Personal – Page 3 – Laurel Luehmann

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, Poetry

May memories – 2024

June 3, 2024June 3, 2024by Laurel Luehmann2 Comments

Goodness sakes…what a month! Buckle up, friends, because this isn’t going to be a short post. XD

We are too prone to engrave our trials in marble and our blessings in sand.
Charles Spurgeon

Things worth remembering…

finding a bunny while mowing
rain…rain…more rain…
jamming with music friends, VeggieTales and Springsteen
feeling ridiculously proud of my brother and his student address at his commencement ceremony
spending a week in Tennessee with old and new friends
sharing tears and laughter with this dear friend who always points through the dark to Jesus
spotting one of my music heroes in downtown Franklin
finally visiting the Rabbit Room
windows-down car rides + music swaps
Livy and Kiana’s performance of “Santa Fe” when the WiFi was being cantankerous
seeing one of my friends get married off
tornado warnings and music practice with no electricity (RIP, keyboard and bass guitar)
the first songwriting session
The Noodle Redemption
riding in the tractor with a brother

I realized that I was immortal till my Master’s work was done. – John Patton

What I’ve been reading…

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – C.S. Lewis

“Am I to understand,” said Reepicheep to Lucy after a long stare at Eustace, “that this singularly discourteous person is under your Majesty’s protection? Because, if not–“

My heart has needed a return to Narnia. ❤

Adorning the Dark – Andrew Peterson

Sometimes you start with nothing and hope it all works out. Not sometimes—every time. All you really have is your willingness to fail, coupled with the mountain of evidence that the Maker has never left nor forsaken you.

I started a reread of this on the plane to Tennessee. Andrew Peterson’s appreciation of and hunger for hope and beauty is catching.

future flowers, whispered war-cries – Hosanna Emily

i may wake to morning stars or thick darkness yet, but maybe – hope against hope – it’ll be Day. soon, He promises, and that’s enough.

Hosanna and I did a book swap in Tennessee, and I’m savoring the journey through this chunky book of hope-laced poems. Hosanna has a passion for Jesus and His coming that is contagious, and she articulates her heart so well in this poetry collection!

A Light in the Window – Jan Karon

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Everything and nothing. What you did today, what I did today, what we’ll do tomorrow. About God and how He’s working in our lives. About my work, about your work, about life, about love, about what’s for dinner and how the roses are doing – do they have black spot or beetles…”

So far, I’m loving the second book in the Mitford series even more than the first! It feels softer, cozier, even more full of warmth and gentle healing.

Holy Hygge – Jamie Erickson

Even when we’re only given fleeting seconds of connection, we almost always have the opportunity to share the touch of Christ, if not in our actions, certainly in our reactions.

I’m still savoring this book!

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name…
Romans 1:5

From the journal…

Oh, God! Get it through this hard head of mine that nothing shall be impossible for You, and that You have not left the business of redemption. Open my eyes to see the chariots of fire. Open my heart to wait on You and You alone for provision…there is joy set before me…and so I can endure.

Help me, Lord, as I walk the rim of the darkness, staggering towards the light and holding it in my heart. Thank You for this time of grace…this opportunity to stand firm in the darkness and hold high my torch. You are so good…always, even when the world continues to fall apart around me.

Thank You, Jesus, that You are sovereign, and that Your kingdom shall reign over all the earth.

Instead of seeing every bad thing as a failure of God’s goodness, why don’t I see every good thing as His grace?

Let me not be defined by what I lack. I am not a dry tree. I am planted by Your river.
Liz Snell

What are you taking away from this May?

Stay the course!

❤ Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal

April memories -2024

April 29, 2024April 27, 2024by Laurel Luehmann3 Comments

Hello, friends!

April showers have been bringing dandelions and daffodils…and this post.:)

Things worth remembering…

not having a cold for the first time in forever
living on ice cream, yogurt, and noodles after bidding wisdom teeth goodbye
a nostalgic viewing of a Winnie the Pooh movie…or two
handing Project Redemption off to an editor
being able to write poetry again
hitting a cajon with wild abandon for the first live worship time with our entire church
being told by a young child that I’m “too little to drive”

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King; trust them with Jesus. Do the next thing.
Author unknown

What I’ve been reading…

Holy Hygge – Jamie Erickson

Encouragement is more than just giving a compliment. It is the passing on of courage. To encourage someone is to give them the courage to face an unknown future, the courage to trust an unseen God, the courage to stand firm in a turbulent culture.

I’m so glad I finally got this book. I’m marking it up all over the place! It’s been a gentle challenge for me to consider the way that I walk through life and treat the people that surround me…and what that lifestyle says about who God is.

At Home in Mitford – Jan Karon

“Timothy, look at that funny cow staring at us.”

He raised his head slightly, and froze. “Do not move,” he said. “That is a bull.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she whispered, “this happens in comic books, not real life. Will we be gored?”

I’m such a slow reader, but I was able to tear through this book while I was down after getting my wisdom teeth out! XD You can read my full review here.

The Inheritance Games – Jennifer Lynn Barnes

…I looked past her to the counter and realized she’d baked more than muffins. There were also cupcakes. I felt my stomach plummet. “Oh, no, Lib.”

“It’s not what you think,” Libby promised. She was an apology cupcake baker. A guilty cupcake baker. A please-don’t-be-mad-at-me cupcake baker.

I did end up shelving this as DNF because the combination of teenage angst and implied content wasn’t my cup of tea. That and the plot just didn’t grab me like I’d hoped. I loved the MC’s snappy dialogue, though, and the glimpse of the tender heart beneath her armor, even in the first chapter.

“…we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
2 chronicles 20:12

From the journal…

Let me see each day, each aspect of my life as a battleground; an opportunity to decrease and let You increase.

What made your April memorable?

❤ Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal

March memories – 2024

April 15, 2024by Laurel LuehmannLeave a Comment

Hello, friends!

Now that we’re in the middle of April, here’s the March review! XD

If there is anything that we ought to get straight, it is how little we are.
a.W. Tozer

Things worth remembering

walks in the pasture
a family birthday celebration
poetry in the Notes app on a late drive home
goat kids
driving with the windows down while snacking on kettle chips
talking books and family history with my grandma
making garlic toast
working dates with a friend
music practice with friends
reading through John leading up to Holy Week
a hike with glorious views

“…unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
John 12:24

What I’ve been reading

The Words We Lost – Nicole Deese

Funny how differently time is prioritized when it’s in short supply.

If I enjoyed the romance genre (or if this book didn’t happen to be written as a romance…XD) it would likely receive five stars from me. The pacing, the side characters, the plot twists…it’s a heavy read, but an endearing one. It handles the topics of grief and loss so well, and I loved the coastal town feels! And now I want a blackberry lemonade slush. XD

At Home in Mitford – Jan Karon

My goodness, the humor in this book! The characters are so real. There are some minor things in it that I’m not a fan of, but in general it’s been an easy fun read with all of the small town feels.

“…the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:29-30

From the journal

God, be my strength and smile today! Open my eyes to see what You are doing.

when my soul is weary and pleading for more than a sin-soiled world, there is hope and satiation in Your very presence beside me…

You are the-God-who-sees. You see me pressed beneath the weight of this deadline…and You call Yourself enough within me to bear this weight. You see me faltering before the most miniscule decisions…and I call You my Shepherd, all knowing and sovereign. You see my longing, and I call You all I’ll ever need.

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
John 12:27-28a

Jumping back a few weeks…what was memorable in your life this March?

❤ Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal

February memories – 2024

March 4, 2024March 4, 2024by Laurel Luehmann3 Comments

Hello, friends!

The post graphic is a bit deceitful, as this February held virtually no snow and lots and lots of spring-like weather. It was definitely a month for the books…

I trace the rainbow through the rain
and find the promise is not vain
that morn shall tearless be.
from George Matheson’s “O Love that will not let me go”

Things worth remembering…

talks with friends that were good for the soul
lots of walks in unseasonably warm weather
color palette experiments
Chinese food with sisters
realizing how much I dislike elevators
watching geese fly north
learning again that “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30)
lots of fun music practice sessions
hiking with friends (and not losing anyone over the edge)

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Proverbs 19:11

What I’ve been reading…

The Golden Road – L.M. Montgomery

“Sometimes I don’t think it’s right to tell funny stories about ministers,” said Felicity. “It certainly isn’t respectful.”

“A good story is a good story – no matter who it’s about,” said the Story Girl with ungrammatical relish.

I had such good memories of reading The Story Girl, and it was so enjoyable to read the sequel! There are portions where witchcraft is handled lightly, however, so that’s something to keep in mind when handing it off to younger siblings/friends. L.M. Montgomery can get a little too poetic (ironic, I know!) for my liking, but the cousin/friend dynamics are absolutely hilarious and touching all at once.

The Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart

‘If any others flee the room in panic or dismay,’ she said sternly, ‘please remember to close the door behind you. Your sobs may disturb the other test-takers.’

It’s been so much fun to read this book with my sisters! Each character is so vividly unique…my personal favorite is Number Two.😂

From the Grave – A.W. Tozer

…the will of God is the place of blessed, painful, fruitful trouble…It is my conviction that one of the reasons we exhibit very little spiritual power is because we are unwilling to accept and experience the fellowship of the Savior’s sufferings, which means acceptance of His cross.

This Lent devotional has been really thought-provoking. I always appreciate Tozer’s perspective.

Do not be afraid of sudden terror…
for the Lord will be your confidence.
from Proverbs 3:25-26

From the journal…

God, may they see Your fingerprints all over my motives and my actions!

Help me to choose You in everything…to love people well because they bear Your image.

I find it so interesting that David ends Psalm 119 – a psalm about the Word of God – with a confession that “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.” No matter how much we love the Word, our hearts are still prone to wander and we’re no less desperate for grace. The commandment doesn’t save; the gospel does.

Even in all these broken places You are Lord.

What made your February memorable?

❤ Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

January memories – 2024

February 5, 2024February 5, 2024by Laurel Luehmann5 Comments

The first review post of 2024!!

when you understand that God is never late, you wait differently.
unknown

Things worth remembering…

kicking off the new year with a stomach bug…hurrah! It could only get better from there. XD
practicing bass runs with my brother
road-tripping with siblings and some of our favorite songs
coming up with a tentative title for Project Redemption👀
tea and chats with friends
hitting 50k words on Project Redemption
people watching at Culvers
frigid temps followed by a glorious (albeit slushy) heat wave
music practice that felt like the best worship jam session ever
toting a baby doll and stroller around the mall in disguise

No matter how far from ease, a wise woman’s heart is betrothed to gratitude.
from “The divine proverb of streusel” by Sara Brunsvold

What I’ve been reading…

The School Story – Andrew Clements

…in that instant Natalie saw what mattered. It wasn’t whether the book got published or not. It wasn’t whether Zoe was absolutely crazy – which she was. The important thing was Zoe herself, her friend.

This is such a fun MG read! While I’m not a fan of all of his books, I so enjoy how Andrew Clements’ style shines in this one. He really writes some powerful kid characters, and the mother-daughter relationship almost made me cry. I loved reading this to my sisters. (FYI, it does contain a good amount of name calling. I just skip over those words when reading it to sisters!)

Wonderstruck – Brian Selznick

Maybe, thought Ben, we are all cabinets of wonders.

I absolutely LOVED the experience of reading this book. It kept me turning pages so fast…especially because of the brilliance of using only drawings to tell one side of the story. The author used so many little details to draw the reader in and imply things in such a powerful way.
I did feel a little let down by the ending, though…there were some minor questions I’d asked that didn’t feel answered, and I just generally wanted more. Also, with it being MG fiction I struggled with the addition of a few mature elements being mentioned/handled casually. Just throwing that out there as a heads up if you want to hand it off to younger ones. Overall, though, I’d probably reread it for fun, as it is such an enjoyable experience!

In My Father’s House – Corrie ten Boom

She began to make plans – we had no money, no experience – but we started.

I’m savoring every moment of this book. I especially love hearing about how two single women and their father opened their home and hearts to so many in the name of Jesus. (It’s also sprinkled with a healthy dose of Corrie’s humor. :))

The Divine Proverb of Streusel – Sara Brunsvold

Ask Nikki questions, she’d told him. Memorize her answers. Lover her accordingly.

This book feels like coming home. I absolutely love Sara Brunsvold’s poetic prose and the quotable qualities of her writing, but wrap it around a rural setting full of German food and history, characters who are solid and real, and a middle-aged bachelor who is painfully awkward around the woman who adores him? I’m sold.❤️❤️

(While handled so tactfully, dealing with the aftermath of a divorce following unfaithfulness is a premise of the story, so be aware of that if it’s something that’s too painful for you.)

I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.
charles spurgeon

From the journal…

Sinning is basically telling God that His ways aren’t good enough for us…telling God that we know better than He does.

I don’t have to slink into Your presence with the faint remains of stains on my skin. You have purified me completely, and You cause these bones You have broken to rejoice.

In the way I respond to trials and disruptions – help me to see Your image in the souls that trouble my own. May I deal graciously and uprightly with any who cross my path. You must increase, I must decrease. Be Lord over my life, not simply my words!

Waiting is just a gift of time in disguise – a time to pray wrapped in a ribbon of patience – because is the Lord ever late?
Ann voskamp

What made your January memorable?

❤ Laurel

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

December Memories – 2023

January 1, 2024by Laurel Luehmann5 Comments

Happy new year, friends!

Goodness. In some ways I feel as though 2023 never existed, and in others I feel as though it lasted a lifetime. XD Maybe I’ll do a year wrap-up post in a week or so, but here’s December’s recap for now! Here’s a coffee for the ride.☕ 🙂

And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.
Psalm 39:7

Things worth remembering…

my dear aunt’s homegoing…only happy tears for her from now on. ❤
lots of cousin time
learning that thou shalt trust thy grandmother’s navigational advice and not thine own misgivings (I’m sorry I doubted you, Grandma.🙈)
minute-to-win-it games with friends (bonus points for not burning the house down)
crocheting a beanie that no one wants to wear
all of the Sunday School Christmas program practices
the Christmas program itself…everyone brought their best to the table and made it so special!
a very brown and green Christmas
surviving weeks of cold and flu bugs viciously crawling through the household

When we have an agenda for God, we can’t see the gifts from God.
ann voskamp

What I’ve been reading…

Hickory Dickory Dock – Agatha Christie

“I congratulate you on having such a unique and beautiful problem.”

The plot here was excellent, but the side content was a little more mature than I was hoping for. Sadness.

Fawkes – Nadine Brandes

How many of us acted and spoke out and fought for beliefs that we held because our environment told us to? As much as I wanted to blame my England, I knew the blame sat with me. I hadn’t trained myself to discern. To examine. To seek the source. That was about to change.

I wasn’t expecting the allegorical elements of this book, and I absolutely loved them. With its nods to history and the complex plot, I enjoyed it immensely! It’s a little on the bloody side, but such a good read if you don’t mind that.

4:50 from Paddington – Agatha Christie

The truth is people are an extraordinary mixture of heroism and cowardice.

I thought this mystery was absolutely brilliant, and I had the satisfaction of having called the culprit…but not completely accurately.

The Greatest Gift – Ann Voskamp

The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.

Oh, goodness. This book was exactly what I needed this year. I loved the action items and journaling prompts at the end of each day’s reading!

Ishtar’s Odyssey – Arnold Ytreeide

“Just this morning the tastiest redfish in the lake swam up to me and said he was there to give himself up for the most honorable and noble Persian man of an approaching caravan. And here you are!”

Salamar laughed a loud laugh. “And for how much did this redfish say he would sell himself before being smoked and salted?”

The boy shrugged. “Oh, only a small token of, say, five measures of fine Persian tea.”

Listening to my dad read this in the evenings this month was definitely a highlight!

I am more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe,
more loved and welcomed than I ever dared hope.
elyse m. Fitzpatrick

From the journal…

Fill me with more of You and a blessed self-forgetfulness.

Lord, thank You for the gift of laughter…for the ability to hold things loosely and lightly because You are the one who truly holds it all.

*Remembering the character of our God will lead to a complete trust of Him with the future.*

The sinner must come to Jesus, not to works, ordinances, or doctrines, but to a personal Redeemer, who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.
charles spurgeon

What are some of the memories/thoughts you’re carrying away from this past December?

Stay the course!

❤ Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal

November memories – 2023

December 4, 2023December 1, 2023by Laurel Luehmann4 Comments

Hello, friends!

There’s not much to say to introduce this post, so I’ll stop trying to make an introduction and just get started.:)

God has no problems – just plans!
corrie ten boom

Things worth remembering…

my car’s first flat tire
demolition and cleanup adventures with the parents and sisters
spending a weekend with a friend
discovering the most amusing inscription I’ve ever seen inside an old book
spending time on the road with my brothers
picking up crocheting again
drinking coffee at 11 pm for a good cause and only half regretting it
seeing Annie for the first time on stage
raking cornstalks
trying my hand at more creative photo editing
attempting to shop on Thanksgiving day and finding that it couldn’t be done
a Walmart run with cousins
turning our uncle into a meme (several memes, actually) with aforementioned cousins
feeling like a new woman after the shop crew spiffed up the tractor I use

“In dark and loneliness they are strongest; they will not openly attack a house where there are lights and many people – not until they are desperate…”
aragorn in “THe fellowship of the ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien

What I’ve been reading…

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Robert Louis Stevenson

“There comes an end to all things; the most capacious measure is filled at last; and this brief condescension to evil finally destroyed the balance of my soul.”

I think I need to stop ingesting the more intellectually/morally difficult books in audiobook form because I can’t process them as thoroughly as I can when I’m actually reading. It’s definitely a dark book, but I came away from it with a good and sobering reminder of the pervasive nature of sin…moral compromise isn’t a good idea, folks!

Winnie-the-Pooh – A.A. Milne

Pooh, who now knew what an Ambush was, said that a gorse-bush had sprung at him suddenly one day when he fell off a tree, and he had taken six days to get all the prickles out of himself.

“We are not talking about gorse-bushes,” said Owl a little crossly.

“I am,” said Pooh.

Sometimes you just need an easy yet quality read that will make you laugh. This book does so nicely.

In My Father’s House: The Years Before The Hiding Place – Corrie ten Boom

Many lonesome people found a place with us, where there was music, humor, interesting conversations, and always room for one more at the oval dinner table. Oh, it’s true, the soup may have been a bit watery when too many unexpected guests came, but it didn’t really matter.

This is a reread! The manner in which this book is written is such a blessing: Corrie shares some of her family’s history, and often shares immediately afterwards about how that event or habit prepared them for the future that only God could see.

And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
Psalm 77:10

From the journal…

Life is far too fragile and precious to be lived haphazardly.

Lord, You satisfy me. You are enough even when my flesh begs for more…in my weakness You truly are strong.

May you know that you are small and fit well in the hands of God.
sarah Sparks

And that’s a wrap! What memories/lessons are you taking away from this November?

Stay the course!

❤ Laurel

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal

October memories – 2023

November 6, 2023November 6, 2023by Laurel Luehmann2 Comments

Hello, friends!

October was so full of life. The hard. The beautiful. The crazy. The calm.

Here’s a glimpse…

Things worth remembering…

ice cream and card games and Orion
The Turkey Discovery (if you know, you know)
managing to wrangle six heads of hair into curls or updos
a wedding!!!
being pleasantly surprised by the fact that that the “intruder” who scared me half to death was the brother I hadn’t seen in months
ax throwing for the first time (I was not as good as I thought I could be)
balloon arch adventures
introducing my sisters to Bleak House
finally going on the hike I’d wanted to do all summer
using the Passover lesson in Sunday school as an excuse to make matzah bread ❤
a photography session with sisters
getting my hair chopped

He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless, fixed His heart upon me.
A.W. Pink

What I’ve been reading…

(Yes, this list is nearly identical to last month’s list. October was not my best reading month ever.)

The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien

There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit, waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow.

Yes, I’ve been slogging through this the entire month, and I’m not even halfway through. I loved The Hobbit, and so was determined to like this one. Thankfully the story is picking up again and I’m enjoying it instead of making myself read it. XD

The Pursuit of God – A.W. Tozer

As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight to offer affront to your idol. How then can you hope to have inward peace?…Such a burden as this is not necessary to bear…The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world was not worth the effort.

I’m just wrapping this one up for the second time, and it’s so very good.

Cathedral – Maya Joelle

You are worthless, and yet you deserve so much more than you are given. I tear you apart with contradiction. – from coming, written from the perspective of Death

I’m rereading this book this fall! It’s one of my favorite collections of poetry…Maya’s words strike a chord deep in the soul and hold out such solid truth. If you’re looking for a good little book of melancholy-yet-somehow-hopeful poetry for this autumn, I’d definitely recommend it. ❤

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Kathrina von Schlegel (translated by Jane Borthwick)

From the journal…

ISN’T HE [Christ] WORTH EVERYTHING?

The redemption and healing feels long in coming some days, but, oh, Father, You are trying our souls in Your crucible until we come forth as gold. Thank You for caring enough to make us like You, no matter how uncomfortable the flames.

How was your October? Are there any happenings/quotes/reads that stick out to you? ❤

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)

Book Reviews, Personal, reading

September memories – 2023

October 2, 2023by Laurel Luehmann3 Comments

And we leave September in the dust…

(Actually, we’re leaving it in splashes of mud. LOTS of mud. After a very dry summer, we spent a week in mud that made reminded me of London as portrayed in Bleak House.)

When you think of what you are, and despair; think also of what He is, and take heart.
C.H. Spurgeion

Things worth remembering…

covering the corn silage bunker
breaking two plastic forks on a meatball in the span of 3 minutes
starting Sunday school up again
hosting this poetry challenge with a friend
finding that the fastest route is not always the most direct one
APPLE FRITTERS.
Making more progress on Project Redemption…make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter to read an exclusive snippet and hear some fun info on the project coming later this week!

There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.
elisabeth elliot

What I’ve been reading…

Southpaw – Tabby RH

Garrison leaned his forearms against the island and bowed his head, letting the wooden countertop take his weight. The High King was still in the business of redemption.

This book!!! There are so many elements of the plot and characters that I want to emulate in my own novels, and it was an absolute joy to read. If you love involved plots with elements of mystery and memorable characters, you’d better get your hands on a copy!

The Pursuit of God – A.W. Tozer

Others before me have gone much farther into these holy mysteries than I have done, but if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame.

I’ve been in a bit of a non-fiction reading slump, but I so appreciated this book a couple years back and I’m determined to appreciate it again.:)

The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien

It was generally agreed that the joke was in very bad taste, and more food and drink were needed to cure the guests of shock and annoyance.

I’ve decided to finally read through this trilogy for the first time this autumn, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
Psalm 4:7

From the journal…

Lord, don’t let my fear overcome my desire for what is good and righteous. I just want to want Your ways completely.

Don’t let me choose tasks based on ease, but on Your heart.

Lord, help me to whole-heartedly love Your will, even when it comes at a great cost to myself.

Lay down your life FOR GOOD on the altar of truest love. If you are nothing else, be a clear channel of the love of Christ.

What are you taking away from this September?

Stay the course!

❤ Laurel

Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

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Book Reviews, Journaling, Personal, reading

August 2023 memories

September 4, 2023September 1, 2023by Laurel Luehmann4 Comments

Hullo, friends!

(Can you believe it? I’m actually getting back into my schedule of posting once a week! XD)

August in my corner of the world was full of life: good and hard and sweaty. (Man, was it ever sweaty.) Here are some of my favorite takeaways…

Things worth remembering…

kayaking with a friend, in which chatting + drifting happened as much as paddling 😂
pizza dates with siblings
a walk in near-complete darkness (for the record, it was not my idea)
laughing at laughter
raccoons (real and stuffed) and the most glorious puns
hearing this song for the first time
not melting in the mid-August heat (lemonade helps)
becoming an editor and cover designer for siblings
a women’s conference and my first book table ever (!!!)
prepping this poetry challenge with a friend
quality time spent working and laughing and studying with friends
finishing several books and paring my “currently reading” shelf down to an almost-healthy size
THE FLIES DYING. Now I can be happy and drink my coffee in peace without them wanting a taste.

To every right there is attached a duty, and to every privilege there is tied an obligation.
peter marshall

What I’ve been reading…

Holiness: The Heart God Purifies – Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

In other words, we must make it our constant, conscious ambition and aim to be holy. We have to work at it, concentrate on it, as an athlete sets his sights on winning an Olympic gold medal: He focuses on his objective, he trains and strains to achieve his goal, he sacrifices for it, he endures pain for it, and he puts aside other pursuits for the sake of a higher pursuit.

Reading this while going through Leviticus has been extra convicting/challenging. I highly recommend it.

The Memories We Painted – Caitlin Miller

But wasn’t that what love looked like — loving and being afraid? Wanting the best for someone but afraid of what that meant, of letting go when everything in you still wanted to hold on?

It’s been a while since a piece of fiction has wrenched and strengthened my heart like this.
This slower, introspective read is beautiful, and while some of the dialogue seemed a bit too eloquent (and because of that, slightly unrealistic) for my liking, I loved the way the author expressed the reality of suffering in an honest and hopeful way and wove so many pieces of the story together so masterfully. The dual timeline was also done extremely well! It lent so much depth to the main characters.

The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde

“If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.”

Oh, my goodness. I read most of this aloud to a sister, and half of the time was spent laughing. The humor, plot twists, and foreshadowing are all spot on, and I’ll definitely be reading this again when I need a good laugh.

Look for Yellow – Anna Barroso

I’ll never be a sparkling one
but I hope I’ll catch your eye
I’m dripping with mold instead of glitter
oh how I want to be beautiful
how I want to shine for you

I have mixed feelings about this book…I LOVED the gut-punches and “I feel seen” moments the author delivered in some of the poems, such as the one quoted above…you know, those words you want to roll around and savor in your mind for awhile.✨
Personally I feel that the poetry could have used a bit more clarity and proofreading, but it does contain some real gems for the ones who need to feel seen and known in the middle of grief/hard times.❤️

Their feet upon temptation,
Their faces upon God.
Emily Dickinson

From the journal…

I know You are enough — always will be — but I’m coming to realize that sometimes You show up for those You love by sending them someone who will show them Your love in a very tangible way. (Make me this kind of person.)

The FOMO is hitting hard today…oh, give me a very real sense of Your ability to use me everywhere.

(On the Passover in Exodus 12) I love how God asks them to celebrate this victory of His before it even comes fully to fruition…much as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper in anticipation of the day when we will eat and drink with Christ in His kingdom.

Oh, Father! Keep my eyes and heart and hope fixed on You, not Your work or blessings.

What are you taking away from this August? Did you have a favorite read of the month?

Stay the course!

❤ Laurel

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)