What I Read in November

November seemed like a slow reading month, but as I look at the list I realize my perception was wrong.  I actually did quite well.  The list below brings my total for the year to 87.  One more month to go.  Can I make it to 100?



The One and Only by Emily Giffin - it's a book about football so I liked that part....but whoa.  I don't want to give it away but the plot made me crazy and the ending made me uncomfortable.


One More Wish by Robin Jones Gunn - way too young for me but I simply must read anything that continues the story of Christy and Todd.


The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant - This is a fictional memoir of a Jewish immigrant living in Boston in the first half the twentieth century. I listened to it on audio and loved it.


I am Half-sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley - definitely my least favorite in the Flavia de Luce series but I'm determined to keep pressing through.  The first three were awesome.  This one seemed to be missing something.  I've already gotten book 5 in the series from the library so on we go.


Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman - surprisingly, this wasn't my favorite of her books (I was surprised anyway). I think it would be a great book for a SAHM.


Out of Sorts: Making Peace With an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey - one of my favorites for the year.  I love Sarah's heart.


Messy Grace by Caleb Kaltenbach -- I will be posting a separate review of this one in the next couple days..

Sunday Song: Advent #1

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent: a time of preparation of the arrival of a notable person, in our case, the King of the world.

It seems the world and most Christians forget this step. I guess in some ways, I do too.  My tree is set up and decorated in red and gold, not purple, which is the advent tradition.  I started listening to Christmas music last week.

But this year I am also going to focus on preparation for His arrival.  I bought my first advent wreath and I'm going to devote time to prayer and fasting.  I created an "advent playlist" that consists solely of songs of waiting.

"Let every heart prepare Him room...."

With that in mind, the next four Sunday songs will follow this theme of Advent.  Songs of meditation, of preparation, of joyful expectation.

Today's song came to mind while reading Psalm 136 this morning.  I've always known it as the "His love endures forever" one, but today I focused on the other half of the words.

"He remembered us in our low estate and freed us from our enemies."

He remembered us in our lowliness.  No, He did so much more than that.  He joined us there.

 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was
in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

He joined us in our low estate.  He took on our lowliness.

Today's song reminds us of how low He stooped to join us.  May my lowly heart be ready to receive him.

Cate the Great

Some beauty for your Monday. 

Sunday Song: Thanksgiving #4

Today's song is perhaps my favorite about Thankfulness...even at the worst of times, on a really bad day (like the one I am currently having), I have so much to thank the Lord for.

He forgives all my sins.
He heals all my diseases.
He redeems my life from the pit.
He crowns me with love and compassion.

He sees me. He knows me. He loves me.

My heart is filled.

Sunday Song: For Paris

My heart breaks for the pain running rampant all over the world today. I grieve over lives lost due to evil, evil hate.

It's a cruel place. 

But as a child of God, I trust and I know that evil had a beginning and one day it will certainly meet its end...on that day when He makes all things right.

So this Sunday's song is one for Paris.  For everyone crushed by this broken world.  Here's some truth that's worth being thankful for.

As Sure as the Sun (Ellie Holcomb)

There is good news, there is good truth

That you could never change,

No matter what you do

You are loved more than you know

More than you could hope for

After everything you've done

As sure as the sun will rise

And takes away the night

His mercy will not end

His mercy will not end

There is good news, there's a promise

That no matter where you go

You will never be alone

In the dark, in the doubting

When you can't feel anything

Oh, His love remains the same

As sure as the sun will rise

And takes away the night

His mercy will not end

His mercy will not end

Even through the night

Silver stars will shine

Hope of glory's light

That will wake us once again

As sure as the sun will rise

And takes away the night

As sure as the sun will rise

His mercy will not end

His mercy will not end

Sunday Song: Thanksgiving #2

Today's song doesn't necessarily use words like thankfulness and gratitude, but it is a song of praise.

It beautifully recounts all the reasons we have to sing praise and thank Him.

"All the blessing he deserves poured on my unworthy soul"

(Please ignore the typos in the video).

Have a blessed Sunday.

Sunday Song: Thanksgiving #1

Here I am....November 1.

It's the first day in a month that I don't "have to" blog, but it's almost become habit and I want to keep going.

I won't write about truth every day anymore, but I don't want to forsake it completely, either.  I enjoyed the Sunday Song posts because music has always been one of the biggest influences in my life.

I plan to continue the Sunday Song series at least through the end of 2015. The months of November and December lend themselves easily to this.  In the weeks leading about to Thanksgiving, I will share songs that cultivate thankfulness.  In December my focus will turn to Advent in preparation for Christmas.  Please join me.

Today's song is one I've known my whole life.  It must be over thirty years old.  I clearly remember sitting on the floor of our house group while my dad led the group in worship.  I couldn't have been more than four years old.  I had recently recovered from pneumonia and while the adults around me sang this song, I realized for the first time that I had something to thank God for.  He'd healed me.  I remember feeling elated and finally part of the "club" although I still didn't know what it meant.

Let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks...