Monday

I recently read an article in which a book club leader stated that he only finishes about one out of ten books he starts. Finally I felt justified for all the books I haven't finished! I use the excuse that I get most of them from ebay, so hey, there’s not much money tied up in them…so it’s ok if I don’t really want to read it all.The fact is, I just seem to lose interest once I get the plot of a book and figure it out, or I never get interested at all. But if a book hits me, I can read and re-read it over the course of weeks. (Rosjuane calls me a re-reader, which she is NOT) This one thing I know about myself- if an idea or thought or story captures me, it really has me. If not, forget about it. Throw it in a box for a yard sale.I seem to take longer processing information, but afterwards, it often has a larger effect on me. This is sometimes known as overthinking things…..So many folks in church today suffer from this same issue- they take in so many Christian songs, Christian books, sermons, seminars and spiritual studies, but they they never really take the time to process, and to digest it on a personal level. They bounce around from idea to idea, truth to truth, and never really let is soak in, saturate, and effect who they really are. They just throw out to make room for another book.It's made me a little sad to see that I have been one of these people, robbing themselves of deeper transformation.Because I am an avid reader, I very often read too much, especially when it comes to religion. Now in the midst of our struggles we are facing, I am reading WAY too much.
It’s like taking a drink of water from a fire hydrant.
So instead of simply stuffing my brain with all these great books and articles, I am taking the time to digest one thing at a time. Taking time to realize the whole point of a story or lesson, rather than breezing through 10 devotionals a day.I've found that the prolonged practice of spiritual info overload leads to frustration, anxiety, and over time, profound distaste for a lot of it.
But taking the time to truly process, absorb, revisit and apply leads to great happiness and transformation, at least for me. So for the next several weeks we'll be taking apart and applying the truths we are studying at the Williams’ house at our small groups, where we are focusing on……..ONE BOOK! (or shall I say two, since the bible is included!)
I am ready! We have so much in store for us, and I am getting prepared for whatever that may be.
And, to my suprise, Jordan is ABC winner again this week! It's only been a month and a half since she got it last time, so this was a great thing to learn this afternoon.
She really enjoys emailing our extended family and telling them about these kinds of things, and about her other progress. When I see the things she sends out, it makes me proud that she is such a loving, and emotional child. She never holds back in telling someone "I love you and I can't wait to see you!!, I love it when you are proud of me!" Although her drama can be draining at times, I am proud of my baby and her ability to express her feelings so easily.
Tomorrow is a work day for me, and I am ready to get out of the house for a while. I still have a tiny bit of shopping to do, which I hope to knock out locally.
Supposedly it is going to be 75 degrees and I can't wait!