Today is a special holiday! You may be checking the date and thinking, “I can’t remember any holiday on April 23.” Well, this holiday isn’t widely known, though it should be. It’s World Book Day! And I’m celebrating World Book Day by participating in a collab with several of my…
Looking at the clock on the dresser in the girls’ room, Grace Reid saw that it was almost time to leave for church. She quickly slipped into her pink sandals and grabbed her purse. Then she scooted downstairs to join the rest of the family, who were also doing last-minute…
Well, we’re up to Letter Number 18 out of 26 in the alphabet, and we’re ready for the letter R. Today we’re praising God for His righteousness and for being our Redeemer. Righteousness Psalm 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the…
Today’s a big day on More Than Just Reading, and for me personally! I’m doing my first-ever giveaway! What’s the occasion? It just happens to be March 21st, which means it’s my 25th birthday! And because of that, I’m giving away some of my printable coloring bookmarks. 3 of y’all…
I’ve been tagged again, this time for the Liebster Award! Thank you, Alyssa for tagging me, and for your choice of questions! Now, let’s get right into the post. Rules: Thank the blogger who nominated you Answer the eleven questions given to you Nominate eleven other bloggers Ask your nominees…
Practicing music consistently. Now that is something I struggle with. And it’s something I want to do better at. So this post is as much for me as it is for anyone else. If you struggle to practice music regularly, I hope you will find something here that will be…
Well, we’re up to the letter Q in our series Praising God from A to Z. Is there anything beginning with Q to include in this post? I found one thing, and I’m excited to share it with you! The Bible is full of beautiful quotes that minister to us…
Today we will be looking at reasons for praising God that begin with the letter P. Privilege of prayer We have the privilege to talk to the Creator of the universe, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee,…
As you may or may not know, I love writing. So I was excited to be nominated for the Single Line Story Challenge Tag. A big thank you to Vanessa and Autumn for tagging me! Now, let’s get right into the post! Rules: 1. Thank the person who nominated you.…
I’m back with another devotional from our series on Praising God from A to Z! Today we’ll be looking at reasons to praise the Lord beginning with O. Omniscient God is All-knowing! Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Jeremiah 29:11 For I…
I wear a lot of hats, and I always have a lot going. I teach English, cook and clean for my family, blog, work on my online store (which involves several other hats like graphic designer and advertiser), play music, write books and stories, and I could go on and…
Merry Christmas! Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace…
Grace Reid and her sisters sat at the dining-room table, surrounded by paper, cheery pictures, blank cards and other paper-crafting supplies. “How many cards do we have finished, Hope?” Faith asked, adding washi tape to the card she was decorating. “I think this makes 60.” “That means we are almost…
It is a cold winter evening, and the Reid family is gathered in the living-room. Grace sits on the couch, a coloring book on her lap, busily coloring the flowers in the picture. On the rug before the fireplace, Joseph is constructing a model airplane. Mr. Reid and the other…
Hello and Happy Sunday! Today we’re looking at the letter N. God is never-failing. Great is Thy Faithfulness is a beautiful hymn that talks about this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4ox4es1jo8 Disclaimer: The use of this video in this post does not mean that I endorse this channel and the content in their videos.…
A girl follows her mother through a bookstore, browsing the shelves, looking for the perfect Christmas gift for her friend, Grace Reid. “I want to get her something reading-related, since she loves reading so much,” she thinks to herself. “But what should it be?” She stops at a shelf with…
Happy Thanksgiving! Psalm 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSRO1cMb_70 Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. Luke 17:11-19 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that…
Today I'd like to do something a little different in this music post. Instead of sharing practice or playing tips, I'd like to share some of my favorite Thanksgiving hymns. Come, Ye Thankful People, Come https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8wCwv4NPU 1 Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; all is safely gathered…
Today I’d like to share one of my favorite Thanksgiving stories, An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, with you, as well as tell you about a new product I'm excited about! This story is in the book Aunt Jo’s Scrapbag Volume 6 by Louisa May Alcott. I originally read an abridged version…
Well, we are halfway through with our Praising God from A to Z series! It has been a blessing to me searching out reasons to praise and thank God. And today we have several beginning with M: Mercy, Miracles, and Missionaries Mercy Our God is merciful. He is willing to…
Grace Reid wandered into the living-room in that way that a person does when she doesn’t know what to do with herself. She had just finished the last book in an exciting series, and she wasn’t ready to settle down to another book. She needed some fun activities to do…
Hello and Happy Sunday! We’ve got a lot to cover today with the letter L, including Love and the Lamb of God. So let’s get right to it! Lamb In the Old Testament times, lambs were used as sacrifices for sin. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was our Lamb, our…
1 Peter 5:5-6 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you…
“Would you play that new hymn arrangement for Mrs. Smith?” a lady asks her daughter. The girl hesitates; she really doesn’t like playing in front of people. She always gets nervous and makes silly mistakes, even on the songs she can normally play flawlessly. “I guess so,” she reluctantly agrees.…
Today we are looking at the kindness of God, who is our Keeper and the King of Kings. Keeper God is our Keeper; He keeps watch over us, and cares for us. He protects us from danger as He sees best to do. Psalm 121 I will lift up mine…
Today I’ll be sharing another of my favorite authors with you. Her name was Isabella Alden, though she also went by her pen-name Pansy. She was born in 1841 and died in 1930. She wrote dozens of books, some of them full-length novels, others collections of short stories, and some…
As you sit at a nice restaurant, finishing your meal of chicken fried steak, hashbrown casserole, fried okra, and salad, the waiter comes and asks if you want complimentary dessert. Who doesn’t want complimentary dessert? Of course you say yes, and he gives you your choices: vanilla sandwich cookies or…
“One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four.” Grace Reid counted the measures as she strummed chords on her guitar. Why was this song so difficult? “One, two, three, four.” Just then, her younger sister Faith entered the living-room where Grace was practicing. “Grace, would you have time to help…
How about a quick Hebrew lesson? One of my favorite names for God is Jehovah-Jireh. What does it mean? Let’s find out! Jehovah-Jireh One of my favorite names for God is God Our Provider, and in Hebrew that is Jehovah-Jireh. Genesis 22:7-8 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and…
I was nominated for the Sunshine & Rainbows Blog tag by my good friend, Anna. Thank you, Anna! What is this tag? “The sunshine & rainbows blog tag is an award created to show appreciation for bloggers who bring positivity and happiness into our lives!” The Rules: Thank the blogger…
Today we are looking at several names and attributes of God, including Immanuel, and one wonderful gift He has given us. Immanuel Immanuel: God with us. The great Creator actually came down to earth to be with us, with sinful man. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you…
Hasty pudding. I do not like that stuff. It was a real treat in the Little House books, but I really don’t care for it. Maybe it’s different today, but we did use the same recipe, so that shouldn’t be it. Or maybe our diet today has spoiled our taste…
“This book sounds so interesting! And it’s by my favorite author; I always enjoy her books! They always have really good spiritual applications, too. Oh, it’s available as both a book and an audiobook. I wonder which I should get? There’s not much difference in price. I wonder which one…
What are some reasons for praising God that begin with the letter H? Hope is one; so is humility, and there are others. Hope of Heaven As Christians, we have the hope of Heaven. We know that no matter what happens to us here on Earth, when we die, we…
Here’s Part 2 of the story! If you missed part 1 of Pike's Peak or Bust, be sure to go catch up before reading the conclusion of our exciting two part story of Grace Reid’s family vacation mishap. After completing the transaction in the Pike’s Peak gift shop, the three…
Today we’ll be looking at some reasons to praise God that begin with the letter G, the Gospel, God's Goodness and more. Gentleness God is gentle and merciful in His dealings with us. And as He is gentle with us, so we should be gentle with those He brings across…
Did you notice we didn’t hear from Grace Reid and her family last month? Well, the Reids were on vacation, and in today’s story we get to hear a little bit about their vacation to Colorado and Pike's Peak. “Is everyone in?” Mr. Reid called, slipping into the driver’s seat…
Egyptian history is fascinating to me, and has been for quite a long time, since I was around twelve. I attribute that to the segment of World history class where we studied ancient Egypt. There were three things we did that made it especially fun and memorable. We had real…
We’re already ready for F in our A to Z Bible Study on reasons for praising the Lord. I’ve enjoyed this study a lot, and I hope you have as well. Let’s jump right in to today’s study on the Father, forgiveness, fulfilled prophecy, and fellowship! Father Isaiah 64:8 But…
Summer. What does it make you think of this year? Maybe you think of sunny beaches, sandy flip flops, and juicy pineapple. Or maybe you think of swimming in the pool, cookouts in the backyard, and time spent enjoying the great outdoors. Or maybe this is what you think of:…
Last week I wrote a tongue-in-cheek blogpost about how to waste your entire summer. Today, I’m returning with some strategies for making sure we don’t waste our time, a precious gift from God. Sadly, many of us myself included, are guilty or have been guilty of some of the ways…
Today we’re looking at the letter E and reasons, beginning with that letter, for praising God. He is worthy of our worship and praise! We will be looking at the Eternal God, everlasting life, and Godly examples. Eternal God Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are…
Today I’m going to be sharing six ways to waste your entire summer. Don’t worry; it’s not as hard as it sounds. I have some really good ways to accomplish this, so we’ll jump right into it. Have no plans. If you don’t have any plans, you don’t have anything…
What does a pillow have to do with e-readers versus cell phones? Just read the following very sad story, and you just might be able to figure it out. It all began when my siblings and I were on a whirlwind tour of Europe, so much of a whirlwind that…
Happy Summer! What is your favorite part of summer? Maybe you enjoy swimming, eating ice cream, going on a vacation, or just being out of school for awhile. Summer where I live is hot; it’s long too. While I do enjoy summer, I don’t always enjoy being out in it.…
Happy Lord’s Day! Today we’re continuing our Praising God from A to Z study, and we’re ready for the letter D. Deliverer 2 Samuel 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; Psalm 144:2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and…
Can a man be both a scientist and a man of faith? The answer to that is, "Yes!" The following story about Michael Faraday shows that science and faith in God as Creator are completely compatible. In the story we will learn what Michael Faraday's text was, the text that…
“Grace!” a young boy’s voice flew up the stairs. “We’re all waiting for you.” In her room, where she was absorbed in the letter she was writing, Grace Reid heard her eleven-year-old brother Joseph’s call and laid down her pen. The letter would have to wait; it was time for…
Bible study and bookmarks. Is there a connection? Until recently, I wouldn’t have been able to come up with a good connection, except that you use a bookmark to mark where you are in your Bible study. But that changed one morning while I was having my personal devotions. And…
The letter C: that’s what we’re ready for today in our A to Z Bible Study. What are some things beginning with C that we should be praising the Lord for? Let’s find out! Compassion Psalm 78:38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not:…
June is here, and 2021 is almost half over! Where has time gone? Who besides me is excited for another month and another book to read together? Our book this month is A Handful of Stars by F. W. Boreham. But first, it’s time to announce our readers from May.…
Books versus movies? Which would you choose? What are the benefits of each, and what are the downsides of each? That’s what we will be discussing in today’s post. I’ll begin by saying that I don’t watch many movies, and I do read many books, so I may be slightly…
There is so much to praise and thank the Lord for! All through the Bible we find reason after reason to give God praise. He is limitless, without end. And we will never run out of reasons for praising God. Today, we’ll be looking at a few of those reasons…
Well, the third Tuesday of the month has come once again. What does that mean, you might ask? It means that it’s time for our Reading Review of A Peep Behind The Scenes, May's book! I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did. It’s a sweet story…
Happy Sunday! I’m excited for today’s devotional: the first in our Praising God from A to Z series. Today I will be sharing five reasons to praise the Lord, all beginning with the letter A. 5 Reasons To Praise The Lord! All-powerful God is all-powerful or omnipotent. No matter what…
Last month I wrote a post about reading and writing, introducing a new topic we will be discussing: writing. Today, I’d like to share with you some reasons why I believe good creative writing is important. These reasons will be from the perspective of both writer and audience. I’ll begin…
If you missed last month’s Grace Reid story, Scripture Memory Struggles you might want to go back and read it since this month’s story is Part 2. “How’s your Scripture memory going, Grace?” Grace Reid and her older sister Hope were in the kitchen cleaning up supper. “It’s going better,”…
Today I have some exciting news to share with you! So be sure to stay to the end of the post. For now, I'll give you a clue: it involves printable coloring bookmarks. Now, I’d like to ask you a question. What is a bookmark? You probably answered something like…
Happy May! I’m excited for this month’s book: A Peep Behind The Scenes. But first things first: who read a book last month, either a biography about George Muller or another book? Our readers for April were: Anna Bethany Carolyn I hope you were blessed reading about George Muller! A…
It’s another last Tuesday, meaning it’s time for another This versus That post. Our topic for today is whether it’s better to read for enjoyment or for educational benefit. Should we spend all our time reading only educational books? Or is it okay to read for enjoyment too? I’ll begin…
“My son, forget not my law but let thine heart keep my commandments. For length of days and long life and...and, and what?” Frustrated, Grace Reid looked down at her Bible laying on her lap, open to Proverbs 3. “For length of days and long life and peace shall they…
How have you enjoyed learning about George Muller this month? When we hear his name, we generally think of the man who started orphanages by faith and without asking for a dime (or I guess a shilling, since he lived in England). But there was so much more to his…
Psalm 145 David's Psalm of praise I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and…
If you’ve been a part of my blog for any length of time, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I talk about reading a lot. And today is no exception, though reading isn’t the only thing I’m going to be talking about. Today, I'm going to be talking about something that…
Happy Resurrection Day! I thought I would share John’s account of the resurrection with you today. John 20 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh…
It's time for our fourth month of the reading challenge! And of course, before we discuss this month's book about George Muller, we need to see who completed last month's challenge. Who read A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 or another book? Anna and Bethany read A Shepherd Looks at…
It’s time for our second This Versus That post. Today’s theme is fiction versus non-fiction. We’ll begin by looking at the benefits of reading fiction. Fiction teaches lessons in an interesting and applicable way. True-to-life stories are a good way to teach life lessons. Sometimes a lesson is easier to…
The Reid house was quiet. The rooms were only faintly lit by a bit of gray dawn light. Grace Reid sat up in bed, resting on her elbow, and peered at the clock across the room. 6:00. A good bit earlier than she usually woke up. Grace lay back down,…
It’s already time for our review of A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller. This book has been very encouraging for me in my Christian walk. There is so much in it, it’s impossible to take it all in reading it just once. I thought I’d do this…
Bethany @ https://www.arubyintherough.com/ nominated me for the Liebster Award, an award for small bloggers! Thank you, Bethany! Liebster Award posts are fun to read, and I’m looking forward to doing one. Liebster Award Rules: Thank the person who nominated you, include a link to their blog, and add the Liebster…
Psalm 42 really stood out to me when I was studying it in my devotions the other day, so I wanted to share it with you along with some of what I learned. Psalm 42 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O…
Well, a new month means a new book to read here at More Than Just Reading, and I’m excited about our book for March. It’s a book I’ve wanted to read for awhile, or rather reread since I did read it as a school assignment when I was in my…
In case you hadn't noticed, my reading related blogposts come out on Tuesday. This month I’m beginning a new reading series that will be posted the last Tuesday of the month. I guess I could call the series This versus That, because that’s kinda what it’s going to be. I…
It’s already time for our Reading Review of The Robber's Cave by Charlotte Maria Tucker. How are you enjoying it so far? This is the kind of book that when I really get into the story, I have a hard time stopping before I’ve reached the end...so I may or…
“Who would like to go to town with me tomorrow afternoon?” asked Mrs. Reid, one winter afternoon. Grace looked up from her English lesson and the essay she was writing. “What are you going to town for?” “I’m going grocery shopping, and I thought we could go to a couple…
Some people do not feel the need to study history and learn what has happened in times long past. There are also those who do not like reading old books with their outdated ideas and old-fashioned words. Do you think I fit into either of these groups? If you’ve been…
Music is one of the main ways that we can worship God, and this can be incorporated into music practice. Today I will be giving you ideas on ways to go deeper when practicing hymns. 1. Learn the words. Not only should we be learning to play hymns, but we…
Happy February! Before we get to the exciting announcement of what our book of the month is for February, we need to see who completed the reading challenge for January. Who are the readers? Here’s the list for January! Carolyn Bethany Thank you for your participation in the reading challenge!…
The other day I was texting with a friend, and we were discussing how we sometimes forget the meaning that is in the most common Scripture passages. Psalm 23 was the passage we were discussing in particular. So when I came to it in my Psalms Bible Study, I decided…
Well, the month’s already more than half over, and it’s time for our reading review of our book of the month: Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime. If you’re wondering what the book of the month feature is, read the introductory post here. Who else besides me forgot just…
“Clean my room and make my bed everyday,” Grace Reid wrote on her notepad, saying the words aloud as she wrote them. “What other New Year's resolutions should I make this year?” She gazed all around her bedroom, hoping the various objects and pieces of furniture would remind her of…
Psalm 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.…
1 Chronicles 16:11-12 “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;” 2021. A new year. Another gift from the Lord. How many of you have been making lists of resolutions and goals…
I’d like to invite you to join the More Than Just Reading Monthly Reading Challenge.
This is the last Sunday in 2020. No doubt most of us are busily working on figuring out our goals, hopes, and dreams for 2021. Or maybe some of you already have your goals and plans all figured out. Good for you! You’re ahead of me. In the midst of…
Merry Christmas to each one of you! It’s the day we hear the Christmas story and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope your Christmas is very special as you remember the real meaning of this day, that it is about so much more than presents, time…
Imagine this: You are getting ready for company to come over for a meal. Your house is still rather messy, you need to get a dessert made, the meat for supper is still partially frozen, and it’s only an hour until your guests arrive. So what do you do?
I love the story of the first Christmas. I’ve heard it every year my whole life, but I never get tired of it. It’s a story of hope and love, how the Creator of the world came to earth as a little baby, to be our Savior. Today I’ll share…
“Something smells good in here,” Joseph commented, as he entered the warm kitchen from the cold outdoors. “What are you girls baking?” Grace lifted a heart-shaped cookie cutter from the thin dough on the counter in front of her and answered, “We’re making sugar cookies.” “Mmm,” he smacked his lips…
A couple weeks ago I did a post: 4 Ways for Improving Music Practice Time. Now I’m sharing Part 2 with you! Today I have 5 tips to incorporate during your music practice time. 1. Learn to play tunes you already know to help with tricky timing. What other musician…
It is the Christmas season, and I would like to share with you some verses about Jesus’ first coming to earth. These verses are special though, because they talked of His coming even before He came. They were prophecies that one day a Savior would come. The first of the…
During my devotions a couple days ago, these verses from Micah stood out to me. Micah 7:18-20 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.…
Music practice is hard work, and from personal experience, I know it isn’t always very fun. But there are a lot of ways to make practicing easier and more enjoyable. I will be sharing some of those with you right now. 1. Have a set amount of time to practice.…
Today I would like to share one of my favorite psalms with you. Actually, I have quite a few favorites since the Book of Psalms is one of my favorite books of the Bible. This week I read Psalm 19. It is an encouragement to me every time I read…
Today is my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving Day! It has always been a special day for my family and I. Psalm 136 is a passage that we often read together on Thanksgiving Day. Let me share it with you. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his…
I have been collecting verses about praise and thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for, and we should give thanks to God more than just at Thanksgiving. There are so many beautiful verses in the Bible about giving praise to God and thanking Him for His blessings. They…
Today I would like to share with you who my favorite author is. She might already be familiar to you, but if not…
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever…
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Finishing copying the verse into her journal, Grace Reid closed it and…
Psalm 111 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness…
Today is the first day of November, the month in which those of us who live in America celebrate Thanksgiving. While we should be thankful the whole year long, there is something special about this month where we are more aware of the blessings God has given us.
Music is a real blessing and encouragement to many people. It can be used as an evangelism opportunity as well as for a time of fellowship. In this post I will be sharing six ways that music can be used for ministry opportunities.
This week in my devotions, I was reading in the book of Isaiah. These verses from Chapter 40 stood out to me.
This is a passage my dad shared in family devotions a few nights ago. He shared that verses 3-7 show a progression that all Christians should have in their lives. Psalm 37:3-7 “Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt…
God has given us a great gift, a gift that can be used or misused. A gift that when used correctly can be used to worship Him and bring glory and honor to Him. Do you have any idea what this gift is?
Every Sunday I will be sharing something from my devotions from the past week or so. Sometimes it may be just a few verses; other times I may include my own thoughts and share what God has been teaching me. Today I would like to share some verses from Proverbs…
I’m glad you stopped by, and I hope you join me on my blogging journey. As the name suggests, this blog is about more than reading. But reading is a large part of what we will learn about here, reading activities and a whole lot more. I don’t know about…
