HOPE: Week 5

Our Hope meditation ends with this week’s reading but we won’t stop hoping, will we? I know my intention and practice to hope have been strengthened as we’ve done this study together. This week, will you please share how God has used our time together to increase your desire to Hope, or your ability to hope, or your willingness to Hope.

May our God help each one of us to look up, where the action really is, and see our lives and His Kingdom from His perspective so we can really hope!

Editor's Note: Please take a minute to participate in the poll...your input is important to Linda and WOTH as we plan for 2012. If you have any feedback in regards to the Book Club, you can leave a comment in this post's section or email directly to editor@womenofthaharvest.com. Thanks. Have a Merry Christmas readers!

HOPE: Week 4

So, today is one of those days when I really need the chapter we’re going to study this week. My heart is missing the benefits of hope right now. I’m writing these words before I’ve sat in this week’s words—but I already know I need to be reminded of their truth.

There are many reasons why my heart is gasping for these promises—extended family members in trouble, concerns about my work, feeling far away from home as I pack to leave one distant land for another tomorrow. My heart is weary, thirsty and needing my Savior’s care and anticipating His presence and perspective as I begin to read.

This week, would you please share about the times you need to remember Hope’s benefits and how remembering helps you? Thank you! I’m really looking forward to reading your comments.

HOPE: Week 3

One of this week’s questions in Chapter 3 asks if the people who know and love us would see us as people of Hope. I honestly don’t know the answer to that question and think I may have to do a poll. You see, I’m afraid that my desire to really be a hope-filled person colors my perspective of myself and I may not come across as hopeful as I want to be.

Just yesterday I had to talk myself into being hopeful about something. My Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) tendencies to be overly mournful and dramatic were more than shading my outlook. And, this probably happens more than I’m even aware. Which is a scary thought!

After you’ve spent time in this week’s writing, please share with us how you keep your thoughts focused on your True Hope? What do you do to keep your eyes on Him? I can’t wait to learn from you—please comment, OK?

HOPE: Week 2

I’m traveling a lot these days. More than I like! People ask if I’m excited to go to Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, Tennessee, or some other place on my itinerary. In a way I am, my role with Link Care takes me to visit missionaries around the world. But, sometimes I’d like to stay home, be more involved in my local church and be a neighbor to the people who live next door. My desire to connect at home can rob me of the joy of going to be with missionaries.

Sometimes I wonder if this doesn’t happen to us spiritually. We can be so connected to our present life that we lose our joy in our future hopes.

May I encourage you this week to really sit in this chapter and consider your future hopes? And, then, would you please share if you are drawn to a particular hope and why. Your perspectives will be a help to us as we consider if we truly live as if these future hopes are true.

HOPE: Week 1 - Introduction and Chapter 1

Our next three books are not long or full of words. You will find the potential for spiritual understanding and growth as you pick up these books and prayerfully sit in the Scriptures presented and answer the questions from a true, authentic heart.

These books are not Bible Studies in the traditional sense. Instead, they are books meant to be read as if you have a Spiritual Director sitting next to you, guiding you as you prayerfully consider Hope, Joy and Trust. I wrote these very short books from my own learning curve when God used life to teach me lessons through challenges and trials. I pray they will be a blessing to you. The truths we will explore have radically, and thankfully, changed my life. Be sure to read the introduction of each book for tips on how to get the most from these studies.

You may purchase the books at Condeo Press. Since they are short books, we will probably finish them by the end of February. You may want to go ahead and purchase all three to save on shipping.

Week 1: Introduction and Chapter 1

Besides my Savior, my daughter is the one who taught me to HOPE. She tattooed “Esperanza,” the Spanish word for hope, in large font letters across her lower back when she was holding onto Hope during a crisis in her college years. She lives in Asia and I only see her once or twice a year depending if my work takes me to her or her work brings her to me. The crisis is long past, but we’ve not forgotten and sometimes we’re still impacted by the events that changed all our lives.

Yet, I see the fruit of our hope when I visit with her—right now I’m in her 5^th grade classroom. I type these words as her fingers fly across her keyboard to prepare tomorrow’s lesson plans. God brought healing to her in such loving ways those many years ago! I thank Him and praise Him for His radical, generous, complete love in her life that has worked an amazing miracle. The pain we went through is a memory I don’t like to relive—the joy we live in now is a reason I choose Hope whenever a new crisis emerges.

This week, please share a time in your life when hope seemed impossible. Maybe it is right now—let us hope with you/for you. If it was in the past, can you share how your hope was lived out?

A word about sharing comments—we’re reading together and our book club isn’t the greatest at sharing our thoughts. We’d sure like to grow in that area, as it is in sharing and reading that we can truly impact and encourage each other. So, could you please consider commenting each week?

Hoping you will,

Linda

Next Book Club: November 7

Editor's Note: Linda will be speaking at the WOTH Retreat in Brazil this month, October 16 - 23. If you would like to know more about Linda and her heart, read her personal blog, Journey in Process.

We will take a break and resume Book Club on Monday, November 7.

The next book will be one in a series of three books that Linda has written: Hope: A Personal Journey. See sidebar for a synopsis and click on the book to purchase it online (only site were they are available).

The next two books we will be reading are shown as well. We look forward to continuing growing together...see you then!

Trusting in His Goodness: Week Twelve - Chapter 12, Enjoying His Rest

“….but let’s make it a lifelong goal to live in the circle of God’s goodness” is the phrase that brings this book to conclusion. After reading this last chapter and reflecting on the lessons of the past chapters, I know there is no greater goal for living life.

The testimonies we read this week from Mimi’s and Judi’s lives bring tears of wonder, joy and longing to me—I want to live the reality they know deep inside as they live within the circle of God’s goodness. And, to think—each one of us can.

How will you walk away from this book? What lessons do you carry with you? What holy habits have become part of your daily life?

My prayer for each of us is that we will be different because we read this book, took time to soak in its truth and learn to apply these lessons to our daily lives. My hope for our comments this week is that we’ll encourage one another to continue down this path of living in the circle of God’s amazing, gracious, generous goodness.

Thank you for reading this book with me. I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you—learning with you, learning from you. We are truly blessed, aren’t we?

Editor's Note: Linda will be speaking at the WOTH Retreat in Brazil this month, October 16 - 23. We will take a break and resume on Monday, November 7.

The next book will be one in a series of three books that Linda has written: Hope: A Personal Journey. See sidebar for a synopsis and click on the book to purchase it online (only site were they are available).

The next two books we will be reading are shown as well. We look forward to continuing growing together...see you then!

Trusting in His Goodness: Week Eleven - Chapter 11, Expecting Him to Show Up

My husband and I served with Mission Aviation Fellowship for 28 years—12 of those years in Latin America where he flew cross-cultural workers, medical people, teachers and church planters in and out of the vast Amazon jungle. I ‘followed’ his flights via the HF radio in our home, noting his take-off and landing times, how many passengers and how much fuel he had on board, as well as writing down each of the check points he flew over. If he was ever late making a call, I immediately began calling him—hoping to hear his voice assuring me that all was well. I expected him to show up with his plane where he was supposed to be. I looked for him. I listened for him. At times, I even watched the sky for him.

I’ve not been as diligent watching, listening, looking for God through-out my day. I would become nervous or apprehensive if I didn’t hear from my husband every 15-20 minutes when he was in the air. Of course, I had the static of the HF radio to remind me to listen—but in my daily life, with the circumstances that surround me, how much more am I reminded to listen/look for God and enjoy His presence with me? And, yet, I don’t. There are my morning prayers, my devotions, and my time of study. But hours can pass without a conscious thought that my God is with me.

I love the quote Mimi and Shelly give on page 183 from A. W. Tozer. “How good it would be if we could learn that God is easy to live with. He remembers our frame and knows we are dust….” I’m so thankful that He does know me, forgives me, and has patience with me. But, oh how I long to become more aware of Him. Do you? How do you practice His presence in your daily life?

Would you please share with us your holy habits that keep you aware that God is with you—and you with Him? I would love to hear your reflections on the truth of this important chapter and look forward to reading your comments.

Trusting in His Goodness: Week Ten - Chapter 10, Shipwrecks Turned Gorgeous Coral Reefs

As we near the end of this book, I’m getting closer to my 58^th birthday. I can’t really believe I’m this old until I remember all the stories of my life—and then the years really do add up to the present reality of 57 almost 58. In those stories, there is lots of evidence of God’s redeeming power in my life, His transforming work in the broken, ugly chapters that somehow now form a story full of His grace, mercy, forgiveness and power. “Redemption promises not replacement—a wholly new creation imposed on the old—but a transformation that somehow makes use of all that went on before….in the end evil will serve as a tool for good.” (page 166)

If you are like me, you will be caught by the beauty of this week’s scriptures as you read what Mimi and Shelly have written. My favorite was the passage they quoted from the Message in Romans 8:1-3. “With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.”

This week, let’s give praise and thanks to our God for His transforming work in our lives. Please share a testimony from your life of God’s amazing ability to take a shipwreck—something broken, and turn it into something beautiful that brings Him praise, glory and honor.

Trusting in His Goodness: Week 9 - Chapter 9, Beyond 'till death do us part'

Themes of love, lies and truth swirl through this chapter on the covenantal aspect of our relationship with God, our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Indweller, Friend and Lover. I found myself reading this chapter as if it was a love letter to me—a letter filled with truth that leads to hope.

My story is different than Cheryl’s—the woman Mimi and Shelly write about to help us understand the truth of God’s covenant relationship with us. Yet, I too have believed lies—I too need to listen and believe the healing truth. You may, too.

Please pay particular notice to the Scriptures in this chapter. Spend time in them. Notice how their truth applies and has been real in your life. Would you pick just one of the Scriptures and share how it impacts you, please? Then, I’d love to hear how being in a covenant relationship with our God has impacted your life. I look forward to hearing from you!

Trusting in His Goodness: Week 8 - Chapter 8, Trusting in His Grip

This week, I met with a woman who has two school aged children who both have severe handicaps. She is from an Asian country, spent much of her life living in Europe and now lives near me in New Jersey. She has known a lot of loss in her life—a lot of disappointment. I admit that I read this chapter with her in mind, trying to imagine how the truths Mimi and Shelly wrote about might impact her.

It is easy to trust in God when it appears He is answering all of our prayers with positive responses. It is more challenging to see Him at work when we’re hurting. Mimi and Shelly talk about giving our hurts to God. Do you have any experience doing this? If you do, could you share it with us, please? Your testimony will help us to grow in our trust.

This week, please consider commenting about your response to this chapter as well as one of the holy habits. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Trusting in His Goodness: Week 7 - Chapter 7, Becoming One

Do you know the old song, “I come to the garden alone?” The focus of those words is the joy of being in relationship with God—spending time listening and talking to each other. Shelly and Mimi say on page 118 that God’s “plan is to enjoy our company eternally and for us to enjoy His.” It never ever ceases to amaze me that God desires my companionship. Amazing!

On the same page, they write, “Our sense of intimacy with the Godhead continues to grow as we find tangible ways to see ourselves in the center of the joyful, loving reality of the Trinity.” Our God enjoys being Father, Son and Holy Spirit—enjoys being in relationship with each other and welcomes us to be in that relationship with them.”

I love the quote on page 122, “Another blessing of living from within the Trinity is that we both have come to know a freedom from needing to present a false self to others, to be something we are not.” My question for us to post about this week-is what blessing do you receive when you live from the reality of your relationship with God? And, what Holy Habit do you think will help you live from the truth that God desires us to be “in” them?

Blessings on your reading—may each of us grow closer, deeper and together with our God through this week’s chapter.

Trusting in His Goodness: Week 6 - Chapter 6, Radiant with Joy

This morning, I opened our book to study Joy with a broken heart. A precious relationship I treasure is growing distant. It appears the physical distance between us has grown too far for my friend to navigate anymore and I’m so sad. This isn’t a huge grief—and grief from the death of a loved one, or deep suffering from a dreaded disease of injustice. But, it is a loss—one you may know all about.

How do we live with Radiant Joy when life’s sorrows and struggles show up like thieves in the night to steal our joy? Mimi and Shelly share amazing and important truths with us in this important chapter. As you read, pay attention to your heart. Do you believe what they write? Is joy a reality in your life?

On page 103, they write, “Our daily circumstances cannot be the basis for our joy. The foundation for joy is the belief that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He promises. We have been gripped by the quote, ‘The opposite of joy is not sorrow, it is unbelief.’” What we believe really is important to experiencing joy in our lives.

We would love to read your reflections on this important chapter. Also—it would be great if you could share lessons you’ve learned about living with joy—with a joyful heart.

I hope you will comment this week!

Trusting in His Goodness: Week Five - Chapter 5, Guilt Free and Spiritually Whole

Who wouldn’t want to live life guilt free? I have to admit that I struggle with guilt—it comes out in my manner all the time. And, that is probably because I’m not as spiritually whole as I could be. I wonder, as I read this week’s title, what insights Mimi and Shelly have to offer someone like me—someone like you?

I don’t think you will be disappointed when you spend time in this chapter. These pages remind us of God’s holiness and His view of us—plus, Mimi and Shelly give us practical ways to respond to God’s holiness. If you are like me, your lack of holiness, your propensity to certain sinful behaviors may overwhelm you. Learning how to view ourselves as God sees us and also take steps to put off, take off, remove, bind and purify our hearts, minds, words and hands gives incredible relief and hope.

Please allow plenty of time to sit in these truths, to choose and apply a holy habit and to respond to God’s Holy Word. In our brokenness, God loves us just the way we are while He desires for us to be holy as He is holy. This transformative journey that we are on is truly miraculous—exciting—and life changing!

This week:

• Please post how learning to be holy as God is holy, to live guilt free and spiritually whole can, does will impact your life.
  

• Encourage us by sharing how you are going to apply one of the holy habits to your life. Thank you! It will be a blessing to each of us to hear from you!

Response:

I really like the idea of practicing turning from temptation to God. This reminds me of what Jesus taught about the emptiness of a soul cleansed needing to be filled or the evil would return 7 times over. I am working on remembering what I really want when I’m tempted.

Do I really want to get mad, or do I want peace?

Do I really want to believe lies, or do I want to believe truth?

This is the holy habit I’m working on this week—and believe me, I have a long ways to go. I’m very thankful though that I have been forgiven, cleansed, made whole—that I am loved and accepted—that God hasn’t given up on me but is confident of His transforming work in my life—these are truths that I cling to as God’s holiness overwhelms me and my enemy seeks to get me to live in condemnation. I’m so thankful I don’t have to listen to those lies or live in defeat. Yea, God!

Trusting in His Goodness: Week Four - Chapter 4, Swept Off Your Feet

Have you ever been swept off your feet with love? As a new bride, my husband swept me off my feet—in fact he still does. From my children’s conception they owned my heart. I’ve also been swept off my feet with friends who’ve claimed my love. Strangers living in distress have broken my heart and won my care. This chapter asks me to consider whether I realize how much God desires to sweep me off His feet with His love. Writing that sentence overpowers my heart with the realization that the God of the universe is courting me!

It would be easy for me to make a long list of the many ways God has wooed me—but I’ll just stick to today. He gave me breath this morning, welcomed me to the day, strengthened me for the task, and blessed me with wisdom and insights for my work. I felt Him speak quietly to me when words were missing and gently remind me of what is important when I was tempted. And this is all before 4 pm! I’ve been rested, fed and cared for even as I live with my weaknesses and chronic pain. I feel His love as I sit in His presence. Reading this chapter and soaking in the holy habits draws me even closer to Him.

There are dark nights of the soul—you may be in one right now. One of my friends has been in one for as long as I’ve known her though she continually faces God, waiting for Him to lift her from this place of disconnect that feels so distant from Him. Can we trust that even in distance He is loving us? Can we believe that in pain, suffering, injustice and hardships His love is never-ending? These are hard questions and as I read this chapter I had to confront them. Life tries to teach us to be wary of “God’s Love.” Is it for real?

I would love to hear how you respond to this chapter. Maybe you’d like to comment on how you are engaging with one of the holy habits to help you grow in realizing God’s amazing love for you.

Trusting in His Goodness: Week Three- Chapter 3, Dancing in Life-Giving Light

You will want to dance your way through this life-giving, encouraging chapter. Mimi’s and Shelley’s personal stories reflect the wonderful truth they are presenting in this chapter. I had taken the book to my bedroom where I hoped to read a bit before resting on this hot afternoon. Instead, their words woke me to a truth too exciting to read while lying down. In fact, I wanted to get up and dance when I read the prayers they suggest for spiritual and heart sight. “Shine your light in me so that I may see what you see. Use my eyes.” (p. 44) Though I often pray to see life from God’s perspective, I think there is a difference in their prayer and mine.

I also loved the words about our transformation into being the Light of the World that Jesus talks about in Matthew 5:14. Not only can God help us see what He sees, He can use us to show the world Himself. He is so gracious to use us in our imperfection and so powerful to transform our willingness to be light and reveal Himself to those who need His light. This is exciting stuff to live!

This week, as you read and ponder this chapter, please let go of “shoulds” and “oughts" that may cause you to assume you already know this truth. Let God take you deeper into dancing in His life-giving light. When you post, please share any new insights you’ve gained or the holy habit you wish to develop to help you grow in this amazing truth.

My Response:

It is really amazing that God’s power and light is great enough to shine through us to the extent that we are called to shine our light for the world to see Jesus! Amazing! One of the fun parts of our recent move from the West Coast to the East Coast has been learning to make friends with people who are from the “Big Apple.” Their no-nonsense reputations and lack of friendly exterior made them a bit intimidating to me—but as I started being who I really am, a pretty friendly child of God, people have begun to respond. We say “hey” as we meet someone on the street—they glance at us in surprise—and then they smile and greet us. That is pretty cool.

Looking clerks in the eyes and calling them by name with a kind word also gets a surprised response—but then a smile and some connection. This is just a small way for me to be light in my community—but I think it is a fun way to bring LIFE into the world around me. This has become a holy habit for me—one I hope to continue to practice!

Trusting in His Goodness: Week Two - Chapter 2, Out from Behind the Curtain

I will try to tell this story succinctly. My aunt had to move to a dementia care facility last fall. She was able to take her beloved cat with her. But, about a month ago he bit a fellow resident and was kicked out of the home. My nephew, Caleb, took Simba to live with him but his roommate’s allergies made cohabitation impossible.

My family lives in Washington and I live in New Jersey. I’m my aunt’s durable power of attorney—her happiness is my responsibility. Where to put Simba became the dominate topic of cross-continent phone conversations. Suggestions were often DOA, they just didn't work. Phone calls, posts of FB and conversations with friends only yielded suggestions to put the cat down, lie to Aunt Corrine and be done with it. But, my Mom and I just couldn't get peace about taking one of the last things my aunt has left and ending it with an injection. How could we dishonor her wishes? What would we say to her? Would we be able to find a solution? We agonized and we prayed.

God, who has allowed my aunt to have dementia, to lose her ability to live in her beloved condo surrounded by her life-long friends in her favorite city, found a home for her cat. God, who knows my aunt's sufferings from the indignity of loss of control, provided a way for us to honor her love for Simba. God, who sees my aunt surrounded by people who don't know where they are or remember who they are and who say really strange things, said yes to our plea for a solution for Simba. It seems incongruent to me. In the unwanted mess of aging, His goodness shows up in the attention He gives to a cat my aunt loves.

Somehow this encourages me in a baffling kind of way.

Why didn't He say yes to our prayers for my aunt to not have to walk this path? Why another burden for my Mom's slender shoulders? Why all the loss of dignity, health, home and friends? Why? I don't know... But, I see His love for her and even my mom when He gave my mom the idea of calling my cousin Sandy and she said yes to an aging, grumpy cat. I feel Him lifting my chin, forcing my eyes to look into His to see His goodness, His love, His care, His sorrow, His presence. In the incongruent He is here.

This afternoon, my Aunt Corrine rode with Simba, Caleb and my Mom to the old family farm. Sandy assured them Simba, a 15-year-old cat, is welcome to live with her and her 14-year-old cat. In fact, she'd wanted a new cat. I spoke to Aunt Corrine tonight and she sounded so happy to have spent part of the afternoon with Simba, happy that Simba has a new home. I'm happy, too. Thank you, God, for showing up in the discordant elements of my aunt's journey.

One of the Scriptures Mimi and Shelly will take us to this week is, "Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy” (Acts 14:17). The truth they write about in this chapter can be summed up in that verse.

God is good—we can look and see His goodness in creation and in His Word and in His care for us. I wonder, how you will read this chapter from the context of your setting. Where do you see the goodness of God this week? I look forward to reading your comments. I hope you’ll enjoy and be challenged by this week’s reading. Be sure to leave enough time to practice the Holy Habits and thoughtfully respond to the questions.

Where I’ve Seen God’s Goodness:

• This week I have seen God’s goodness in the healing of a friend whose heart was broken after her second miscarriage of a baby she has tried years to conceive. As I talked with her today, months after she lost the 2^nd baby, I’m hearing her be able to respond to God’s love and care and life that is all around her. The pain is still there, but there is also healing which can only be God’s amazing goodness.

• I’ve also seen His goodness in conversations on my couch with women who are really hurting. As l listen and cry with them, I also see God meet them right where they are and bring healing and hope to their troubled lives. I’ve started looking at my couch as a very sacred place!

• I’ve also seen God’s goodness while Skyping with my 2-year-old, precious grandson—such a gift to our family.

• I’ve seen His goodness in the strength He gives my Mom, the help He gives Kevin for his huge job as Executive Pastor at our church, and me with my work at Link Care.

I have so much to be thankful for—even my little window sill herb garden that is finally starting to thrive. God’s goodness has been in the hard places this week—and in the life-giving moments, too. I love Him so very much.

Trusting in His Goodness: Intro and Week One-Chapter 1

Introduction to Our Study

Welcome to this wonderful book study by Mimi Wilson and Shelly Volkhardt. My hope for us is that we will take time to sit in the truths of each week’s lesson and allow our lives to be changed. Please read each chapter early in the week so you will have time to reflect on the two concluding parts of each chapter.

• *“Holy Habits” will give us practical ways to respond to the truth of God’s goodness presented in each chapter.

• “Responding to His Word” will allow us to dig deeper into relevant Scriptures and answer pertinent questions to increase our understanding of this truth.

This isn’t a study to rush through. Let’s invite God to search our hearts and show us what we really believe, to teach us His truth, and release us from any lies we may believe and live by. I’m very excited for this study—and I’m very excited to complete it with you.

Our study will be as good as our participants’ comments. The purpose of this blog isn’t to give us ideas about books—instead, this blog is meant to be a community of online friends and companions who can read a book together and share thoughts and responses with each other. So, your comments really do matter. My hope is that you’ll be able to post your comments (either here or our private Facebook group) towards the end of each week. Each week’s chapter will be added to the blog on Monday.

Some Reasons People Don’t Post:
Other’s comments seem so wise, deep and intimidating
This is such a public forum
Not feeling safe or feeling shy
Lack of time to write a thoughtful comment
Not believing that what you have to share is important

Some Great Reasons To Post
You are just as wise and deep as others—you have a lot to contribute
It is public, but private, too as this isn’t a searchable blog site
This is a friendly community—we understand that we’re all at different places in our spiritual journey. We promise not to judge or condemn but to try and understand
Writing can take just a few minutes—and it is important to make time for you to be part of this community
What you have to say will impact the other readers

With that introduction and plea for your participation, let’s get started! My heart is hungry to learn more about God’s goodness. I expect to be changed as we read this book.

Welcome to this study!

Linda

Chapter One: 360 Degrees of Absolute Goodness

My husband and I recently made an umpteenth move—this time from California to New Jersey. Compared to past moves when our kids were still home, or when we moved to Venezuela, Ecuador or back to the States, this has been a very easy move. We are very happy in our new location. Except.

Except is such a powerful word and it is a word I’ve been focusing a lot on. Because, I’m very happy here except for the fact that one of my life-long friends seems to have decided that she is done changing her address book to make room for my new contact information. She isn’t responding to Skype, Facebook, emails and she’s not taking my phone calls. I don’t know what’s up or how to repair our friendship when she is unavailable to me. Our interrupted relationship has been a huge downer for me since we moved and it isn’t getting any easier.

I’ve just re-read our first chapter for the second time. Quotes from these pages challenge my heart’s perspective.

“Why would I sit under a tree and focus on the fruit I cannot have? ….Like Eve, we often look to what we don’t have and decide (many times without realizing it) that God must not be good since we cannot have what we desire” (p. 13).

“Goodness is His essence” (p.15).

“If all mankind had a cup and could dip it into the goodness of God’s character at the same time, our cups would be full and He would not have a drop less of goodness in Him” (p. 17).

“When we don’t pay attention to the goodness of God surrounding us, we starve our belief that God is good…” (p. 17).

“The first step to noticing God’s goodness is opening our eyes and looking for it” (p.18).

Lately, I’ve allowed my focus on what I can’t have to rob me of what God has given me. He is so good.

I hope you will enjoy this week’s reading. Please feel free to reflect in your comments about the” Holy Habits” and any “Responses to His Word” you’d like to share. But, what I’d really like to hear is what you’ve seen this week when you opened your eyes to notice God’s goodness. Would you at least share that with us, please? I know we’ll be greatly encouraged by each other’s observations.

A New [Spiritual] Direction Begins July 18

A Place for Spiritual Growth in Community Begins on July 18.

Linda Swanson, author, reader, WOTH Retreat speaker, spiritual director and current blog host, will continue to lead as we change direction in our purpose.

• Linda will pick a book and engage us in a conversation with the hope of helping us grow closer to Him, pointing us in His direction and providing a wonderful community with the purpose of keeping us spiritually fresh as we serve globally.

• And to create a more intimate and secure setting for you to grow, we will be taking our discussion to a new, more secure place: a Private Group created on Facebook, "WOTH | Book Club Blog"...to join, please refer to the left sidebar for instructions.

• The first book to get us started on our transformational journey is: Trusting in His Goodness, by Mimi Wilson (WOTH Retreat Speaker) and Shelly Volkhardt. See right sidebar for more on their book.

Join our FB Private Group and come back on July 18 to begin building community with women just like you!

If you don't want to be on Facebook, we welcome your participation here as well.

The Hawk and the Dove: Week 5- Book 3, Chapter 4 - Chapter 8

This is one of those books that I hate to turn the last page. Have you enjoyed reading about these Fathers and Brothers who lived so long ago and the lessons God taught them? I know I have—and I feel like I’ve been on a treasure hunt for quotes that give great insights into life and faith.

I especially was entranced and challenged by the conversation about life and death Tom and Peregrine have on pages 466-476. On page 473 Peregrine says, “God did not watch me weep, watch part of me die in misery. We share one breath, he and I. God also wept, groaned, died. He carries my wounds in his body. My gut clenched in sobbing, and it was the heartache of God. All my fear and defeat are scars that he wears on his breast. But, God lives in eternal bliss. God can’t die. Surely that was the point about Jesus; he came so we could have life—to put an end to death. God’s supposed to lift us up! It’s a poor do if our miseries drag God down in the dirt too, isn’t it?”

The conversation continues, but I will stop there because I have to say I agree and disagree with what Peregrine says. I live because of the life God breathed in me. God cares deeply and I do believe He shares my suffering/sadness. At the same time, I don’t believe my suffering weighs Him down even though he feels it deeply. He is God. He is bigger than our shared sadness over the suffering of the world. So though He feels sadness, anger, and maybe even frustration—He is above those emotions because He knows He will complete His good work, He knows He will redeem everything. He is so amazing and worthy of our respect and worship.

As we come to the end of this book, what do you take away from our last reading and from this book? I look forward to reading your comments. Thank you for reading with me!

The Hawk and the Dove: Week 4- Book 2, Chapter 8 - Book 3, Chapter 3

Death and deep suffering are themes we will read about in this week. We’ll also read about triumph through courage, love, devotion and perseverance. As you read this week, please focus on the emotions of our characters—the family learning the stories, the children who visit the Monks, the Abbott and brothers in the monastery. What do you see? How do you experience what they are facing?

Do you remember the quote on page 206 from Melissa’s mother? In response to her daughters’ conversation about what makes a good friend she says, “I’ve had friends who’ve disappointed me. Sometimes, even the ones who loved me have let me down, not understood, and betrayed my trust. That’s only human nature, isn’t it? I dare say I’ve done as much to them. No, I would say….that because we all have our failings and weaknesses, because each of us is only human, a friend–a good friend–is someone who helps you to persevere…”

How do you see our favorite monks being encouraged to persevere in these pages? How do they respond to that encouragement?

One more set of questions: When do you need help persevering? Who helps you persevere? How do you respond to their encouragement?

I look forward to reading your comments. Through our comments we can help each other persevere.

The Hawk and the Dove: Week 3 - Book 2, Chapters 4-7

The chapter titles in this section of our book are enough to give me pause. “The Poor in Spirit,” “Beholding the Heart, “God’s Wounds,” “Holy Poverty,” each contain stories of spiritual growth. I wonder—this week will you share which story spoke the strongest to you?

I found the discussion of ordinary poverty and holy poverty to be very challenging and thought provoking (p. 307). “With the ordinary sort, the worst thing is having no choice, being trapped in it. With holy poverty, the hard thing is being faithful to it, having chosen it.” How often do I struggle against the consequences of my own choice, my own decision? I may believe my decision is right, the path that God has laid out for me. But, that doesn’t mean I always accept that decision’s results.

Another passage that caused me to wrestle is found in Guillaume and Peregrine’s conversation later in that same chapter. On page 349, Peregrine says, “Why do you mock our simplicity? Am I pretentious to insist on it? No, no it cannot be right to live like kings when we are supposed to be like Jesus. Can it?” After a very lame response by Guillaume, Peregrine responds with a passionate call for the monks to be the presence of Jesus in a world that needs Him. I wonder, from your perspective of living with poor people all around you, do you agree with Peregrine? I look forward to reading your comments!

The Hawk and the Dove: Week 2 - Book 1, Chapter 1 to Book 2, Chapter 3

The seemingly simple stories of this book contain deep lessons for us. I can be coasting along, enjoying the pretty scenery Penelope Wilcock is creating, when all of a sudden a phrase, paragraph, page captures more than my imagination and I have to pause to ponder.

There were three quotes from this week’s reading that impacted me. I’ll share one here, hoping you’ll share a quote in your comments this week.

"I think there were two reasons for that. One was simply that a man with broken hands can’t protect himself, or manage tools and things as well as we can. But also, it was because he wanted so much to be like Jesus, he wasn’t afraid to put himself in the place where he was vulnerable to hurt." (Page 139)

In my years of serving overseas, I was often vulnerable to hurt through disappointment, hard life situations. My heart wasn’t courageous. I couldn’t have said I wasn’t afraid to put myself in a place where I was vulnerable to hurt. I was often afraid. Being willing to live a vulnerable lifestyle is an on-going lesson for me. When I’m looking in God’s eyes, I can say I want this. It is when I focus on myself that my desire to be fully surrendered wavers.

This book has given me a wake-up call and reset my focus. What lessons are you learning? I can’t wait to read your comments.

The Hawk and the Dove: Book 1--Chapters 1 - 6

We aren’t going to dilly-dally our way through this wonderful book. In just five weeks, we’ll be turning the last page and reluctantly saying good-bye to new friends. For some of you, though, our schedule of reading may be too slow—you won’t want to put this great book down. I truly hope you will enjoy this book, even if at times your theology differs from the monks, the mother who introduces them to us, and Melissa, who is discovering life and God as a fifteen year-old.

I think this is my third time to read this trilogy. Each time, I’m fascinated by the lives lived so differently than mine and the lessons God teaches and redeems through the realities of life in a large poor family and life in a monastery. I hope you will enjoy reading their stories and learning more about our God who we see in them.
May I ask a huge favor? This is a book club blog, which implies we are each members. As members, we need to share our reflections and responses, observations and thoughts to what we read in order for our club to be the best it can be. So, please read with us and comment--OK? I look forward to hearing from you. Each week’s introduction will be posted on Monday. It would be great if you could post your comments before the following Monday. Thank you!

This week’s reading will introduce you to most of our book’s characters and set the stage for the great stories we will read. Not only that, I think you’ll find yourselves wanting to befriend Melissa and her family so you could have tea in their home or desiring to make a pilgrimage to the Monks’ monastery to stay in their guest house and view their world.

For your comments this week, please write about the people you meet in these first six chapters. Who captures your attention? Why? What do you begin to see in their lives that fits lessons you are learning or have learned in the past? I look forward to reading your comments!

New Book Discussion Starts June 6

Who: YOU

What: Join us in a lively and thoughtful time discussing the book, The Hawk and the Dove, with our host-moderator Linda Swanson.

When: Starts Monday, June 6 with a new post each Monday

Where: Here! Get the book at a discount by ordering it through Inklings Bookshop [see sidebar for details].

Why: Reading is always a good thing...Being in community while reading is even better!

Come back on June 6!

The Help: Week 6--Chapters 28-34

This week’s reading brings more truth to the light. Skeeter’s mom has been keeping something from her. Why do you think she didn’t want Skeeter to know she has cancer? Have you ever held back the truth in order to protect someone? Has someone protected you from truth? How do you process that?

Page 410 includes these words: “Did I hear right? I say with my eyes. Your heard right, Louvenia’s say back.” We communicate in so many ways. Across the room a shrug of a shoulder, a quiet smirk, a quick nod can say more than paragraphs of words can say. These chapters reveal secrets—send secrets scattering. The implications and consequences are real. Which ones surprise you, hurt you, challenge you?

I’m finding it hard to say good-bye to some of the women in these pages. Some of them, I admit, I’d rather never see again—but some of them I wish I could know. Who will you take with you from this book? What lessons did they teach you?

Thank you for reading with me. I’ve learned a lot from your comments and observations!

The Help: Week 5--Chapters 21-27

This is a book about stories—the impact telling the truth with our stories. Abilene tells mae Mobley “secret stories” even though she knows she “could get in a lot a trouble telling” them to her. Talking is getting people into a lot of trouble in these chapters—and keeping people from talking is becoming just as important as getting people to talk.

Have you ever shared something with someone you later wished you’d never said? What were the repercussions? Have you ever influenced someone not to say something? How did that work out?

Living authentic, transparent lives is something we are challenged to do—but it does come with consequences. How do you balance truth with safety, honesty with prudence?

The Help: Week 4--Chapters 16-20

I sometimes see red when I read these pages. I can’t believe the cruelty—it catches me by surprise. The ease in which it is practiced, accepted, expected is so wrong. The loneliness of those it impacts is very raw. For this week’s comments, I’d like to hear how this cruelty impacted and shaped the interactions of the women—whites to whites, whites to blacks, blacks to blacks. Do you see this type of cruelty in your world or have you experienced it? How does it impact the people you observe?

Miss Skeeter finds herself struggling with the impact of the cruelty in her world and her naïve assumption that her desire to have maids talk to her wouldn’t cause trouble. On page 239 she thinks, “They’d killed Carl Roberts for speaking out, for talking. I think about how easy I thought it would be, three months ago, to get a dozen maids to talk to me. Like they’d just been waiting, all this time, to spill their stories to a white woman. How stupid I’d been.” Then, the writing goes on, “When I can’t take the heat another second, I go sit in the only cool place on Longleaf.” She escapes as best she can.

Do you find yourself escaping the reality around you? Where do you go when you can’t take “the heat” anymore?

The Help: Week 3 - Chapters 11-15

This week, chapter 13 contains Minny’s summation of Skeeter’s writing project. “Half this stuff don’t have nothing to do with colored rights. Ain’t but day-to-day business…..Look to me like you just writing life.” As you read, notice “life.” The ordinary is woven into this extraordinary tale. Where do you see it? How does it balance the pain on these pages?

There are painful relationships throughout this book. So far, which ones are you relating to the most? Why? I know I want to feel hopeful about Stuart and Skeeter. She seems to need a soul-mate, someone who really understands her. Somehow, I’m not convinced he is going to turn out to be good for her—but I hope he is.

The Help: Week 2--Chapters 6-10

Page 129 may contain the key sentence for this book. It hits me hard when I read, “I’ve been trying to tell white women the truth about working for them since I was fourteen years old.” Truth for Miss Skeeter means one thing—a chance to develop a career, get published, more on. Truth for Aibileen and Minny is convoluted, valued and yet something to fear.

In response to this week’s reading, would you please reflect on the positive and negative impacts of truth in your life?

You will also notice in this week’s ready the many layers of prejudice. Please comment about the one that stands out to you? Do you find this prejudice in your setting? If you do, how do you deal with it?

The Help: Week 1-Chapters 1-5

This is a book that is hard for me to put down. I’ve just read it for the second time in less than a year and I hope you will enjoy it, too. This isn’t an easy read—our author isn’t writing about a pretty or easy subject. Sometimes I squirmed as I turned the pages and as I read, many emotions assaulted me—embarrassment, shame, disgust, anger, sadness, and sometimes joy.

It takes courage to represent black and white women from decades ago who lived in the US South where racism created strict roles between white wives and mothers and the women who carefully, fearfully served them. Kathryn Stockett meets the challenge with clarity and compassion, honesty and timely wit to tell the stories of a small community of women. The lines that divided them seem to be drawn by fear, tradition and prejudice, ignorance, cruelty. The tragic daily results of bigotry and snobbery crowd the pages already lined with women we come to care deeply about as we read. This book is about the past, but there are truths that are still present today.

I would like to ask that if you are reading this book with us that you please comment on each week’s blog post. Our online reading club is at its best when you comment, so please share your thoughts and responses with us. I’ll give the introduction to our reading each Monday. If you can comment on that post before the next post goes up the following Monday, that would be great.

This week, I’d like to ask that you write about the themes you see in our first 5 chapters. Which one stands out to you? Why? Do you see any themes that are still present today—where you live and serve? I’m really looking forward to reading this great book and your comments. I hope you’ll post!

Happy reading!

Linda

Next Book Club Starts April 4!

Next book: The Help, Kathyrn Stockett

Starts: April 4 - May 30

Order your book now: 30% discount through Inklings Bookstore--see sidebar for details.

For a book synopsis, click here.

In the Presence of My Enemies: Week 8

Chapters 21, 22, 23

I’m anxious to process these three chapters with you. This has been a challenging book for me to read—and I’m sure it has been for you, too. The story of Gracia’s rescue and recovery dramatically alters her life—forever. As you read these chapters, please look for the positives and negatives that you think either help or hinder the healing process in her life. What lessons can you take from those influences to apply in your life?

How do you think Gracia’s experience impacted her?

How do you think this book impacted you? What are the lessons you take away from it?

Again—thanks for sharing this book with me. May God use it to teach us how to live whatever challenges He allows into our lives.

Next book: The Help, Kathyrn Stockett

Starts: April 4 - May 30

Order your book now: 30% discount through Inklings Bookstore--see sidebar for details.

For a book synopsis, click here.

In the Presence of My Enemies: Week 7

Chapters 18, 19, 20

Thank you for sticking with us. Let’s finish our book club well—OK. We’re getting to some tough pages—and many have already been very hard to comprehend. I wonder if you will find these three chapters difficult to read. I sure did. They contain accounts of hunger, sickness, despair and worse. As you read, please pay particular attention to the emotional challenges Martin and Gracia experience. What causes them? Where do they come from? What do Martin and Gracia do to fight them?

I’d like to ask you to share about how you cope with emotional challenges. Are there spiritual practices you find helpful?

How do you respond to Martin’s death and Gracia’s rescue? I really can’t imagine living this part of Gracia’s story.

We’ll finish our book next week—Thank you so much for participating. This book challenges my thinking in several ways. I’m glad I’ve been able to process it with you!

In the Presence of My Enemies: Week 6

Chapters 15, 16, 17

Martin and Gracia have constantly been learning and adapting throughout their time in captivity. They’ve learned to flex (when to share their one tooth brush and when not to), when to give up dreams (discarding jeans that no longer fit and take up too much space and energy to carry) and how to interact with the different people in their lives. I really admire their learners’ hearts. They didn’t stay stuck—they kept on learning even in such trying circumstances.

This week—would you please share lessons you’ve learned through trials or difficult circumstances?

How has something hard produced something good in your life through the lessons you learned?