Leslie has been hosting a book study of The Excellent Wife. Each week she does a summary of a chapter and others who have been reading the book can write their own thoughts and link to Leslie's post at her site. I have been trying to read along with everyone (although at times I get a bit behind). Here is a little post about what I learned last week ...
Last weekend we headed to DC to take my niece to meet her Mom (we had kept her for a few days). April was a crazy month - we all had strep and then the girls and I got it a second time, Brian traveled alot (which he never has to do), etc. So I was ready for just a few minutes of down time in the van and I had my book, The Excellent Wife, in my bag to read on the way there and back.
As we were getting ready to leave, I may have been a little snappy. (Snappy is a relative term, right?) We get in the van, and Brian asks me to not be so snappy with him. (He did ask me that nicely but I would have preferred to have heard something like, 'honey, why are you snappy, has it been a rough week or month for you? I'm so sorry, what can I do to help make it better?') So then I got a little angry and then we began to argue, all because I was snappy and couldn't just say 'sorry'. I then proceeded to say that I HAD BEEN PLANNING to read my book about being an "excellent wife" but that I wasn't going to read it now because I didn't think he deserved to have an "excellent wife" at that time!
So this is where we see that at times I can still act like a 12-year old! I mean, really! This, along with many other examples, reminds of the grace I need daily. I need to extend grace to my husband and live in that same grace. Needless to say, my actions showed me how much I needed to read the book and focus on serving Christ through my marriage.
I am thankful for a patient and gracious husband...
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Respectable Sins
Lately I have been reading "Respectable Sins" by Jerry Bridges. It's been a slow read for me, although it's not necessarily a hard book to read. It is taking me some time because I keep re-reading parts, hoping that the repetition will help me retain many of the truths shared in the book. (Tim Challies has a thorough review of the book here.)
Bridges shares in the Preface that "the motivation for this book stems from a growing conviction that those of us whom I call conservative evangelicals may have become so preoccupied with some of the major sins of society around us that we have lost sight of the need to deal with our own more 'refined' or subtle sins."
It is easy to try and classify sins while trying to minimize my own, often thinking my sin isn't as dreadful as the sins of others. Yet I still need to focus on the Gospel as I seek the power of Christ in dealing with the many 'respectable sins' in my life.
Bridges doesn't get into the discussion of specific 'respectable sins' until Chapter 7. By that point I was ready to read about them and know how to conquer certain ones in my life, thinking there may be only 1 or 2 that I would need to study. Because I'm not that sinful right?
Oh - so wrong! Each chapter brought more awareness of the subtleness of the sin in my heart. As I kept reading each chapter I would think "surely I can't just sit back, relax, and read the next chapter without any conviction"... But not the case. Each chapter has brought to light areas in my life that I need to be on my knees about. Although I have finished the book, I am going to review several chapters again for deeper study.
One of the things I love about Bridges in this book is that it is centered on the truth of God's Word while sharing practical ways to deal with these sins. He writes with humility and grace. There is hope in the Gospel - and for that I am thankful!
Read it when you get the chance!
Bridges shares in the Preface that "the motivation for this book stems from a growing conviction that those of us whom I call conservative evangelicals may have become so preoccupied with some of the major sins of society around us that we have lost sight of the need to deal with our own more 'refined' or subtle sins."
It is easy to try and classify sins while trying to minimize my own, often thinking my sin isn't as dreadful as the sins of others. Yet I still need to focus on the Gospel as I seek the power of Christ in dealing with the many 'respectable sins' in my life.
Bridges doesn't get into the discussion of specific 'respectable sins' until Chapter 7. By that point I was ready to read about them and know how to conquer certain ones in my life, thinking there may be only 1 or 2 that I would need to study. Because I'm not that sinful right?
Oh - so wrong! Each chapter brought more awareness of the subtleness of the sin in my heart. As I kept reading each chapter I would think "surely I can't just sit back, relax, and read the next chapter without any conviction"... But not the case. Each chapter has brought to light areas in my life that I need to be on my knees about. Although I have finished the book, I am going to review several chapters again for deeper study.
One of the things I love about Bridges in this book is that it is centered on the truth of God's Word while sharing practical ways to deal with these sins. He writes with humility and grace. There is hope in the Gospel - and for that I am thankful!
Read it when you get the chance!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Still Trying
The Desiring God book sale is sooo huge that the server is having problems. I have tried all day to do my order. I read this on Justin Taylor's site. Maybe I will try to get up in the night to do my order (Ellerie is sleeping so good now that I may have to set the alarm)! This is an awesome problem - how incredible for DG to influence so many people with the gospel for the glory of God?!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The Pursuit of Holiness
I have been reading this book, The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges and I love it. Everyone else out there in blog-land seems to be reading The Practice of Godliness so it will be next on my list.
In the first chapter, Bridges points out several reasons that more Christians do not experience holiness in daily life as well as why the Church seems to be more conformed to the world instead of Christ. The first reason Bridges discusses is that “our attitude toward sin is more self-centered than God-centered.” Often times people are more concerned about having victory over sin instead of focusing on that fact that our sin grieves the heart of God. Failure because of ‘sinning’ is what frustrates us, not the fact that we have grieved our Father. I often see this attitude in my own heart.
“God wants us to walk in obedience – not victory. Obedience is oriented toward God; victory is oriented toward self.” This is just the first attitude we need to deal with in order to get to the root of our difficulties with sin. When we walk in obedience, we will often experience victory – but what is our goal – to be victorious or obedient? My prayer is that I will seek to be obedient in this pursuit.
In the first chapter, Bridges points out several reasons that more Christians do not experience holiness in daily life as well as why the Church seems to be more conformed to the world instead of Christ. The first reason Bridges discusses is that “our attitude toward sin is more self-centered than God-centered.” Often times people are more concerned about having victory over sin instead of focusing on that fact that our sin grieves the heart of God. Failure because of ‘sinning’ is what frustrates us, not the fact that we have grieved our Father. I often see this attitude in my own heart.
“God wants us to walk in obedience – not victory. Obedience is oriented toward God; victory is oriented toward self.” This is just the first attitude we need to deal with in order to get to the root of our difficulties with sin. When we walk in obedience, we will often experience victory – but what is our goal – to be victorious or obedient? My prayer is that I will seek to be obedient in this pursuit.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Book Meme
I was tagged by Kim to do this:
1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following 3 sentences
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same
The name of the book is The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. (I just started re-reading it this year.)
Page 123 is the cover page for a chapter, so I'll go to 122. "A critical spirit has its root in pride. Because of the 'plank' of pride in our own eye we are not capable of dealing with the 'speck' of need in someone else. We are often like the Pharisee who, completely unconscious of his own need, prayed, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men' (Luke 18:11). We are quick to see - and to speak of - the faults of others, but slow to see our own needs."
I know, I know. I went on to read the 4th sentence, but it was just sooo good. And it's so convicting. But of course, it's not talking about me! I'll be sure to read it to my husband tonight. Seriously, the truth speaks loudly - and I am listening. But maybe I should have just stayed on page 123!
I tag Kelly, Fishmama, and Christina.
1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following 3 sentences
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same
The name of the book is The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. (I just started re-reading it this year.)
Page 123 is the cover page for a chapter, so I'll go to 122. "A critical spirit has its root in pride. Because of the 'plank' of pride in our own eye we are not capable of dealing with the 'speck' of need in someone else. We are often like the Pharisee who, completely unconscious of his own need, prayed, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men' (Luke 18:11). We are quick to see - and to speak of - the faults of others, but slow to see our own needs."
I know, I know. I went on to read the 4th sentence, but it was just sooo good. And it's so convicting. But of course, it's not talking about me! I'll be sure to read it to my husband tonight. Seriously, the truth speaks loudly - and I am listening. But maybe I should have just stayed on page 123!
I tag Kelly, Fishmama, and Christina.
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