Saturday, March 26, 2011

Rethink Food!

The Spirit of Food: 34 Writers on Feasting and Fasting toward GodThe Spirit of Food: 34 Writers on Feasting and Fasting toward God by Leslie Leyland Fields

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just really loved this book. As noted in the title, 34 writers submitted an essay about food, and at the end of most chapters a recipe is included. I seriously just want to start inviting people over to dinner.

It seems to me that eating has just become a task that we do. We feed our bodies in order to live, we feed our families because that's what we are supposed to do. But sharing a meal together is really a time of consecration.

This book will make you slow down, and really consider what sharing a meal is about. It's about God, who provided this earth and all that grows in it to sustain our bodies. Because He's God, He doesn't just provide us with boring sustenance, of course not! Our God is a lavishly loving God, and He gives us choices that satisfy our hearts and our bodies. We can create lovely pasta dinners, enjoy that tomato right out of the garden, make delicious breads and choose from a variety of meat choices (if we are so inclined).

I really appreciated that many of the authors pointed out, we need to start saying grace to God as soon as we start preparing our meals. We also need to thank and appreciate Him for the people who work so hard to provide those meals for us. We need to consider the choices we make when we buy our food. Are we buying food from people who are making responsible choices about the land and the animals that become the food on our table? Are we remembering that there are many people who do not have enough food to eat? Are we thankful when we eat, or are we just shoveling food into our mouths?

I don't think there was an essay I didn't like, but one of my favorite essays was "A Way of Loving" by Stephan and Karen Baldwin. They share the story of how they created an Italian meal from scratch, and how their daughter's friends were disoriented to see a meal created that was not out of a box. Not only that, but these teens didn't even know how to set a table. This meal became a gift of love and a lesson in dining for these kids. Karen and her family created a feast that included the little touches that dress up a table, like putting bread in a basket lined with a napkin. She endeavored to create a tone that said "this is a place to linger". I like that.

I also enjoyed "The Communion of Saints" by Jeanne Murray Walker. She writes about her visits to her local farmer's market and how it became a place of healing, or sanctuary for her.

This book is really about so much more than food. It's about creating communities of grace around our tables. In our fast paced society, this book will make you rethink food, and the companions that you share that food with.

View all my reviews

Sunday, March 13, 2011

God's Words of Love


I am so pleased to be able to review Ruth Myer's "31 Days of Drawing Near to God: Resting Securely in His Delight". After receiving the book I realized that I already had read it, although under a different title ("The Satisfied Heart"). This book then, will become a gift for someone special.

Many years ago my sister gave me Ruth Myer's "31 Days of Praise". I have gone through those 31 days so often that it is falling apart. Although the Praise book remains my favorite, Drawing Near to God is not far behind.

If you are a woman who has a lonely heart; a heart that longs for something more; or a heart that doesn't believe that God could possibly love you, no matter what, then I invite you to purchase this book and fall deeper into a love relationship with God.

We cannot love God and be in a deep and intimate relationship with Him if we don't put Him first. But, how can you fall in love with God if you don't know His words of love for you? You will find those words of love at the end of each day's devotion reading.

Each of the 31 days focuses on one of the many ways in which God loves us: Day 1: I Must Have Love; Day 2: He Can More than Satisfy Me; Day 7: I Am His Treasure; Day 13: Everything About Him Says Something About Me. Those words of love come at the end of the day in question, in the form of scripture readings. God uses people like Ruth Myer to talk to us and encourage us, but the best words are His words. The author knows this and her devotions and scripture illumine God's love for us.

Don't wait! God is calling you to Him, He longs to be in relationship with you. Listen to this quote from Hudson Taylor that is included in "Drawing Near to God"
"Who does not thirst? Who has not mind thirsts or heart-thirsts, soul-thirsts or body-thirsts? Well, no matter which, or whether I have them all, Come unto Me and . . . remain thirsty? Ah no! Come Unto Me and drink! What? Can Jesus meet my need? Yes, and more than meet it. No matter how intricate my path, how difficult my service; not matter how sad my bereavement, how far away my loved ones; no matter how helpless I am, how deep are my soul yearnings; Jesus can meet all--all, and more than meet."
The following are some of God's Words of Love from Day 2: He Can More Than Satisfy Me
John 7:37; Psalms 37:3-8, Psalms 52:8; Psalms 89:14-16; Psalms 103:1-5; 1 John 4:9-10

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Piano Lessons

Piano LessonsPiano Lessons by Anna Goldsworthy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love music. I was brought up with it in my home as my mom played both the piano and the organ. Learning to play the piano was a struggle for me (I really never progressed much beyond being able to play some hymns and maybe 3 years of piano books?), so I really admire those who have the gift to bring such beautiful music out of the piano. I enjoyed "Piano Lessons" so much! Anna's portrayal of her teacher, Mrs. Sivan, and her own (Anna's) growth as a pianist is written in an engaging way. I particularly enjoyed how the author brought out Mrs. Sivan's desire for her students to hear the music and to play it with all the senses, not just to get the mechanics correct.

Early in the book Mrs. Sivan describes music as "logical fantasy". I loved that. What a great description. Additionally Mrs.Sivan instructs her student that "we are in dialogue with sounds". For me, music can really soothe my soul, or energize me while I'm about my work. I enjoyed how the teacher almost seemed to have known the composers as she taught their music to Anna. Mrs. Sivan is always emphasizing, "music comes from inside". I think that is what makes music beautiful to the listener.

Listen to what Mrs. Sivan says about Chopin and his B flat Minor Sonata:
"This sonata basically Chopin's requiem for himself. First movement starts with grave, and after all story begins. Second movement is about dance of life, busy busy busy, like in enormous excitement and anxiety. This is scherzo of life: joke in big sense. Why we have no time to sit down and listen, except when suddenly illness or something . . . and then comes third movement, funeral march. When you come through this music you will suddenly realize Chopin's own funeral, and he's watching to see how people will remember him."
This is how the piano teacher talks about composers, and playing the piano. The book is full of dialogue like this and I found myself charmed by the story.




View all my reviews