40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole

Lent is fast approaching, but there is still plenty of time for you to get a copy of 40 Days of Decrease. You should get one and maybe another copy while you're at it, because there's going to be someone you encounter this Lenten season that you'll want to give a copy to.
40 Days of Decrease is a forty day devotional that uses the text of the gospel of John. Each day includes a commentary on the daily scripture reading, a reflection for you to ponder, a fast for you to try, a history lesson on lent and a space for you to journal your thoughts.
Chole does an excellent job of digging into the gospel of John and pointing out various things in our life that we could use less of. She does not just suggest food, but attitudes of the heart and mind as well.
Overall, the format is varied enough that it can be satisfying for someone just picking up another devotional to add to the pile as well as something a little deeper and thought provoking for the theological crowd. The history lessons bring a unique perspective and the journal space is inviting.
I'm looking forward to journeying through lent with this devotional.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Comments

Hospitality for the Rest of Us: Long Distance

People are moving more and more. When I was a youngster, it was a rare instance for a friend to move away. Now it's me that moves away. We've moved a lot, especially when we first got married. It was something like five addresses and three states in the first four years of our marriage. We've slowed down a bit. In the midst of all that moving, we've made some friends along the way. I try to keep an open line in case of times of grief and celebration. One of the best tools I've found for keeping in touch with loved ones far away is Facebook. As much time as I could spend doing other things instead of checking it, it's the best thing I've found. It allows me to communicate with others, without having to call. I know calling is amazing, hearing people's voices, but for introverts, there are no body language clues for us to pick up on that help make our conversations easier. It's also why we prefer to video chat :-) Back to Facebook, some etiquette.

Stories from the Kitchen: Taste and See

I celebrated my birthday last weekend. It was wonderful and the leftovers left me with a question or two. Find out what they are and how I'm currently answering them in this week's podcast. Stories from the Kitchen Season 2, Episode 2: Taste and See Notes from the episode: Taste and See by Margaret Feinberg Dad’s New York Cheesecake (from the back of a Philidelphia Cream Cheese package) 1 ⅞ cups graham cracker crumbs ¼ to ½ cup butter, melted 1 cup sugar, divided 2 lbs cream cheese (4 packs) 2 large eggs (lightly beaten) 1 tsp vanilla 2 tbsp cornstarch 1 cup sour cream Preheat oven to 450F Mix well graham crackers, 2 tbsp sugar, and enough butter that the mixture holds together. Reserve 2 tbsp for garnish. Press mixture onto bottom and sides of a greased 9-inch springform pan. Chill in the freezer while preparing the filling. Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth and light. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and cornstarch until just blended. S

Threadbare Knees

I feel sure that you've heard the saying "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Well, recently I picked up a pair of wool cashmere blend slacks from Salvation Army and upon further inspection at home, the knees were threadbare, practically holes. Easy enough to miss, when your knees don't fall in the same spot as the previous owner. They were inexpensive, so it wasn't a big monetary loss, but I felt like it would be a shame to toss such nice fabric and so I searched the internet to see what I could do. I found this cute little purse pattern, for free! You can go check it out by clicking here . It is a great little pattern and I was able to make the entire purse in one rainy day! Here are some pictures of my threadbare knees purse. Don't you just love those little pleats? And there's even a little pocket inside. I'm so impressed with myself! Time to fill it up with my keys and such non-sense! And remember, when life gives you th

Tina The Storyteller

Search This Blog