bekahcubed

Categories Faith

A Cracked Mirror

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Last week, a woman from my church shared with me how something I’d written on my blog had impacted her life.

Something I’d written had encouraged her to step back and let her husband lead.

Something I’d written had been used by God to make her a better woman, a better wife.

After reading what I’d written, she released control of an issue. She supported her husband’s decision. She experienced immediate breakthrough in the situation she’d been hanging on to.

Wow.

I’m amazed. I’m humbled. I’m blessed.

That God could use me–a single woman who feels so very messed up–to minister truth to another woman.

That God could use me to bless a marriage, a family.

It’s an awesome privilege.

Thank you, dear Lord, for using me. And thank you, dear readers, for letting God speak to you through a cracked mirror like myself.

Categories Following Christ

Envying the Wicked

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It’s easy to envy the wicked, to covet the peace and prosperity the godless seem to enjoy. I look at their houses, their husbands, their children, their jobs. Why cannot I have such things as they?

Because I have one thing far better.

I have God.

He’ll never leave.

Their houses and goods, friendships and family could all vanish–my God will always remain.

Their possessions are always subject to loss.

Mine, if Christ is my all, is eternally secure.

He will never leave me.

He will never forsake me.

What are a thousand earthly possessions compared to that?

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
~Hebrews 13:5

Categories Family & Friends

A Smile on my face and a load off my back

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This last weekend was hard for me. Really hard.

I had a lot on my heart, a lot on my mind. The burden was too much for me to bear.

I went throughout my days. I did what needed to be done. But the burden weighed me down.

I couldn’t just shrug the melancholy away. Couldn’t pretend that I was happy. Couldn’t conjure a smile, even though I tried.

Monday morning, I wrote on my Facebook wall: “Rebekah Menter has misplaced her smile. If you’ve seen it, please let me know. I’d really like to reclaim it.” (Kinda a whiney post, wasn’t it? I’m sorry.)

It wasn’t the easiest day–but the end put a smile on my face and took a load off my back.

I was walking to my car from the class I teach when I received a text from a friend I hadn’t seen for (literally) years. She said she saw me walking and wanted to say hello–and that she missed me.

I had to wait for the tears to subside before I could drive home.

I’d asked my dad earlier if he had some time available that evening to talk–he didn’t, but he took off work early so we could chat. We holed ourselves away in his office and I shared my burden with him. He offered to take some of it–the hardest part–upon himself.

It still isn’t easy, but knowing that my dad is acting on my behalf makes it much easier.

Then I got home and went up to my room to drop my bags from the day–and found this waiting on my desk.

Stuff to put a smile on my face

Au Gratin Potato Chips. Sardines in Mustard Sauce. Smiley Face Gummy Snacks. Some Stickers from Walmart. Three Yellow Flowers in a Vase. And a note from my roommate.

“Hope these small things help you relocate your smile!”

Yes, indeed, they have.

I am so blessed to once again have a smile on my face and a load off my back.

Categories What's on Your Nightstand?

Nightstand (September 2010)

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On last month’s nightstand:

On my nightstandOn my nightstand

What I actually read this month was…

Fiction

  • By Way of the Silverthorns by Grace Livingston Hill
  • Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo (Review)
  • Love’s Enduring Promise by Janette Oke
  • Love’s Long Journey by Janette Oke
  • Masquerade by Nancy Moser
  • Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

Nonfiction

  • Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule (Review)
  • Light and Easy Menus by Cooking Light
  • Manufacturing Depression by Gary Greenberg (Review)
  • Proverbs translated by Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro (Quotes)
  • A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken (Notes)
    It’s hard to top Lisa’s review, which, in addition to being a good review, is poetry in and of itself. Ergo, I didn’t even try. I did however, write some notes and quotes as I read. Follow the link above to see those.
  • The World According to Mr. Rogers
    A collection of quotes from Fred Rogers. Feel good, humanistic, nothing spectacular.

Juvenile

  • Children’s Picture Books author Babcock-Baker (55 titles)
  • The Homeschool Liberation League by Lucy Frank (Review)

Currently in the middle of…

On my nightstand

  • Desiring God by John Piper
    I’m currently reading this one and writing up some of my reflections here on bekahcubed.
  • Dreaming of Dior by Charlotte Smith
    I added this to my TBR after reading Bermuda Onion’s review. So far, I’m enjoying it a lot.
  • Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris
    My progress on this book has ground to a halt as each of us in this book club have gotten uber-busy with school starting up again, a couple of us getting new/additional jobs, etc. Don’t know when (or if) we’ll be finishing it up. For those who’ve been wanting my opinion on it, since my review from a second read-through appears to be still a long way into the distance, I like this book a lot. That’s why I suggested it for book club read-through. Most of what Harris shares is just plain Orthodox evangelical doctrine–but it’s a good broad overview of Christian theology and why “average Joe” Christians ought to study it.
  • A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
    I quoted this in yesterday’s Week in Words post
  • Founding Faith by Steven Waldman
    I’m nearing the end of this book. It’s so near I can taste it. But alas, I am not done yet. And if I were, I wouldn’t have time to review it anyway. It’ll be finished by next month. I promise.
  • The Kingdom of God is Within You by Leo Tolstoy
    A new book for my politically/theologically inclined book club. I’m so glad Randy decided to take up the baton and get us going for a second go-round. This should be an interesting discussion since so far we’ve got two raging liberals, one not-so-raging but still liberal, one raging conservative (me), one raging libertarian, and one peaceful soul who hasn’t yet raged his political views :-)

On this month’s nightstand:

On my nightstand

Fiction

  • Amorelle by Grace Livingston Hill
  • Love’s Abiding Joy by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

  • The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande (Lisa’s Review)
  • Crochet Inspiration by Sasha Kagan
  • A Dictionary of Christian Theology edited by Alan Richardson
  • How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper by Robert A. Day
  • Justice that Restores by Chuck Colson
  • Making the Big Move by Cathy Goodwin
  • Money Saving Slow Cooking by Sandra Lee
  • The Narnian by Alan Jacobs
  • Nina Garcia’s Look Book by Nina Garcia
  • Not Quite What I was Planning
  • Nothing to Wear? by Jesse Garza and Joe Lupo
  • Radical by David Platt
    Reviews by Lisa of Lisa Notes, Vitamin Z, Sandra Peoples, Lisa formerly of 5M4B, and Carrie–basically, the whole world is talking about this one! :-)

Juvenile

  • Children’s Picture Books author BALIAN-?
  • Ask Me Anything a Dorling-Kindersley book
  • C.S. Lewis: The Chronicler of Narnia by Mary Dodson Wade
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • Nebraska an “America the Beautiful” book by Ann Heinrichs
  • Nebraska a “Celebrate the States” book by Ruth Bjorklund
  • The Old Motel Mystery created by Gertrude Chandler Warner
  • The Secret of Skull Mountain by Franklin W. Dixon

Yeah. The chances that I’ll actually read these all are about nil, since I’m uber-busy now (take my previous schedule, add 26 hours of commitments and you’ve got my new schedule.) Maybe I’ll have time to read again come January when I go to having just one full-time job?

Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.
What's on Your Nightstand?

Categories Book Reviews, Homemaking

Book Review: “Handmade Home” by Amanda Blake Soule

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My friend read it and loved it.

“You’ve got to read this book,” she said.

I dutifully placed it on my TBR list and waited for it to become available at my library.

It took awhile. It’s a popular book.

But once I got it, I knew why.

It’s filled with gorgeous projects for re-purposing old items into new “pretties” (and “usefuls”) for your home.

Projects range from bags and pillows to children’s toys to “green” items (cloth diapers and women’s cloths) to clothing items to curtains, banners, and table runners.

And there’s the lovely towel rug that I decided to make for myself. I have dozens of vintage towels I saved from my Grandmother’s collection, intending to repurpose them into something. I originally thought I’d make a throw–but for the last year or so, I’ve been thinking I’d use them to make some easy washable bath mats.

Towel rug

Soule’s towel rug, made with a towel and a garage-saled pillowcase, fit the bill perfectly. Having made this one, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for more garage sale/thrift store sheets and pillowcases. ‘Cause I don’t think I’ll be done until I’ve made a whole set of these!

Towel rug

Rating: 4 stars
Category: Sewing Crafts
Synopsis: 30 Household Sewing Projects from Amanda Blake Soule, blogger at SouleMama.com
Recommendation: Lovely projects, pretty pictures, engaging commentary. Sewers and crafters will want to take a peak at this book.

Visit my books page for more reviews and notes.

Categories The Week in Words

WiW: The Happiness of Love

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The Week in Words

“…What you tell me about in the nights. That is not love. That is only passion and lust. When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve.”

“I don’t love.”

“You will. I know you will. Then you will be happy.”

“I’m happy. I’ve always been happy.”

“It is another thing. You cannot know about it unless you have it.”

~Ernest Hemingway A Farewell to Arms

The young priest explains his conception of love and of love’s benefits to the American soldier. The soldier proclaims that he doesn’t need such love. “I’ve always been happy.”

The priest counters: You only think you’ve been happy because you’ve never known the true happiness of love.

The soldier asks if he can find such love with a woman.

The priest answers that he does not know. The priest has never loved a woman. He has only loved God.

The priest does not know. But I do.

No, dear soldier. You cannot find such love with a woman–just as I cannot find such love with a man.

You cannot find a love that will never disappoint. You cannot find a love that will always satisfy. You cannot find a love that promises forever happiness in any mere man or woman.

You can only find such love in Christ.

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

~Romans 5:7-11

It is a whole new type of happiness, a rejoicing unknown by those who have only known the pleasures of this earth or the love of a mere human. It is a love that served us while we were enemies, a love that incites in us adoration.

You will be happy when you love Him. Because when you love Him, it will be be because He first loved you. You will be happy when you love Him, because then you will know His love.

Then and only then will you know the happiness of love. “It is another thing. You cannot know about it unless you have it.”

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.

Categories Family & Friends

Sunday Snapshot: Engine Check

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Last Sunday, on my way to church, my car’s “check engine” light flashed on.

Since I’m doing a fair bit of traveling these days with my new job in another town, I knew I wanted to get things checked out quickly.

So I asked my brother Timothy, who works at a car lot, to recommend a place to go.

He said he could read the error if I’d just take my car up to the lot.

I complied, of course.

Timothy reading my engine

We wrote down the error code, returned home to look up what it meant, and quickly did some troubleshooting by the side of the car.

Turns out my gas cap was not fully screwed on and that was causing a pressure reading to “flag” the check engine light.

We screwed the cap on tightly and I drove away.

15 minutes, no money, no problems.

Having family in the “car business” works for me!

Categories Recap

Recap (Sep 12-25)

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New on bekahcubed

Perhaps you’ve noticed that I’m now posting book reviews as part of my regular blog schedule. What with living and working in two towns, I simply do not have the time to sustain a two post a day schedule and write reviews on the side. What’s more, since I do my manual html coding and ftp uploading and the like on a desktop computer located in only one of those cities, it’s just not convenient to do manual coding for things that I want to do on a regular basis (like book reviews!) So expect to see book reviews cropping up more regularly in my daily posts–and disappearing from my “New on bekahcubed” recap posts.

Read Recently

Laugh out loud funnies:

News to take note of:

  • AHA releases a position paper on smokeless tobacco
    Here we go again: “Smokeless tobacco products not a safe alternative to smoking”. Absolutely right. But they ARE a safER alternative to smoking. And they don’t have the same second-hand effects–you’re not poisoning someone else while you’re at it! Grrr!
  • Gas Mask Bra now available to public
    Inventor says “Isn’t that wonderful that women have two breasts, not just one? We can save not only our own life, but also the life of a man of our choice next to us.” Unfortunately, these are only currently available in firecracker red–and in a limited selection of sizes. (HT: Instapundit)
  • Speaking English Makes You Fat!
    Okay, that’s not quite what this article says–but I don’t doubt many an unscientifically minded journalist might report it as such. Let this be a lesson to you about trusting causational conclusions drawn from correlational studies!

On Christianity and Politics:

Categories Memes

(8 Questions x 2) – 1

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I was about to despair at having no memes to do this week, when Carrie open-tagged her readers for an “eight question” post.

Why thank you, Carrie, I think I’ll play along!

While Carrie officially instructed her readers to pick their favorite eight of the sixteen she had received, I have a hard time cutting things down so I just went with all of them–except that I only kept one of the two near-duplicate questions.

Which is why you’re getting (8 questions x 2) – 1

1. What is your favorite children’s book of all time?

I can’t choose. I’m not super attached to little kid children’s books–but I have dozens of early-reader-type chapter books that I love. By which I mean, the Little House books, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Anne of Green Gables series, and a select few others.

2. What is it that you like most about where you live?

I’m close to my family.

3. What is it that you like least about where you live?

I’m close to my family? (Actually, I’m teasing there. I’m not sure exactly. Probably that I’m a renter so I don’t have as much freedom to do whatever I’d like with the house. Then again, I don’t think I’d want to own this house. It wasn’t spectacularly well-built and will probably need a lot of work in the next few years.)

4. Do you have any special fall traditions?

Not really. For all of my life, fall has meant the beginning of school. Next year will be my first year without that, since I’m now working in the private non-academic sector (!) and I should be done with my Master’s by then.

5. What is your favorite holiday, and why?

Christmas. Because… it just is. Because I like an excuse to make crafty stuff for my home. Because I like an excuse to give people things I’ve made. Because I LOVE to feed people. Because it’s a holiday that lasts a month. Because it’s opportunity to spend time with family. And because it’s a celebration of Christ’s birth.

6. Do you still eat sugary kid’s breakfast cereals? Do you have a favorite?

I don’t still eat sugary kid’s breakfast cereals, I now eat sugary kids breakfast cereals. (I never ate them as a kid.) Now I enjoy generic-brand fruit loops every so often (once a week or less).

7. If you could pick any age to stay at (teens, 20’s, 30’s, 100’s), which age would it be?

I don’t know that I’d pick an age to stay at–but I know which age I’ve been internally for quite a while. I think that my soul is the soul of a 35 year old woman. I hypothesize that, while I currently feel older than people my own age (and even many older than me), once I turn 35 I will start feeling younger than everyone.

We’ll see how that little hypothesis turns out.

8. What do you enjoy most, and least about blogging?

Most? Getting compliments. Least? Letting too much of my identity get tied up in how people respond to my blogging.

9. What was your childhood nickname? How did you get it? Are you still called that now? (Oops — I guess that’s three in one!)

One of my first nicknames was “bekahcubed”. I was just learning to talk and my dad asked me what my name was. I responded “Anna” (my older sister’s name.) My dad, concerned that his daughter didn’t know what her name was, replied “No, you’re Bekah. Bekah. Bekah.” He asked me again what my name was. “Anna.” And again and again. New(ish) father that he was (realize that I am only 14 months younger than my older sister), my dad was becoming more and more worried about his daughter. Then he asked me again what my name was and I answered: “I’m Bekah-bekah-bekah!” It was then that he realized that his concern was misplaced. He didn’t have a SLOW daughter–just a playful one! “Bekah-bekah-bekah” became my name–except that it was quickly shortened to bekahcubed (you know, bekah x bekah x bekah = bekah^3)

10. Miracle Whip or mayonnaise?

Depends on what it’s on/with.

11. What is your favorite season and why?

Spring, because I love the contrast of fresh new green grass and soil made soft by the freeze-thaw cycle of winter. Spring, because I love the first day I can take off my shoes and walk barefoot on freshly turned earth. Spring, because I love dropping seeds into the ground and then covering them over. Spring, because I can get back on my bicycle after a long winter’s break. Spring, because there’s fresh lettuce and spinach and rhubarb in the garden. So, yeah. Spring.

12. When you are sick, do you like a lot of attention and pampering, or do you like to be left alone?

What better pampering than to be left alone with a good book and plenty of hot tea?

13. Share one pleasant childhood memory.

I was nine years old, my mom had gone to the hospital. A family friend was taking care of us at our house. Yvonne woke Anna and I up a little after two in the morning to let us know that we had a new baby sister. The boys didn’t find out until morning, but after four boys, Yvonne was thrilled that this was a girl–and she couldn’t help but share her excitement with us.

14. Share a time a hymn ministered to you in a special way.

I was overwhelmed by what lay before me. God ministered to me through “Trust and Obey”.

I experienced a great sorrow. God ministered to me again through “Trust and Obey.”

It seemed like I had no direction. God ministered to me again through “Trust and Obey.”

I have a new job in a new city. My heart is conflicted. God is still ministering to me through “Trust and Obey.”

15. Describe your favorite coffee mug (or show us a photo of it). Why do you like it?

Hmm-I don’t really have a favorite coffee mug. I generally drink my coffee or tea out of a generic looking blue mug with a somewhat rounded shape. I like it because it’s bigger than the souvenir-style mugs.

So tell me now–what about you? Answer a question or two in the comments–or do the whole thing on your own blog or as a Facebook note. I’d love to hear your answers!

Categories Book Reviews

Book Review: “Heavens to Betsy”

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Neither of us knew what book mood we were in so Grace and I started playing the “find a Christian book” game at the library.

The “find a Christian book” game has absolutely nothing to do with finding interesting books to read–and has everything to do with seeing how good you are at identifying Christian novels from their spines. The best players can identify using only the color, font, and graphics on the spine. In other words, the best players don’t even have to read the book’s title.

I, of course, am among the best players :-)

But even I went out on a limb when I selected Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo as a Christian novel. From the spine, it could have been a Christian novel or it could have been some really low-quality chick-lit. But I’d already been successful at several rounds of our game and I was ready to be bold (“Be Bold! Be Strong!” as my dad would sing.)

I turned out to be right. On both counts.

Heavens to Betsy is Christian, of a sort. And it’s chick-lit, of a sort. And its quality is rather poor. But while I generally avoid talking about poor quality, pseudo-Christian chick-lit, I just can’t help but want to say a few words about this title.

It’s about a female pastor.

A single female pastor.

Who is convinced by another single female pastor to do a makeover show.

And who falls in love with another single pastor (this one a guy.)

Yeah.

Wow.

I really don’t have a lot more to say about it.

Except that the whole thing is totally wrong. In so many ways.

The thing that bothered me most?

The assumption the author makes that a woman can’t minister, or even be “in the ministry” unless she’s a pastor.

Completely mistaken.

Very sad.

But what should I have expected from an author who is herself a pastor in the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ (not to be confused with the more conservative independent Christian churches)?

Why’d I read it?

I don’t know.

I guess I sometimes find chick-lit entertaining. I sometimes find Christian novels entertaining.

And Heavens to Betsy was mildly entertaining–if only for the shock value.

Rating: 0 stars
Category: Christian chick lit (of a sort)
Synopsis: Reverend Betsy Blessing struggles with her awkward role as a single, female, interim senior pastor of an aging Nashville congregation.
Recommendation: No need to read. Just gasp along with me as you read my “review”.

Visit my books page for more reviews and notes.