“I didn’t want to read this book. I knew these tear-stained but hope-filled pages would jostle me out of my comfort zone and shake me up. C.S. Lewis wrote that he paradoxically loved The Lord of the Rings because it ‘broke his heart’—and Greg Lucas’ writing does the same for me. And it’s for that reason that I heartily commend this book—especially for dads. This is just the book many of us need to taste afresh the goodness of God and the grace of the gospel even as we long for the day when this broken world will be made right.” —Justin Taylor
My favorite gift to give grads is a laundry basket filled with a towel set a thing of laundry soap and a big jar filled with quarters along with the book, Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung. —Jessica
A college emergency kit: Sewing supplies, first aid kit, shoe goo, phone card, etc.—Rebecca
I just graduated college and this year my parents got me a kitchen aid mixer, which I am absolutely thrilled about! It is kind of a large gift but for any bride or grad who loves to bake/cook, then this is the perfect gift.—Paige
Knowing God by J.I. Packer is my favorite grad gift to give because it was in college that I slowly studied this book, digesting it a little at a time and it was the first time I ever understood the place of my faith in my life. It’s still my favorite book.—Kerry
Our favorite February sale is taking place over at the Sovereign Grace store. Right now you can get Feminine Appeal, Love that Lasts, and the Sovereign Grace Kids albums, for just over $6 each. Many more items on sale as well, while supplies last.
Each December’s end, after I take down the Christmas decorations, I find it difficult to come up with creative ways to decorate the fireplace mantle or create a centerpiece for the dining room table—something that’s not Christmasy but still wintry. This year I stumbled upon an idea online that is super easy (a must for me!), quick (I hate spending too much time on something so trivial!) and cheap (I spent $1.69 for ice cream salt). This website showed me how to “Create a beautiful winterscape by adding salt, to resemble snow, into clear glass containers and inserting sticks.” See the picture in 52home.
Have a grace-filled weekend everyone! Carolyn for my girls
“The song “Planting Trees” is about investing in the things that matter and kingdom work. I wrote it for my wife who is not a singer/song writer, is not a musician or an artist—she is a great mom and makes our home this beautiful, magical place. We were at a retreat together, and I think we were in a small group, like a little breakout group, and the question we were all answering was, ‘What is it that you’re doing to change the world?’
“My answer was easy because for the last 15 years or so, I have had a clear sense of my call, I’m called to write songs and to encourage people and to teach people and entertain them, too, while I’m doing it. So I have a clear vision for what it is that I do and it’s easy for me to see the fruit of that ministry because I’ll get a case of e-mails or I’ll get to talk to people at shows.
“Then the question came around to my wife and her answer to the question ... was that she’s raising these three kids in the kingdom. She’s impressing the words of the Lord on these children and raising them up to change the world. It was just a beautiful thought to me. It’s too bad that moms out there don’t get e-mails from random people telling them what great mothers they are. So this song is kind of an e-mail thanks to her for that idea that the greatest work we can do on this earth is investing in other human beings for the sake of Christ. It’s hard to picture a more direct version of that than a mother blessing her children.”
She rises up as morning breaks She moves among these rooms alone Before we wake And her heart is so full; it overflows She waters us with love and the children grow
So many years from now Long after we are gone These trees will spread their branches out And bless the dawn These trees will spread their branches out And bless someone
And I can’t sign off without thanking you for all your encouragement and support in response to yesterday’s post. Your care never ceases to amaze us! Thank you!
For those of us who have trouble getting up early, we found a novel solution over at the What’s Best Next blog—Clocky, an alarm clock that runs away from you!
“Can’t wake up? You’re not alone. Stats show that 40% of people ‘abuse’ the snooze. Typical alarm clocks just don’t work well. Ours never lets you oversleep again. Clocky runs away and hides if you don’t get out of bed. When the alarm sounds, Clocky will wait for you to get up. But if you snooze, Clocky will jump off of your nightstand (from 3 feet), and run around your room, determined to get you up on time. Clocky’s hip, innovative and charming. What could be better to wake up next to?”
Clocky even comes in a girltalk pink (and other colors). It’s a little pricey, but if it helps you (or someone you love who loves to sleep) get up early in 2011, it just might become your favorite purchase of the year.
May God’s grace be yours in abundance this New Year!
We just returned from a very refreshing Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference. One evening, Dad announced the release of a new book which Justin Taylor calls “the best material for family devotions I’ve ever seen.” Long Story Short is written by Sovereign Grace’s own Marty Machowski and we highly recommend it. Westminster Bookstore is currently selling it for only $6.99, which is 65 percent off the list price! But you’ll have to hurry because the sale ends today!
UPDATE: Westminster sale ended Friday, but you can still purchase the book for 20 percent off the list price.
Have a joy-filled weekend because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
