Join us for Colossians: Fully Pleasing God {Free Online Bible Study}
Of all our aims and goals and New Year’s resolutions, our ultimate purpose encompasses them all: Pleasing God.
Paul exhorts his readers in Ephesians 5: Find out what pleases the Lord. As beloved children of God, this is our loftiest life calling. The whole book of Colossians flows out of Paul’s prayerful heart for these faithful believers:
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Col. 1:9-10
And now … I’m so excited for this! Although I hope and pray that you have access to some fabulous in-person Bible study resources through your local church, if you do not I am thrilled to invite you to journey with us through Colossians, via an online Bible study.
The study runs from January 22nd-March 12th (8 weeks) and includes audio teaching (roughly 35 minutes) and Walk it Out assignments that include things to think about, things to read, and things to do. Each Wednesday, the audio teaching and Walk it Out will be posted on the Sacred Mundane Facebook page. You can listen, download the assignment, and work through the study each week. We can also interact, discuss, share prayer requests and thoughts about the study there on the Facebook page. You would also gather a few friends and do the study together, if you wish.
As we journey through this letter, we will set our hearts on this one goal: Fully pleasing God. We’d be so honored if you’d join us. No need to pay or submit a sign-up, as long as you have “liked” the Sacred Mundane page, you’ll have access to the materials each week.
Ready? So excited for this opportunity to dig into God’s Word together, no matter where you are or what your schedule or what challenges you have getting out of the house. 😉 More than anything else, God’s Word changes us. It never returns void, but always accomplishes God’s work in our lives.
May you commit this year to learning it and loving it.
{Thanks so much for reading.}
{Join us in person? If you do live in the Portland area we welcome you to join us in person, Tuesdays Jan 21st-March 11th. More information here.}
I am the decisive element
My house–and life–is officially full. Dear Julie moved in two weeks ago, (clean and sober 6 months!) making The 1601 home to three last names and six sacred souls ranging from 4 to 60 years old.
I can barely close the cupboards. Food prep in the kitchen sometimes require a dance of sorts. There is much laughter in the air and mud on the floor. There is never a shortage of words.
Each soul in our home is truly a gift to me. Many days I am literally teary-eyed with joy, reflecting upon the honor of housing such exuberance and spiritual vitality. Such love and peace and growth and joy teeming within our walls. But some days, oh some days … let’s just say the house is teeming with a different sort of energy altogether. Or at least it is in the hidden place of my heart.
And so, in the midst of homeschooling and church-planting and house-sharing and speaking and writing and loving and leading I am finding one truth to be of utmost importance right now. It is this:
I am the decisive element.
“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.
If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
May you receive your sacred mission of making the mood of your house one of life, grace, joy, peace. May you pray daily for the shalom of your home. May you draw from the deep of God’s living water, for the strength to respond to chaos and criticism with unflappable calm. May you quench anger with forgiveness, melt moody iciness with the warmth of your love. May God give you the power of His Spirit to be His instrument of inspiration in your home today.
{Have a blessed week; Thanks for reading.}
The 2014 Nightstand
And the winner is … Catie of First Faint Gleam. Catie wins a free book from my 2013 list. Everyone give it up for Catie! Woohoo!
To all of you–thank you! You delivered a fabulous virtual stack of book recommendations for me, may of which are now on my library holds list, Amazon wish list, and real-life nightstand. I had so much fun looking through all your choices, but it was difficult to narrow down! For now, here are the list of books I aim to read, although the chances are pretty good some will be tossed and others added as the year progresses. For now, here it is–my holds-list, wish-list, and nightstand stack!
Spiritual Life (knowing, loving, and following Jesus)
1. Jesus, the One and Only by Beth Moore
2. The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis
3. A Quest for More: Living for something bigger than you by Paul David Tripp
4. All In: You are one decision away from a totally different life by Mark Batterson
*Also in this category would be the BIBLE 😉 and many blessed commentaries I often visit.
Parenting
1. Grace-Based Parenting by Ted Kimmel (started but never finished this)
2. Bringing Up Girls: Practical advice and encouragement for those shaping the next generation of women by James Dobson (Had this on my nightstand for years–ugh. Must read!)
3. Loving Our Kids On Purpose: Making a heart-to-heart connection by Danny Silk
Marriage
1. Intimacy Ignited: Conversations couple to couple by Linda Dillow
2. Love and War: Find your way to something beautiful in your marriage by John & Stasi Eldredge
Current Issues/Topical
1. Orphan Justice: How to care for orphans beyond adopting by Johnny Carr
2. Platform: Get noticed in a noisy world by Michael Hyatt
3. Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking by Susan Cain
4. The Keys to Healing: A handbook for miracles by Etty Blaney
Memoir/Biography
1. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (read ages ago, need to re-read)
3. Surprised by Oxford: A memoir by Carolyn Weber
2. Rena’s Promise: A story of sisters in Auschwitz by Gelissen, Rena Kornreich and Heather Dune Macadam
4. No Compromise: The life story of Keith Green by Melody Green
5. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Pretty intimidated by the 624 pages of this bad boy, but I’ll give it a whirl!)
{Off to the library! Thanks for reading.}
2013's 15 Best Reads {No twaddle allowed}
It seems that every year my to-do list gets longer and my reading list gets shorter. *sigh* But I will not give up! Reading is my daily food for my soul. It’s my sustenance. I can feel the difference in my life when I have not had or taken time to read good books. I get irritable. I get writer’s block. I get dry spiritually. I need a steady diet of quality content or I shrivel up inside! And I firmly believe that readers are leaders. If we really want to change from the inside out–read good books. No twaddle allowed! These 15 fabulous books were my 2013 Best Reads:
1. The Well-Trained Mind: A guide to classical education at home. This book was one of the highlights of the year, no joke. Inspiring, thought-provoking, helpful, practical. Not saying it must be followed to the letter, but I’d recommend as a must-read for any parent, not just homeschoolers.
2. Touching Godliness (Only $2.99 on kindle). Not even going to talk about this one. Because you won’t want to read it. But you need to. 😉 You may have read about it here.
3. I Told Me So. Man oh man oh man I enjoyed this book! Written by a professor of philosophy, it revels the myriad ways that we deceive ourselves often, daily, continually, sometimes even knowingly. Far from being a depressing downer, this book is inspiring and encouraging. He gives fascinating insights into human nature. In fact, it’s kind of creepy because you start detecting self-deception everywhere. Beware! It’s like tearing blinders off your eyes. Definitely worth reading. Enjoy!
4. Educating the Whole-Hearted Child. Another phenomenal read on educating our children. I actually keep this one on my nightstand and take it with me whenever I go on overnights anyway, because re-reading any of it gives me the instant encouragement, inspiration, or direction I need for homeschooling. It’s just a gift in every way. Love the clear, loving voice and wise counsel of the Clarksons.
5.Intimate Issues. Aye Yai Yai! This is another one you don’t want to read but need to. 😉 Really, really, really, really honest look at, well, intimate issues. I need to read it again but that’s TMI … moving on now!
6. Pursuing Justice. This is a clear, well-written, thought-provoking overview of biblical justice issues. I enjoy Wytsma’s voice and writing style. If you’ve never read any books on topics of biblical social justice, start here!
7. The Prodigal God. Well I love Tim Keller and that’s all there is to it. He writes with such clarity, succinctness, candor, and piercing conviction. This quick read is an overview of the scandalous gospel truth–that God went to extravagant lengths to rescue us, his lost and prideful children. His words swoop you straight in to the heart of God. Must read.
8. One Big Thing. This is a quick (really quick) read ($2.99 on kindle) written by a business man who helps companies focus their energies on what’s most important. He gives some great insights from his years of business experience, and gives thoughtful self-reflection questions to help you determine your life calling. This might be a great quick read to help you narrow your focus for 2014.
9. A Severe Mercy. Oh my. This is a ignore-your-family-for-hours-on-end-and-cry-yourself-into-a-massive-headache book. I love it. Adore it. It kindled love in my heart for Jeff like nothing else has. But I don’t think I can ever read it again because I cried so hard I couldn’t think straight. Read it. But not today. Get it and set it aside for a vacation or some time when you can crawl inside and get lost. And bring kleenex with you. Or a towel.
10. Boys Should Be Boys. If you have a son, get this book! Love it. Partly because I already agree with everything she says. (That’s always fun.) But also because she has decades of experience working with boys, and has solid evidence for her claims. She write with clarity, confidence, and hope. I’ll probably read this book again this year, it was such life-giving experience and inspiration for me raising Dutch.
11. Running For My Life. Ahhh! Another vacation book! Take this one on an airplane (although you will likely laugh and cry out loud so be forewarned). This follows the life of Lopez Lomong, Olympic runner who came from the killing fields of Sudan, a child-soldier kidnapped from his parents when he was 6. His story is NUTS. Absolutely nuts. I just kept laughing and crying, laughing and crying. Again, not one to read a chapter at a time, go away somewhere and devour it. (kindle version is only $2.99!)
12. Respect Dare. Ummmmm… Ok I admit I haven’t finished this yet! I’m such a lousy wife! I started it and then … well, then I stopped. My resolution is to finish it. The book is good, but it requires us doing something every day. Um… that’s difficult! Enough whining. I’ll finish it.
13. Bold Love. I haven’t finished this one yet either, but only because it’s a great slow read, a few pages at a time, then letting things sink in. I greatly enjoy Dan Allender’s writing, his humility and kingdom-mindset on life and relationships. He writes with decades of experience in professional counseling, and his insights into human relationships are spot on. Terribly convicting and encouraging all at once. Definitely recommend it if there’s anyone in your life you have a hard time loving. (That would be all of us.)
14. The Plan. I already wrote about this here, but this hands-down my favorite book on nutrition and health. Phenomenal. Worth buying and keeping on hand as a reference. Our copy sits on the kitchen counter.
15. Rees Howells, Intercessor. I re-read this because it’s just so good I might read it every year. It’s not a theological dissertation, it’s just a story. You may not agree with all of it, but you can’t deny the mind-blowing power of God at work in this man’s life. It brings me to my knees, literally. This is another book to read slowly because it’s so convicting sometimes you just have to put it down and pray.
My 2014 book list is still taking shape. Will you help me? Many of my favorite reads have come from your recommendations, so:
Would you please help by sharing one or more of your all time favorite reads below? We’ll randomly pick one commenter to win one FREE book off the list above. Thanks so much for sharing, and for reading.