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord?

Could it be that the enemy of our souls knows too well that this One Thing will keep us on track in our Christian walk, this One Thing will set our priorities straight?  This One Thing can help us start the day with a clearer perspective of who we are and Who He is.

As we begin our 40-day journey, keep this truth in mind:  Jesus wants you more than He wants what you can do for Him.  It can be a shocking realization.

Of course there is work to be done in the kingdom.  The fields are ripe for harvest and the workers are few.  But how can we do the work when our hearts are empty of Him?  How can we be sure we are doing the One Thing that is most important on His list if we haven’t talked to Him and stilled ourselves long enough to listened?

Relationships are built on time spent together.  The more time, the stronger the bond.  The more time, the more I know you.  The more time, the fonder I grow.  The more time, and I realize I cannot live without you in my life.

Spend time with Jesus during the next 40 days.  Make it first on your things-to-do-today.

Here are just a few suggestions to keep us focused.

  • Get up earlier, as hard as this is. Make it the best 30 to 60 minutes of your day.  Have your coffee, tea or favorite morning beverage ready.  Sit in a comfortable chair and open your Bible to feast on His words to you.  Know for certain that Jesus wants to speak personally to you.
  • Set an alarm throughout the day to remind you to take a breath, look heavenward and remember your God is in control and with you always.
  • Quote a favorite Bible verse throughout the day as a reminder of His peace and love for you.
  • At dinner, talk about being with Jesus and how that looks to the people in your family.
  • When you lie down for the night, speak to God as you close your eyes, thank Him for His provision and gifts.  Drift off to sleep with Him on your mind.

Friends, Jesus said “One thing is essential and Mary has chosen it.  It is the main course.”

Don’t neglect the main course.  It’s where we get our strength for the journey.  Let’s do this thing together for the next 40 days. And maybe, just maybe, we will find it the greatest necessity of our lives and will never want to go a day without it again.

I’ve loved this song by Larnelle Harris for a long time.  It is the heart cry of our Savior’s longing for us.

I Miss My Time With You.