What's On My Nightstand, January

Here's my reading list for this month!

I recently finished reading...
The Prince of Frogtown by Rick Bragg
Loved it. I think it's my favorite of the Shoutin' trilogy, All Over but the Shoutin' being my least favorite interestingly enough.

Nearly finished reading...
Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Root by J.C. Ryle
Very good and very convicting as well as very encouraging. I like how Ryle carefully outlines his points, breaking down the big picture as he explains each concept in its turn. Plus, it's about holiness and sanctification and let's just say he pulls no punches.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
We are reading this for our book club at church. I read it three or four years ago and loved it then and now I am remembering just why I liked it so much. The story compelling and the prose is beautiful. I can't wait to hear what the rest of the club thinks!

Started reading...
Middlemarch by George Eliot
I started it (again), but I ended up putting it aside to pick up later. Maybe.

Reading throughout the year...
In addition to reading the Bible through in a year, I am also using Nancy Guthrie's The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament, a daily devotional exploring how the Old Testament points to the work and beauty of Christ.

Planning to read next...
Actually, I'm not sure (I never am!). Our book club will be reading Elyse Fitzpatrick's Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life for our February selection and I am looking forward to that. My husband has Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper for Kindle so I may read it. Of course, it's not like I don't have a plethora of options stacked up on the bookcase! I picked up Suncatchers by Jamie Langston Turner at the thrift store; she's one of my favorite authors and this is the one novel of hers I've never read so maybe that will be my next fiction selection.

What about you? Are you reading anything particularly interesting? Please, pass on any titles you find especially compelling!

And while you're at it, link up your reading list at 5 Minutes' for Books' What's On Your Nightstand? carnival!

Paul and Barnabas and me

Years ago I read a novel framed around the life of Paul. Sure, it's purely fictional, one author's interpretation of the events of the apostle's life, so while I remember enjoying the book, I certainly did not (and do not) frame my theology around a novel. While much of the detail of the book is forgotten, I do remember the scene where Paul and Barnabas split. I recall crying as I read it.

It was a sharp disagreement, the Bible says, that led to their parting of ways. Irreconcilable differences to say the least. Yet, the study notes in my ESV Study Bible tell me that "In the sovereignty of God, out of this disagreement came a doubling of their labor, for Barnabas went to strengthen the churches in Cyprus and Paul went to the churches in Syria, Cilicia, and then Galatia. In addition, both of their assistants (Mark and Silas) went on to have significant ministries themselves." The rupture of Paul and Barnabas's ministry partnership becomes a beautiful story of God's redemptive power. Was it His will they split? Surely the Lord desires unity and reconciliation among His children and, yet, He is able to bring beauty from ashes, joy from pain, and restoration from division.

When our church split, some sought to encourage us with this story of Paul and Barnabas, reminding us that even those great evangelists of the early church had differences that could not be overcome and ultimately it was good they parted. Though I appreciated their evident desire to grant us hope (relief? reprieve?), I could not escape the grief that accompanied leaving our church family of thirteen years. Though I trusted the Lord's sovereignty and was fully confident that this was what was required of us, it was a sharp and painful disagreement, to be sure, that led to our parting of ways. It was hard. It hurt. I grieved. Though I do believe in the Lord's economy reconciliation is always better than not, I also know that all things being equal we would do the same all over again.

I've told you before that planting a church is no easy task, no matter how firm your conviction or fervent your passion. As we drafted a church covenant, constitution, and by-laws, and brainstormed possible church names, we knew we were wholly dependent on the Lord to provide. And He has. We've been amazed over and over again at the Lord's provision even for such logistical necessities as a meeting place. For instance, we prayed for a guitar player to lead worship, and the Lord in His strange and wonderful providence sends us a guitar-playing, worship-leading South African. Who could have imagined? We've purchased twenty acres and we only just celebrated our two year anniversary. Yes, the Lord works in mysterious ways. His arm is not too short to redeem, to bring joy from pain, beauty from ashes.

I love my church. Yesterday as we sang songs of corporate praise to the only One worthy, my heart was so full I wanted to cry. The Lord is so good to us! Yes, the split was painful. Yes, I hate that a sharp disagreement arose between us three years ago and yes, I wish that then we could have achieved reconciliation. It didn't happen and I know now what I was trusting the Lord for then: He is able to work all things together for our good and His glory.

I love my church. I love that we are truly family, that we love each other, that we are bound by the saving grace of the Lord Jesus, that we are committed to the Word of God and the proclamation of the gospel, and that we earnestly desire to see the glory of God in all things. The Lord has blessed us indeed for our good, yes, and for His glory, yes and amen.

I do not wish ill for my old church, indeed I have not, not ever. I pray that our testimony is theirs as well: the Lord is good and we see His glory in this His church! Yes, may Paul and Barnabas's mission be accomplished in our community: may we see the gospel spread faster and further so that the Lord Jesus may be exalted among us! For His kingdom and His glory!

Monday Mish Mash, but on a Tuesday

So the boys returned to school today, yes and amen. Before some of you cast judgment upon my delight and accuse me of slothful and selfish, not to mention self indulgent, motivations, let me clarify: I love having the boys home. I wish they were each homebodies like myself and we could just all live here together, one big happy hermit family. What I do not love is a lack of routine that stretches for a month resulting in the sort of bickering and boredom we've endured the past couple of days. I do not wish them back to school out of some resentment at them crimping my style or something equally ridiculous. A two week break, such as we had at Christmas, is great. A four week break, not so much. We need the accountability and structure a schedule, and school, provides.

And today we jump back into our schedule with both feet. School, yes, also an orthodontist appointment, a meeting and basketball games. And homework no doubt. Hello, real life, we've missed you!

In celebration of the return of real life, my friend and I enjoyed breakfast at Chick Fil A. After a week of snow days capped off by the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, we felt a chicken biscuit was in order. As was a trip to the thrift store where for $3.74, I scored two white platters, four small needleworks (framed), and a book by one of my favorite authors. Fun!

It's a rainy day today, one that is far more appropriate to our normal winter weather. If we were to play free association and you were to give me the word "January," I would no doubt reply with the following word associations: Dark. Rainy. Cold. Basketball. In other words, a perfect description of my day today!

Last night was my church's monthly ladies' fellowship. I was the hostess (yes, I am attempting to be deliberate in practicing hospitality, however unnatural it may seem!). I hope it does not sound self-serving to say that I think it was a success! We had baked potatoes with various toppings as well as lots of laughter and good conversation. I love my friends and sisters in Christ! I led the pseudo-devotion which was really a recitation of J.C. Ryle's points from the chapter "The Cost" from his book Holiness. May the Lord grant us strength to persevere as we die to self and live to Christ!

In unrelated news, do you see the "Things I Like" feature there on the sidebar? It's new, a compilation of various posts and quotes that I like or that make me think. Check it out if you feel so inclined! It will update itself as I find new things I like or that make me think...

Speaking of real life, I must now resume. Duty beckons: puppy, laundry, the previously mentioned orthodontist appointment, and so on. A mish mash of responsibility and privilege that is my service unto the Lord. May He be glorified in all things!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

My heart is glad

Psalm 16 was part of my Bible reading this morning...

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you."
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

This is one of my favorite Psalms. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance! He has made known to me the path of life and in His presence is fullness of joy! Yes and amen! Today, as I reflect on worshipping with my friends and fellow church members this morning, my heart is full and I cannot help but praise the Lord. Discussing the gospel in Sunday school, talking about the things of the Lord with a new friend, singing songs of praise, hearing God's word proclaimed with power and passion--a beautiful inheritance, oh yes, and fullness of joy. I love my church family. I love my church. I love God's Word. I love the gospel. I love my Savior. My heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; I have no good apart from Him!

Thankfulness on Thursday, Snow Edition

Joining other bloggers who devote their Thursday posts to express gratitude for various and sundry blessings throughout the week...

So, this week I am thankful for...

• Snow. Rare and beautiful in this part of the world!
• The rarity of snow in this part of the world. I like it as a novelty and not as the norm!
• My rain boots that keep my feet warm and dry when I venture out in the snow.
• My new winter coat that I ordered at a post Christmas sale price and delivered just in time for the snow.
• The snow occurring in close enough proximity to Christmas so that the novelty of the boys' new video games hasn't yet worn off, thereby limiting complaints of boredom. 
• The brilliant white of the snow reminding me of the glorious news that though my sins be as scarlet because of Jesus they are white as snow!

And, unrelated to the snow news except for the fact that during snow days I brew lots of coffee, even more than usual, I am also thankful for...

• The arrival of my replacement coffee pot from the manufacturer. 

What are you thankful for today? Let us give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever!

The Big Snow of 2011, Day 3 (and counting?)

So here we are. Day 3 (and counting?) of The Big Snow of 2011 and we're all just a little stir crazy, perhaps the mommy most of all. The snow remains and, thanks to lows in the teens and highs today not predicted to get out of the 20's, there is ice as well. Another day without school; hence the propensity to stir craziness I just mentioned.

Other, better, moms would have no end of tasks and projects and fun for their kids to pass the time in some sort of educational and/or amusing fashion. Snow cream, perhaps. Studying the rotational symmetry of the snowflake. We didn't even have any groceries until I ventured out in the slush yesterday! Though the boys have had great fun playing in the snow, pelting each other with snowballs and building a "snowman" (with an admittedly unconventional shape), not to mention cheering their team on to a National Championship, I have been lazy and--true confessions here--idle, not doing much but reading and drinking coffee and reading some more and drinking some more coffee. Which has been not altogether unpleasant, I will admit.

I remember once when I was home from college for Christmas break and we were iced in for a couple of days. My mom (perhaps she was stir crazy too?) set my sister and I to work sorting out photographs and putting them in albums. A huge project that kept us busy for quite some time, as you might imagine. What fun we had reminiscing and laughing over the various memories each picture conjured!

Thanks to the wonder of iPhoto, we have no such project in the works. Rather, the boys will no doubt spend their day playing video games, challenging each other to a ping pong duel, and bundling up to brave the cold and ice and snow. Me, while there are no end of projects that I could occupy myself with, I will probably read a little, tweet a little, do a little laundry (always and forever), referee the inevitable argument and try to talk myself into something more productive like cleaning out the kitchen cabinets. Or, something.

The sun is peeking out for the first time in days. It is so beautiful shining on the white winter wonderland that remains! Big snows like this are so rare for us that even in my stir crazy lethargy I am still amazed by the beauty of the Lord's creation. The earth is full of His glory!

Snow Day

The experts predicted a big snow and I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical. I mean, I've heard 100% chances of snow forecasted that all came to naught. Having been burned in the past, I did not even make the requisite panic-provoked purchases of milk and bread. This time, however, the experts proved correct and we awoke to a winter wonderland some six inches deep (a rarity here in Alabama, to say the least). Beautiful! Here's a few snapshots of our snow fun!

Once the snow began last night, it came down fast and furious...

Darcy the puppy loved the snow!

Boys + snow = epic snowball fight

Of course, Darcy had to get in on the fun!

Pausing mid battle for a group shot...

No snowball fights for me...

The battle moves to the drive way in order to take shelter behind the vehicles...

My husband and me

You may notice the Auburn flag; yes, my guys are huge (HUGE!) Auburn fans eagerly anticipating the BIG game tonight! What a day! Snow, no school today (nor tomorrow) and a national championship game!

Thoughts on Bible study

After a long (and necessary...I think) hiatus, I am looking forward to resuming Bible study. Our group will be using Kathleen Nielson's workbook Psalms: Songs Along the Way to facilitate our study (and here's a cool bit of trivia: Kim will be teaching Sunday school using the same study guide!). I've been thumbing through the book in preparation and I found Nielson's thoughts on translations and study helps to be both refreshing and exciting:

These lessons are designed to be completed with only the open Bible in front of you. The point is to grapple with the text, not with what others have said about the text. The goal is to know, increasingly, the joy and reward of digging into the Scriptures, God's breathed-out words which are not only able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus but also profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, so that each of us may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:15-17). (emphasis mine)

Yes, Lord! Let it be! Some may be intimidated by this approach, a concern which Nielson addresses earlier in a section for leaders:

God made us word-creatures, in his image, and he gave us a Word that he wants us to understand more and more, with careful reading and study, and shared counsel and prayer.

Isn't that exciting? The Lord wants us to know and understand His living Word!

And, finally, a concluding exhortation to leaders which is a good word for us all as we apply ourselves to the diligent study of God's Word...

[L]et us not forget to delight together in the Scriptures! We should be serious but not joyless! In fact, we as leaders should model for our groups a growing and satisfying delight in the Word of God--as we notice its beauty, stop to linger over a lovely word or phrase, enjoy the poetry, appreciate the shape of a passge from beginning to end, laugh at a touch of irony or an image that hits home, wonder over a truth that pierces the soul.

May we share and spread the response of Jeremiah, who said:

Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart. (Jer. 15:16)

Yes and amen! Open our eyes, Lord; may we see wonderful things in Your Word!

Friday's Fave Five: a look back at the Lisa writes... archive, 2010

For today's Fave Five (hosted weekly by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story), I thought I'd go retro and offer a few of my favorites from the past year of blogging (or pseudo-blogging, as the case may be) here at Lisa writes...

So, here goes: a few of my favorite posts of 2010...

*On tornadoes and such

Ultimately, whether I find His sovereign control a source of refuge or resentment depends on what I know of His character. His Word tells me He is good, that His mercy endures forever, that He works all things according to His will for our good and His glory. If I believe that, if I know His glory to be my greatest desire, if I trust Him, then I can rest even in the midst of our corporate and personal grief.

*How time flies and other things I do not understand

This summer marked a first for us: we visited a college campus as parents of a prospective college student. During the informational session (which was very good, by the way), I texted my husband (who was sitting four children apart from me): "I look younger than the rest of these moms right?" He asserted via a return text that I did though privately I have my doubts. Parents of prospective college students have to be old(er) arithmetically speaking. The math doesn't lie.

*In and through it all there is grace

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...

*Is wonderful

Week after week I see women caught in the consequences of their own ill advised choices. Sometimes I feel superior--not to those clients who are genuinely needy but to those who remain in the cycle, making the same poor decisions over and over again. Wise up, I want to say. Can't you see how stupid this is? I don't say it, but sometimes I want to. I forget. I forget that there, but for the grace of God, go I.

*Jesus is better

Sisters, we are not to blindly follow anyone! We are to know God's Word for ourselves and know it well enough that we may exercise discernment and identify sloppy interpretation and inconsistent instruction, partial truths that as such are no Truth. We must ask whether a sermon or Bible study or devotion exalts Christ or us--or, God forbid, the teacher--and we must carefully and diligently hold it up to the light of Scripture. Please, do not let your faith depend upon another, no matter how sincere and personable she may be. Work out your faith with fear and trembling, refusing to settle for secondhand knowledge and secondhand intimacy.

It will make my list of five really a list of six (and then some), but I also want to include my series of posts on my trip to Nicaragua among my favorites, beginning with Maybe I Will Dance and It was good. At the bottom of the last post I published in the series are links to all my posts and pictures. (Linking to my wordpress blog so you can see the pictures)

[O]ne word can’t begin to describe all that I saw, felt, experienced. It was good, yes. It was also at turns heartbreaking and hilarious. Joy, grief, homesickness, worship, wonder, inadequacy, humility, exultation–all these emotions were mine at some point or another, sometimes simultaneously, sometimes in such a sudden weight that I couldn’t (and can’t) find words to begin to articulate the experience. I tried, to find words.

And, for the curious, here are the top five most commented posts here at Lisa writes...

• Aftermath and Trust and Adjust?, both with 15 comments
• I have a Question, 18
• In which I pretend I am writing a decorating blog, 20
• Maybe I will Dance, 21
• Jesus is better with 23 comments

What about you? Do you have five favorite posts from your own blog this past year? Or two or three? Let us know in the comments or, better yet, link up at Susanne's with your own Fave Five! You can link up with any five favorites, posts or anything else!

Status Report, January

Sitting...on the sofa in the den

Taking...a short break from the hodge podge of actvitiy I've been engaged in, all in the name of putting the house back together post-Christmas. I am an insecure (not to mention unskilled) decorator which means that restoring my "collection" of various knick knacks to some sort of psuedo-decorating statement not only stresses me out but takes me forever. Translation: I wander all around the house carrying a picture frame before finally deciding to put it back in its original place. After much thought, I might scoot it an inch or so to the left. What can I say, I'm a hopeless (not to mention neurotic) stylist.

Loving...the Acorn houseshoes my brother and sister-in-law gave me. I love them! Comfortable + warm = favorite!

Wondering...how long, exactly, puppies are so very...puppy-ish. Someone said three years. Um, really?!?

Reading...Rick Bragg's The Prince of Frogtown, the third in his trilogy of memoirs. I think maybe it might be my favorite of the three. I liked All over but the Shoutin' okay (but thought it was about 2 or 3 chapters too long and somewhat self-indulgent there at the end), I really liked Ava's Man, and now am liking Prince even more so. Often I find myself chuckling out loud as I read of Bragg's struggles to reconcile his childhood with his new stepfather status. Growing not too far from where I live (our town is even mentioned in one of his stories), he captures so perfectly the Southern sensibility; no doubt there are some in family line who lived lives very similiar to the hard working Southern poor he describes. That, plus he writes so beautifully...

Also reading...Holiness by J.C. Ryle. Good stuff. Consider:

No proof of the fullness of sin, after all, is so overwhelming and unanswerable as the cross and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole doctrine of His substitution and atonement. Terribly black must that guilt be for which nothing but the blood of the Son of God could make satisfaction. Heavy must that weight of human sin be that made Jesus grown and sweat drops of blood in agony at Gethsemane, and cry at Golgotha, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' (Matt. 27:46). 

Wanting...to read Middlemarch next. True confessions: after being inspired by some of my friends and fellow bibliophiles' professed love for the novel, I went to check it out from the library. After seeing my name on the card twice, two years apart and knowing I never got past the first few pages either time, I was too embarrassed to check it out again. So, despite two failed attempts to read (and enjoy) the book, I'm determined to give it another go. Oh, and I just ordered a copy through amazon. How silly is that? Very!

Beginning...my third year of reading the bible through in a year and looking forward to it. I am becoming increasingly familiar with the big picture of Scripture as expressed by the various books and authors, particularly in the Old Testament as I would never profess to being anything remotely resembling an Old Testament scholar. Not that I study per se as I read; mostly I just read. Speaking of the Old Testament, I've also begun using Nancy Guthrie's The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament as part of my devotional reading and so far, so good. Really, really good. The first three days' reading have been full of Jesus which is the whole reason I bought the book!

Finishing...this Status Report the next morning. Evidently my short rest break was shorter than I anticipated! I am once again seated on the sofa but now I am...

Drinking...coffee, black.

Enjoying...the quiet of the house. My husband has already left for work and everyone else, puppy included, is asleep.

Preparing...myself mentally to take on the unpleasant task of cleaning out my younger two sons' room. I dread it. I am a wimp, no doubt about it, but today's the day for courage. We will procrastinate no longer; we will clean; we will straighten; we will throw away; and we hope (against hope) to become more organized...

Planning...a couple of retrospective posts here at the blog, but I'd really planned to have them posted before the turn of the new year. Now, 2010 seems so...well...so last year...so who knows? Y'all know the kind of blogger I am (or not) so we'll see.

Wishing...all my friends a happy and blessed New Year! The Lord's blessings to you, friends!

How deep the Father's love

It is the first Sunday of January, the first Lord's Day of the new year, our second anniversary of chartering together as a church. I could, and perhaps will, given the time and inclination, write about both of those things, the new year as well as the Lord's faithfulness to us as a church. Today, however, I want to share the words to one of the hymns we sang this morning. "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" seems appropriate as I ponder the close of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, as well as our journey together as a church just two years' old. It's the gospel that reminds me of the depth of the Father's love, it's the gospel that moves me to gratitude for His gracious blessings, it's the gospel that compels me to desire to serve Him with greater boldness and passion, it's the gospel binds my heart with those of my sisters and brothers. How deep is the Father's love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died; glory to His name!

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

©1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music
Words and Music by Stuart Townend