Bound For Reading

In a conversation that I had with my friend, Julie, I asked her if she wanted to read my current book. She exclaimed: “No way. I’m currently reading six books and can’t add another to the mix.” For the most part, I’m a one-book-at-a-time kind of girl, but currently I am reading two and switching from one to another, and I’ll tell you why.

When I started reading Fool-Proofing Your Life by Jan Silvius, I knew it would be the kind of book that will hold me accountable and I bought a journal just for it!
This book is based on the book of Proverbs that states that the definition of a fool is someone who does not consult God, always thinks they are right and does not listen to another’s opinion. See Proverbs 12:15. Fools use anger to control you. Jan Silvius was a Precept Bible Teacher with Kay Arthur. Her background in Christian counseling and deep knowledge of God’s Word attests to the wisdom of dealing with people. Relationships are important to me; thus, I’ve been journaling as much as reading. After she explains what a fool is, she teaches you how to improve relationships.

I balance this book with a humorous book my Mom sent, Marley and Me, by John Grogan. We have a black lab mix, also named Marley that we adopted six years ago. He in no way gets into as much trouble as Marley in the book! These two books are my current reads right now and I’m enjoying them as I switch back and forth. Both stir a great deal of emotion in me.

Comments

Book Review of Biblical Minimalism and Give Away

What does minimizing look like? To the empty nester it may mean downsizing real estate. To the co-dependent, it may mean pitching some toxic friendships they tend to collect. I thought I had a handle on Biblical minimalism, but I wasn’t even close. Biblical minimalism is much more than cleaning out a drawer and discarding unwanted things into a box to take to the thrift store. In her book, Biblical Minimalism, Cheryl E. Smith defines Biblical minimalism as “a complete, whole person release of anything unlike Jesus, a letting go of everything that hinders us from following Him wholeheartedly and single- mindedly , and a relinquishing of all that brings us under bondage to this earthly, very temporary life.” The author gives us a visual of a whole pie that is divided into eight slices. Each slice describes our lives with areas to analyze to see if pruning or adjustment is needed. I won’t name them all, but one example is the “emotional ...

Mama's Lipstick

I always wished I could do things with my mom like shop in the mall, share makeup secrets or go to the movies and watch romantic comedies. My wish never materialized. My mama behaved like a tomboy. She loved baseball and pitched with a strong right arm. She could care less about the latest fashion or the latest movies featured on the big screen. She never polished her fingernails. One day after elementary school, I walked into the house to find my mom all dolled up in front of the bathroom mirror, foundation crème, powder, eyebrow pencil and rouge all over the counter sink. “Who are you?” I asked, thrilled to see my mama putting on the Ritz. Makeup in place and blotted, she immediately took it off. “I don’t like the way it feels,” she exclaimed. She retired in Arizona and protected her dry lips with a light rose lipstick, the color of natural lips, a step above ChapStick. She wore it a few tim...

Abba's Lap

I noticed a behavior pattern in little Amy, twenty months old, that I want to imitate. She moves fast engaging in one toddler activity after another spinning like a whirlwind from one room to another. Yet, she pauses, intermittently , long enough to get refreshed. I want to be like this grandchild of mine because she knows where to go and how to get comforted. Amy moves at record speed, putting more miles on a pedometer in one hour than my accumulated weekly workouts at the gym. She can build a skyscraper so tall, I wonder why those bright pink Lego’s don’t topple to the ground as she continues to stack just one more piece on top. I learned never to leave the room to get another cup of coffee. Once, when I returned, I found her climbing past the couch with hands and feet reaching for the living room drapes. She has a consistent habit that I admire. In the midst of her activities, as she moves robustly from one play...

Choose Joy in the Journey

Search This Blog