Bloom!

- - Continuing our new weekly conversations . . . - The deal: Each Thursday, we announce a question of the week. We seek to ask questions that spark interesting conversations, whether it simply be about books, traditions, spiritual disciplines, more theological matters, or anything else. You can join in our conversations two ways: ---- 1. Leave a comment with your thoughts! ---- 2. Or, if you prefer, post an answer on your own blog and leave us a link to your post so we can comment and add to the conversation. If you post on your own blog, you are welcome to use the picture above as long as you link back to us somewhere in your post. - This week's question . . . - Madeline L'Engle writes, "Unless we are creators we are not fully alive." Do you agree or disagree? How do you implement creativity into your daily life? ---

- As we've mentioned before, we've crowned Wednesdays "book days" around here. Some Wednesdays we have book reviews, some Wednesdays we have book giveaways, and, starting today, some Wednesdays we will have top ten lists. Basically, it will be our top ten favorite books in one category. Today we're starting off with poetry! - While poetry may not have the thrill of a novel, the practical advice of a spiritual disciplines manual, or the scientific facts of a non-fiction book, it does have a unique beauty of its own that has the power to penetrate the soul. These are our personal top ten favorite poetry collections (in no particular order). Please feel free to share your own favorites! - ----- 1 | Why I Wake Early: New Poems by Mary Oliver ----- 2 | What the Light Was Like: Poems by Luci Shaw ----- 3 | Gerard Manley Hopkins: The Major Works by Gerard Manley Hopkins ----- 4 | Rossetti: Poems by Christina Rossetti ----- 5 | Rilke's Book of Hours: Lov...

- - + I just returned from a weekend away at the Art Justice Music conference, so you'll have to excuse the lack of posting at the end of last week. The conference was wonderful, though, and we're hoping to share more about it around here in the future. - + The winner of last week's giveaway is . . . Samantha ! Congratulations, Samantha! Please send us an e-mail with your address and we'll send you the book. - + At the conference over the weekend, there were two concerts: one by Sara Groves and one by Jars of Clay . While I obviously knew of Jars of Clay , I didn't know as much about Sara Groves. But I was impressed with Sara Groves and her music. If you haven't heard about her, I encourage you to check out a few of her songs. Two of my favorites: I Saw What I Saw and Like a Lake . Any other recommendations from other Sara Groves fans? - + Next week, we'll be back with a more traditional Monday post! - grace & peace Jessina (for Megan ...

- We're excited to announce that we're having another book giveaway today! Details below . . . - If you'd like to enter to win a copy of A Young Woman's Walk With God by Elizabeth George, please follow these instructions: - 1. Leave a comment on this post and tell us the title of the last book you've read. - 2. By leaving a comment, you'll already be thrown in the batch once, but if you'd like to be thrown in the batch a second time for a greater chance of winning, subscribe to the blog (see button at right) and let us know that you did so in your comment. If you're already subscribed, let us know and we'll add you a second time as well. - 3. And if you'd like to be thrown in the batch a third time, post about the giveaway on your blog and make sure to leave us a link to your post. - That's it! One entry per person, please. Comments will be closed this Sunday at midnight and the winner be announced on Monday. -

- "Praying is not about getting God to give us what we want; it is about learning to want what God wants to give. And he is not out to make us rich or powerful or successful. God is certainly not out to help us get our own way in everything. He wants to make us more like Jesus. The prayer life of a mature disciple reflects a desire to receive from God those good gifts that will help him or her reflect Jesus' heart and actions more clearly, combined with the confidence that God will answer such prayers." David A. DeSilva -

- - The New Testament is rich with profound stories of Jesus as He lived among us. Interestingly enough, most of these stories aren't about Jesus' miracles to the masses. The most powerful descriptions of His touch aren't to the entire state of the Jewish people or the Roman guard, or to the thousands that followed Him into the hills. - The greatest stories about Jesus are the personal ones. - Because Jesus is a personal savior. - Jesus sought out Philip. Nathaniel. Matthew. - Jesus healed the lame man. The official's son. The blind man. The leper. The paraplegic. Jesus conversed with Nicodemus. The Samaritan Woman. Mary. Martha. The Roman Officer. The Rich Young Ruler. Jesus redeemed the adulterous woman. The demon possessed man. The thief on the cross. Jesus washed each of His disciples' feet. - Though He had power over all things created, though heaven waited on Him, and angels served Him, Jesus did not perform for the masses. He did no...

- - A trace of where we've been on the web this week . . . today we're focusing on upcoming conferences! - 2010 Set Apart Girl Conference Eric and Leslie Ludy are hosting another conference for young women of all ages in Windsor, Colorado. It looks like a really exciting weekend with general sessions with Leslie and lots of options for breakout sessions in between. - Art - Music - Justice Conference This conference in Falls Church, Virginia invites people to explore "how to use what we've been given by God -- our gifts and our passions -- to seek justice through our life and work." There will also be two concerts over the weekend (Jars of Clay and Sara Groves) and lots of fascinating workshops to attend. There are also two specific workshops for middle and high school girls, one even led by Sara Groves. - Do Hard Things Tour We know that many of you are already aware of this tour, but the specific dates and cities are now up on the Rebelution's ...

- - Continuing our new weekly conversations . . . - The deal: Each Thursday, we announce a question of the week. We seek to ask questions that spark interesting conversations, whether it simply be about books, traditions, spiritual disciplines, or more theological matters. You can join in our conversations two ways: ---- 1. Leave a comment with your thoughts! ---- 2. Or, if you prefer, post an answer on your own blog and leave us a link to your post so we can comment and add to the conversation. If you post on your own blog, you are welcome to use the picture above as long as you link back to us somewhere in your post. - This week's question . . . the other half of last week's question . . . - What is your favorite non-fiction book? - And be sure to check out the comments from last week's conversation -- lots of wonderful fictional book recommendations! -

- Continuing with our new Wednesday Book Discussions . . . - I picked up Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight by Norman Wirzba a few months ago anticipating the book would discuss the need for setting aside Sunday for complete rest. But instead I found the book's thesis focused on not just abstaining from work on Sunday, but rather what it looks like to live out the principle of sabbath rest throughout the entire week. Wirzba transforms the Old Testament law of setting aside a single day into a New Testament principle that should characterize our entire lives--one that often goes unnoticed in our modern church, it seems. - The main theme that runs throughout the book is the need to slow down--to worship in the ordinary moments, to realize our dependency on God, to see our work as worship, to take delight and pleasure in the gifts of God. As Wirzba writes, "The Sabbath asks us to notice. It compels us to reconsider and question with depth a...

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- And the winner of our book giveaway last week . . . is Sarah of Victoriously Free ! Congratulations, Sarah! Just e-mail us your address and we'll send you the book. - - "Sick of being single?" The ad glared at me as I logged into my e-mail account. Apparently Comcast wants me to realize that the answers to all my happiest dreams lies within their online dating site. - Honestly, though, I'm not sick of being single (I'm only eighteen, after all!) so much as I am sick of hearing about it. In our culture today, if you're single, there is probably something the matter with you, at least that's what we're told. And even in Christian circles, there seems to be this growing obsession with finding the perfect formula to make God realize that it's time to bring that guy into our lives. You know what I mean--the "as soon as I'm content I'll meet Mr. Right" mantra, and all the accompanying actions and prayers designed to convince God that...

- - A trace of where we've been on the web this week . . . - C.S. Lewis on the Fairytale An interesting little article by Lewis concerning the art of the fairytale. It is republished here by Wedgewood Circle . - Homemade Ministry A reader, Rose, introduced us to her blog. She writes, "Do you like to knit, crochet, or make cards? Would you like to use the talents you have to minister to others? Homemade Ministry is a blog that gives you information about different ministries that need handmade items." - Though today we follow Christ on the road to Calvary, we look on to the joy of Easter . . . and hope that all of you and your families have a blessed celebration. - grace & peace, Jessina, Megan & Joanna -

- - I teach a preschool ballet class and each week before class starts we have a "question of the week." It has nothing to do with ballet (it usually relates to animals, colors, or ice cream), but it is a fun and simple way for all the girls in the class to get to know each other. - We thought we would try to implement the same idea here on the blog. Getting to know people online can sometimes feel distant and uncomfortable, so we wanted to create a cozy place where you can join us at our table, grab a cup of tea or coffee, and add your thoughts to our conversation as we encourage one another. (Of course, we'll have to use our imaginations to create the atmosphere, but that doesn't mean our conversation has to suffer.) - A small note before we get started: As we are a community of young women who seek to live lives that mirror the love of Christ, we hope our conversations here will reflect who we are. Let us be intentional to speak with thoughtfulness and extend grace...