July Check-In

What Bible(s) did I read from this month? NIV Life Insights Bible, KJV Daily Chronological Bible

How many books by J.C. Ryle did I read this month? None. I've been reading Expository Thoughts on Matthew.
Favorite quote(s) by J.C. Ryle:

The Word is the sword of the Spirit. We shall never fight a good fight, if we do not use it as our principal weapon. The Word is the lamp for our feet. We shall never keep the king's highway to heaven, if we do not journey by its light. It may well be feared, that there is not enough Bible-reading among us. It is not sufficient to have the Book. We must actually read it, and pray over it ourselves. It will do us no good, if it only lies still in our houses. We must be actually familiar with its contents, and have its texts stored in our memories and minds. Knowledge of the Bible never comes by intuition. It can only be obtained by diligent, regular, daily, attentive, wakeful reading. 

Am I keeping up with my Morning and Evening devotional by Charles Spurgeon? YES. I am almost shocked.
Favorite quote(s) by Charles Spurgeon:

If you can wait for Christ, and be patient in the hope of having fellowship with Him at some distant season—you will never have fellowship at all; for the heart that is fitted for communion is a hungering and a thirsting heart.

How many books by R.C. Sproul did I read this month? 1

•  The Invisible Hand: Do All Things Really Work for Good. R.C. Sproul. 1996. 220 pages. [Source: Bought]

Favorite quote(s) by R.C. Sproul:

In prayer we have the opportunity to learn of the character of the Father. Indeed, prayer is one of the most effective means we have to discern the invisible hand of Providence. The more we understand the character of God, the easier it is for us to see His hand at work in our lives. 

Did I read any Puritans or Reformers this month: No. I've started reading William Gurnall's The Christian in Complete Armour and I'm still working on Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis.

Favorite quote(s):

The soul's strength to hear the Word is from God.  He opens the heart to attend, Acts 16:14, yea, he opens the understanding of the saint to receive the Word, so as to conceive what it means... He sits in heaven that teacheth hearts. ~ William Gurnall

Tears are a tribute due to our deceased friends. When the body is sown, it must be watered. But we must not grieve as those that have no hope (1Th 4:13); for we have a good hope through grace both concerning them and also concerning ourselves. ~ Matthew Henry

Did I complete at least one book from the TBR Pile challenge? Which one? No. But I am currently reading Heaven by Randy Alcorn, and the Living Insights Bible.


Other Christian nonfiction books read this month:

• The Preacher's Catechism. Lewis Allen. 2018. Crossway. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
•  Even Better Than Eden: Nine Ways the Bible's Story Changes Everything About Your Story. Nancy Guthrie. 2018. Crossway. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]
• Deliver Us From Evil. Ravi Zacharias. 1996. Thomas Nelson. 272 pages. [Source: Bought]
• Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church. John Onwuchekwa. 2018. Crossway. 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Christian fiction books read this month:

• With an Everlasting Love. Kay Arthur. 1995. Harvest House. 144 pages. [Source: Borrowed]
• More Than Meets the Eye. Karen Witemeyer. 2018. Bethany House. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]

How many "new" books did I read (published 2000-present)? 4
How many "old" books did I read (published before 2000)? 3
Which book was my overall favorite?
More Than Meets the Eye. Karen Witemeyer. 2018. Bethany House. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible