Kate – Page 61 – Daily Graces

Book Review: God is Not Fair

Published on January 12, 2017 by KateLeave a comment

I almost didn’t review this book because I didn’t slow down long enough to read the whole title. God’s not fair? Of course He’s fair, who came up with such nonsense anyway? Then I re-read the title: God is Not Fair and Other Reasons for Gratitude. Well, ok, since I slowed down enough to read the whole title, I suppose I could slow down enough to recognize the wisdom behind that statement. Thank goodness I did!

This slim-ish book by Franciscan priest Daniel P. Horan has been a game-changer for me. I read the first page, still just the introduction, and before I got to the end I got up and got a pen so I could underline the following:

God’s lack of fairness by human standards should challenge us to consider now how capricious or malicious God is, but rather how inappropriate, unchristian, and inhumane we are. It seems to me that too much of our faith is governed by our own insecurities, self-interests, and fears.

I have underlined, taken notes, asked myself questions and written down challenges in this book in a way I haven’t done since formal schooling (and I loved it!). One of the many positives of Horan’s work is that he writes it as a collection of essays. Each “chapter” or essay is between 2-3 pages in length, some just a single page. Though short in length there is nothing lacking in content, depth or message.

Horan’s book is so refreshing because he is not afraid to proclaim boldly the ways we humans often completely miss the mark in order to show the reader the overabundance God showers on us. Consider the following in a chapter reflecting on Luke 6:36-38:

It can be easy to think about the Gospel in the abstract, but it is very difficult to live it in the particular…It is often for this reason that mercy is not our path; wrath is. Generosity is not our disposition; selfishness is. Forgiveness is not found in our attitude; anger is…Christ calls us to do something else, something far more difficult than minding our own business and watching our own backs. It is to love, forgive, heal, and be merciful in the way that God is already with us, even if we are so preoccupied with ourselves that we cannot recognize it (71-72).

So good, right! And yikes, I think I have some life evaluation to do.

No one is perfect, which is all the more reason why we should be grateful that God isn’t fair by our standards. This truly is the main message. God is Not Fair highlights the ways that we not only need God, we desperately need God’s overabundant love, mercy and forgiveness. It challenged me to slow down and consider my relationship with God and to see the areas that I project my opinions on Him, rather than allowing my attitudes and actions to be formed into His.

~ Happy New Year! If you pick one book to read this year, God is Not Fair should definitely be on the short list of candidates

Book Review: The Strangers at the Manger

Published on December 30, 2016 by KateLeave a comment

I hope you each have had a good holiday season and are looking forward to a very happy and hopeful New Year’s. We are still very much enjoying the Christmas season in our house. Nativities are still the center of the kids play and the lights of the Christmas tree are glowing while I type this post. It may seem strange, to post a review for a “Christmas” book after Christmas, but I promise it makes sense.

Strangers at the Manger by Lisa M. Hendey is the 5th installment of the Chime Travelers series. The series is written for elementary students and early chapter readers. Though my kids are not quite there yet, the pace and word structure make these perfect read-aloud books.

In this Chime Travelers story, it’s Christmas Even and twins Katie and Patrick Brady travel back in time to, you guessed it, the birth of Jesus. This is the first time that Katie and Patrick go back in time together which made this story extra exciting for my kids. After sort-of meeting, more like avoiding, a strange new family , the Perez family, that clearly is not from their town and very much in need of help, the twins are pulled back to just before Mary and Joseph enter Bethlehem.

At first I was a bit surprised that the birth of Jesus happens so early in the story. But, as Katie and Patrick learn, there is more to the Christmas story than just Jesus’ birth. And, most importantly, from start to finish it is a story full of opportunities to interact with strangers.

I enjoyed being able to share Katie and Patrick’s change in perspective regarding first impressions and how to be welcoming to new people. Initially, Katie and Patrick are on guard, a little suspicious and definitely not very open to meeting the Perez family. As the story unfolds, they slowly begin to change their attitude. They see how Mary and Joseph welcomed them. They watch as Mary patiently welcomes each shepherd, young and old alike. They are there to watch as Mary and Joseph share Jesus with Simeon and Anna in the Temple. They also witness the faith of Mary and Joseph as the tables turn and they flee to Egypt, now the strangers hoping for a welcoming smile or helpful hand. Hendey crafts a lovely little phrase that Mary tells the twins:

Strangers are simply new friends, waiting to be loved.

Without giving away the whole story, I’m sure you can guess what kind of change of heart the twins felt toward the Perez family.

What I love about this story is how it takes the classic Christmas themes of peace, love, hope and joy and extends them into practical reality. Mary and Joseph extend hospitality, they offer friendship and they gift each person they meet with their love. The twins pick up on this and begin to replicate it when they return home.

I think I would recommend this book as a Christmas season book, not an Advent book, for a few reasons. 1. There are so many Advent books – wonderful Advent books – but so many! 2. Regardless if you are reading this to your younger children or your kids are reading it on their own, it helps to keep the Christmas season alive beyond Christmas day. 3. Especially in today’s world, what better lesson could you kick off the new year with other than Jesus’ desire for love and peace for each person. So, if you are looking for something new this Christmas season (or any season really), or perhaps a new Christmas season tradition, I highly recommend Strangers at the Manger.

Daily Advent Prayer Experiences for 2016 by DailyGraces.net

December 25, 2016 – Merry Christmas

Published on December 24, 2016December 24, 2016 by KateLeave a comment

For unto us a child is born,
Unto us a Son is given…
And His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace (excerpt from Handel’s Messiah)

Every year in high school (except maybe 1 I think, I blame pregnancy brain for my failing memory) the choir sang Handel’s Messiah. Anyway, these lyrics are some of my top favorite Christmas lyrics and tune. It’s happy, bouncy, almost bell-like and so full of promise.

Jesus’ birth brings forth a new dawn for humanity. He truly is Wonderful, our Counsellor, the Mighty God and the Prince of Peace. The sin of Adam and Eve brought sin, death, anxiety, worry and darkness. One of the curses placed upon Eve specifically is that children are now brought into the world through pain. Through this pain Jesus enters the world.

People approach the holidays, especially Christmas, with a variety of attitudes and memories. For some, Christmas is a time of joy, family, good food and fun memories. For others, perhaps Christmas brings sad memories, painful relationships, and loneliness.

Jesus’ birth is a beautiful juxtaposition of these wide variety of feelings. While the angels are singing “Gloria” and filling the skies with what would be the definition of joyful noise, Mary was experiencing the most explosive pain she had ever felt.

I believe this speaks to God’s love and generosity. God doesn’t swoop in a way that is beyond our comprehension, then give us a bunch of teachings that are challenging to understand and accept, then ultimately save us in a manner that is again, beyond our comprehension. Yes, the Incarnation is most definitely beyond our grasp. However, the pain of childbirth, the joy of seeing your newborn child for the first time, the pride in showing him off to visitors – these are relatable moments. I think this is what is so appealing about Christmas. Even though most of us can’t relate to giving birth in a stable or cave, there isn’t much that could be more fundamentally human than bringing new life into the world.

And now to quote myself (I hope everyone is ok with that), I would like to leave you with the last paragraphs from one of the last prayer experiences….

God continues in His generosity and overabundance. Jesus didn’t simply save the nations from the slavery of sin and death. He also gifted us with His very Body and Blood so that we might continue to be united in communion with Him and one another. He went even further than that. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus promised that His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, would come down upon the apostles and remain with them.

God-with-us isn’t just a historical event. Emmanuel isn’t only in the manger.

Jesus, Emmanuel, is the here and now. Even as we celebrate Jesus’ birth today, do not be fooled into thinking that He isn’t born anew each time you invite Him into your heart.

*** Please feel free to share your experience, thoughts and offer support to one another in the comments, on Twitter with the #DailyGraces or on the Facebook page.