My Year with Spurgeon: Week #31

It is a glorious fact, that prayers are noticed in heaven. ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

The shepherd of our souls rejoices in the vision of his sheep securely folded, he triumphs in spirit when he brings a wanderer home. ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

One prayer coming from the soul is better than a myriad cold readings. As for prayers that spring from the mouth and head only, God abhors them; he loves those that come deep from the heart. ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

He who communes with God in secret, may be trusted in public. ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

The mere reading of a book of daily devotion will not prove you a child of God; if you pray in private, then you have a sincere religion; a little religion, if sincere, is better than mountains of pretense. ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

Praying will make you leave off sinning, or sinning will make you leave off praying. Prayer in the heart proves the reality of conversion. A man may be sincere, but sincerely wrong. ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

Every now and then I get a letter from somebody or other taking me to task for preaching election. All the answer I can give is, “There it is in the Bible; go and ask my Master why he put it there. I cannot help it. I am only a serving man, and I tell you the message from above. If I were a footman, I should not alter my master’s message at the door. I happen to be an ambassador of heaven, and I dare not alter the message I have received. If it is wrong, send up to head-quarters. There it is, and I cannot alter it.” ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

Christians, would you be happy? Be much in prayer. Would ye be victorious? Be much in prayer. ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

The reason we have not more true religion now, is because we have not more prayer. ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

Go home and say to your minister, “Sir, we must have more prayer.” Urge the people to more prayer. Have a prayer-meeting, even if you have it all to yourself; and if you are asked how many were present, you can say, “Four.” “Four! How so?” “Why, there was myself, and God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; and we have had a rich and real communion together.” We must have an outpouring of real devotion, or else what is to become of many of our churches? ~ Charles Spurgeon, "Paul's First Prayer"

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: God Knows My Name

God Knows My Name: Never Forgotten, Forever Loved. Beth Redman. 2010. David C. Cook. 192 pages. [Source: Bought]

Beth Redman shares her personal story in God Knows My Name. The contents: "God Knows My Name," "God Knows My Past," "God Shapes My Character," "God Sees My Choices," "God Has Not Forgotten Me," "God is My Helper," "God Is My Defender," and  "God Is My Restorer." She shares life-lessons with readers, messages that are well-connected to various scripture passages.

I liked this one. It isn't a genre I usually read, I tend to read more theology. But I think it is an encouraging read that many readers will be able to enjoy.

Favorite quotes:

I simply want to shout out that God heals, restores, has plans for you, and utterly adores you! If we can truly breathe in that truth, we become free to live, free to give, and free to love and accept both others and ourselves.

In direct contrast, God says that He has a name for us. Where we feel worthless and insignificant He bestows worth and significance upon us when He calls us by name and chooses us for His glory.

Yet God didn’t just make you, then say, “What a great job,” and leave you on a shelf. No, He pursues a relationship with you, He gives His life for you, that He may know you daily, deeply, and eternally.

Listen closely: Isaiah 61:3 says that He bestows on us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes,” and Psalm 103:4 says that God “redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” Anyone wearing a crown holds her head up high. She does not have an identity problem. She has been given honor and dignity.

God speaks worth over you. He declares His love for you. You are precious in His sight.

A heart open to hearing God’s voice is a heart close to breakthrough. The Word is truth, and the truth brings freedom.

A heart open to hearing God’s voice is a heart close to breakthrough. The Word is truth, and the truth brings freedom.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Let Me Fall (2013)

Let Me Fall: The Love Story Between God and His Dimwitted Daughter. Beth Pensinger. 2013. Peracto Books. 226 pages. [Source: Review Copy Provided by Author]

There is a fire that threatens to consume me. It's kindled by romance, stoked by story, and it burns deep within this idealistic heart of mine. If I had attended an addiction recovery meeting in the spring of 2009, my intro would've gone something like this: Hello, I'm Beth. I'm twenty-eight years old. And although I've been happily married for almost eleven years, I'm obsessed with Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series.

Let Me Fall is a personal, creative allegory about a woman falling in love...with God. I appreciated Beth Pensinger's honesty. Throughout the book--when she's not crafting an allegory--she is sharing very personal details about her life past and present. Included among the details is the author's tale about how she became addicted to romance novels. She writes,

"I didn't have to memorize the page numbers of the enthralling exhibitions because the bindings of each book were well-worn in those locales...The funny thing is, I would completely justify my dirty reading... at least I wasn't running around having sex. No, I was not. But I had become addicted to reading about it. I could argue that my addiction was not a horribly bad thing. I mean I wasn't hurting anyone, other than myself. I wasn't even hurting myself physically. But reading those scenes was like consuming an exquisite dessert and then discovering a weird aftertaste. Naturally, I had to keep eating more and more in order to cleanse my palate of the byproduct--introducing new and exotic flavors one after another. If someone examined me, they would never have imagined the vivid scenes occupying my thoughts." (22-3)

Her addiction started young. The author was a Christian who attended church regularly. The author shares about keeping a prayer journal, revealing her pleading prayers that she wanted to love God more. At no time would she have denied a belief in God. But sin's hold on her was strong. The truth is SIN HAS A STRONG HOLD ON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. Pensinger is brave enough to share her story with others. I'm not sure Christians are always willing to address the issue, to admit that Christians can definitely struggle with pornographic addictions--men AND women. I think there is some reluctance to admit that romance novels are addictive and dangerous...for the Christian reader at least. (Soap operas could easily be included as well. Though the author does not mention them.)

My favorite part of Let Me Fall was Pensinger's account of one of her "aha" moments. It is an allegory, so she has God speaking to her directly--in quotes.

"Whoa, easy there," said the form standing over me. "You're in rough shape."
He was right. I leaned back against the cabinet doors and took a shaky breath. My chest felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it.
"Who--who are you and what happened?" I asked.
"You did ask for My help," He said, and I gasped with recognition.
"Despair did a number on you." .... "You spiritually flat-lined."
I wouldn't have if You'd come sooner, I thought, but there was no way I was going to voice that to Him. Even though I was pretty sure He knew I'd thought it. So instead I mumbled, "What the heck is wrong with me?"
"You're not in love with Me."
"I--What?"
"You heard right. The crux of your problem is the fact that you're not in love with Me."
I had the audacity to get angry. "Forgive me, but how is it possible to fall in love with someone I usually can't see, hear, or touch in the flesh?"
He raised an eyebrow and gave a half-smile. "You didn't seem to have a problem doing exactly that with a fictional vampire."
My lips pursed. "Well played," I muttered. (31-2)

I think Pensinger's point is an excellent one. The problem isn't having desires, of wanting pleasure, of wanting to be happy or satisfied. OUR problem is that our desires are not focused on the ONLY one who can ultimately fulfill those needs and desires. (John Piper writes of this in Desiring God.)

I don't read many allegories, they can be a bit tricky. But I did enjoy this one. I thought it creatively addresses some of the difficulties of the Christian life. But it would have also been nice to have practical real advice as well. What steps did she take in real life?

I appreciated Let Me Fall. I appreciated the author's honesty and humility. She shares a personal story in a very creative way. I think it's a very relevant book as well.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review: July 28 - August 3

KJV

• Ecclesiastes
• Lamentations
• Mark
• Galatians

Jubilee Bible

• Psalms 1-30

NKJV

• Titus
• Philemon
• Hebrews
• James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Wow! Watch This!

I loved this video!


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Wits' End Corner

"Wits' End Corner" by Antoinette Wilson

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Christian, with troubled brow'
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now'

Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone'
Remember at Wits End Corner
Is where God’s power is shown.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Blinded with wearying pain
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain.

Bruised through the constant suffering
Dizzy and dazed, and numb
Remember at Wits End Corner,
Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Your work before you spread.
Or lying begun, unfinished
And pressing on heart and head.

Longing for strength to do it.
Stretching out trembling hands
Remember at “Wits End Corner”
The burden bearer stand.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Yearning for those you love,
Longing and praying and watching,
Pleading their cause above,

Trying to lead them to Jesus
Wondering if you’ve been true'
He whispers at “Wits End Corner”
“I’ll win them as I won you.”

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Then you’re just in the very spot.
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who faileth not!

No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved
But only at Wits End Corner
Is the God who is able, “proved.”

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

August's Booklist

Love Finds A Home. Janette Oke. 1989. Bethany House. 240 pages. [Source: Owned for decades]

Weakness Is The Way. J.I. Packer. 2013. Crossway. 128 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

The Romance of Grace. Jim McNeely III. 2013. Libertary Co. 148 pages. [Source: Bought]

Which Bible Translation Should I Use? A Comparison of 4 Major Recent Versions. Edited by Andreas J. Kostenberger. 2012. B&H. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]

Gods and Kings. Lynn Austin. 2005. Bethany House. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]

Prophet by Frank Peretti. 1992/2004. Crossway. 416 pages. [Source: Bought]

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible