In Christ Alone our Hope is Found

I am so sorry. I just realized I missed 2 weeks. I guess I could try to rationalize that they were actually Christmas holidays from memory work. But it is not true. I forgot! So here we start a new year. I have a renewed commitment to work a little harder and be more diligent. So here is the new verse. I took a pic of it, since I was putting pictures in this post anyways! (O: That was easy! I think I may learn this one in the NKJV. It is a little odd to me in the ESV. I have long struggled with getting into the Bible. I seem to be always looking for new devotionals, when really it is discipline that I need. I saw this cool, cool, cool book at this bookstore ( PRTS ).  They have them for every book of the Bible. Shorter books are put together. I think it was 10$ or maybe 12$. That is not bad. Here is what the inside looks like. It is a little longer, but I cropped the people I am praying for. So, instead of just reading, you are writing out the verses you are read...

Excuse my colors... Just in the mood! I read every night before I go to bed. I read all sorts of different kinds of books. I just read God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew. It is the 2nd time I have read it. I am not ready for the book to be done. I would keep reading if it went for another 600 pages. WOWOWOOWWOWOWOWOW , is all I have to say. It is the story of a  dutchman  who was a soldier and struggled in his Christian walk. God brought him back to Himself and he became a Bible smuggler behind the iron curtain. The Los Angeles Times wrote :  "Tension builds page by page in this remarkable true document..... more thrilling than a spy story with its numerous near escapes and mounting climaxes of danger." OK, that may be true, but it misses the  WHOLE  point. It is a story of trusting God in every circumstance, for every thing, even things that seem humanly  impossible. I think you should read this book. Andrew truly is an example we should follow. ...

I have been reading the book, One Thousands Gifts. It is written by Ann Voskamp. She is an ordinary woman -wife of a farmer,  mother of 6, homeschooler, lover of the Lord. She is no different than us. I think she is a beautiful woman. Here is the thing: I can hardly read her blog . I just do it occasionally. She is a poet and sometimes I have no idea what she talking about. It makes no sense to me.  At times it seems like it is in code. It drives me crazy. I love and appreciate beautiful writing, but when I want to learn something, I don't have the patience to wade through flowery words. I am way too practical. So I was hesitant to pick her book up. After the first day of reading, I wanted to call her and ask her to write it again in regular English. Just say it - Please! I am a skimmer. I read books quickly and efficiently and get what I want out of them and put them back on the shelf.  Not this one. It takes me half an hour to read 10 pages and sometimes I go b...