You see, I have this problem. It usually hits around October and stays till around January. I don't know why these particular months are such a hard stretch to get through, but year after year, I confront...The Slump.

I lack motivation to do important things.

My regular, knowledge-building reading falls by the wayside.

I have no urge to read my Bible.

Prayer is difficult at best.

And why is this? I really don't know.

I was talking to a friend and brother in Christ just recently and he point blank asked me *how* I overcome this slumpy, hazy, mindset that usually seems to flood my brain this time of year. When he asked me, I had no answer to give him. I didn't really know what to do about it for myself, much less anybody else. But I did have an idea.
I have had a working theory about how to fix this problem in my life, a plan I'd wanted to put into action, but I've never had the guts to try it out...until now.
The solution to my problem was actually pretty simple. But like many things in my life, my own pride concerning this had thus far prevented me from actually making any strides toward overcoming my lack of motivation.

I have always needed/wanted a Bible reading buddy -- someone who I could regularly sit down with (or call as the case may be) and just read. I wanted to read with someone just for the sake of reading and thinking, not necessarily for the sake of study. I already was studying for various Bible classes I was involved with, so dissecting every word/sentence/paragraph of a particular section of scripture was not the goal here.
But overcoming the challenge of my daily Bible reading schedule (which, mind you, has been staring me in the face with a very neglectful glint in its "eyes"...) was and continues to be a struggle. So like any frustrated, good-intentioned person, I finally got mad enough with the situation (read: myself) to do something about it.

So I found a friend -- a very dearly loved, non-judgmental, well-studied, enthusiastic-toward-Bible-reading-in-general kind of friend -- who was interested in trying out my little idea: read through a book of the Bible (Ezekiel, just in case you were wondering) just for the sake of reading it. And, wow. God's word is always amazing and full of things to learn from, but picking this particular book might have been providential. Reading *aloud* through Ezekiel is eye opening to say the least. It opened my eyes toward my own sin, toward how God views ALL sin, and how broken hearted He is when we sin.

If you've ever struggled to to *really* be conscious about God's will for you (::raises hand::), Ezekiel just might cure you.
After more than three hours of reading Ezekiel's God-given words, I found myself...changed...and humbled in so many ways.

I saw myself in the willful nation that God so greatly loved. I found that I too possessed the tendency to stray from the God Who loves my soul more than I love my *own* soul at times. I saw in myself that same propensity for seeking what is comfortable and "trustworthy" rather than what pleases God. I saw in myself all the things that I like to run from and hide behind, all of which God sees right through.

But I also saw hope; hope for the future and hope that I can get Home to the One Who loves my soul. I saw such great love amid the grief of sin. I saw a God Who wants to care for each and every soul like a shepherd tends his sheep.

And then it finally hit me, after forty eight chapters of Him saying it over and over again.
He showed it to Ezekiel (and vicariously us) in visions of His throne room, in graphic descriptions of what sin looks like, and in laments over how far Israel had strayed. So many different pictures, yet always the same message.

Everything happened so that we would KNOW that He is the Lord.

A message so subtle.
So huge.
So magnificent.
So ridiculously true.
And it took forty eight chapters for me to truly see it.

He is the Lord.

He wants us to choose life.

He wants us to start now.

It really is that simple.

So, what can you do to crawl out of that hazy, slump of a whole? My advice: find a buddy. Find someone (or several someones) to help you see with clarity what beautiful, life-changing messages are waiting to be discovered in God's word. You won't regret it. I surely don't.

After all, "Two are better than one...For if either of them falls, the other will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to life him up." Ecclesiastes 4:9,10

True words.
Take advantage of the buddy system.
Reach out.
Pull up your brother.
Pull up your sister.
Serve God together.
It's part of God's plan for you!

POLL QUESTION:

How do you (or I or anyone really) change your heart? How do you change how you think and convert that mind set into action?

Think about it.

Answers should be geared toward practical application.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Heidi

It's coming. I can feel it. The mornings are feeling rather crisp in my northern habitat. God's warning signs are making even the squirrels get busy. And pumpkin products are sounding rather appealing. Fall.

Autumn time just makes you want to curl up under a blanket in your living room, sipping a warm cup of coffee (or tea, if you like), and read a book. But when those cool days really come in full force, and you need a good book to read, what should you pick up? Well, that's a good question.
So, here are 10 picks to get you going and jump start the cool days ahead. Some of these you've seen before, but there are a few new ones thrown in. In no particular order....

1. Up a Road Slowly – Irene Hunt
This is without a doubt one of my most favorite works of fiction…of all time. Vivid, honest, and heart-warming, Hunt tells a story that will touch and change you. The heroine’s struggle to let go of the things she loves (for their own good) is a universal issue that affects every young woman at some point. Up a Road Slowly shows us how beautiful life can be if we’d only stop trying to control things and just let them happen. This is an enduring classic that has not only become comfort food for my heart, but also sparked my interest in writing in the first place. Worth re-reading.

2. Crazy Love – Francis Chan
Generally speaking, I’m not a fan of jumping on religious band wagons. A lot of the time, books written in the “religious world” are full of miss applications and error. But this first book by Francis Chan is different than the rest, I think. I had been perusing the book piles of a friend just recently, and noticed this book among my friend’s collection. I mentioned to my friend that I’d been wanting to read it because I’d heard so many good things about it and that I’d *almost* even bought a copy not long before (at full price no less…something I never do). My friend promptly pulled the book out of the pile and said, “Here, you can *have* it.” I was uber curious to know what would cause such a self-less action…and therefore, what must be inside the cover of this book that my friend felt compelled and willing to just give it to me. So I started reading. And reading. And reading. And just, wow. I was impressed by Chan’s thoughtful and correct application of scripture and, even more than that, his hard hitting challenge to love God more radically than our comfortable, church-going selves often do. I was humbled through his reminder of what kind of God I serve, ashamed of how often I fall short, encouraged that improvement is always possible, and awestruck by God’s grace through the Blood of His Son. Every day that I read a portion of this book, I always left with the realization that I have so much growing yet to do (but then, don’t we all?). Considering the subject matter, this is a very easy read and well worth your time. I flew through this one uncommonly fast, as will you if you choose to pick it up. Life changing.

3. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
I have to admit it. I’ve always been intimidated by the Bronte prose: dark and foreboding, rich language, intricate story lines, quintessential Gothic love stories; all good reasons to be included in the “classic literature” genre, but making for some challenging reading. I finally pushed through my fears and read it this past year. My first enitional reaction was: “wow.” Though this woman is fictional, her stature is what most women feel like during their lives: small, plain, and insignificant. Her character is what we wish we were: strong, unyielding (to wrong, that is), and willing to walk away from it all if it meant that she would sin against God. Truly, I felt drawn to this little woman whose determination was as unexpected as her situation, and whose ability to love was deeper than the wounds she suffered. Exceptionally gorgeous and expressive.

4. A Year Down Yonder – Richard Peck
This second offering in Peck’s two book series is without a doubt one of the most hilariously funny books I’ve ever read. I would often find myself laughing out loud while reading through this delightful story. Set during the Great Depression, we follow Mary Ellen as she spends a year in downstate IL living with her grandma Dowdel. Their escapades will leave you in stitches!! A very heart warming and easy read book you’ll enjoy for years to come.

5. The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey
There’s no denying it: money is a touchy subject with a lot of people. No one likes to admit how they’ve been misusing their money and no one likes to share just how rich or in debt they actually are. In Dave’s hard hitting and honest book, he challenges us to take our money seriously and tell it what to do rather that it telling *us* what to do. Drawing from scripture, your grandmother’s advice that you always hated to hear, and his own personal experiences, he gives us a road map to financial freedom. His advice is practical and his writing style is down to earth. Even if you’ve felt like a failure in the past, he shows us how some sacrifice and good work ethic can transform feelings of hopelessness and get you debt free for good!! Covering everything from budgeting to investing in Roth IRA accounts, Dave’s handy book will leave you feeling prepared to attack your debt and “live like no one else so later you can live like no one else!” A must read.

6. The Sherwood Ring – Elizabeth Marie Pope
History and an element of fantasy are blended together seamlessly in this delightful offering! Set in the time of the Revolutionary War, this book quickly worked its way into my heart through its captivating story line…or, should I say, story lines. The reader follows two story lines: one set in the modern day the other set in 1778. Historical fiction has never been so enjoyable. A page turner you won’t be able to put down!

7. The Screwtape Letters – C.S. Lewis
If there were such a thing as a required reading list for Christians (outside of the Bible, of course), this book would DEFINITELY be on that list. And if it were also possible to get into the mind of The Enemy and know his battle plan, Lewis has done that very thing with this imaginative and well-written expose. Christians everywhere need to read this book and be aware of how the devil may work…even through something so simple as a distraction from what’s important or as dangerous as a shadow of a doubt. Scary, eye-opening, and crucial.

8. Going Solo – Roald Dahl
Dahl, known mostly for his interesting children’s stories (such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and others), changes gears a bit with this amazing biography of his time as a pilot during World War II. While reading this, my emotions ran through the whole spectrum: genuine concern, utter shock and surprise, amusement, bewilderment, and even nail-biting anticipation. I learned some things, too. For example: the Swahili word “simba” means “lion.” I’m beginning to wonder if the creators of The Lion King used this as a source book. J I also credit this book with giving me my first war dream, complete with whizzing bullets, diving planes, dead bodies, and myself carrying small children across a war torn air field. No joke. It was intense. All in all, this was a very entertaining read. Just a warning, however, you will probably want to read this with some White Out in hand. I remember there being a few language issues, but nothing that couldn’t be remedied. I still really like this book.

9. Invitation to a Spiritual Revolution – Paul Earnhart
Having been intrigued by it’s title and impressed by it’s author, I finally decided that it was time to peruse this relatively small book by a dearly beloved servant of Christ. Earnhart’s verse by verse dissection of the Sermon on the Mount has become a staple in my library of religious literature, and for good reason. Using keen observation to the context and verbiage of Matthew’s account of the Sermon, Earnhart draws out the deeper meanings that we often over look and the thought processes that would have been present in most Pharisaical minds at the time. A stunning, revealing look at how far our culture has taken us from desiring to truly and deeply serve the God of Heaven with all our heart. Imperative.

10. Persuasion – Jane Austen
And since no legitimate reading list would be complete without a Jane Austen book, I suggest this one. Most Jane fans would probably say that Pride and Prejudice is the best of them all (though, it, too, is one of my all time favorites…), but Persuasion has been given a special place in my heart. If you’ve read this before, then you will know exactly what I mean when I say that this book is about growing up, repentance, and the incredible gift of second chances. So beautiful is this prose, it even merited underlining certain parts of the text…in pen. Also contained within its pages: the best proposal letter ever written. I loved this letter so much that I underlined the whole thing. This, my friends, is the very definition of classic literature. Relatable AND enjoyable!

I welcome your comments and other reading suggestions! Have a great day!

Just posted on the other blog, the link for which can be seen to your right.

Take a gander and weigh in here!

I look forward to your thoughts!

Heidi

My younger brother is getting married two weeks from tomorrow. I have any number of philosophical thoughts on the matter, but those are meant for another day and another post.

Oh how the years have slid on by. Walking down memory lane lots these days and becoming ever more grateful that God chose to bless me with my Command Man brother. :)

Excited, bewildered, sobered, and thankful all in the same thought.

We'd all appreciate your prayers as many people prepare to travel to Tennessee for the wedding! (And we'd also appreciate prayers for our sanity! Things have been crazy even on our end. :)