PENNY REEVE CHILDREN'S AUTHOR
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Free Resources
    • For Writers
  • The Penny Drops
  • Books
    • Picture Books
    • Children's Fiction
    • Non-Fiction
    • Other Writing
  • Visits
    • Playgroups and Preschools
    • Schools
    • Other Visits
    • Visits STORE
  • Contact

Think about such things - #2

18/8/2021

0 Comments

 

Lockdown Treasure

Picture
'Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.' - The Bible, Matthew chapter 6, verse 21

I read these words this morning. 
They are not new. They are Sunday School verses, these ones. Drilled into a good Christian kid. Repeated, reminded and diligently studied as an adult. 
But this morning they felt new. 
This morning they stood up quietly. Humbly. Like the child outside the principal's office, best work in hand, waiting for the prized Gold Sticker of recognition. 
This morning they spoke into the tumbled up space of my Greater Sydney Lockdown. 
Without blame or accusation they gently nudged my spirit and asked: Where is your treasure today?
And I came up blank. 
I know where it should be.


Read More
0 Comments

Think about such things - #1

9/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
There are some parts of the Bible that I read without much self-confidence. The book of Isaiah is one of these. You see, I’m not a seasoned Biblical scholar. I’m not well studied in ancient prophecies and their modern interpretations. I am keenly aware that the context and content of this part of Scripture is more about Israel, than about me. But even with all these disclaimers, there is something huge and wonderful about reading these old, old words. Isaiah speaks in riddles and rhyme. It points to the future and the past. Familiar phrases leap out from paragraphs of seemingly distant description. And amongst it all, the majesty, humility, incarnational mystery of Christ comes calling out with such accuracy my heart threatens to break.
And I think this is why I love the Bible so much. Because it’s not just a ‘here and now’ text. It’s a ‘then’ and ‘what’s next’ and ‘despite it all’ type story. Even in passages I approach like a foreigner I can see the character of God burst and whisper and weave an invitation to something more.
Like today, nestled between a tricky description of judgement and salvation, I found this verse: ‘This is what the LORD says: ‘As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and people say, ‘Don’t destroy it, there is still a blessing in it,’ so will I do on behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all.’ Isaiah 65:8
And I’m caught again. Can you see it? The tenderness of God’s compassion? Yes, his holiness demands a response from us. Yes, it exposes our best efforts as feeble flapping. And yes – if we are honest enough, we know we have fallen short in so many ways on so many days we deserve more than we get. But the character of God isn’t one of ‘measure up or get out’. It’s incredibly kind. He sees the struggle in our hearts. He knows what we’re up against. And he reaches out to us, sees the blessing still in us and instead of destruction he draws us to himself over, and over, and over again. 

NOTE: Think about such things is a new series of posts I'll be writing and sharing on The Penny Drops. They'll be more reflective than newsworthy, as I ponder and marvel at the grace and wonder of God.  

0 Comments

A new picture book!  (And it's SO beautiful, you'll love it!)

4/8/2021

0 Comments

 
In the middle of a Greater Sydney lockdown, my newest picture book was released! 

The book is called One Potoroo: A story of survival and tells the story of one of the last remaining Gilbert's potoroos at Two Peoples Bay, Western Australia.  
Picture
This book is SO beautiful!

The illustrator is Alicia Rogerson. You can read more about her work on this book here, or visit her website to see some of her time-lapse videos of work on One Potoroo. 

The book is published by CSIRO Publishing and is available for purchase now. 
(To buy author signed copies,  go here.)
0 Comments
    Picture

    The Penny Drops

    ​In high school I used to write what I'd call 'thinks' - little bits of writing about whatever topic or issue I was mulling over at the time. I still write these little pieces.
    I also blog a little and offer reviews of books I consider worth reading. All of these - thinks, blogs, reviews - I gather here. They're the writing that happens when the 'penny drops', or it doesn't, and I sit down with pen (or laptop) in hand...
    I hope you enjoy them. 

    Categories

    All
    Book Reviews
    Just Thinking
    Small Honest Thoughts
    Writer's Life

    Sign up

    Receive The Penny Drops direct to your inbox. Sign up via the form on the contact page. 
    (Because I couldn't figure out how to add that form here.)

Home

About

The Penny Drops

Books

Visits

Contact

Copyright Penny Reeve © 2023
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Free Resources
    • For Writers
  • The Penny Drops
  • Books
    • Picture Books
    • Children's Fiction
    • Non-Fiction
    • Other Writing
  • Visits
    • Playgroups and Preschools
    • Schools
    • Other Visits
    • Visits STORE
  • Contact