The Bestselling Book of all Time
Often when people, at least Christians, are asked, “What’s your favorite book?” such as on Facebook, etc. there is the obligatory “Well, the Bible of course, and then…” and then the list of real books begins. But really, I think that too often I take for granted that in my own possession I have the Bestselling Book of all time, the most reprinted, the most widely translated, the most preserved from antiquity. And not only that, I have, in my hands, the very words that claim they are breathed by God. How sad that it is sometimes not celebrated, and truly loved and enjoyed for all its worth.
The last few weeks, I’ve really fallen in love with God’s Word all over again. I’ve mentioned before that I read through the Bible each year, just straight through Genesis to Revelation, January to December. There are lots of neat little reading plans that dabble in the Law, Psalms, New Testament all at once, but they just confuse me and I’m pretty much a straight-through kinda girl. One book at a time. So usually, just because I really do love to read my Bible, I usually find myself getting ahead and finishing early. Well not this year. I don’t have any sort of official plan, because I’ve been doing this for ten years and by now I don’t keep track of anything I just read. But I had a hunch that I was slacking so I looked up online to see where I should be if I’m on track and let’s just say I am WAY behind. WAY behind. Hm. There’s no condemnation in this, it doesn’t make me any less valuable of a Christian and certainly doesn’t mean that God loves me any less, but what it tells me is that I’m consuming less of God’s supernaturally transforming words than I have in the past ten years. I’m thankful for this check. I like measurable things like that because it helps keep me on my toes.
So the past few weeks, I’ve been digging in. Perfectly, and I believe divinely orchestrated by God, I’m in the Psalms. Impeccable timing. I’ve been whining, rejoicing, crying, praying, pleading, questioning, praising, despairing, and wondering with David, Asaph, and the other Psalmists. And I’ve been reminded again at why this is the bestselling book of all time–because it speaks directly to our human condition. There is nothing that transforms my life like God’s Word. There is nothing that comforts, nothing that heals, nothing that opens my heart to be purged and cleansed and renewed like God’s Word. It’s like dialing up the telephone to God and letting Him hear my voice, listening to His, and letting the peace that surpasses understanding come and fill my heart. This is why I love God’s Word.
So this might be super cheesy, but just as I gave some Fiction recommendations, I’d like to share some of the Psalm passages that have been ministering to me. Also, if you’d like recommendations on Bible-reading helps, visit Jeff’s blog. He just finished teaching a class on enjoying the Bible for all its worth, and he posted resources for his students. (Click here!) Back to the Psalms…
Psalm 5:11-12 “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You, For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor you will surround him as with a shield.”
Psalm 16:5-6 “O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes I have a good inheritance.”
Psalm 31: 14-15a “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.”
Psalm 43:5 “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God. For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”
Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart–these O God, You will not despise.”
Consider re-reading the book you already own, the Bestselling Book of all time.
Short-Legged Heroine
Really nothing deep and significant here. Really. Since we’re unofficially on the topic of books this week, and fiction books so far, I’m wondering why there cannot be a short-legged heroine. I am not short, in fact I’m tall for a woman, but I have a very long torso and therefore, relative to my torso, shorter legs. I’m ok with it. I’ve come to grips with the fact that I will never be described as “leggy”. However, I’m a bit disappointed in the fact that in all the fiction books I’ve read (and of course, all the movies I’ve seen) I’ve yet to see a short-legged heroine. I’ve seen skinny, full, blonde, brunette. clever, air-headed…but I’ve yet to see one with a long torso and short legs. Even Shrek’s wife Fiona, who won my heart by being plump and green, you must admit has a pretty lengthy set of legs on her, even if they are no doubt chubby. I’ve read five or six Rosamunde Pilcher books recently (whom I adore) and I must say that I’ve begun to notice, with a little irritation, that all the female main characters are described as having long legs, or leggy, or skinny spindly legs. Hm. I suppose this is just the way life is. Short-legged girls don’t stand a chance at being the heroine. It’s too bad because there are some good ones of us out here. Can I get an amen? That’s all for tonight. 🙂
Thoughts from the Bibliophile
I am a bibliophile to my core. Yes, that is, I am a Lover of Books. My husband is a lover of books. And now, amazingly, at 19-months our son is truly a lover of books. Today, and this is not the first time, I went to get him up from his nap, and instead of reaching up his arms to be picked up, he pointed to a book that sat nearby, and made the sign for please. I handed it to him, and he proceeded to spend about 10 minutes, sitting in his crib, rubbing his sleepy eyes, reading a book, making elaborate motions, shouting out gibberish phrases, and clumsily turning the pages with his clammy little hands. He hasn’t fallen far from the tree. While I’ve always loved reading, especially for my spiritual growth, and have devoured CS Lewis, AW Tozer, Andrew Murray, Warren Wiersbe, and John Piper for some time, I have only recently allowed myself to enter the realm of fiction–which is somewhat ironic since I studied fiction writing in college, majored in English Literature, and considered getting a MFA in Fiction Writing. I suppose I equated fiction reading with entertainment, which, like TV, was a waste of time.
BUT, oh how wrong I was! When Dutch was born the very best piece of mothering advice I ever got was from my dear friend Grace, the mother of 4 boys now all under the age of 5 (!), who advised me that good, compelling fiction books would sustain you during otherwise-unbearable middle-of-the-night feedings. So, my mother-in-law (another bibliophile, yes it runs in the family) stocked me up with 20-30 good fiction books, and Jeff gave me a little book light that clips onto the book. I quickly mastered the ability to nurse and turn pages, and I read my way through dozens and dozens of amazing books, all in the middle of the night.
And now I won’t stop. I still love my non-fiction, don’t get me wrong, and usually like to mix it up between novels and some Tozer and Piper to keep me on my toes. But I must say, well-written, tasteful, subtly inspiring fiction is hard to beat. So, I thought I’d give a little list of some of my favorites. I have a really long list on Facebook, but this will do. This is all in preparation for our LiveDifferent Challenge this week…stay tuned. Here are just a few fiction recommendations in case you feel like exploring…
Best Series:
1. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (Alexander McCall Smith): 8 in all. You’ll fall in love with Mma Ramotswe and her devoted husband Mr. J.L.B Matakoni.
2. The Rumpole series (John Mortimer): I sadly finished all of these during Dutch’s early months. I wish they went on forever! Rumple is an overweight aging junior British barrister with a wife he calls She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. Must read!
3. The Hawk and the Dove Trilogy: Convicting to the core. Read on your knees.
4. Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, and Whence Came a Prince (Liz Curtis Higgs). Great trilogy set in Scotland, a retold version of the Jacob, Rachel, and Leiah story. Keep kleenex handy.
Best Author: (Meaning anything she writes is worth reading)
1. Rosamunde Pilcher (must drink tea while reading her. The Shell Seekers is her most famous novel)
Other Goodies:
1. Year of Wonders: Incredible story of the plague in 1666. Convicting, inspiring. Has a weird ending, but forget that part.
2. Ella Minnow Pea. Ingenious! Must read!!
So there are a few fun ideas to get you started if you’re at all interested in dabbling in the fiction realm. Some are light, some are heavy…I think we need a little of both in life. Happy reading!
Lie of Entitlement vs. the Truth of the Loving Father
I will never cease to be amazed at how God speaks to us. When I hear of Christians who don’t really like to go to church, or who don’t make regular church attendance part of their life, I feel sad because even though every church is imperfect, there is something supernatural that happens when God’s word is preached. No need this time to even comment on my recent state of mind–you all know: “woe is me.” That pretty much sums it up. So what is today’s message in church? Numbers 11, the children of Israel grumbling against God. The thrust of the message was how we are poisoned in America by the lie of entitlement. TV commercials are full of it–you deserve this car, this job, this promotion. It’s America–it’s your right to be happy and wealthy. What’s that ridiculous commercial? “I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now.” That’s the theme song of our nation. So as we studied the nation of Israel, and their complaints against God, it was like sitting in my lawn chair (church was outside) with great big mirror sitting on my lap, because all I saw…was me.
God had delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, provided supernatural frosted flakes in the desert, and now they complained because manna wasn’t enough, they wanted meat. Now, I have to add here but let’s be honest, we’d be complaining too. We often wag our finger at the Israelites as if it were unthinkable that they be complaining, but let’s put ourselves in their shoes. Yes, God had done amazing things, but it was also a pretty bleak existance. Stuck in the wilderness for who knows how long, eating the exact same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week. No end. Imagine only having rice in your house, ever. Hmmm…rice served in a breakfast bowl, then later rice served in a lunch plate, then later rice laid out on a big platter as if it were a salmon or a roast. I’d get sick of it too, ok. But my pastor made a good point, the problem wasn’t that they longed for meat, the problem was that instead of just humbly asking God for something, they complained to each other and to Moses instead. His point was that we err and sin when we fail to turn to God, making our humble requests known to Him, and we instead just complain about things to each other. Can I get an “Ouch” anyone? Yeah, ouch. I’m convicted.
So now I’m sitting here, in tears, again, but this time not because I’m feeling sorry for myself. I’m just realizing how I’ve erred, and I’m asking God to forgive me. I have grumbled, I have complained, I have complained to you, I’ve sulked and whined and taken it out on those I love. I’ve bought the lie of entitlement, rather than simply believing in the goodness and absolute generosity of my loving, gracious, Heavenly Father, who loves to give good gifts. My pastor today ventured to guess that if the children of Israel had simply said, “God, thank You for your deliverance, for all you have done, for this manna you’ve provided. We don’t demand, but we humbly ask that if you see fit, would you provide us with some meat, just a little, to satisfy us here in the desert?” that God would perhaps have simply granted their request, as a loving Father does. So I sit here in godly sorrow, which is good, I don’t despise it, because it leads to repentance, and as best as I can, I resolve to just ask my Heavenly Father for the things I have need of, without complaining to others or demanding my way. I’m so thankful for His loving rebuke, so gentle, so tender, yet so clear. And I simply lift up my requests to my loving Father, who loves me more than I will ever know. And I’ll wait on Him, because I know He has only good things in store for my life. That’s the truth of the Loving Father.