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Wow, 2 book posts from me in a row! But you all knew I loved to read already, didn't you?

I am about to start an online study for this book, Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd Wilson. I am very excited about this book! I read the "original" book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and this one looks to be just as wonderful for us homeschoolers!

Here are just a few of the lies mentioned in this book: everyone else's kids are better, everyone else's home is cleaner, everyone else is more capable of homeschooling than me...and the list goes on. Like I said, I'm very excited about this study, I can relate to those lies, what about you?  And as the study progresses, I hope to post my thoughts on my blog, as well as link you back to the Heart of the Matter, where this study is taking place. Here is the first entry on this study that was posted earlier this week. I think if you wanted to get a book quickly you could still participate!

(By the way, have all of you checked out The Heart of the Matter yet? It is a fabulous online magazine for homeschooling moms!)

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Have any of you read this book? I have read 5 chapters to far and it is very good. Very thought provoking. The author, Donald Miller,  is brutally honest about how selfish we are as a people and a culture. It is a very different book...it isn't fiction, so it's not telling a story, yet there are many analogies and shorter stories within the main theme. I'd love to hear what some of you thought if you have finished the book!

Here is the description from amazon:

"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. . . . I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened." In Donald Miller's early years, he was vaguely familiar with a distant God. But when he came to know Jesus Christ, he pursued the Christian life with great zeal. Within a few years he had a successful ministry that ultimately left him feeling empty, burned out, and, once again, far away from God. In this intimate, soul-searching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving God.

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Are you a Karen Kingsbury fan? I am! I just finished one of her latest books...I think I have now read them all...I think? This one is entitled Just Beyond the Clouds. As usual, I LOVED the book. What is unique about this story is that one of the main characters has down syndrome. It was just such a sweet story...and such a neat glimpse into the life of an adult with down syndrome. Honestly, I would find myself smiling throughout the entire book, and that doesn't happen very often for me! (even if it is a really good book!)

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The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main thing by C.J. Mahaney

This book is an easy, quick read...but oh, so good! Here is the amazon description:

Book Description
Remember Jesus Christ? Although it seems almost too obvious, the center of our faith is surprisingly easy to forget. Dynamic pastor C.J. Mahaney shows how to overcome our tendency to move on from the gospel of grace. Finding joy in the gospel -- whose promises allow us to escape condemnation whenever it attacks -- helps us avoid the prevalent trap of legalism. With practical suggestions, Mahaney demonstrates the difference between knowing the gospel... and making it the main thing in daily decisions and daily living.

What Are You Centered On?

Sometimes the most important truths are the easiest to forget. It’s time to get back to the starting point of the Christian life—the cross of Christ. Jesus’ work on your behalf must be the central motivation for your life and faith—the main thing.

“Never move on,” says C.J. Mahaney, who shows you how to center every day around the cross of Calvary and how to escape the pitfalls of legalism, condemnation, and feelings-driven faith.

Tap into the gospel’s power and see how a cross centered focus can transform your life today!

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What do you think of when you hear the words "waiting on God?" Do you think of waiting on God to do something? Waiting on Him to help you? Waiting on Him through patient prayer? What are you waiting on?

One of my favorite scripture passages is from Isaiah 40. The end of this chapter says, "those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." This verse brings me much hope.

Waiting on God is also the title of a book by Andrew Murray that my mom gave me a few months ago. Andrew Murray was born in 1828. On the back description of Mr. Murray it says, "Andrew Murray went from being a discouraged young minister at age 25 to becoming one of the best-loved writers on deeper Christian life of all time. In his 88 years he wrote over 240 books and tracts..."

Here is a description from Amazon.

Within us there is a deep yearning for what God can and will do in our lives. In WAITING ON GOD Andrew Murray helps us discover the power unleashed to believers who wait on the Lord. This is an encouragement for more than quiet anticipation, but is a call to a dynamic attitude and an active faith in the ways of God. These thirty-one devotional readings guide us to a deeper sense of God’s presence and dependence on him.

Yearn to wait on God
-For redemption
-For his guidance
-In times of darkness
-To know his goodness
-Continually

WAITING ON GOD speaks as clearly and poignantly to Christians today as it did more than a century ago when it was written. This edition is edited and updated for today’s reader.

“My soul, wait only upon God.”
Psalm 62:5

I am only about halfway through this book at the moment, even though I started it over a month ago. It is a very deep book...sometimes I have to read the same day's entry 2-3 times before I move on. After I finish it, I hope to go back and read it again.

I think the point that Mr. Murray made that has impacted me the most thusfar is when he asked WHAT we are waiting on. Are we waiting on God to give us something? Are we waiting on God to do something for us? Are we waiting on His help or His gifts? Or are we waiting on HIM because He is...because He is God...because He is worthy of our praise. Do I spend time in prayer and waiting on Him because I want something from Him or because I want to BE with Him?

Recently, I found out that you can read this devotion online. I, personally, like having a book in my hands...but if you would like to read some of this book online, you can find it HERE.

My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my hope is from Him.

Psalm 62:5

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I have a dear friend and SIL, Valerie, who is an Usborne Book consultant! I'm sure that most of you, as homeschoolers, have heard of Usborne Books! They are fabulous, aren't they?

HERE is Valerie's Usborne book site...take a peek! (site link is now updated and working!)

Valerie is having a contest right now on her blog for a chance to win some free books if you will do a little advertising for her on your blog! So, take my links, post them on your blog...and you too could be entered to win free books! ALL OF YOU BLOGGERS could be entered into the drawing, too! So, put up a blog entry advertising Usborne books on YOUR blog! I can also win a 2nd part of the contest (as can you!) for the most entries by YOU, my readers, who post about Usborne because you saw this contest first on my blog. So, get busy posting about Usborne books!

My favorite Usborne books are the different options they have for learning to draw certain things. I Can Draw Animals is one of my favorites. Also, this week with our schooling unit, we are using the book How to Draw Princesses and Ballerinas. I am most definitely NOT an artist...so these books are very helpful for me! They give you simple directions, often with wonderful results. My Hannah especially seems to love learning to draw new things!

Here are some of our examples of ballerinas we have drawn and painted today!

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If you all have a daughter, you should read this book together soon! This is the sweetest little book for girls, especially girls that love their doll babies! I picked up this book at a used book store and Hannah and I read it tonight. It is a little bit longer, I had planned to split  it up into 2-3 sittings as a read-aloud. But, we were so into the story we just kept reading. And Hannah wasn't feeling well, so a longer snuggly book was perfect!

This picture is the "older" cover, now the book has a little more purple on it than pink. But all the pictures throughout this book are so simple and sweet! Here is the amazon description of this book, and I would agree!

This timeless story of the special relationship between a girl and her doll is told with directness and charm.

This is an older book, maybe you read it as a child? Oh so sweet.

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I have 2 books I want to share with you! First off is a devotion book JUST for homeschooling mamas! It is called 101 Devotions for Homeschooling Moms by Jackie Wellwood. How cool is that? I had heard other moms say they enjoyed this book, so I have a gift card to Barnes and Noble burning in my pocket and decided to go with this book! I'm glad I did! I have enjoyed the first week's worth of devotions and look forward to many more!

The second book I'd like to recommend is a children's book. It is called I Believe in Jesus and it is by John MacArthur. I have seen this book before, but honestly, I guess until you have the need for it you don't really think about it! Well, Hannah is getting to the age where she is asking lots of questions! Lately, at night if we don't read a Bible story or devotion she asks for it...she loves reading the Bible stories! And she almost always has questions after our devotion book! I am SO thankful that the Holy Spirit seems to be working in her little heart...but please, oh please, pray for me! If you know me, you know I'm not the best communicator - I feel like I never know the right words to say! I keep telling myself that it is God's grace ALONE that saves my child - not my good answers! Thank You, Lord!! I still want to be able to explain things to her...in a way that will help her to understand, especially the areas she is questioning! This book explains things so well!

The book pictured above is actually the 2nd version ( I believe) to this book. The first version, which I found at a used book store, is illustrated by John MacArthur's daughter! So, I'd say both of the versions are excellent! I don't think the content changed, I think just the illustrations changed.

We read this book tonight, and again discussed what a "Christian" is...Hannah has asked several times and continues to ask about heaven, and even the place of eternal punishment. We have had some really good conversations...and surprisingly I'm not feeling nervous or anxious...just trusting God to work in her little heart in His own time. I pray for Him to open the eyes of her heart...as well as mine, as we take this journey together.

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I just finished another book by Lisa Samson, entitled Church Ladies. I admit that I had a hard time getting into this one. But now that I have finished it I am so glad I stuck with it! Probably by about the middle of the book I had decided I liked it.

Here is the description on the back of the book:

Poppy Fraser, pastor's wife second and person first, finds that the tedious roles of church bulletin typist, public relations artist, perfect mother, and devoted spouse are wearing seriously thin. The competition for church membership in her picturesque little vacation village is getting old, too. And then there's the guilt that's slowly strangling her...

But when a tragic loss tests the faith of Poppy and the other women of  Mount Oak, Poppy realizes that her church - and her very life - is changing in ways she never could have imagined.

And then, here is the paragraph from the book that I enjoyed the most...or rather that challenged me the most. As the book progresses a group of ladies begins praying together (the set up of different types of women coming together reminded me of Yada Yada books.) This next paragraph is a realization that Poppy, the main character, has about 3/4 of the way through the book.

"What are we doing here on this earth? People are hurting, dying inside and out, and we are worried about desserts, hymn books, windows, service times, drums, dramas, and drachmas. Shame on us. Shame on me. Visit the widows and the fatherless in their afflictions. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do good unto those who hate you. To him who knows to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin. In as much as you've done it to the least of these, you've done it unto Me. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all things for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Concerning me. The old hymn writer knew the truth about trusting and obeying. There's no other way."

Another Lisa Samson book that I highly recommend!

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I finished reading this book, by Sandi Patty, in 3 days. I'm not really a fan of her music - although I enjoy a few of her songs, but when I saw this book my curiosity got the best of me. I found it at the library and thought I'd at least read the first chapter.

It was VERY good. I came away encouraged...let me tell you why. I came away encouraged that there ARE still churches acting like "the church" and doing the RIGHT thing for people who are hurting. That really and truly encouraged me. Not because I'm a church basher or here to say that anyone specific has done anything wrong...but as you know I've been having a lot of questions lately about "the church" (not one certain church, but the body of Christ.) And one of those questions I've been struggling with is HOW do we as the body reach out to those that are hurting - or harder yet, those that have fallen into sin.

Sandi Patty's church was a wonderful example for how to deal with sin - not ignore it, deal with her admission, her repentance, her apologies, her restoration and then her moving on - and their moving on as a church. Wow. It was just really neat to read about how her pastor handled the entire situation of her marriage falling apart, her affair, divorce and then re-marriage.

I almost didn't blog about this book...because it probably won't interest very many people. But, if there is someone out there struggling - either with your own sin or the sins of someone around you, you should read this book. I think you will come away with a greater feeling of hope and grace and a beautiful picture of God's forgiveness...and also that life DOES go on!