Category Archives: Eclectic Mix

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The Joy of Reading New-to-Me Books

A Few More Thoughts

I’ve read a few books lately. I can’t believe how good they’ve been. They’re fantastic! A friend across the states sent me five (FIVE !!!) books for my birthday. Every one of them was a read I couldn’t put down. This got in the way of housework, tax prep, daily writing, and other mundane tasks. But I managed.

And there are the books at my folks’ place. My mother liked reading. She collected books from Christian-based organizations. Dad likes books, too. Books, books, and more books. As I sorted them I stacked them according to author and subject matter. From these stacks I’ve selected a smattering of books to read in the evenings. The books are like treasure to me.

It’s the old writings I enjoy the most like Catherine Marshall with “To Live Again, “Julie,” “A Man Called Peter”; Ethyl Barrett with “Will the Real Phony Stand Up,” and “In His Steps,” by Charles M. Sheldon, plus a variety of old books including John and Elizabeth Sherrill with “They Speak with Other Tongues” and a few biographical writings and memoirs and various other Christian writings.

I relate to Catherine Marshall for her writing journey and admire her transparency as she expresses spiritual understandings and shares her unusual personal path. Her books encourage me. Besides being new to me, the old writings are untouched by the political correct (PC) filter, which I find refreshing. Their written expressions are candid and honest without the fear of negative labels that authors and public persons fear in today’s society.

The books my friend gave me will be the topic for my next blog post. They are every bit as good. Two are written by former lesbians converted to faith by the grace of God (like all of us). Their stories are fascinating, educational, and hopeful. Another is about the conversion story of a famous author.

In a way, I think I’m on a retreat of the mind. The joy it gives is simply divine. I love being challenged as I read. The stimulus of thought-provoking text and unpretentious writing is of great value in making me consider my own spiritual beliefs and other concerns in the faith community. A good book gives food for thought, whether you are in agreement or not.

More next week.

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Birth is Just the Beginning

A Baby!

It’s the Outcome that Matters

I was twenty-seven when my first child was born. His birth was a grand moment for me. I marveled at his perfectness while I propped him up on my knees there in the hospital. A friend stopped by after her shift as a surgical nurse in the same hospital. She admired my newborn’s color and sweetness. I was new to this mothering thing and didn’t know much about babies. This I did know, this one was a keeper. Learning to nurse, diaper, and swaddle a newborn was all new, and I was fairly awkward with it. But that didn’t matter.

I was in love.

When I felt the first twinges of life in me, they were feather light flutterings,  like butterfly wings. I was amazed. It didn’t seem quite real, but the morning sickness did.

I was teaching first grade at the time, and certain colors on the bulletin board caused me to feel nauseous when I looked at them. I averted my eyes. Those colors still make me feel queasy. The mind remembers!  And the pregnancy and birth? No sonograms, no knowing the gender, no painkillers or spinal tap (my choice), no IVs, just the old fashioned way, though in a hospital.

Giving birth to precious life is a gift. Father God is the grand Giver of life. My son was a gift from heaven. He still is a gift. He helps me when he’s around and looks for ways to be of assistance. He chainsaws, cleans the gutters, gets the lawnmower running, and makes me laugh. The man is a tease! He’s a good son, and I’m grateful. He is mature and responsible and for that I am pleased.

Born Again!

A Spiritual Analogy Could be Made

God begins to draw an unregenerate soul to Himself.

Like the fluttering movement in the womb, the person is becoming aware that something is under foot. Maybe its a constant niggle of curiosity about the meaning of life or whether religion might be true.

The feeling grows in intensity until the idea of there being a God comes into focus. This possibility may prompt a search. Various religions offer a place to graze until the reality of Christ’s life and message is understood. Finally, as the intensity increases, they can’t resist the urge.

Now it is time for the birth process.

After a time of struggle and then surrender, their soul is birthed into spiritual life. As a result, they are born again. What takes place is remarkable. Their soul is birthed out of spiritual death into spiritual life. The minute they trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they become a child of God. They are beautiful. They are a new creature in Christ. Even their countenance looks refreshed.

Yes, it is just the starting point of a new life.

Spiritual life takes work, trust, faith, patience, learning, and knowledge. God-shaped growth takes the development of spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study. But it is worth it. A baby doesn’t learn to walk until they’re ready.

A Christian doesn’t progress fully until they are firmly established and secure in their faith. This is a process. Some have more to overcome than others. Others are full speed ahead. The point is, they’re on the way to growing up and are learning to function as Christ-followers.

You can handle almost anything once you get your roots established and you’re secure in Christ. Impossible circumstances may stall you for a time, but they won’t defeat you. Christ in you is your hope and your strength, and He is a very present help in times of travail and evil.

How about you? When were you birthed into spiritual life?

God be praised.

To God be the Glory