My Top Books for 2011

Don't get too excited, this is most definitely not a list of the best works published this year. In fact, I don't think I've read a brand new book in years. No, this is a list of my top favorite books that I read this year.

10. Little Dorrit

I really enjoyed this book, partly because it was one of the best classics that I read all year. It may also have to do with the fact that I am doing it as part of a British Literature class.

9. The Dark Foundations


The second book in a Christian Sci-Fi series/trilogy, it appealed to that sci-fi loving side of me, but was good and clean. Still not 100% on any of the theology that's shown in the book, but as far as a story goes, it's great.

8. Mother


A title so little revered nowadays, this story shows the value and honorable calling of a woman staying home to care for her children.

7. That Printer of Udell's

Love shown in actions is a strong theme throughout this book, and something that I've been running across quite a bit this year. The way you live your life is very important. Every action is seen by others who could be making decisions on faith based one what they see lived out in your life. Make it count.

6. Mara, Daughter of the Nile

Reverting back to fiction, we have a great adventure set in ancient Egypt. Full of intrigue and conspiracy among the lotus plants of the Nile River make it an enchanting place to spend a few evenings.

5. Do Hard Things


As with several others on this list, Do Hard Things is a reread, but one that is well worth it. The books that impact me the most are the ones that inspire me to do better in my life and Christian walk, and this book certainly does. Low expectations are the bane of the modern world, and this book shows how young people can stand up, grow up, and take on the responsibilities that they are fully capable of.

4. His Chosen Bride

This book takes single young women through Proverbs 31 and how it applies to them right now in their lives. It covers all sorts of topics from contentment, to service, to trusting God with your future.

3. The Greatest Thing in the World

All about love, this very small book discusses the nine components of love: patience, kindness, humility, generosity, courtesy, unselfishness, good-temper, guilelessness, and sincerity. We're not talking about mushy-gushy feelings of romance here, but true love and how it can and should affect every aspect of our lives and the lives of those around us.

2. Revolution in World Missions

Mainly telling the story of a man's road to becoming the founder of Gospel for Asia, where people can help reach the poor and lost of Asia by sponsoring national missionaries as well as children. It often reads like an autobiography, yet it also proposes many great thoughts and ideas for changing the way we think about world missions and our role in them.

1. Evidence Not Seen

This is another autobiography. Reading the story of Darlene Deibler Rose was an incredible journey that portrayed faith, obedience, and love in amazing ways. Certainly ways that you would never expect for a prisoner of war for four years in New Guinea.

~

Any of these books would be ones that I would recommend with little or no disclaimers. I was about to add "especially the last two", but then I wanted to add the third one, and then the fourth one and so on. Truly, this was a great selection of books to read this year. Please, find one and read it! If you do, let me know what you thought of it.

Also, if you would like to see the other books that I have read this year, check out my Goodreads page.

Pondering Christmas, Classics, and Cars

It's oh so close to Christmas Day, and I am sometimes forgetful of it. Sometimes I'm in the "mood" and sometimes I'm not. I realize however that "mood" has nothing to do with the real reason for Christmas. For some great thoughts on that, check out my sister's post, "Seasons Thoughts".






Last night I finished reading an awesome Charles Dickens book, Little Dorrit. It was a great ending, for the most part, with the two main characters finally coming together. Arthur Clenham after all of his searching is to never know the past, but his future will be sweet indeed with Amy by his side. Unfortunately, the rest of it was all a little confusing. Dickens does have an annoying habit refraining from giving name to the characters he is speaking of in certain chapters, and you are left to work it out for yourself. Ah well.

Now I am left with the terrible choice of choosing a new book to read. Do I want to read a classic or a contemporary thriller? Sci-fi, or historical fiction? Christian living, or just a book of pure and fun fluff? It's tough, and Little Dorrit is an act that is tough to follow! Perhaps it's about time to actually read A Christmas Carol?

I have never taught anyone how to drive before, let alone how to drive a stick, yet that is exactly what I found myself doing this evening. Due to a rapid shortening of allotted time, my sister was eager to learn how to drive my car, so that it would be available to her on numerous occasions. So we set off together.  It wasn't too bad. I realize that I am certainly not the most qualified person to teach driving a stick, but since my own experiences are still relatively fresh in my mind, it made it very easy to feel great gushy gobs of sympathy for Georgie.

We both survived the episode, despite my unnecessary cries each time we jolted uncomfortably. Now I know what it's like to be a passenger when someone like me is driving! My car has certainly been an learning experience!

All in all, as I have heard several people mention before, December is going by in a flash, and before I know it the year will be 2012 A.D.  I am learning to put my trust in God, who will comfort and sustain me through any trials that may come.

Merry Christmas!

How To Keep Christmas Well

Problems with Pinterest Philosophies ~ Part 1

Feel free to be you.

Life is too short to be someone else, be you.

You are beautiful.

You are the only you.

Believe in yourself.

You are unique.

You are who you are.

You need to hear all of these things, so embrace them and make them your mantra and never change.

At least, that's what the world is telling everyone, most notably on Pinterest but in a million other ways as well. In fact, it's getting rather confusing. Does the world want us to fit in, or be ourselves? It gets more confusing when "being ourselves" means wearing the same clothes, listening to the same music, and having the same hobbies as all of those other people who are "being themselves".

That's not the point.

The point is, there is a recurring bit of grammar in each of those short sentences that makes me sick. Have you caught it yet? It's a pronoun. Let's go back and take a look.

~

Feel free to be you.

Life is too short to be someone else, be you.

You are beautiful.

You are the only you.

Believe in yourself.

You are unique.

You are who you are.

You need to hear all of these things, so embrace them and make them your mantra and never change.

~

All of these sayings point to you. They appeal to your natural instinct for self-preservation, self-pity, self-commendation, and self-anything-else-you-can-think-of. That's a lot of self. 

I know there are times when we are down in the dumps, feel like everyone is against us, or like life will never be the big fairytale that Pinterest makes it out to be. (Another fallacy for another time!) I don't think feeding the Self-Monster is the right way to go, though.

In fact, the Bible is very explicit on the matter of self, as we can see from a couple of verses.

Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

James 3:16
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

There's only one "self" that you encouraged to have and that is self-control. 

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

So on those days when you don't feel like a princess (or prince, as the case may be!), when you feel ugly, hopeless, or lack motivation, what do you do? If embracing the selfish sayings is...well...embracing the selfish, then what's left to help you feel better? No, it isn't food.

The best princesses are caring of others. The best way to promote your own well-being is to do what you can for those around you. Stop thinking of yourself! If the mood and atmosphere is dark, then get up and do something for someone else! Please, stop thinking of you.

Okay, so we've got that established, but now you want a list of practical ways to help others, right? I thought so.

1. Clean the kitchen. Not only will it make you feel better to see those sparkling counters, but it makes everyone else feel better too. Especially the person who has to make dinner.
2. Make dinner. If Mom makes dinner, than I know that she'd love to have a break for one evening.
3. Play a game. Gather together your siblings, especially the ones who are constantly begging you to play with them. Engage in their conversation. Laugh. Enjoy their sparkling eyes.
4. Vacuum the carpets. This always makes a difference, not only in appearance, but it's a great way to force out that bad humor!
5. Take a meal to your Grandparents. Not only will they appreciate the meal, they'll appreciate seeing you as well!
6. Volunteer. There are thousands of places to volunteer at, so find one that fits your preferences (or better yet, one that doesn't!) and go for it! I used to volunteer at the local library, but other ideas are soup kitchens, charity bazaars, and community service.
7. Plan a family outing and suggest the idea to your parents. Extra points if you can plan something that doesn't cost much!
8. Do a chore that has been neglected for a long time. Does the stove need to be cleaned? Books need organized? Laundry need to be folded? Do it!

As a final thought-provoking inspiration, here's a video that I think fits with this idea of dying to self quite well. If we only have a short time on earth, what are we doing to make that time extend into a glorious eternity?