Monday, September 29th, 2008
We’re gearing up to send J5 to preschool, starting this week. It’s been a bit of a rough transition for me as I prepare for my little boy to stop being my really little boy, to a big one. Backpack, and notebook, markers and crayons, paints and glue have been purchased. Schedules set. Lives changing.
It will be good. It will.
Friday, September 26th, 2008
Excerpts from Romans 7:21 – 8:16
It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you…. So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family — calling him “Father, dear Father”. For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children.
Truths from this that I want to highlight (and remember):
So, that’s my goal today….to be conscious of my thoughts. To move them onto God, and things that please Him.
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cindy Woodsmall is a veteran homeschool mom. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.
Her first novel, When The Heart Cries, released in 2006 to much acclaim and became a Christian Book Association best seller. Cindy was a 2007 ECPA Christian Book Award finalist, along with Karen Kingsbury, Angela Hunt, and Charles Martin.
Her last book, When the Morning Comes, hit the New York Times best-sellers extended list and the Christian Book Association best-sellers list.
Cindy’s real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity.
Cindy, her husband, their three sons and daughter-in-law reside in Georgia. Her husband is a registered land surveyor and a vice president at an engineering firm. Their oldest son has a bachelor’s degree in nuclear medicine and works at a local hospital. Their second son and his wife are both students at the University of Georgia. Their teen-aged son keeps the household energized with his love of music, books, and writing.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Returning to the home she fled in disgrace, will Hannah find healing for the wounds of the past?
After receiving a desperate and confusing call from her sister, Hannah Lapp reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community of her Pennsylvania childhood.
Having fled in disgrace more than two years earlier, she finally has settled into a satisfying role in the Englischer world. She also has found love and a new family with the wealthy Martin Palmer and the children she is helping him raise. But almost immediately after her arrival in Owl’s Perch, the disapproval of those who ostracized her, including her headstrong father, reopens old wounds.
As Hannah is thrown together with former fiancé Paul Waddell to work for her sister Sarah’s mental health, hidden truths surface about events during Hannah’s absence, and she faces an agonizing decision. Will she choose the Englischer world and the man who restored her hope, or will she heed the call to return to the Plain Life–and perhaps to her first love?
If you would like to read the first chapter of When The Soul Mends, go HERE
“A skillfully written story of forgiveness and redemption. Woodsmall’s authentic characters illustrate beautifully how wounded souls can indeed be mended.”
–Susan Meissner, author of The Shape of Mercy
“Like the stitches on a well-loved quilt, love and faith hold together Cindy Woodsmall’s When the Soul Mends, the brilliantly written third story in the Sisters of the Quilt series. With deft plotting and characters that seem to jump off the page, this novel offers the timeless truth that forgiveness is the balm which heals all wounds and a blanket for the soul.”
–Kathleen Y’Barbo, author of Beloved Castaway
“What a vibrant, strong, emotional story! When the Heart Cries will grip you and not let go, I promise. Highly recommended!”
–Gayle Roper, author of Allah’s Fire and the Seaside Seasons series
“Reaching deep into the heart of the reader, Cindy Woodsmall pens a beautifully lyrical story in her debut novel When the Heart Cries.”
–Tamera Alexander, bestselling author of Rekindled
Monday, September 22nd, 2008
I will be updating this post over the duration of the challenge since I regularly write reviews. If you come back and check on me, I’ll be adding links to those reviews for easier reference.
Thanks for coming by Lundie’s Life, I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay. You’re welcome any time!
Without further ado, here’s my Fall Into Reading 2008 List:
Fiction |
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Wounded: A Love Story by Claudia Mair Burney I received this book to review for CFBA. I posted a book announcement on it, and when I have completed this book, I will post a review. |
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Painted Dresses by Patricia Hickman I received this book to review for CFBA. I posted a book announcement on it, and when I have completed this book, I will post a review. |
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When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall I received this book to review for CFBA. I will be posting a book announcement on it this week, and when I have completed teh book, I will post a review. |
Non Fiction |
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Soul Revolution by John Burke Back in August I attended the Willow Creek Leadership Summit. John Burke spoke at this conference and explained the 60-60 Experiment he was doing at his church. After finally tracking down an advanced copy (Thanks Mike at Zondervan – you rock!), I am doing the challenge and reading this book. I’m also mini-blogging over at the SoulRevolution.net website. I hope to lead an alternative Bible study group through our church once the book is available to the public. |
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The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry I’m participating in Connections, a women’s bible study, at our church, and I joined the group that is reading this book. I’m really excited about this book too! It’s really hard to have so many good books and so little time to read them! |
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Get Thin, Stay Thin by Arthur and Judy Halliday I’ve read this book before, a long time ago, when it was titled “Thin Again”. I get so easily distracted when the content gets hard and really want to finish it once and for all.  My Sweet Child of His blog is where I journal my progress using the Halliday’s Thin Within method of eating. |
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Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson I received this book as part of a promotional blog tour from Multnomah Books, a division of Random House. I posted a book announcement on it, and when I’ve completed it, I will write a review. |
Sunday, September 21st, 2008
Click HERE to visit
I’m an Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday
Shifted a meal from last week to this week. Fortunately, the one meal I didn’t get a chance to make was one that is an old family favorite*. Perfect for this week!
Monday – *Special K Loaf, Scalloped Potatoes, Edamame
Tuesday – Leftover Special K
Wednesday – Baked Chicken and Acorn Squash, Dinner Rolls
Thursday – Leftover Chicken
Friday – [Carryout?]
Saturday – Pancakes, bacon & eggs
Sunday – Breakfast out w/Ps
Friday, September 19th, 2008
Sometimes when I finally “get it” it hurts. My heart hurts from the joy, sadness, relief, wonder. I am in disbelief that God just talked to me. Little ol’ me. He just put things into place in front of me in a way that clicked. The best kind of learning. The joy of dots being connected in my mind and heart. No, not the discovery of the meaning of life, but almost.
I had one of those moments this morning. My heart hurts with the joy of wanting to just tell everyone exactly what happened, how it happened, in the hopes of sharing that kind of moment with others. I know I can’t re-create it. I think it was the infinitesimally brief moment of connection with God. Any more than that and I think it would literally kill me.
Several nights ago I got another brief message that I recognized as “from God”. The message was simple. “Expose yourself” (in relation to Him). I’ve started to realize that these mini messages can mean any number of things. Does that mean “expose” in the sense that I need to be more brutally honest about myself TO God? Or does that mean “expose” in the sense that I need to be more exposed to God as a form of input – face time with God. Though I am trying to improve on both areas, the latter seemed the more important.
Since I don’t have a regular morning devotional book, and I’m not currently using any kind of regulated Bible reading plan, I spent a day or so mulling over what more exposure to God would mean. I settled on reading the Gospels. I haven’t spent time there in a long time.
As I’ve recently shared, I struggle with legalism, and yet any mention of the Law in the Bible throws up a mental road block. Today I was reading in Matthew 5. Verses 17-20 are where I found my “a ha!”. I want to share my journal entry because, well, I want to put it out there in case someone else needs the same message I got today.
The verse I read in my version of the NLT
Matthew 5:17-20 NLT
[Jesus talking here - giving the "Sermon on the Mount"] “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain until it’s purpose is achieved. So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. but I warn you — unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!”
My Journal Notes:
“September 19, 2008
Matt 5:17-20
Did Jesus say all of this to highlight the “old way”? He’s talking about your/our ranking in the K of H, then closes saying unless we’re perfect following the law we’re out of luck anyway…It’s hard sometimes because Jesus’ death changed it all, so it is confusing to me to read his words to know if what he says is part of the old or the new.
God has absolute requirements (the law). Those requirements have literally no way of being met.
God can’t change who He is. Those requirements are facts. Laws of God are Laws of Nature. He didn’t arbitrarily choose them, they just are. Jesus came to fill the requirement so we could have that relationship with God.
This is the part that swirls my brain.
– God and sin can’t coexist – it’s one of the “rules”, “laws”, “facts”.
– God’s “laws” are just examples of many many ways to illustrate what sin/evil/wrong is.Jesus, in the rest of chapter 5, was establishing that he wasn’t a dissenter, a rabble-rouser, a radical trying to change the truth about God. He was telling the people that the God of the Jews is still the same God, his laws are even more difficult (impossible) to keep, but still to be desired. They [the laws] were still in force and always will be. Laws = Right. But he came to fulfill them because we are not capable. He is the SOLUTION to: How can God and I be in a close relationship when I am a sinful human and God cannot be connected with sin?”
Legalism in my life is when I think that I somehow can work harder to meet God’s requirements of perfection. Any striving I do in that area leaves me bitter and angry. I will NEVER be able to modify my behavior in a way that is good enough. Never. If I end there, then I’m miserable.
God so badly wants to be with me (us) anyway that he worked up a plan that would take care of his laws and would restore our relationship. That plan was Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the requirements (laws) with his perfection, took the (undeserved) punishment for sin FOR us. Because of Jesus, I do not have to struggle to live up to anything in order to be connected to God. God is not repelled by my sin any longer. If I accept all this (everything I’ve written here), then Jesus’ life and death are EVERYTHING to me. It’s my way out of legalism. It’s my restoration. It’s my hope.
Hey, guess what! That’s “Good News”! 
Seriously, though, I know what I have written is very simple to some. Being stuck in legalism is nasty. It’s a place of “not getting it”. So many voices saying “But it CAN’T be that simple…”. I think it is.
Post Script:
The K-Love verse of the day…
This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
~ 1 John 4:10, NLT
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
There are a few blogs that I read simply because they are good. Not because they are popular, or hip but because their writing just touches me. Or makes me snort laugh out loud while reading quietly. Peter DeWolf writes one of these blogs.
I’ve been reading Peter’s blog for well over a year now, and have heard him talk about his niece, lovingly dubbed ACN. He just referenced an earlier post where he told her story and I’m still a little sniffly.
If you feel like checking out a really good blog…start here.
Sunday, September 14th, 2008
Click HERE to visit
I’m an Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday
Plans are still very iffy here. Stuff changes all the time. I’m dreading the trip to the grocery store as it is STILL raining. Has been for the past few days. Parts of the town are closed due to flooding. I’ll be posting pics later today (I hope) of that. J4 just got back from taking a bunch of pics and video.
Monday - Crock Italian Beef Sandwiches, Sweet Potatoes, Salad [Didn't have them last week as planned]
Tuesday – Leftover Italian Beef
Wednesday – Parmesan Chicken, Noodles, Sauce, Garlic bread,
Thursday – Leftover Chicken
Friday – Special K loaf, Potatoes Au Gratin, Edamame
Saturday – French Toast, Bacon, Hash Browns
Sunday – Leftovers / Cereal
Friday, September 12th, 2008
[Cross posted from my SoulRevolution.net mini-blog. Currently on day 28 of the 60-60 Experiment.]
I want to be perfect. I want God to love me because I earned it. I want to be entitled to all kinds of good things because I worked hard and did a good job.
There is a whole lot of hurt in these wants of mine. They’re not the way the world really works. Not God’s world. God’s world is completely different. I didn’t realize that getting into this Experiment would not always be blissful. There’s some pain involved.
I have always had this attitude of – just tell me what to do and I’ll go do it. I don’t like to be corrected, so if I sense I’m doing something not right or not good enough, I want to go fix it before you can lecture me on it.
I think that’s one of the harder things about being raised in the church, and in a conservative religion. I got no real “conversion” experience. No newly discovered relationship. God’s been a very familiar and pre-set entity. His expectations are set. I wasn’t taught relationship. I have a lot to learn…
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
I’m getting another common message. My friend Heidi, and Soul Revolution author John Burke have both written something I think God’s trying to tell me.
Even now, I’m writing instead of taking time to be still…so…I’m gonna go now…