Thursday, December 22, 2011

A Reading Journal

As far back as I can remember, my mother has kept a reading journal. I suppose it goes back about 40 years. In the 1980's I started one as well. Originally in a small spiral notebook, I eventually transferred my log to a pretty pink kitten journal given to me by a friend. It is nearly time to start a new page for the new year 2012.

This was not a record breaking year for reading. I managed about 30 medium to long books this year. I enjoyed nearly all of them. What a difference they added to my days! I definitely agree with the saying, "So many books, so little time." We fit time in wherever we can...the doctor's office, ballet practice, after the kids are in bed. And we are enriched and transported to another time and place.

If you've never kept track of your reading it is the perfect time to start. You can do it so many different ways...whatever works best for you. List your book and author, rate your book, mark if you would give it as a gift, if you had any objections to it, or if you absolutely loved it! It's nearly impossible to remember your reaction to all your books if you let too much time pass.

I can always look back and see if I read something and what my response was to it. It is helpful not only to yourself but to other people. I particularly like to stock up on my favorites and give them to friends or guests to my home. I couldn't tell you how many copies of Stepping Heavenward I have gifted to a friend. Used bookstores are filled with your favorites just sitting there waiting for you to find them.

Have a wonderful new reading year. Hope you'll discover some great new authors and renew your acquaintance with old favorites.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Christmas "Story"

In all your reading this season, please remember to include the account of the birth of Jesus given to us in the Scripture. Remember that the first schools in our country were fashioned to teach the children how to read God's Word.  Thereby, they were bringing up good and righteous people to be the next leaders of the New World.

There is an abundant of wonderful Christmas literature to read this time of year. Let us not neglect the greatest Words of them all.

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An Angel Promises the Birth of Jesus to Mary  -  Luke 1:26-38
Mary Visits Expectant Elizabeth & the birth of John the Baptist  -  Luke 1:39-80
An Angel Appears to Joseph -  Matthew 1:1-24
Jesus is Born in Bethlehem  -  Luke 2:1-7
The Shepherd's Angelic Encounter and Their Visit to Jesus  -  Luke 2: 8-20
Mary and Joseph Bring Jesus at the Temple (Simeon and Anna)  -  Luke 2:21-39
The Wise Men Arrive to Worship  -  Matthew 2:1-12
The Escape to Egypt  -  Matthew 2:13-18
The Return to Nazareth  -  Matthew 19-23
Prophecy of the birth of a Messiah  -  Isaiah 7:14
Prophecy of the character of the Messiah  -  Isaiah 9:6-7
Prophecy that Messiah will be out of Bethlehem  -  Micah 5:2
The Timing of Christ's Birth  -  Galatians 4:4-5

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Some of these passages are moderate in length and are something that can be read each day with your children. By the end of December they may even have a portion memorized.  What great and important things to commit to memory!

May you have a very Merry Christmas.
Enjoy!