Book Nook

Where do you like to read?  Do you sometimes see pictures of a place and just KNOW that you could read there?  There are several places that do that for me... a chair on the beach.. a little nook in a home... a book stuffy chair!  It's not like it's really all that hard to be inspired to read.  I sometimes dream of the elevator getting stuck between floors for hours so that I can just sit and read my book.  The nightmare end of that of course involves too many people on the elevator, the need to use the bathroom, or not having said book with me at the time.

I found this picture of a perfectly dreamy place to spend the day relaxed and reading.  I'm imaging it next to the ocean with lots of cold seltzer water and fruit at my disposal.  Where do you dream of reading?

My First Book Review - Pearl in the Sand

Until recently I was not a big fan of Christian fiction. I found the genre to be predictable, simple, and not based in reality. Recently this has changed. I have been introduced to many new authors and books by my fellow book lovers Tanya and Leigh Anne and I've truly come to embrace the genre, almost to the exclusion of most other fiction.

For quite some time now I've wanted to review books and I think that "Pearl in the Sand" is the perfect one to start with. The book is the telling of the story of Rahab. We know the basics... she helped the spies hide, the Lord spared her life and blessed her with the distinction of being in his lineage. Within the telling of the lineage it mentions that she was married to one of the leaders of Israel. That is all that the Bible tells us, so this is truly a fictional account of what their lives may have been.

While at times I found I had to make a concerted effort to distinguish between Biblical reality and fictional prose, this book truly brought this story of the Old Testament alive! It makes the wanderings in the wilderness real as it walks you through what their daily life may have been. As I now read through the Old Testament I notice small details about the law because I can now think what that might look like.

This book is a story of redemption. We know that Rahab was a harlot and she ended up married to a leader of Israel. The Lord forgives and redeems for his purpose and for his glory. I love the picture of purity that her marriage brought to her life. Without giving too much of the story away, there was a line that brought tears to my eyes. "She learned purity in her husband's bed". What a beautiful thought when we are surrounded by sexual impurity, to be reminded that God created sex and it is a beautiful, pure thing when it is from Him.

I LOVED this book! Let me know if you have read it and what you think.

Change in Perspective

I've been taking a class entitled "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" and it has completely given me a new perspective (as promised) ! I'm not sure I'll be able to read the Bible the same, share the Gospel the same, or view the world the same. As referenced in my last post, ordinary life as I knew it is long gone.

So this brings me to the purpose of this post. One of the sections of the course is the Historical Perspective of Missions. This section discusses the different mechanisms that the Lord has used to spread His Word. Briefly they are "Voluntary Going", "Involuntary Going", "Voluntary Coming", and "Involuntary Coming".

Before I continue I have to flash back to a conversation I had many years ago. I've had MANY conversations over the years about immigration but this one has always stuck with me. My friend asked me about a certain situation he was faced with... the janitor at his church was an illegal immigrant. He asked me how I would handle the situation. My answer came very quickly... "circumstances don't dictate truth". The specific details of this person's story did nothing to sway my position; he was here in this country illegally and something needed to be done about it.

As I read about "Involuntary Coming" and this mechanism that the Lord used to bring people to a land they might not otherwise come to, due to the circumstances they left behind, I started to rethink my position. I still believe that truth is not dictated by circumstances or emotions, and I still believe (quite strongly) that the government needs to fix our immigration policy. What changed is my perspective. What is my responsibility in all of this? What opportunities are we missing in all of this if we focus on the political side of the issue. Think about it? MILLIONS of foreigners are in this country and while the details of each of their stories may be different, the reality remains the same - they are here! Many of these foreigners come from countries that missionaries aren't able to go to... and the Lord brought them to our doorstep!

What a difference we could make for the Kingdom if we reached out to them. They may be able to return to their own countries with a citizenship in heaven that they are ready to share with others. Many of these 'visitors' are never invited in to American homes. How can we share the love of Christ with them if we don't meet them.

Here's what I'm doing about it... I'm learning how to teach them English. Actually, I've been learning and start tutoring a lady from Brazil this week. She's been in this country for many years, but is wanting to get her GED and needs some help preparing for the essay portion. Pray for me as I spend time with Elizabeth. Pray that she will be able to see the love of Christ in my life as I share Him with her. I look forward to meeting many others like in Elizabeth in this coming year as I reach out to those the Lord has brought here for us to minister to. I'm grateful to my church for thinking of this ministry and being on the front lines of changing the conversation on immigration among believers.

Until the World Hears!

Ruined for the Ordinary

This book changed my life. I hope that doesn't sound cliché because I don't want to take away from what I'm trying to say. For quite some time I've been frustrated with the ordinary life. I knew there had to be more to things than just figuring out what job or man would make me happy. This book started me on the process of finding that "more".

My purpose is to bring Glory to God and in that worship share the gospel of Christ with the Nations. Never have I been more excited about anything. Never will I be able to go back to ordinary life.

Today I start the challenge that springs from this book. For those of you who know me, my normal approach to things is to go full-speed ahead with a plan without thought to anything else, or without any patience for the process. In doing this I'm trying to change that. I'm going to take the next year to prepare for what God has for me. I believe that to be full-time ministry, but I still don't know what that looks like fleshed-out so I wait. While I wait, I pray and prepare... and that's where this challenge comes in.

The Challenge consists of 5 steps:

1. Pray for the entire world - Matthew 9 "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field". Before he told them to do anything else, Jesus told his disciples to pray, and not just to pray for the needs, but to pray for those who should and will go.

2. Read through the entire Word - Christians around the world either don't have the Bible in their language or sometimes risk their lives to be able to have a Bible. I have a Bible degree, and I must confess to have never read through the whole Bible. That changes this year.

3. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose -- the word sacrifice means that this might hurt at times, but our hearts follow our money.

4. Spend your time in another context - If we are to accomplish the global purpose of God, it will not be by primarily giving our money (although this is important if you look to point #3). It will be done through giving of ourselves -- that is what is required by the gospel. Taking the gospel to the nations is not an option or a calling -- it is a command!

5. Commit your life to a multiplying community - this is where the other 4 points converge. We don't do this alone, we stand with other believers who are committed to a Radical faith and to multiplying the gospel by making disciples.

So this is what the next year of my life looks like. I'm scared -- as excited as I am, I know it won't be easy, but JESUS IS WORTH IT! I covet your prayers through this year as I know that the devil will seek to change my plans but greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.

Another awesome tree...

After reading my last post, an avid hiker in California (and dear friend) send me this picture of a fabulous tree that I wanted to share with you all!!

I wish I could curl up in one of the roots with a cup of tea and a good book!

You can hear the trees whispering . . .

Have you ever looked at a tree and sensed its personality? If that makes me sound weird to you, then perhaps you won't be interested in the rest of this post. BUT, if you know exactly what I mean -- then I'd like you to meet my new friend (he hasn't shared his name with me yet). One look at this gorgeous tree and I knew he would talk to me.

One of my dearest friends from childhood recently came to visit me and we made our way to Wave Hill. I confess that I had almost forgotten about this peaceful getaway and had not been since Keri came to NY for my high school graduation (let's just say it was more than a couple of years ago).

In the middle of the chaos of NYC is this beautifully peaceful, serene oasis in which, if you listen closely enough, you really can hear the trees whisper.





This day inspired me to look for other ways to find quiet in the midst of the noise that surrounds my life. I drive in to work every day -- in to Times Square. I work at MTV, where there are TV's playing music anywhere you go. There's very little quiet to be found in my every day life ... to that end I have decided to start working my way through "NY's 50 best places to find peace and quiet". Some of them will have to wait until the summer time as it requires being outside, such as free kayaking on the Hudson, but others can be experienced at any time of year. As I experience each one I shall let you know.

How's your Prayer Life?

If you're like me you have spent a good deal of time talking about having a strong prayer life. Perhaps you've even read about having the kind of prayer life that moves mountains.

Lately I've been moved to not only talk and read, but to start putting in to practice. That being said I'm recommending this book as a great encouragement. One of the things I like about it is that it has brought me the Scriptures - it doesn't just use pithy ideas about prayer.

It is the fervent desire of my heart to be a prayer warrior, to come before the Throne of Grace on behalf of those that are doing His great work! I want to make a difference, I want to have purpose -- I want to be different! The Word of God changes lives, the prayers of the righteous avail much!

Lord may I be a woman of your Word, on my knees before you!!!