I’ve been attending BSF this year (Bible Study Fellowship) and studying the Life of Moses. Each week we’re given some notes and questions to go over, studying sections of the Bible on our own. Then once a week we meet with a discussion group and discuss the questions we did, then sit through a lecture on the passages we studied. This past week in the lecture, the speaker talked about how possessions can often possess us, owning us rather than us owning them. In reality God owns everything and all that we have is a gift from Him for our stewardship.
This struck me in regards to all the books I own. Often I get obsessed with what I’m currently reading, how soon I can finish a book so I can pick up the next one, or what I’m going to read next. I have so many books that I want to read and I want to read them all NOW! 🙂 It becomes a distraction and causes me to stress over how quickly I can read and get through books so I can move on to the next ones. What about just the sheer joy of reading? I read to learn; why can’t I just relax and learn from what I’m currently reading without thinking about what I’ll read next? Books start to possess me rather than me possessing them.
In reality God owns it all anyway. And learning doesn’t do me any good if I’m not putting into action what I’m learning. People are more important than books. And if I’m spending my time and energy focusing on books and what I plan to read instead of the people that are in my life, then I’m not pleasing God. So rather than obsessing over how many books I can get through in a year, I need to focus instead on the people God has put in my life and how I can best encourage them and help them to learn and grow also.
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Summer Bingo Challenge by Becky
What a fun challenge idea! Original post by Becky here.
book with a question in the title
Has God Spoken? by Hank Hanegraaf |
book by a favorite author
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book about a specific book of the Bible
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book about a specific doctrine
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book with a number in the title
Missions in the Third Millenium by Stan Guthrie
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reread of your choice!
Knowing God by J.I. Packer |
book that intimidates you
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book about prayer or book about the Lord’s Prayer
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book with the word “God” in the title
From God to Us by Norman Geisler and William Nix |
book under 100 pages
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book you buy new or used specifically for this challenge!
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book about the Bible (reading, studying, praying)
Bible Study: Following the Ways of the Word by Kathleen Nielson |
book with the word “Jesus” in the title
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Theology book of your choice
The Theology of the Westminster Standards by J.V. Fesko |
Devotional book (28 days+)
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book about preaching OR worship OR church life
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book about the Holy Spirit
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book you’ve owned for 3+ years
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book about evangelism or discipleship
Make Mature Multiply: Becoming Fully-Formed Disciples of Jesus by Brandon Smith |
Collection of essays or sermons
Between Worlds by Marilyn Gardner |
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BINGO!!
Be Ready
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
-ESV, 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Nine Years
Nine years ago today, Jono and I brought home Mocha and Storm, 2 six-month-old cats that we adopted from a cat rescue organization.
Trip Down Memory Lane
This past weekend I took a trip out to upstate New York (Maine/Binghamton, Cincinnatus/Cortland areas) for my dad’s mom’s funeral. It was a bit of a trip down memory lane.
Gladys (Delanoy) Totman Randall Obituary – K.L. Sharp Funeral Home
Gladys (Delanoy) Totman Randall Obituary – K.L. Sharp Funeral Home
My grandma (my dad’s mom) passed away this past week at the age of 84. Above is the link to her obituary. I will be traveling to New York next weekend for her funeral. The last time I saw her was actually over 10 years ago, at my cousin’s wedding in Florida.
Photo Book In Memory of Storm
http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf
6 Month Anniversary of Losing Storm
Peanut Butter Pizza
Take peanut butter cookie dough (whether you make from scratch, use a mix or the pre-made dough rolls at the store), spread out in one big cookie on a cookie sheet.
Bake as directed until 2-3 minutes are left. Pull out of oven and sprinkle mini marshmallows on it. Stick back in oven for the remaining 2-3 minutes or until marshmallows are slightly browned. Take out, sprinkle chocolate chips on it. And voila!
I Heard the Bells, 12.16.12
This was performed by some of the youth at our church. Excellent job! The man singing is the youth pastor.
Christmas as an Adult
In 1997, I moved to Michigan and got married several months later. Christmas 1997 was our first Christmas as a married couple.
In 2000, we moved into a bigger apartment. Mom, Dad, and Dawn came out to visit shortly after we moved, celebrating Christmas 2000.
Christmas 2002, Jono’s mom was able to visit and celebrate with us. We woke up Christmas morning to a white wonderland.
For Christmas in 2003, we traveled to my sister’s home and celebrated with her & her husband, my parents and my brother, sister-in-law and niece.