Posts Tagged ‘God’
My Top {Ten} Favorite Books
Posted on: September 21, 2010
- In: Life
- 9 Comments
I would caution from calling myself a bibliophil these days, since reading anything beyond Curious George Goes to the Circus is pretty scarce. But this weekend gave me with lots of opportunity to read while I was traveling. The time provided me with a renewed sense of love for reading and made me recall the books that have made the biggest impression on me over the years. Here, in no real order, are my top favorite books.
1. Scarlet Pimpernel – Perhaps this is justly placed at Number 1. Scarlet Pimpernel is favorite book and has been for years. If I’m going to read, and can’t find something to hold my interest, I turn to Scarlet Pimpernel. I’ve read it at least a dozen times. {Perhaps that’s why I don’t read a lot of books – I usually re-read all my favorites.}
2. Harry Potter series – Go ahead and laugh. Or agree with me. People seems so divided on the Potter series. I started the Potter series at this crazy, painful time in my life. It was a great escape from reality and I loved it. I’ve read the last 3 books several times and while I don’t plan to re-read them before the release of the last movie, they will come out again at some point.
3. Chronicles of Narnia – I grew up reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but it wasn’t until Jonathan bought me the series that I had read the others. Amazing. Like most people know, there is such amazing allegories through out this series that just capture me. And my overwhelming love of lions doesn’t hurt.
4. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden – A harrowing semi-autobiographical story about a teenaged girl battling schizophrenia. Haunting in many ways, this book made me walk away realizing the true struggle and battle of mental illness.
5. The Alchemist – I read this book while struggling with my faith in my last semester of college. I read it back to back in less than a month. Then I made Jonathan read it. Then our friend, then my mom. And then I re-read it. God really used the Alchemist to push me over from complacency to desire to seek Him.
6. The Bible – Jonah – As a Christian I will say that the Bible is by far the best “book” to read. It constantly speaks to me in new ways, revealing God’s heart to me. However, over the course of the years, no book in the Bible has spoken to me more than Jonah. A constant reflection of who I am in comparison to my great and mighty God, Jonah and I are two very similar people.
7. Pride and Prejudice – I’m not one for love stories {or romances}. And if I’m going to read one, I need strong characters, nothing fruity and shallow. If you’ve ever read Pride and Prejudice {or seen the movies} you know there is nothing weak or shallow about Darcy and Elizabeth. And while my little teenaged heart use to go pitter-patter for Darcy, my woman’s heart go pitter-patter for having my own Darcy.
8. To Kill a Mockingbird – I am fairly certain it is a right of passage for all Southerners to read Harper Lee. A beautiful book about racism, seeing past skin color and the heart of the Deep South.
9. The Hiding Place – While I was introduced to Corrie ten Boom as a child, it wasn’t until I read the Hiding Place as an adult that I fully comprehended the overwhelming truths in her book.
10. A Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery series – I have slowly made my way through the first three books in this series since May. I think my willingness to already throw them into a favorite category comes from 1) my love of Austen, 2) my gratitude at the books stay so close to the true personalities of Darcy and Elizabeth. See my review here.
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
Waiting on the Lord
Posted on: August 30, 2010
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
{Be sure to check out my Eco Natural Soap giveaway!}
Have you ever waited for something? I mean really waited? What does it even mean to wait, especially in our have-it-now society?
In the last few days I have begun wondering what it means to wait upon the Lord. Psalm 27:14 {NLT} says: “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Psalm 37:7 {NLT} says: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.”
I have a hard time being brave and courageous when asked to wait for something I want, or to receive an answer to a burning question. I begin doubting whether what I want/need answered will actually be provided. I question God, His true faithfulness, and can begin to feel overwhelmed and defeated. But once I get past the fear of waiting, I almost always move quickly to action. I begin taking matters into my own hands. I start acting on Sarah’s power and not God’s. In my actions {and even more in my heart} I say, “God can’t, but I can”. I try to move mountains, speed up time, change people’s thoughts and play God. Talk about a tough role to fill!
This weekend God gripped my heart. I asked a question, one whose answer either way will bring me joy and gladness. And He asked me to wait. Patiently. With bravery and courage. He will answer me. He will act. I need only wait.
A life changing letter
Posted on: August 2, 2010
- In: Life
- 2 Comments
In June our family started sponsoring a girl, Momita, from India through Compassion International. There were two motivating factors for sponsorship: 1) to help a child in need; 2) to teach our children. For the last two months, I’ve been putting a lot of emphasis on the latter. We talk to Julia a lot about Momita. We explain that Momita doesn’t live with her family {she’s at a boarding school}, that she doesn’t have the luxuries we have, that she doesn’t get to eat “bananies” {bananas} everyday, that she needs our prayers.
I’ve written to Momita twice. Just this last week, I received my first letter back. There was nothing profound in the letter. Momita’s writing is exactly what you’d expect from a young girl. Everything was short and to the point. In her letter she asked us to pray for her. And that touched me. It made me realize just how important our sponsorship is to her. Aside from monetary benefits, knowing that a family is praying for her means a lot to her. But what really rocked me to my core {and quite nearly made me cry} was when she signed the letter:
“Your loving daughter, Momita”
I don’t know Momita. I’m not certain I could pick her out in a crowd {for sure not if I didn’t have her picture in hand}. I don’t know all the things she likes or dislikes. But standing in the driveway last week reading her letter I realized: I am the mother to three girls. I don’t have words to explain just what that has meant to me; just how much her letter has changed me and my attitude toward supporting her. I’m no longer supporting a girl from India. I’m supporting my daughter who lives in India.
For Momita’s protection and privacy, I won’t share her photo with you online {but if you’re ever at my house I will gladly show you!}. However, I thought I’d pass along pictures of her city:
Momita’s village is comprised of mostly Buddhist and there have been many conflicts between them and Christians. There weren’t many photos of homes in her village, mostly just temples and caves that are tourist attractions. It’s amazing being able to see the area Momita lives in; it allows me to feel even more attached to her.
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
Five years ago today, Jonathan and I committed our lives to one another. It has been an amazing whirlwind adventure. In five years we have lived in three different homes {not included the ones we lived with “in transition”}, we have had two dogs and most importantly, two beautiful daughters. Jonathan, I love you. You make me laugh, you make me smile. I am truly blessed to be your wife.
July has been one crazy month. We started off with a visit from my brother and his family. After that, Jonathan has pretty much worked 50-70 hours a week preparing for the launch on West Music’s website. He and his teammates did an excellent job and I commend him for all his hard work and effort. He has earned himself a much needed break.
For the last week, we’ve had some friends staying with us as they move into a new home {which is actually behind our house – sort of}. They are some dear friends, and while it’s stressful at times to have four kids and two moms in a tiny kitchen, it’s been a lot of fun. Our girls could get use to having playmates instantly at hand. Julia especially. From the moment she wakes up she’s asking “Go play with my friends? My friends not sleep. Go play with them.” Good thing they like her, otherwise I think she’d wear them out! Hannah has been really taking off with her walking – literally. I have to watch her with hawk eyes or she’ll be halfway down the block before I know what’s happen. Keeps me on my toes!
As for me, I’m glad the month is drawing to an end. With Jon’s crazy schedule, it means I’ve had a crazy schedule. But God has been really gracious, especially being able to end the month with our anniversary and less than one week till our anniversary trip. I can’t wait. Makes me kinda giddy just thinking about it.
Au revoir, or, Good-bye Paris
Posted on: July 15, 2010
- In: Life
- 17 Comments
In my heart of hearts, God had been asking me for months to be okay with “letting go” of our anniversary trip to Paris. Through all the planning and saving, I safe guarded my heart from putting my hope in a Parisian trip. Know what? We aren’t going. Instead we started planning for a different trip; Ireland. Guess what? We aren’t going there either. So we planned to go to Toronto. Guess what? {Oh you guessed it!} We aren’t going.
Slowly all of our plans fell apart. One night, while nearly in tears, I told Jonathan, “I don’t really care where we go, so long as it’s just you and me.” As each new plan failed I was losing hope of ever getting time away with Jon. Then Tuesday night, something “major” happened. Julia knocked off my wedding bouquet from on top of my dresser. The delicate flowers I had painstakingly preserved for nearly 5 years were shattered. Thankfully {for her} I was 1) in total shock that is happened, 2) Jonathan was coming home in minutes. As he walked in the door I literally ran out it.
As I was running through our neighborhood I wondered, “Why do I care so much about those roses? I’m not a sentimental person in that way. What’s so upsetting about those roses?”. And it hit me. My wedding bouquet is a reminder of that life. The life before kids. The life of just Sarah and Jon. The life where we could afford to visit Paris. Where our only daily concerns were what to eat for dinner. Where it was just us. The life that seems better.
By the time I got home, I wasn’t ready to go back inside, so decided to mow the lawn. As I reached the backyard, Julia came running outside yelling “Mama!” She was thrilled beyond words to see me {even though I’d been gone less than 30 minutes}. She jumped up and down and waved to me simply beaming.
And it hit me. This life is better. Not the before-kids life. Not the jet setting life. This messy, poop-filled, lack of sleep life is better. Jon and I would not be who we are without the Windhamettes. Our relationship would not be what it is without them. Those roses were gone the moment I found out I was pregnant. They were replaced with less glamourous cloth diapers and sippy cups. And while I deeply cherish my time with Jon, I think it’s only been made sweeter and more precious because of the Windhamettes.
So now, as we have finally settled on a weekend trip and have loving people caring for our girls {Thanks Abdos!!} we are thrilled to be getting time away, time alone. Not because we want what we had, but to make what we have even better.
Book giveaway!
Posted on: July 5, 2010
- In: Life
- 2 Comments
We have family in town, so the blog has taken back seat these last few days. However, I wanted to pass along a wonderful book giveaway my friend Andrea is doing {PLUS, it’s her first ever giveaway!}.
The book is titled, Safely Home, and is a realistic fiction on the underground church in China. Read here for more information.
Be sure to enter, you have until Saturday! And when you do, tell Andrea I sent ya!
Going Green – What did I just eat?!
Posted on: June 28, 2010
- In: Life
- 7 Comments
Most Americans don’t like talking about the meats we eat. We prefer to not associate our chicken sandwich with having ever been a chicken. I’m in that same category. I love meat. I love burgers, steaks and roasts. But, I love animals. Yet, even though I love looking at cows in the pasture, I don’t need to see that cow in between pasture and my plate. For a while I’ve flirted with the idea of being vegetarian, but my love of steaks trumped my love of cows.
Then I read The Compassionate Carnivore by Catherine Friend. Now, compassionate and carnivore might prove to be an oxymoron, but for this meat loving gal I didn’t think so. Friend talks about how it’s not wrong to eat meat – but that we need to consider where our meat comes from and how it gets to us. She places strong emphasis on buying local meats that are free range and “happy”. Granted, no animal is happy about being slaughtered for food, but the idea that you can choose for your meat to be raised and slaughtered in a caring environment.
Here’s what we have done to be more compassionate carnivores:
1. Buy local meats – We bought a quarter buffalo about 2 months ago. We liked the farmer’s hands-off approach to raising the herds and his emphasis on having them killed in-field rather than undergo stress in transit to a abattoir. I’d suggest this site for more information: Eat Wild
2. Eat vegetarian when we eat out – Ok, this one is hit or miss. I make every effort to eat vegetarian when I can’t ensure that the animal was free range, but we’ve also let it slide a few times. I’m ok with that, since this is a slow process and is taking time to adapt I don’t expect us to give up old habits that quickly.
3. Read, read, read – The more you know, the better decisions you’ll make. Get a good understand of how animals are suppose to be raised {that chickens actually aren’t vegetarians} so that you can make more informed choices for yourself and family.
4. Practice grace – Seems odd to talk about giving grace to others because of your food choices. But you’d be surprised out how black and white this issue can become. We said early on, we aren’t going to choose our self-made diet over loving people. Which means – you serve it, we’ll eat it. If given the choice, we’d request our preferences. But, if someone has gone out of their way to prepare me a meal, I will consume it with delight.
What about you? How are ways that you practice being a compassionate carnivore?
Truthful Thursday – Philippians 1
Posted on: June 17, 2010
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:9-11 NLT {emphasis mine}
Earlier this morning I emailed some sister-mamas asking for help. I’ve been feeling burned out, overwhelmed and with a short fuse. I needed reassurance, a loving word, a helping hand. You know what I got?
I got the Word poured over me.
I had sister-mamas pray for me.
I had God use these women to reassure and help me.
As the girls napped I prayed. Actually, that’s a understatement. I poured my heart out to God. And in the midst of that, He brought to mind the verses above. Resounding in my heart was “I want you to understand what really matters“. What really matters is Christ. What really matters is His love. What really matters is living this life as worship to Him.What really matters is loving my family the way Christ loves them. Honestly, I loose sight of that. Sometimes I think a clean house, doing the laundry, cooking, blogging, me-time is what matters. I forget that Christ has called me to be a light. I forget that Christ has called me to live my life for Him – and my life is being a wife and mother.
And while the last few weeks have been hard, and while today started out rough, God used my sister-mamas to speak to me. He didn’t say “It’s gonna get easier”. He said “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” {Hebrews 13:5, NLT}. And that is what really matters.
“That’s it, I’m done”
Posted on: June 9, 2010
- In: Life
- 2 Comments
While there are about 3 good things to like about having Jonathan gone this week, there are about 3 million to love about having him home. Today, after reading a wonderful post on discipline by Emily at The Adventures of Miss Mommy, I thought I’d share the 4 things I do when I’m just done with parenting.
1. Tickle like crazy
I know that might seem weird, but when my kids are driving me crazy and I think I might lose it, I tickle them. Why? Because it relieves all sorts of tension. They start laughing, which makes me laugh and before we know it things seem a lot lighter and easier. It might not last long, but it helps get us by for 15-20 minutes {which honestly makes a huge difference}. So, if you see me tickling the girls a lot one day, it’s not because I’m just that awesome of a mama, but because I’m trying to keep it all together.
2. Scream
Ever felt like screaming at your kids? If not, you really must be a super-mama and have taken all my super-mama powers from me, because some days screaming seems like all I can do. And, actually, I’ve started screaming. Not at my kids, but with my kids. I read once in a parenting magazine about a mom who would have Tarzan screaming contests with her kids, so she could release some frustration with them without releasing it at them. When we do this, Julia gets the biggest kick out of it and we all walk away feel a little less stressed.
3. Walk away
Let’s be honest, mamas need breaks. I’ve locked myself in the bathroom before because I just had to have a moment alone. Sure, the girls were screaming at the door, but I needed two seconds to decompress. Walking away helps me reassess and recompose myself so that I can stay focused and in “control”. It also gives me a chance to pray like mad.
4. Pray, pray, pray
I’ve taken to using the 5-10 minutes while I’m nursing Hannah before naps to pray. I ask God for grace and direction for the rest of our day. I pray for peace and strength. When I walk away, I pray. I check my own heart to make sure that I’m staying the course and parenting with grace. I ask God to reveal sins and to help me stay in the Spirit while I battle the world {which can at times be the tantruming of a 1-yo}.
If you’ve read many of my posts, you’ll know I’m not perfect. Far from it. I’ve screamed at my children, I’ve not walked away when I should have, I’ve not prayed when I needed to. I’ve failed a 1,000 times over. But, I know God is still here, still guiding me along. And I keep going because I know that parenting is one race I don’t want to give up on.
What do you do when you’re done?
The thing is, I’m kinda a brat
Posted on: June 4, 2010
- In: Life
- 7 Comments
I’ll be real honest, I can be a brat. I won’t sugar coat it for ya – some days I’m down right selfish and rude. I like my way on my time at my say. It ain’t pretty and it sure ain’t godly. Part of me wonders if I don’t look a little like this:
Jonathan is leaving Monday for a business trip to Chicago and won’t be back until Thursday night. Over lunch yesterday, I was giving him a hard time about being gone {especially since we’ll miss our normal date night}. Even though I could tell it was annoying him, I kept on going, kept on being bratty. Finally Jon just said “Aren’t you happy that I provide for you?” Say what? This business trip is for me? All your hard work and effort is so I can stay at home? Yes, yes it is.
The thing is, I’m kinda a brat. And while I was pouting about a business trip that my husband is taking, I failed to realize he is taking it for me. He is going to ensure that I can continuing staying at home with our daughters. He is going to ensure that we have a roof over our heads and live comfortable lives. He is going to ensure that he holds true to his words – that he will protect, provide and care for me and our family. He is going because, well, he’s just plain awesome at his job and his boss wants him to go. How can I pout about that? How can I be upset about having such a great man?
By the end of our conversation I was struck with this verse: “It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. {Proverbs 21:19}”. I apologized to Jon and before lunch was finished the air was cleared. I walked away with this one thing in mind: “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.” {Proverbs 18:22}.
I want to be the kind of wife that my husband treasures. One that lifts him up and allows him to do what God has called him to. One that is supportive and kind. One that speaks with love and humility. And I am grateful that I have a man like Jon, who is always understanding, continually pointing me towards truth. Thanks for all you hard work babe. I love you.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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