Shown Mercy

 My mom has enjoyed being a part of a book club for a few years now.  Despite relocating from Northern to Southeastern Virginia in recent years, she continues to drive the two hours each way once a month in order to participate.  Hearing her stories of good reads, as well as not so good reads, provoked my own desire to participate in a book club.   Additionally, my sister in law, who herself is an avid reader, will occasionally text some of her own recommendations to me.  Therefore, I decided last fall to start a book club. I did so with a couple objectives in mind: to get to know my neighbors and to have some book reading accountability!  Here are the six books we've read together thus far (all of which I would highly recommend!):   This is our current read for next month's discussion:  I must say, it has been such an enjoyable experience for me.  Not only have I been motivated to read more books outside of the church, but have had opportunities to have sti

In what is becoming a regular trend for us, the first of the new year has flown by, February is already upon us and I find myself being pulled by the current of busyness with my feet dragging behind... As my family saying goes, " It is what it is... "  So, this morning I decided to pull up this picture from a December sunset at mom and dad's while re-reading Psalm 32 (the passage from yesterday's daily reading).  May this passage encourage you as well... "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the