Elyse Fitzpatrick has a new book entitled Found in Him. I love the introduction where she talks about feelings of isolation and aloneness and self-condemnation. No matter how surrounded we are by friends and family, especially at the holiday, I think most of us feel that way at some point. Know that no matter how much you make a mess of things or feel like you aren’t loved, or no matter how you spend the holidays, God loves and welcomes you through Jesus.
Kids r Readers 2: Trouble with Money (Berenstain Bears)
I grew up totally loving the Berenstain Bears and all their lovely adventures. And now that I’m a parent I would love to share these tales with my boys and have them love them too!
Grownups do have money worries – with insurance, mortgages, health coverage, gifts, food, diapers, etc. But, how do we teach our children about money and possessions and what God has to say about them?
In this children’s book Papa and Mama bear notice that their cubs didn’t make good choices when it came to the money that they had and how they used it. They spent it on frivolous items at the mall. Fleeting joys. They teach about saving for a rainy day – but that isn’t exactly what the Bible teaches us. The cubs don’t keep the money for themselves, they instead give it to Papa Bear so he won’t have to worry. Generosity is a loving characteristic.
Here are some teaching points about money when reading this book to your children:
1. God is more concerned with our eternity than our financial status. Ecc 5.10
2. We are not to be OVERLY concerned and worried with the cares of this world. Matthew 6.24, 31-33, Hebrews 13.5
3. Our money is not meant to be hoarded, but spent wisely and given generously. Deut 15.10, Deut 16.17, Luke 6.38, 2 Cor 9.6-8
4. God gets the first of everything. Prov 3.9-10
5. The gospel is more than money because you can’t take money with you into eternity. 1 Tim 6-7-10
6. God owns everything. Our lives are about stewardship. 1 Chron 29.14-17
Women & Books Together 2: Found in Him (Elyse Fitzpatrick)
Favorite author. Great gospel topic. 10 weeks. Women studying, growing, and learning together.
Starting January 6, we will begin the second installment of Women and Books Together. A weekly blog post where we discuss a chapter of a book together. Doesn’t matter where you live, how fast you read, or what church you go to. Thankful for blogs to do this – and the book!
Elyse Fitzpatrick’s latest book (came out in October) is Found in Him. All about learning and celebrating our belonging to Christ. This is a marvelous aspect of the Gospel. One that as women we should know and celebrate.
So, we will start on January 6 with discussing chapter 1. I will post my thoughts and some discussion or thought-provoking questions.
If you don’t have the book yet, put it on the Christmas list or buy it with gift card money!
Hello December 3
Parties. Christmas events. Shopping. Mailing packages. Standing in lines. Cooking goodies. Wrapping Presents.
Christmas is so busy.
Love what Kevin DeYoung says: (Crazy Busy, pg 54-55)
(Jesus) was busy, but never in a way that made him frantic, anxious, proud, envious, or distracted by lesser things. Jesus knew the difference between urgent and important. He understood that all the good things he could do were not necessarily the things he ought to do.
Kids r Readers 2: The Carrot Seed
We aren’t farmers. I’d love to have an herb garden, but there isn’t enough time in the day. Maybe later!
But, this book is on our sons’ bookshelf. Given to us by a friend, The Carrot Seed is about a little boy who waits patiently, despite much discouragement, for his carrot seed to bloom.
A very simple book but one that can teach many traits to your children:
1. Perseverance. The main character, a child, waits for this carrot seed to sprout. His parents and sibling are not very positive that it will, but he watches every day and never gives up. Our children will need to learn perseverance. We can help our children learn it, but it is also a fruit of the Spirit. Long-suffering. Bearing up under the pressure when the going gets tough.
2. Patience. I have already said this many times to my older son: “Patience is waiting for what you want with a happy heart.” The child in the story has to wait a long time for his carrot to come up. Your children may even think that a week until vacation is a long time, or sitting in timeout is a long time. Carrot growing takes longer. If children learn patience early on (also another Fruit of the Spirit) it will go well with them.
3. Faith. This little boy never gave up on his carrot. He believed that it would sprout. Faith is important for children to have. Not only faith that the sun will come up, his parents will protect him, or that the chair will hold him up when he sits upon it, but more importantly – faith in God. But, what is harder to teach your children is that faith is a gift from God. They can’t muster faith in God. They can’t be saved on their own. Grace and faith both come from God – they are both gifts. God allows us to grow our faith (and help nurture our children’s faith) by reading the Word of God.
Verses:
Ephesians 2:8-10
Galatians 5:22-23
Romans 10.17
Book Review: Risky Gospel (Owen Strachan)
Do you live by faith? Really? My last boss asked me a question soon after I started designing and writing a church curriculum: have you ever done anything that could only be done by faith? Honestly – no. Now, 3 years later, I would have to put parenting in that category. That’s why this book appealed to me.
Faith has got to be big and bold. Why? Because our faith is in a big and bold God.
Owen Strachan, Boyce College prof and the new director for CBMW, an organization dear to my heart, has written a book on how to live out the gospel in a risky fashion. A gutsy fashion. A bold statement.
I would liken this book to Don’t Waste Your Life or Fresh Faith. One that is true and solid and encourages you to step out of your comfort zone (wherever that zone may be) – and live big.
Not live big to make your name great, but live big for the sake of a bigger Someone.
I would recommend this book for its readability and its truth filled prodding to live life bigger.
“When redeemed sinners take on a great task that glorifies him – like entering into marriage and the formation of a life together – God is kind to lead.” (pg 107)
Whether you are like me – and you need a bigger, riskier faith in building your family of small boys. Or you are a young man or woman starting out and you need to own your job as a mission field for the gospel. Or whether you are a person who has lost what it means to live on mission for God. Or whether you need to step up and live in a community – authentically live in a local church and serve that church.
We all need to know a risky gospel. Not risky in the sense that we can lose it or that God can ever lose us – because He is faithful and true. But, risky in the sense that we can be bold and live bold for the God who gave everything for us!
PS. I think this recent blog post by a former pastor and friend, J. D. Greear, would make a great read too on this subject!
*I was given this book in return for a book review, but all thoughts are my own.
New Series: Kids r Readers 2
It is no secret that I love books, writing, and reading. Most books I read are biographical or non-fiction, with the occasional classic or fiction.
Being a Mom now of 2 boys (14m and 1m) I want to also instill in them a love for books and all things adventure, reading, characters, etc. Books can open up an entire new world for them (and kids of all ages).
But, also being a believer, I want to instill a love of God’s truth in my boys from an early age. I don’t want them, however, to just read Christian books, but look at Literature through the eyes of the Word. Tony Reinke taught me well with his book Lit!
So, here begins a series of books that I will read to our boys and take a few points of how to turn them back to truth – especially if that truth isn’t apparent.
The first book is The Little Squeegy Bug by Bill Martin, Jr.
Why I chose this book: It was on the table at our local library in the children’s section.
Synopsis: A “squeegy bug” doesn’t know what he is supposed to be and sets out on a journey to find out who he is.
Age: 3-7yo
Truths to teach your children:
1. We are meant to find God’s purpose for our lives. Jeremiah 1:5 is a great purpose verse and is easy for children to learn (especially the first half). And we don’t have to be prophets for us to have a purpose. All of us, created by God, have a purpose – to live for His glory. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism says “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever”.
2. God created you! Whatever God’s purpose is for you – He created you to do just that. He is sovereign over everything (kids can learn big words) and He is creator. The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks Who made you? God did! Genesis 1:26-31 and Psalm 139 are perfect Scriptures to teach that truth!
3. Godly friends help you be who God created you to be. God did not make us to live in isolation. He made us to be in relationship. Not only with Him but also with others. Friends are very important to our story. Proverbs 17:17 is also a good verse for memory work and how to live out the Word.
Favorite Quotes from Comforts from Romans
Do you ever struggle to believe the Gospel? If you are a Christian or non-Christian your answer is or should be YES! Even as believers, I think we tend to struggle in believing the life-giving hope of the Gospel that is ours in Christ.
One of my favorite authors put together a month-long book of devotions going through the first 8 chapters of the book of Romans. Not only is it theologically solid, but it is also easy for anyone to grasp, and full of hope for sinners like me.
I hope you find hope in these quotes as Elyse points us to Christ – and if you haven’t picked up this book, then I urge you to do so.
“He (Jesus) emerged into the dim light of our world, bringing with him the ineffable brightness of a universe remade, having reverses the curse and defeated the power of darkness forever.” (pg 20)
“He absolutely delights in demonstrating his mercy and love. Rather than our failures frustrating him, our sin simply serves to make his mercy more beautiful.” (pg 29)
“Our gospel inheritance is meant to cause us to rejoice and to live out each day in grateful obedience.” (pg 55)
“In both our justification and our sanctification, Jesus Christ must remain in our minds where he is in Paul’s: completely, utterly, permanently, gloriously, preeminent.” (pg 101)
“God no longer has any wrath left for us because we’ve been justified by faith.” (pg 130)
Yet Another Bible?
I used to work in a chain Christian bookstore. Bibles took over the place. There were so many. And so many have come out since the mid-90s. There is a Bible for teens, children, moms of _______, dads who golf, etc. If you are charismatic – you have a Bible just for you. If you follow certain preachers – they probably recommend a certain Bible. Why is there a need for another one?
I was intrigued by the Gospel Transformation Bible and was excited that we got it in the mail.
Here are three reasons I love the Gospel Transformation Bible and maybe some thoughts that will point you to it if you are in the market for a new study Bible:
1. The design. This may not be the most important factor in choosing a new study Bible, but I think the simple black and white hardcover design is fabulous. Simple and precise. Very easy to read and find what you need inside, too.
2. The preachers and scholars that Crossway chose to use is varied. There are men and women from different denominational backgrounds, some are preachers, others are teachers or professors at seminaries. It is encouraging to see the common ground that the Gospel brings together.
3. The main focus: the Gospel. The notes that you will read in this study Bible will all point to one thing – the Gospel – Jesus Christ. He is most important part of any theological discussion. He is what all the Scriptures point to.
Appreciate Bibles that focus on this one thing – Jesus!
This is from the Crossway website about the Bible: “Focusing on heart transformation rather than mere behavior modification, their points of application emphasize the Hows and Whys of practical application to daily living—in short, how the gospel transforms us from the inside out.”
#31days: Quotes 25 (a million little ways)
“All earthly things are the shadows of heavenly realities – the expression, in created, visible forms, of the invisible glory of God.” – Andrew Murray
I’m beginning the study of a million little ways by Emily Freeman. How to live all of life in a creative fashion after the order and ways of the Creator God.
This is going to be a fun ride! Come along over at (in)courage and the bloom study of this book. Just started this week!
(Photo taken Durham NC, October 2011)