But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body
Ecclesiastes 12:12
I love books.
I love to read, I love to write, but I also just love books! I love to have them on shelves, as part of my decor, and in my home. My favorite Disney princess is Belle because she loves books. And I confess a deep-seated envy of the ceiling- to-floor-books room in the Beast's castle. Just getting it out there.
I love books.
And I have a really hard time parting with them. Books are my friends.
Consequently, my house is full of them.
All kinds of books - children's books, homeschool books, Bible study books, fiction books, self-help books, BOOKS!
The last time we moved (which, in terms of book-years, was several truckloads ago), the movers were not only exhausted but also a bit irritated. "Lady,", they said, "Next time you move, you have to tell the moving company that you have this problem with books. We ain't never moved this many books!"
Gulp.
I do love books.
And I just cannot get rid of them. It's not that I intend to hoard them - it's just that they are dear to me and tossing them out would be just short of giving away one of my children. (Wait, I have pondered that before....)
So I have an excess of books. My shelves are sagging and the storage room is full of boxes of books. (In self-defense, I inherited this malady from my father and when my folks moved in with me, his book legacy came, too. That accounts for lots of these books! Additionally, my mother-in-law shares my love of all things books and she has generously fed my addiction for many years. SO LOTS of BOOKS!!)
But the writer of Ecclesiastes is right. This excess devotion is wearying. So after years of resistance, I am cleaning out books.
I was quite affirmed in this endeavor as soon as I began - books from my college days probably are no longer needed! (But, hey, it's like I said - I inherited this from my dad - his shelves have microbiology books from the 1950's!)
I cleaned off the shelves. I opened up the storage boxes. And I let go of a lot of books.
If you saw my bookshelves now, you might not notice the difference. But 7 humongous boxes later, I surely do!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll share what I did with the books. I just could not drop them all off at Goodwill, as wonderful as donating there may be. (Not to mention the hefty charitable contribution that would be, come tax time) I couldn't even donate them all to the library, as noble as that would be.
These books are my friends. Seriously. I am attached to them.
So I shared them.
With my flesh and blood friends.
I sorted them out into categories (lovingly smoothing the covers of each one...) and assigned them to boxes. Then I invited my friends to help themselves. I cannot begin to tell you the joy I felt when these loves connected - my books and my buddies. My tomes and my treasured comrades. Together.
Bliss.
Seriously.
The more books my friends took with them, the happier I was.
Nice neat shelves. Books to bless in new places.
Happy dance.
Now somebody save me from Amazon Prime!!!!
On a personal note...
It honestly feels a bit petty to share this, given the situations of others around the world. Christians being persecuted and martyred for their commitment to Christ. Natural disasters such as floods and tornadoes and earthquakes decimating communities. People losing jobs, homes breaking up, and children being abused. All these things are so real and so serious and so much more important than the thoughts I have to share today.
But it's where I am. And I always want to be real with you. And since this is where God has me, then I need to be faithful and true where I am. Maybe there is some encouragement or blessing for someone in here somewhere!
Here's where I am, at least it's my plan for the next few months.
Cleaning out.
Getting rid of things that I do not need or do not want.
Creating an atmosphere of serenity and productivity. Not just in living areas but also in storage spaces.
I have wanted to do it for a while but now I am committed. I've even already begun but just couldn't decide whether to share it with y'all. Because it seems too trivial.
But it's where I am.
So here I go -
Why clean out/declutter? That's where I begin.
Here are my reasons:
1. Clutter bothers me.
2. Having a cluttered home is not blessing my family.
3. It's a stewardship issue. Of time and possessions.
Living in cluttered, disorganized spaces is not just annoying. It's not just a time waster and an eyesore. Studies show that it is a major stress contributor, even being linked to depression.
Ain't nobody got time for that!
Soooooooooo, the process has begun.
I am sharing my journey with you primarily to hold myself accountable. (That's likely what has held me back from sharing it before now!) And maybe my journey will encourage someone else to get rid of the clutter in their life, too.
I am inviting you to join me. Not just as a spectator but also as a participant.
Will you commit to this with me?
I'll keep you posted on my progress...and I'd love to hear from you! Any suggestions or motivations or personal stories - I'd love to hear about it all!
But it's where I am. And I always want to be real with you. And since this is where God has me, then I need to be faithful and true where I am. Maybe there is some encouragement or blessing for someone in here somewhere!
Here's where I am, at least it's my plan for the next few months.
Cleaning out.
Getting rid of things that I do not need or do not want.
Creating an atmosphere of serenity and productivity. Not just in living areas but also in storage spaces.
I have wanted to do it for a while but now I am committed. I've even already begun but just couldn't decide whether to share it with y'all. Because it seems too trivial.
But it's where I am.
So here I go -
Why clean out/declutter? That's where I begin.
Here are my reasons:
1. Clutter bothers me.
2. Having a cluttered home is not blessing my family.
3. It's a stewardship issue. Of time and possessions.
Living in cluttered, disorganized spaces is not just annoying. It's not just a time waster and an eyesore. Studies show that it is a major stress contributor, even being linked to depression.
Ain't nobody got time for that!
Soooooooooo, the process has begun.
I am sharing my journey with you primarily to hold myself accountable. (That's likely what has held me back from sharing it before now!) And maybe my journey will encourage someone else to get rid of the clutter in their life, too.
I am inviting you to join me. Not just as a spectator but also as a participant.
Will you commit to this with me?
I'll keep you posted on my progress...and I'd love to hear from you! Any suggestions or motivations or personal stories - I'd love to hear about it all!
The Other Woman
I'm in a Bible study with a cool group of women (of all ages and life seasons) and we are studying Proverbs 31. The P31 Woman. Lots to learn about this rather intimidating figure that the mother of the King exhorted him to marry.
As I was pondering this role model, I realized that Proverbs talks quite a bit about women. These 22 verses are not the only mention of women in the book. In fact, there are alot more than 22 other verses in there about "The Other Woman".
The woman that we can be if we are not intentional about seeking God's grace and mercy to become more like the P31 gal.
There may be more than these but I find at least 4 types of "The Other Woman"....
1. The foolish woman - Proverbs 14:1 tells us that The wise woman builds her house but the foolish woman tears it down with her hands.
What are ways we can be this foolish woman and tear down our house? Lots of ways, to be sure, but Proverbs 9:13 specifies this : The woman of folly (uh, that would be the foolish woman so that would mean she is tearing down her house with this action) is boisterous, she is naive and knows nothing.
I looked up "boisterous" just to be sure I understood - it means "rough, stormy, unrestrained"
Boisterous. Foolish. The other woman.
2. The contentious woman - Proverbs 25:24 says that It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman. And in Proverbs 27:15,16 Scripture clarifies the picture - A constant dripping on a day of steady rain ad a contentious woman are alike; He who would restrain her restrains the wind and grasps oil with his right hand.
So, again, I looked up "contentious" just to get it right - "tending to argument or strife, quarrelsome"
Contentious. Undesirable. The other woman.
3. The senseless woman - Proverbs 11:22 - As a gold ring in a pig's snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. What a picture - a beautiful gold ring, wasted in the nose of a pig!
Used dictionary.com alot today - this was a long one - "judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect."
Maybe just think of it as beauty used inappropriately.
Senseless. Without discretion. The other woman.
4. The adulterous woman. Lots of passages in this book address this type of woman. Proverbs 5:3-6 describes her this way: The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet, her soft words are oh so smooth.But it won’t be long before she’s gravel in your mouth, a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart.She’s dancing down the primrose path to Death; she’s headed straight for Hell and taking you with her.She hasn’t a clue about Real Life, about who she is or where she’s going.
Seductive. Adulterous. The Other Woman.
The difference in our lives between The Other Woman and the P31 woman?
That's found in that P31 passage...vs. 30...A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Praying to be fearing the Lord,
Suzanne
As I was pondering this role model, I realized that Proverbs talks quite a bit about women. These 22 verses are not the only mention of women in the book. In fact, there are alot more than 22 other verses in there about "The Other Woman".
The woman that we can be if we are not intentional about seeking God's grace and mercy to become more like the P31 gal.
There may be more than these but I find at least 4 types of "The Other Woman"....
1. The foolish woman - Proverbs 14:1 tells us that The wise woman builds her house but the foolish woman tears it down with her hands.
What are ways we can be this foolish woman and tear down our house? Lots of ways, to be sure, but Proverbs 9:13 specifies this : The woman of folly (uh, that would be the foolish woman so that would mean she is tearing down her house with this action) is boisterous, she is naive and knows nothing.
I looked up "boisterous" just to be sure I understood - it means "rough, stormy, unrestrained"
Boisterous. Foolish. The other woman.
2. The contentious woman - Proverbs 25:24 says that It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman. And in Proverbs 27:15,16 Scripture clarifies the picture - A constant dripping on a day of steady rain ad a contentious woman are alike; He who would restrain her restrains the wind and grasps oil with his right hand.
So, again, I looked up "contentious" just to get it right - "tending to argument or strife, quarrelsome"
Contentious. Undesirable. The other woman.
3. The senseless woman - Proverbs 11:22 - As a gold ring in a pig's snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. What a picture - a beautiful gold ring, wasted in the nose of a pig!
Used dictionary.com alot today - this was a long one - "judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect."
Maybe just think of it as beauty used inappropriately.
Senseless. Without discretion. The other woman.
4. The adulterous woman. Lots of passages in this book address this type of woman. Proverbs 5:3-6 describes her this way: The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet, her soft words are oh so smooth.But it won’t be long before she’s gravel in your mouth, a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart.She’s dancing down the primrose path to Death; she’s headed straight for Hell and taking you with her.She hasn’t a clue about Real Life, about who she is or where she’s going.
Seductive. Adulterous. The Other Woman.
The difference in our lives between The Other Woman and the P31 woman?
That's found in that P31 passage...vs. 30...A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Praying to be fearing the Lord,
Suzanne
What's in store for 2017
It is healthy, beneficial, advisable to mark the end of one thing and the beginning of another. To celebrate and anticipate. That's what ceremonies for graduations and weddings do for us. Even funerals are the opportunity to grieve the end and to hope for the reunion on That Day.
God instructed the Israelites to do this many times in the Old Testament, to set up markers as reminders of His marvelous works, to enable one generation to tell the next of His faithfulness, to offer encouragement of more to come.
Too often we miss the point of celebrations and expend our energy solely on temporal things like decorations, food, gifts...partying for the sake of partying. We should indeed celebrate - in fact Christians should outdo everyone else in how to celebrate - but we are much more advantaged if those props are the aids to our celebrations and not the reason.
We just ended a year. The new one is beginning.
Instead of just passing from one day to the next, turning the page of the calendar robotically, let's be purposeful.
Find a few moments (I know that may sound more improbable than the literal existence of the Tooth Fairy but work with me here). Look back over 2016 and note things that have happened in your life. All sorts of things. Physical things like moving to a new house or adding a baby or losing someone. Achievements like completing a college degree or a promotion or starting a business. Spiritual milestones like baptism or reading through the Bible or accomplishing forgiveness of a long standing hurt. Whatever the Holy Spirit brings to mind.
Note them. Write them down. If appropriate, share them with your family or a close friend. (BTW I'd love to hear from you!!! My email address is chamfam@bellsouth.net)
Celebrate the commemorative ones...grieve the painful ones. But mark them.
Then assign them to 2016.
And ask God to help you look forward to 2017.
Ask Him for a verse or set of verses that He wants to impress on your heart for this coming year.
Here's what He has given me:
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:12-14
Fitting verse for the New Year. My goal for 2017.
Unpack it with me for a few moments...
First, what is the Apostle Paul referring to in verses 12 and 13 when he says "this" and "it"? What has he not already obtained nor made his own?
We need to consult the previous couple of verses to decipher that.
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
So what Paul aspires to is to know Him. Not just to know about Him or even to know justification from sin but rather to know Him experientially, intimately, deeply. Progressing in that knowledge that will finally be complete when we see Him face to face.
Paul is acknowledging in verse 12 that he has not achieved this yet but his goal is to get there.
And as this passage explains Paul's intention, it instructs me how to make it my own.
I see at least three things I must do in order for this to be my goal
1. because Jesus Christ has made me His own
Knowing Him fully begins with knowing Him initially. Well, aren't I Captain Obvious! But it needs to be totally clear that we have to be made His first. And that this relationship is His idea to begin with! And that the same grace that saves us is what enables us to walk with Him from then on. We cannot come to Him, pursue Him, or know Him apart from the work of His Spirit in our hearts.
So that's the first thing - being His and being cognizant of the Truth that it is He who works in me to accomplish His good pleasure.
2. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
Paul sees it as "one thing" but I think that conveys his singlemindedness, his singular focus. SO I split this part into two to simplify things for myself. After my acknowledgment of Jesus working in me to make me not only His own but also to be like Him, I need to forget what lies behind.
To lay aside 2016.
Those things you and I made note of in those few alone moments we were able to conjure up.
Those things worthy of celebration and those things fitting for grief.
"Forgetting" does not mean "not remembering". That would not only be impossible but also unwise. If you had a baby in 2016, I highly recommend that you remember that!
So what is this passage instructing us to do?
Not to be absorbed or controlled.
Those good things in 2016 that make us want to hang our hats on? Rejoice over them. thank God for them, and hold them with an open hand, asking God how He wants to use them for His glory.
But camping out in the successes, thinking those accomplishments define us, basking in the praise - nope. Forget them instead. We must not let our victories be the source of our joy or our identity. We must not delude ourselves into thinking we have finished the race just because we ran last year's lap well.
That distracts us from focusing on the finish line. That keeps us from running our present race victoriously.
Do not be absorbed or controlled by good things..."forget them".
Maybe more important that forgetting the good things is the necessity of forgetting the bad. Those things that wounded us, grieved us, caused us to fail. The default reaction to pain is to retell the story, to reopen the wound, to relive the hurt or guilt or sorrow. We then become absorbed by it...and that allows it to control us.
And when something negative controls us, it produces more negativity. More hurt, more guilt, more sorrow. We cannot move on to victory because we are mired in past defeat.
The point is not to cease remembering - the point is to untie ourselves from the things of the past...that is forgetting.
So those failures or losses or wounds from 2016? Forget them...move on.
3. straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
I love that Paul uses the word "straining" here. It connotes hard work and that is just exactly what is called for. It's hard work to loose ourselves from the good and the bad of the past...and it is definitely hard work to press forward to what lies ahead. We are much more inclined to relax a little (if we've experienced recent successes) or to give up (if our mindset is one of defeat because of recent failures). Paul explains that we have to strain, to press, to exert some energy and purpose.
Indeed, it is hard work.
But make no mistake about it - the prize is worth it.
Jesus has called us to know Him, to be transformed into His likeness and conformed to His image. To come into His presence and receive His rewards. To reign with Him and enjoy Him forever.
The prize of His call upward. Worth more than anything here. Worth every bit of straining and pressing and striving.
That's my goal for this year.
I purpose to "forget" 2016- to not be absorbed or controlled by the happy memories or the successes or the hurts. But rather to be singularly focused on directing my energy and purpose and resources towards knowing Him.
I'd love to hear what you hope for 2017.
I love that Paul uses the word "straining" here. It connotes hard work and that is just exactly what is called for. It's hard work to loose ourselves from the good and the bad of the past...and it is definitely hard work to press forward to what lies ahead. We are much more inclined to relax a little (if we've experienced recent successes) or to give up (if our mindset is one of defeat because of recent failures). Paul explains that we have to strain, to press, to exert some energy and purpose.
Indeed, it is hard work.
But make no mistake about it - the prize is worth it.
Jesus has called us to know Him, to be transformed into His likeness and conformed to His image. To come into His presence and receive His rewards. To reign with Him and enjoy Him forever.
The prize of His call upward. Worth more than anything here. Worth every bit of straining and pressing and striving.
That's my goal for this year.
I purpose to "forget" 2016- to not be absorbed or controlled by the happy memories or the successes or the hurts. But rather to be singularly focused on directing my energy and purpose and resources towards knowing Him.
I'd love to hear what you hope for 2017.
Living Letters Devotional Book update
For those of you in the Athens/Watkinsville area, I will have a couple of book signings (isn't that a
hoot???) and would love for you all to stop by and say hi if you can.
Especially to the 12/17 one because I'd like to support my friend Dara
Buczynsky and her great mission
12/17 - Epiphany 294 W Washington St /Athens - a place founded to help women understand that their true beauty comes from their Creator and to support local ministries
I'll be there 1-3pm
12/20 Walls of books/ Watkinsville - Hog Mountain Road - in same building as PharmD on Demand -- 11-1 - this store will also stock a few books after the signing.
If you preordered a book from me, you can pick them up at the signings or from my house. All preorders are at the $14.99 (plus tax) rate. After 12/12, price goes up (through me as well as on Amazon)
Payment - you can use PayPal (please use transfer to friends and family option) - chamfam@bellsouth.net or mail me a check to 1011 Broadlands Drive/30677. Books ordered before 12/12 are $16.04 including tax - after 12/12 it will be $20 total.
For you out of the Athens/Watkinsville area, I am happy to ship it to you - add $6 for 1-2 books and $8 for 3-4
Please please please do not feel ANY pressure to get a book or to come to the signings (but I'd love for you to support these local businesses and to stop by for a hug...) I just sent this out to the group instead of responding to several individual emails and because y'all have been kind enough to encourage me in this book thing. I still can't believe it.
12/17 - Epiphany 294 W Washington St /Athens - a place founded to help women understand that their true beauty comes from their Creator and to support local ministries
I'll be there 1-3pm
12/20 Walls of books/ Watkinsville - Hog Mountain Road - in same building as PharmD on Demand -- 11-1 - this store will also stock a few books after the signing.
If you preordered a book from me, you can pick them up at the signings or from my house. All preorders are at the $14.99 (plus tax) rate. After 12/12, price goes up (through me as well as on Amazon)
Payment - you can use PayPal (please use transfer to friends and family option) - chamfam@bellsouth.net or mail me a check to 1011 Broadlands Drive/30677. Books ordered before 12/12 are $16.04 including tax - after 12/12 it will be $20 total.
For you out of the Athens/Watkinsville area, I am happy to ship it to you - add $6 for 1-2 books and $8 for 3-4
Please please please do not feel ANY pressure to get a book or to come to the signings (but I'd love for you to support these local businesses and to stop by for a hug...) I just sent this out to the group instead of responding to several individual emails and because y'all have been kind enough to encourage me in this book thing. I still can't believe it.