I am reading my Bible through this year (this is my third year doing it) and it is requiring a significant time commitment, but I'm still trying to get additional reading in. It hasn't been easy!
Here's my progress for the 1st quarter of 2011:
*Working at reading through the entire Bible - I'm using my ESV Bible this time.
*Finished reading Created to be His Help Meet
by Debi Pearl
*Finished reading One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
by Ann Voskamp
*Finished reading Honey for a Child's Heart
by Gladys Hunt
(For some of my absolutely favorite books of all time, be sure to visit the Bubbling Brook store.)
Notes from Created to be His Help Meet
If God created a special woman, perfectly created to be your husband's helper, would you be that woman? p.21
It is not a question of whether or not you can do a job better than he; it is a matter of doing what you were "designed" to do. If you successfully do the job of leading the family, you will not find satisfaction in it. It is far better the job be done poorly by your husband than to be done well by you. p.23
God didn't create Adam and Eve at the same time and then tell them to work out some compromise on how they would achieve their personal goals in a cooperative endeavor. He created Adam, gave him an occupation, appointed him as ruler of the planet, endowed him with a spiritual outlook, gave him commands, and specified his occupational duties. Adam began his rule of the planet before God created Eve to help him in his life's goals. God gave her to Adam to be his helper. She was designed to assist, not to veto his decisions. p.96
God says that a woman's apparel should profess godliness. Her clothes, hair, and adornments - not just her mouth - make a loud profession to all who see her that she is modest and godly, or that she is immodest and ungodly. p.201
Notes from One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
All new life comes out of dark places. All new life labors out of the very bowels of darkness. p.96
If you haven't lost Christ, nothing is ever lost. p.98
How I want to see the weight of glory break my thick scales, the weight of glory smash the chains of desperate materialism, split the numbing shell of deadening entertainment, bust up the ice of catatonic hearts! p.110
I am naked and I am right ashamed. I know how monstrously inhumane I can be. Raging at children for minor wrongdoings while I'm the one defiling the moment with sinful anger. Hoarding possessions while others die of starvation. Entertaining the mind with trivial pretties when I haven't bowed the head and heart in prayer longer than five minutes in a week. My tongue has a razor edge and my eyes have rolled haughty and my neck has been stiff and graceless and I have lived the filth ugly, an idolator, a glutton, and a grace thief who hasn't had the time for the thanks. p.116
You would be very ashamed if you knew what the experiences you call setbacks, upheavals, pointless disturbances, and tedious annoyances really are. You would realize your complaints about them are nothing more nor less than blasphemies - though that never occurs to you. Nothing happens to you except by the will of God, and yet God's beloved children curse it because they do not know it for what it is. p.125 (quoting Caussade)
Next up on my reading list - for the 2nd quarter of 2011 - is Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World
What are you reading?
Warmly,
*Please note that I am not endorsing these authors or their personal beliefs, but rather sharing what's on my bookshelf and a few of my personal notes.
also shared at Wise Woman
I’m reading Ann’s book too, the bible and Large Family logistic
I really enjoyed Created to be His Helpmeet. It was of great encouragement to me as I did not grow up in a Christian home and had no idea how to be a helpmeet when I was first married.
One Thousand Gifts sounds like a good read from your notes; I will have to check it out.
Right now I am reading through the Psalms and also reading Radical by, David Platt (a good but challenging read).
I’ve heard good things about Radical – you’ll have to let me know what you think. It may end up on my reading list before too long
I’m currently reading, “God Calling.”
I have about 45 das left on reading my bible thru in 1 year, The Ministry of Interscession a Pleas for More Prayer by Andrew Murray (not an easy read as it was written in 1898) . I have done the Created to be his Helpmet bible study @ church and really enjoyed and learn from it. I also did not grow up in a Christian home nor ever saw a good biblical marriage lived out.
I’m reading the Bible, “Chosen But Free” by Geisler, “A Charlotte Mason Companion” by Adreola, and “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” by Tom Harmon.
Thank you for sharing these books! I’m adding them to my reading list now. I am currently doing a Bible study on Romans with Chuck Swindoll and reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
I read the Book ” Created to be his Helpmeet” and it really gave me a better idea of a woman’s role in life, that she was created for a specific purpose a wonderful purpose!!!. It can get cloudy in this world of feminism. For years I was selfishly trying to be the opposite of what I was supposed to be and it almost ended my marriage. Anyway, I am happy to say that I have never been happier than I am now, LIVING MY ROLE, AS I WAS CREATED TO BE” Instead of fighting against it!!
Shalom,
Moira
I have been wanting the book One Thousand Gifts but had it just on my “maybe” list until I read your notes on it. I paused and went to Amazon and bought it and came back to comment here. Your blog is a blessing.
Smiles, Cass
I love reading your blog. You always have very interesting things to learn. God bless
Love created to be his helpmeet! .. I am currently reading Radical by David Platt.. wow it is so challenging~
I just started reading Biblical Economics by R.C. Sproul Jr. I just finished a book called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. She is definitely not a Christian, and speaks of evolution and environmentalism a great deal. But it is a great book about eating real, local food. Her writing is not only informative, but it is also entertaining. If you are willing to weed through a little bit, it is a great read.
I’m reading the Book of Mormon! I’m actually listening to it on tape
Those sound like great books! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t yet have One Thousand Gifts, but it sounds like a wonderful read!
I read Created to Be His Helpmeet some months ago and was definitely challenged to re- evaluate my role in our marriage relationship.
I recently wrote a post about Debi Pearl’s book: http://lorialexander.blogspot.com/2011/04/created-to-be-his-helpmeet.html
It CHANGED my marriage. Best marriage book out there!
This is my first visit. I like your blog! Love the quotes from the two books- I’ve read them both, but haven’t read the Pearl in a while. I’m reading through the Bible in a year, and using the MSG this time, reading a Beverly Lewis novel, and Dicken’s The Old Curiosity Shop.