There's nothing better than curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee--and there's no better book than the Bible. Sandra Glahn continues her series of Coffee Cup Bible Studies, presenting Kona with Jonah and Frappe with Philippians. Using creative teaching resources, including the Internet, art, online study groups and more, Glahn provides a special blend of bold and flavorful experiences that will bring participants back for a second cup of God's Word. Kona with Jonah begins with a brief history of Jonah and Ninevah. Merging historical event with current modern day practicality, Glahn invites readers to take a walk in Jonah's sandals. Coffee sippers will find it hard to escape the similarities as these two worlds collide. Prayer, mercy, city revival and other strong themes will perk the interest and heart of diligent students. Frappé with Philippians brews for five weeks of strong, powerful conversation about Paul and the heroes of the Philippian church. With detailed study time spent examining the letters of Paul to the Church, readers will come away feeling like they have met with the man himself. With sections entitled "That God Will Get me Out of Here, and Other Prayer Requests Paul Doesn't Make," Glahn keeps the tone of the study light, without disrespecting the seriousness of the study of God's Word.
Sandra Glahn, Th.M., is adjunct professor, Christian Education and Pastoral Ministries, at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), her alma mater. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Aesthetic Studies (Arts and Humanities) at the University of Texas at Dallas. In addition she serves on the board of the Evangelical Press Association, the advisory board of Hannah's Prayer, and the women's executive committee for bible.org. Sandra is editor in chief of Dallas Seminary's award-winning quarterly magazine, Kindred Spirit.
Her books include The Coffee Cup Bible Study series and the medical suspense thriller, Informed Consent (Cook). Ms. Glahn has also coauthored seven books and she has contributed to several additional works, including Genetic Engineering: A Christian Response (Kregel); and The Making of a Mentor (Authentic). Sandra has appeared on the 700 Club, Ivanhoe Productions' "Smart Woman" television broadcasts, Family Life Today, At Home Live television, Janet Parshall's America, and in other national media. She and her husband, Gary, have been married twenty-nine years and have a daughter who joined their family through adoption.
A Chat Over Coffee w/ Sandra
Women who typically feel they don't have the time to do Bible Study find your studies relevant and easy to use. What's the secret to making the study inviting?
I don't know if there's one secret. Different things appeal to different people. But I do know that with my own personal Bible study time, I've been able to stay fairly consistent Monday through Friday when my daughter is at school. But on the weekends everything changes in our household. Sometimes we travel. Or we sleep later on Saturday. And we rise and go to church on Sunday. Result: my routine gets disrupted. For this reason I often have a more difficult time doing Bible study on the weekends. So I designed the series for Monday-through-Friday study with only short devotional readings on the weekends. The weekday time can require twenty minutes or more; the weekend readings take less than five minutes.
I think the studies also appeal to the right-brained person. As an artsy type, I sometimes engage more with the Bible if I can write out a prayer, draw, view a related video, compose a story, sing a song... And I wrote this series with that person in mind. The devotionals are also full of stories, which most of us love to hear.
In addition (and this is probably the main reason), when I was working full-time, I wanted a study I could stash in my purse without having to lug a Bible and a commentary. I wanted to use my lunch break for a quiet time without parading my resources in front of people. And I think it helps that the Coffee Cup series books don't look like typical Bible studies; they're all-inclusive (text, commentary, questions included); they're small enough to throw in a briefcase or diaper bag; and they're both spiral and bound--making it easier to use on a treadmill or fold in the lap and write on while sitting. In short they're designed for the multi-tasker. I heard from an ob-gyn who uses them as she's sitting in the doctors' lounge waiting for babies to arrive.
And one more thing--I also include a prayer at the end. I heard from an eighty-something man who told me how much those prayers meant. All his life he had struggled with prayer, and that guidance helped him respond to God. I'm glad that a series directed to women didn't scare him off!
In Kona with Jonah, what do you hope participants will take away and apply to their own lives?
We tend to like our own causes best; we like our own country best; we like our denomination best; we like our own families best; we prefer the schools we attended, the neighborhoods where we grew up, our own political party or cause, our gender--even our brand of peanut butter. And somewhere along the way we cross the line from preference to prejudice. We pray for our loved ones but rarely, if ever, our enemies. Mention atheists, opposing politicians, humanists, materialists, homosexuals, and radical feminists in most churches today, and the response you'll evoke will sound nothing like, "Let's pray right now for God to pour out his love."
Genesis tells us that humans are fellow creations of one maker. The qualities of God that so angered Jonah are the very qualities we most need: grace, compassion, patience, mercy, abundant love, and truth. And not just for those we love--but for those we hate. For those who have wronged us. For those who want us dead. For those with whom we strongly disagree. The only possible way we can demonstrate such remarkable goodness is through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The focus of Frappé with Philippians is the life of Paul and the early church. What kind of historical research did you do and did you learn any surprising facts as you compiled your information?
I think it's enormously important to understand the world in which Paul was writing. Let's take the view of women, for example. The Jews were the most conservative. The Greeks were better, though greatly influenced by Aristotle's low view of women. And the Roman women had the most freedom--even owning property and supervising gymnasiums. Knowing a city's predominant citizenship helps us understand Paul's letters on such issues.
My PhD work relates a lot to the Greek pantheon and Greek and Roman history. The historical backgrounds for the Bible books are essential, and fortunately they interest me.
I also love getting a sense of the geography, if I can. I had the advantage this summer of taking a clipper to follow the journeys of Paul. Some of our stops included Corinth, Troas, Neapolis, Philippi, and Athens.
One sentence out of the mouth of a guide in Corinth really stuck with me, as she provided a key to understanding the cities we visited. She mentioned that while American visitors seem generally uninterested in talk of gods and goddesses, knowing which member of the Greek pantheon a city worshiped is essential to understanding that city's mentality. The more I thought about this, the more sense it made:
ATHENS. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, so citizens of Athens wanted their city to reflect culture, religion, and philosophy. And sure enough, in Acts 17 we find Stoic and Epicurean philosophers hanging out at the Areopagus (Mars Hill). Paul affirms them for being religious, and rather than dissing their many false gods, he zeroes in on their altar to the unknown God and tells them about this Almighty one who was not made with hands--One who is never far from any of us.
CORINTH. Corinth was the home of Aphrodite, goddess of love (and not the agape version). Behind the city ruins stands a towering hill at the top of which sat Aphrodite's temple. One could not walk down the street without being conscious of its prominence. Might that explain why the Corinthians had so many issues with sexual immorality, and why Paul tells them that it's good for a man not to touch a woman (1 Cor. 7:1)? For the sake of the kingdom, he encourages them to consider embracing sexual abstinence rather than marrying. How fitting that in a city that prides itself on being a center of love, Paul pens the beautiful definition of true love--known to us as the love chapter (1 Cor. 13).
EPHESUS. Ephesus was home to the virgin Artemis who loved her virgin status and was immune to Aphrodite's love arrows. Among other things, Artemis was the goddess of the hunt. If you take a close look at the Artemis statues from the first and second centuries, you find her legs covered with numerous animals and flanked by a couple of deer. Now, usually we think of women as gatherers and men as hunters. And the fact that Artemis was a hunter suggests she had a less-than-feminine persona. In Ephesus we find stone work with the Amazon story (these women were way independent!), and guides tell visitors that the city was founded by an Amazon queen. The Book of Ephesians was probably intended for more than one city (like Laodicea), so we don't find much that points to a specific city's mentality in that book. But we do find 1 Timothy directed to Paul's protégé in Ephesus, and in it we find an emphasis on widows, women teaching false doctrines, and the need to marry and have children.
When reading the New Testament, I think it's important to find out something of its geography and certainly what member of the Greek pantheon each book's readers were up against. How its authors approached the cities' demons can provide insight for us into engaging a culture that's in love with worldly wisdom, immorality, and a low view of family.
Creative Ways to Have Girlfriend Bible Studies
• Get ripped with Ruth. Meet at the health club and walk side-by-side on the treadmill with your BFF. The study’s spiral binding and modest size lends itself to being stashed in a gym bag. You won’t even have to pack your Bible. The text is included.
• Inhale the aroma of java as you enter your favorite coffee shop. Order yourself a cappuccino, and then hang out around the table with friends discussing Colossians.
• For your friend’s birthday, give her chocolate-covered coffee beans and a Coffee Cup Bible study. Promise her an hour every week of your time for building your friendship on what lasts.
• Invite the person who does your nails to consider the words of Jesus. Provide a copy of Mocha on the Mount, and every time you’re together discuss what you’re both learning as you go through it.
• Schedule an extended “Spiritual Spa Day” together by watching and discussing a movie about Esther as you kick off bi-weekly meetings around your kitchen table. Contemplate what the Hadassah spa—Esther’s year of beauty treatments—must have been like. Then consider the part of her beauty that was deeper than skin.
• You don’t have to sip your cuppa joe in a shop that starts with an “S.” Grab some colleagues and organize a small group study. You can nurse your favorite beverage in the company cafeteria, the hospital coffee shop—even your local McDonald’s.
• Brew a pot of coffee in your church kitchen and meet one evening per week with members of your congregation. Engage in a lively discussion about Deborah, Jael, and Samson’s mother as you go through Java with the Judges.
Contest One fortune blogger from each participating blog will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a coffee themed tote bag, twelve oz of Starbucks Sumatra and signed copies for Kona with Jonah and Frappe' with Philippians.
SO LEAVE A COMMENT TODAY! (Deadline to enter - Sunday, November 8th)
Here is part 3 of the 33 questions meme (check out part 1 and part 2 and play along, if you like!):
22. What does the last text message in your inbox say?
I don't text much (really, not at all) but I do have a few in there from a friend in NY and some generic ones from my phone company :)
23. How do you feel about your life right now?
Well, much better than I felt yesterday, that's for sure. I think things are looking up.
24. Do you hate anyone?
No (though there are some people I don't like very much)
25. If we were to look in your Facebook inbox, what would we find?
10 minutes ago - a LOT. But, I just went through and deleted them all.
26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
Yes
27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
Not "perfect" but a "perfectionist"
28. What song is stuck in your head? Who Says You Can't Go Home (Jon Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles duet) - I'm actually working on a blog post about that one
29. Someone knocks on your window at 2 a.m., whom do you want it to be?
I don't want it to be anyone.
30. Do you (or did you) want to have grandkids before you’re 50?
Never really thought about it, but it a possibility I guess.
31. Tell us your Saturday night.
This past Saturday night, I was out with Brian, doing some Christmas shopping! We don't have a regular Saturday night routine.
32. Do you think too much or too little?
My family would definitely say that I think too much. I'm sure they are right.
33. Do you smile a lot?
I smile much more than I used to, that's for sure.
Cindy provided me with a few good blog posts here! Thanks, Cindy!
11. When was the last time you cried really hard?
pretty much the first 3 days of this week
12. Who took your profile picture?
Ashley did (it's actually Brian AND me; but for the sake of my blog, I cropped him out - poor guy!)
13. Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Ashley (she wanted a pic of herself in her new glasses)
14. Was yesterday better than today? Why?
No - today was DEFINITELY better (even though it's raining and not over yet)
15. Can you live a day without TV?
Definitely
16. Are you upset about anything now?
Not at the moment, no
17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
Certainly
18. Are you a bad influence?
Well, I like to think not
19. Night out or night in?
Which would I prefer? Definitely OUT
20. What items could you not go without during the day?
I couldn't work without my computer, so that would be a plus; I also really appreciate running water and electricity LOL
21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
my best friend Sue
When a struggling young single mother saves the life of an elderly woman, she sets into motion a series of events that will test her strength, loyalty, and determination, all the while setting her on the path to finding true love.
Christine Eisley is the mother of seven-year-old Zach and five-year-old Haley. Her ex-husband provides little, if any, child support and makes life difficult for Christine by using the children as pawns. She works long hours as a waitress to make ends meet, but her job is in jeopardy because she’s often late to work due to the unreliable teenaged sitters she’s forced to use. When Christine saves the life of a woman who works in Wilson’s department store, the owner of Wilson’s wants to find her, to thank her, but Christine has disappeared, losing another job once again. He sets his grandson, Jason, to the task of finding the mysterious “Christy.” Jason, an accountant by trade who has lost his job to downsizing, thinks he is “above” working at Wilson’s. Soon, he discovers that this new task gives him more than he bargains for.
The Christmas Secret is a novel for anyone who wants to see how love is a gift that keeps giving back; that hope is a treasure that never runs dry, and that faith is a miracle that is reborn with each new day.
Donna VanLiere is the New Your Times and USA Today bestselling author of Finding Grace, the Christmas Hope series, and Angels of Morgan Hill. She lives in Franklin, TN, with her husband and three children. Visit her at her website.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle that seems to have become my life, I was pleased with the opportunity to cuddle up with this book and a blanket for the past several evenings and absorb myself into the lives of Christine and the amazing cast of supporting characters in this book! I've read the first three books in this series - The Christmas Shoes, The Christmas Blessing, and The Christmas Hope - but just realized today that I totally missed the fourth book - The Christmas Promise. Though each book in this series will definitely work as a stand-alone, it's fun to read them all as the characters do all tie together in some way. I enjoy seeing the names from book to book, and getting just a small glimpse into the lives of past characters I've grown to know and love. (We also have the 2 movies - The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing - based on these books, and I'd recommend them.)
The Christmas Secret, much like the other books in this series, just continued to amaze me with every twist and turn. Donna has an amazing ability of weaving everything together into a gorgeous tapestry of love, grace, forgiveness, family values, and so much more. Her stories remind me of a quilt made up of the fabrics of a family's life - there is just so much going on, but it's all put together into one story.
The ending might make you cry, it might make you smile - no matter what, you'll put this book down with a good feeling. At least, I did. With the Christmas season soon upon us, this is a great book to add to your reading list.
If you are a tv viewer, you might be interested to know that Lifetime Movie Network will be doing a Donna VanLiere Marathon on December 12th:
4PM ET: The Christmas Shoes
6PM ET: The Christmas Blessing (LMN Premiere - one telecast only)
8PM ET: The Christmas Hope (Premiere)
10PM ET: The Christmas Shoes (Encore)
12AM ET: The Christmas Hope (Encore)
Also in December, LifetimeMovieNetwork.com will post an excerpt from THE CHRISTMAS SECRET and an original essay by VanLiere. The site will also sponsor a contest to win signed copies of the "Christmas Hope" books. Details will be forthcoming on LifetimeMovieNetwork.com.
NOTE: St. Martin's Press provided this book to me for free, in exchange for my honest review, which you see above.
Ten-year-old Trond Halvorsen lives in Aalesund, a picturesque and friendly Norwegian sea-side town. The only problem is that there is no color! The buildings are covered with beautiful designs that no one knows are there. With his grandfather’s help, Trond discovers them and dreams of fulfilling these designs with brightly colored paints. But Trond doesn’t have any money, paint is too expensive and there just isn’t any to be had. Join Trond as he sets out to bring color to his town in a splendid Norwegian adventure laced with exotic descriptions of deep blue fjords, dark green pines and vividly colored flowers. Painting Aalesund is a simple, heartwarming story that parents will want to read to their children and again to themselves.
Tod B. Steward has been writing in one form or another since he was a boy. Much of his writing for children has been inspired by travels with his wife, son and daughter, where he keeps finding stories just waiting to be told. Currently living in Virginia, he has finished Painting Aalesund and Juliet’s Opera, both published or soon-to-be-published by Tate Publishing.
He has recently finished a story about a cat named Enzo, who lives in Rome, Italy and has just sent to Norway for review the manuscript for another story from Norway. He is in the midst of writing a second Evelyn Burke Adventure and also a story that takes place in the north of Italy. And sitting on his desk are stories from France, Great Britain, the United States, and even from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
I really enjoyed this little book. I read it to myself, over the course of several nights, not because I couldn't sit down and read it all in one sitting, but because I really wanted to absorb it. What a sweet tale of a little boy with the heart and desire to help his town. In a day and age where everyone seems to be "looking out for #1", I was pleased to read the story of young Trond. Trond sees his town for the beautiful place that it CAN be, not the boring, drab place that it IS. He sets out to find a way to turn his vision into reality. With hard work and determination, Aalesund is transformed into a lovely town that people come from far and wide to see. I was blessed by this little book and will definitely be passing it along to my children to read.
You can learn more about the author and his books (both current and upcoming) on his website. One thing homeschooling parents will appreciate is the extra help Tod is willing to offer kids who read his book - he'll even post book reports on his site!
An arranged marriage, a runaway bride, and an ugly family heritage of brutal and inhumane slavery operations leave no room for a fairytale story. Grace Winslow, daughter of an English sea captain and African princess, finds herself in a horrific position of betrothal. Doomed to marry an obnoxious white man, whom she does not love, Grace runs away to escape the slavery she’s been surrounded by all her life. Instead, her journey from home brings her face-to-face with issues of extreme slavery, abuse and human trafficking. In the end she discovers slavery is more than just chains and finds grace that exceeds a name given to her by her parents.
Written by Kay Marshall Strom, The Call of Zulina links historical slavery issues with the modern-day crisis tainting many countries. On the heels of important legislature regarding human trafficking, Strom tackles the subject boldly as she sheds light on the practices and techniques used by angry slave traders. Seen as an advocate for those who have no voice, Strom finds words to communicate the message of history to today’s readers. While this book shines the light on an uncomfortable subject, the message of hope, freedom, and justice prevail and eternal truths discovered.
Author Kay Marshall Strom has two great loves: writing and helping others achieve their own writing potential. Kay has written thirty-six published books, numerous magazine articles, and two screenplays. While mostly a nonfiction writer, the first book of her historical novel trilogy Grace in Africa has met with acclaim. Kay speaks at seminars, retreats, writers’ conferences, and special events throughout the country and around the world. She is in wide demand as an instructor and keynote speaker at major writing conferences. She also enjoys speaking aboard cruise ships in exchange for exotic cruise destinations.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR:
1. How did you come up with the storyline of The Call of Zulina?
While in West Africa working on another project, I toured an old slave fortress and was struck dumb by a set of baby manacles bolted to the wall. The characters of Lingongo and Joseph Winslow, Grace's parents, are modeled after real people who ran a slave business in Africa in the 1700s. I "met" them when I was researching Once Blind: The Life of John Newton, a biography of the slaver turned preacher and abolitionists, author of Amazing Grace. The more I thought about them, the more I wondered, "If they'd had a daughter, who would she be? Where would her loyalties lie?"
2. What inspired you to write a book so entrenched with uncomfortable issues?
I used to think that non-fiction was the meat and potatoes of writing and fiction was the chocolate mousse dessert... fun, but not of much value. But I've come to understand that truths can be revealed through fiction just as powerfully as through non-fiction. Sometimes, more so! The fact is, for so long we have tried to look away and pretend that this horrible chapter in history never happened. But it did, and we still feel the effects today. Moreover, the roots of slavery--hunger for power and money, fear and diminishment of people unlike ourselves, and humanity's endless ability to rationalize evil actions--abound today. The time seemed right.
3. How have your travels around the world equipped you for writing such a historical novel?
People ask me where my passion for issues such as modern day slavery come from. To a large degree it is from the things I have seen and heard on my numerous trips to India, African countries, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia, and other places around the world.
4. Tell us a personal story regarding modern day slavery.
A most pervasive type of slavery is what is known as bonded servitude, where entire poor families are bound into virtual slavery--sometimes for generations--because of a small debt. This is especially common in India. I visited a village in central India where the women had been freed from bondage and set up with a micro loan that allowed them to raise a small herd of dairy cows. They worked so hard and saved every rupee. When they had enough saved, they persuaded a young teacher to come and start a school for their children. Then they used further profits to make low interest loans to others in the area so they could start their own businesses, too--a little bank. I sat in a circle with the five women who made up the "board of directors." Only one could read and write. I asked, "How will the next generation be different because of what you have done?" They said, "No more will be like us. When people look us, they see nothing. But when they look at our children, they see real human beings with value."
From invisible slaves to human beings... all in one generation!
5. Grace, the lead character in The Call of Zulina, forsakes all to escape the slavery of her parents and an arranged marriage.How common is this scenerio today in other countries?
Horrifyingly common. Slavery today takes many forms. According to UNICEF's more conservative count, there are about 12 million people living as slaves today--three times as many as in the days of the African slave trade. As for child arranged marriages, I have talked to girls "enslaved" to husbands in many countries. Examples include a girl in Nepal married at 9 to a middle-aged man, one in India married at 11, a 13-year-old in Egypt married to a man older than her father. I've seen it in Africa, Eastern Europe... so many places!
6. What about in America, are there slavery and trafficking issues here?
Unfortunately, there are. The U.S. State Department estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the Untied States each year, although it concedes that the real number is actually far higher. And it's not just states like New York and California that are affected, either. According to the U.S. Justice Department's head of the new human trafficking unit, there is now at least one case of trafficking in every state.
7. You've had 36 books published, and more written and contracted for future release. How has this one impacted your own life?
Some books report, some tell stories. This book has torn my heart.
8. Briefly tell us about the next two books in this Grace in Africa trilogy.
In Book 2, Grace watches her reconstructed life smashed by slavers and revenge, and she is forcibly taken to London. There she faces a new kind of tyranny and another fight for freedom... and for her husband, who is enslaved in America.
Book 3 is set in the new United States of America, in the heart of the slavery. It is a story of slavery at it's worst and redemption at its best.
CONCERNED ABOUT SLAVERY? Here's what you can do to help:
• Find out all you can about Modern Day Slavery: then watch for chances to pass on what you have learned.
• Write to your elected officials: Petition them to place a high priority on enforcing anti-slavery laws and to put pressure on countries that tolerate forced labor or human trafficking.
• Buy Fair Trade products: Fair trade provides a sustainable model of international trade based on economic justice. To find out more, see http://www.fairtrade.net/ .
• Support organizations that are in a position to make a difference. When you find an one that is doing a good job on the front lines, contribute to their cause so they can continue on.
• Be willing to step into the gap. If you suspect someone is being held against his or her will, call the Department of Justice hotline: 1-888-428-7581. Or you can call 911.
LEAVE A COMMENT TO WIN!
Kay Marshall Strom is giving the following books to one fortunate commenter from The Call of Zulina blog tour. The prize package includes several of Kay's books:
• Seeking Christ: A Christian Woman's Guide to Personal Wholeness & Spiritual Maturity
• John Newton:The Angry Sailor
• Making Friends with Your Mother
• Making Friends with Your Father
Lately, I've been feeling a bit like Anne of Green Gables when she says that she is in "the depths of despair". I've been overwhelmed - with work, housework, our schedule, and all the various things that are going on around me (which are way too numerous to list here). I actually even went to the doctor last week (which is amazing for me!) because I've just felt like the burden is getting heavier and heavier and I'm sinking under the weight of it all. (FYI: blood test results came back yesterday - and everything is normal [thyroid, cholesterol, and blood counts])
Sometimes I'm just amazed by God. I know we should always be amazed; but I confess that sometimes God's timing is just so perfect that I'm extra amazed. It's like he's tapping me on the shoulder saying "this is just for you". Such a time occurred this past Sunday morning . . .
I walked into the adult Sunday School class at church, only to find out that the regularly scheduled teacher couldn't teach that day (due to a recent death in his family); so the pastor was teaching. Someone passed out a handout; and when I looked down and started reading, I immediately knew that this lesson was FOR ME. It was a study on Psalm 3 and the paragraph at the top said this:
"This is a psalm where 'enemies' may symbolize any misery, problem, difficulty, or distress. It is a psalm to use when you are at your wit's end, totally discouraged, seemingly surrounded by problems, defeated. It is an example of what I Peter 5:7 tells us to do." Needless to say, God definitely got my attention with this! Even my mom leaned over and said "this is for you, isn't it?" it was all I could do not to cry (and I've been doing an overabundance of it lately).
[I Peter 5:7 - "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."KJV]
If you're feeling discouraged or defeated as well, maybe this is just what you're needing. I'm planning on committing Psalm 3 to memory this week. Why don't you do the same?
Psalm 3 (English Standard Version)
A Psalm of David,when he fled from Absalom his son.
The psalmist's COMPLAINT to the Lord about his enemies: 1O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me; 2many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
The psalmist's CONFIDENCE in the Lord despite his enemies: 3But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4I cried aloud to the LORD,
and heanswered me from his holy hill. Selah
The psalmist's CALMNESS in the Lord despite his enemies: 5I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. 6I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
The psalmist's CALL (or CRY) to the Lord about his enemies: 7 Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
youbreak the teeth of the wicked.
8Salvation belongs to the LORD;
your blessing be on your people! Selah
NOTE: The words in italics are my own notes, showing the way this particular psalm is organized. The psalms weren't just written with no rhyme or reason, rather the psalmists chose certain formats for writing the psalms - this one has an a, b, b', a' theme.
I share this in the hopes that it will speak to someone else as well. If not, though, that's ok. I'll take my own personal tap on the shoulder from God. I needed it!
In the past, I've shared on my blog how we're not really "dog people". I love dogs, but they just don't seem to work out at our house. I've always liked big dogs; and the two we've had in the past were either too hyper or too hairy to have in a house with children.
Then, we started dog-sitting Eddiee and we just love that little guy! Having him around made me rethink my stance on small dogs - maybe they really are better for in the house (at least, OUR house).
We have neighbors up the street who raise pugs. My mom checked into buying one last year - the $450 price tag kinda turned her off (she ended up getting a dog at a shelter). About 6 weeks ago, at our yard sale, they told us that they had one 6-month-old pup left over from a previous litter - and that, if we were interested, we could have her for $50. I kinda shrugged the whole thing off. But Brian, who is usually the hardhearted, "we are NOT getting a dog" type, actually went and made the arrangements to get her!
So, now we have Sallie. She's been a bit of a challenge to get house-trained (as she was mostly living outside before). But, we're getting there - I'm not sure if SHE is trained, or if WE have trained ourselves! LOL She's a sweet, loving little dog (though a bit of a high-strung puppy at times). We all enjoy her.
My favorite times are when I'm on the couch, working on my laptop, and she's snuggled tight up against me. I think she's going to work out to be a good dog for us. We just might be dog people after all!
I always find the neatest memes over at Cindy's Fenced in Family blog. Just when I'm asking myself what I can blog about, she always seems to bail me out with a fun meme. Here's the one I found today (and stay tuned, because I'm hoping to find parts 2 & 3 on her blog sometime soon) . . .
1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
Coffee with peppermint mocha creamer (yummy!)
2. Where was your profile picture taken?
At Historic Jamestown a few weeks ago (when we took a long weekend trip to Williamsburg, VA)
3. Can you play Guitar Hero?
Nope
4. Name someone who made you laugh today.
Ashley - we were looking at her baby scrapbook (thinking about her upcoming 16th birthday) - what a cute little one she was!
5. How late did you stay up last night and why?
Midnight. We were visiting with friends and didn't get home until around 11. Then, I read for awhile (review of White Picket Fences coming soon).
6. If you could move somewhere else where would you and why?
I'd love to live closer to Disney World, but I'm not sure I'd enjoy summers in the Florida heat (I hope to be one of those retired people that spends my winters in Florida!) This past summer, we discovered the town of Lititz (near Lancaster) and fell in love. I could easily move there!
7. Ever been kissed under fireworks?
Hmmm . . . maybe at Disney World.
8. Which of your friends lives closest to you?
Our neighbors have become good friends (it's so nice to have them nearby). Of my "old friends", I guess Sue lives the closest - she's about 10 minutes away.
9. Do you believe ex’s can be friends? With benefits?
This is just a silly question. I believe that ex's can be friends, or at least civil to each other. I've seen it played out over and over again. However, I wish we lived in a world where divorce was not so prevalent - it seems to be the easy way out these days.
10. Do you like Dr. Pepper?
Definitely! It's one of my favorite sodas.
Kona with Jonah begins with a brief history of Jonah and Ninevah. Merging historical event with current modern day practicality, Glahn invites readers to take a walk in Jonah's sandals. Coffee sippers will find it hard to escape the similarities as these two worlds collide. Prayer, mercy, city revival and other strong themes will perk the interest and heart of diligent students.
Sandra Glahn, Th.M., is adjunct professor, Christian Education and Pastoral Ministries, at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), her alma mater. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Aesthetic Studies (Arts and Humanities) at the University of Texas at Dallas. In addition she serves on the board of the Evangelical Press Association, the advisory board of Hannah's Prayer, and the women's executive committee for bible.org. Sandra is editor in chief of Dallas Seminary's award-winning quarterly magazine, Kindred Spirit. 
When a struggling young single mother saves the life of an elderly woman, she sets into motion a series of events that will test her strength, loyalty, and determination, all the while setting her on the path to finding true love. 
Donna VanLiere is the New Your Times and USA Today bestselling author of Finding Grace, the Christmas Hope series, and Angels of Morgan Hill. She lives in Franklin, TN, with her husband and three children. Visit her at 
In the midst of the hustle and bustle that seems to have become my life, I was pleased with the opportunity to cuddle up with this book and a blanket for the past several evenings and absorb myself into the lives of Christine and the amazing cast of supporting characters in this book! I've read the first three books in this series - The Christmas Shoes, The Christmas Blessing, and The Christmas Hope - but just realized today that I totally missed the fourth book - The Christmas Promise. Though each book in this series will definitely work as a stand-alone, it's fun to read them all as the characters do all tie together in some way. I enjoy seeing the names from book to book, and getting just a small glimpse into the lives of past characters I've grown to know and love. (We also have the 2 movies - The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing - based on these books, and I'd recommend them.)
Ten-year-old Trond Halvorsen lives in Aalesund, a picturesque and friendly Norwegian sea-side town. The only problem is that there is no color! The buildings are covered with beautiful designs that no one knows are there. With his grandfather’s help, Trond discovers them and dreams of fulfilling these designs with brightly colored paints. But Trond doesn’t have any money, paint is too expensive and there just isn’t any to be had. Join Trond as he sets out to bring color to his town in a splendid Norwegian adventure laced with exotic descriptions of deep blue fjords, dark green pines and vividly colored flowers. Painting Aalesund is a simple, heartwarming story that parents will want to read to their children and again to themselves. 
Tod B. Steward has been writing in one form or another since he was a boy. Much of his writing for children has been inspired by travels with his wife, son and daughter, where he keeps finding stories just waiting to be told. Currently living in Virginia, he has finished Painting Aalesund and Juliet’s Opera, both published or soon-to-be-published by Tate Publishing.
An arranged marriage, a runaway bride, and an ugly family heritage of brutal and inhumane slavery operations leave no room for a fairytale story. Grace Winslow, daughter of an English sea captain and African princess, finds herself in a horrific position of betrothal. Doomed to marry an obnoxious white man, whom she does not love, Grace runs away to escape the slavery she’s been surrounded by all her life. Instead, her journey from home brings her face-to-face with issues of extreme slavery, abuse and human trafficking. In the end she discovers slavery is more than just chains and finds grace that exceeds a name given to her by her parents.
Author Kay Marshall Strom has two great loves: writing and helping others achieve their own writing potential. Kay has written thirty-six published books, numerous magazine articles, and two screenplays. While mostly a nonfiction writer, the first book of her historical novel trilogy Grace in Africa has met with acclaim. Kay speaks at seminars, retreats, writers’ conferences, and special events throughout the country and around the world. She is in wide demand as an instructor and keynote speaker at major writing conferences. She also enjoys speaking aboard cruise ships in exchange for exotic cruise destinations.
