I'm having problems making entries.  I don't know what heppened, but I was planning on moving my blog before this.

So if you are a regular I hope you'll bookmark my new address, I'll look forward to hearing from you there.

Come by: http://livingabundantly.wordpress.com/

My son is pet sitting a Quaker Parrot; I already own two cockatiels and a lovebird; add in a distressed (you would be too if your family up and abandonded you with strangers) Quaker and things get a little loud. I'm hoping that he quiets down over the next day or so as he gets accustomed to being here. Until then my house is very noisy.
I'm thinking of changing the look of the blog, what do you all think? I'm not happy with the feel the muted green colour gives. I was also thinking of changing the title a bit; tweaking it. But I didn't want to up and change it all without warning you. I also need to go through my last few entries and edit them.
Last night I read a whole book! I was in Chapters while my son was in Kung Fu (three hours of Kung Fu leaves lots of time to kill) and ended up reading an entire book. The book was called BlogWild (by: Andy Wibbles); I picked it up in the first place becuase I had heard it mentioned in an ezine. It really was fascinating. It gave me lots to think about. If you are at all interested in doing more than just babbling (which isn't meant to be an insult - maybe dabbling would be better) with your blog it's a worthwhile read (I wouldn't pay the hardcover price for it though). It is specifically designed for businesses though.
I got lots of great URLs to check out that are designed for bloggers, learnt the history of blogging (I knew it was all about the geeks), and how blogging works to spread the word (or market). But I have a question - does anyone know if the RSS feed for my blog is running? As far as I know I have it turned on but I don't know if anyone uses it or if it actually works (i.e. sends out whenever I post a new entry). Or, maybe you didn't even know you could use RSS on homeschoolblogger. I just want to know if I need to use a different service or if this one is up and running. If you use my RSS and don't mind, post a comment to let me know; thanks.
There is another book on blogging I was looking at. It's called Naked Conversations. It's a little more in depth than BlogWild was, and talks about more than your own blogging - it also goes further into the history and current effects of blogging. Looks fascinating! I'll let you know when I finally read it.

Yep, it seems we have our very own Yellow Warbler. 

A week ago Saturday, despite our efforts to sleep in we (my husband and I) were awakened by an incessant tapping.  We have a large picture window (which sadly doesn't open, who installs a 5 foot window that can't open?) in our bedroom, which overlooks our backyard and beautiful, giant maple tree.

The tapping was a little yellow bird.  It flew up to the window, tapped in the air for a bit, and then it would land on the sill; only to pace back and forth tap, tap, tapping.  My husband was in awe because th ebird would let him get within a foot of the window before flying off to sit in the maple, and of course, return to tap, tap, tap yet again.

Sunday morning when the bird was still tapping (it left over night only to return at first light) I suggested closing the blinds.  Of course, it had to be the reflection of the tree confusing it - so went my theory.  Last year a Robin had done a very similar thing but when the blinds were closed he left realizing the giant tree did not continue past the glass (or maybe he was just looking at himself).

The blinds did unnerve the little bird (now lovingly dubbed "Your Friend" - my husband's that is).  It flew into the maple for some time.  It still landed on the sill and tapped, but not as frequently or for as long.  Then - it started flying around the side of the house - to tap on the ensuite window (a 90 degree angle from the original window).  Since then it has also been spotted tapping on the lower bath window (directly under the ensuite window) and even our back door!

My husband has tried leaving the windows open, and even though it comes right up, taps, and even hovers, it still hasn't come in.  Much to his disappointment.  And yes, a full eight days after the first visit the bird is still coming to tap on the window.  Overwhelmed by criosity I finally looked it up in our bird book yesterday.  Turns out it's a female Yellow Warbler.

As you can see she's lovely.  The bird book even revealed why Jeff hasn't been able to capture her - they insects not seeds (happily he hasn't resorted to strategically placed bugs to lure her in).  Oh yes...  the descrition says "Tame and conspicious".  Really, you don't say!

I was reading.
I go on regular "Artist Dates" (another The Artist's Way lifestyle adaptation) which often leave me in Chatpers (Barnes & Nobles in Canada for you American readers) with a Starbucks in hand. Of course, I can't afford to buy books as often as I go to the bookstore, so I have a system. First, I buy a drink and stake out a comfy chair (I'll settle for the floor if I have to but comfy chairs are definately preferable).
Once I have all the basics covered I settle on collecting books. (Sometimes I see a really good book on my way to the Starbucks and I end up reversing the order, but this is pretty much always how it goes.) And, I do mean collecting books. I browse the main aisle where they feature books, the bargain book section, and "my" sections of the store (writing, self-help, etc...). I add to my pile any books that look remotely interesting or worth a second look.
The goal here is to expand my mind; to read something I may not have been willing to "buy". So I take books I've heard of, had recommended, have cool covers (yes, I do, I alway sjudge books by their covers; I can't help it) etc... With my arms piled high with books (literally) I return to my comfy chair (hopefully), the floor if I have no choice. I laughed last time I did this. I had so many books in my arms I was having a hard time balancing them and was still browsing the "New Release" section when a store employee came up to me to enquire if I needed any help. I laughed, maybe carrying books, but not finding them! I chuckled and said no.
Once my pile and I have found good seat I begin to go through the books. I save the books I already know I want to dive into for last. I look at the covers, read the back, flip through the book and then read the beginning. I might read just the introduction, a few pages, or the whole first chapter - it depends on how good the book is. My goal is to decide if it's something I'd like to read. Does it interest me? I write down all the books that pique my interest. There are a handful of books that I will buy - books I can't get at the library, or that I know I'm going to want to mark up, I make a note beside those books. Once I've perused my selections I'll settle back to actually read (as much as I can) the few books I'm really enjoying.
Since I've started doing this I've acquired a "Books to Read" list. I'm lucky enough to have two library cards; one is local, the other is a larger library in the city my husband works in. At home I use the internet to locate which books I can find at which library (the local one first - they are easier to borrow from and return to). Under the category for the respective libraries in my Word file I note the author and book. If I can't find the book at either library but am not sure I want to buy it I put it under the InterLibrary Loan category. Finally I list the "to buy" books.
I'm only telling you this so you can know how I've managed to read so many varied books in the two months since I blogged. Sadly, when I don't blog I don't catalogue the books I've read very well and am positive I'm missing a few books (I also don't have all the author names). So, after that long (and I'm sure boring) explanantion of my title collecting method, here are the books I read over the last few months:
God 101 - Rabbi Bookman (I think) - Who knew Rabbis could be New Age forward thinkers? This is a book on the basics of spirituality from a Jewish perspective; even though I often disagreed with the author he gave me a ton to think about and I really enjoyed the read. (I also learnt a lot of cool Jewish root stuff).
Our Father Abraham - I was reading this while I was blogging but I don't think I reviewed it as I hadn't completed it yet. It was a heavy book (lots of highlighting) but fascinating. I loved every minute of it and it forced further along this spiritual journey that I'm currently taking - pirmarily by forcing me to think deeper and harder about who God is.
Understanding Your Potential - Myles Munroe - I've seen Myles Munroe speak and let me tell you - his gift is speaking, not writing. The subject matter on the other hand is right in line with my passions and he has some great foundational teachings that I think the church is in desperate need of. Also, he gives great analogies that I love to borrow. That said, if you get the chance to see him speak - GO.
The Forensic Casebook - This was such a cool read. I learnt all kinds of fascinating things about science and crime. I love CSI, muder mysteries and such so my sister lent me this book (which is really a text book). It actually was a very good read and I was constantly nagging my husband to listen to the new things I learnt.
Aha! 10 Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit - Jordan Ayan - Ok, I confess, I didn't actually read this whole book. I read the whole first half (and really enjoyed it, learnt something, etc) and half of the second half. After that I just skimmed the book. My primary problem was that the second half was so basic - I wasn't learning anything from it; and the writting wasn't so brilliant that it was worth reading anyway. If you are just beginning to examine creativity though, you will find this to be a great beginner book.
Unlocking the Animal Mind - Franklin D. McMillan - I took this book out for my son tot read but he promtly pronounced it "boring". I decided to read it myself and loved it! I learnt so much about people and how our minds work (in addition to about animals and how their minds work). The author used a lot of stories and examples from his vet work and that made the most boring parts worth reading.
Wrong About Japan - Peter Cary - This is such a short an easy read, but still interesting; if you like Japan, Anime, and Pre-Teens that is. Being as I live with two Anime fans, and love Japan I enjoyed it (oddly enough my husband was very disappointed - although he did read the entire book in the length of one bath). It's a travlogue of a father who takes his 12 year-old son to Japan to participate in Anime research to write this book (it's questionable if the trip is for the book or if the book was to fund the trip).
The Creative Call - Janice Elsheimer - This is an 8 week program (you read one chapter a week) for enhancing your creativity. It is very similar to The Artist's Way (Julia Cameron), in fact the author says she got this book idea while working through that book. The distinguishing factor is that this is written from a blatantly Christian point of view. I much preferred The Artist's Way, but I learnt things from this book, got some great quotes, and am happy to finally see some work on creativity in the Christian market.
That's all I can remember, but I'm sure there's more - including the fiction books I chose not to list. So, what did you do the last two months?

And one more quote, because I just couldn't resist.
Our modern lives are structured by our secular activities and not our spiritual ones. We have Good Morning America or The Today Show in the time slot for prayers upon rising. David Letterman helps us say "amen" to the day.
Unless we consciously build a spiritual structure into our days, we are apt to go without. How are we to remember who we are unless we take the time to remind ourselves?
-- Julia Cameron, God is No Laughing Matter
P.S. Lest I sound contradictory in my teaching and quoting the Experiment section under this quote says: You do not need to make your spirituality one more job that you must do perfectly. Your spirituality is inherent. You need only focus on it.
Structure builds the spiritual architecture of our day. You've explored spiritual practices. Now you must place them in your life.
(What I'm asking is have you explored spiritual practices or are you practicing unexamined, mindless, routines? That's what I'm asking you to consider.)

I have to say, I'm really enjoying God is No Laughing Matter (Julia Cameron). I've barely even cracked the spine but it seems to be one of those books that's fallen into my lap at the perfect time and place. I love when that kind of thing happens!
The change in my devotional time (we'll keep calling it that for the sake of clarity) began when I started asking myself questions. Why am I doing this? Why am I doing it like this? Seeing as I'm getting nothing out of this but stress and guilt, who am I doing this for? (That, it turns out, was the key question.)
I'm not sure why, but we seem to think that we do devotionals for God. As if his life just doesn't go on if we don't show up for our fifteen (distracted) minutes a day. Oh yes, I'm sure my reading that two paragraph blurb and listing off my grocery list prayers was a real blessing to him.
But actually, it was a comment my husband tends to make that started opening my eyes. He'd say to me (after a week or two of not "having time" for devotions): "Did you do your devotions today? Well you need to. You are acting like a ---." (I should point out my husband doesn't swear except in extenuating circumstances, that should indicate how badly my behavior changes.)
Wait... I needed to do devotions because it changed the way I behaved throughout the day? That would mean that devotions are for my sake not God's!
In that case, why am I reading these stupid, wishy-washy books that say nothing at all? Why am I settling for someone else's model? Why am I telling myself I have to do this or can't do that? I trashed my former "Devotional Model" and began to rebuild mine based on the effectiveness of various things. Basically, I experimented.
First, I decided what I wanted to accomplish in that time. What was my goal? I wanted time to slow down, to plant my feet firmly down, to find what can best be called my "center" (which to my mind is really touching my soul to God's Spirit in me). I wanted to come out of that time feeling strong, peaceful, and confident. Ready to "take on the day" as they say. I didn't set goals of meeting God etc... because I knew that would have to happen for me to acheive the goals I had set.
I started by stopping doing certain things that felt heavy, or like obligations. I stopped (gasp) reading the Bible. I read it if something came to me, or I had a question, but I didn't read it simply because I was supposed to. Recently I've started reading it more often, but only because there's a drive in me to do so, not because I'm supposed to.
I do read books during this time. I'm reading one devotional book (I know, I'm a hypocrite) called Praying the Name of God (Spangler). I don't always like the angle of her devotionals but learning the various names of God and their scriptral refrences has taught me a lot about God himself - which is why I'm reading it. I ignore the flimsy devotionals and write directly in the book when I have comments on the others. I'm also currently reading God is No Laughing Matter (Cameron) at the same time. Like a devotional book it's written in short chapters (several pages rather than paragraphs though) and it even has suggested activities and things to think about at the end of each chapter. I like this because it's not sugary sweet "Christian" fare. I find I get good results if something forces me to look into myself each day. Sometimes I'll read an entry in Sparkling Gems of the Greek (Renner) - even though it's dated I completely ignore that and read whatever I want to, and only when I want to. I use that book more for study than devotions.
When I'm done those books I'll probably add in new books. I'm hoping to get Cover to Cover to replace the Names of God book. I try to have one "Christian" book and one "Self-development" book, that system has the most effect for me.
But don't be deceived - reading isn't all I do during this time. That would be too easy. Too snap-the-book-shut-brush-the-dust-off-your-hands-and-move-on. I do a lot of thinking during this time. I either sit downstairs near a window and stare out it aimlessly or I sit in my library with my lovebird (Pomegranate) out of her cage. I talk to God about what I'm reading, what's been happening in my life, or some thought I'm developing/studying. This "thinking" runs a lot like a normal conversation. My relationship with God has gotten much more personal and intimate during this time. I almost never use this time to pray for anything or anyone. This time is meant for me and so I talk to God about many things but never ask or demand anything of him (except maybe answers!).
I also try to write Morning Pages during this time. Morning pages are my meditation, along with breathing, I try to take time most mornings to kneel and breath. The breathing calms me down and that's when I start to turn my mind towards God and what will happen today. The Morning Pages are assigned homework for The Artist's Way program and the most effective tool for creativity ever. I write at least three pages almost every day. I write what I've been thinking about in my time. I write what I'm pondering for my business. I write all the things swirling in my head and questions I'm looking for answers to. I write my worries and doubts. I dump all this on the page in any given day. I may not do the pages at the same time as the rest of my devotions, but it's a rare day I don't have this time or do the pages. Not because I have to, or am supposed to, but because I just cannot have a really good day without this time for me and God.
Once I changed the time to meet ME, to accomplish my goal of feeding me, believe it or not, it actually began to serve God too. But that might have just been because I was showing up. For years God has told me he wants me to spend an hour a day with him. I would try and eventually give up. I just couldn't fill that hour; not with the old "devotional/prayer formulas". Now that my time is catered to me, and follows no system but what I need that day, I never fall short of an hour and have actually passed the two hour mark. (My husband says, "Are you ever coming out of there." on weekends.) And you know what, I hardly even notice the time. Often I'm sad to leave my quiet room and join the real world.
Interactive means that activity goes on between us. Not just me waiting for you to act. Or me doing all the action. No, it's meant to be a teetor totter effect; I push up, then you push up to get me back down to the ground. The idea of interactive books, interactive TV, interactive video games has dulled us to responsive action (in my opinion) and that's reflected in our devotional times. There's no room for God to act, we've left before he started to speak (or talked the whole time and he couldn't fit a breath in edgewise). I forced my mornings to allow for a little interaction - I needed it, otherwise I become a ---. Ask my husband.
I say if your devotions aren't doing anything for you but adding guilt and stress to your life, toss them out. Experiment with something new. Decide what you are trying to accomplish and then figure out how to accomplish it - on your own terms. It was all this thinking about the purpose and meaning of "Devotion" that began me down this particular path of my journey. I'm thinking I can't be the only one who wondered about this. I once read a book where the author said if you aren't able to make time for your devotions it's because you aren't hungry enough for them. I agree, I think that's very true. But I also think it's true that you might be starving for steak and forcing yourself to eat pasta because you "should", or maybe you don't even know there is steak available. So you begin to skip meals, it's still true, you aren't hungry for pasta. Toss the pasta. What are you hungry for? Eat that instead? Be hungry and eat!
I really liked this quote and thought it was applicable:
For myself, a practice of three pages of morning writing is an effective meditation practice. At noon I walk my dogs, and in late afternoon I bike-ride, an invaluable time.
"Dog walking! Bike riding! What does that have to do with spirituality?" one of my intellectual friends snorts derisively. He can understand my practice of Moning Pages - after all, those are work. What he can't understand is the notion of scheduled recreation being part of the spiritual path. He does not look squarely at that word "re-creation". -- Julia Cameron, God is No Laughing Matter Try changing the box! Order from a different menu!

Why am I doing this (devotions, and specifically - what you do in your devotional time)? What is my goal? What do I actually want to acheive by doing them (which is not the same thing as "What do I want to acheive during them?)?
Once you've asked all those you'll be left to consider: Is what I'm doing now for devotions actually working towards this? Or not?
Don't worry Graceful Journey, we'll eventually get to the answers too!

Have you read this book yet? I know it used to be very popular, a runaway bestseller, I'd heard of it before but never read it. I actually didn't know what it was about. Then at Christmas I bought myself Talk to the Hand (which I still haven't read) by Lynne Truss. That made me curious about this one.
Who knew you could write an entire book on punctuation? Amend that. Who knew you could write an entire enjoyable book on punctuation? The more writing I've done lately the more I've been thinking I needed to read this book (I'll be the first to tell you I know nothing about grammar, those rules just never stuck with me). Lo and behold it did answer two of my most pressing punctuation questions! I now know when it's appropriate to use a comma and when it should be a semi-colon (do you?). Rejoice, rejoice! Although I dod suspect my husband and I will continue to bicker about whether any one particular comma is needed or not when he edits my work. I also learnt what the rules of using a dash are (apparently their are none - or very few). I feel enlightened - almost confident.
Have I ever told you I love the British? It might be a left-over bias, what with my family being British, but I can't say for sure. Mostly I love their sense of humor. No one can make me laugh like a Brit. Which completely explains how a book on commas and semi-colons can be so very funny. I kid you not. Laugh out loud, disturb the whole family and have to say "Never mind, never mind, you won't get it." funny. Now I can't wait to read the Talk to the Hand book which started me off in the first place. I'm almost tempted to save it up, like the very last piece of cake that you hide until you really need it (or until it won't be edible any longer; whichever emergency comes first).
In short, my advice is read the book. Read the book if you know all about punctuation, read the book if you could careless about where a period goes when youhave quotes; it doesn't matter; you'll enjoy it either way.
I suppose now that I'm back to the blogging I should update the "What I'm Reading" category so it's no longer so out of date. I finished those books months ago! (I hope none of you were waiting for my comments on them.)

I'm currently reading Some People Say That God is No Laughing Matter by Julia Cameron (in fact, I read one small section each day in my devotional time). I read this this morning and decided it was perfect for our current conversation - except now I have to decide which parts to quote and which to leave behind...
I've never felt I had a very buff spirituality. I've always had problems with doing the "proper" spiritual sit-ups and so I have just sort of figured I hd to live with my Spiritual Cellulite and not try for God's Pinup Girl of the Month.
For example, I hate going to the gym for my physical body, so I go for long walks and bike rides. That's a good time for spiritual check-in, and I do seem to hear a lot of great advice from Something when I am outside and moving. On the other hand, I have always felt it would be more spiritually acceptable if I were getting the advice when I was inside and not moving....
What I am saying is that maybe a few spiritual lumps and tiny little bulges are normal and we should all just go swimming anyway.
Often when I hear people talk about their spiritual practice, I think the word "practice" got left out. I get intimidated because they seem to do it so perfectly. And so much. And so often. It gets to sound like doing the "right" kind of crunch, so that their spiritual abs get a great cut...
It seems to me that sometimes we can get so busy doing our spiritual aerobics that we don't notice the light in the trees and feel of the sun on our skin, because we are speedwalking instead of ever going out for a stroll...
1. Do you beat yourself up about how unspiritual you are?
2. Do you believe that other people "do" their spirituality better? Who? Why?
3. Do you feel you're lousy at prayer?
4. Does your meditation practice seem shabby?
5. Has it ever occured to you to make your spiritual practice something you enjoy?
You could:
Pray and Dance.
Pray and Walk.
Pray and Bike.
You could:
Pray and sing.
Pray and paint.
Pray and take a good, hot bath.
Julia Cameron is not overtly Christian but I still highly recommend her work. If you think you might like this book you can get it at a good rate from The Book Depot.

I'm currently listening to Anne Rice's Christ the Lord in audio book. I've only just started, but I'm really enjoying it. I've never read any of her other work and so I'm pleasantly surprised by the good writing. The only down side (for me anyway) is that the Catholic beliefs of the author clearly show through in the character of Mary, who is depicted as the consumate virgin - never having any other children or "relations" with Joseph.
It's interesting the Catholics need to keep Mary somehow set apart like that. I was listening to it today and realized this is a problem in much of the "church." Now that I think about it I'm not sure if it's the root of the problem or simply a reflection of the problem - which came first, the chicken or the egg. The problem is that life, in someway, is unholy. To the Catholics, for Mary to have slept with Joseph, to have enjoyed her marriage as a normal woman, to have raised other children, in short, to have lived and loved life would demote her. Would somehow make her less worthy of bearing our Savior. To be holy she somehow needed to be more of a woman than any other woman.
The sad thing is, it is life that makes us holy - that is holy itself. It's laughing with your children, having coffee with a neighbor, making love to your spouse these are the holy things in life. Ask any parent what the greatest, most awe inspiring moment of their life was and they will tell you - when I held my son/daughter for the first time. After all, if God wanted perfect, aloof, cleanliness he would never have made us - he would have kept himself company.
Don't you think?
And believe it or not, this revelation has something to do with our devotional conversation. Someone, just this moment, said to me (online - and now she may be reading this and I hope she doesn't mind I borrowed her) that she needs to learn to "put the Lord first." Which makes me think of Graceful Journey's comment that she is "putting the Lord first" (as they say, but GJ didn't use those words) and throughout it wondering "why am I doing this?"
Holiness (devotion, allegiance, vows) are not seperate from Life. They aren't. You don't need to have some stark dividing line: this place, this ritual, these books are holy - those other things are not. Putting God first is reflected, not in 15 mins a day and a whole morning a week, but rather in the choices you make and actions you take 24/7. Being Holy and Devoted happens in LIFE not outside of it.
I was going to share on my own devotional time but I think that can wait till next time. But I hope you'll still feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on the topic!

STOP: If you haven't read the June 6 entry called Defining... jump down to read it first!
Having asked, I thought I should share my results with you (you can see a further definition in Graceful Journey's comment under June 6's entry). So this is what "Devotion" means, and where it came from. Does it change the way you think about your quiet time?
I knew the secular meaning of the term, and that's what made me begin to wonder in the first place. It means:
2 a : the act of devoting b : the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal (as to an idea or person)
Interestingly the first meaning of the word is religious:
1 a : religious fervor : PIETY b : an act of prayer or private worship -- usually used in plural c : a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation
Hmmm... To be honest it's the etymology of the word that really gives me pause. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary has it's source in devovere which means "dedicate by a vow". In fact, the entire word has heavy connotations of vows and allegiance. I wonder if the term came from monks and nuns taking vows to serve God and then "devoting" their time to worship (another word that seriously could use some defining).

For some time now I've been wondering about Devotions. What does the word mean? Why do we use it (instead of other, maybe more clear, words)? When did we degin to use it? Do we even know what is meant by it when we use it today? And, if we don't know what it truly means how can we be sure we are doing them right?
We sometimes use the term "quiet time" interchangably with it. Do they mean the same thing? Are they understood the same way? Does one help to define the others? Do we normally understand this to mean that it is quiet around us (which is sometimes the impression I get) or that it is a time when we are quiet?
What is really meant to be conbeyed by these terms anyway? What are we trying to accomplish? What should we be trying to accomplish? Are we (accomplishing either of these)?
As a rule I dislike devotional books. With their tiny short entries, little drops of Bible verses, and "it's all wrapped up" feeling. That doesn't feel very devoted to me? I mean, doesn't the term devote imply a desire to spend more time, not less? It was this kind of thinking that got me wondering about the word, and the action, in the first place! I mean, if you don't know what "devotions" means, how can you ever actually be sure you are doing them? Or it?
I'm convinced there are many people who have devotions or quiet times and never get anything out of them, or it. I know I used to. I did them out of obligation (everyone knows you are supposed to do devotions everyday - although according to the devotions books it's unclear if everyday includes weekends or not). I'd hit pause on my day, sit down, whip through my assigned book, breath a prayer and then hit play on my day. It had very little overall affect.
"Oh, did I do my devotions yet today?" was no different than, "Oh, I still have to wash the dishes." Just one more task to squeeze in.
I find it impossible to believe that I'm the only one doing devotions this way (well, I was, I no longer do them like this). I'm convinced, if we were honest, many of us feel the same struggle. Wondering, now, tell me again why I'm doing this? Is there a point to this? My favorite is when we somehow convince ourselves that we do them for God who is benefitting, basking in our distracted 15 minutes of attention, even if we get nothing but the stress of whether or not we've done devotions today out of the event.
So all this thinking led me to wonder - why do we use the word "Devotions" and what does it mean anyway? And, do we now need to change the word we use so that we can dispose of the negative connotations (quickie obligation) that now go along with the word? Hmmm...
Got a second? Help me with my experiment... What does Devotions mean? What do you do in your devotions (do you do them regularly)? Why? And, be honest... are they working for you? I mean, do you feel confident and strong in them or do you sometimes wonder if this is the way they are supposed to go? You can post a comment, or to be anonymous email me. I've been dying to find out what others think...

That song always bothered me... why were people teaching kids to sing about a man trying to kill or otherwise dispose of his cat anyway? Still that's the phrase that keeps popping into my head whenever I remind myself that I need to come post on my blog.
I've been meaning to come back and post for a month now and each time I think of it I never sum up the courage to just get around to it and post. I've felt too guilty for being gone so long. Of course, the longer I put off posting the longer I'm gone and the heavier the guilt and... Anyway, I'm back.
And in full swing.
I had the most interesting discovery about religion while watching a tv show on China today. How odd is that? The show was a quick overview of Chinese history with a particular emphasis on their acheivements (the great wall, the terracotta warriors). And while discussing the rise and fall of dynasties they began to discuss the various religious (more accurately cultural, or sociological/philosophical) systems that rose up - for example Confucianism. I was sweeping at the time so I didn't hear the whole thing (a woman's work is never done you know).
But I did stop my chore when something caught my attention. The announcer was talking about a system (of belief) called Legalism. He said that legalism was in contradiction to Confucianism (which believed that man was inately good and society could be run and ruled through ritual, custom, and ethics - very similar to the system God established for the Jews); that legalists believed that man was inately evil, selfish, and ignorant - that good not come naturally to him. Therefore they taught that the best and only way to control man was with a system of written laws which were enforced through discipline and obedience.
That captured my attention so much that I was compelled to blog. The bible doesn't use the term "Legalism" or "legalist" that's a term we apply to those who, like the Pharisees in Christ's time, uphold the letter of the law above the truth of grace and love. I suppose it's simple for someone to believe that God is a legalist - after all, he did write a long, detailed, and complicated collection of laws.
But Paul tells us that the law was not meant to purify us, and that they were incapable of controlling man. He says the law was meant to show us right from wrong, to make us more aware of our actions and to draw us to God. It's through the law that you become aware that you need God. Legalists don't get this, they think that it's through the law that you actually acquire God. To be fair, it really is a fine distinction.
You know, in reality I suspect that the true answer lies somewhere in the middle. We need both law and grace, and the wisdom to be able to balance them. The thing that keeps resounding in me though is that legalists believe man to be innately evil, incapable of good without outside control. I'd never really thought of it that way but now that they said that it seems so clear to me.
I don't know about you, but I believe I was made in the image of God - in whom no darkness (or evil) resides. Yes, I'm a fallen creature, in a fallen world, and therefore have a nature that bends towards evil - but I don't believe any person is innately evil. They can't be - after all, they bear the image of Love and Truth, even if they have gotten a bit of dirt on it.

In response to Grandmommy's comment I thought I'd direct you to some great resources on God's name.
As I quoted from, my devotional is called Praying the Names of God, A Daily Guide By Ann Spangler - it's not as indepth as I would like to go but it is a very good beginning.
Kay Arthur has an older, but popular book out on this subject (I can't vouch for it as I haven't read it) called Lord, I want to Know You.
Another book I haven't read is I AM: Inheriting the Fullness of God's Names by John Paul Jackson (he also has a worship CD out called The 365 Names of God.
Actually, the Ann Spangler book has a great Bibliography at the back of the book on this subject. I highly recommend looking through some of those titles - at least I plan to try to get my hands on some of them.
All of these are "Christian" sources. But if you look at this website: Hebrew for Christians - Names of G-d you'll find a Jewish perspective on God's names.
I hope these resources bless you as you get started!

I've added the reading of a little book to my quiet time. It is a collection of prayer answers. Not prayers themselves, but God's answers to us. I've been reading the prayers till I come across one that speaks to me for the day. Here's todays, which I thought was perfect for all of you:
You do not trust yourself to pray rightly. But there is no prayer I cannot hear. I know you voice. I know it as a shout or a whisper. I know it as a sigh or a moan. Any prayer is a prayer that reaches me. I am always listening for you...You are my creature. Your ways are known to me. I am attentive. You are in my care. Prayer reminds you, more than it does me, of our loving relationship. I love you always. I listen before you speak. You cannot pray a prayer I cannot hear.
-- Julia Cameron, Answered Prayer
(Julia Cameron is a controvertial writer when it comes to spirituality - she's not a traditional "Christian". I'm telling you this so you don't assume I'm blind to this controversy. That said, I find maybe one in ten (or less) "answers" or issues that I believe to be an error biblically speaking. But I've never found a traditional "Christian" error-less and so I choose to seek out the good and the blessing in her work (of which there is much) rather than discarding her at hand.)

Read About It: Exodus 3:12-15 (where God revealed his name as Yahweh)
I believe I've mentioned that I'm working through a devotional book on the names of God, in line with my last entry I thought I'd share this quote about God's name "Yahweh" with you.
The amazing events of Exodus defined who Yahweh was in extraodinary detail. Yahweh - Israel's faithful, wonder-working God, the One who out of pity and love reached into human history to untie the bonds of an enslaved people - that was the name by which God wanted to be forever known.
--Ann Spangler, Praying the Names of God, A Daily Guide

Read About It: Psalm 103:1
My husband says he doesn't believe names mean anything anymore. (It just occured to me I've been blogging an awful lot about my husband lately!) He thinks they are just words - that they don't define a person. I strongly disagree. Jeff says at one time people used names to reveal the person, but that that's not true anymore. He used our last name as an example - Potter - once a job description, now nothing more than a label, an identifier. I still disagree, I think God named, and changed names, at one point in time for a reason and that he still does it for the same reason.
My son and I were talking about Jesus' name a few weeks ago. He was fascinated to find out that "Jesus" wasn't really the Christ's name. It is the Greek version of his name. Oddly enough, we know both his Hebrew (the name he would have gone by, given at birth) name - Yeshua - and it's English translation (the name you'd think English people would use) translation - Joshua. Yet, we use neither of them.
When I went to Poland on missions we had an excellent translator. We loved her so much. She told us we could call he Agnes (the anglicized version of her name) but there was an unspoken consensus among us to call her Agneshka - her Polish name. We did it out of respect for her; after all, it was the name her parents gave her and it's the name she thought of herself as.
Have you ever wondered why we call God "god"? God is nothing more than a label. It is, in fact, the same word that we use to refer to any deity whether fictional, mythical, pagan, or real, all we've done is capatalize it. In fact, god and God are even the same word in Hebrew - El. But most of the places we see God or Lord (or LORD with small caps) in the Bible is not a translation of the word El. Rather, they are replacing the actual names of God. (The term Lord normally replaces Adonai, and LORD in small caps replaces YHWH/Yahweh). Where the Hebrews are reading God's personal name, we read a label! Why is that?
It's hard to get to know someone when you don't even know their name. Names are a very intimate part of relationship. No matter what my husband says, we use them to define ourselves. I am "Megan" (MAYgen) not MEgan or Maggie, or, especially, Carol. So why do we persist (basically unthinkingly) to call God by generic titles and names that are neither his nor our translation of his? What's wrong with Yeshua and Adonai anyway?
Just something that's been on my mind lately.

Read About It: Hebrews 10:23
Do you daydream about what you'd like to do in the years that lie ahead? Have you considered the possibility that these daydreams may in fact be the will of God for your life - dreams he placed deep down inside your spirit that are starting to be awakened? Is it possible that this is the timing for God's dream for your life to be ignited in your soul? ... When kata and echo are compounded into the word katecho, it literally means to embrace something tightly. However, because of the word kata, we know that this is the image of someone who finds the object of his dreams and then holds it down - taking control of it, dominating it - even sitting on it so it deosn't slip away! [ katecho in the above verse is "hold fast" - Megan ] ... This is the attitude you must have if you want to see your God-given dreams come to pass. you have to wrap your arms around that word from God and never stop believing and pursuing your dream until it comes to pass. If you'll katecho your dream, it won't be able to get away from you, nor will anyone else be able to take it away from you!
The word Katecho in Hebrews 10:23 could be interpreted this way:
"And let us hold fast to our confession, tightly wrapping our arms around it and embracing it with all our might, rejecting all attempts of anyone who tries to steal it from us..."
When you finally discover God's will for your life - when His plan finally begins to awaken in your heart and you know exactly what you are to do - hold fast to that dream. Tightly embrace what God has shown you. Seize it - wrap your arms of faith around it. Hold it down, and Hold it tight! -- Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems from the Greek (my copy arrived in the mail last week!)

Read About It: Ecclesiastes 2:24,25 & 3:22
I didn't marry a martial artist, but I am married to one now. My husband started taking Karate over a year ago and I've never seen anything give him so much joy (except maybe me).
I have a friend I talk to on a regularbasis. i can't remember how we got on the subject but I asked her what her dreams and talents were when she was young. She told me she had loved singing and acting and had been active in her school drama group. Her dad had squashed her dreams though, telling her that those weren't professions for Christians to get into. Eventually, she gave up on her passions and went on to college and a work world that have nothing to do with those dreams.
She's a relatively happy mother of three, in a good marriage, working a part-time job that she has no complaints about. When I talked to her about her old passions she said it didn't matter anymore. What would she do with them now anyway?
Still, I see a woman who doesn't know who she is, isn't quite sure what she's here for, and can't quite put her finger on what's missing. Day to day things are fine, but every now and then, when busyness isn't filling every moment, I know she wonders - where's the joy?
My husband (just like me actually) has always been fascinated with the Martial Arts. Those Karate Kid movies put a passion in every member of my famiy's hearts. I'm not sure why he never pursued it before. Eventually my son took Karate for a few years, and I suspect my husband lived vicariously through him. Then my son quit (long story about the laziness and lack of priorities of youth). Some time later my husband discovered a dojo across the street from his work that offered lunch classes. We manouvered our budget and my husband's been taking Karate ever since.
Karate has changed my husband - in ways I couldn't even begin to describe. And in practical ways too. He's lost forty pounds, and he's starting to develop muscles where he's never had them before. His passion for karate leaks into every aspect of his life. I don't mean it's an obsession (although I suppose I could make an argument for it). I mean, the passion, the joy, and the peace he gets from doing what he loves - something I believe God built into him - overflows into every part of his life. My marriage and his work have significantly benefitted from Karate. Even my husband will tell you that Martial Arts are the best thing that ever happened to him (except for maybe me).
Don't get me wrong. I don't believe it's the karate itself that's made the difference. As if there's something magical about martial arts (I do highly recommend them though). No, God gave my husband childhood dreams and passions andn ow he's living them. He's found his joy.
My friend doesn't see any purpose or use for he childhood dreams, and maybe she won't earn a living as an actress - but I look at my husband and know there's still an overwhelming reward for pursueing your passions - even if they are "purposeless".
In case you were wondering, I have two passions - two sources of joy. The first is art (I take painting classes) and creating. The other is teaching and helpig people (especially when it comes to God). That's why I blog and encourage you to ask me questions - that's where I find my joy!
Where do you find your Joy?

It has occured to me lately that my "What I'm Reading" list in the sidebar is woe-fully in accurate. (Is that how you spell woe-fully?) Lately, what to read (or more accurately, what to read first) has been an immense stress in my life. So I thought I'd share with all of you about my real reading list. Some of these have already been started, others need to be read, and you may ask, why are you reading so many at once. The answer is - I got them from the library and they need to be returned!
Here goes:
•The Opposite of Fate • Amy Tan - Phew... I finally finished this book. The other night I was being sick and read it waiting to nod off. I actually really enjoyed this book, it was a great read. If I hadn't had so much else on my plate I would have finished it off much more quickly.
• You, the Owner's Manual - I'm not actually reading it. I put it on the list because I meant to read it (what's that line about good intentions...). I want to read it. But so much else was so much more important, I don't see it becoming a priority anytime soon.
• Discover Your Child's Learning Style • Willis and Hodson - as you can see from my last post I also finished this book. Finally. I read the last bit yesterday. Likethe Amy Tan book it would have gone much faster if I hadn't had so much on m plate. Also, I had to wait to do the assessment with my son.
• A More Excellent Way - I'm enjoying this book and I think I'm more than halfway through, but... It's not well written (though the content is fascinating) and it's just been put on the back burner since the influx of library books.
• The Prayer the Changes Things • Omartian - I liked the beginning of this book but in the end didn't enjoy the layout so much. I was going so slowly, had the book so long from a church library, and didn't have time to sit through it - so I gave up. Yep, I'm returning the book unread. That said I'd really like to get my hands on The Power of a Praying Woman.
• Homeschool Open House - This book is also a research book for my writing. I wanted to see what kind of work was out there before I started working on my Homeschool Testimony project. It's really helped me to see what I do and don't want to do, but it's so long. I considered returning it unread, but I really want to read the stories. We'll see how far I get before I give up.
• Cheaper by the Dozen - I took this out of the library for a "fun" read and just haven't had time to have fun reading!
• Frames of Mind - This is my next step in the research after the learning styles book. This one is on Multiple Intellegences. I'm fascinated, but it's a long book, and also from the library so the overwhelm is getting to me!
And that's not even to mention all the new books (or old books I just haven't gotten to yet) I have upstairs that I want to read. And today I got • Our Father Abraham in the mail. I'm dying to start it but it's so academic I know I can't get into it until I pare down my above list. Sigh...
You'd think March break would be the perfect time to eat through some of these books. And it would have been. If I hadn't gotten sick. Ack.... I've been ill since Sunday, and I just can't read very much. I'm not tired enough to sleep most of the day, but not awake enough to muddle through most of the books for very long. So I'm just lying here looking at them stressing about due dates (at the library I mean).
Anyone want to volunteer to come over and read aloud to me? I'll be back to blogging when my brain is working coherently enough to hold an intellectual thought (hence the simple book list!). And hey, maybe I'll actually update the list in the sidebar!