Books, books, books!

So, once again, it's time for 5 Minutes for Books' monthly carnival where inquiring minds want to know: "What's on your nightstand?" In other words, what's everybody reading? I am currently reading...

• Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels by Tullian Tchividjian
• Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson

Yes, only two titles in my "reading now" stack, if you can believe it.






It's also fall (yes and amen) which means it is time for Katrina's Fall Into Reading Challenge. This is a fun reading challenge that I've participated in off and on ever since I first entered the blogging realm. The rules of engagement are pretty simple: you post a list of books you hope to read, you read, and then at the end of the challenge you post about what you read (or didn't read). Plus Katrina has fun prizes and stuff throughout the challenge! Want to find out more? Click here for Katrina's Fall Into Reading introduction.

So, what do I hope to read this fall? For once I don't really have any firm goals but here's some titles that have languished on my To Be Read list for quite some time plus a few titles that are soon to be released...

NON FICTION:

• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (I will get to this one! I will!)
• Women's Ministry in the Local Church
• Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots

FICTION/MEMOIR

• Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together
• In the Company of Others: A Father Tim Novel--I love Father Tim and can I just say that Jan Karon takes far too long between novels? If you haven't read her Mitford series, you must!
• The Eyre Affair: A Thursday Next Novel--I saw this one on one of Carrie's lists and I was intrigued! I'm thinking it may be part of my next amazon order.
• My Name Is Mary Sutter: A Novel--Lauren's review at 5 Minutes for Books piqued my interest.
• The Road--Will I like it? Will I hate it? I'm not sure about this one.
  

As always, I'd like to read some classic literature, maybe something by Thomas Hardy since my friend Kim always mentions him when I ask for recommendations. As a Southerner, I feel as if I should read Faulkner and I tried. Once. Maybe I'll try again. I've also been in something of a British detective novel stage, P.D. James in particular, so no doubt some of those titles will make my reading list. I've also enjoyed the first couple of books in Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries. So, yeah, I'm pretty much non committal, keeping my fiction options wide open.

But here's the real fun of these reading challenges: finding out what everyone else is reading! So, what are you reading this month? Link up over at 5 Minutes for Books. And what reading goals do you have for the fall? Join Katrina's challenge and let us know! And if you have any really really good books you'd like to recommend, by all means pass them on here in the comments!

Happy reading!

In and through it all there is grace

I didn't attend many funerals as a child and was therefore unschooled in the rite and tradition that accompany the passing of a loved one. As such, when my grandfather died, I, a young mom of a baby and a toddler, knew enough of funeral etiquette to pack the prescribed black dress but neglected to bring anything appropriate for the receiving line during visitation. I wore a khaki skirt and a yellow tee to greet those who came to pay their respects, a fact that shames me to this day.

As I said, my oldest two boys were my only two at the time and babies at that. Unsure both of leaving them with a stranger or taking them in the hopes they would be quiet during the service, we decided my husband would bring our oldest, then two years old, and meet us at the graveside after the service. The baby would stay behind with some family members. Without husband or child in tow, I found myself riding to the graveside with my parents and my sister and brother, the five of us as we always were before college and marriage and kids. As we came up to the cemetery, I saw my husband standing there at the entrance in his suit and tie, my son in front of him watching and waiting, held by his daddy's firm grip on his shoulders.

I don't know why that image of the two of them stand in such sharp relief in my mind. Funerals I have learned, now that my naivete has given way to experience, always carry with them a sense of the surreal and my grandfather's was no different. His death was unexpected--as nearly all are it seems, even those that tarry--and our grief therefore all the more poignant. I don't know why but seeing them there together, my husband and my son, is something I will never forget, their presence grounding me, a ray of joy piercing the haze of my sadness. They were so beautiful to me, still are, beautiful and strong and full of hope and life even then at that moment of our shared grief. They, my husband and sons, are evidence of God's grace to me, grace abundant and immeasurable, goodness undeserved and unmerited. I saw it then; I see it now.

Friday a week ago I stood in line to pay my respects as I have done many times in the years since my grandfather's passing. The line was such that it was forty five minutes before I finally reached the family, before I could tell my friend's daughters how much I loved their mother, her husband how much his wife meant to me. I never really know what to say in those sorts of situations; I try to tell them something I would want to know if I were them. I loved her, I told them. She was a great friend and mentor to me. I miss her. Very much. I cried as I told them these things and for some silly reason felt embarrassed by my tears.

What I told them was true. I miss her. Very much. She was a great friend and mentor and I will never forget our Wednesday mornings together at the crisis pregnancy center. We would chat; we would laugh; we would talk of husbands and children and homekeeping (or the lack thereof) and in and through it all we talked of the things of the Lord. I would watch her as she would pause outside the counseling room before going into to meet with a client. She was praying, that I knew, and I knew also that once she entered the room she would share the gospel--the good news that Jesus saves sinners--with courage and compassion.

I left the funeral home that Friday night and I went to a football game where I yelled like crazy with the rest of the fans and then I went home and went to bed, my day a snapshot of life as we know it: Grief. Joy. Sadness. Celebration. Loss. Hope. Death. Life. And grace. In and through it all there is grace.

Monday Mish Mash

Yeah, so, evidently I fell off the blogging wagon this past week. Not so unusual but certainly unintentional. I've had various post ideas floating around in my head but lacked the energy to put them to keyboard. Writing a blog post, at least for this blogger, takes time, far too much of it, a direct result no doubt of that compulsive self editor within that will not die. So, rather than offer one of those obsessively edited, carefully composed posts, I will mark this Monday with another mish mash of those random sorts of thoughts occupying my mind lately...

It's 59 degrees this morning! Finally! Yes, I am out on the porch and yes, I am thrilled with (what seems to be) fall's long awaited arrival. I made pumpkin bread this weekend in the eager anticipation of the cooler temps. Porch + Coffee + Pumpkin Bread for breakfast + 59 degrees + Bible reading followed by a little blogging = Life is good. And I am making chicken noodle soup for supper! How good of the Lord to give us the autumn season, even if it seemed to tarry in coming!

Did you know that I'm blogging through Surprised by Grace with my friends Leslie and Melissa? Yep, we've formed a collaborative blog, Southern Baptist Girl, and we'd love for you to stop by and leave a comment as we discuss the gospel and grace and theology and other items of interest to southern Baptist girls like ourselves. Check it out and let us know what you think!

In addition to Surprised by Grace I am also reading Home by Marilynne Robinson. I've read her earlier novel, Gilead, a story simultaneous to the events of Home, and liked it very much. Like Gilead, Home is told rather slowly yet once I grew accustomed to the slow cadence of Robinson's tale, the beauty of her prose is such that sometimes I nearly hold my breath reading it (is that weird?).

I doubt that many of you are terribly interested in our local sports scene but you have to indulge me just a moment to brag on my son's football team. In Friday night's game, we were behind 28-0 at the half only to come back to win in overtime, 34-28! What a game! It was some kind of exciting, one to remember that's for sure!

Remember what I said about writing a blog post taking time? Well, this one is no different and I've already exceeded my self imposed limit. Monday, in all its autumnal glory as well as its responsilibilties and chores, beckons. May you enjoy a wonderful day, fall-ish or not, full of the beauty and blessings of the Lord God Himself!

Future Mission Headquarters

Some of you--long time readers and those of you who know me in real life--are probably familiar with our church journey. Suffice it to say, the Lord has been faithful to us in countless ways, not the least of which is providing us with the financial wherewithal to purchase twenty acres with the long range vision of a permanent meeting location. How amazing is that! To God be the glory! Being a part of this, the Lord's work, is so exciting and amazing and incredible and nearly every other superlative I can think of; it is also humbling and daunting and nearly every other description of the kind of state that reminds us again and again it is His work, His grace, His glory, His church.


Anyway, in thinking along those lines I wanted to share with you an excerpt of our church newsletter this week concerning the land and our stewardship of it. It's a guest post of sorts by my pastor Brad Williams (who blogs, when he blogs, at Sojourner), posted with his permission of course...

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So Now We've Got Some Land!

We have, officially, made one payment on the twenty acres that we bought. Pretty soon, we are going to make another payment on it. Currently, it is growing weeds that Steve and Todd are graciously mowing down with their bush hogs. It is even pretty rough for that. I think that Todd broke a blade and Steve had his kidneys rattled out of place on the back side of the property. They also found lawn chairs, tires, bottles, and all sorts of interesting things lying there under the deep the grass.

This chunk of property that we have is our most expensive asset. It is going to cost us even more in the future. We need to have it smoothed out so it can be mowed without fear of our brethren being bucked off their tractors. We also need to take down the bank on the front side so we can level off the front for more space to build. We need to kill the thistles and sow grass. We have to figure out a way to keep the “creek” at the low part of the property from becoming a mosquito swamp. This is even before we smooth out the ground so we can pour concrete and build a building.

But I have big dreams of what this property could look like one day. I dream of turning the potential mosquito creek into a beautiful pond with a pier and a little gazebo. I think it would be lovely to have a walking track go around it. Instead of seeing thistles and wild weeds, I dream of a lovely stand of Bermuda grass. On the high side of the property, I can envision a stand of Leland Cypress trees providing a beautiful backdrop for our pond and walking track. This does not even include the nice building I dream about that overlooks this picturesque scene in my mind. Wouldn’t all that be beautiful? Maybe you can even dream up a better picture!

Here is the reality: while that piece of property is our single most expensive asset, it is not the most valuable. Not even close. Even if we fix it up to be the grandest property in the county, it will be unable to produce a single follower of Jesus Christ. It will never even make a single payment for its own upkeep, much less support a missionary in Argentina. It is, in the end, a tool. It is a thing that will come to reflect us as a church, and it will demonstrate where our priorities lie in the way that we use it.

So here is how we ought to be dreaming when we dream. Think of that little piece of weedy ground as the future mission headquarters. Think of it as a launching pad. From that place, in this town, we will provide a haven from the enemy and lies that he tells. As a mission headquarters, it will be a place where we teach others what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a place where we will come for encouragement, camaraderie, and to regroup. It will be a place where the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught and cherished. There, we will gather, and from there we will disperse back into the community, and even the uttermost parts of the world, to carry the gospel we love to both family and stranger.

So what is the most valuable asset we have? The gospel, of course. The gospel is the reason we bought the place. The gospel is the reason for which this church exists. And secondly, our greatest resource is our friendship with each other and our shared dreams for this world. It is our unity of purpose to rescue as many as we can from the lies of the devil, to hold back those who are venturing down the paths of unrighteousness, snatching them away from the fire they are headed for. Let’s build this property, not because we are building a building, but because we are building a kingdom as God is building His church. This church. We can touch the world. We can make a difference. And by the grace of God, we will.

Bro. Brad

We grieve, but not without hope

My heart is heavy. This morning I received word that my friend has died and is now in the presence of her Savior whom she loved. I weep, but not without hope. I wrote of my friend back last spring when she first received her cancer diagnosis. I'm re-posting here in order to boast in the hope we have because of Christ. We grieve, yes, but our grief is tempered by the assurance we have in Jesus who by His resurrection conquered death to bring life to all who believe in Him! Glory to God!

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Volunteering at our local pregnancy center is one of the highlights of my week. I love it. I love serving our clients, helping to meet their needs, and sharing the love of Jesus in tangible ways. I love telling them of His love and mercy found in the cross and the salvation He offers.

I also love spending my Wednesdays with my fellow volunteers. These women, my friends and sisters in the Lord, are serious about following Christ. They earnestly desire to bring glory to God not just through their work at the center but in all things. I love being around them. I love their passion. I love the godly examples they are to me. I love that we are friends. I love the easy camaraderie we share. I love those ladies!

One of my friends from the center underwent a very serious medical procedure several months ago. There was risk, as with all medical procedures, but this one in particular carried the potential for very serious implications if all did not go as planned. The day she returned to the center was a day of great celebration! I will never forget our giddy joy as we ordered in lunch and sat at the table in the office, eating, drinking, celebrating together. It was a great day of rejoicing in the Lord's goodness and faithfulness, one I will always remember. The Lord is good! His mercies endure forever!

Last week we received news that another of our group is facing a serious diagnosis. Cancer. It doesn't look good. Our hearts are broken. She is courageous and has testified that she only wants the Lord to be glorified. We are praying against this horrible disease, we are pleading for her life, and we are believing God to grant her peace and strength. We want her to return to us, healthy and whole, not just for us but for her husband, her daughters, her granddaughter. We want another celebration, another meal in which we boast in the Lord's goodness and revel in His joy. For this we pray even as we trust the Lord and His good, acceptable and perfect will.

I am so grateful for my friend's faith and for her determination to honor the Lord no matter what. I am also thankful that because of Jesus we have hope: hope that all things work together for our good, hope that nothing comes to us apart from His sovereign will, hope that whatever He asks of us, whatever comes to us, it is keeping with His purposes and His plan, hope that this world is not all we have, hope in the glory of Jesus.

Our hope is not wishing for something that may or may not happen. Hope will not disappoint, that He promises us. Because of our faith in Christ, our hope is a confident expectation. We know. We will celebrate together. Perhaps around the table at the center eating lunch out of styrofoam containers--(Oh, yes, Lord, may it be)--or perhaps at the banquet table to come, when all the saints of God gather for that eternal, glorious celebration of the Lord's glory! What joy we will know then!

My friend's hope lies with Christ. She trusts Him. I am so grateful that her hope is not merely for this life only! One day faith will be sight and we will behold Him, our blessed hope, the eternal Son of God!

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Rom. 5:1-5

I know that my friend's situation is not unique. It seems as if there are many, acquaintances and family both, who are suffering heartache and pain. Some are enduring great loss. Some are facing an uncertain future. For us all, our only hope is Christ. He alone sustains. Seek Him. Trust Him. The Lord is good! His mercies endure forever!

"Hope", originally posted 3/11/10

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On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day,

"Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the Lord; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."  (Is. 25:6-9)

My biggest problem

I don't really have time to spend on writing a blog post but the morning is so beautiful here out on the porch that it stirs the blogging muse and I figure the muse lies dormant so much of the time that when inspiration strikes I might as well run with it. (And yes, I wanted to see how many metaphors I could cram into a single sentence; how did I do?).

Last night the ladies from my church enjoyed our monthly fellowship with lots of fun and food. I led a short devotion on the gospel and the difference it makes in our real lives, incidentally something we've been discussing over at Southern Baptist Girl if you'd like to join us.

This morning I've been ruminating over all that we discussed and I've been thinking about how remembering the gospel reminds me what my biggest problem is. I may think my biggest problem today is the overwhelmingly impossible length of my to-do list but it's not. Some days I may think my biggest problem is my bickering children or the lack of novelty in my wardrobe or some other stress inducing circumstance (or, not, as the case may be). For some of us, we consider our biggest problem to be our jobs or our scales or our husbands. Not all of our problems are frivolous; some of us have very real problems with very real and very devastating effects.

But the truth of the gospel--that God will judge and punish sin but Jesus died so that sinners may be forgiven if they repent and believe in Him--this truth exposes my biggest problem: SIN. I may fret over how fat I think I look but at the core of my worry is self preoccupation and pride which is sin. I may be overwhelmed with my responsibilities yet my stress reveals my self reliance which is sin. Insecurity isn't my problem; the sin of looking for security in anything other than Christ is. Fear isn't my biggest problem, no matter the object of my fear; doubt and lack of trust in the sufficiency of Christ is.

How is knowing that sin is my biggest problem a good thing? Isn't that dwelling unnecessarily on the negative? My sin has been forgiven through the death of Jesus; why keep harping on it? Here's a reason: because I keep sinning. Until I am glorified in Christ I will continue to struggle but remembering the gospel--rehearsing its truths to myself daily--builds my faith and fuels my affections for my Savior who died on my behalf. Remembering that I was dead in my transgressions and sins, deserving of eternal punishment because of my wickedness and rebellion, grants me a greater understanding of His glorious grace. The more I understand, the more I worship the sovereign God for who He is and what He has accomplished for me in Christ. I will know greater humility; who can boast when she realizes everything (everything!) is of grace? I will be confident and secure because if He did not spare His own Son, will He not in Him graciously give me all things? I will love others and will dare to speak with boldness the good news that Jesus saves sinners; how can I not freely share the grace that has been so mercifully and unreservedly granted to me?

Yes, the gospel shows me my biggest problem, my sin. But it shows me the bigness of the grace and mercy of a good God who shows His love for me in while I was yet a sinner Jesus died that I might die to sin and live to righteousness to the praise of His glory...

Remembrances and Celebrations

It's Monday and instead of something like real posting, it's another mish mash of reflections and remembrances...

As you know, Saturday marked nine years since the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center in New York. Like all of us, I will never forget that morning. After dropping my older two boys off at school, I took my third son to a friend's house to spend the day. On our way home from my friend's house, I heard the puzzling report on the radio that a plane had hit one of the twin towers at the Word Trade Center in New York. Once home, I turned on the T.V. and saw the second plane hit in real time. Shocked and horrified I called my husband at work to tell him and like everyone else spent the rest of the day--and the days to come--glued to the television, my grief and shock growing with every news update. I am still shocked and grieved as I remember those who lost their lives so tragically...

Yesterday marked a different anniversary of sorts: my second son turned fifteen and my husband celebrated 42 years. It was a full day of church and soccer and church again but still we managed to work in some cake and gifts. It's hard to believe that fifteen years ago our little family of three became a family of four, and on my husband's birthday at that! He's always said it's the best birthday present he could receive. Our number two son brings such joy (and laughter) to us! Here are the birthday boys fifteen years ago:

And here they are on their 42nd and 15th birthdays respectively:

A day definitely worth celebrating! I am so very thankful for them both!

And so the mish mash of life continues today, Monday, with grocery shopping, laundry (always and forever), preparing to lead a devotion tonight, and the rather dubious honor of taking my newly-turned fifteen year old to get his driver's permit. Such is life: grief and joy, tragedy and celebration, and, in between, the day-to-day ordinary obligations. We remember the tragic, we rejoice in the blessings, and we live each day in the grace the Lord provides through it all.

Vanity, vanity

I have little natural vanity. Oh, I have other faults and plenty of them--far more than I am willing to admit here--but vanity is not chief among them. I don't care for mirror time, I never weigh myself, and I only exercise (when I exercise) presumably to be healthy and because, well, one is supposed to.

However, one night last summer I had what could best be described as a crisis of vanity. I will spare you the details; suffice it to say it involved a dressing room, fluorescent lighting, and a potential swimsuit purchase, which, by the way, never materialized for all the reasons you might imagine.

Horrified and surprised by my crisis of vanity, I began to obsess over all my flaws and to hate myself for them. Quickly, too quickly, I understood how easily I could become a slave to my vanity. Can you feel my pain? I don’t know a woman alive who doesn’t have body image issues. We none of us like the way we look, whether we’re obsessed over it or surprised by it.

Though that particular obsession abated once home thanks to the medicinal effects of dark chocolate (an indulgence which in retrospect may serve to fuel such crises), I still, often, find myself obsessing over other areas: my failures and my gnawing insecurity mainly, both of which tend to define how I view myself and my significance (or the perceived lack thereof).

I think we all have a tendency to obsess over something. We may not label it as such but we all have that one thing we think we need, that one motivation that drives us, that one place we seek meaning and identity. Whether it be your appearance or your weight, your house or your children, your job or your security, whatever it is you can be sure it will never satisfy completely, eventually ruling as a cruel and demanding taskmaster, trapping you in a cycle of disappointment and defeat. If I’m obsessed over my stuff, there is always new and better stuff to covet. If I’m obsessed over my weight, there is always that piece of pie (or dark chocolate) to feel guilty over.

There is only one obsession that never disappoints: the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. All that we long for, all that we require, all that we seek, we’ll find it in Him. He alone satisfies, He alone fills to overflowing, He alone is worthy of our passion. He is to be our one magnificent obsession. Anything else we seek apart from Him will not only disappoint, it will become an idol, an empty and powerless false god.

I am challenged by Hebrews 12:1-2. I want thd kind of single minded desire that will move me to throw off all lesser obsessions and the sins that entangle as I fix my eyes on Jesus, running, striving, seeking Him in reckless abandon, confident that He is the one thing, the only thing, I want. May He be my one pure and holy passion! He is all I need, and more!

A day over 42

Yesterday was my birthday. Yes, the big 4 - 2, which as I mentioned to you in an earlier post sounds a lot older than it feels. If only it sounds a lot older than it looks as well! Thanks to the wonder that is Facebook, I was inundated with well wishes from family and friends both--old friends, new friends, virtual friends, real life friends. What fun! This is truly one of the greatest benefits of Facebook--for one day out of the year to receive such an outpouring of birthday love! Thank you, friends!

It was a good birthday though not so much like a birthday. Half my guys (husband and two children) were out of town for a soccer tournament; me and my other two sons, the oldest and youngest, had breakfast out, went to my youngest son's pee wee football game and spent the rest of the day as coach potatoes, meaning we pretty much parked ourselves on the sofa and remained there til bedtime. I watched some football, I read some, I may have dozed some, I talked on the phone some. A good day--albeit a lazy one--even though I missed my whole family being together.

Birthdays are not what they used to be, to be sure, but I am glad to be able to mark another year of life, another year of the Lord's faithfulness, another year of His gracious blessings. I am glad to be 42 and despite my jokes otherwise I much prefer being here, in the today of my life, over going back to any of the yesterdays. Life at 42 is good, immeasurably so, only because of the immeasurable grace and goodness of my sovereign God. Thus far the Lord has brought me! He is good!

Status Report, September

Sitting...on the faux wicker loveseat on the back porch. 64 degrees and loving it!

Drinking...coffee, black.

Finishing...reading A Praying Life. Really good stuff. I have one chapter left, I think, and I've found it to be one of the most encouraging books I've read. I have to admit I kind of expected the opposite. Who prays as much or in the manner she thinks she ought? Here's something I read this morning:

[Prayer time] is both being and doing. I'm with God. I sense his presence. He is speaking into my life. But our relationship doesn't float. I'm not hunting for an experience with God: I'm inviting God into my life experience. He is in me, and I am in him. As I bring to him my real lief with my real needs, he acts in amazing ways. He is at work touching my life, doing what I can't do. The result? Thanksgiving. You don't have to work at worship when God is so alive.

Learned helplessness lurks just beneath the surface of that prayer time. I simply can't do life on my own. Without God's intervention, I am completely helpless. I need Jesus.

"Learned helplessness"--I like that.

Reading...Surprised by Grace next, along with my friends Leslie at Alabamenagerie and Melissa at Breath of Life. We'll be blogging through the book so watch for more information. If you're interested in joining us, please do! I'll be posting more about it and soon.

Loving... that it is September. I love September. I also love October, November and even December (if it weren't for that holiday and all of the corresponding stress and commercialism, but that's another blog post). In short, I love fall! And winter too though fall is my favorite. One of the (many, many) things I love about this time of year is Friday night football. We live in a one high school town and there is so much excitement this time of year! Perhaps I will one day write a post extolling all the virtues of living in a town without a mall, Target or Starbuck's. Suffice it to say, football will make that list. :)

Thinking...about how easily we fall into the legalistic trap of evaluating each other in the kinds of externalities which are, ultimately, a matter of personal conviction, a disputable matter. It saddens me. What are we doing to ourselves? Why the vitriol? Are we so insecure in our own convictions that we must judge others for not sharing them?

Pondering...the quick passage of time and how 42 may sound old it really doesn't feel all that old. Yet. I guess I will find out come Saturday...

Remaining...undecided regarding Bible study this fall. With that quick passage of time and all, it seems that fall snuck up on me in regard to Bible study. What will we study? When will we begin? These are questions I haven't yet decided nor explored to any great extent. Any recommendations?

Fighting...weariness, despite all my posting on that topic. I think part of the reason I haven't thought much about resuming the Bible study is because I'm tired. I was tired when we finished last May and despite our summer hiatus I'm still tired. I'm praying both for the Lord's direction and His sustaining grace!

Lingering...here on the porch long enough. I must go clean up the kitchen, put on a load of laundry (always and forever), and face the day with all its demands and opportunities in the strength and joy of the Lord. Happy Wednesday, friends!