My Quiet Time Book Stack

I thought I would share with you the books I will have in my quiet time stack this year. I may add to it as the year goes on, but this is what I have right now. (Mitzi is actually quite excited about my choices! 😉)

This is my She Reads Truth Bible and my KeyWord Bible.

The She Reads Truth is the blue leather-bound edition as I find it so much easier to hold than the hard back edition.  As I get older and my arthritis gets worse, I try to find ways to make it easier on myself as I do things.

I like this Bible because it has large margins where I can write my notes or prayers as I read through the Scriptures. I also really like the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) edition as I find it easy to read yet true to the original Greek and Hebrew.

The Key Word Study Bible is great for truly understanding what I'm reading. It explains the meanings of the Greek and Hebrew words so that I can understand the context of the Scripture. I really like this Bible because it helps me to dig deeper into the Word.

Next is my Drawing Near Everyday Devotional Bible by John MacArthur

I love this Bible because it takes part of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs and gives me a little bit to read each day. This allows me to read the Bible through the year in one year.

My next book is a devotional journal that I received for review about a month ago. I just love it and decided to work through it each day this year. It has a wonderful devotion and a huge section for writing. It's a wonderful devotional/journal.

The Give Me Jesus journal is wonderful for keeping your thoughts on your daily Scripture reading, your prayers, a gratitude area, and more. It's a lovely book and will become a keepsake! I love how it encourages me to write down what I've learned.

The next two books go together. One is a book and one a study by Lysa Turkeurst.

I'm excited about this book and study as I know it's going to be inspiring and help me to understand why things happen in a way that we don't think it should. I've been hearing about Lysa's story this past year and I'm anxious to learn what she learned and how she stayed strong in her faith despite what was going on around her. I also have the DVD so I can do the study with all the information.

This is my gratitude journal. I've had this for a couple years and was consistent in writing down my blessings each day but then fell away from it. I'm making a commitment this year to write in it every day. It's such a great encouragement to write down the blessings of my day each day.

Finally, this is my Praying with Jane devotion. I read through this last year when I reviewed it but enjoyed it so much, I wanted to make it a part of my quiet time again. If you haven't checked this book out, be sure you do, especially if you're a Jane Austen fan. It will speak to your heart!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my book stack for my quiet time. I'm sure I'll add different things as the year goes on, but this is my beginning stack.  In case you're interested, I have added the affiliate links to all these books at the end of this post.

I have some other things I'm going to be working on as well, including my Illustrating Bible and my 100 days of grace book. I haven't done anything in them yet but, when I do, I'll share!


The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: NKJV Edition, Burgundy Genuine Leather (Key Word Study Bibles)

CSB She Reads Truth Bible, Navy LeatherTouch

ESV MacArthur Drawing Near Devotional Bible

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (365-Day Devotional Journals) (Lifestyle Journals)

Give Me Jesus Journal 

It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered

It's Not Supposed to Be This Way Study Guide: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered

It's Not Supposed to Be This Way Study Guide with DVD: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered

"Be Thankful" Gratitude Concealed Coil Hardcover Wirebound Journal

Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen

Thanks so much for reading about my book! I hope you enjoyed it.

Blessings - Julie

30 Thankful Days

We had rain all day today and it has suddenly turned quite cold! I've been in my warm pajamas all day and have napped off and on. This morning, Mitzi was quite restless and if I'm really tired, my hubs will come let her out if I text him (I told you he was great, didn't I?). He's a early riser and I'm not so he's always willing to let that little girl out in the mornings when I'm tired. Anyway, I was so tired, I wanted to sleep longer so grabbed my phone to text him, looked at the time and about passed out! It was 12:13 pm! Yes, afternoon! I decided it was time to get up and took her out myself. I understood why that little girl was so restless! She really needed to go out and it was so late! I still felt tired and my hubby did, too. I don't know if it's the change in weather or what but I'm hoping tomorrow is better in the tired department! I will say that I am so thankful that I can sleep if I need to!

This is day 3 of being thankful and here's what I'm the most thankful for.

The Word of God! This is my Bible and I love it and am so thankful for it! This is a fairly new Bible and it's the Holman Christian Study Bible in color. It's just amazing. I love all the colored maps, charts and information throughout this Bible. I also like this translation and researched about it before I bought it. It's the closest to the original Hebrew, Arabic, and Greek, which was important to me.

My time spent in God's Word is so refreshing and I'm thankful that I can have peace because of my salvation in Christ. There's nothing better!

Blessings - Julie

A Bit of This and That

It's a little after 3:00 am and I can't sleep. I have a cold ice machine that my Dad got me for my leg and when the ice runs out, the pad gets hot and wakes me up because it makes my leg hurt. It's a small price to pay, though, for the relief it brings me when it's cold! It lasts about 4-5 hours before it gets hot, so that's pretty good, in my opinion! Knowing my hubby, he'll wake up soon and be adding more ice. I don't wake him up as he takes such good care of me and I like him to have his sleep at night. I can take naps during the day so it's not a big deal if I'm up in the night.

Yesterday, I finally got the rest if my staples out of my leg. It had been over 5 weeks for the bypass and some of those staples were so imbedded in the skin, the nurse had a hard time getting them out of my leg. Thankfully, it didn't hurt, so I'm really thankful for that! Only one staple kind of hurt and that one was in my knee. I can't tell you how much better it feels to have all those staples out!

Thursday, I had my first physical therapy session outside my home and it went really well. I really like my therapist. I had him when I was in the hospital and he really understands both the knee and the restrictions of the bypass, which eases my mind. There can be no pressure put on that bypass and he's very careful. I felt like I did well, though, and I'm so glad to be going now! My legs have finally gone down enough to get pants on, although they are tight, but at least I'm not having to go every where in my nightgown anymore! lol My legs are still swollen but at least I'm seeing some progress.

Holly is doing really well and even played with her toy yesterday. I have to really watch her as she wants to jump up and down off the furniture and she's not supposed to do that yet. I'm so very happy that she's doing so well and I'm still praying that this cancer is not aggressive! She's such a cutie pie and just brings such joy to my life.

I'm going to have my family help me move my recliner back to my bedroom today. They had moved it to the living room because I was sleeping out there, but now that I'm sleeping in bed again, I want to get my recliner back in my bedroom. I'm finally feeling like I can work on my cross stitch and my stand is in my bedroom and all my things are in here. It will feel good to have things out back to normal, too. I'm also hoping to start decorating for Easter a little bit. I love decorating for the holidays and that will feel good, too.

Both my sons birthdays are this week, so I'm going to bake a chocolate cake for my oldest tomorrow and then frost it on Monday. I'm not sure, yet, what my other son will want, but I have a feeling he'll ask for my chocolate pie. Thankfully, I have one of my homemade pie crusts in the freezer, so that should be easy, if that's what he wants.

I'm hoping to go back to church tonight. It will be my first time back since my surgery and I'm so excited to go. I've missed going to church. It's such an important thing in my life!

I hope your weekend is full of blessings - Julie

Sunday Devotional

How often do you really stop - really stop - and consider God's wonders? If you're like me, you don't do it often enough. I know my first thought when I read this scripture is to think of nature. Truly, the beauty of nature is one of God's wonders. The beautiful sky - especially here in Arizona - the trees and my favorite, the birds. Not long ago,my oldest son rearranged my chair in the family room so I could look out the window and then my youngest son put up a bird feeder that feeds both small and large birds right outside our window. He then moved the large birdbath that was just out of site of the window, right smack in front of it! Wow! What a tremendous sight I see each day. Birds of every shape and size, coming to feed and drink. I have seen new species that I've been able to add to my bird book where I write down what birds I've seen. We actually have a woodpecker here now and that has been thrilling. Since I don't live where there are a lot of trees, I was shocked to see him, but I've made sure to buy him special treats so he will return.

When I really stop and consider God's wonders, I must focus on my children. What miracles they truly are! I look at my oldest son and see my Father's hands and feet. I see my Father's husky and manly build in my son, too. I see my mouth and nose. In my youngest son, I see my husband and my Father's and Grandmother's nose. Isn't this miraculous? God passes down these features to our children from their ancestors and we are able to see our parents and grandparents in them. My children have blessed my life more than you can imagine. They have given me an unconditional love and, more than that, they have given Jesus an unconditional love.

God's wonders do not stop at the fact that my children resemble my family physically. They have continued on a belief in the Lord, Jesus Christ, that my husband and I began when they were quite small. My husband's and my familys believe there is a God, but they don't believe IN God. They don't live their life for Him and nothing in their lives have changed. My children have chosen to follow God and their lives are so much richer and more fulfilling than ours ever were at their age. My heart swells at this.

I'm so thankful for homeschooling because it has allowed us to instill in our children the Word of God. They have been able to hide it in their heart (Psalms 119:11) and make it a part of their daily learning. They have heard the call of the Lord and answered Him. Is there anything more wonderous than the Lord calling us to be His own? Stop and look at your children. Stop and consider the wonders of the Lord and you will see SO much.

God bless you - Julie

Sunday Devotional

"I am married unto you"

Jeremiah 3:14

Christ Jesus is joined unto his people in marriage-union. In love, He espoused his Church as a chaste virgin, long before she feell under the yoke of bondage. Full of burning affection he toiled, like Jacob for Rachel, until the whole of her purchase-money had been paid, and now, having sought her by his Spirit, and brought her to know and love him, He awaits the glorious hour when their mutual bliss shall be consummated at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Not yet hath the Glorious Bridegroom presented his betrothed, perfected and complete, before the Majesty of heaven; not yet hath she actually entered upon the enjoyment of her dignities as his wife and queen: she is as yet a wanderer in a world of woe, a dweller in the tents of Kedar; but she is even now the bridge, the spouse of Jesus, dear to his heart, precious in His sight, written on his hands, and united with his person. On earth, He exercises towards her all the affectionate offices of husband. He make rich provision for her wants, pays all her debts, allows her to assume his name, and to share in all his wealth. Nor will he ever act otherwise to her. The word divorce he will never mention, for "He hateth putting away." Death must sever the conjugal tie between the most loving mortals, but cannot divide the links of this immortal marriage. In heaven they marry not, but are as the angels of God; yet there is this one marvelous exception to the rule, for in heaven Christ and his Church shall celebrate their joyous nuptials. This affinity as it is more lasting, so is it more near than earthly wedlock. Let the love of husband be never so pure and fervent, it is but a faint picture of the flame which burns in the heart of Jesus. Passing all human union is that mystical cleaving unto the Church, for which Christ left his Father, and became one flesh with her.

**Charles Spurgeon