The
New Testament –
J.B. Phillips version
For
the past two years I read four-five chapters of the KJV Bible daily,
using Robert Murray M'Cheynes excellent system, which begins in four
books: Genesis, Ezra, Matthew and Acts. I really enjoyed the way the
different sections fit together, giving new insights.
However,
after two years, I felt I was “choking” and trying to consume too
much “food” on a daily basis.
So,
this year I decided to just read slowly through J.B. Phillips version
of the New Testament.
I'm reading only ONE chapter a day now, which has given me time to do
my loved word studies again, in places which catch my attention and
interest!
Orley
Farm by Anthony
Trollope
I
finished Orley Farm
recently, after about four months of reading sporadically as I had
time. It's a long novel, written in 1862, back when novels encouraged
morality, not immorality. It was interesting to read how simliar the
English courts of law were at that time, to our courts today. The
author of this book, Anthony Trollope, must have observed people very
closely, for he makes some excellent observations about
relationships. Dating did not exist in 1862. When a man took interest
in a woman, he spoke to her parents, and offered her “his hand”
in marriage – it was more straight-forward and honest, I think,
than what happens today. Intentions were clearly known and
understood.
This
book contains some amazing insights into different kinds of
relationships. It shows how people really desired to maintain a good
name and reputation. Losing a good name meant terrible things for
entire families.
Dove
by Robin Lee Graham with Derek L.T. Gill
Dove
was sent to me by my sister last year, as a gift. Sailing is in our
blood, our great-grandfather having sailed around the world on a
three-masted schooner in the late 1800's. I like going adventuring
through books. While sailing alone sounds pretty lonely, this book
makes one want to go to sea, for real, and stay away awhile. Since
reading the book, I learned online that author Robin Graham's
marriage lasted, and he became a land-lubber who builds houses.
Rees
Howells Intercessor
by Norman Grubb
I
reread some of the ending chapters of Rees
Howells Intercessor a
few weeks ago. It greatly encouraged me, seeing how he lived
regularly by faith, having no steady increase. He would pray, gain
direction, and then make offers on properties – while having NO
cash on hand, just knowing he'd heard clearly from the Lord!
Someone
once asked him, “How do you recognize the LORD's
voice?” He replied, “How do you recognize your mother's voice?”
Shortly
thereafter, I set off for NYC in March traveling by “a thread”
with $135 in spending money in my pocket. I arrived home three weeks
later with $145 – $10 more than what I had when I'd left home! Now
that is what I call a miracle. It was a really blessed three weeks. I
attended seven prayer gatherings; five art galleries or exhibits; and
doors of opportunity were opened to me!
Somehow, I feel my life just
changed, and will never really be the same!
I
didn't know much about Intercessory Prayer before reading this book.
Rees would pray for poor people, and then only eat two meals a day -
putting himself in the position of someone who doesn't have enough
money to eat three meals a day.
When
he prayed for a woman with tuberculosis, he gained the symptoms of
having bad lungs! Again, he put himself in the place of the one he
felt called to pray for, and suffered with them. And they were often
healed!
I
gave this book to a friend last summer, and she re-dedicated her life
to the Lord after reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone!
How
to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
by A.W. Tozer
A.W.
Tozer's writings have been influencing me for years now. This book,
How to Be Filled with
the Holy Spirit is a
collection of four sermons he gave on the Holy Spirit.
He
says the older he gets, the more he reads of the Bible, and less
books about
the Bible.
Tozer
says the Holy Spirit's presence can be “cultivated” - just as any
other person's presence can be.
We
are to be engrossed with honoring Jesus Christ. “If any man serve
me, him will my Father honor.” John 12:26.
And
walk in Righteousness.
And
keep our thoughts a clean sanctuary. Tozer says, “To God, our
thoughts are things”.
Know
Him in the Word - through meditating on it.
“Cultivate
the art of recognizing the presence of the Spirit everywhere.”
Marriage
Covenant
The Biblical Secret for a
Love That Lasts
by Derek Prince
Derek
Prince's books have also been influencing my thinking for a long
time. In this book, he says we are not only in covenant with a
spouse, if married, but we are also called as Christians to be in
covenant with God's People and with God Himself.
Land
titles used to say, “to have and to hold, from this day forward”
- very similar to
a traditional wedding covenant.
Because
covenants differ from contracts, I like to learn all I can about
them. I will need to reread this little book, it was good but I can't
really remember more than that!
For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." ~ Isaiah 54:5
I
do know, from my own study, when God says He is our “husband” here, He means to "marry, rule over, possess, own", in Hebrew.
Being owned by anyone bothers some people, but to me it is a comfort. For God takes good care of His possessions! It is a sign of our safety and His devoted care, to be husbanded by someone perfect! Someone who first initiated covenants, so He knows all about them.
Unlike a Contract, based on distrust and limited liability, which can be broken by one or more parties, a Biblical Covenant is Unbreakable, built on Trust and Unlimited Responsibility.
I trust the Dependability of our Father in Heaven implicitly, for He is completely trustworthy!
Biblical
Psychology
A
Treasure-chest for Christian Counsellors
by
Oswald Chambers
Biblical
Psychology is
the book I carried around for years, in case I had a spare moment to
read something. I finally finished reading it, after starting over
more than once. It's now out-of-print and so I wish I'd left it home.
It's an excellent little book, describing Oswald's thoughts on the
difference between the Spirit and Soul, and many other insightful
gems.
Keeping
the Sabbath Wholly
by
Marva J. Dawn
Keeping
the Sabbath Wholly by
Marva J. Dawn is a great book, too. She speaks about how we can
better revere God's Holy Day, by truly ceasing from work in every
way, resting from all types of labor, embracing, and feasting.
She
gives examples from her own life.
I
find setting aside a regular day each week for rest is so important
to resetting my body, mind and spirit. I look forward to resting and
communing with others, and the renewing you feel is a big key to
maintaining spiritual, mental and physical health!
I
especially like what Marva said about “embracing intentionality.”
Making special meals, dressing with extra care, and thinking of ways
to enjoy fellowship with others, beauty and God's creation on this
day!
I'm
grateful for all of my Seventh-Day Adventist friends, who I
worshipped with for three months when I lived in New Jersey, eight
years ago!
The
Sabbath Rest is Beautiful. We can thankfully enter the Rest of Christ
on a daily basis, for He became and is that Rest and that Peace, on
our behalf!
Breaking
Bread
The
Spiritual Significance of Food
by
Sara Covin Juengst
I
first read Breaking
Bread
by Sara Covin Juengst about thirty years ago...I was reminded of it
and bought it again through ABE books for less than $4.
From
my experience, Hospitality – inviting strangers and friends into
your home - is one of the most powerful life-changers for bonding
people together.
I
love how our Father uses food to show love, and to help family,
friends and strangers unite and understand one another better!
If
you enjoy hosting guests, or want ideas to do it better, this is a
very good book.
_____________________
I've been thinking,
writing and resting after recently living a whirlwind “social
life” for three weeks in bustling NYC.
Happy Spring everyone!
Your friend on a dirt back road in Vermont,
Elise
