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Larissa's bookshelf: read-2010-11




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Just Enough Religion.....

In The Hours

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 cor 15: 20-25

Christ has conquered death for us. Although, for a little while we are still fighting the battle with death, we know that in Christ it cannot triumph over us. Even in death there is victory, because in Christ there is Victory over sin! Christ killed sin in his death and in His ressurection He killed death's hold here on earth. Today I remember the promises He has made to His own and encourage you to turn away from a life of sin and death toward a life rooted in Christ.

In memory of S.F.C.

Peace

There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself completely to God's commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won when the way leads to the cross.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer from his "Peace Speech" c. 1934.

What If?

"Suppose God wants to teach you to say, "I know how to be abased"--are you ready to be offered up like that? Are you ready to be not so much as a drop in a bucket--to be so hopelessly insignificant that you are never thought of again in connection with the life you served? Are you willing to spend and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister?"

— Oswald Chambers

Aren't These Faces A Fab Birthday Present?

If you are DYING to see me preggers....click Here. And yes I did start the end of my twenties today! Happy Birthday to me! ;)

Christmas Memories

Fifth Time's A Charm?

Or should I say that the fifth time one travels down that pregnancy road, one has offically entered the "No-SANE-Zone"? This time around the block has been much different than the last times--and since Petra's pregnancy got 'extra' coverage I thought this baby needs some attention prior to birth too.

The Good, The Bad, and the Nutty...

• Did I mention that I HATE orange Juice? I mean I really, really don't like it. I don't even like oranges peeled and segmented. Don't know why, I love lemons, limes, clementines, tangalos, grapefruit...but not OJ! And so it has come as quite a shock to be drinking the hated beverage and actually have it help with the acid in my stomach--who knew?!
• For a girl who usually don't show much (yeah I know horrible grammar) before month 4 or 5, it has come as quite a shock at weeks 8-10 to quickly outgrow all of my pants. But there have been some amazing strides in maternity stuff in the last three years or so and Target is AWESOME! If you are preggs and need some way to extend the life of your clothing without breaking your bank, go there and get a belly band! Highly recommend! And if you can't just run over to target, please let me know and I will personally send you one of these gems! You gotta have one!
• Because my belly is already so big for me, my kids rub it like it has magic powers. I cannot wait for the day they can feel the moving, then there will really be a riot in this home.
• My house is a bigger wreck than ever before! Four kids + one sick momma+ dad starting new job= HUGE BOMB WENT OFF! So No I don't handle everything, I frequently barely make it through the day and actually feed everyone! Never fear though, I am ready to feel normal again! Just a matter of months.
• I have two names picked, but I am still not convinced they are the ones--we will see as the time passes what I feel like this name will be. I get to pick this one all by myself this time (with obvious veto power retained by the hubs) so we have a new exerience on our hands, wish me luck! I tried to get help from the kids, but somehow Snowflake just doesn't cut it these days.
• Hip trouble has been a big thing this time and we are only a third of the way through. I think this will be an interesting adventure, to say the least.
• I am not quite ready to post a pregs pic, I will get there soon! When I am back to doing my hair more regularly and not wearing my husbands sweatshirts to be comfortable while I combat the sicknessy reality--I will post some pictures then.

Only What We Need Today?

Can you imgaine how different our lives of faith might be if we actually made this more important than a New Year's Resolution?