What Did You Expect??

If you are married, you need to read What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp. If you think your marriage is going on swimmingly, you need to read it. If you are consumed with children and schedules and you think you are too busy to read during this period in your life, you need to read this book! Tripp draws from years of counseling experience and careful study of God's Word. He describes encounters with counselees about various marital experiences. He asks heart probing questions that require you to consider the garden of your marriage and gently and deliberately pluck out the weeds, which you may or may not be aware are entangling the fruit in your relationship.

As moms, we have multiple lives (and relationships) entrusted to us that we need to tend and nurture throughout the day. It's hard work! As we can often get caught up in our relationships with our little ones, Tripp reminds us that understanding, effort and work are essential to fostering a healthy and biblical marriage.

Here's an excerpt regarding the importance and function of prayer for your marriage:

True, heartfelt prayer ends as it begins - with recognition of God's kingship and His glory. Prayer reminds you that life is not about you. Prayer reminds you that the center of your universe is a place reserved for God and God alone. Prayer reminds you that real peace, satisfaction, and contentment come when you live for a greater glory than your own. Prayer reminds you that the hope of marriage is not found in a husband and wife conspiring to build their own kingdom but in submitting together to the wisdom and rule of a better King. Prayer calls you away from the kingdom of self, which is so destructive to everything a marriage is intended to be, and welcomes you to the kingdom of God, where a God of love rules in love. (p. 265)

Read it! Read it! Read it! You will not be disappointed and I assure you that your marriage will be strengthened because of it!

The Kissing Hand

If you have a child who does not like for you to be out of his/her sight for any amount of time, and they're old enough to comprehend what you're reading, then I highly recommend The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. This is a precious children's story about Chester Raccoon's hesitation to leave the comfort of his home and his mother's constant presence for the first day of school. To assuage his fears, Mrs. Raccoon gives Chester a kiss on the palm of his hand that he can "carry" with him throughout the day. Whenever he needs a reminder of his mother's love, he can put his hand up to his cheek and recall her words, "Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you."

This book is also a great gift for grandparents or other relatives and friends who live far away from your little ones, but want to remind them that, near or far, they're always loved!

Stepping Heavenward

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss is undoubtedly one of my favorite books. I'm reading it now for the fifth or sixth time and I plan on reading it once every year (maybe twice). If you are a wife and mother who long to love the Lord more, this book provides precious encouragement on your journey heavenward. Written in the form of a journal, Katy comes to faith in Jesus and, through battles with her own sin and various life circumstances, is molded into a vessel who seeks to honor God above all things.

Here are a couple of excerpts:

"I have heard Mother say that we might love an earthly object as much as we pleased if we only love God better" (p. 175).

"Yes, I suppose I am as happy in my dear precious husband and children as a wife and mother can be in a fallen world, which must not be a real heaven lest we should love the land we journey through so well as to want to pitch our tents in it forever and cease to look and long for the home whither we are bound" (p. 278).

If the name Elizabeth Prentiss sounds familiar, it's likely because of the well-known hymn she wrote, More Love to Thee, O Christ. I've included the lyrics because they are as clear a window into the writer's heart as they are into that of the book's protagonist.

More love to thee, O Christ, more love to thee!

Hear thou the prayer I make on bended knee.

This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to thee;

more love to thee, more love to thee!

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;

now thee alone I seek, give what is best.

This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to thee;

more love to thee, more love to thee!

Let sorrow do its work, come grief and pain;

sweet are thy messengers, sweet their refrain,

when they can sing with me: More love, O Christ, to thee;

more love to thee, more love to thee!

Then shall me latest breath whisper thy praise;

this be the parting cry my heart shall raise;

this still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to thee;

more love to thee, more love to thee!

Book Recs for the Little Ones

If you're in the hunt for some good Christian books for your little ones, or to give as gifts to others, here are some that we love:

*The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

*Fool Moon Rising by Kristi and T. Lively Fluharty

*The Prince and the Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul

*The King Without a Shadow by R.C. Sproul

*The Lightlings by R.C. Sproul

*God's Wisdom for Little Boys by Jim and Elizabeth George

*God's Wisdom for Little Girls by Elizabeth George

*My ABC Bible Verses by Susan Hunt

*Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt

*Sammy and His Shepherd by Susan Hunt

*Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

*Long Story Short: Ten Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski

Susannah Spurgeon: Free Grace and Dying Love

Many of you have probably heard of C.H. Spurgeon, the powerful 19th-century English preacher. While he is probably best known for his illustrative sermons, little is known about his wife. Susannah Spurgeon was an extraordinary woman, with a sweet affection for Christ and confidence in His perfect purposes in the midst of severe suffering. A chronic illness left her confined to the home for much of her adult life, but instead of sulking her way into uselessness, she continued pursuing an endeavor that she began before becoming so ill - the Book Fund. Through her efforts, the Fund supported numerous pastors, missionaries and theological students with theological literature to enhance their knowledge of their God and Savior. For some, these hand-outs were the only resources they had besides the Bible in order to grow in their teaching and preaching. Needless to say, her disability in no way hindered her from fulfilling the role to which the Lord had called her in the extension of His Kingdom.

Free Grace and Dying Love is a wonderful book that includes twenty-four devotions written by Susannah followed by a biography by Charles Ray. The former carries a heavy emphasis on seeing his loving and sovereign face behind the black clouds of suffering that will encourage you to meditate on the kindness, goodness, and greatness of God. These writings could only come from the pen of one who had suffered much, yet who loved and trusted more. The biography section will inspire you to set your sights above and seek first His kingdom regardless of your circumstances.

Here is an excerpt from her devotion entitled The Mourners' Comforter:

"The Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces" (Isa. 25:8).

"Come, all you sorrowful, mourning souls and see what a fair pearl of promise your God has brought to light for you, out of the very depths of the sea of your affliction. Here is an assurance so inexpressibly tender, a fact so blessed and joyful, that you can hardly regret the weeping which is to enlist such divine sympathy and consolation." (p. 28)

If you're interested only in the biography, I found the entire thing on-line (see below)!

http://www.biblebb.com/files/SPURGEON/mrsspur.htm

Humility by C.J. Mahaney

Well, the Mahaney family continues to blow me away. I plugged a book by Carolyn Mahaney recently, a must read, and I meant it - life-changing and definitely worth purchasing! The same can be said of Humility. Carolyn's husband, C.J., shares his wife's gift for writing passionately about topics that are Biblically and theologically substantial in content and practical in life application. Humility: True Greatness will knock you down flat, but you'll be thankful for the beating. Mahaney doesn't knock us down with harsh words and stern reprimands, but he gently and persuasively reminds us that we can only be truly humble when we recognize just how sinful we really are and how holy God really is. He encourages us to study and meditate on Christ's life and death, God's attributes, and to find evidence of God's grace in the lives of others. C.J. Mahaney clearly has years of training under his belt in the pursuit of humility and, by God's grace, much wisdom to share with us. So while this book was not written directly for parents, we all know that parenthood is a wonderful training ground for learning humility and this is a great manuel for battling sin in our calling as wives and mothers.

Here are some excerpts:

"At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend" (p. 29).

"As sinfully and culturally defined, pursuing greatness looks like this: Individuals motivated by self-interest, self-indulgence, and a false sense of self-sufficiency pursue selfish ambition for the purpose of self-glorification. Contrast that with the pursuit of true greatness as biblically defined: Serving others for the glory of God. This is the genuine expression of humility; this is true greatness as the Savior defined it" (p. 44).

Praying Backwards by Bryan Chapell

I don't know about you, but I have often gone through seasons when my prayer life is dull and aimless. I can feel so overwhelmed by the tasks of the day and the pace at which life moves that my prayers come out more like afterthoughts than a heartfelt, intentional conversation with the Creator. If you share these struggles, I would highly recommend Bryan Chapell's book Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus' Name. Chapell walks through the Lord's Prayer - backwards - and offers practical and helpful tips on ordering your prayer life not around yourself, but around the one to whom you pray. One reviewer explains that the author hopes readers of the book will "pray believing in the power and the goodness of the One who hears, and thus to pray boldly, expectantly, and persistently." It's an easy read and will undoubtedly direct and enhance your prayers to the God who hears us in Jesus' name.

A Must Read!

I usually include a book recommendation on Fridays, but I couldn't wait until the end of the week for this one. Here's why:

1. I could be hindering you from saving time this week!

2. I've actually found something redeeming about Daylight Saving Time!

The book is a very easy read. It's called Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney and her three daughters. I really expect that the wisdom proffered will transform my daily life - and with eternal implications (hence the immediate post)!

The subtitle is "How to Do It All and Not Be Overwhelmed," and the theme verse is from Ephesians 5:15-16: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." The Mahaney girls cleverly use the shopping metaphor to encourage us to be intentional "shoppers of time." They devised five tips - rise early, sit still, sit and plan, consider people and plan to depend - with Biblical and practical support that will not only "buy" you time, but will help you make the most of the time you have.

So, what does it have to do with Daylight Saving Time? You'll need to read chapter 2 for more details, but they encourage you to rise early - specifically before your children do (which could be really early for some of you, I know!) - to spend time reading the Bible and in prayer. You can also use this time to plan your day, get the house in order, get yourself dressed, etc. before the "little bees" wake up and swarm around you. Now is the perfect time to start this habit. We're all getting to "sleep in" an extra hour and if instead of enjoying that luxury we continue to get up at the time our bodies are used to, we've just scored another productive hour of the day! I've been doing this for a little while now and it's not always easy, but I have always found it to be worth it!

Here are some excerpts from the book:

*"We can actually do all that God has called us to do." (p. 13)

*"We must look around. We must develop keen eyes. We must examine our lives. We must evaluate our present manner of living and consider how to prepare for the future. We must walk circumspectly through each and every day." (p. 18)

*"In the end, our highest goal each day is not flawless execution of our plans or increased productivity. It's our relationship with God, walking in dependence upon Him throughout the day. We should not be more consumed with the completion of our to-do list than pleasing and glorifying the Savior." (p.90)

Quick link to purchase:

http://www.amazon.com/Shopping-Time-How-All-Overwhelmed/dp/1581349130

Disciplining Your Darlings

Whether you're cuddling with your newborn or running around chasing your toddler, you've likely thought a lot about how you will raise your children. If you're looking for literature to help guide you in this endeavor, I've got a few recommendations (see below). But the one that I'm focusing on today is Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman. Her book couples wit and wisdom to assist you in your heart motivation and actions as your child's primary disciplinarian.

To save you some suspense, she doesn't condone the "count to three" method. Instead she uses and, I think, brilliantly applies Scripture to train her children. After all, Plowman reminds us, "God uses His Word in order to convict His children. Therefore when our children sin, we should use God's Word in order that they might be convicted." Do you beat your kids over the head with the Bible? Absolutely not. Rather, she encourages you to study Scripture so that you will be equipped in the "heat of the moment" to apply the appropriate Biblical response. The goal is that your child will gradually learn how to respond on his/her own, thereby living out the apostle Paul's prayer for the church in Phillipi, "That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ." (Phil. 1:9-10)

Recommendations:

*"Don't Make Me Count to Three!" by Ginger Plowman

*Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

*The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems by Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau

*The New Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson

*Parenting by the Book by John Rosemond