A Woman After God's Own Heart

I'm currently reading A Woman After God's Own Heart--Elizabeth George--in preparation for a Bible study of the same name in September. In 1 Samuel 13:14 we find that David, in spite of his many failures as we also have, was a man after God's own heart. Wow!! Psalm 37:4 says we should delight ourselves in the Lord and He will give us the desires of our heart.

I will be so thrilled to regularly study the Bible again with the ladies!! I'm reading, praying about whom to invite and just trying to get my heart ready--a very BIG order.

I am sad to see the summer vacation end as it is my favorite time of year but will relish the regular routine that usually comes with school resuming. For many years as a teacher and then a school administrator, I lived on these rhythms and I guess I'm still in that same frame of mind. Oh, blessed routine!! I welcome you!!!

Jerks (Selfish people)

I've just completed reading "Don't Let Jerks Get the Best of You" by Dr. Paul Meier. This is a heavy book. I find myself analyzing myself and almost everyone I know!! (mostly family members) There are 1st degree jerks (everyone is one of these sometime except the most "spiritually" mature of the universe.) Second degree jerks are pretty nasty (very selfish) Nth degree jerks don't even feel guilty when they abuse others. Dr. Meier is an Christian MD and a psychiatrist. He is a partner in the Minirth Meier Clinics. Some of us are masochists who set ourselves up to be hurt, victimized, or taken advantage of. (I don't see me here)

This book really makes you think about your family of origin, traumatic experiences you may have had in your life, and your immediate family. I'm still reeling from a lot of it but it is a very interesting and informative book! I would highly recommend it. Now I hope I can go on to some "lighter" fare. I'm so thankful for great books that teach us so much and can inspire us to change!

Giving Your Life for Jesus--No Compromise

Every year I try to read some biographies. I am currently reading the biography of Keith Green, a Christian musician and songwriter from the 80's. This book has been in our library for probably 20 years. I am only beginning to read it and I can't put it down!! This guy was radical. He was only a believer for a few years before he tragically died but he had been searching for most of his young life. I can't wait to finish this book and find out how it ends.

It is so inspiring to read about any of the great people of our world. I don't just read about Christians. I read about journalists, political people, etc. I believe that biographies give us insight into others and the world around us.

The Secret Place

Just recently did a Bible study on Matthew 6--"Keeping a Secret Life." Something happens in the secret place. In the secret life God comes to restore my soul! The secret life with God, will give me power in my life. I must be intentional about spending this time with God. There will be an audience of one there. I will be made righteous with God in the secret place. When it feels like all hell is coming against me, I must break heaven loose in my secret place.