Book Review: New Home for Lily

A New Home for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. 2013. Revell. 272 pages.

I really LOVED the first novel in this series. I enjoyed this second novel as well. In this second book, Lily is having to adjust to her family's new home in Pennsylvania. This Amish community does things slightly differently, and so it's an adjustment for the whole family at times. (The mother has to make her family new clothes so they'll blend in with their new community.) The book continues to focus on the little details of Lily's life: going to school, learning new things, memorizing Scripture verses and poetry, school recitals and events, life on the farm, getting goats, making jello, etc. There are, of course, a few big events too: such as the birth of ANOTHER baby brother, etc. The focus is on family (grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers, parents) and on faith. I have two favorite chapters. At one point Lily discovers she can make and sell her own stickers: draw pictures, apply glue, let it dry, etc. Her primary customer is her grandmother... My other favorite chapter is when Lily decides to help cook for a family gathering, and she decides to make jello.

The book is very enjoyable! I am really enjoying this series and can't wait to read more!      

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

My Year with Spurgeon, Week 5

This week's quotes:

In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained on which standeth the celestial city; he seeth himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with Him, and made to sit together with Him on His throne, even as He has overcome and has sat down with the Father on His throne. The thought of this future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present. The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning, January 29

Consider this, believer. You have no right to heaven in yourself: your right lies in Christ. If you are pardoned, it is through Hisblood; if you are justified, it is through His righteousness; if you are sanctified, it is because He is made of God unto you sanctification; if you shall be kept from falling, it will be because you are preserved in Christ Jesus; and if you are perfected at the last, it will be because you are complete in Him. Thus Jesus is magnified--for all is in Him and by Him; thus the inheritance is made certain to us--for it is obtained in Him; thus each blessing is the sweeter, and even heaven itself the brighter, because it is Jesus our Beloved "in whom" we have obtained all. Where is the man who shall estimate our divine portion? Weigh the riches of Christ in scales, and His treasure in balances, and then think to count the treasures which belong to the saints. Reach the bottom of Christ's sea of joy, and then hope to understand the bliss which God hath prepared for them that love Him. Overleap the boundaries of Christ's possessions, and then dream of a limit to the fair inheritance of the elect. "All things are yours, for ye are Christ's and Christ is God's." ~ Charles Spurgeon, Evening, January 30

It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning, January 31

Christ Jesus is the way of life, and He is a plain way, a pleasant way, a way suitable for the tottering feet and feeble knees of trembling sinners. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Evening, January 31

The time when Christians begin to sing in the ways of the Lord is when they first lose their burden at the foot of the Cross. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning, February 1

Sin will yield to nothing less potent than the blood of Him whom God hath set forth as a propitiation. What a blessing that there is the one way of pardon! Why should we seek another? ~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning, February 2

The only restorative for a guilty conscience is a sight of Jesus suffering on the cross. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning, February 2

The Father loved us in and from the beginning. Here is a theme for daily contemplation. The eternal purpose to redeem us from our foreseen ruin, to cleanse and sanctify us, and at last to glorify us, was of infinite antiquity, and runs side by side with immutable love and absolute sovereignty. The covenant is always described as being everlasting, and Jesus, the second party in it, had His goings forth of old; He struck hands in sacred suretyship long ere the first of the stars began to shine, and it was in Him that the elect were ordained unto eternal life. Thus in the divine purpose a most blessed covenant union was established between the Son of God and His elect people, which will remain as the foundation of their safety when time shall be no more. Is it not well to be conversant with these ancient things? Is it not shameful that they should be so much neglected and even rejected by the bulk of professors? If they knew more of their own sin, would they not be more ready to adore distinguishing grace? ~ Charles Spurgeon, Evening, February 2

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Beatles, God, & The Bible (2012)

The Beatles, God, & The Bible. Ray Comfort. 2012. WND Books. 180 pages.

I definitely enjoyed reading Ray Comfort's newest book. The book is both a biographical overview of the Beatles AND a gospel presentation. The message of this one is simple: talent, fame, and ego don't matter a bit, won't matter at all on judgment day. Every person needs--desperately NEEDS a Savior. John Lennon (and the other Beatles) were/are no different. What makes this book interesting and unique is that it gathers together quotes from all four members--quotes through the decades--about God, Jesus Christ, Christianity, religion, spirituality, afterlife (heaven/hell), etc. So as Comfort is providing readers with an overview of their lives, he's incorporating various quotes reflecting their positions on spirituality and God. I've read plenty of biographies on the Beatles, but this is the first that is examining this aspect of their lives in such detail.

Several chapters focus on the murder of John Lennon and provide information on his murderer. Comfort notes how Lennon's murderer allegedly was a "born again" Christian. Comfort pointing out that people may think they're saved, but still be lost. He discusses the gospel in great detail. Not the easy gospel, but the whole gospel starting with the law and man's great need for a Savior. If you're familiar with Comfort's evangelism efforts, you know just what to expect.

The chapter titles:

• The Beatles: A Mini History
• John Lennon and God
• John's Faith
• Creation, Sam, and Lennon
• The Sins of John Lennon
• The Murder of John Lennon
• John's Dilemma
• John's Bad Rap
• John Lennon's Murderer
• Murderer and Christian
• The Tale of Sir Paul
• Paul McCartney and God
• George's Story
• George Harrison and His "Sweet Lord"
• The Legendary Ringo Starr

Quote:

An atheist once said that John Lennon's famous song "Imagine" is an "anthem for atheism." But think about it for a moment. If I said, "Imagine there's no New York, it's easy if you try," I'm saying that New York is a real place, but let's imagine (or pretend) that it isn't. So the song is actually acknowledging the existence of Heaven and Hell as real places.  The realities of Heaven or Hell don't disappear just because we imagine they don't exist. (206)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review: January 27-February 2

This week I read:

ESV

• Romans 

RSV

• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John

RV85

• Romans

HCSB

• Romans 

NASB

• Romans

NKJV

• Romans

CEB

• Romans

TMB

• Exodus 1-4
• Ruth
• Psalms 1-41
• Song of Solomon
• Jeremiah 1-6
• Micah
• Matthew 1-20
• Romans
• 1 Corinthians

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

30 Days of Romans, February Goal

Week one: January 27-February 2

1. ESV
2. Revised Version, 1885
3. HCSB
4. NASB
5. NKJV
6. CEB
7. TMB (Third Millennium Bible, slight update to KJV)

Week two: February 3-9

8. ESV
9. ESV
10. ESV
11. ESV
12. ESV
13. ESV
14. NKJV
15. NASB
16. NLT

Week three: February 10-16

17. ESV
18. ESV
19. Living
20. NASB
21. HCSB
22. NIV
23. KJV

Week four: February 17-23

24. NKJV
25. Living
26. HCSB
27. HCSB
28. ESV
29. NIV
30. ESV



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

February Goals

In February my goal is to read Romans thirty times. If I only manage twenty-eight times, I'll still be quite pleased, however. I plan to read it in various translations. But my main translation will probably be the ESV. I also plan to continue reading some in other parts of the Bible. I may not be spending as much time in the Old Testament (Exodus, 1 Samuel, Jeremiah, etc.) but I want to continue progressing in my Bible reading.

I'd like to read ten Charles Spurgeon sermons:

1. Beatitudes
2. God is Justified...
3. Believing on Jesus and Its Counterfeits
4. The Betrayal
5. The Bible
6. Search the Scriptures
7. How To Read the Bible
8. The Talking Book 
9. Thus Saith the Lord, Or, the Book of Common Prayer
10. Understandest What Thou Readest
11. God's Law in Man's Heart
12. Revelation and Conversion
13. Thou Art the Blessed of the Lord
14. Shoes of Iron and Strength Sufficient
15. Blessing for Blessing
16. Daily Blessings for God's People

I'd also like to continue on with Foundations. I'm not sure if my goal should be six, seven, or eight...

• Knowledge of God
• One in Essence
• Three In Persons
• Incommunicable Attributes
• Communicable Attributes
• The Will of God
• Providence

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

February's Booklist

These are the books I'm hoping to read in the month of February.

A New Home for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. 2013. Revell. 272 pages.

Rebekah. Jill Eileen Smith. 2013. Revell. 320 pages.

Comforts From Romans: Celebrating the Gospel One Day at A Time by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick. 2013. Crossway. 160 pages.

The Beatles, God, & The Bible. Ray Comfort. 2012. WND Books. 180 pages.

One Minute After You Die. Erwin Lutzer. 1997. Moody Publishers. 192 pages.

Your Eternal Reward. Erwin Lutzer. 1998. Moody Publishers. 171 pages.

Gospel of God: Romans (Commentary) R.C. Sproul. 1999. Christian Focus. 252 pages.

All of Grace. Charles Spurgeon. 108 pages.

Jesus + Nothing = Everything. Tullian Tchividjian. 2011. Crossway. 220 pages.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible