Jill over at Compassion Family just shared  this information…

Printable Treats has printable paper dolls, clothes and tips for making them sturdy!

“Many Christians feel guilty when they think of reading the Bible. Though they want to love reading Scripture, they rarely have time for more than a few verses on the run. But the Bible is not meant to be a burden. It is the story of God’s passionate love for His children. It is also not a book of mystical incantations. It is a best friend offering counsel and companionship. And it is not a distant relic, but something very near. Near enough, in fact, to be every reader’s story. So how do Christians delight in this story rather than see it as a source of failure? The founder of the immensely popular Daily Audio Bible, Brian Hardin shows readers how reading through the Bible in a year will change their life and the lives of others. Passages shows readers how to read the Bible and offers practical ideas for immersing themselves in God’s life-giving words. Here readers will discover that reading the Bible can be a breathtaking adventure.”  amazon.com

Passages by Brian Harden was sent to me for review a couple of months ago.  This book has spoke to me like a kind friend, encouraging me forward in the place where I currently am.  For the entire summer I have enjoyed long, quiet, early mornings, loving my time in God’s word, and seeking to put it first, learning to read it more completely, rather than in the verse here, verse that can be the norm when life gets too busy.

“”I was busy…but few of the activities had any eternal value, nor were they anything I was truly passionate about.”

This quote really stuck out to me.  Read the Bible to find my passion?  Read the Bible to be prepared for what life deals today, this week, this year?

Author Brian Harden presents a strong appeal to the reader to set aside the time and to take in the Living Word in large generous servings.  To spend time and read it like, like it is God’s Word written just for me, you, us.  What a gift, truly.

Passages is a good book to be on the shelves of  a Christian family, a book to spur them on when the seasons of disconnect from God’s Word happen.

Life is so full, and my thanksgiving is a steady flow, but the words, for the most part my breath is taken by the sight of the sliver of glory in these days, so few words are forming.

Here’s little glimpse into the gift list that continues to grow;

Kids excited about vbs
New Capri pants
Family prayer time
Daughters who help me with my hair
Daughters watering the sunflower house and pumpkin patch
Anticipation
Peace in the backyard between ducks and dogs
Daughters embraced by the youth in our new church
Water balloon fights
Young men protecting the dignity of the girls
Ultimate football
New friend, another mom of all girls
Hope
Biblical admonishment
Laughing girls
Hardworking daughter
Gas smell in the house ~ but no problem
Safety
We’re loaded with zucchini ~ hoping to try this recipe soon ~ http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/08/grilled-stuffed-zucchini/

oh gives thanks to the Lord, for He is so good.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

The last gratitude post I wrote was this, the day before a roaring fireball raged into our city and burned 346 homes, killed 2 people and chased 10s of thousands people running from their homes and the fire.  That was a very difficult week, but continually there was evidence of mercy, grace and strength flowing from the Lord.

As afraid as I was when I saw the orange smoke out my kitchen window, and heard the live newscast blurt out that a wall of fire had descended in 65mph wind upon where the firemen were standing guard, the sweetness of God promises came to mind and we sank to our knees to pray.

Can you imagine just how grateful I was in the following hours as the news poured in, the fire spread and the evacuation areas grew closer and closer, that my dear sister in law was here visiting?  What a tremendous gift it was to have her here, to not be alone with my children, with my Beloved 1800 miles to the north.

The gift finding never slowed, even as the smoke burned our eyes and children were kept in the basement to play, gifts were sprinkled throughout the moments, proof of the Father’s constant presence.

gifts 1087-1119

Cousins all over the place
Prayer in the park
Fresh air
Fire becoming contained
No need to evacuate
No asthma reaction
Friends rallying around a family of friends who have lost their home and all of their belongings
Backyard camping
Hot dogs & smores over the grill
Tiny pumpkin on the little vine this morning
A row of sunflower seedlings
Grapes on the vine
A cool house this morning
Car pool friends
Refreshing sleep
Encouraging swim instructor
Muscle cramps a bedtime ~ means I’m doing something right
VBS is soon
12 yo girl giggles
Butterflies in the garden again
RAIN!  Steady gentle rain
Fresh Carrots
Ducks swimming in their “pond”
Sleepy children
Refreshing swim
Cool temperatures and rain!
Forecast for more cool temperatures and rain
Big thunder and steady rain during dinner
Girl who gives up her spending money in hope for something far greater
Neighbor girl who wants to see why we seem happy

yes, all is grace.

linking with ann  

The relaxed summer days and quiet evenings are perfect times to enjoy some good reads.  This month I have read,

Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick, Historical Fiction ~ an enjoyable evening read.  You can click here to read my full review.

So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkin ~ fictionalized autobiography  One of my daughters had pulled this book off the shelf in May.  A few days later, she handed me the book with concern over the content, and now I know she didn’t know how to process the horror described in this story.  Yoko Kawashima Watkin was a young Japanese girl living with her family in Korea during WWII.  Her family was caught in the violent turmoil as the Korean’s recieved aid from Communist Russians and Japan surrenended to the United States.

It was a violent time and sadly, as we know from many times in history, men often turn their war time violence on women and children.

This book is marketed to elementary children, and though I believe it is a valuable story, it is more suited to older middle school to high school students.  While a younger child might know the name of some of these evils, processing them in as they read the story of a character to whom they are “befriending” is very difficult.

What is a Healthy Church Member by Thabiti M. Anyabwile ~ Recently our pastor was preaching through The 9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever and provided both books to any in the congregation interested in reading them along with the series.  These books have been sitting in the stack of my “heavy” books, being rotated through over the past month.  I reccommend these books to anyone struggling with the modern American church, feeling as though there is something missing.  While there is much we could say about the “American church”, I found much more to chew on as I read the marks of a healthy member.

The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis ~ Another Amish fiction.  This book was a gentle story about young people seeking wisdom for leading their adult lives, when there are many expectations put upon them by well meaning family.  See my full review here.

Why Church Matters, Discovering Your Place in the Family of God by Joshua Harris.  This is another book reccomended by our pastor.  It is a fairly short read, easy to take in, but worth taking some time to process and discern one’s response to the wisdom and encouragement shared.

Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski ~ our family read aloud this month.  Strawberry Girl is our favorite of Lenski’s regional fiction stories.  This is the story of Birdie and her family as they settled in upper Florida, trying farm despite weather, animals and surly mean neighbors.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo –  – capturing a moment from the week.  A moment that I will remember, always.  A moment that brings the reality that all can be gone in a moment into clarity for me this week.

Niki Agusta, Indonesia What joy swells in my heart as I look at this faces, sense the pain and maybe fear in those beautiful eyes, yet I also see the potential.  There is a song that is sometimes on the radio.  Just this week I bought it from iTunes because the lyrics are a prayer I occasionally pray for my daughters, and now plan to write to these children. The Words I Would Say by Sidewalk Prophets From one simple life to another, I will say, Come find peace in the Father, Be strong in the Lord and, Never give up hope , You’re going to do great things, I already know, God’s got His hand on you so, Don’t live life in fear,Forgive and forget, But don’t forget why you’re here, Take your time and pray, Thank God for each day. His love will find a way And today while I am hoping what I share encourages someone else to begin singing hope over a child through sponsorship, I also want to leave you with these words, dear reader friend Be strong in the Lord Never give up hope You’re gonna do great things, I already know, God’s got His hand on you so, Don’t live life in fear Don’t forget why you are here, Take your time and pray, Thank God for each day.