God is Great! God is Good! Though in the midst of suffering some may doubt that. But our Sovereign Omnipotent Father sees the end from the beginning, and knows what we do not, and works all things for good to those who are the called and love Him.

90 Day’s of God’s Goodness: Daily Reflections that Shine Light in Personal Darkness (book or audio) is a typical devotional book of short daily reflections consisting of a Scripture Passage, a true story illustrating its application, and a short prayer. But this devotional is a book of God’s goodness, even through suffering in the lives of His children. It is about the Ultimate Good from the One who sees not just the trial of the moment, but the eternal outcome of it.

I enjoy Randy Alcorn’s writing, and this book was no exception. Hearing of others who have gone through the fire and come out refined is an encouragement to all who walk through any kind of suffering. It also shows how light our suffering may be compared to what others have triumphed through. God indeed is Good! God is Great!

I listened to the audio version of this book, which may prove to be a perfect format for a daily devotional for some as they get ready for the day. If you are looking for a daily devotional that will strengthen your faith, this is a good one.

I reviewed this audiobook as part of the christianaudio Reviewers Program. You can find this audiobook here.

If you’d prefer a print version, check this link (for 33% off) or for ebook click here.

SDG - For God's Glory Alone, For Me & My House, Me & My House ministries ~ Discipleship for Life!

I came across this today. I really like the description. If you’ve read it, let me know what you think. If not, and you think it sounds good too, you can get it from our partner, MonergismBooks.

Developing a Christian Mind (New Revised Version) Oliver Barclay
What happens when we try to love God with all our mind, as well as with all our heart and soul and strength? Does it mean that we have to become intellectuals? Certainly not! It will have an intellectual aspect for intellectual people, of course, but in the New Testament it is something very practical and down to earth. Because our minds are involved in the simplest decisions, the challenge to develop a ‘Christian mind’ is something we cannot escape, being either obedient or disobedient in the matter. Either we try to please God by loving him with all our mind, or we avoid this responsibility, hoping that somehow a mindless love is good enough.

SDG,

Lisa @ Me and My House

I am SO excited to find this. I’ve been looking for an audio of the Institutes, to help me through those days when I’ve just done too much reading already and my eyes can’t do anymore. Princeton Theological Seminary is podcasting the daily readings, (click on Add to iTunes there, or just use this direct link to the iTunes podcast.)

You can also go online there and read or listen to them on your computer, (by clicking today’s date or Listen to Audio,) or read them on your mobile – go to http://www2.ptsem.edu/ConEd/mobile/ on your mobile/iTouch/iPhone and add a bookmark or shortcut icon.

Just a few more ways to make the Institutes, more accessible.

SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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I was made aware last week that 2009 is the 200th birthday of Darwin, and the 150th anniversary of Origins of the Species. “Atheists are planning worldwide celebrations.”

I had become aware several months ago that 2009 is the 500th birthday of John Calvin. Christian believers worldwide are planning their own celebration.

Both men were highly influential to our nation. Calvin set forth the biblical foundations that our nation was founded and built on. Darwin the ideas that are instrumental in the destruction of our nation today.

I think I’ll stick with my reading of Calvin‘s positive influence.

SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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Well, it’s on my bedstand and I’ve given it a start. I don’t generally do well at other’s "challenges" because, well, Life comes along, and my priorities aren’t those imposed by someone else’s schedule, so although "A man’s heart deviseth his way" "THE LORD directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

By God’s will and grace, I will finish this, though I’m not going to promise it will be on the same "reading schedule" proposed. That is only a good goal to aim for. I started early and read ahead of schedule a bit, knowing I need a jumpstart.

I’ve not read deeply of Calvin before, but have read bits and pieces, and also read those both for and against him. As in any historical study, I believe we need to "go to the source", read (listen to) the man himself before making judgments.

I adhere to the "doctrines of grace" and believe much of "reformed" teaching to be Biblical teaching, but don’t label myself a "Calvinist." I am not a follower (disciple) of Calvin, for at this point that would be a blind following in ignorance. I haven’t read enough of the man’s own writings to know if that would be, "You follow me as I follow Christ."

In as much as he "follows Christ" I will learn from him. I will take all I read and ask "what saith the Lord?" comparing it with Scripture itself, as with all studies.

So far a couple of things have impressed upon me as I’ve read. Calvin’s time was much like our own. There was much ignorance of the Bible, what it really says as a whole, taking the things they heard that it said, without studying the Scriptures themselves. A cry arose, Sola Scriptura! That same cry needs to arise today. We need, as they did, to know and follow the Scriptures and to compare all else to them.

Calvin endeavored to lead those that were ignorant of the Scriptures to the Scriptures, to disciple those that were desiring to study to lead God’s people. His "object in this work" being "to prepare and train candidates for the sacred office, for the study of the sacred volume, that they may both have an easy introduction to it, and be able to prosecute it with unfaltering step."

procecute: "To follow or pursue with a view to reach, execute or accomplish;"

"By the blessing of God, my most ardent desire has been to advance his kingdom, and promote the public good."

"The zeal of those whose cause I undertook,
Has swelled a short defense into a book."

quotes from "To the Reader" Institutes of the Christian Religion

Get the Reading Schedule (email: just ask for it) to read along with Blogging the Institutes. You can also sign up for the RSS Feed or email updates to stay abreast.

Can’t invest in the book right now? Get a free pdf download copy (or read online) from Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here

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Need more motivation to read Calvin’s Institutes in 2009? Ligon Duncan gives 10 Reasons.

SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here

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No, not me. Beginning in January Reformation21 will be blogging their way through John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. I’ll be trying to keep up the reading, but doubt I’ll be able to do regular blogging on it.

If you aren’t familiar with the Institutes, don’t let that word “religion” throw you. It has only become a “bad” word in our culture. (See below.) Yes, there is hypocritical religion that is man’s way of trying to reach for/appease/become God. But Christianity is a religion. Difference is, it is TRUE religion. It includes the working out of what God has wrought in our hearts – IOW, both faith and practice.

This book was a necessary work in its time, when people were ignorant of true religion (worshipping the One True God aright, from a heart that had been transformed by Him) just as it is now, in a time that is much the same, when everyone does what is right in their own eyes. This is a “must read, must study, must do” according to my friend Joan. It will truly help you in your Christian walk.

Email r21@alliancenet.org for a reading schedule, and sign up for the RSS feed or email subscription of the blog posts here.

Purchase Institutes at a great price here.

Institutes of the Christian Religion By John Calvin, translated by Henry Beveridge / Hendrickson PublishersA colossal milestone of Christian thought—at an irresistible price! Calvin’s sweeping outline of biblical faith stands among a select group of books that truly shaped the course of church history. Newly re-typeset for clarity, this single volume translated by Henry Beveridge offers a more affordable edition of one of the last millennium’s must-have works. 1100 pages, hardcover from Hendrickson.

1. Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man’s obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man’s accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety; for the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion.

2. Religion, as distinct from theology, is godliness or real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men, in obedience to divine command, or from love to God and his law. James 1.

3. Religion, as distinct from virtue, or morality, consists in the performance of the duties we owe directly to God, from a principle of obedience to his will. Hence we often speak of religion and virtue, as different branches of one system, or the duties of the first and second tables of the law.

Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.

4. Any system of faith and worship. In this sense, religion comprehends the belief and worship of pagans and Mohammedans, as well as of Christians; any religion consisting in the belief of a superior power or powers governing the world, and in the worship of such power or powers. Thus we speak of the religion of the Turks, of the Hindoos, of the Indians, &c. as well as of the Christian religion. We speak of false religion, as well as of true religion.

SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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Richard Sibbes was one of the most influential preachers/ theologians  of the early 1600′s. He only authorized 3 volumes of his works to be published, 2 of those being collections of sermons. In  The Bruised Reed, one of those collections, we see the "foundation and essence of his ministry. "Richard Sibbes writes and preaches as a man constrained and compelled by the love of Christ. He cannot know enough about Christ. For more than anything else, Christ defines his existence. And he has found Christ to be the source of everything good and needful." "His words carry with them the wisdom of one who has spent many hours at the feet of his master. He preaches as one whose sins have been forgiven, whose heart has been filled with Good News. And he speaks with the peace of one who knows what the final outcome of the battle will be". This book was written "at the desire, and for the good of weaker Christians," and is the first in the 2008 Puritan Reading Challenge.

I just found out about this challenge last week, so am only a little over half way through The Bruised Reed so far. I am hoping to get "on track" sometime next week and begin The Mystery of Providence for February. But I will post at least once my thoughts/notes on The Bruised Reed.

Quotes from  Richard Sibbes and The Bruised Reed by J. William Black, reprinted on Fire and Ice.

Yesterday I challenged you to to read dead guys. (See yesterday’s post or the Puritan Reading Challenge image in the sidebar.) Perhaps you were unconvinced. You see no reason why anyone would want to do this.

I gave you one good reason, spiritual maturity. Fluff reading (or non-reading) keeps Christians as babes on milk. They need to grow and enjoy a full well-rounded meal. That should really be enough. But for a nice list of a few good reasons, read Colin Adam’s 20 Reasons to Read (Good Christian Books). And I’ll try to get my own post written soon on why I think reading dead guys is important.

SDG,
Lisa

““Fluff” is the enemy of every Christian seeking to become spiritually mature.” (Stephen Newell)

I’m taking a challenge that I’m praying for grace to complete. I have several books by Puritan authors, but there are many more I’d like to read. To help keep me consistent, I’ve joined the 2008 Puritan Reading Challenge.

I am going to try to keep up with the reading schedule of one book per month, from their list (below), as well as writing at least one blog post about each one. I’d also like to re-begin my Valley of Vision (alternate link – leather bound) daily reading along with this too, but that may be a bit too ambitious.

If you’d like to join the challenge or read more about it, click the image here or in the sidebar.

List of books: (if you want more info on the books, or for links to read each on line – or download pdf or listen to audio – check our webpage here.)

January: The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes (128 pp)
February: The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (221 pp)
March: The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson (252 pp)
April: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks (253 pp)
May: Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ by John Bunyan (225 pp) – Click Monergism image link below to search and order.
June: The Mortification of Sin by John Owen (130 pp) – this link not the Banner of Truth edition. Click here The Mortification of Sin to order Banner of Truth ed.
July: A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge (287 pp)
August: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (228 pp)
September: The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton (224 pp)
October: The Christian’s Great Interest by William Guthrie (207 pp)
November: The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter (256 pp) – on audio
December: A Sure Guide to Heaven by Joseph Alleine (148 pp)