Book Review: Contentment, Prosperity and God's Glory

I was so excited when I saw the opportunity to review Contentment, Prosperity and God's Glory by Jeremiah Burroughs  as it came across the Cross Focused Reviews blog. I had heard much about  Burroughs' other popular book, The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment and was anxious to read this new sister-title.

Unlike The Rare Jewel which focuses on being content during affliction, Contentment, Prosperity and God's Glory talks about being content when being full. Mr. Burroughs teaches from Philippians 4:12:

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

The book is divided up into ten chapters and each chapter has numerous teaching/application points. The chapters are as follows:

1. Introduction 
2. What Learning to Be Full Means
3. The Difficulty of Learning to Be Full
4. The Necessity of Learning to Be Full
5. The Excellency of Learning to Be Full 
6. The Mystery of Learning to Be Full 
7. Lessons for Learning to Be Full
8. Increasing the Guilt of Sins of Abundance
9. Applications for Improving Prosperous Conditions
10. Concluding Words of Contentment

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's certainly applicable to any Christian living in modern Western culture. The book is quite short, but packed with tons of great learning. Don't be scared away from this book because of the Puritan author. Mr. Burroughs is very readable and the updated edits make for an even easier, smooth read. Each sentence was either convicting or encouraging--or both. At its heart, the book is extremely practical. My copy has whole sections highlighted or underlined. 

I will leave you with a taste of the book with a couple of my favorite quotes (Oh, it was hard to only choose two!):

Such a man learns fullness when his grace stirs him up in thankfulness to God and when it encourages him in the duties that God requires of him. "Oh, I receive such wages," says a gracious hearts; "I receive much from God. Surely,  then, there must be much work required of me."pg. 27

The least sin is a greater evil that all earthly prosperity can be good. To commit any single sin brings upon you more misery that your honor and wealth can bring you happiness." pg. 99

I highly recommend this book. I think it would be especially wonderful to read through with your teenagers and I look forward to doing so in a few more years. Thank you to Cross Focused Reviews and Reformation Heritage Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Thankful Thursday: Saints Gone Before Us Edition

The Virginia delegation at the 2004 Constitution Party National Convention. Mr. Phillips is front Right. My Beloved is tucked away in the back about fourth from the left.

On Monday we went to the funeral of a great man, Howard Phillips. He is pretty well known in the conservative political movement. His achievements in that sphere are many. Howard was known for standing on principle. He could not be bought, he wasn't a politician. He is known for things like helping to found the Moral Majority and founding the Constitution Party. He fought tirelessly for the life of the pre-born. For example, he was the ONLY person to testify against George Bush's (Sr.) Supreme Court appointment of David Souter due to the latter's previous pro-abortion record. Of course, the Republicans ignored him (Phillips) in favor of toeing the party-line. Later Howard received phone calls from many of those same Republicans admitting they should have listened to him.

I could go on and on about his political battles, but I have been most touched and moved by his private life. At the funeral, five of his children stood up and gave lengthy testimonies praising their father. I sat in my seat often wiping tears from my eyes, laughing, and mostly being awed. What a father! Howard considered children the best gift the Lord could give. His line of thought was: "If the Lord wanted to give you a present, why wouldn't you want it?" He loved his children dearly and considered them his most valuable asset. His children were home-schooled after his conversion as an adult. He was constantly teaching them. All of his kids spoke yesterday with warmness and love of their time around the dinner table. They would be there for hours, they said. Around the dinner table they would read, write, be quizzed by their father, and have lively discussions. When he traveled, he would take a child or two with him. He gave them the world.

This is what my husband had to say, briefly, about the services Monday:

"It was a sad day in many respects, but praise God we were able to make it to Howard's funeral. Pastor Chuck Baldwin did a wonderful job officiating the service. The eulogies from Howard's children and others were amazing and heartfelt. I'm grateful to Almighty God for giving us such a wonderful man like Howard Phillips. What a legacy he left behind, inspiring hundreds of thousands of people (maybe even millions). Even though he never achieved electoral victory, that's really only one way in which success is measured. Seeing all of the people there today in attendance is indicative of how God used Howard to achieve great things. I saw a number of familiar faces I hadn't seen in years. We are all united in our mutual admiration and affection for a man whose shoes can never be filled. I miss my friend.

As the eulogies were read, I was reminded again of how much family mattered to Howard. I genuinely felt convicted as family life in the Phillips' household was described. He was loving, didactic, and was absolutely diligent in raising his children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Howard was born and raised in a Jewish household. Later as an adult, the Lord saved him as he received the Gospel and converted to Christianity. His life is yet another testimony in church history where God saves certain men and then raises them up to do great things. I can honestly say that Howard was a major influence in my life, especially in our family's decision to homeschool our children. I hope all of us can press on, remembering his legacy in the back of our minds.

I'm so glad that we could go up there today as a family. I wish Hollie and the kids could have met Howard. All of us were blessed by what we heard. Much more could be said, but I'll just leave it at that for now. Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

I have never been to a funeral that was so inspiring, encouraging, and convicting. I never knew Howard personally, but I gather that's how it was to be around him so it makes sense his funeral would have that same effect multiplied. My husband was friends with Howard. He was a mentor to Josh such that it was vital in shaping many of his beliefs, political and otherwise. After hearing all the testimonies of Howard's beautiful legacy yesterday I can clearly see how he influenced my husband. Howard's fingerprints are certainly all over Josh's life in many ways: his conviction to home-school, his belief in not rejecting/limiting the children (gifts) God will give a family, certainly his political views. I wish I could thank Howard, and I take heart knowing one day I will get that chance.

If you are interested you can read what one of his sons, Doug Phillips, said about him here: http://www.visionforum.com/news/blogs/doug/default.aspx?path=/2013/04/10789/.

Book Review: God's Good Design

God's Good Design: What The Bible Really Says About Men and Women by Claire Smith is an excellent contribution to the "gender debate" among Christians. She starts out with a brief look at the recent history of feminism and the effects it has had on our culture. Mrs. Smith reminds the reader that our problems with these parts of Scripture are often rooted in ourselves and the influences of our culture.

        "The dust of feminism has settled on the pages of our Bibles and obscured God's word. What the Bible once said clearly about men and women is no longer clear to us. ... The problem is with us. The difficulties we have with those texts that deal with the responsibilities of men and woman lie in us --- not in the clarity and goodness of God's word. We can expect God's word to speak clearly and it does." (Pg. 12, 13)

The author labors throughout this book to allow God's Word to speak for itself. She encourages the reader to be aware and lay aside beliefs that come from places outside of God, such as culture. Scripture is given the ultimate authority throughout the entirety of the book. From the very beginning Mrs. Smith makes her readers aware of this:

        " ... our task is to sit under God's word and have it critique our culture, our lives, our relationships, our prejudices, and our fears. Not vice versa."  (Pg. 18)

God's Good Design is broken into two parts: Part One deals with women and their roles within the Church whereas Part Two deals with roles within the home. In each chapter Mrs. Smith takes the time to work through each verse(s), including ancient cultural context(s), original languages, and perspicuity with the rest of the Canon.  We see over and over that Scripture continually points us back to Creation when referring to gender roles. It was enjoyable to read responses to all the tough topics such as:  women in pastoral ministry, women being quiet in church, head-coverings, submission in marriage, and more.

I also appreciated that the author took the time to say what the Bible does NOT say regarding women. She made sure to point out when some traditions move beyond Scripture. Mrs. Smith did this with gentleness and without condemnation. Overall, this is a book I would highly recommend. It is extremely readable and packed with plenty of information on this topic. God's Good Design would be beneficial for women on either side of this debate to read.

Many thanks to Cross Focused Reviews for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All Things For Good

 

Source

 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ~Romans 8:28

Above is an oft quoted Bible verse, Romans 8:28. I myself quote it with great frequency as an encouragement to other believers. Lately, I've been thinking about this verse, what it really means, and how many people truly believe it or even desire it to be true. 

The verse says God is working all things together for good for those who love Him. This sounds great to nearly all people, believers or not. We all want good things to happen to us, right? But, it's worth asking is our view of good in line with God's view? We can see elsewhere throughout the New Testament that God thinks it is good to be like His Son, Jesus Christ (Col. 3:10, Rom. 8:29, 2 Tim. 1:9 to cite a few). 

What does the Bible say about Jesus? What was He like? Well, here are some words used to describe Christ:

 "no form or comeliness, no beauty that we should desire Him, despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief  ... "

 Those are just a few descriptive lines from Isaiah 53. Now if those things are happening to us, can we see them as good? If we are without beauty, if we are despised and rejected by friends and others, if our earthly life is a life familiar with sorrows and grief, will we see these as good? Will we trust God that all these descriptors are good for us? The Christian life isn't absent of happiness, but often times it doesn't look like the happiness of the world. Let us never forget our Lord Jesus and His life, and remember our Father in Heaven desires us to be like His Son.  

Be Blessed,
Hollie

* Note: I am not denying that God does indeed bless His children with joy, wealth at times, health, and beauty. However, those messages are often heard and I think we do well to remember God has said that even the bad in our life is for our good. We also do well to remember all we can of our Lord's life when we talk about being like Him.

Children & Work

The principal cause of boredom is the hatred of work. People are trained from childhood to hate it. Parents often feel guilty about making children do anything but the merest gestures toward work. Perhaps the children are required to make their beds and, in a feeble and half-hearted fashion, tidy up their rooms once a month or so. But take full responsibility to clear the table, load the dishwasher, scrub the pots, wipe the counters? How many have the courage to ask this of a ten year old? It would be too much to ask of many ten year olds because parents have seriously asked nothing of them when they were two or three. Children quickly pick up the parents' negative attitudes toward work and think of it as something most sedulously to be avoided.  --- Elisabeth Elliot

Be Blessed,
Hollie

Thankful Thursday

 So much to praise our Lord for! Just to skim the surface of all the goodness He has bestowed us:


~ praying friends!

~ Skype -- the girls are loving this to keep in touch with Mamaw and Papaw :)

~ Family game night and the discovery of a fun new game: Bananagrams. This was my Beloved's winning puzzle:

~ Raw milk in the fridge! 

~ Time to work on an embroidery project: 

~Daddy & son time! I love to see my men "hanging" out together:

~ A husband that encourages me with the Word, that prays for me daily. That holds me accountable lovingly.

~That the Word of the Lord does not return void.

~That God has not left us to ourselves but sent a Helper to be with us!

~A precious new baby boy in our church family! I cannot wait to hold him!!


Be Blessed,
Hollie

Thoughts

A friend of mine recently posted this on Facebook and I wanted to share:

"I know your thoughts!" Job 21:27 

"Do we pay sufficient attention to our thoughts? 
Every thought has a character--it is either good or bad. 
Every thought produces an effect--it either sanctifies or depraves. 

Sin begins in thought; holiness begins in thought; misery begins in thought; happiness begins in thought.

          Thought decides the state of man--hence the Bible says, "As he thinks in his heart--so is he."

We cannot tell what a man is by his words, nor always by his acts--but if we could get at his thoughts, we could. God attends to our thoughts, and he wishes us to do so. He asks, "How long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you?" He testifies, "I know the thoughts that come into your mind--every one of them!" Not only so--but Jesus has declared, "I am He who searches the thoughts and the heart!"

~James Smith

Blessings,
Hollie