How to Choose a Bible

I've had a number of conversations over the past few weeks that have led me to plan a few posts that I hope will create a good guide for those of you who are just beginning your journey with the Lord or those who need a fresh start after months (years?) of complacency.

I decided to begin with choosing a Bible. There are thousands of Bible choices out there. How do you know which one to choose? There are probably almost as many opinions on this topic as there are Bibles to choose from (hence the reason there are so many choices!), but here are my thoughts:

Pick a Version

Oh my goodness. This is enough to make you tired right now, isn't it? You could read entire books/take entire courses that explain why there are so many versions/paraphrases/translations of the Bible. In fact, here is an article that explains a bit about that, if you're curious and have some time to read. But if you don't have time or interest in reading that background, let me tell you the few I've used most frequently and why.


* New International Version (NIV): This is probably still my main go-to recommendation of a Bible version that balances translation accuracy with easy readability. I grew up reading in the King James Bible with all its thees and thous, and that can get kind of tedious (unless, of course, you've taken to just talking that way in general). So this is probably my favorite choice. This is also the version in which I have memorized the most verses and the one I use when I write and teach.

* English Standard Version (ESV): I hadn't used this version until I started dating Ryan. He got a new Bible around that time and chose this version, and I wanted to be able to read from the same version he did, so when we did our devotions together, we were using the same thing. This is very similar to the NIV, but some of the phrasing is a tad different. Sometimes reading a slightly different phrasing helps me see something in a fresh way, so that's why I like this one.

* New Living Translation (NLT): This is more of a paraphrase of Scripture than an actual word-for-word translation from the original language. For that reason, I am always hesitant to recommend it as a main form of study, however, if you're new to Scripture and find it confusing, this is a good, easy-to-read introduction. And if you already have a firm foundation in Scripture, this can be a good way to see it from a fresh angle.

 *New English Translation (NET): I first learned of this one from Beth Moore, and I figured if she trusted it enough to study and teach from it, I would, too. The translators for this one went back to all the original language manuscripts and started from scratch, so it's similar to the NIV, but some of the wording is a bit different, and I've read/heard from various sources that they tried to find even more accurate translations to some words. This is the one I've been using in my study this year.

Like I said, there are many more options. (And I own a few more than what I've listed here, too.) Those are just my top four favorite. 

Pick an actual BIBLE

Now that you've picked the version you want to use, you need to pick an actual BIBLE. And maybe, for you, it's as simple as picking the pretty cover you like the best. (No shame in that, my friend!) But Bibles come in SO many packages. You can get a Bible that is just Scripture with no notes of any kind. You can get devotional Bibles that have daily devotions built right into the pages. You can get study Bibles that have teaching notes, maps, and pictures throughout to help you. SO many options! :)


I actually own several Bibles, and often when I'm talking with people who own a bunch of Bibles, they say they feel guilty about it because they know some people don't have any. While I am always sad for those who have NO Bible, I don't feel guilty for owning a bunch, because I actually use them often in my research for writing and teaching! So here are some of my favorites. (And of course, you can find alternate cover options for most.)

* Life Application Study Bible: This was the first Bible I ever fully devoured. Mine is the NIV, but you can buy this particular Bible in many versions. I always always recommend this one to new or struggling Christians, because it has so many wonderful study tools in it that are easy to read and understand, and also offers (as the title would suggest) practical life applications for what you've read in Scripture. I used this Bible (mine had a "dusty rose" cover...hello, teenage Bekah!) for almost a decade and treasure it still to this day.

* The NIV Study Bible: I got this Bible in college when I took a New Testament course that required this particular Bible for its study notes. It is not quite as thick as the Life Application Bible, and the study notes are much more academic and not so application-focused. But if you're looking to study the meaning behind the Scripture, this is a good one to choose.

* The Archaeological Study Bible: I am not a big archaeology buff, but this Bible fascinates me because it gives background into that aspect of history. It explains customs of those days, architecture, maps, shows full color photos of items found in digs, etc. Very fascinating. This Bible is not as easy to read as some, not because of its word choice, but because of its physical presentation. The pages are a cream/tan color and the print is brown (aethetics) and some people find it hard to read. (I wasn't one of them, but it was a common complaint I read about when the Bible released.) It is also HUGE. Very thick and heavy, so if you're not looking to be a weight-lifter, this might not be the best fit. But the information is incredible!

* The Key Words Study Bible: This is another Bible I learned about from Beth Moore, and it is the one I used during my desert journey. It is probably the second-most written-in Bible I have and one I use most frequently when I study and write. It has a few notes throughout the Bible, though  not nearly as many as some I've already  mentioned, but it has reference numbers that you can use to cross to the back and see what the original definitions of some words meant. (Some are very different than our English-speaking minds would lead us to believe.) I love, love, love this Bible!

* The NET Bible: This is the one I've been using this year, and it has TONS TONS TONS of study notes in it. On some pages, there are more notes of explanation than there are Scripture passages! I think this is a great study Bible if you want to dig in and learn all kinds of things. Almost like a built-in professor!

* The NIV Journal the Word Bible: This Bible had been the one I had next on my wish list UNTIL this week (more explanation below), but I still want to tell you about it. I love to write notes in my Bible, and I hate trying to scribble in tiny margins. When journaling Bibles became all the rage, I felt the answer to my problems had arrived. This Bible does not have study notes, but it has wide, lined margins so you can take notes OR if you're a coloring/doodling lover, you can do art in the margins. I actually saw this Bible in person last month and noticed that the pages are a bit thicker than traditional Bible pages, so you don't have to worry about ink bleeding through. Like I said...this is the one I planned to get next UNTIL I found this one just this week:

* The Jesus Bible: Like I said, I'd never heard of this one before, but I found it while browsing the internet this week. It drew me because it combines a study Bible WITH a journaling Bible. What? Yes! It's true! This Bible project (which contains NIV text) was spearheaded by Luis Giglio, Max Lucado, Randy Alcorn, Ravi Zacharias and John Piper, and these men have written study notes and articles to show how Jesus has ties to each book of the Bible - not just the four Gospels. This is a type of study I've not done before, and it sounds amazing to me, so I wanted to check it out. Big thanks to my parents for gifting it to me for my birthday this year!!


You might notice I did not list any devotional Bibles, and that is because I am not a big fan of them. I like my Bibles to be Scripture only or Scripture and study notes. I like my devo books to be separate from my Bible. That's just a matter of personal preference - certainly there is nothing wrong with having your devotions in the same book as your Bible!

You might also notice I did not list any Bible apps. I am a hold-the-Bible-in-my-hands kind of girl. I do not have any Bible apps on my phone or tablet and prefer to always use a hard copy book when I read the Bible. Also personal preference.

HERE'S THE MAIN THING:

Read the Bible.


That's the goal. Whatever version, whatever layout, whatever pretty cover will get you to open the thing up and read the words so you can start hiding them in your heart? GET THAT. And then open it every single day and read something. Study something. Memorize something.

Hope that's helpful to you, especially if you're looking for a new Bible! Holler if you have any questions! I'd be happy to talk them through with you!

** BONUS!! ** Through May 8th, Christianbook.com is having a huge Bible sale. That's actually how I was able to get (ahem, my MOM was able to get) the new Bible I wanted. There are great deals here, so I just thought I'd let you know. I do so love a good sale!

The Saturday Six

One.

 I was excited to stumble upon this article of places to eat around Indiana. (Places with spectacular patio dining!) We have actually been to the very last one on the list and loved the food AND the view. And now? We have more places to try!


Two.

 Love these words from Holley Gerth. If you're struggling to forgive yourself of your past, or if you wonder if Jesus meant that He loves you, read her words.

Three.

 Did anyone try the new Unicorn Frappe from Starbucks this week? I am not even REMOTELY tempted by this, and of my social media friends, I only saw one thumbs up. I will just go ahead and stick to my caramel delights, thankyouverymuch.

Four.

Since I'm not a parent, I do try to limit my parental advice on this blog. I know I am not a reliable source. But I happened upon this post through Twitter this week, and out of curiosity, I read it. AND I TOTALLY AGREE. I actually have a couple of friends (meaning one couple married to each other) who parent this way, and it actually works. Their kids are well-behaved, innovative, creative, and in my non-parental opinion, balanced and healthy. So I think there might just be something to this madness!  

Five.

This is kind of a throw-back to an old post, but I'll tell you why I'm reminding you of it! Last year, I shared this post of how I'd started making my own marinara sauce. (It was a by-product of the 21 Day Fix lifestyle and learning to eat less processed foods.) I've used this sauce many times in lasagna and other such dishes, but I made a new batch a few days ago and pulled some out for Ryan to use as dipping sauce for some bread he had. I clearly underestimated how much he would love it and had NOT reserved enough. He told me he was done with all pre-packaged sauces. This was it for him from now on. So in honor of that, here's a link to the recipe! 

Six.

THIS. IN EVERY WAY: THIS. (Pause: it is true that there is no book review this week. I read two books but neither has been released yet, so I can't review them. Believe me. It's killing my OCD as much as it's shocking you right now. I'll be back with a book next week. PROMISE.) Okay back to this point.

I have had so many conversations lately with friends, fellow-believers, fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners and my brain spins over this entire conundrum. As Beth says so much better than I can, we are living in a world where we are taught and encouraged to promote ourselves. If we have something to offer, we have to make graphics and videos and do blog tours and podcasts and push, push, push to get our name and offering out to every soul we've ever met. We beg for retweets and reposts and stalk our social media numbers to make sure they're growing.

I don't like any of it. It's not how I was raised, it wasn't what I saw modeled, and it's not how I want to live. I share what I have to offer, because I want you to know it's there. I want you to know if you need a laugh, you can listen to Spill the Beans and chances are good we'll make you giggle. I want you to know if you want to read about the randomness of our lives, you can come here every day and find something to munch on for a minute. I want you to know if you need a devo, I've written a couple, I believe in their message, and I hope they'd be an inspiration to you. So I let you know when something's here. I want you to know that I love to share the messages God has given me with groups of people, so if you need a speaker, holler, and we'll talk. But oh my word, I never want to be the girl that shoves any of it down your throat.

I don't want to be the girl who gets hidden from every Facebook feed because my every post, even if shrouded in some fun story about my life, is somehow going to turn into a desperate plea to hire me or buy something I've written. I agree with Beth 100% and I am in her camp. I don't want to be about the Bekah Shaffer brand. I want to be about Jesus and hope you see Him through these outlets I have the chance to offer.

Stepping off soapbox.

Looking for Home

When we moved last year, we decided not to change churches right away. In all the chaos of buying, selling, renovating, moving, and settling, we needed something to stay constant. We needed familiarity and a sense of belonging. We loved our church, even though it was our accidental church.

That first Sunday we'd walked inside its doors, we had fully intended to sneak in and out, unnoticed, because we were convinced we weren't permanent residents of Marion. We didn't want to establish roots at a church, only to relocate shortly thereafter and have to leave friends and a place of belonging.

God had other plans, though. The move to Fort Wayne we absolutely imagined we would make...never happened. God kept us in Marion, and every Sunday we trekked to that church, sat in its pews, and accidentally made friends. And accidentally got involved. And accidentally belonged.

So you see, when we did move, three years later, we didn't want to leave that church. We had friends. We had a Sunday School class. We loved the teaching. We'd found ways to serve.

For six months, we made the long commute from our new home to our old church. It wasn't until last August, right after we'd driven 850 miles (each way) to my niece's wedding, that I spent three days in a row from early morning until late evening, serving at the church, and we knew. We knew it wasn't going to work for us to keep commuting to church. We knew we wanted to keep serving and keep participating, but to do so from a distance was impractical. The time had come. We needed to find a local home.

So we finished out a month of commitments at that church, said our goodbyes to friends, wrote letters and delivered gifts of thanks to the church staff, and all the while, we prayed long and hard. We talked openly about what we wanted in a church. We did extensive research online to try to find places that seemed like a good fit.

Last October, we walked into the doors of a church we'd never visited before. We walked hand-in-hand, thankful we at least had a pew-buddy. (Visiting churches alone is wildly uncomfortable. I've done it before and remember!) We were warmly welcomed, we enjoyed the teaching, and we decided to go back the next week.

And the next. And the next. We stayed. Never tried another church. Declared this one home. (For sure. It went in the scrapbook. That makes it official!)

Well, that was easy!

Except six months later, we both knew. Separately but together, we knew the place we thought was home - the place we wanted to be home - wasn't home. The people were kind. There was no mistaking that. But we didn't see eye-to-eye on some of the theology, and we hadn't found a place to belong. We knew it might take time, but in six months, every effort we'd made had come up short.

Discouraging? Yes. It sort of felt like an odd dejavu of dating. What was wrong with us? Why couldn't we fit in? Why, after such a careful approach to a huge commitment, did it feel all wrong?

So a little over a month ago, we left quietly. We walked out knowing it was our last Sunday, and we didn't really feel anything except confused. We sent notes to a couple of friends we'd made in the six months we'd attended, letting them know why we were about to disappear and to thank them for reaching out to us, and then we began the search all over again.

We scoured the web again, reading belief statements, researching backgrounds, exploring the ministries.We tried to be careful but not picky. Every church we visited was good and the people were kind, but none screamed welcome home!

We finally found one that received a "let's go back" vote from both of us, but it's far too early to know if this is actually home, or just the best fit yet.

But either way, we've learned a lot in this search. We've learned what we long for, what we thought we wanted but apparently really don't, and that the process of looking for home can be long and lonely.

Church is a huge responsibility. To find a place that is solid and faithful and friendly and a heart-match is far more involved than we ever thought it would be. But we remain hopeful that the right match is there somewhere. And we can't wait to find it!

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen to Ann's interview here 

We're covering new territory on the Conversation Cafe this week! I had a chance to talk with Ann Gabhart, who has written many books, but the series of hers that I fell in love with was the Hidden Springs Mystery series. (I reviewed the most recent book in that series a couple of weeks ago on the Saturday 6.) Ann was fun to talk to and shared some insights into her writing craft and the world of fiction in general. Hope you enjoy!

Two.

My friend Sarah Forgrave is doing a new series on her blog to help you know how to eat fast food as responsibly as possible. I loved this first post with practical suggestions of what to eat at a number of popular fast food restaurants if you're wanting to try to be good!

Three.

Have you ever had someone apologize to you (for something big or small) and rather than saying you forgive them, you just dismiss the offense as no big deal? Sure, that might make us more comfortable in an awkward situation, but this powerful little post explains why pushing for grace and forgiveness is so important. Well-written words from Andrea Summers.

Four.

 And not to belabor the topic of forgiveness, but I also wrote on that subject for the Annesley site this week and thought I'd share my words as well.

Five.

Easter is a week from tomorrow, FYI. If you're needing a quick decoration (that's geared more toward Jesus than bunnies), I love this free printable! 

 Six.

Source

I was absolutely giddy when I saw book 3 in Irene Hannon's Hope Harbor series had been released. The first book, called Hope Harbor released a couple of years ago and was one of the first fiction books I read after I quit my full time job. It rekindled in me a love for fiction, and as you can tell, I haven't quit since! Last year, I happily revisited the charming Pacific Northwest town in book two, titled Sea Rose Lane, and when I saw that Sandpiper Cove was releasing this spring, I had to read it. Immediately.

If you read my fiction reviews very often, you know I have a soft spot in my soul for books set in small towns, and Hope Harbor is just such a town. Charming and little, where the people know each other and actually cheer each other on in the most beautiful way. I was happy to see some of my favorites from earlier books, like Charley with his taco truck and, Luis, the grateful citizen getting a new chance in a new country.

This time, I got to know police chief Lexie Graham, a single mom grieving a past that remains mysterious to most of the townspeople, and working hard to make Hope Harbor a safe and pleasant place to live.  I'd met her in an earlier book, but this time I learned her story. She's investigating a string of vandalism incidents around town and more than one seem to be targeting Adam Stone (or Stone, as most people call him), an ex-con trying to build a new life among the people of Hope Harbor.

As you might expect from an officer of the law, Lexie has keen intuition, and she expects to find herself overly wary of Stone and his prison-riddled past. But for some reason, the change she's making seems to be more genuine than facade. As she reaches out to help professionally, she finds herself intrigued by this man she knows better than to associate with.

And indeed, Stone wants a new life. He wants friends and a place to belong. But a lifetime of hurt and betrayal makes him a bit skittish of trusting a town full of people who know he has a shady past.

As the two begin to work together to find answers to the vandalism, they begin to wonder if they'll also find a way to fill these massive, secret voids deep inside both of them.

This third installment in the Hope Harbor series was a sweet, insightful, easy read that kept me up late so I could see how it ended! Thoroughly enjoyable!

* I received a copy of this book from Revell but was not required to provide a positive review. * 

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen to the podcast here.

So if you hang out on Pinterest much, I'm going to guess you've seen one of the creations from this week's Conversation Cafe guest, Shannon Long. She is a blogger over at Sweet Blessings, but she has created these Scripture writing plans that are all over Pinterest. I've been using them this year (they're just collections of Scripture references for each month, and you look them up and write out the verses) and have been learning much through this practice! I wanted to hear the story behind them, so she was kind enough to join me, tell a bit of her story and how Scripture writing impacted her during a really severe health crisis! We talked for about a half hour - hope you can take a listen and check out her plans!

Two.

 What a beautifully and succinctly written post that addresses the truth that God is using each of us RIGHT NOW. It's not about grand dreams of how He may use us in the future, though certainly He will use us then, too. But now matters just as much! I loved this, Jessica! Thanks for writing it!

Three.

 If you're a book lover, do you love finding out little snippets of the story behind the story? This week I read A.H. Gabhart's newest novel, Murder is No Accident (review below) and I stumbled upon this article that gives a peek into how she chose one of the main settings for the book. It gives no spoilers, I promise, and is fun to read!

Four.

This 3 minute video parody showed up in my Facebook feed this week, and maybe it showed up in yours too. But if not, and if you're a fan of the HGTV show House Hunters, you've got to watch it! 

Five.

So, last weekend (as you saw), Ryan not only surprised me with tickets to see the GVB - with David one last time! - but he also treated me to David's brand new CD, which is a hymns project. I was raised on hymns and certainly went through my rebellious teen phase when I felt they were so not cool and didn't want to listen to them, but apparently I'm old now or something, because I dearly love them again, and this album is SO GOOD. Hymns projects always interest me because it seems there are about a dozen hymns that are must-have-standards, and you're guaranteed to find at least three from that list on any collection. And that's true of this one. He's got How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace on the list. But he also has several that I've never heard on any hymns project, and that's what I love about this one! Only Trust Him and Until Then and Victory in Jesus, which is Ryan's favorite. (David does a duet with his equally talented daughter on that one!) So of course I have to say if you're looking for some new music, PICK DAVID!!!!

Six.

Source

After a few weeks of reading and reviewing non-fiction  books, I was excited to slip over into the world of fiction this week. Anyone else ever need a virtual vacation to a book world now and then? And Hidden Springs would be just the kind of town I'd love to visit for a low-key vacation, but my goodness. Seems like every time a new book comes out, someone's died in town, so maybe I don't want to visit!

Except I do dearly love this little fictional town and all the people in it. It's the kind of series that makes me giddy to see a new book coming out, because I so want to go back and see everyone again! Murder is No Accident is the third book in A.H. Gabhart's series (Hidden Springs Mysteries) and it was as suspenseful as books one and two! (Follow the links on "one" and "two" to read my thoughts on those books.)

In this third installment of Hidden Springs life, we meet teenager Maggie Greene, a budding writer who finds much joy in tip-toeing into the tower room high above Miss Fonda Elwood's grand old house. Miss Fonda is in a senior living facility now and is not always accused of being lucid, but before her mind slipped entirely, she'd told Maggie she was welcome to go into the house anytime she wanted. Maggie feared the rest of the town (starting with her mother, who was hired to keep the house clean, and ending with law enforcement, who are hired to keep trespassing at bay) won't see the invitation from the dementia-riddled lady quite as openly as she does, hence the tip-toeing.

Sneaking in and out works well until the day she Maggie hears a scuffle on the floor below the tower and emerges to find a body at the bottom of the stairs. She calls 911 to report it, but quickly panics at the idea of explaining how she came upon the body, and flees the scene.

That puts Deputy Michael Keene back on the murder-mystery-solving scene, which he rather hopes will end soon so he can start feeling like life in the little town is uneventful once again. He'd rather reserve the title "eventful" for his love life, but unfortunately that's the part of life that seems to be at a standstill.

As the days go by, Michael becomes increasingly aware that the woman at the bottom of the stairs did not trip on her high heels and fall to an untimely, but natural death. A second body, some threats, and a whole lot of suspicious folk leave him scrambling for answers before things get any worse. And while he wishes the happenings of the town would leave him too busy to think about the lovely Alexandria and her confusing waffling of interest/non-interest in him, she seems to override every thought he has.

The book packs a lot of action into a short amount of time, and it also brings in great faith and life lessons alongside the suspenseful mystery. (Full disclosure. I started this book after lunch one day and promised Ryan I would not stay up late to finish it. And then I couldn't put it down. He laughed when I read the last page before going to bed. I couldn't help it!!! I had to know who did it!!) I hope there is at least one more book to take me back to Hidden Springs! I still have a few questions I'd love to see answered!

* Revell send me a complimentary copy of this book but did not require a review in exchange. All opinions are my own! *
 

Happy House-iversary!

Podcast Tuesday!!

Ryan's inside scoop on the ripping apart of our kitchen (AGAIN) and a bonus this week: hands down, the BEST labor narrative I've ever read in my life. Ryan's cousin's wife had a lonnnnnnnnnng labor last week and her husband's Facebook updates were simply hysterical.

 Listen right here!

One full year ago today, we were here:

We were a bit taken aback that were there, because even two months before that, we hadn't even set foot inside the house. We didn't know we would be moving. It's probably a good thing it all happened so fast, because we didn't have time to freak out about it.

One of the biggest faith journeys of our married life hit a major milestone on this day. Though we didn't take possession of the house that day, we walked out owning it and dreaming of a future to come within those very walls.

We've been so purposeful in the past year, molding and shaping this house into our home. We've lived intentionally, trying our best to use the blessing we've been given to, in turn, bless others.

I. am. so. grateful. God saw fit to move us here when He did. He knew what was coming that we didn't know. He knew the friendships we needed to form and deepen that we couldn't form and deepen from 40 minutes away. He knew the new computer system Ryan's work would get that require much more time at work, and He knew that would be more manageable if we lived closer to work. He knew the gallbladder debacle and the hip replacement that loomed before us and how much easier it would be if we could just be closer to the hospitals we needed to frequent.

We had no clue, but He knew all that.

So today we celebrate one year of owning this home, and we're thankful that even though there have been so many surprises in this past year, we're able to say that all the many good things we hoped to know as a result of this move have absolutely come true.

If there's one thing we've learned in our marriage, it's that we have no idea what God has next for us. We could live here for the rest of our lives, or God could move us somewhere else. We have no idea. But I am thrilled that we have no regrets from this first year of living here. I don't think any house has ever been more well loved in that short amount of time. If we stay here forever, I completely anticipate that every year that follows will be just like the first: lived to the fullest. If God opens a different door and takes us forward into a new place, we'll go knowing we had a great, memory-packed season in this place.

It's home indeed.

Letting Go of Routine

Ryan and I are very structured people, and we don't apologize for that. People ask us how we "do it all," and, well, first of all, we don't, but secondly, we do as much as we can because we're organized. We plan way ahead, we keep a color-coded calendar, we tend not to waste time, and we work hard.

Sometimes I envy those who fly through life by the seat of their pants, because organized living is work. It's getting up every day and staring at all that needs to be done and sliding tasks into time slots so by day's end, the balance of work and fun has been accomplished. Ahhhh, to get up at will and lay on the couch and read a book all day...right?

I don't think there's anything wrong with being organized, just like I don't think there's anything wrong with being a go-with-the-flow sort of soul. I believe the Lord made us with a beautiful array of personalities, and if we all approached life with the same plan, we wouldn't end up with nearly as many good stories, now would we?

But I do think it's wrong of us (organized and laid back alike) to hold so tightly to "our way" that we can't try life any other way, even for a minute. It's been an area of conviction for me lately.

Yesterday one of my friends texted me early in the morning and asked if I would pray for her son, because his class had a substitute teacher, and the change in routine created anxiety for him. And as I stared at that request on my phone, God nudged me and reminded me I knew a measure of how that little guy felt. My own week, which had been carefully scripted in full color code, had been changed multiple times. Extra appointments. New responsibilities. Canceled events. Filling in, helping out, meeting needs: all good things, but all things that changed the plans for the days and caused me to push aside my own work. And some of that work really needed to be done.

Yes. I definitely could feel a bit of the kiddo's pain. I decided to use the changes in my schedule as a great reminder to pray for this little guy while I prayed for improvement in my own attitude. I prayed that we both would learn to let go of our needs for routine and learn to accept the missions and lessons God had for us throughout our day. Missions and lessons that perhaps could only come through a change in plans.

 Chances are good, I'll always be a scheduled soul. Ryan probably will be too, and the fact that we are like-minded in that approach to life is one of the reasons we work together so well. (In full representation, Ryan handles changes to the day with a bit more grace than I do.) But I'm learning to loosen my grip a little, and I'm trying to embrace the beauty God has hidden in those unexpected changes.

The Saturday Six

One.

If you're feeling a little bit forgotten - even by God - read this post by my new friend, Jessica. God is in the details. ALL the details. Even your details, and her reminder here is gentle and encouraging!

Two.

A very honest article on beauty. Such a hard topic to address honestly, because none of us want to admit that it bothers us as much as it probably does. I just appreciated her words, including these: "There is no perfection in true beauty—there is only redemption. It’s black and white, the paradox of loving my imperfections. It’s when I throw my shame aside and slip on my broken boots."

Three.

Ryan's Valentine's gift to me was this beautiful handmade sign from the Etsy Shop Wildwood Home Studio. The shop owner lives here in Indiana, and she uses reclaimed wood to make the signs. Ryan ordered this sign custom-made to go with my Surrender Cross from RAD JOY, and it is just so perfect. Ryan said the shop owner was great to work with and he highly recommended her! I adore the quality of the sign and the fact that it has a history!   

Four.

I guess in some ways, this post goes along with the theme of the first link up here in the list, but I guess sometimes when a similar theme keeps popping up, it's for a reason. If you're struggling because you feel like God is only all about the BIG stuff and life seems very small, take an encouraging read here.

Five.

 Hey Rachel in North Dakota? I saw your mind blown comment from the Shuffle about the clean eating queso and mozzarella sticks, so I wanted to share with you (and anyone else whose mind was also blown) the links to those recipes. They both came from the Dashing Dish website, and if you've hung out here very long, you know I LOVE ME SOME DASHING DISH RECIPES! Now, some of her recipes are exclusive for members, and the queso is in that group, but I totally assure you the monthly membership is worth the price. We eat so many recipes from this site and I adore Katie and her ministry. So here's the recipe to the queso (quick tip: we did not find that this reheats well as a leftover. Next time I make it, I'll just make half a recipe because that's all we could eat in one meal). I have not tried this recipe, but she has a clean eating white queso recipe here...and it's not a membership recipe, so anyone can see it. The skinny crispy mozzarella sticks are not a member recipe either, so you can view it without a membership!

Six.

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I had seen some teasers online about a new book called Fear Fighting by Kelly Balarie, and since fear is something I struggle with way more than I should, I decided this would be a good one for me to read and review.


Here's the thing about fear. It is a big, bad, suffocating monster that cannot be cured through reading a book. I will tell you that and Kelly will tell you that. In fact, in the afterword of the book, she says, "I don't know your timeline, but I do know that God wants to handle these two words (ahem: set free) one-on-one, hand-in-hand, and in conscious partnership with you. He reserves the right to decide when 'set free' is achieved." And it's true. You can't read this book and find the magic formula for ditching fear once and for all. But you can read the book to find two really important things: a friend who genuinely understands how you feel in your fear, and some suggestions for how to attack the moments of fear that can stem from so many different sources.

Fear Fighting is the kind of book I imagine myself going back to on multiple occasions, to find the specific chapter to accompany my present fear, and reacquainting myself with the ideas in that chapter. Whether your fear comes from the need to be in control, a desire to please everyone in your path, worry, comparing yourself to everyone around you, the unknown, rejection (real or imagined), or the resurgence of your own past, Kelly has Scripture-based suggestions to help you combat what Satan intends to use to thwart you.

She shares honest, vulnerable stories from the span of her own life - times when fear has bested her and times when she's overcome through the power of the Spirit. She offers Scripture to speak against the fear, and at the conclusion of every chapter, she offers some specific take-away thoughts and challenges.

Fear may be a life-long battle for you. That's very possible. But its dominance can lessen over time if you're willing to let God step in and teach you how to lean on Him instead of into the fear.

People who don't struggle with fear (ohhhh how fortunate!!) don't always understand how debilitating and discouraging it can be, so to have a friend who does get it and is willing to offer the hope that has worked for her in a spirit of compassion is such a gift!

* Baker Books provided me with a copy of this book at no charge. Opinions are my own. *

Detail Work

This week is a pivotal one in Shafferland. A "versary" of sorts, though I will refrain from commemorating it with chalkboards and parties. One year ago this week - Saturday if you like exact calendar dates - Ryan and I stepped foot in this home for the first time.

I was looking back at our moving scrapbook this week, because of course there is a whole scrapbook dedicated to this adventure, and the story still gives me great chills.

According to my record keeping, it was a year ago earlier this week when I had stumbled upon a house that had just come on the market and was so darling in every possible way. I called our agent immediately and scheduled a showing.

And then came January 22nd. A year ago this past Sunday. She called to say the darling-in-every-possible-way house was already off the market. Someone got there before we did and just straight up bought the thing. Per my scrapbook "I cried very bitterly for an entire day," and you know what? I remember that. I cried until I almost made myself sick. I had a raging headache for the whole next day, I could not be consoled - even with treats - and I was ready to call the whole house hunting thing off because I could not handle more disappointment like that.

Ryan and I talked about that day just this week. I told him as much as I love this house, I'm still a little mad that one was grabbed away from us before we could even look at it.

His wise response?

"Hey. It was the best thing. The details happened just as they were supposed to. God knew."

God knew indeed. God knew I needed a smart husband to keep me grounded when my creative writer brain gets away from me.

God knew I needed a day of grieving, too. I took it (clearly!!!) and the next day pulled out my laptop and started looking again. Ryan and I looked together and that's how we found this house. I was surprised he wanted to see it at all, because I thought a couple of things about it were deal-breakers for him, but he said he wanted to look, so I made the appointment and one year ago this Saturday, we pulled up in the driveway for the first time.

And as I wrote in the scrapbook, "I had looked at the interior pictures online, but I wasn't blown away by anything. But the moment I stepped on that porch, I inexplicably felt at home." (Now do you see why it's important to me that the porch is cute and cozy? It's where I first felt at home!

"We spent about a half hour walking through the house and found that it was in impeccable shape. The owners had lived there ever since it was first built. Even though it wasn't our dream floor plan, it was a darling, well-loved, well-constructed, well-maintained home. We could find no fault with it whatsoever."

We had another house lined up to see in a couple of days, but before we got there, that one sold too. Again. God knew.

This house was the only one we ever looked at. We made an offer five days after we walked through it, and we sat back to see how God would move.

The whole scrapbook is a beautifully woven testament to God's detail work. The buying of one house, the selling of another, the confirmation of prices offered and accepted...all of it was not a moment too early or late.

I know Ryan's right. As much as I would have loved to see that darling house I first fell in love with, God knew (for reasons I may never understand) that it was not our home. As bitterly disappointing as it was to never see it at all, I'm sure it was better than seeing it, loving it, and then walking away later. God was clear in the opening and closing of doors. This house? Wide open. All other houses? Firmly closed.

No questions. No room for doubt. Just a clear path up the sidewalk to our new home. (Which, by the way, I do love so so much.)

That season was a sweaty one for me. Trusting and waiting and watching nervously from the back row are not my most favorite things. But I sat and wrote down every single step in great detail as it happened. For me, that book is more than a fat scrapbook of moving fun. It's a chronicle of how God grew our faith, one detail at a time.

He's in the detail work. Even when the details seem harsh or unfair, He's in them, weaving future details we cannot even possibly fathom right now. 

The Decade Before

Depending on what time of day you're reading this, you can close your eyes {which makes it hard it read, I know} and imagine your two favorite Shaffers cooped up in a car trekking to Florida for a WEDDING. Because four years ago right now, we were in the middle of doing just that.

 We played games and drank extraordinarily large amounts of coffee and pulled over at a rest stop for a quick 3 hour nap before resuming our trek.

And if you're reading this in the late morning or around noon, you can imagine us stuck in traffic for three hours, with no access to a bathroom or lunch. You can imagine a bride-to-be crying because she thinks all her cakes are going to melt in the backseat when she is literally less than five miles from her destination.

If you're reading this in the afternoon, you can imagine us taking our first peek at the beach where, in one day, we would exchange vows, or you can imagine me curled up on a bed trying to sleep off the sick yuck that came over me after 24 hours in a car with little sleep.

{You can also read all those fun stories here if you'd like.}

If you're reading this in the evening, you can imagine us at our "rehearsal dinner," which was a gathering of the family and friends who had come to town, all packed into the little condo where my parents were staying, eating delicious snacks prepared by a handful of my friends back at home.

It was a busy December 1, four years ago now.

But you know what else? There was a busy decade leading up to that.

This week, I organized my collection of journals, which date back to 1993 in all their embarrassing glory. As I put them all in date order, I opened one at random and read Ryan an entry from the summer of 1994, when I finally got my driver's license.

I say "finally," because I was the one teenage weirdo who actually did not CARE to get a license. Driving petrified me. I got my license because my mother {wisely} dragged me to the branch to take the test before my test waiver ran out. {I don't know if they even still do those anymore, but back then, if you had a high enough score in driver's ed, you could skip the driving portion of the test and just take the written portion. But the waiver only lasted so long, and mine was about to expire.}

I read Ryan the journal entry about how I'd been so nervous, I was shaking, but I got my license and it would not need renewed until 1999. And by that time, I wrote, I was sure I'd be married anyway and have a new last name for the license.

1999...2012...you know. Similar.

So I journaled about the happenings of my life until 2002, and actually I kept right on "regular" journaling even then, but I added a prayer journal to the mix in 2002.

And for the next ten years, God heard more than a few prayers. This many, actually:

{Overlook the hair. I hadn't prepped for a photo opp that day.}

These books hold my prayers, my wrestling, my questions, my faith, my offerings, my failures - all as I prayed for a husband I had yet to meet.

In these pages, God began to mold me in earnest to become the woman I needed to be. He had to do a lot of bending and breaking of my stubborn will, say many no's to my begging requests, and teach me much about Who He is and who He made me to be.

These ten years, in all fairness, weren't my favorite. And I'm sure some of the words attest to that. But these years were so necessary. Such foundations were laid in this time. And the girl who took the longest.car.ride.ever.to.Florida could only do that with such confidence because of the ten years represented in these fifteen books.

December 1, 2012 was a whirlwind of a dream come true. {Not the traffic jam or the feeling sick part. But the "carriage ride" to my wedding and the beauty of being surrounded by a representation of those who loved me.} But dreams come true because of the years leading up to them when God molds His children.

Don't resist the molding. {And I remind myself of this as I say it to you.} He has His holy reasons. You can trust them to lead to beauty.

Perspective

I decided many months ago that I wanted to write the Shafferland story. I think I was driven to make sure our story was committed to paper in case either one of us ended up forgetting who we were and how we lived. {Yes. Too much Notebook.}

I wrote the story of our first year a while ago and immediately launched into preserving the second year, but then life began to happen and I stopped writing. For some reason, this week, the writing bug bit {HARD} again, and I've been sneaking to the computer every spare minute to relive year two through blog posts, journal entries, and scrapbook pages so I can transcribe the story for posterity.

People, this is why I'm such an advocate for scrapbooking and journaling. So many things were hidden in those pages that I'd forgotten. I remembered much, but I'd forgotten much, too. Feelings and prayers, Scriptures and quotes, ups and downs, the funny and the heartbreaking - they were all waiting for me in words and pictures.

The particular part of our story I'm writing right now is exhausting me as I relive it. In no particular order, here were some of our obstacles in our second season:

* Double commuting
* Polar vortex
* Job stresses
* Double home ownership
* Low self-esteem {okay that one was just me}
* Plumbing replacement

Daunting enough in list form. But each point carried sub-points that added about 150 pounds of emotional weight to each of us.

Job stresses weren't just "job stresses." They were weights that made Ryan hold his breath to see if his very job would hold and weights that sent me home sobbing every. single. day.

Double home ownership wasn't just about the inconvenience of owning two homes. It was about drowning beneath betrayal from people who had committed to buying Ryan's old house and then moved out instead, leaving us not only stuck with a house, but spending spare dollars we didn't have to repair damages they left.

It was all-consuming. So many questions. So many decisions. So much unknown. So much hurt.

As I sorted through the pages of my journal, I stopped cold on these words, written on February 23, 2014:

Bring the right people for the {Greentown} house and bring the right house for us. Give us direction about where we should go. Bring us HOME.

Of course in my mind, all this bringing and giving would happen in short, orderly fashion. Isn't that ultimately the hope of all our prayer requests when we utter them?

In reality, it would be five more months before we received an offer on Ryan's house, and it would be another 141 days {five months, roughly} before we signed the house over to its new owner. But in that long, daunting, ten-month span, God would indeed answer the cry of my heart: the right people bought the house. We still smile when we drive by and see how they continue to make it their own. We are grateful it can bless them, and we are simultaneously grateful to be out from under the deep stress of owning two homes.

And in fact, exactly two years after I wrote this prayer in my journal {two years TO THE DAY}, we received word that the appraisal on our new house, our now house, was complete. And in less than one month from that day, we would own the house and be mid-renovation already.

In those two years, God did bring the right house. He did give us direction. He was lining up the buyer for the house we had shared the first few years of our marriage. He'd freed me to be a stay-at-home wife.

It wasn't short or orderly, but it was complete.

This is why I love to journal. I have, as Ann-Voskamp wrote in The Broken Way, "God-Amnesia." I forget what I know to be true. I lose sight of the journey we've walked together. I need to be reminded of His faithfulness - not just in the ANSWERS, but in the journey that LEADS to the answers. The journey matters as much, if not more, than the answers.

I sit here today, grateful for that hard year we lived. I'm not sure how we survived it with smiles on our faces, as I look back over the consistent crushing blows of that year. But we did survive it, and we are stronger and more unified as a couple and in our faith today than we were before the year began.

I'm also profoundly grateful for the answers. They came slowly, but God was faithful in the journey. 

The Saturday Six

One.

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I do love a good party theme, and in my world, any party theme involving ice cream is a good party theme. So this triple scoop party was pretty amazing, in my opinion. Good job, Anne!

Two.

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I am not a political blogger, and I'm not starting now, but I think this post by Beth Moore is well worth a read. She speaks great truth here. God is sovereign, always has been, and will continue to be in November and beyond. I'm choosing to focus on that.

Three.

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I found this idea on Pinterest and the link I found was just for the picture, so I have no idea if there is supposed to be an accompanying post or not, but I LOVE this idea for setting a Thanksgiving table with brown paper for the "cloth" and drawing on the placemats and placecards. It makes my heart happy. {Would make my heart happier if I could actually script like this!} 

Four.

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And for those of you who are already working on Christmas gifts, and you need fun, inexpensive ideas for neighbors or co-workers, here's a whole list of play-on-words, usable gifts you can share!

Five.

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Have you had a bad day this week? READ THIS. Sometimes we just need a perspective shift. Thank you, KariAnne! 

Six.

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This week I absolutely devoured a novel, and if you like good suspense, you might want to devour it too! {For the record, by "devoured," I mean that I started it one night when Ryan wanted to go to bed early, but I wasn't tired, and I pretty much canceled life the next day to finish it.}

Irene Hannon's latest romantic suspense, Tangled Webs, is the third and final book in the Men of Valor series. I did not read the first book, but I caught the second one, Thin Ice, earlier this year. As I mentioned in my review then, I continue to be amazed at Irene's fiction-writing talent. She can crank out a thriller like the ones in this series, and she can just as masterfully deliver sweet small-town romance stories like the ones in her Hope Harbor series that I also just adore.

Tangled Webs focuses on the youngest of the McGregor brothers {each book in the series focuses on a different brother} - Finn. After six years as an Army Ranger, Finn is discharged following a horrible mission in the Middle East that nearly ends his life, and he decides to take a month off to spend in solitude in the woods to try to mentally regroup and figure out his next life moves.

Solitude comes to a literal screeching halt when he hears screaming in the middle of the night and meets his neighbor-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, the lovely young Dana Lewis, who is battling through nightmares of her own. She's come to the woods seeking solitude and fresh starts, too, but mysterious happenings on her late grandfather's property spook her and intrigue Finn.

Investigating the odd {and dangerous} happenings proves challenging for the two non-natives of the area, but all the time spent together also ignites more than healing in their hearts and minds. As they chase truth and answers, they also chase one another toward a renewed faith in the Lord and chance at trusting enough to love.

Suspense, ethical dilemmas, danger, faith, love...they're all tangled in the web of this book, which I found impossible to put down and surprising to the end!

* Revell provided a copy of this book to me at no charge. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to give a favorable review. *