Names of God Bible-- a book review!

I’m so easily distracted. I usually have to avoid Bibles with devotionals, study guides, or even maps on the page, as they detract greatly from my ability to study God’s Word. My eye is drawn to information boxes, interesting graphics, or history lessons, and I end up studying about the Word, instead of reading the actual verses. It’s not to say they aren’t valuable resources, I just can’t make them my primary Bible for everyday reading if I truly want to be “in the Word.”

The Names of God Bible understands my tendencies as a reader, and because they do, I can effectively study and read the Word with greater concentration and reflection on God, His name, and His character without the distraction of sidebars and half-page footnotes. The way that Ann Spangler retains the various Hebrew names of God interwoven into our English translation reveals the multifaceted character of God and a deeper meaning to the adjacent text, illuminating my understanding. She translates and explains each name on their own pages, separate from the biblical text. I truly enjoy the God’s Word Translation for the remainder of the verses. I find it a very clear and easy to read version. I love my new Bible, and it is quickly becoming my regular, go-to, everyday Bible! I highly recommend having this one in your collection!

Bible provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications.

Collecting November

I started a special jar for the beach glass I collect in November. It wasn't originally on purpose, as it just is time to start a new jar on the windowsill. November beach glass, though, reminds me of hope.

November beach glass is especially precious, as it only gets collected when the storms pass. Each little gem I find is a day that the rain stopped long enough for a beach walk. A sliver of time to be savored. A moment to be enjoyed. A jeweled reminder that, yes, even though it may take time, patience, and perseverance, the sun will come out eventually.

Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5b

Some homework...

Keelin called me over to help her with her math homework.

If there's one thing she doesn't like, it is asking for someone to help her with anything. Ever since she was six months old sitting in her highchair at mealtime, she wanted to hold the spoon by herself. She couldn't talk then, but everything in her said, "I can do it MYSELF, Mom!" I knew this was the way things would be with her. It's best not to fight it. Eight years of experience, I know if she asks for help, she has exhausted every other means of doing it her way.

I read her the instructions over with the example they gave in her book, and I could tell she was more frustrated than when I first sat down with her.

She abruptly sent me away. Angry she had to ask me in the first place, she put her head back down and started counting with her pencil. A little while later,

"Is this right, Mommy?"

I sat back down and read what she came up with. It's not. "Um, well, you're on the right...." She knows too well when I am trying to soften the blow. She's not fooled one bit.

"UGGGGGH!" She interrupted.

I began to recall several scenes where I was the frustrated eight year old, or twelve year old or sixteen year old that looked very similar to the one I was witnessing in my child. I really felt for her.

I wanted so much to just say, "Here, I know it's hard, let me just finish this for you." I know that's what I wanted when I was a kid. I know that's what she was trying to get at just then.

I couldn't. I can't. How would she learn? How would the next assignment go if she didn't do this one? Oh, it's so hard to watch the one you love struggle through something that you know in the end will be good for them.

God must think that all the time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

~1 Peter 1:6-7

A future review....

Hoping to have a chance to review this book soon... if you read it first, let me know!

http://tinyurl.com/3dmtgs4

A perfekt post...

I am working on building myself as a freelance writer. In addition, I have a new job contracting web content for a website development company. I think it's pretty fun writing websites. It's pretty neat to see my words serving to build a buzz about someone's business. However, now it's time to write my new website, and I am having the toughest time! I feel so much pressure to have each word just so, so as to best represent myself as a writer. After all, if you're going to read anyone's copy on their website, it's the writer-you're-going-to-hire's website, right?

I started writing a few days ago, and rewrote and reworked it off in google docs. Not precisely happy with the content, tried cutting and pasting the text around and around. Rearranging proved unsuccessful, so I decided to start afresh. It was late at night, and I was feeling such pressure to be perfect. Thought the only way to get over that would be to just start writing, without thinking about it, just write who I am and what I have to offer. I wrote a good couple paragraphs. Satisfied with the copious amount of content I had poured out, I read it over. It was completely incoherent.

*Select all*

*Delete*

Went to sleep. Re-hired myself in the morning.

Perfectionism is a killer. Mostly because it's an impossible dream. Nothing I could write could ever satisfy everyone to the utmost every single time. And not just writing, but it applies to everything. I could really spend forever trying to be perfect, but I'd never reach it. Thankfully, my Savior is perfect. To the utmost. Every time. When He promises something, it's a go. When He acts, it's perfect. When He doesn't, that's perfect, too. But where I fall short, my Jesus, He's got me covered. He is the one who gives me perfect grace to overcome my imperfection. To give me forgiveness for my shortcomings. He is the One who lets me rest in perfect peace when I feel frustrated in incoherence or when I try too hard. When I am weak, He is strong.

He is the One who loves me perfectly, even when I am not.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Momentum

August 11, 2011 (Happy Birthday, Dad!)

When I first started writing this blog, I really liked posting at least twice a week. I felt so much inspiration to post, and the words just flowed. As I took a beach walk or went for a run, the words would flow through my brain, and I couldn't wait to sit down and post them. (Well, mostly just sit down, after a run!) Other days, I'd have to take my shower quickly, so that I wouldn't forget what my thought was to jot down.

Because my blog gave me confidence in my writing, I started focusing on writing my book. When I'd go think, it would be about what to put into my book, and not focusing on the polkadots of what God's been doing in my life. It's not that they didn't exist, I just got out of the habit of running to my computer to blog when inspiration hit. I'd have this mental blog of a dozen posts. After a while, though, I stopped noticing the polkadots.

Also, too, I got a job. I started doing some freelance writing for a friend, doing press releases, which led to working for a website development company as their creative writer, writing website copy and marketing materials and such. We'll see how that works out. Right now, I am not too confident in them, haven't seen any real work yet, but they've promised me a website at the least. So, hopefully, I will be able to build a website and get some freelance writing work. My real love is this blog and the book, which hopefully will be done sooner than later. I am hoping that the writing gig will help give me momentum to keep going and plug some of this writing energy into my book.

I have really recognized how important polkadots are to me. God-focused thoughts are essential to spiritual well-being, and I know I've not been spiritually well lately. Just dwelling in me-thoughts are not beneficial to my family or me. I go from getting discouraged and growly when things aren't the way they "should be" in my estimation to getting a dose of pride, and over-value myself and think things are unjust when they aren't the way they "should be." Anywhere on this spectrum I've been living lately. It's when I get away from doing it all myself, to focus on what God has done and is doing for me, is when real growth and inspiration happens. It's where I am most happy. I haven't been in Bible study all summer, either, so I've been really out of His Word. Not a great place. Life works so much better when Jen revolves around the Son, instead of the universe revolving around me.

All summer, Keelin and I have been continuing to work on building our beach glass collection. If you've been a long-time reader, you know about my beach glass posts. God has been giving me some new thoughts about the little jewels of the shore, so I hope to post them soon. I really believe that God has a plan for me and my writing. Don't exactly know in what form it will take, but I am looking forward to what He has in store. I just know that I have to be responsive to the momentum.

I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23

I Love Lucy

We came back from California with a puppy.

I know. Me. The cat person. But I can't help it. I love my puppy. She's a cute little 4 1/2 month old beagle/chihuahua that we rescued from the animal shelter in LA. I just saw her picture on the internet, and had to go get her.

She's so adorable... she has all these facial expressions and a head tilt whenever she's curious or learning something.

She's learned quite a lot since coming here from California:

Worms are not sticks.

Sometimes in Canada, the grass is cold and crunchy in the morning. Weird.

Cats are not always interested in playing with me.

Here's what I've learned:

A short leash is safer.

It turns out, that if I keep a short leash on Lucy, she stays out of a lot of trouble. She doesn't wander into the paths of cars or the kids' bikes, or eat things off the ground that she shouldn't.

I don't hold the leash taut short, but loosely short, so that she walks beside me. I don't let her lead. She's not in charge. I am. When she gets scared of the trash truck, I can walk in front, and she trusts that I am not leading her into danger. When she's approached by another dog, I can judge whether the situation is safe for her or not.

If I were to keep her off leash all the time, she'd get into loads of trouble. She'd be in the bushes chasing rabbits, in neighbor's trash cans, in backyards, in the street with cars coming. A leash is designed to establish boundaries, while allowing the wearer to still have freedom of being outdoors. I do allow her to explore, follow her nose, but on the leash I can steer her away from harm. I let her off leash at the beach, and we walk in a certain direction, but never, never do I leave her alone!

"If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days." 1 Kings 3:14