Archive for the Recommendations
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
The greatest reason to celebrate. And yet . . . .
Advent–the weeks leading up to Christmas–is a time to look back and celebrate the coming of our salvation. God had been promising for centuries, and God’s people had been waiting and watching. God’s promises were fulfilled with the birth of Jesus.
Romans 8:22-23
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved.
And yet we are still waiting. Our spiritual redemption came to us with the baby of Bethlehem. But still, as Romans 8 says, “we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (verse 23). There is suffering and tragedy still, even for Christians. Someone we love is dying. We may be in pain. Sometimes we have trouble believing God’s promises. In other words, our redemption is not complete. We are waiting for the redemption of our bodies—waiting for Jesus’ second advent, for him to come again.
So here we stand in the middle. Advent is a season of looking back, thinking how it must have been, waiting for the promised salvation of God, not knowing what to expect. And at the same time, it is a season of looking ahead, preparing ourselves to meet Jesus at his Second Coming.
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Taken from my book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions. |
Monday, November 28th, 2011
What is Advent?
1 Peter 1:10-12
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
We are a people of promise. For centuries, God prepared people for the coming of his Son, our only hope for life. At Christmas we celebrate the fulfillment of the promises God made—that he would give a way to draw near to him.
Advent is what we call the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25, sometimes in the last weekend of November, sometimes on the first Sunday in December. This year, it began yesterday, on Sunday, November 27, 2011.
1 Peter 1:10-12 is a clear description of what we look back to during Advent. For four weeks, it’s as if we’re re-enacting, remembering the thousands of years God’s people were anticipating and longing for the coming of God’s salvation, for Jesus. That’s what advent means—coming. Even God’s men who foretold the grace that was to come didn’t know “what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating” (verse 11). They were waiting, but they didn’t know what God’s salvation would look like.
In fact, God revealed to them that they were not the ones who would see the sufferings and glory of God’s Christ. “They were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven” (verse 12). They were serving us. We Christians on this side of Jesus’ birth are a God-blessed, happy people because we know God’s plan. The ancient waiting is over. We have the greatest reason to celebrate.
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Taken from my book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions. |
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Bible story books
I think Bible story books make great gifts for the children we love.
I really appreciate Justin Taylor for his frequent book reccomendations, especially because I usually agree with his assessments. So today’s post recommending his top picks of Bible story books is right up my alley.
I’ve already given some of them
on earlier Christmas days. But I hadn’t yet seen The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments, by Marty Machowski. I’m looking forward to it. (Justin links to a great 72-hour discount on the book).
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Today only!
For some reason, the link from the photo isn't working. Link through the text.
in 1968, when we got married, my mother-in-law had been using her KitchenAid Mixer (link here) for more than 25 years. So when there was no mixer among our wedding gifts, we used gift money to splurge and buy a KitchenAid for ourselves. Our marriage is going on for 43 years, and so is our KitchenAid.
So when I saw that this one is almost half-off today–just today–I wanted to make sure you know about it. If it should last you 43 years, that would be, let’s see . . . about $6.00 a year. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Advent is upon us
Update: Today, Amazon is out of stock. If you want a copy, you can go ahead and order from Amazon, and they’ll ship when they get more in stock. Or you can order directly from the publisher, Rabbit Room Press. They also offer a book/cd combo.
This coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent 2012.
Justin Taylor recommends a devotional book that looks really good — Behold the Lamb of God: An Advent Narrative.
I’m ordering one right now for our family.
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Winners of Focus on Family books
Congratulations to the winners of books from Focus on the Family.
Your commenter names are:
- Peyton Jones
- Cassandra
- Angela Humphrey
- Vanessa
- Geni
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
Hoping to adopt from China?
If parents adopt a child from China, I understand that they are required to travel to China to meet their child and to finalize adoption procedures.
No matter how well your agency cares for you there, just think how valuable and enjoyable it could be to know at least a little of the language. Imagine baby talk with your child, without a translator. Imagine connecting with child care workers, even if it’s just a chuckle together at your efforts to speak their language.
I’m giving away 2 copies of Survival Chinese Lessons, by Joann Pittman. This book is written for people like you–people who aren’t planning to move to China, but don’t want to be total bystanders while they’re visiting.
Please visit my other blog, Tell Me When to Pack, to find out how to enter the drawing.
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
Giveaway: Fields of the Fatherless
My friend, Dorothy, is planning to be at the T4A National Conference, October 21-22 and to be part of a panel during the Mothers’ pre-conference event on Thursday, October 20. She’s a woman worth spending time with. I have learned lots from her–proof that learning doesn’t always flow from the older to the younger.
I first heard of Tom Davis because of Dorothy’s raving about his books–positive raving, very positive. Then I heard him speak a couple of years ago. I was fascinated and horrified by what he told us about the likely future of young people who age out of orphanages in Eastern Europe and other places.
When I was at the Orphan Summit in Louisville in the spring, Children’s Hope Chest donated 4 copies of Tom’s book, Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living to be given away. So this is a “better late than never” opportunity for you. It’s still appropriate because Tom will be one of the breakout session leaders at the T4A Conference and Children’s Hope Chest is one of the many exhibitors.
So here’s what to do to be eligible for winning one of the copies.
- Spend some time exploring the website of Children’s Hope Chest – say at least 5 minutes
- Watch at least one of the videos on the Media page
- Comment at this post to tell the rest of us something about your visit to the website. Something like maybe: What had the most impact on you? Or did something surprise you? Or do you feel challenged to do something new on behalf of orphans?
- Deadline is this Friday, 9/30, 11:59 pm CDT. After that 4 commenters will be randomly chosen.
Thursday, September 8th, 2011
The songs we learned in kindergarten
Sometimes I remember some little song or other I learned when I was a child, and I feel like I’ve let my children down by not passing them on.
I’m thinking about that today because it’s the beginning of the school year when our kids’ teachers help us out on the music front, and because I found some free MP3 downloads of children’s songs. It’s not comprehensive by any means, but I hope it will be fun for you . . . . Oh yes, and for the children in your life too.
Now a penny for your thoughts–since I’ve reminded you of childhood music, what song are you humming to yourself right now?
Thursday, September 1st, 2011
Free ESV for Kindle
Amazon is offering the ESV version of the Bible free for Kindle. If I didn’t already have it, I’d be clicking through right now.
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
The Help
I’ve been thinking I want to reread The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. It’s been some time, and I remember that my main opinion was that it was a very good story, very well and realistically told. I want the book to be fresh in my mind in case I go see the film.
I recommend Thabiti Anyabwile’s thoughtful, detailed review of the book. Even if you’re not sure you’ll read The Help, it’s worth reading Thabiti’s thoughts from his perspective of having been a child whose mother worked as a domestic in a white home in the South.
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Reminder: You can follow our time in Australia at my new blog, Tell Me When to Pack.
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
Music for the last days of summer
Relaxing, carefree summer days . . . . Sounds good, and there were a few days like that.
But the last days of summer have revved up. Getting ready to fly on Sunday to Australia (more on that later–not too much later, I hope). Last minute curriculum choices for home school beginning in just 2 weeks, as soon as we return home. AND hurrying to have my new travel blog ready before I travel at the end of the week (more on that soon too–really soon).
So, my background music today needed to be calming enough to slow the spinning wheels, but not peaceful enough to put me to sleep. I found it — X5 Sampler of Adagios. To add to the pleasure, the download is totally free.
