Book Talk Thursday: What On Earth Am I Here For?

I read Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life in college -- about 10 years ago -- when the church I was going to at the time did a series on it. We had weekly sermons and small group studies all discussing it.

And I don't remember a single bit of it.

So when the book was re-released, I thought it would be a good chance to read it again.

I like non-fiction books that break their overall idea down into a handful of smaller points, and in the case of this book there are five purposes -- worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and mission. Each point is broken down further as the short, devotional-like chapters get you thinking about how those purposes fit in your personal life as well as in the world around you.

This is one of those books that is good to re-read every few years. Different parts will stick out to you at different times of your life, depending on your current circumstances. And we all need reminders about how God created us FOR HIM and His glory, not for anything we might think important about ourselves. It's humbling, yet encouraging at the same time.

"Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, 

because of your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

That messy kitchen utensil drawer...

One of the best things I ever did for my kitchen utensil drawer, I didn't even do on purpose.

You know when you make your wedding registry, and you add all of those kitchen utensils that match, and they all match? Like these black ones by Oxo that we got tons of?

In an effort to keep things off the kitchen counters, I used a deep drawer to hold utensils. Most of the time it's fairly easy for me to find what I need -- I have a very photographic memory, and know exactly what I'm looking for when I need it.

But there always seems to be that one utensil that even though it gets used really frequently, it still ends up on the bottom of the drawer, or just blends in with all the other black utensils.

For me, it was my rubber spatula. And it got used so frequently that eventually it got chipped and ripped, and I knew I needed a new one. So off to the local grocery store I went, and I think I had two choices. I chose the more expensive, better quality one. And it was red.

I got it home, washed it, and stuck it in the infamous utensil drawer. And have never had an issue finding it ever since.

That red spatula just POPS out at me whenever I need it! No more digging through layers of blackness!!

Maybe I should invest in green spoons and purple peelers and blue cheese slicers too...

Do you have a kitchen utensil you use more than the others? Do you keep your utensils in a crock on the counter or in a drawer too?

Musical Mondays: My Next Thirty Years

It's been really long since I've done a Musical Monday post! And it will probably be another long time before I think to do another... My birthday just happens to fall on a Monday this year... So here you have it, my theme song for today! :)




I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I’m gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I’ve done
Maybe now I’ve conquered all my adolescent fears
And I’ll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I’m gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I’m doing here
In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I’m gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I’ll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my [husband :) ]
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years


P.S. Here is a photo of me, 30 years ago today. Doesn't it look like Ellie??