A Month of Thanksgiving~Seven of My Favorite Books For Cultivating a Thankful Spirit

1) The Bible: Of course there's no comparison to the Bible, but how often do we run to other writings while neglecting the very words He has given us? Regularly feasting on His Word, witnessing His glorious plan of redemption, meditating on the magnificence of the Gospel, is the best way to cultivate a thankful and contented spirit. Oh, what a marvelous work He has done in redeeming us and then providing us daily soul food with His Word!

2) The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs: I like that Burroughs is a man who repeats himself. He knows what stubborn and forgetful creatures we are, so he drives his points home very well with repetition. Burroughs defines contentment and then address the mystery of contentment, how Christ teaches contentment, the evils of a murmuring spirit, the excellence of contentment, the aggravations of the sin of murmuring, the excuses of a discontented heart, and how to attain contentment. Read this one!

3) All Things for Good by Thomas Watson: If we are ignorant of this truth, that He is working all things for our good, that our lives are not masses of silly happenstance, but wisely woven stories of His providence, then we will constantly fight discontentment. Take off your boxing gloves and settle down with this book and find yourself in awe of His goodness. Don't forget the kleenex.

4) The Greener Grass Conspiracy by Stephen Altrogge: I was skeptical about this one, thinking it was a dumbed down version of The Rare Jewel. So, I didn't read it for the longest time. BUT, I loved this book. I read it aloud to our children each morning at the breakfast table, and this was during those recent months when I was experiencing that dark night of the soul. I was encouraged and convicted  and so blessed by Altrogge's sense of humor and love for the Lord and tender concern for the discontented soul (in spite of the few times I disagreed with Altrogge) and found this to be an excellent read.

5) Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Giving thanks should not be a novel idea to the Christian.  It's nothing new.  But, giving thanks is a "cool" thing do these days.  Stores abound with gratitude journals and books urging us to have an attitude of gratitude.  Search for "gratitude" on Google, and you'll come up with more links than you'd ever be able to read.  Some are based on the Word, but many come from a New-Age, mystical perspective that Christians should be on guard against. And, as Nancy reminds us:

"You see, gratitude is a lot more than jonquils and journaling pages. Gratitude is a lifestyle. A hard-fought, grace-infused, biblical lifestyle."

And no one can know true gratitude except for the one who knows Christ. Nancy continues:

"And though there's a sense in which anyone can be thankful--for God has extended His common grace to all--the true glory and the transforming power of gratitude are reserved for those who know and acknowledge the Giver of every good gift and who are recipients of His redeeming grace."

I love how DeMoss starts with the Gospel. 

"Undeniable guilt, plus undeserved grace, should equal unbridled gratitude."

Nancy shares her own struggles, but she's not a navel-gazer who shares so much that you're left with a nasty voyeuristic aftertaste. The focus is on Him not her, and her tone is encouraging and engaging.

6) My Story and Yours: You haven't written a book? Well, neither have I, but I do have a journal of His mercies. Make it a practice to record His goodness to you, for He has given you much to sing over as you review and contemplate His marvelous works in your own life. And then declare these mercies to others! Right now, as my sister continues to grieve over the death of her husband, I am deeply blessed to hear of God's provision and protection in her life.

7) Spurgeon's Treasury of David: Spurgeon on the Psalms. Do I really need to say more? Ok. I'll just say that you will never regret having this collection on your bookshelf.

And I believe that when God pours out His grace on us and gives us eyes to see His goodness in everything, then most every book we read has a part in cultivating a thankful spirit.

With love,
Trisha

My Overly Ambitious 2013 Reading List and Our New Family Focus

It's one of our favorite things to do at the end of the year--make our next year's reading list. Our lists aren't chains that weigh us down but rather compasses that keep us going in the right direction.

There are at least four things that are true about my own reading lists:

1) I've never finished every book on them.
2) I always read books that aren't listed.
3) I tend to be very lop-sided, usually reading more from one genre than the others.
4) My personal lists don't usually include our homeschooling reads.

The oldest boys and I are tackling Calvin's Institutes this year, and thankfully, we have a reading plan to help us along. (By the way, The Envy of Eve is by Melissa Kruger. I'm too lazy to take another picture with that correction. :))

This year's Family Focus is Loving His Church. I've already added some more books to that category, including What is a Healthy Church Member by Thabiti Anyabwile, The Little Church that Stayed Home by Gary Gilley, Loving the Church by John Crotts (which I've already read), and Why Church Matters by Joshua Harris.  I know I should read Pagan Christianity and other anti-church books, but I'm not sure I'm up for the rise in my blood pressure. Maybe I can convince my Beloved or Ink to tackle those.

The only thing I'd like to add to my list is at least another biography. Any suggestions?

Much love,
Trisha

The Psychic in Me Offers Great Books to Help Start the New Year

I haven't managed to pull together my "best of" reading list for 2012. I didn't stick to the plan, as they say, though I did muddle along. I read four works of fiction, which is quite the feat, since my book lists tend to be heavy on discipleship and theology. Ink and Jake are quite proud of me.

I finally tackled a Wodehouse book, and I'm officially hooked! Yes, he's a make-you-laugh-out-loud kind of author, whose books every Mom should keep by her bedside.

My least favorite book this past year was Jen Hatmaker's Seven. I know. I don't go with the flow on this one. In fact, I haven't come across one negative review. While Jen had some great ideas and some substantial food for thought, her low view of the church was disappointing, as well as her admitting that spiritual disciplines are low on her priority list compared to feeding the homeless, living with less, etc. If you're going to read this one, please read it with caution, remembering that our acts of service should never replace time in the Word and in prayer and worshipping with the saints. A much more Biblically sound option to this book is The Micah Mandate by George Grant.

There's so much to read that sometimes it's hard to know where to start. But I know these are books that you will need at some point. How do I know this?

Because...

Every one of us will want to be more organized and use our time wisely.

Every one of us will battle wanting what someone else has and not wanting what God has given us.

Every one of us will be tempted to make decisions influenced by the foolishness of popular culture instead of the wisdom of the Word.

Every one of us will encounter Christians who tell us worship isn't being part of a church but rather climbing to the highest mountain and breathing in the fresh air while listening to our own inner voice.

Every one of us will be tempted to put aside the important disciplines of prayer and Bible study for the tyranny of the urgent.

Every one of us will face circumstances that tempt us to question God's sovereignty and goodness.

Ok, so it's not my psychic powers that tell me this, it's my own battle with my flesh, a battle every Christian faces every moment of every day of the year. There are ways in which all of us are very much alike.

These are some of my favorite reads for beginning the new year:

1) The Organized Heart by Staci Eastin: Who doesn't want to be more organized at the start of a new year, and yet, how many of us fail to stick to the plan by the time February rolls around? If you want to be more organized, start with this book. It lays a sound foundation for whatever method or plan you're using.

2) Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney: Who doesn't want to be a better steward of their time? This book is a fun, short read that packs quite the convicting punch. I love that Mahaney doesn't compromise on our time in the Word, as many authors today are doing. His Word is essential food, and we must feast on it daily.

3) All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes by Ken Myers: I first heard of this book from R.C. Sproul, Jr. When his wife asked him how to know what she should read, he directed her to this book. You'll be surprised by how much your thinking is affected by popular culture.

4) Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney: Yes, there are some valid criticisms of this book, but it is one of the best I've read on cultivating spiritual disciplines. Whitney quotes heavily from the Puritans and maintains an encouraging tone throughout the book.

5) The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs: You will battle discontentment at some point in the year. And murmuring and grumbling are grievous sins that question God's wisdom and sovereign care of us. Reading this book is humbling and convicting and powerfully instructive in how to be content, whatever our circumstances.

6) All Things for Good by Thomas Watson: There will be something that will happen in 2013 to tempt you to question His wisdom and goodness and sovereignty. I remember sitting in a parking lot reading from this book and just weeping, weeping over my ingratitude to the LORD and weeping over His goodness to such a worm as I.

7) The Love of God, Vol. 1 and 2 by D. A. Carson: Reading through the Bible in a year or two? These books offer brief, yet deep, commentary that bring the Old and New Testaments together. It's so important to see the "big picture" of the Word and not just settle in the New Testament. All of the Word is about Jesus.

8) Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck: If we love Him, then we will love His people and want to be in fellowship with them, not just at the local Starbucks, either. In our individualistic society, we've bought into the lie that corporate worship and church membership are not important. They are. DeYoung and Kluck offer a sobering yet humorous look at the importance of commitment to the body of Christ.

Do you have a book that encourages you at the start of a new year?

With love,
Trisha

Favorite Reads from 2011 and the January Giveaway

In no particular order, with this word of caution: Remember that a recommendation doesn't mean I agree with every word written by an author. I do, however, believe it's an edifying book that won't lead you astray in your Christian walk. As always, measure a book by God's Word and use the discernment He's given you.

1) Humility by C.J. Mahaney: Mahaney instructs with passion and compassion and much practicality. Not one to leave the reader wondering where to begin in cultivating a spirit of humility, he lays out clear suggestions wrapped in reminders of God's grace. This is one of my top recommendations for family and church unity.

2) Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck: "The church manifests itself in churches. And churches do certain things and are marked by certain characteristics." 
In case you haven't noticed, there's a huge attack on the local church today. And it isn't coming from the pagan. As I was flipping through an "anti-church" book at Barnes and Noble, I was deeply grieved. Even if you're settled in your belief in the importance of being part of the local church, you must make sure your children understand why. The lie that we can just gather at Starbucks and not be under the authority of or accountable to a local church body will face our children at every turn. In this book, DeYoung and Kluck provide a sound primer, infused with much humor, for why being part of your local church is important. I literally shouted, "Go Kevin!" while reading this book. :)

3) Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung: This book radically changed the way I look at knowing "God's will." Truly a must read that will free you from the bonds of fear-based indecision.

4) Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians by D.A. Carson: Oh, how I wished Carson had written one of these expositions for many more books of the Bible! This is a short and edifying read, packed with much wisdom and encouragement and conviction. Don't miss it! It's very understandable, and while I've finished reading it on my own, each morning I'm reading through it with our children. Carson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

5) Gilead by Marilynne Robinson: My personal reading in 2011 was very weak on fiction, and I'm reminded of it over and over by Ink. I'm glad I finally gave this book a try, though, for I was immediately captivated by Robinson's beautiful prose as well as her insight into the human heart as she shares the story of an aging father writing to his very young son. It's one time that I wished I was reading on a Kindle BECAUSE I was wanting to highlight so many passages!

6) Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney: This book has caused quite a stir in some circles as Whitney has been accused of embracing mysticism and making a "discipline" out of things that aren't really disciplines of the Christian life. That said, this was still one of my favorite reads last year, one that I'll re-visit often, and one that all of our children will read. I didn't find anything "mystical" about Whitney's writings, and he's heavy on Puritan quotes. I think any of us can turn suggestions into legalism. That's often the reader's fault, not the author's. Highly recommended.

7) Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper: I know. I'm just now reading this. Actually, we're reading it together during our group time. Technically, it should be a 2012 book, but I wouldn't want to wait that long to recommend it. Everything we do should be for God's glory, and Piper clearly demonstrates how that truth manifests itself in our everyday living.

8) Spurgeon's Sermons on Prayer by C.H. Spurgeon: If you can only read one book about prayer this year, read this one. Spurgeon encourages and admonishes while sharing his passion for prayer as only he can. You will find your prayer life infused with much faith and hope after reading his sermons. (Valley of Vision and Matthew Henry's A Method for Prayer are wonderful books for teaching us what to pray and how to pray based on Scripture.)

9) Grieving, Hope, and Solace by Albert N. Martin: This is the one book I'd give to someone who has known the death of a loved one. I read this in a couple of days in December, and I was blessed by the compassion and encouragement that were strongly grounded in God's Word. The author has been there, and his determination to grieve in a manner that glorifies the Lord is a testimony of God's grace in his life. His words spur those of us who are grieving to do the same. While he specifically focuses on the hope we have in Christ Jesus when we die, this book is perfect for the unsaved, too, including a very strong presentation of the gospel.

10) The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Carl Trueman: I can tell my comprehension is improving when I can read something by Trueman and actually "get it." This is a seemingly neglected gem of wisdom that every Christian should read.


From the product description:
Fifteen years ago in The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, historian Mark Noll warned that evangelical Christians had abandoned the intellectual aspects of their faith. Christians were neither prepared nor inclined to enter the intellectual debate, and had become marginalized. Today Trueman argues, "Religious beliefs are more scandalous than they have been for many years"-but for different reasons than Noll foresaw. In fact, the real problem now is exactly the opposite of what Noll diagnosed¯evangelicals don't lack a mind, but rather an agreed upon evangel. Although known as gospel people, evangelicals no longer share any consensus on the gospel's meaning. 



"If the church as a whole is losing its ability to be 'salt and light' in the culture, it is not because its members have no opinion of the films of Bernardo Bertolucci, no appreciation for the poetry of Emily Dickinson, and no regular slot on the Charlie Rose show. More likely , it is because they do not have a solid grasp of the basic elements of the faith, as taught in Scripture..." ~Trueman


I can't NOT give away one of these books, you know. In fact, I'm giving away two:
Basics for Believers AND Why We Love the Church. If you have one of the books already, you can always bless someone else with your winning copy.


Just leave a comment letting me know your favorite book read in 2011. Only US entries please, and be willing to provide your phone number if you win, since I'll be shipping directly from Amazon. Ok, if you didn't have a favorite read, I'll include you, too, if you leave a comment letting me know to put your name in the drawing.


I'll announce the winning name next Friday, January 13th.


Happy Reading!
Trisha