chickensense

This year I’ve re-discovered how relaxing and enjoyable a really good, fiction book can be. I don’t know why it feels like a new discovery to me because I’ve always been a voracious reader. I guess because I’ve mostly read non-fiction books about my hobbies and interests for the last few years.

In any case, I’ve come across some really good Christian fiction books lately. I get very inspired by books that describe country life, primitive or rustic living, farm life, etc. When I was younger it was the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and romances like They Loved To Laugh, by Kathryn Worth, that got my pioneer-wanna-be heart thumping, but finding adult equivalents has been tricky.

Below are a few wonderful Christian book finds I’ve made. Some are recent discoveries, some are old-time favorites; some are country-life inspiring, and some are absolutely wonderful romances. I hope you will enjoy them too.

ROMANCES

The Widow of Larkspur Inn, by Laura Blackwell (A new favorite of mine, this is a superb, modern, historical romance. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.)

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (A classic romance. Also, the mini-series on DVD staring Colin Firth is very faithful to the book and absolutely wonderful.)

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte (Another classic romance. My favorite book of all time.)

The Solitary Envoy, by T.Davis and Isabella Bunn (An excellent, modern, historical romance. There are more books in the series that I haven’t read yet.)

The Hawk and The Jewel, by Lori Wick (The others in this series of modern, historical romances are just as good as this one.)

The Negotiator, by Dee Henderson (This is not an historical romance, but it is a fantastically good, modern romance. I have read all the others in this series and they are wonderful, WONDERFUL books.)

PIONEER/COUNTRY/OLD-FASHIONED LIFE

Loves Comes Softly, by Janette Oke (There are more books in this series. This is one that definitely inspires my pioneer dreams.)

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott (There are more in this classic series and they are all delightful.)

Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers (This book is incredible for its inspiration of pioneer dreams, Christian life, and romance too. It was rated at 5 stars by an incredible 598 people on www.Amazon.com.)

Morning Glory, by Laverle Spencer (This is definitely NOT Christian, however the characters are married at least. It was my favorite from before I was a Christian and I still love it because of the descriptions of old-fashioned, country living, but I get uncomfortable at the intimate scenes–fortunately there are only a couple.)

What Katy Did, by Susan Coolidge (Very inspirational message about Christian living. I love the old-fashioned style of this classic.)

(Looking for inexpensive sources for books? Go to www.paperbackswap.com. It is free to join and you can buy credits for books for around $3.50 each, INCLUDING shipping. Can’t beat that with a stick! You can also trade your books, to get credits. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of books available at this site, hardcover and paperback, for under $3.50 including shipping. I’ve been a member several months (CayceQuilter) and I absolutely love it.)

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Please read the story first and click on the link at the bottom and enjoy!

The lady in her 30s was a dancer and was trained as one since she was a little girl. Later she got into some kind of accident and lost her entire left arm. She was depressed for a few years. Then someone asked her to coach a Children’s dancing group and she realized she could not forget dancing. So she started to do some of her old dance routines. But by her losing an arm, she also lost her balance. It took a while before she could even making simple turns and spins without falling. Eventually she got it.

Then she heard some guy in his 20s had lost a leg in an accident. This guy also fell into the usual denial, depression and anger type of emotional roller coaster. She looked him up (seemingly he was from a different Province) and persuaded him to dance with her. He had never danced. And to dance with one leg? Are you joking with me? No way he says.. But she didn’t give up. He reluctantly agreed. ” I have nothing else to do anyway.” She started to teach him dancing 101. The two broke up a few times because when she became frustrated and lost patience with him, he would walk out.

Eventually they came back together and started training. They hired a choreographer to design routines for them. She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm) flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg and she leaning on him, etc. They danced beautifully and they legitimately beat others in the competition. Watch the clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnLVRQCjh8c

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The world exposed!

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Wow! I found a wonderful site called Old Poetry. http://oldpoetry.com/

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The churches in Memphis and surrounding areas have jumped in where the government has been dragging its heels. Although you don’t hear about it in the news, churches ALL AROUND are providing meals, hosting families, bringing supplies, showing movies, sending money, food, and supplies to the hotels housing evacuees, and I’m sure all kinds of other things for the evacuees from Katrina. I should never have doubted that love would prevail!

Politicians have said they are embarrassed because of what appears to be poor preparedness and unorganized emergency responses to Katrina. I agree that city, county, and state governments should be very embarrassed, but look at how their failures have allowed God to be glorified! People everywhere are praying, giving, helping, loving, and sacrificing to help our brothers in the midst of this tragedy. The love of Jesus is shining all around!

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

1 I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. 6 Love is not happy with evil but is happy with the truth. 7 Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always remains strong.

8 Love never ends.

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I keep praying about what I’m supposed to be doing with my life. I keep asking what is God’s will for me? Is He disappointed with me, as my parents are, for not living up to my “potential?” Doing what I do, living where I live, this can’t be what it means to glorify Jesus. You have to be a lonely missionary far from home, or a passionate evangelist ridiculed and rejected. Isn’t that what it takes to be “living for God?” Suffering. Isn’t there supposed to be suffering?

But I am content.

I love my job because I’m really helping people. I am appreciated.

I love my little “bit of earth” here in the country. Song birds, beautiful woods, gardens and chickens, even a meadow and a pond. I am at peace.

I love my husband, and my husband loves me. I mean TRULY loves me. I am cherished.

I love my Bible study class, and my quilt group. My friends there care about me. I am welcome.

I have every desire of my heart. I am so thankful. I know I am so incredibly blessed. To be exactly where I want to be, doing exactly what I want to do, surrounded by people who love me. I am happy.

On Sunday, our Pastor said that wherever you are, whatever you do, if you do it as if you were doing it directly for Jesus, then you are doing God’s will. Can it truly be that simple? As if to answer my questions, a friend emailed me this parable:

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican coastal village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

“Not very long,” answered the Mexican.

“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs . . . I have a full life.”

The American interrupted, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.”

And after that?” asked the Mexican.

“With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.”

“How long would that take?” asked the Mexican.

“Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,” replied the American.

“And after that?”

“Afterwards? Well, my friend, that’s when it gets really interesting,” answered the American, laughing. “When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!”

“Millions? Really? And after that?” said the Mexican.

“After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying the company of your friends.”

The moral of this story: Know where you’re going in life… you may already be there.

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