Bloom!

Back in the summer of 2006, my happy, peaceful world crashed. Suddenly, the world – my world – as I knew it, was forever altered. There wasn ’t a thing I could do about it. After an emergency room visit, my mother’s health was dangling precariously and she was feeling depressed about it all, too. I was in despair. My mother could die and I was celebrating a birthday. Sweet Sixteen didn ’t feel so sweet anymore. Because of this crash, I was unexpectedly promoted from a simple schoolgirl to housekeeper, schoolteacher, and take-care-of-everything-including-siblings-extraordinaire-girl. I mean, of course I knew how to do simple chores, but all of a sudden running an entire household was quite another thing! With an older brother away at college, being second oldest meant that the responsibility fell to me to take care of household matters while Dad worked to support us and Mama lay in bed. I definitely wasn ’t the ideal teen to take over the house, but I didn ’t have a choice in the ...

Here's a great book resource and a song to remind you of your Savior's great love! What's a Girl to Read? is filled with over 80 book reviews (and counting!) written by Christian girls. Remember that book an acquaintance mentioned and you weren't sure about? Well, head on over to What's a Girl to Read? and see if has been reviewed yet. And if you just devoured a good book, you can help others find a good read by submitting a review! One song that has been an encouragement to me (Joanna) especially lately is one from Sovereign Grace called The Look . Here are some of the lyrics: Forever etched upon my mind Is the look of Him who died The Lamb I crucified And now my life will sing the praise Of pure atoning grace That looked on me and gladly took my place Rejoicing that Jesus took our place! Joanna, Jessina, and Megan

Continuing our 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 related to life in general. 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 Rebelution is all about doing hard things for the glory of God (and we're totally for that!). Are there some hard things that you're doing right now? What is God teaching you through them?

- For today's book discussion, we're sharing our top ten books on prayer. Have any of your own to add? Please comment and let us know! 1 | The Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller 2 | Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard Foster 3 | A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baille 4 | Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey 5 | With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray 6 | Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne 7 | Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds 8 | Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton 9 | The Divine Hours Series by Phyllis Tickle 10 | Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C.S. Lewis -

- -

Continuing our 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 related to life in general. 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... What do you consider to be one of the toughest things that young people today (in the Western world) struggle with? Is there a way to remedy it?

- -

Here are some links to lift your spirit and boost your weekend! Breezy Brookshire , in her blog A Bowl of Moss and Pebbles , pens an encouraging article appropriate for the new year. In it, she writes, "I often ask myself—when I need clarity, when I need to reevaluate, when I need to once again find that spot on the horizon—I ask, “What do I really want?” What are my motives? Do they honor God? Are they fine things to desire, but not the best? What “best” does God want me to pursue?" To read the rest, click here . in His love, Joanna, Jessina, and Megan

  When God asks for our heart, He asks for all of it. He wants to fill every part with Himself. He completes us. Only when we are satisfied in Him will we be able to selflessly give our lives for others. We need to put up a sign that says "No Vacancies." Except we don't need a sign - others will notice simply by our lives. They can see if our heart has voids and is unfulfilled, seeking attention from others, or if we are filled with Jesus, overflowing with love and joy, and seeking to spread His light everywhere we go. ~ Sarah Mally, author of Before You Meet Prince Charming

Continuing our 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 related to life in general. 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... Here at Bloom! , you'll find us avid readers (and writers!). We love the written word and have many books on our 2011 reading list. That being the case, we are curious - what are some of the books on your list? Feel free to recommend past reads, as well!

The problem with being a Christian is that somewhere along the line people got the idea that Christians are really good people. - We’re supposed to have it all together. Good grades, families, jobs. We’re always happy, always giving, and if we occasionally run into snarls, they’re not big ones. We don’t cheat on tests or boyfriends, get pregnant outside marriage, or get addicted to anything. - As Mary Poppins would say, we’re practically perfect. - Except we’re not. - We’re so afraid to fail this standard (that apparently everyone else meets), that we’re expected to meet – that we hide. And we carry an awful lot of pressure, shame, and guilt into that hiding spot with us. - Have you ever felt that you just couldn’t tell someone what you’re really going through? You don’t want to tell people that you’ve been depressed, because that might mean you’re a “bad Christian.” “Good Christians” are joyful all the time, right? - You can’t tell people that you struggle with an addicti...