Author: everydaywiththeking

books, Goals

Bring The Books

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If you’ve read the blog post – Social Media  you may find yourself with a renewed interest in books and other activities that you enjoyed before the smartphone takeover.

Randy Alcorn recently wrote about why we should be reading more. He gives a little challenge that I hope you will decide to try.

“PLEASE turn off the television and open a great book and begin to read. Tell yourself you will read a minimum of ten minutes before watching something or looking at a device. I guarantee you that if you do this every day, some days you will never turn on the TV. An hour or two will go by and you’ll realize how much better reading is than watching.”  – Randy Alcorn

Read the entire post from Randy Alcorn – Make Reading a Priority—and Let Books Change You—in the Coming Year

Here are a few suggestions

Many websites and blogs have a recommended reading page. Do you have some favorite authors? Author websites often have a page with links to reading resources. LifeWay has a separate new website devoted to cultivating a greater love of books – LifeWay.books 

Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.   – Paul

– 2 Timothy 4:13

We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure time, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterward you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master’s service. Paul cries, “Bring the books” — join in the cry.

– Charles Spurgeon

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me._ - C.S. Lewis

Bring The Books!

Do you have a reading suggestion or a comment about books?

Please share ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bible, Bible reading plan

Psalm 19

everydaywiththeking

I’m reading each morning in the One Year Bible this year. Psalm 19 was included in the daily reading this week on January 23.ps. !9

Take a look at the first four verses in the NKJV and AMPC version.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.

Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.    Psalm 19:1-4 NKJV

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.

 Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.

 There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard.

 Yet their voice [in evidence] goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world.      Psalm 19:1-4 AMPC

Don’t you think it is amazing that God is speaking to us each day everywhere in the world we live in?

Look anywhere and He is to be found if you want to see. Are you looking?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning says it so simply.

earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with god, but only he who sees takes off his shoes;the rest sit round a

 

Goals

Social Media

everydaywiththeking

Last year I found benefit in taking a break from social media for a while. I’m not and have never been one of those people who is constantly looking down at their phone. But I felt like too much of my time was given to social media and wanted to see what the results would be if I just stopped it.

See these posts — Social Media Break  — Returning From Social Media Break

There were those who began warning early on of the dangers of social media addiction. Remember the video – Look Up – from Gary Turk? That video is from April of 2014. In the years since that video was released many more people have fallen under the spell of constant social media. Today the consequences are becoming clear. We now know enough to conclude that too much social media is very damaging. Information is showing up in books, articles, Ted Talks and individual life experiences convincing us that we must not continue in this pattern.

Social media robs valuable time and delivers very little of worth. Instead of promoting social involvement, as the phrase, social media would suggest, it is actually an anti-social activity. Look around when you’re in public areas and you’ll notice people with their eyes locked on the screen of their cell phone.

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There is good news. Take a little time to learn about the harm of social media and what can be done about it. Explore the helpful links included in the rest of this post.

Quit social media | Dr. Cal Newport | TEDx Talk

Manoush Zomorodi    Ted Talk

Cutting the Cord: Cell Phone Addiction by John Eldredge

What I Gained When I Lost My Social Media Addiction

25 Websites Other Than Social Media To Upgrade Your Life

Let me conclude this post about social media with a favorite quote. I always find this quote to be helpful in determining if something is beneficial or not.

“Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of the body over the mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may seem in itself.”    ~Susanna Wesley

social media

What do you think?

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on this subject

 

 

 

Bible, Bible reading plan, Goals

Bible Reading Plan

everydaywiththeking

Do you have a daily Bible reading plan for 2019?

This year I’m using The One Year Bible. It is ideal for reading through the entire Bible over the course of a year with each day including a portion from Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs.img_20190108_104257939 - edited

With so many different ways to go about reading the Bible, sometimes it is confusing to choose a plan. I invite you to join me in reading along in The One Year Bible if you are not currently using a different plan.

See below for links to access this Bible. It is available in paperback, e-book, and online.

Links ↓

The One Year Bible – ChristianBook.com

Link to complete – One Year Bible Online

Joining me? Let me know!

Have a different plan? Please share your Bible reading plan ♥

Check out the – Bible Study Page – for links to more great Bible resources

bible reading plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goals

Welcome to 2019

everydaywiththeking

January is the month that many are setting goals, and making resolutions for the year. Often the idea is to eliminate a bad habit and/or start a new habit. According to statistics most of these fall by the wayside before March. I don’t say that to discourage you but to emphasize the importance of not giving up on your goals. If you fail to maintain your new habit simply start over regardless of the date on the calendar.

If you would like some help in reaching goals you might want to read a post I shared last year → 2018

This year I’m setting out to re-establish a great habit that I had years ago. Even after a habit is solidly established it can still be easily lost if it is not maintained. The habit I want to start again is daily journal writing. In hopes of strengthening my commitment, I bought a very nice refillable journal.

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How about you?

Sharing your goals can help you become more solidly committed to making it happen.

I look forward to reading about your goals in the comments below!

Happy New Year ♥

Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom.   -Psalm 90:12 NLT

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.  – Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC

2019

Christmas, Jesus

Christmas Carols

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Can you imagine the Christmas season without the songs?

If you take the time to focus on the lyrics you’ll find many of the beloved carols are not only beautiful but powerful and rich in theology. So don’t simply sing Christmas carols but take them to heart.

John Wesley gave some helpful instructions concerning the proper attitude to have when singing. Here are a few excerpts from his “Directions on Singing”

…Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep, but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, then when you sang the songs of Satan…

Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve…

John Wesley’s brother Charles Wesley wrote – Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

O Come O Come Emmanuel is a 9th-century hymn, originally in Latin

Both of these songs clearly speak of the longing for the arrival of Jesus. For believers today the songs also express our aching anticipation of His Return.

Share your favorite carol in the comments below.

Christmas Carols

Book Reviews, books, Christmas, Corrie ten Boom

Christmas Books

everydaywiththeking

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Sharing some favorite Christmas books today

 

A Christmas Carol 

by

Charles Dickens 

Christmas books (1)

 

God Is In The Manger

by

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Christmas books (3)

 

The Women of Christmas

by

Liz Curtis Higgs

Christmas books (2)

 

Corrie’s Christmas Memories

by

Corrie ten Boom

 

Christmas books (4)

Read more about → Corrie’s Christmas Memories

Please share your favorite Christmas books in the comments below

Christmas books

Book Reviews, books

Snowy Day Reading

everydaywiththeking

On Sunday the first snow storm of the season arrived!
The grocery store trip was completed the day before so no last-minute rush for supplies. I had everything needed to make my potato leek soup, plenty of cookies, coffee, logs for the fire, extra cat food and seed for the birds. What else could possibly be needed?

If you are a reader, you know that a book to read is as much a part of snow day preparation as the soup and the cookies… When the first snow began to fall it was time to choose. In my closet is a stack of to-read books and there are the Nook books on my tablet. But this time the choice of which book was easy because some time ago I’d set aside a particular book to read on a snow day.

 

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Description on back cover

I started reading as the snow was falling and quickly knew this was a perfect choice for snow day reading. As the storm continued I found myself involved in the story trying to solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and exploring hidden mysteries scattered through the pages.

We ended up getting more snow than was predicted resulting in an additional snow day on Monday. This worked out perfectly allowing me to finish the book.

The Book Of Hours was a very enjoyable read ♥

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Bonnie (photo above) loves reading time but was having a difficult time keeping her eyes open.

Have you read The Book Of Hours by Davis Bunn?

What book do you recommend for a snowy day read?

Please share in the comments below

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Christmas

Tis The Season

everydaywiththeking

The season is here!

What came to your mind as you turned your calendar to December this year?

  • Advent                                        christmas-2961385_1920
  • Family
  • Traditions
  • Celebration
  • Shopping
  • Gift-giving
  • Decorating
  • Baking

Ideally, it is a season of wonder and joy with families gathering and celebrating together.

However, it is not always so wonderful for all. For many, the season is difficult and challenging. Christmas time can be sad, lonely, painful and a time of struggle. Some have recently suffered a great loss and some are overwhelmed by various difficulties at this particular time. Many are missing loved ones more in this season than any other time of the year.

If you’re missing someone this Christmas this song’s dedicated to you

– The Piano Guys

If this is a hard season for you, don’t put on an artificial smile and act as if you are fine. Remember many others are also feeling like you. Consider being honest with a friend, neighbor, co-worker or loved one and you may find unexpected help and comfort for your heart.

May God give us awareness of those around us who are struggling this Christmas. Let’s notice others and love them. Slow down, pay attention. Look for those Jesus wants to reach out to through your hands. Be thankful for the opportunity and you may be surprised to discover the true meaning of the season.

Thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he is our Father and the source of all mercy and comfort. For he gives us comfort in our trials so that we in turn may be able to give the same sort of strong sympathy to others in theirs. Indeed, experience shows that the more we share Christ’s suffering the more we are able to give of his encouragement. This means that if we experience trouble we can pass on to you comfort and spiritual help; for if we ourselves have been comforted we know how to encourage you to endure patiently the same sort of troubles that we have ourselves endured. We are quite confident that if you have to suffer troubles as we have done, then, like us, you will find the comfort and encouragement of God.

– 2 Corinthians 1:4-7    J.B. Phillips

Tis the season ♥

Your comments are welcome. Always love to hear from readers.

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