My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself

I was on a book buying hiatus. I really was. I have at least four books in my "to read" pile and was planning on finishing them before I even set foot in a book store. Ah, Barnes and Noble, alas, I find you irresistible.

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I found the Confessions of a Tired Supergirl blog several weeks ago, and just loved Susanna Aughtmon's sense of humor. When I read the description of her new book, it went on my "to read" list. When I found the book at Barnes and Noble, it went with me to the check out.

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My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself is a book containing some very powerful Biblical truths disputing some very rotten lies we tend to believe about our relationship with God, such as God is Disappointed in Me, I Am Stuck in My Present Circumstances, I Need To Be Good So God Will Love Me, and many more. Each of these lies are dispelled with gentle humor, like a conversation with a girlfriend who just "gets it". The author weaves stories from everyday life with scripture and it packs a powerful punch.

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I really did love this book - it's a keeper!

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As a sidenote, my husband has pointed out to me that I love all of the books I have reviewed on my blog, which in his opinion seems unrealistic. So I want to clarify, I do NOT love every book I read. In fact, recently, there was one particular book on the subject of lies that I wanted very much to like, but just could not. So I made a decision at that point that I would much rather spend time recommending books that I truly enjoyed rather than just reviewing everything I read. Books are sometimes a matter of taste, and what appeals to one person may not appeal to another.

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Happy Reading!

Book Review - Forgotten God

I wanted to read this book as soon as I read the review this past fall, but I was afraid to read it. Why would I be afraid of reading this book? Because it is about the Holy Spirit.

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I'm guessing that statement probably needs some explaining, right?

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As I mentioned earlier this week, the church I grew up in was one of a kind in our area at the time. Services were sometimes frenzied, which was often frightening to me as a child. The name of the Holy Spirit was mentioned frequently, but never adequately explained. There were a few occasions where the name of the Holy Spirit was used to intimidate.

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Suffice it to say, I developed a bit of an issue where the subject of the Holy Spirit was concerned. Convinced that I did not know enough and that what I did know was most likely incomplete at best, I decided that this was an area best left to theologians. Nice cop out, isn't it?

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After many months of feeling increasingly convicted that I was shirking my responsibility as a Christian to learn as much as possible about my faith, I found a review of the book Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I finally picked up a copy and hesitantly began to read. Pastor Chan's friendly conversational tone immediately put my mind at ease. This is not a hefty theological tome circling the stratosphere above my head, he successfully brings the subject matter to a level the reader can relate to - yet he makes no effort to simplify it. The book portrays a picture of the average church in the United States and contrasts it sharply with the flourishing newborn church we see in the book of Acts.

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Pastor Chan also discusses the difference between operating under your own power and letting the Holy Spirit work through you. Christians sometimes forget that God often chooses to work through our weaknesses (think Gideon!) and need to depend on Him instead of always trying to do everything ourselves.

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I have in no way done this book justice, but I highly recommend reading it! This book did make me feel much less anxious about my apprehension on the subject of the Holy Spirit, and I finished the book in deep gratitude for comforting presence of the Spirit in my life.

Book Review with a Side of Lunch

This is a first for me. First blog post, posted from a table at a cozy lunch spot.

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I recently joined an online group PaperbackSwap.Com. This, as you may have guessed from the self-explanatory name, is a website which allows members from all over the U.S. to swap books. This is the book club of my dreams - cheap, easy and I get books in the mail (I love getting things in the mail!). Due to this stroke on literary good fortune, I have been able to get many of the books that have been on my library wish list.

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One of my "wish list" books was Laughing in the Dark by Chonda Pierce. If you are not familiar with this fabulously funny lady, get ready to get acquainted. Chonda is notorious for her sharp and witty Christian comedy, as well as her very honest take on her struggles with clinical depression. Laughing in the Dark is funny, poignant and frank look at life seen through the murky veil of depression. The best part of the book is, that not only does she explain what life in "the pit" is like, and explores a painful past, she lays out a path to recovery.

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While I've never experienced everything that Chonda Pierce went through in her turmoil, but I've had my share of time in the dark. Honestly, I think we all have. I found this book so very helpful, and I think that it was an extremely worthwhile read.
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As excited as I was to read her book, I'm even more excited to go see her perform next week!

A "Wow" Book

Last weekend, I found myself looking for something to read (again). This is a chronic problem for me - I really am a book junkie. Sometimes, I'm just after a fluffy, entertaining read to pass some time, and others, I really want something satisfying that will make me think. This time I was looking for something stimulating, that I could spend some time thinking about after the read was over.
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A friend recommended (and lent) a book to me, The Debt: The Story of a Past Redeemed, by Angela Hunt. The story is fictional, but the message within it hit very close to home. The main character, Emma Rose, is the wife of a nationally recognized televangelist and together they have spent 20 years building a mega-ministry. All of their hard work is threatened when something from her past resurfaces and forces her to face the fact that she may not have things as together as she previously imagined. Through Emma Rose's eyes, we are encouraged to take a closer look at our own Christian walks and challenged to step out of our comfort zones. I felt my toes being stepped on a bit as I read, and that was a good thing!
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The Debt reminded me of a story I once heard a pastor read, and I was lucky enough to find it again on the internet:

Once upon a time, a group of people built a lighthouse to save people from the dangerous ocean. Everyone who joined the group knew their commitment was to go out and rescue people in peril. But, after a while, they decided there was no reason for all of them to risk their lives. Some of them should staff the lighthouse. After another passage of time, they decided they all should stay home and keep the light bright so people in danger could find their own way. After another while, the group was not quite sure they even wanted bedraggled people dripping all over the carpet, so they dimmed the light a little. And after another while, they decided they needed a new carpet and maybe an elevator. When the light went out, no one noticed. And after another while, someone quietly changed the sign outside from "Lighthouse" to "Clubhouse."
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Now, I really need to get some more Christmas stuff finished! More on that later!

Stepping Heavenward

I just finished the book Stepping Heavenward, and I can well imagine picking it up again and re-reading it. It is definitely a keeper. This book was written in 1869 by Elizabeth Prentiss, who must have been an absolute giant in faith.
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The story is told through the journal of Katy Mortimer, beginning on the occasion of her sixteenth birthday. Teenage Katy tells us of her exasperation with her mother, frustration with her friends and confusion with religion. Some bumps on the road of life lead her to her family pastor, who assures her of Christ's love and sets her feet on a quest to grow closer to God. Throughout the book, Katy often laments that the path to righteousness is uphill and it is so easy to lose you footing and slide back down. I cannot tell you how much that description hit home with me.
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On the whole, I would have to say that while the book is not an easy read, it is not a hard one either. The writing is conversational, maybe a bit old-timey, but not so much as other books from that time period. For instance, much as I love Jane Austen, I struggle with some of her wording and miss out on some of the subtle humor in her books. Ditto for Louisa May Alcott. This book was different. Even though it was written in a completely different time period, a time that we tend to think life was simpler, many of her struggles are the same ones we deal with today. I most highly recommend this book!

This Time Its Personal

The title of this post is definitely meant to be tongue-in-cheek.
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First thing this morning, I came upon this blog post at Stuff Christians Like
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Then, even though I felt convicted by what I read before going to work, I allowed myself to fall into the same pervasive attitude problem I've been struggling with for over a week now. Thoroughly disgusted with myself, I took my lunch break at a local cafe with a good book for company. Stepping Heavenward is a work of fiction, loosely based on the life of the author. It is a story told in journal format following a girl into womanhood as she strives to live a more Godly life. Hmmmm. I picked it up, assuming it would be an edifying read of perfect people living perfect lives, enjoyable, but not real. This is most definitely not the case. The heroine, Katy, is far from perfect. She is confused about her feelings about God, confused about her relationship with her mother and confused about life in general. But gradually, she learns to seek Him. I'm not even halfway through the book, and there have already been several "Wow" moments, the kind that send shivers down your spine because it hit you where you live. The clincher - this book was written in 1869. Amazing.
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Today, whether I knew it at the time or not, God chose the reading list. And I am so glad!
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I'll finish my "review" of Stepping Heavenward once I finish the book. The Screwtape Letters is in the mail as well, so that one may very well follow. This one mentioned on Chrysalis sounds good as well. I'm looking for more reading material for the winter season, so please leave suggestions for me in the comments.

Summer Reading List - Scorecard!

Earlier this summer, I posted a list of books that I intended to read. Today, I thought I'd fess up to how I did and write a little review about a few of the books. The original post is below, with my additions in bold:

Reading is my favorite thing to do, no matter what the season. But, because I always looked forward to the summer reading lists handed out this time of year during my school years, here is my 2009 summer reading list:

That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

This one won't be released until later this summer, but I cannot wait for it to become available. Set in the same community as Forevermore, Fancy Pants and Whirlwind, these books tell such sweet, wholesome, romantic stories and the leading ladies are delightfully quirky and real!

*I did read That Certain Spark and enjoyed it very much. It was like visiting old friends, first introduced in Fancy Pants, Forevermore and Whirlwind. I will admit, though, that my favorite book of the series is Forevermore and my primary disappointment with That Certain Spark is that I did not hear enough about those characters to make me happy.

A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling

I became hooked on this series when I picked up the first in the Daughters of Blessing series while on vacation in Williamsburg, VA. Set in North Dakota, in a primarily Norwegian immigrant community at the turn of the century, these books paint beautiful word pictures of a simpler time, even if the characters lives are not always so simple.


*I confess I did not read this book - yet.

Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This one just looks too good to pass up. I've read three or four other books by this author, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Waiting for Summer's Return has got to be one of the most touching historical romance books that I have read - reminiscent of Love Comes Softly.

*Ditto.

And, even though I am planning on reading a lot of fluffy, historical fiction - dessert reading, if you will. I'm going to eat - no - read something more nutritious, too.

Me, Myself & Lies by Jennifer Rothschild

The tagline of this book is "Cleaning out your thought closet". Basically this is a six week Bible study (which I found on http://www.livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ ). The focus in this book is to target the negative things that women say to themselves about themselves. I know I need to work on that.

*Okay, so I flat out misunderstood that this is a WORKBOOK. I do still plan on working my way through this book at a later date - once the Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible study is completed. Which, by the way, will be finished in two more weeks. More on that in a later post.

Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs
I was so impressed by Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, I'm going to read this one too. Also, I accidentally ordered it in a lot on eBay along with some used copies of Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible (to be used in the Bible study this summer). Since I was going to read it anyway, it worked out well.


*Love, love, loved this book. Each chapter was excellent, but Rahab knocked my socks off. Liz Curtis Higgs has such a way of taking these women we have read about for years, in some cases, and fleshing them out until we go, "Wait, I think I know her." or "Wait, I think I AM her." Definitely recommend this one.

Summer Reading

Reading is my favorite thing to do, no matter what the season. But, because I always looked forward to the summer reading lists handed out this time of year during my school years, here is my 2009 summer reading list:

That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

This one won't be released until later this summer, but I cannot wait for it to become available. Set in the same community as Forevermore, Fancy Pants and Whirlwind, these books tell such sweet, wholesome, romantic stories and the leading ladies are delightfully quirky and real!

A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling

I became hooked on this series when I picked up the first in the Daughters of Blessing series while on vacation in Williamsburg, VA. Set in North Dakota, in a primarily Norwegian immigrant community at the turn of the century, these books paint beautiful word pictures of a simpler time, even if the characters lives are not always so simple.

Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This one just looks too good to pass up. I've read three or four other books by this author, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Waiting for Summer's Return has got to be one of the most touching historical romance books that I have read - reminiscent of Love Comes Softly.

And, even though I am planning on reading a lot of fluffy, historical fiction - dessert reading, if you will. I'm going to eat - no - read something more nutritious, too.

Me, Myself & Lies by Jennifer Rothschild

The tagline of this book is "Cleaning out your thought closet". Basically this is a six week Bible study (which I found on http://www.livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ ). The focus in this book is to target the negative things that women say to themselves about themselves. I know I need to work on that.

Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs
I was so impressed by Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, I'm going to read this one too. Also, I accidentally ordered it in a lot on eBay along with some used copies of Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible (to be used in the Bible study this summer). Since I was going to read it anyway, it worked out well.

I'd love to hear about other folks' reading lists, or even just about a book that you enjoyed recently. Sorry the formatting is so funky on this post, I've tried to tweak it and it refuses to cooperate.

Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner - a must-have if you love sewing!

I've been following Anna Maria Horner's blog for over a year now. I absolutely love her tutorials and her colorful designs make me want to buy more fabric than I could possibly ever sew. Unfortunately for me, no fabric store within 50 miles carries her products and I've not yet been able to rationalize paying shipping for fabric that I don't yet have a designated purpose for. Soon, though, very soon. So, imagine my delight when she announced plans to complete a book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

And then finally, the day came and there it was (having arrived at the local book store several weeks late), sitting on the shelf, just waiting for me to pick it up. The pictures are gorgeous, and the pattern pouch in the back is perfect! I also love that the patterns are printed on sturdy copy-type paper instead of the brown tissue paper stuff that just isn't very durable. My biggest dilema was deciding which pattern to try first. That problem was solved when I found myself at a chain fabric store on Black Friday. At one point during my hour-long wait to get fabric cut, I found myself positioned next some fabric that was just begging to be my next purse. So, that very evening, I began to work on the One of Everything Bag pattern found in the book. This bag came together splendidly and I just love the style.

(Please excuse my feeble attempt at artistic display of my bag, its fairly pretentious for someone who has not yet learned how to eliminate the date stamp from her pictures.)

My second project from the book was the Magnetic Personality board with the Opposites Attract magnets. This is a gift for my niece and again, it was simple to put together and I'm thrilled with the end result. I think I'll be making a few more of these for gifts. In the very near future, I plan to make the Pincushion Caddy and the Just for Kicks ball.

This book is so (sew?) much fun, I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone who loves to sew.