Above is a pic of my youngest daughter and me.
My Husband, My brother in Christ
Join me in a Girl Talk book study!!!
I have decided to keep my comments under moderation. This means you can leave comments and they will be sent to my e-mail. I will then have to approve them. I have gotten an influx of vile spam as well as angry commenters who just don't like what I write on Biblical complementarianism. My children sometimes read this blog and not only is that spam horrid, but I am not real excited about letting my children read peoples comments that resort to calling me names that sometimes entail cuss words. I have allowed some of those people's comments to remain who do not resort to being vile. But I have also learned how incredibly unfruitful such conversations become even when I genuinely take into consideration their concerns. Anyway...
Girl-Talk is doing a book study on a new biography about Elizabeth Prentiss called Elizabeth Prentiss: More Love to Thee that I have decided to participate in.
A book written by Elizabeth Prentiss called Stepping Heavenward is one of my favorites. It gave me so much encouragement when I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I am married to a godly man that is also a physician (like the character in the book, Katherine, who's husband is a physician... this book was given to me by my mother-in-law, who is also a physician's wife) Jon is a wonderful father to our 6 children that we homeschool and he is not only my husband and best-friend, he is my hero. Challies wrote an aticle called Heroes and Celebrities in which I left a comment that said:
"My husband's hero is his grandfather. A man that was a simple farmer and janitor that deeply loved the Lord and sought not the praise of men, but to honor God in his life.My hero is my husband. He's alot like his grandfather and I always encourage my boys to watch and learn what it is to be a godly man from their dad. A man that is not perfect, but is repentant and earnest in his love for the Lord, diligent in his walk, God-honoring in his life.
Of course our ultimate hero is Christ, our Lord and Saviour."
Challies wrote in that article:
"It would be easy to dismiss this subject as irrelevant to the Bible-believing Christian, sweeping it away with a terse statement that Christians are not to have heroes. And yet it is not that simple. We, as humans, are naturally followers. There is something in us, and something that I think precedes the Fall, that precedes our sinful natures. Whatever this is causes us to want to follow others. Foster writes, "we are all followers at heart. We praise and preach leadership, but we practice followership. Consciously or not, we constantly seek someone beyond ourselves to tell us when and how high to jump. Better that we relinquish ourselves to someone worthy of adulation and veneration than to the many charlatans and demagogues who prey on us." Christians are not exempt from this and constantly seek others to emulate. The Bible does not appear to frown on this, but anticipates it, expects it. I think of the admonition of Solomon that "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." I think of Paul exhorting the Corinthians to "be imitators of me." I think of the lofty moral requirements of those who are to be leaders in the church. Truly we all seek to follow, even those who also seek to lead.And yet we often follow poorly. With our very souls at stake, it is crucial that we choose our heroes well. Far too often we seek to emulate not those who are most godly, but those who have the highest profiles. ...[John Bradley] knew that true heroes are those who are known and remembered not for a meteoric rise to prominence, not merely for being known, but for accomplishment and character. If only we were so discerning"
If you have not read the Stepping Heavenward book, I encourage you to read it. If you have read it, than you will understand why I love this book so much.
Anyway... join me in doing this book study with Girl Talk. In the coming weeks they will give instructions on what to do... but first you have to buy the biography book.
And remember... Press on in HIS truth and HIS love for HIS glory,
Lisa
Comments
Lisa, thank you for telling us about the Girl Talk study! I have that book, but haven't read it yet. Now would be a good time to start it!
Would you do me a favor? Their email address is one I am not able to access because you are supposed to be able to click on the contact thing, amd that function doesn't work on my computer. Would you email me their email address, if it isn't too much trouble?
In Christ,
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | November 19, 2006 01:58 PM
Hmm, I have the book, but it's not by Sharon James. I must have an older version, but I'm sure that's okay too.
Posted by: Lynn | November 19, 2006 02:00 PM
The GirlTalk e-mail is girltalk_blog@yahoo.com for those who may be interested in this book study.
Posted by: lisa4given | November 19, 2006 03:46 PM
Sounds like a good book. I wish I could join in. I just ordered the study guide (as per your fine recommendation!) for The Excellent Wife, so I don't think I'd be able to participate.
I've heard about that book on many occasions, so I do hope to read it someday.
Posted by: Kim in ON | November 20, 2006 11:25 AM
Thank you Lisa, I added it to my address book.
I hate that you have received so many negative emails. You just hold to the truth, and don't back down.
Have a great day!
Posted by: Lynn | November 20, 2006 03:34 PM
Hey Kim,
You are so going to enjoy that Martha Peace study guide!!!
Lynn,
One of the Elders of our church taught on Psalm 7 this past Sunday evening. It was so applicable... encouraging and convicting. He pointed out 3 ways that we tend to respond when accusations against us are true:
1. we justify
2. we blame-shift (affectionately throw someone under the bus)
3. we try to minimize our sin (I "only" stole one cookie! OR I was "just" joking when I called you an idiot!)
When in fact, the right response to TRUE accusations is genuine repentance.
Then he showed us how Psalm 7 teaches 5 ways to rightly respond to FALSE accusations:
1. We must seek God (v. 1, 2)
2. We must search our hearts (v. 3-5). In other words, do not immediately presume our own innocence.
3. We must see God as Judge (v. 6-11). In other words, leave room for the wrath of God (Rom. 12:19) and remember the the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God in respect to vindication (James). Our true and perfect defense is of God and I must NEVER take my own vengeance.
4. We must suppose repentance or retribution (v. 12-16). In other words, pray foremost for the repentance of your accusers and if that does not happen, then be confident that the Lord will handle it far better than you.
5. We must sing praises
So... my most fervent prayer is that I seek my Lord first in all of this and especially make sure that I not presume my own innocence. I truly may have been less gracious than what I am called to be as a child of God. If that be so, I do sincerely repent. However, I will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine under the false proclamation of grace... when it is actually compromise of truth. There is a balance and it is my heartfelt desire to glorify God in my life and words. I am a work in progress by the grace of God alone.
Press on in HIS truth and HIS love for HIS glory,
Lisa
Posted by: lisa4given | November 20, 2006 06:58 PM
Lisa,thank you for sharing that, it was helpful to me because I'm in a difficult situation.
And, I second the fact that Kim is going to enjoy doing the Martha Peace study. That has been my favorite book on our role as wives, and I believe, the best book out there on the subject.
Posted by: Lynn | November 21, 2006 10:53 AM