September Musings – 2016

Posted on by Michele Morin

If my sons are reading the Amazon reviews of Sugar-free Gummy Bears out loud together and laughing hysterically, should I be grateful that they are reading and laughing together — or should I snarl and hand them each a reprimand and a text book?  Such are the dilemmas of the back-to-homeschooling experience here in the Morin compound, a journey of satisfying progress on some days — and grinding tedium on other days.
capture

September has also been a month of parties starting with volleyball and a cookout on Labor Day, and continuing with an “end of summer” bash, and then the adorable grand boy’s second birthday party — and my 54th.

Capture
A sink full of tomatoes on their way to becoming spaghetti sauce

 

Pulled pork sandwiches, Frito pie, batches of cookies, whoopie pies, and huge brownies have kept me busy in the kitchen, while the garden continues to produce tomatoes at an alarming rate —  I’ve canned over fifty quarts of tomatoes and spaghetti sauce this month.

On the Nightstand . . .

In Edges of His Ways, Amy Carmichael described her view of “the shining way on the water” — always a thing of beauty at sunrise or sunset — or even in the moonlight:

“There may be a hundred people on the shore, and yet every one sees the path beginning where he or she stands.  I shall never forget my astonishment when I saw this for the first time . . . [and] it’s like that with the Bible.  When you are reading, you will find a path that leads you from that place straight to the heart of God and the desires of God.”

I’d love to know what you’ve been reading, and where it is leading you.

On the Blog . . .

September has been an encouraging month with fun opportunities to guest post at SheLoves Magazine and to share my story in an interview with Cheryl Smith at Homespun Devotions.

The post with the most readers in September was my review of Gerald Peterman and Andrew Schmutzer’s fine work on the theology of suffering:  Between Pain and Grace.

capture

A September highlight for me was the Revive Our Hearts’ simulcast prayer event for women.   On Friday evening, September 23, hundreds of thousands of women gathered in thousands of locations around the world to seek the Lord together, and some of us were here in Maine!   We prayed in small groups and asked ourselves hard questions like this one inspired by the prophet Jeremiah:

Where are the wailing women today?

Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“Consider and call for the mourning women,
That they may come;
And send for skillful wailing women,
That they may come.
Let them make haste
And take up a wailing for us,
That our eyes may run with tears,
And our eyelids gush with water.  (Jeremiah 9:17-18)

And this one:  Do I have any excuse at all for not bringing the eight most important people in my life before God by name each day?

It was a challenge to be joined in purpose with the prayer and worship of others. (Sorry, but when we were supposed to be closing our eyes, I just had to watch as the camera panned the crowd at the True Woman conference in Indiana.) I was challenged to intercede more broadly and with greater risk and faith, and was also inspired by the work and words of Blair Linne, a spoken word artist and pastor’s wife from the Washington, D.C. area.  I hope you’ll click here to enjoy a sample of her work.

Thank you for reading and for so often adding your thoughts to mine in your comments.  In community, we are sharpened.  We share the comfort with which we have been comforted, and together we “seek the peace of the city” where we have been placed in the providence of God.

Every blessing to you,

Michele

//

If you enjoy reading Living Our Days, subscribe to get regular Bible studies and book reviews delivered to your inbox.  Just enter your e-mail address in the box at the top of this page.

I link-up with a number of blogging  communities on a regular basis.  They are listed in the left sidebar by day of the week.  I hope that you will take a moment to enjoy reading the work of some of these fine writers and thinkers.

Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

39 thoughts on “September Musings – 2016”

  1. a great question indeed: why can’t we bring 8 names we love before the Throne each day ? thank you, michele and congrats on your sheloves guest posting! blessings from CA and welcomeheart.

    Like

  3. Michele,
    When I do think about the purpose and theology of suffering, I am reminded that we are to go out and comfort with the peace and live by which we’ve been comforted. This principle is key in God’s economy and I have to remind myself when I question the suffering going on all around me. Always live your musings…
    Blessings,
    Bev

    Like

  5. What a challenging and good word from Blair Linne. Thank you, Michele, for introducing her to me. I see why you were inspired to ask the hard questions. Finishing up the book “Rest Assured” by Vicki Courtney … so good!
    Love these musings, Michele. : )

    Like

  6. Thank you, Michele–so much to glean. Amy C.’s words: “When you are reading, you will find a path that leads you from that place straight to the heart of God and the desires of God.” AMEN!
    Blair Linne’s spoken word art–winsome invitation to really know Him. Beautiful! Thank you for the introduction.
    And do savor the laughter in your house. Savor it above all the noses in books. My house is no longer a homeschooling haven. There are books, but so little laughter and craziness. Enjoy this season while you have it. The physics will be forgotten, but the laughs will be remembered!
    Oh, and welcome to 54! I’ll be heading on soon to the next age…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for every word of this comment. You are such an encourager, and I appreciate your presence here. And, by the way, I’m still chewing on your suggestion about a “book discussion” group here.

      Like

  8. Your post made me want to observe my kids while eating a brownie and reading a book! Lol. It’s exciting to hear about all the amazing things God is doing for you! Keep up the good work sister!

    Like

  9. Michele, Ooh brownies and books sound good to me! And fresh tomatoes from your garden…one of my fave things about the summer…fresh garden tomatoes! Blessed to be your neighbor over at Three Word Wednesday this week.

    Like

  10. September has found me trying to stabilize my feet after an unusual summer tending to family needs out of state. It also meant returning there for four days. It was spending many hours in interviews for a major writing project in the months ahead and stepping into a photography class trying to learn the language of that area to improve my skills before a vacation in October. September was a time of wondering when we would see hints of autumn as the days continued in the 80’s and sometimes 90’s until just this week. It was reading God Attachment and how our beginning stages of bonding set a course for how we often bond with Him (or don’t). It was also reading the latest book by Lesley Leyland Fields (Crossing the Waters) for a review next week and learning what the life of a fisherman is really about both today where she lives on an island off Alaska as well as the fishermen first called to be disciples along the Sea of Galilee. It has been a time of loss and saying goodbye to a friend who went home to be with the Lord too soon and a time of gratefulness for small glimpses of the Lord working, resting, and loving each day.

    Like

    1. So much! Thank you for the update — and we have been Crossing the Waters together. What an absorbing read this has been for me. It’s the third book of Leslie’s that I’ve read, and I think it’s my favorite so far. Excited for you about all the learning you are doing!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. That verse in Jeremiah is most certainly challenging. Am I a wailing women crying out to God? Or do I tend to complain or nag or fret? thank you for your challenging words. your neighbor at coffee for your heart

    Like

  12. I want to come eat in your kitchen, Michele! “Pulled pork sandwiches, Frito pie, batches of cookies, whoopie pies, and huge brownies have kept me busy in the kitchen.” I always love seeing your musings for the month. Thanks for compiling them for us.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Boys reading and laughing together is a good thing. Your tomato plants are really doing a fabulous job of producing. Are you doing anything special to them? I love reading your monthly musings, Michele. Thanks for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.

    Like

  16. Hey friend, we just moved into October😃😄 What do you know, December is around the corner!
    Those were my thoughts these couple of days. Thank God for His faithfulness
    God bless friend😘

    Like

  18. The shining way on the water is one of my favorites! I have it marked and refer back to it often. Sounds like you’re head-long into the fall season. Would love to share some homemade sauce with you, friend!

    Like

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.