Some of my favorite things

I hope the title doesn't disappoint you, but some of my favorite things are books. I have a small collection of old books, particularly classic children's literature. The pages are yellow and delicate. I especially love the old "Golden Books". They are so sweet! I even have a book on homemaking written in the early 60's complete with a woman in high heels, a dress and apron on the cover. I love to pull it out once in awhile and see how some things have changed and some things have not.

I thought I would take some time here and go through my own bookshelf and share some of my favorites. When my eighteen year old daughter was about five, I discovered Leading Little Ones to God. It is theology for kids. But don't let that scare you, it is wonderful! It communicates so beautifully in a way that children understand. I have used this wonderful devotional for fifteen years now, and I am getting ready to begin it again with my five year old. But the best part is that everyone loves listening and hearing the stories again. There are simple discussion questions that we have used at mealtime and a hymn which we recite often as a prayer.

It answers questions like, "Has anyone ever seen God?" and "How God's children live and grow". Next to the Bible itself, this has been my favorite children's devotional. It can be used with children and grandchildren of all ages. It is truly timeless and one of my favorites.

The Excellent Wife ~ A Wife's Understanding of God

This week I am the girl who is running in late, catching my breath, finding my seat, and fumbling to get my book out and my thoughts together. I am late to the Reading Group, but I read my assignment for this week over and over.

Friday when the rest of the group was meeting, I was nursing a son who had two teeth pulled to make room for braces at the end of the month.

I took just a few paragraphs each morning and read through them over and over. Martha Peace is laying a foundation and I learn best by doing something over and over, including reading.

She shares, "This chapter...explains some of what you need to know about God and about yourself. Knowing these things, you will then see how you can trust God to protect you and why you need that protection"

She outlines God's Protective Authority very clearly:

God is perfect and we can completely trust that He knows what is best for us even though husbands are not perfect and many may not be saved. In spite of the husband's imperfections, God has chosen to place the wife under the authority of her husband. (1 Cor. 11:3, Eph. 5:23)

No husband has absolute authority over his wife because God is the absolute authority.

Therefore, when you are under your husband's (limited by God) authority, you are really putting yourself in the safest possible place - in God's will. God loves you and He is good. You need not be afraid.

Understanding God and His plan is so foundational before we can move forward and even find fulfillment in our role as a wife.

There are so many excellent posts this week from the others in the group. Please check them out at the Lux Venit Reading Group.

The Excellent Wife - Chapter 1

Before the day ends I wanted to jump in and join Leslie at Lux Venit for the discussion on chapter 1 of the book The Excellent Wife. I have had this book on my shelf and have skimmed through it periodically but have never sat down to read through it from cover to cover.

I don't have any deep thoughts to share this time. I am tired tonight. My husband has been very sick this week and I think my three year old is now fighting the same bug. I don't know if I have ever seen this man this sick with the flu in our almost twenty two years of marriage. He has been home (in bed most of the time) all week.

I read the chapter earlier in the week and it just again confirmed my desire to read this book.

In the book on page 4, Martha shares the will of God for every wife. "God's will for every Christian wife is that her most important ministry be to her husband (Genesis 2:18). After a wife's own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing else should have greater priority. Her husband should be the primary benefactor of his wife's time and energy, not the recipient of what may be left over at the end of the day. Whether her husband is a faithful Christian man or an unbeliever, God wants every Christian woman to be a godly wife - an excellent wife."

Several years ago as the Lord began to speak these truths to me and show me in His word what He had purposed my role as a wife to be, I found such freedom in this truth and I still do!

I am excited to hear God whisper a deeper understanding of His truths to my heart over the next several weeks. I love my husband deeply. I am so thankful to God for allowing me to be his wife. For more excellent thoughts on this first chapter visit the Lux Venit Reading Group.

Spring Reading Thing

Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting a Spring Reading Thing. The purpose of the Spring Reading Thing 2008 is "simply an opportunity for you to set some reading goals, share them with the blogosphere, and work toward them this spring."

I love to read, but I am going to be completely realistic here in hopes of accomplishing what I have planned. I am good for about a book or two a month in addition to my studies and reading of the Word.

So, here goes my Spring list:

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
I am also going to join Leslie's Lux Venit's Reading Group for this book and hopefully participate in her discussion questions every Friday.

Age Of Opportunity by Paul Tripp
We are finishing up a class at church from the book Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. His brother has written this book and I have heard good things about it.

What Happens When Women say Yes to God by Lysa Terkeurst
I've read the first chapter and she shares an amazing story of what can happen when we say "yes" to God. I am looking forward to this book.

The Busy Mom's devotional by Lisa T. Bergren

I bought this book in the L.A. airport in January after I had devoured two books I had brought with me and had nothing left to read for the trip home. I can't even begin to remember the last time I read fiction. This story is interesting and well written and had me totally captivated. But I have only picked it up once since I have been home. I am hoping for some days at the park in the afternoon reading while my kids play.

Visit Katrina to read what others are reading this Spring!

Lies Young Women Believe

About a month ago, I pre-ordered a copy of Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy DeMoss and Dannah Gresh. The book arrived about a week ago and I have been skimming through it for the past few days and oh, I am so excited that these two ladies have written this book that I had to post something.

Lies Women Believe is a book I highly recommend every woman to read. Nancy addresses so many lies and strongholds that have gripped my own life and she combats them directly with the truth of God's Word. She addresses the areas of our priorities, marriage, children, emotions, and many more. It was amazing for me to discover how much I had bought into the enemy's deception or had accepted the world's standard rather than God's truth.

It is a book on my list to read again this year as well as work through her Companion Guide.

About two years ago while browsing through a christian book store I came across Dannah Gresh's book , And the Bride Wore White. At first I thought it would be something for a young woman who was engaged to be married. But to my delight, the book was suited for older teenage or college age girls. Dannah shares seven secrets to sexual purity intermingled with her own testimony and how God brought her to be married to her husband. It is a beautiful love story packed with powerful spiritual truths. I read the book in about a week and the Lord graciously opened some doors and the teenage girls in our church have been able to participate in a purity retreat based on this book for two years in a row.

So, you can imagine how giddy I was when I was asked if I would like to pre-order this book. It looks fun and inviting to a young woman (I've already caught both of my girls thumbing through it and asking if they could read it) and it addresses areas such as myself, guys, relationships, sin, and the media.

I've only read the introduction and all I can say is WOW and thank you Nancy, Dannah and Moody Publishing for a great resource for our daughters. I will share more as I read.

For more information about this book you can go here.

Books...Books...and more Books

Melissa tagged me for this book meme. I thought this might be fun especially since I have been looking at this stack for the past two weeks. Most have to do with being a wife and mom. Many I have read before and I am drawn back to them for some reason this year.

So here it goes...


BOOKS THAT HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE:~

The Bible


BOOKS I'VE READ MORE THAN ONCE:~

(starting with the most recent)
Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow
Just Enough Light for the Step I'm on by Stormie Omartian
Finding Peace in Life's Storms by C.H. Spurgeon
Pursuing the Will of God by Jack Hayford
Praying God's Word by Beth Moore
The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian
The Way of Agape by Nancy Missler
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom


BOOKS I'D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND:~

My Bible and an empty notebook


BOOKS THAT MADE ME LAUGH:~

How do Dinosaurs say Goodnight by Jane Yolen (my three year old loves this)


BOOKS THAT MADE ME CRY:~

The Lost Boy by David Pelzer
(It made me weep!)

BOOKS I WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN:~

How to potty train your 5th child with ease....

BOOKS I WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN:

???


BOOKS I'M CURRENTLY READING:~

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
Emotionally Healthy Spiritually by Peter Scazzero
(I've been muddling my way through this one for months)
Lies Women Believe by Nancy DeMoss (for the 2nd time)


BOOKS I'VE BEEN MEANING TO READ:~

Having a Mary's Heart in a Martha's World by Joanna Weaver
Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas
Holding on to Hope by Nancy Guthrie
Amazing Grace in the life of William Wilberforce by John Piper
Renewal on the Run by Jill Briscoe
Be Still My Soul by Elizabeth Elliot
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies and John MacArthur
Age of Opportunity by Paul Tripp
(I have high hopes and a huge wish list at Amazon.com)

This was a lot of fun. The only thing missing is a list of books I've read recently and would highly recommend. If you want to participate go ahead and let me know so that I can come and read yours too! I read mostly for greater understanding and knowledge of the Word of God and Christian living at this season of my life and anything fun is usually read to me by one of my kids.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss

About five years ago I read Brokenness: The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It was so good, that I went and purchased her two other books in the series: Surrender: The Heart God Controls and Holiness: The Heart God Purifies. So it was no surprise to me that I would absolutely love and appreciate her book Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free. For some reason I had not read this book until earlier this year.
This summer I have selected four books to either re-read or read for the first time and this is one of them. Nancy shares so many powerful "truths" in this book, that I have decided to go back through the book and look closely at many of the lies that so easily creep into my heart and meditate on the truths that Nancy shares from God's Word.

So I was thrilled on Monday when Girl Talk was posting an interview all week with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I would encourage you to go here, here, here, and here to read the entire interview. This has only confirmed my decision to re-read this book.
She shares in this interview that she is teaming together with Dannah Gresh to co-author a book called Lies Young Women Believe. This is so awesome. Last summer my oldest daughter and I both read Dannah's book, and the Bride Wore White. This is an excellent book and a must read for every young woman.

He speaks it over and over....

This morning was our first Women's Bible Study after the holiday break. I came home made lunch for me and my little guy, put a load of laundry in the machine, and now I am checking emails and of course bloglines. Kelly at A Spacious Place tagged me for this fun meme that has already gone around and has some great posts here and here. Since this is so easy I had to do it quickly.

1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123,go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following 3 sentences on your blog
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same

Since I just plopped my books down from Bible Study the book on top was one I am using as a resource for our study titled, Lie's Women Believe and the Truth that sets them Free by NancyLeigh DeMoss. And this is what I read:

When I do so, what I am really saying (though I'd never actually say it) is that I can handle that day on my own - apart from the presence, wisdom, and grace of God. I am saying I can do my work, keep my home, handle my relationships, and deal with my circumstances without Him. That independent, self-sufficeient spirit is an expression of pride.

And all I can think is "Yes Lord, I get it! It is what you have been speaking to me over and over.

But I can't just stop there. I have to finish the page:

The Scripture teaches, "God resists the proud" (James 4:6 NKJV). If I walk in pride, I must be prepared for God to resist me and my efforts.
Sometimes I get the sense that God may be saying to me, "You want to handle this day by yourself? Go ahead." The result? At best, an empty, fruitless day lived by and for myself. At worst, oh, what a mess I end up making of things.
On the other hand, God "gives grace to the humble." When I start the day by humbling myself and acknowledging that I can't make it on my own-that I need Him-I can count on His divine enabling to carry me through the day.

I tag Julie, Heth, and Tina

I know it is very strange...

I absolutely love biographies. At a young age I read "The Hiding Place" over and over. I still have the very tattered copy on my bookshelf. I am not sure where the love comes from exactly. Could it be that I am nosy, curious, or perhaps it is my love of history, time lines, and geography. I have always been fascinated with the past(not my own just those that have lived before me). I love old pictures and the stories behind them. For many years I have collected old books.
Which brings me to the first two books I am reading for pleasure (somewhat) in the new year.

I am going to join in with Girltalks Book Club and read Elizabeth Prentiss 'More Love to Thee'. I have already read the Forward and Preface and
I am anxiously wanting to go on. But I will refrain and stay with the group.



While unpacking books a few months back I uncovered a treasure I forgot I had, A Time for Remembering: The Ruth Bell Graham Story. My copy was published in 1983 and given to me by a friend who was serving in the mission field. Today there is a newer version titled,Ruth, A Portrait: The Ruth Bell Graham Story published in 1997. I have also read the preface and forward in this book and I am looking forward to reading her life story and what it is like to be the wife of the most famous Christian evangelist of this century.

Two women from different centuries. I hope I can keep the details of their lives straight.