The Desk Series: Books (part 3)

The Desk Series :: My Meeting Place 

Books  - Part 6

Continuing with part 6 in this series, I want to share a few more titles with you that have made a difference in my life. 

You can find  parts 1-5 of The Desk Series listed on the sidebar.

The first book for this third post in the area of books is of course, Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan for Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer! I could go on and on about Priscillia and the wonderment of her gift in ministry. She is on fire for Jesus...we need more to step out with that kind of fire today! I will have more to post on her work once we move to studies.

The book, Fervent was inspired by the movie, War Room. That movie was a game changer for women and prayer "closets" began springing up in a lot of homes because of it.  If you need a reminder of it's inspiration or you have never watched it for yourself...here is a clip. I found it a fantastic movie which reminds me I want to get my copy out and watch it again. 

The book is broken down into strategies using precise topics in which to pray. If you want to build your prayer life and need a bit of help, do read and study this book. I am sending along the little videos that go along with each strategy and they are free! You can begin here with week 1 and conclude with the 11th week being her final thoughts. They are awesome and go along with personal study so well. Enjoy!

*~*~*~*

The second book for this post is The Divine Mentor: Growing your Faith as You Sit at the Feet of the Savior by Wayne Cordeiro. I like this book because the author reminds us of mentors in the Bible. 

Also, he guides us to and through commitment and devotion in order to put time aside for study and the importance of getting in the Word and staying in the Word. One chapter reminds us how important 5 things are; Bible, pen, journal, Bible-reading plan and a daily planner. I would agree since this entire desk series is devoted to items I have found to enhance my quiet time.

Once you reach the second half he goes into depth to teach you the S.O.A.P. method for studying your Bible. If you are not familiar with this method, it means:

S ---> Scripture

O ---> Observation

A ---> Application

P ---> Prayer

Personally, I have used this method somewhat over the years, but it tends to keep me a bit more structured than I want to be. However, it is a great place to begin...find the scripture, tell what it says in your own words, how can I apply it to my life and finish with prayer. I just finished reading and studying the book of Hebrews using my own method which I will share with you in a future post.

Also, the author speaks strongly of the "fruit of daily devotions", telling us to "Look intently". "God isn't inaccessible. He's neither coy nor introverted. But He does require us to seek Him. This hones our hearts and purifies our motives. And the ancillary benefits are manifold. Seeking and searching for God builds our faith, like pecking out of the shell strengthens a newborn chick." You know the more we do something, the better we will be at it.

If I Had A Remembrance Book : A Friend Like Fairlight

I have more posts coming on The Desk Series soon, but I want to break again from those for another series entitled, "If I Had A Remembrance Book". If you think you have heard that phrase before, you might have if you ever watched The Little House on the Prairie television show where Laura would begin with the words, "If I had a remembrance book I'd write..." and then she goes on about a beautiful moment she would want to capture on paper. (which of course she did and they are well loved)

I have felt a bit reflective these past months as I near another birthday that seems like a milestone for me...you know the ones that end with a zero. So looking through notebooks of past writings long forgotten with bittersweet melancholy, I thought I would take you along with me.

If I Had A Remembrance Book : A Friend Like Fairlight

(taken from my notebook of written memories)

I just finished my bible study an hour ago and tucked everyone in their nest and now I sit and write. The house is quiet, my mint tea is steeping and a chocolate chip cookie tart is melting in my warmer. I look down at my day calendar and the little saying on it says, "My dear, my better half". It is sad that not everyone sees their husband in that light, but I understand. It hasn't always been easy for me either, but I keep working at it. Spirits are roaring and minds are going this way and that, fretting over this problem and wondering if things will ever change. They do, but it takes time.

Here on my mountain tonight my thoughts are calm and sorted, nothing jumbled together. Above the grand wall of the great room, at it's peak is my precious lookout, an eight sided window with little grids. My husband made sure when he and our boys built the room that he would add that little dream request of mine, to be akin to the one in Fairlight Spencer's cabin (my book character mentor). Just as Fairlight showed Christy (the beloved novel by Catherine Marshall), I look out and see the stars by night and fix my vision of home once again in the morning, renewing myself for yet another day. 

Oh, I wish I could sit in her cabin and glean from her, a kindred spirit for sure. I love the plain and devoted attention she has for her family and home, nothing glitters, nothing is golden...just her sweet face shining with a smile as she chats with Christy. Women like that are sorely hard to find...you find one, but they are in passing as they move at the speed of "forget you", some are so caught up in their own lives that they have no time or room to grow a deep friendship to blooming, while others wear masks or seem to have two faces. To sit with a woman of finery such as Fairlight must have been a dream for the young Christy.

One time during a walk and rest in the woods with Fairlight, Christy thinks..."I turned over and lay on my stomach and look at Fairlight. She was not sleeping, but she was so silent. I had learned by now that stillness was part of these mountain people. I lay there studying Fairlight's face in repose. She looked tranquil enough. Little did I realize at the time what depths there were underneath the tranquility..." Does that not soak into your mind a bit? It does for me, but I might be a little different wanting to grab onto the simple and plain sweetness of thought. Many a chilly Saturday afternoon have been spent awestruck with the simplicity of the treasures placed within this series. 

Well spoken language without correct English, full of rich sentences without watered down exchanges of thought, plain words without being full of radical terms that give no understanding. For me it just fits like a well-worn glove, the outline of my hand was there before I put it on.

The Simple Woman's Daybook {April Edition}

For Today

Looking out my window... a bit warmer each day! Winter is over!

I am thinking... of all the outside work that needs completed, a great way to get a work-out in!

I am thankful... for those early bouquets of daffodils. A promise kept.

bringing out some pretties for spring

One of my favorite things... is sharing with you by way of my blog. The only space I continue to use online for writing.

I am wearing... cropped jeans, gray cami sticking out under a navy long-sleeve knit top with gray Skechers.

I am creating... a list of what to plant in the garden this year.

I am watching... the garden closely and the minute it is dry enough it will be plowed to ready for planting.

I am reading... Abound : A call to purposeful servant LEADERSHIP by Jessie Seneca so I am ready for the She Leads conference held the end of April. So excited to have the opportunity to attend!

I am listening to... this by Priscilla Shirer! I think this is the best thing I have listened to in a long time. If there is one thing you listen to this week, please take about 40 or so minutes to be blown away!!! Oh! and get a tissue before you do.

I am hoping... the next six months move s-l-o-w-l-y.

I am learning... how important diet, exercise, water intake, and vitamin supplements are to my good health. I feel better now than when I was in my 30's!

In the garden... the Rhubarb is up!

In the kitchen... an ever steady stream of fruits, vegetables, rice, pasta, beans and grains with small amounts of meat added for my husband.

Board Room



 from my Pinterest board "in spring"

 full credit for this pin here

Shared Quote

My quote this month comes from the beloved book, Christy by Catherine Marshall. The book has been turned into an excellent set of 20 dvds. I own this entire series and it will always and forever be a favorite and have a special place in my heart.

Thus the quote...

"I often marveled that the interior peace of the woman was selected so faithfully in her surroundings. Even the selection and arrangements of her possessions gave an aura of uncluttered calm. In addition, there was a directness in her approach to all of life-including the art of housekeeping-that never failed to fascinate me. 

Miss Alice was a woman to whom color, symmetry of line and contrast of texture were important. She flouted the accepted custom of covering her table tops with doilies or small scarves; the sheen and patina of the lovely old wood were all the decoration needed. In a pewter bowl she could arrange with artistry a few well-polished apples and some nuts, or a piece of quartz picked up somewhere in the mountains along with some unusual leaves and berries. I reveled in all of this."

On a side note: I wrote more on my love of Christy in a post I will share with you next week. 

A moment from my day...

(the book I mentioned above)

Post Script

If you enjoyed reading my daybook and would like to create one of your own, HERE is the link to the format, guidelines and complete list of prompts. 

The May Edition will be posted May 6th

Please Note:
If you want to be notified by email of each monthly daybook edition, as well as all other posts you can "subscribe" using the box on the sidebar. 

Also, for those of you who post a daybook here each month, I am planning on leaving the daybook post up for one week before adding a new post to my blog. Once I post a new blog, the link will then be added to the sidebar and be found under, "current daybook". 

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The Desk Series: Books (part 2)

The Desk Series :: My Meeting Place 

Books  - Part 5

Continuing with part 5 in this series, I want to share a few more titles with you that have made a difference in my life. 

You can find  parts 1-4 of The Desk Series listed on the sidebar.

The first book is Experiencing the Presence of God by A. W. Tozer

Teachings from the Book of Hebrews

 (compiled and edited by James L. Snyder)

If there is one thing you can count on in reading any work by A. W. Tozer  is that your toes will surely get pinched and sore. I love A. W. Tozer for that very reason. He writes profoundly, without reserve or apology and this is what draws me to his books. Too many books tend to skim the surface of the matter and few get down deep where real transformation and change can take place. His books can sometimes be difficult to understand, but if you are looking for meaty soul food, check out A. W. Tozer.

In the introduction of this book, Mr. Snyder says, "Dr. Tozer writes about solid, scriptural truth. Truth is not isolated from another truth. Isolating God's truth, according to Tozer, is how heresy starts in the Church." 

This thought aligns with something I read the other day by Beth Moore and which I agree with wholeheartedly and see so much of today. I wrote her quote on an index card and have it taped to my desk.

Beth writes, "You know you are losing sound doctrine when we lose any kind of doctrine whatsoever of there being a devil and there being legions of demons and there being a real live hell." 

The Word of God is complete and nothing is to be left out. I know there will be more and more of this "letting out" until we are hardly able to recognize the Word of God. This is why we must be in the Word daily so we are able to know the truth when we read, hear or see it!

A little from chapter 2 : Hindrances on the Pathway to God's Presence

A. W. Tozer writes about, "cauterizing the conscience"...being insensitive or callous to the world around us, a deadening of feelings toward morals.

Then there is, "spiritual lethargy, an unnatural inward drowsiness when faced with the claims of God. We are always concerned about superficial things but rarely concerned about spiritual things." 

I want to add here the "spiritual things" he is speaking is of course not the lie-filled type of "new age spirituality" or "new spirituality" that is growing in popularity today. 

"Moral insensitivity and spiritual lethargy are two great curses because they keep us from taking earnest heed to our spiritual health. Unless we are serious about our approach to God, we will be hindered every step of the way."

(Goodness, Mr. Tozer passed away in 1963 and I can only imagine his thoughts on this if he were alive today)

*~*~*~*

The second book for this post is a gal whose work is always on point. I love Lisa Whittle...she is a firecracker who loves Jesus! My copy of her book, Put Your Warrior Boots On : Walking Jesus Strong Once and For All is full of turned down pages, yellow highlighter and pen. This is an amazing book that will heat you up and rekindle your walk with Christ.

There is just so much good stuff in this book. I will share a few quotes...

"We live in a world that pulls us away from knowing anything for sure. We've started to believe everything-whatever the latest popular spiritual guru says, whatever the world sells that sounds like love, broadening the door instead of honoring the God-created narrowness of it for our protection-it is a slow death we don't even know is taking our life. Because believing in everything is really believing in nothing at all."

"The double standard of culture is to respect, even promote, the secular no while calling the spiritual no "legalism." And those "legalistic" Christians have become unpopular because they are saying no to things secular society does not want policed. We have become the unwelcome group, and no one wants to feel unwelcome. So we have started to cave." 

"When we leave God, we start marching the death march and eventually we reach the end: the end of ourselves, the end of goodness, the end of our standards, the end of peace, the end of the hopeful life." 

"A strong warrior for God will be determined by the depth and consistency of our following."

This last quote is meaningful for me personally...I want the consistency of following God in my life. Not the back and forth, on the whim, on the need, and certainly anything that resembles a lukewarm walk!! I have lacked consistency over the years and I can attest of what she says about reaching the "end of ourselves." We will and all of the goodness of life will fade more and more the longer we wander.

Well this post got a bit longer than I wanted it, but I learn as I share. Truly, it seems when I write to you, I am writing to myself as well, because I need these reminders in order to stay fresh and renewed. 

Also, I want to thank you for the kind comments that I have been receiving. I appreciate you letting me know your thoughts. 

Mini-Study :: The Heart of a Woman

I want to take a brief pause from The Desk Series to share with you a mini-study that I created for you entitled, The Heart of a Woman.

My church is hosting a women's conference this week-end and the theme is "Inside Out : The Truth Will Set You Free". The conference flyer reads, "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

The heart is the only aspect of creation that God cannot (or chooses) not to control and it is the only thing we can surrender. It is what’s on the inside that matters…and life, if we follow God through it, will transform us into who we truly are; from the inside out." 

*~*~*~*

So in readying myself to soak in all of the teaching that will be presented, I thought I would write a mini-study on the heart for you too!
(Please feel free to share and/or save and print)

photo credit
Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash


The Heart of a Woman

A woman's beauty begins first in her heart. Have you every pondered this thought? How can beauty be found in a heart...a fleshly muscle that keeps us alive? The heart, is so very often mentioned in movies, songs, books, etc. The Word of God is full of "heart" passages. Look up the word, heart. Take your journal and write some of the phrases and word meanings you find.

How can the word heart and beauty be joined together and how can I apply this matched pair to my day to day. 

Heart-figuratively, the seat of emotions, thoughts, and intentions; sometimes translated "mind" or "soul"; central or most vital part of something."

As the face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person." Proverbs 27:19

What has my countenance been saying about my heart? 

Do I "reflect" the glory of God? In what ways...

What steps can I take to change my heart.

 "So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them. It broke his heart." Genesis 6:6

God's heart can be hurt, grieved, be troubled deeply.

Have you ever been "heartbroken"...that your heart felt ripped out of your chest or lying separate from your body the pain was so intense.

In what ways did healing take place? How was it able to mend? 

The Lord knows how you feel.

Psalm 146:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds"

"I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his word in my heart." Job 23:12 

What commands does he speak of?

How do I "treasure" something?

What does it say about laying up treasures on earth? in heaven?

Do I do this with my relationship with Jesus? Do I take care of it, tend it, keep it safe, guard my heart.

What steps can I take to begin doing this.

Acts 5 Then Peter said, "Ananis, why has Satan filled your heart?" This passage tells us that our hearts can be taken over by other thoughts.  Hebrews 3 mentions the heart many times and to keep it from getting hard. 

What is a hard heart? What measures can I take to keep my heart from becoming hard and bitter?

Take a moment to reflect on times in your life where you allowed your heart to harden.

What caused it?

What finally broke the hard sod? 

Psalms 102:4, says "My heart is sick, withered like grass and I have lost my appetite."

Ever been heart sick? That mournful, groaning time that we have in this life, that causes so much grief that we desire no food.

What about spiritual food?

Psalms 33:21 "In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his Holy name."

Is my heart rejoicing?

If not, what is the cause...is my joy dependent on my feelings, emotions, circumstances, etc.

Have I sought out the Lord with all of my heart, with all of my mind and with all my soul?

What is my heart telling me today.

What steps can I take to find joy in the Lord.

It tells us in Romans 10:9 "For if I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead, I will be saved. For it is by believing in my heart that makes it right with God, and it is by confessing with my mouth that I am saved." 

(emphasis mine)

What two steps is this verse referring?

So we see this beautiful analogy of the heart and it's ability to be changed and to believe. Yet another amazing way we are fearfully and wonderfully made. 

I pray your heart is blessed by this mini-study.

The Desk Series: Books (part 1)

The Desk Series :: My Meeting Place 

Books   - Part 4

(find parts 1, 2 and 3 on the sidebar)

For part 4 in the desk series, I want to share with you a a number of books that I have found to be especially helpful to me personally during my life as a wife, a mother, and a woman.  I have mentioned a few in passing over the years in my daybooks, but not really any at length. I will be sharing just a few at a time in these posts.

 I want to preface these titles with an important notation before beginning...these are books that changed my life. They may not be for everyone and everyone has their own mindset as to how they live. It should go without saying, but I want you to know I understand that we are all in different situations, in different seasons and you may not even share my faith, but I lovingly ask that you just lend your ear. 

Ten women could read my posts and only one come away inspired and encouraged to read on...it is for her, this one, that I write. 

Going back a number of years is the first one entitled, The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective by Martha Peace. (there is also a study guide)

Based on scripture, Martha gently guides you with grace and maturity without taking an "in your face" approach.This book had a profound impact on my life. I wrestled through it several times and each time it left me bruised and a bit broken, healthy elements that opened my heart in order that change could take place. 

Every time I try to fix my husband, be a wife in my own strength, contemplate moments where the everyday of marriage seems like too much work or I might be better off single...I adjust my thoughts and heal a little bit more. This book will grow you and stretch you in your thinking and in light of our culture it will sting greatly. I know this because I led two groups of women through this book and study guide and they too found it difficult.
  Culture will change, but the Word of God does not.

****

A few years later, Becoming a Titus 2 Woman by Martha Peace came out and I was feeling strengthened in the call toward mentoring. I was knee-deep in homeschooling, child-raising and keeping my home, all things that were near and dear to my heart. These two books helped me deepen and renew my purpose as a wife and a mother and showed me just how important the work that I did at home was. 

These books would come to set the stage for my love of writing and sharing that love with women. In 2001 a small, humble online ministry began to take root. Over the years as time has faded, that voice has become diminished and nearly silent.

However, I am now in the place of that "older" woman and I have a renewed desire to return to those early roots with fresh insight.

****

Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt is another good one written in this same line of thought. Susan writes beautifully of this woman to woman ministry of older women to younger women...when put into a correctly working practice is one of the most precious things us women can bestow to one another.

A few quotes...

"When women do for other women what Elizabeth did for Mary, I believe we will see young women burst forth in lives of praise to God."

"Encouragement is the context in which equipping can take place."

"Paul was smart enough to know that women need women to train them how to apply God's Word to areas of our lives that are uniquely feminine."

and this one that spoke volumes to me as I wrote, "The Influence of Aloneness" (more on that in a later post),

"Our tendency to self-sufficiency can only be overcome when our situation is beyond our sufficiency."

The Desk Series: Yearly Diary

The Desk Series :: My Meeting Place 

Yearly Diary  - Part 3

Part 1

Part 2

The little habit of keeping a diary may sound like an old-fashioned thing to some, but since I am just an old-fashioned type of girl, I wanted to add it to this series. Some of you no doubt remember the diaries of your girlhood...the yearly books we would get at the beginning of each year with the clasp and tiny key. Most often my diary was started with fresh excitement and the best of intentions. But, a few months down the road it was forgotten, stuck in a drawer and most of the pages left blank.



This year I have been keeping the elusive thoughts of diary writing alive and am enjoying it very much. Could be the love I have had here at The Simple Woman blog over the past 10 years of daybook-ing or the time I now have that I did not when raising children was in full swing.

The concept of keeping a diary has not changed, it is the same in taking the time, remembering the moments and keeping a standing record. There are days when I leave a blank spot and while that bothers me, I do not beat myself up. If I remember something from that day that stands out I will go back and add it, if not, it is fine.

I greet the space at the end of the day, recording the weather and always something about nature and the beauty of it. Then, as you would imagine I add simple thoughts about what stood out...where I went, what I did, a meal I made, a birthday, a visit from one of our kids and anything of special interest that happened that day. Sometimes the recording of the day will coincide with a prayer that I then add to my prayer journal.

Here is one of my entries from February 12th...

"An ugly day-snow, ice, sleet and now fog is settling in. I am trying to be patient for just a tiny bit of green to show itself. The Mock orange is coated in ice and no doubt feeling as heavy as I am with the weather. The heat from the wood stove feels so good to my ole bones. I lit my candle, supper dishes are all cleaned and put away and now I will settle in with a hot cup of mint tea. Tomorrow I want to fill another box with things from the kitchen I no longer need or use, but deep cleaning will happen next month. Just be patient."

If there is one thing you know about me, if you've been reading here for any length of time, is the fact that I am a down-to-earth, plain and simple kind of girl. Everything about me holds a bit of simplicity and that is true of the writing in my diary and the writing of my blog.

Maybe this little idea is one you have held to for years, but maybe you think how neat it would be to re-visit writing down your day. Another idea is to use the daybook prompts in a notebook and fill them in...either way you look at it, every day begins with a blank page.

The Desk Series: Prayer Journal

The Desk Series :: My Meeting Place 

Prayer Journal - Part 2

Part 1 of this series found here

Keeping a prayer journal is a new addition I've added to my meeting place. For me, prayer is not new, but purposely writing my prayers out while at my desk is. God hears my prayer whether I speak it out loud, think it silently, or write it down. He hears my prayer, any time, any place and I can pray directly to him. 

This little black leather journal has simple lined pages, elastic strap to keep it closed and a bit of tiny design etching on the front and back covers. Most days, I add a prayer, some days they are a page long and some days as few as 4 lines. These are prayers that are of a more focused nature and I put dates beside them in order that I can look back and remember. Actually, I began the journal with these words and this entry...

"So I won't forget...

Dear Lord, so I won't forget. I begin my prayer journal with these words of dedication. I fail so often to pray to you, when I should be be praying to you. I want to be purposeful to a life of prayer, so I begin creating the habit of taking time to write them down. It is my prayer that I turn to you-turn fully and regain any lost ground, ground that I gave up in any way. Lord, replace what has been lost with something new and help me to be aware of it's timing. ~Amen"

What do I write? Anything I would normally pray or want to say to Jesus. Over the years of my life, my prayers have ranged from overwhelming joyful adoration with praise and thanksgiving, to sorrow and lament with profound grief along with warm-faced conversations laced with demanding questions. I have prayed standing up, lying down, sitting and my most precious of all are the prayers that have found me on my knees. There is something quite sacred about that special posture. I have prayed in my home, in the car, in church, in the hospital, in various places and most often in nature. My prayers always seem to take on a beautiful mixture of prayer and praise. I am not sure you can have one without the other. There have been many times when I have not prayed nearly enough.

My first prayer, the one that was the most important was the one I prayed at 11 years old in the woods, while taking a walk. (more on that in another post)

Really, prayer is as simple as taking your next breath with the name of Jesus on your lips. And make no mistake, no matter what anyone has told you, no matter what you have read as to his hearing your prayers or not...yes, he does hear!

I love this quote in the book, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. "Prayer and praise are both expressions of faith, but praise is a higher dimension of faith. Prayer is asking God to do something, future tense; praise is believing that God has already done it. past tense."

and this one,

  "The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire; it has bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. Prayer is an all-efficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a mine that is never exhausted, a sky unobscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by the storm. It is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings." unknown

If you have never written down your prayers, give it a try and see if you enjoy it. I love the concept of just taking the time to do it. It makes me pause and really think about those intimate moments that I pen on the page. Also, that little black journal will become a legacy after I am gone for those who come after me...I find that to be important.

The Desk Series: Bible and Study Bible

The Desk Series :: My Meeting Place 
Bible and Study Bible - Part 1

Last week, I shared with you (here) a simple picture of my desk that I lovingly called, "my meeting place". After the kind response I received, I began thinking it might be nice to share just what goes on there. The more I thought, the more ideas I came up with. So what started with a picture has now turned into an on-going series simply entitled, The Desk Series. 

I want to begin with the most important item on my desk, that of my Bible. About six months ago, I retired the Bible that had served its 20 or so years of purpose, for one that I can now make notes, add dates and other small bits of meaningful sentiment next to what I am reading. I had been searching for that perfect one that would suit my needs and I finally found it! It is the hardcover NIV (New International Version) Journal the Word Bible from Zondervan.

Reasons I love it

~It has large enough font that does not cause strain on my eyes

~The pages are a rich cream color and they are not real thin or flimsy

~The words of Jesus are in red lettering (a must have)

~The margins are wide and go the length of the page and have lines to keep my writing neat and organized. 

~It does not have any maps, pictures, devotionals (my retired Bible had these) or anything that takes my focus away from the text at hand

~It has one red ribbon to use as a bookmark

~The style is plain and simple

~It has a black strap that holds it firmly together, protects it and trains it to lay closed when taking it away with me



Please note it does not come with the little rainbow colored tabs, they are an add-on that I love. You can find them on Amazon.

I do not draw, color, write over words, use pen or regular highlighters in my Bible. I use pencil with a neat gentle hand. However, I do use these wonderful highlighter pens that DO NOT bleed through to the other side. (my retired Bible had a lot of faded yellow marks and pen bleeding) I have a small notebook I keep with my Bible when taking it with me to church or ladies Bible studies, etc. There I use pen and write notes that mostly never are written neatly. Then, once home I add what I truly want from those notes onto the margins.

Of course, these are just personal preferences that we all hold to when choosing our Bible.
 We all love what we love.

The second item of importance is my Study Bible. It is the NLT (New Living Translation) Life Application Study Bible from Tyndale House Publishers. I have had this Study Bible for a very long time, and I think it is in it's second printing. It has everything that I need to take reading my Bible to another level of understanding. 

Every book of this Study Bible has a neat timeline at the top of the page. On the sidebar of the page it lists, "Vital Statistics" such as the following:

Purpose for the book

Author of the book

To whom it is written and the date it was written

The setting

Key Verses and Key People

Then, you have this wonderful outline of the entire book and maps that pertain to where it is written. It helps you understand the context of a passage, gives background and historical info, explains difficult words and phrases.

This Study Bible lies open on my desk, open to what I am concurrently reading in my Bible and being they are in different translations it gives me a unique word experience. I grew up using the King James Version and while I am glad I "cut my teeth" so to speak with that translation, I am happy to have this different version to use now. 

If you have not tried using a Study Bible for yourself, it would be a wonderful resource for you to add to your study time. It is well worth the small financial outlay to have it to use when you need it.

The Simple Woman's Daybook {March Edition}

For Today

Looking out my window... nearly blinding sunshine that is reflecting off 8 inches of fresh snow.

I am thinking... how excited I am to be back here again with you.  Thank you for your kind comments!

I am thankful... for the body of Christ, specifically for my church family.

One of my favorite things... and I am sharing the link on my sidebar under "read", Timothy Willards's website, The Edges Collective! Excellent! Subscribe and he will send you this terrific eBook, The Sound of Silence: A Short Book on Rest. 
I will be adding things to that link list over time.

I am wearing... jeans, gray cami, gray/white and navy color-block sweater and gray booties.

I am creating... space on the calendar for women's retreats, conferences, simulcasts, etc. that are grand opportunities for growth and teaching.

I am watching... Beth Moore book study videos. I am currently working through, "Entrusted" for the second time and the new to me, "Daniel" study. I will share more on each later this week.

I am reading... both the study books I mentioned above, as well as 2nd Timothy and Daniel in my Bible.

I am listening to... this podcast found among many others I came across. I will be adding this website to the sidebar as well. Strong words, but if you are looking for hearty soul meals take a listen.

I am hoping... to have that new series of posts up for you this week.

I am learning... to be brave and a bit bold when it comes to sharing the Word of God! This will become evident in what I share here. I will be bringing articles, links and the like that are strong and thought-provoking to the blog. It is where I am on a personal level, I need fuel to burn. 

In the garden... still too early for anything just yet.

In the kitchen... a good clean-out of stuff I no longer need or use. I dug out my  juicer and set it on the counter in high hopes of putting it to use in the next months. I have a hard time using fruits and vegetables this way when I would so much rather eat them than drink them. But, with extra goodness coming soon, I will give it a go.

Board Room

da

shared from my Pinterest board "through the window"

 full credit for this pin here

Shared Quote

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell"
~C. S. Lewis

A moment from my day...

Going through my photos the other day, I found this one my daughter took a long time ago.
 I loved it then, I love it now.

Post Script

If you enjoyed reading my daybook and would like to create one of your own, HERE is the link to the format, guidelines and complete list of prompts. 

The April Edition will be posted April 1st

Please Note:
If you want to be notified by email of each monthly daybook edition, as well as all other posts you can "subscribe" using the box on the sidebar. 

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The Simple Woman...revisted

Dear Friends,

I feel like a small child learning to walk this morning. Unsure, tripping a bit over my feet, unsure of my next step, but trying hard to steady myself. Afraid I will just plop down and stay down, but wanting courage to get upright and stay there. It has been awhile since I posted anything here at my blog (in my eyes) of any worth. Really, other than writing up a daybook post every now and then, my online writing skills are rusty and have taken a back seat to living. I think some of it is because things have become so very loud. Our culture has exploded with words, voices, and confusion, nearly to the point of deafening. Our senses are attacked from each side and back again and we are feeling less and less grounded. 

The other day I snapped a picture of my desk (that I lovingly call, "my meeting place") and posted it on my fb page with the words, "This is where I purposely meet Jesus daily. There are many other places, but this is where I set aside time to learn, study and grow in Him. It has taken me awhile to get to this place in my life, but I am striving." That post was met with a kind response and the next day I shared again, "This morning I began thinking it might be nice to share a few things that take place there. I am going to create a series of posts about each over the next week or so. I am not sharing them so you think I have arrived or that I have it all together, but just the opposite. We need one another's encouragement and inspiration in these troubled times and this is one of my online goals this year...to get back to doing just that!"

Also, last month I wrote an important letter to you (found here), but in early February I could not follow through and still felt unsure. I can not tell you have many times I have wanted to return here in earnest and just write like before. It might seem silly to some, but for me I try to take my writing seriously. I do not want to add more noise or confusion to the mix, but rather something hopeful and meaningful.

When I posted that simple picture on Monday of "my meeting place", I thought this might be a way of getting my writing balance and eventually be able to walk more sure of myself. Over ten years ago, I felt sure of my purpose and what I wanted to say, but things change don't they. Our lives take turns, we grow older and wiser and in that, we begin to sift through that life and hopefully have some of the good stuff to share. Long story short, that is what I want to do...share the good stuff.

For me personally that "good stuff" is a life lived with Jesus, it always has. There is no way around it, no way to detour from it, no way to stop short...one needs to be in it, fully immersed. Of course there are ways and you see the fallout on the news every single day of doing just that. Time has a way of bringing you clarity if you spend a bit of quiet reflection away from the noise.

 It is my prayer that you will visit me now and again, and that you will come away from the simple lines of words I string together with a bit more encouragement than you had the day before. I say that simply because it is what I need...I will write what I need to stay the course.

P.S. A few housekeeping notes... My plan is to dust off and freshen up this place a bit before I begin that series of posts I promised above. I was thinking of creating a new blog for the writing bits in order to keep the daybook editions separate, but that didn't make sense. So one blog it will remain, a new edition of the daybook will be posted once per month (first Monday), but the daybook will no longer be front and center.

Also, I plan on having pages and labels to keep things neat and tidy and to bring your attention to other good stuff that I find, things that will help in your journey. And speaking of attention, this is the only place I will be spending my time. I will use my fb and instagram pages to let those readers know there is a new post, but other than that I want to stay focused.

See you soon...

The Simple Woman's Daybook {February Edition}

For Today

Looking out my window... early morning darkness.

I am thinking... about my January letter to you and how the timing still does not feel right to share past writings. There is simply too much on my life plate at the moment. I am sorry. I am sure there will be a perfect season to do so, but not this one. 

I appreciate you giving me the grace that I need at this time to just be... to just be with very few words. 

Thank you.

The March Edition will be posted March 4th

Please Note: If you want to be notified by email of each monthly daybook edition you can "subscribe" using the box on the sidebar. 

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