30: Old Testament

What a journey...one I only completed part way, for my intention was to read, as part of Joanna Weaver's Chronological Bible Read Challenge, the entire Bible.  Then life happened in the form of additional Bible studies and the teaching of 2-3 classes per week at church.  Thus, I completed only the Old Testament:  just what I needed to read this year.

Over the months, this read revealed the stories, the characters, the passage of time from year to year.  In May, I purchased a chronological Bible that coincided with this plan and enjoyed the flow of the plots even more.

I learned so much, so very much.  This journey I encourage.  Very much.

Happy reading!

27-29: Christmas Reads

This season I read three of the four Christmas fiction reads that I had hoped to read.  I did enjoy all of them, though.

1. Christmas in Cedar Grove by Debbie Macomber:  This one I read for book club.  This group of ladies always choose a book about Christmas.  This one actually had two novels included, both of which I enjoyed.
2. The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans:  The second in a series of three (not a trilogy...as all can be read independently), this one told the story of a female romance writer (hint:  here it would be helpful if you had read book one!).  While at a writer's conference, she meets who will become of the love of her life.  I have always enjoyed everything I have read by Evans (his The Walk series remains my favorite!).
3. Home for Christmas, a collection of novellas by four authors, one of whom is Colleen Coble: these four short stories interwove the stories of for four siblings separated when young upon the death of their mother.  A grand collection of stories of hope, these entertained me during the evenings just before Christmas.

As much as I love books, I still remain amazed this Christmas that I never receive books for Christmas.  Is Santa not getting the message?!  Never fear!  I ordered three today!  :)

Happy reading!

26: Not I, But Christ

This book Not I, But Christ was the basis for a book study with my Sunday evening Discipleship Training class.  What should have been a four-week study turned into about a three-month study, as we paused and discussed and reflected and studied and dove into the topics within this book.

Part of Lifeway's Masterwork series, this one caused us to pause and focus on the centeredness of our faith:  Christ, further learning more about His Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification, a new word study for me, one I needed!

Written by Stephen Olson, this read was more difficult for me, due in part, I think, to the writer's style, as I would read...and stop...and re-read, always attempting to further understand what he was conveying.  Maybe it was the topic?

I no longer own this book.  One evening, three teachers from China visited with us. After their expressing much interest in the topic and then overhearing our pastor's wife say she wished we had a copy of the book for them, I passed my copy along.  This is a step in the right direction for me, for I am a book hoarder.  No doubt.  Very serious.  I love books.  Probably too much.  Fortunately for me...my husband says one cannot have too many books.  Bless him!

Happy reading!