A Hopeful Ambition

Only 8 days left until the premiere of The Hobbit! 

The excitement is building, midnight tickets are bought, and the book is being read! I am a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings movies but am sad to say I never read the books for that trilogy nor for The Hobbit. I am changing that now though! I have only a week to finish the book and I have just started it but I have great motivation to read it before the movie comes out so I think I will be successful. 

The Beauty of This Morning

Sometimes you have to take advantage of those mornings on the days where you have no classes until 1 in the afternoon! Today I did that.

After pleasure reading for a bit last night I went to bed at the lovely hour of 11:30 then proceeded to sleep for 9 hours until my alarm went off at 8:30. I just laid in bed and prayed for some time to prepare myself for the day. After choosing the perfect "throw back thursday" picture (that's always a good time) I warmed a couple of homemade muffins (those yummy Apple Butter ones I mentioned in my previous post), made a nice cup of coffee, and cracked open my pleasure book again. I read for over an hour! Reading is one of my favorite past times and I rarely have time to dive into a book for that long. I then finished a report for lab and read the chapters for my lab quiz this afternoon! I even had time to curl my hair - this makes for a lovely day! For lunch I don't even have to leave my room. I get to eat the yummy soup Morgan made because she was so kind to send some back with me! :) Today has been quite wonderful! Not to mention, having time to write on my blog always makes me happy! 

Here is a little excerpt from the book I have been reading,

"But the issue is to accept who you are and revel in that... You have to find what's good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now." 

(Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom)

I am about to finish this book and I am so excited that I actually have had the time to do this. Now I have two weeks to start and finish The Hobbit before the movie premieres! 

In college day like these are rare so I make the most of them when I can! This is especially refreshing as classes come to an end and there are projects due and much studying to do for finals.  

Enjoy today!

Words

Has someone ever said something to you that really meant a lot? It really impacted you? Maybe it wasn't in a good way. Maybe it made your day. Words have the tendency to create; create feelings, opinions, thoughts, motivation. Just a few words from someone could really change a lot. I like words. Words can create pictures, inspire ideas, and stir up passion.

Especially words from a book.

I like books.

My favorite type of books have come to be non fiction Christian books. There are plenty of repetitive, boring, dry Christian books. I've picked up a few, tried to keep reading because I don't like to stop something I have started, then realized I was wasting my time. Then there have been those books that cause me to think... think past my little box... think outside of who I am and what I have experienced. The words that spring from those pages are inspiring. They inspire me to be who I was made to be, do what I was called to do, and live how God wants me to live.

So what books are those? Well, these are just a few...

• Strengthen Yourself In the Lord - Bill Johnson. It has been a while since I read this one but I just like Bill Johnson. He has lots of books that I have heard are very good!
• Captivating - John and Stasi Eldredge. I encourage every girl, woman, mom, female, and even those guys who are interested enough about God's calling for a woman to read it. They forget the rules, the limitations, and the "this is how you have to do it" and share the freedom we have to just be. Be who God has created us to be. It is encouraging, motivating, inspiring, and the list of positive adjectives could keep going. I received so much from this book and actually plan to read it again very soon (and I normally don't read books twice).
• Crazy Love - Francis Chan. Eye-opening. Awakening. Thought-provoking. = This book described in just a few words. It opens your eyes to the crazy love God has for us and encourages you to not take it for granted but live your life for the One who gives you breath each and every day.
• The Purple Pig and Other Miracles - Dick Eastman. I'm sure there are a few of you thinking "What in the world? The purple pig?" Yes. The purple pig. This is actually the book I am in the middle of right now. For a teenager who longs to see God's Kingdom come to earth and His will be done in her life this book is perfect. I had a special friend recommend it and allow me to borrow it. Perfect timing. With everything God is doing in my life this book is so encouraging.
• I have a few other books that are on the list: Windows of the Soul - Ken Gire. One Thousand Gifts - Ann Voskamp. Listening Is an Act of Love - Dave Isay. Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom. Fresh Brewed Life - Nicole Johnson. Wild at Heart - John Eldredge. Other John Eldredge books. And C.S. Lewis. Yes, I have a long list. And yes, I have even more I could add!

I like words a lot. They have motivated me. These books have impacted me and God has used them to work in my life. I encourage you to read. Read the Bible (the best words) and read other Christian books. They are full of stories and inspiration.

If you have any recommendations for good books, please share! I always like to hear what other people are reading! Or if you have read any books on my list and have anything to add or say, I would love to hear that too :)

I'll be back to again to share about what I thought of my next few books!

What I've Been Reading

I love to read...anything from scripture to fantasy fiction books.

1) I'm always trying to concentrate somewhere in scripture. Right now I am in Matthew. I love the Gospels because it is Jesus in action! It is exactly what we can be doing too.

John 14:12-14

¹²I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.¹³And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (very powerful scripture)

When I get to a new book in the Bible I chew(read over and over-trying to find deeper meaning) and digest(taking it in then applying) it.

2) Jesus Speaks To Teens - a book I got for Christmas. I really like it. It is simple which is good right now with me being so busy. It is divided into "sections of lessons". The first one started out with humility-something I have really been working on. I focused on that for a long time and am about to move onto the next. The first part of it gives examples in the Bible and explains Jesus walking it out then it has lots of quotes and scriptures. It is really neat!

3) White by Ted Dekker...the third in the Circle trilogy. I have already read Black and Red. It really isn't a trilogy anymore because he added Green. I have loved them so far. It is taking me a long time to get through White just because of time. I know if I sit down and read I will want to for a couple of hours. =) I am halfway through it and the suspense is killing me! I really recommend these books...this specific series is kind of a Christian fantasy. I know lots of people who have read his other books and said they are really good...I haven't gotten to them...yet. :)

4) Tim Echols' book, Real Citizenship. This book is for Teen Pact, a Christian government camp I am going to in April. I am so excited! I have only read the introduction, but so far it is good.

5) Any other books I am reading right now are for school, but it's literature so I love it. We just finished Antigone...a really interesting play, but I think I am liking these Greek tragedies. We are moving onto Hamlet next...I'm excited and also wondering what it is going to be like!

If I could read all the time, I definitely would. I have been trying to space it all out so I can actually read all of it! :)