Recommended Reading Review ~ A Woman after God's Own Heart

A Woman after God’s Own Heart
By Elizabeth George

God called David a man after His own heart. What an amazing description! Wouldn’t you love to be described as such? In her book, A Woman after God’s Own Heart, Elizabeth George encourages women to become just what the title says. The chapters of this book are filled with Biblical, practical advice and instruction on living with God first and at the center of our lives. Mrs. George helps the reader see that there are priorities in life and that they need to be in order. When all these priorities are in their proper order, with God always the number one priority, life runs smoothly and God is glorified in our daily lives. A Woman after God’s Own Heart is a book that every Christian woman should read. Whether single or married, we can apply the principles in Mrs. George’s book, and become women after God’s own heart.

Contentment & Our Promised Land

I came across the following paragraph in the book Emotional Purity. It was a great encouragement to me as I read it.

“You’ve heard “hind-sight is twenty-twenty”. I think the children of Israel must have coined that phrase. Did they understand what God was going to do when they stood at the Red Sea with their enemies behind them? No. Did they understand or know where their food, water, and provision for their basic needs would come from? No. Did they understand what God did when He said the land He gave to them was filled with giants? No. They continued in their discontentment and the cost became deadly. The Israelites rebelled against God over and over in the desert, and often we do the same thing. The correlation between the children of Israel and us is clear: they were in bondage to the Egyptians, we are in bondage to believing that marriage is going to save us from this state of discontented singleness. God performed a grand exodus to save the Israelites from slavery; God sent His Son to save us from slavery. He led the Israelites through the desert of testing to worship and serve Him there; He wants us to come through the desert of testing to see if we trust Him. Then He allowed the Israelites to enter the Promised Land; and, if you allow God to take you through the arid desert of trials, you will come through trusting and obeying Him. The promised land is not marriage, but rather a place of knowing that you are in the Father’s hands and that you will not be single a day longer than He plans for you.” ~ Emotional Purity: An Affair of the Heart, By Heather Arnel Paulsen, p.92

I love the comparison Heather makes between us as singles, and the children of Israel. It is so important that we gain contentment before marriage. As I have heard repeatedly, “If you’re not content before marriage, you won’t be content after you’re married”. I think the Israelites are a good example of this. Even when they got the freedom they wanted, they still weren’t content. I also love the last sentence in this paragraph. Ladies, marriage is not our promised land. It is so good to be reminded where our focus is supposed to be and what our promised land is and in Whom it can be found.

The Enthusiastic Attitude

Fervent in spirit.

Romans 12:11

“One of humanity’s most chronic shortcomings is the lack of individual enthusiasm. Often our failures to achieve what we ought result directly from apathy and lack of commitment. But that should not be true if you’re a Christian.
Enthusiasm requires Spirit-assisted resolve and persistence, not just human-guided good intentions. Henry Martyn, the tireless missionary to India, conducted his ministry with scriptural enthusiasm and fervency. It was his desire to “burn out for God.” And the apostle Paul admonishes us to “not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9).”

Taken from: Truth for Today, by John MacArthur, page 216

Recommended Reading Review ~ Lies Women Believe

Lies Women Believe
And the Truth That Sets Them Free

By Nancy Leigh DeMoss

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent came to Eve and told her all kinds of lies. And she believed them. Since then, women have heard and believed many different kinds of lies. In her book, Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free, Nancy Leigh DeMoss examines some of these lies. She shows her readers why they are lies, how Satan uses these lies, and the truth that counters these lies. The lies that Miss DeMoss points out are ones most women believe in one way or another. It was very convicting to read this book and recognize the lies I have believed and the ones I could be in danger of believing. With every lie she points out, Miss DeMoss gives scriptures to not only prove they are lies but to also reveal the truth. By giving scriptures of truth, Miss DeMoss gives her readers a tool to use to fight the lies as we face them each day. We are able to read and meditate on these verses when we feel ourselves believing lies. Lies Women Believe is a must read for any and every woman. Not only does it show us the lies in our own lives that we may have believed, but I can also see how it could be a wonderful resource for helping others see the lies in their lives they have been believing and the truth that will set them free.

A Daily Prayer

I found this quote/prayer in Elisabeth Elliot’s book Secure in the Everlasting Arms.

“Almighty God, we bless and praise Thee that we have wakened to the light of another day; and now we will think of what a day should be. Our days are Thine, let them be spent for Thee. Our days are few, let them be spent with care. There are dark days behind us, forgive their sinfulness; there may be dark days before us, strengthen us for their trials. We pray Thee to shine on this day -- the day which we may call our own. Lord, we go to our daily work; help us to take pleasure therein. Show us clearly what our duty is; help us to be faithful in doing it. Let all we do be well done, fit for Thine eye to see. Give us strength to do, patience to bear; let our courage never fail. When we cannot love our work, let us think of it as Thy task; and by our true love to Thee, make unlovely things shine in the light of Thy great love. Amen.” ~ George Dawson, 1821-1876

Recommended Reading Review ~ His Chosen Bride

His Chosen Bride ~ By Jennifer J. Lamp

There have been stacks books written for single young women, many of them focusing on being content until “Mr. Right” comes along. While being content is very important, His Chosen Bride, by Jennifer J. Lamp, has a bit of a different focus. I love the picture this book’s subtitle gives “Living as daughter of the King and Bride of Christ”. Writing as a friend, Miss Lamp reminds young women that God is our Father and Christ is our Husband, and gives vision for how the years during and after high school can be lived for the glory of God. Miss Lamp uses the Proverbs 31 woman as a springboard for the topics discussed in each chapter, though mostly talks “girl to girl” about life and growing in godliness as a young woman. Each chapter concludes with some questions, Scripture references, and recommended resources. I found both conviction and great encouragement in the pages of this book, and highly recommend it. His Chosen Bride would be an ideal read for young women between the ages of 16 and 18, though I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as a 20+ year old and found many applications for my life. It would be a wonderful book for mothers and daughters to read together, or for a group study.

BTW - You may find that most copies of His Chosen Bride have “Volume One” printed on the front cover, and state that “Volume Two” is coming. Unfortunately for us, volume two was never printed. A couple of years ago I learned that Miss Lamp met her “Mr. Right”, and is now married. While I do wish volume two had been printed, I rejoice with her in how God has led her into a new season of life.

Recommended Reading Review ~ Beautiful Girlhood

Beautiful Girlhood
By Karen Andreola

Beautiful Girlhood, originally written by M. Hale and revised and expanded by Karen Andreola, is one of my all-time favorite books for girls. The author draws a wonderful picture in the reader’s mind by comparing girlhood to a blossoming rose. Through the years, we transform from the bud of childhood to the bloom of womanhood. This book is a resource for guiding girls through this transformation by talking through important aspects of our lives. There are chapters on character building, relationships, goals and dreams, etc. I received my own copy of this wonderful book when I was a pre-teen and have read the entire book several times and gone back to just a chapter or two on numerous occasions. Even as I have started into the bloom of womanhood, I have found I still learn and draw encouragement from this gem of a classic. Whether it is being read aloud to younger girls or read to oneself, everyone reading Beautiful Girlhood will be able to glean from it and come away encouraged and refreshed as they face the next stage of the blooming and growing process.