What Do You Feed Your Mind?

Another Interesting Book...

I found a book that's so interesting, thought provoking, and well written that I wonder it hasn't been republished in recent years. Here's the opening paragraph... 

"There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither bond nor free; there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." 

~ Galatians 3:28 ~

"Woman was the finishing grace of creation. Woman was the completeness of man's bliss in Paradise. Woman was the cause of sin and death to our world. Woman was the means of our redemption. Woman is the mother of the human race; our companion, counselor, and comforter in the pilgrimage of life; or our tempter, our scourge, and our destroyer. Our sweetest cup of earthly happiness, or our bitterest draught of sorrow, is mixed and administered by her hand. She not only renders smooth or rough our path to the grave, but helps or hinders our progress to immortality. In heaven we shall bless God for her aid in assisting us to reach that blissful state, or amid the torments of unutterable woe in another region, we shall deplore the fatality of her influence."

What Shall I Do To Be Saved?

"And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..."

~ Acts 16:29 ~

"Whatever you may gain, life will be a lost adventure, if you do not gain salvation. The condition of the poorest creature that ever yet obtained, though he had but a mere glimmering of intellect, just enough of understanding to apprehend the nature of repentance; although he lived out his days amidst the squalid poverty and repulsive scenes of a hovel or a workhouse; although he was unknown even among the poor; and although when he died he was buried in the pauper's grave on which no tear was ever shed - the condition of even this poor outcast of society is infinitely to be preferred to that of the most successful merchant, the greatest conqueror, the profoundest philosopher, or the sublimest poet that ever existed, if he lived and died without salvation. 

The lowest place in heaven is infinitely to be preferred to the highest place on earth.

Go on then to urge the question, "What shall I do to be saved?" Let no one turn your attention from this matter. As long as you covet this, your eye and heart and hope are fixed on the sublimest object in the universe; and when officious but ignorant friends would persuade you that you are too anxious, point them to the bottomless pit, and ask them if any one can be too anxious to escape its torments.

Point them to heaven, and ask them if any one can be too anxious to obtain its glories.

Point them to the cross of Christ, and ask them if any one can be too anxious to secure the object for which he died." 

~ John Angell James, Exerpt from 'The Anxious Inquirer After Salvation' ~ 

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

~ Romans 5:8 ~

A Moment In the Life of John Foxe

This is an except from the beginning of the book he wrote on the history of the Christian martyrs through out history. Below you will find the link if you want o read more about his life or read his book. This short story you are about to read is an amazing show of Providence. I hope you enjoy this little story.

"John Foxe traveled to London in the later part of the reign of Henry the VIII. Here, being unknown, he was in much distress, and was even reduced to the danger of being starved to death, had not Providence interfered in his favor, in the following manner:

One day as Mr. Foxe was sitting in St. Paul's church, exhausted with long fasting, a stranger took a seat by his side, and courteously saluting him, thrust a sum of money into his hand, and bade him cheer up his spirits; at the same time informing him, that in a few days new prospects would present themselves for his future substance. Who this stranger was, he could never learn; but at the end of three days, he received an invitation from the duchess of Richmond to undertake the tuition of the children of the earl of Surrey, who, together with his father the duke of Norfolk, was imprisoned in the Tower, by the jealousy and ingratitude of the king. The children thus confided to his care were, Thomas, who succeed to the dukedom; Henry, afterwards earl of Norfolk; and Jane, who became countess of Westmoreland. In the performance of his duties he fully satisfied the expectations of the duchess, their aunt."

John Foxe stayed with the eldest, Thomas until the reign of Queen Mary who was the notorious Bloody Mary.

To read further about John Foxe and his life you can go to this link : Foxe's Book of Martyrs

This is me in 1989 climbing the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral in London...

Crawling in the steps of great men... with my trusted binky of course! :) 

Different Types of Investments

What is an investment? Well when you look in the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language we see this, "The laying out of money in the purchase of some species of property, literally, the clothing of money with something." 

But we also know that beyond the physical realm of investments there are also the spiritual investments. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21.Then there is, I think, another investment, "Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction." Proverbs 10:14. "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinners is stored up for the righteous." Proverbs 13:22. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. Do you see it? The third investment is in your children and their spiritual life.So let's review the three investments we can make...

1 ~ Investing in stocks, bonds, property, or other alternatives to hard cash. 

2 ~ Investing all aspects of your life into Christ's eternal "trust fund".

3 ~ Investing your time, wisdom, knowledge, and God's Word into your children and your children's children.

So what made me think on the differing investments of life? Well, as I was working on reorganizing all my hope chest stuff, I realized that all my cookware and other home making necessities were really investments. They were things that would later save me and my future husband money, thus allowing us to use that money we saved for other expenses. In the same way, all the studies and research we do in our Bibles are another kind of investment. As we study and search the Scriptures God gives us wisdom, knowledge, and a deeper love for Him. Same goes for our children. The investment of all you've learned from God should be poured out on your children. Teaching them from the Scriptures and other godly books.That got me thinking. How could I better invest in my children, before I'm even married? Then I had, one way was getting books! But not just any genre. Rather good, godly books that would encourage my future children to grow in Christ. With some of the money I've made on yard work and selling flower bouquets this month I spent on some amazing books! At least I think they are are a wonderful additions to my library! 

Dragons: Legends &  Lore of Dinosaurs

Taking Back Astronomy
By Jason Lisle

The Wonder of it All: The Creation Account According to the Book of Job
By Steve Terrill

God's Thoughts After Him: Great Science Who Honored the Creator
By Christine Dao

John Calvin: Man of the Millennium
By Philip Vollmer

The Fossil Record: Unearthing Nature's History of Life
By John D. Morris & Frank J. Sherwin

The Life and Times of Archbishop James Ussher
By J. A. Carr

Start your own collection of good foundational books for your future family's library!

Here are some links to places with good Christian books: Vision Forum ,  Institute for Creation Research and Answers in Genesis

I'd love to hear from you and what books you've found through the years!

Dispelling the Myth

Stacy McDonald

(Excerpt from Passionate Housewives, Desperate For God)

'Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is price is far above rubies'

Proverbs 31:10

       In the 1970s, the pro-feminist bestseller Stepford Wives turned the traditional housewife into a mindless, husband-pleasing, yes-woman who was literally heartless—because, come to find out, she was actually a robot. The message was clear: a woman who faithfully serves her family, loves pleasing her husband, and joyfully takes care of her home (from home) is not a “real person,” but a contrived fantasy of her overbearing and selfish husband.

       Instead of treasuring women and properly utilizing their gifts, our culture has attempted to discard the beauty and uniqueness of biblical womanhood and create an emotionally androgynous power-woman whose worth is measured only by the degree of her ambition, the shape of her body, and her money-making potential. Rather than women renouncing this affront to their dignity, amazingly, the slaves are demanding their slavery!

       In place of the glorious picture painted for us in Scripture of the passionate keeper at home, a hollow counterfeit has emerged—a desperate image concocted and promoted by Hollywood stereotypes, magazine models, and women's self-help books.

      The rise of the Internet has only added to the confusion. As women have gravitated to the web en masse, they have met a flood of men and women of all backgrounds and persuasions propounding conflicting notions of what it means to be a woman. The cacophony of ideas and teachings that today's Christian women must wade through as they contemplate their rightful place in God's created order can be simply overwhelming.

      Of course, the challenge of determining the meaning of true biblical womanhood is not unique to our time. While today's women may be bombarded with more media steams than their counterparts of previous generations, biblical femininity has always been an unusual quality. This is what led king Lemuel's mother to observe, “who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10. Virtuous women have always been rare, and oh, how precious they are!

Books That You too Might Enjoy!

 I just noticed that it's been almost 3 years since I've posted some books that I've enjoyed reading. So here are a few that I've read and enjoyed! 

First up is Hostage Lands By Douglas Bond. Mr. Bond has done a wonderful job writing true Christian historical fiction. Not at all like those "Christian" historical fiction books that all focus around "true love" and how the guy can marry the girl. No, these books are using real times in history and bringing them to life with fictional characters. Also every book is full of Christ and His word. 

Prisoners of the Sea By Florence M. Kingsley is wonderful! I just finished this book last month and loved it. It's a fictional story of the Huguenot persecution in the 17th century. I don't want to give away the story line but a group of shipwrecked people end up on an island with mysteries around every corner. Who built the lovely château and gardens? Where did everyone go? It's a wonderful story of adventure, courage, trusting in God no matter what, and never compromising our Christian morals. 

The White Knights By W. E. Cule is another Lamplighter book that I have greatly enjoyed! It is about a young boy and his sister in England who's parents are missionaries in China. The boy, Horace was interested in knights, shining armor, and battles as most boys his age normally are. Through time he is mentored by the pastor in the town. Slowly he learns that he too can be a knight, righting human wrongs and saving the day. It's a wonderful book to read aloud to younger children as well as to just your self!

I must say this is my favorite poetry book of all time!
Worthy is the Lamb - Puritan Poetry In Honor of the Savior Edited by Dr. Don Kistler & Joel Rishel
This book has the best collection I have seen yet! Men that most have never even heard of, yet their writings are of such God honoring, praise rendering, soul humbling poems that one can't help but look to Christ through them! I have posted a few poems from this books in the past year and I hope to post more of them this year. If you don't have the book, get it! It's worth every cent!

Then there is Passionate Housewives, Desperate for  God By Stacy McDonald and Jenny Chancey. This book I'm in the middle of reading right now and enjoying it very much!  I hope to post some portions of it throughout this year. It covers many of the topics, from a true keeper at home to what women were made to be and do vs. men. All based on God's word.
It's easy to read and understand. If you're married, have children, going to have children, or even a young single women, this is a wonderful book of encouragement, reminders, and soul satisfying trues of the Christian woman's place, goals, and duties. 

I have enjoyed reading this book.  I have yet to read all of the articles that it contains. It has such a wonderful selection of subjects that anyone who wishes to grow stronger and delve deeper in the Word would enjoy it. I've posted a couple of the articles this last couple of weeks and later this year I'll make sure to add a couple more. 

       Do you have some of these books? Please feel free to comment on this post and share what you enjoyed about that book! 

Here are a few of the best places to get good true Christian books ~ 

       Lamplighter who sells only reprints of long lost Christian literature. They also just started making some of those books into dramatized audio books which I think are amazing! I have 4 of them so far and found them to be well acted, good sound, and very good in recreating the books their copied from. 

     Banner of Truth  is a wonderful resource for adding godly books to your bookshelf. You'll never see more amazing works form some of the greatest Puritans, Reformers, and men that gave their lives for spreading God's Word. 

    Vision Forum has lots of books for the whole family and individuals to read! You can find books on family health, starting a farm, raising God fearing children, what to look for in a possible spouses for your children, history from a biblical prospective, beginner books on reading, historical fiction for young and old alike, and much more!

Start your own library of good Christian books! You'll be amazed at how much you'll learn and grow as a godly man or women when you fill your mind with wonderful Christ honoring books! 

The Way to Heaven

I found this in a book called 'Golden Thoughts of Mother, Home, and Heaven' by Gene Fedele. I then went searching for where she got it from. I found that it was one of Jonathan Edwards sermons that was compiled in 'The Works of Jonathan Edwards' by Edward Hickman. I also found that was much longer then the version that Gene Fedele writes, but I decided it was too good, so I have given you the last part of Sermon 8. I hope you find it as much of an insight to God's saving grace and mercy as I did.

'How poor you are if you have no heaven but only this world. you have nothing but a little part of this clod of earth, and what is it all worth! If you have a little more land than some of your neighbors, or if you are in a way to make more money than others, if your accommodations are better than others, and you have more worldly conveniences and pleasures than others, or if you are promoted a little higher among men than some others are, what a poor portion is this, and how miserable are you who have no better happiness that you can call your own! How happy do these things make you? Are such things as these the "rivers of pleasure" that you choose for your portion? O how miserable! When a few days have passed you must go to the grave and into eternity, and then your glory shall not descend after you. Then how wretched are you, if when you are done with worldly enjoyments, it may be said that you have received your consolation! "But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation." Luke 6:24

To what misery are you exposed! You not only have no lot in this happiness and glory, but you are hanging over endless misery, and are in danger every day of being irrecoverably lost.

You have now an opportunity to obtain this blessedness. It is true that now you are exposed to this misery, but yet this glory is offered to you; the time is not past wherein the offer is made; you have yet an opportunity to be made happy for ever. The opportunity you now have to obtain the happiness of another world, is worth ten thousands of this world.

But here I would say something by way of direction in answer to this.

Inquiry. What must I be brought to in order to get to heaven?

Answer. 1. You must be brought entirely to renounce all hope of obtaining heaven by any thing that you can do by your own strength, -that you cannot do it either directly or indirectly. Many are sensible that they cannot get to heaven by their own strength directly, but yet they hope to do it indirectly, they hope by their own strength to bring themselves to a disposition to close with Christ, and accept of him for a Saviour; they are hoping to bring themselves to a compliance with the terms of salvation. You must be brought off from all confiding in your own strength; and you must also be brought to renounce your own righteousness as the price of heaven. The consideration of what has been said of the glory and happiness of the saints, may show us the exceeding folly of those that think to purchase so great happiness by their own righteousness. What a vain thought have men of their performances to think them a sufficient price to offer to God to purchase such glory of him! How would God dishonour himself, and dishonour such riches of his own goodness, if he should bestow them on men for their righteousness, and should accept their miserable performances as the price of them!

2. Your heart must be brought to close with him who has purchased heaven. Renouncing all other ways, your heart must entirely close with him, and adhere to him, as the way, the truth, and the life. Your heart must be drawn to him, and it must be pleasing and sweet to you to have heaven as a free gift, as the fruit of mercy and saving grace, and you must assuredly believe that Christ is a sufficient Saviour, and your soul must acquiesce in the way of salvation by him, by his blood and his righteousness, as a wise, holy, sufficient, and excellent way. Your heart must incline to Jesus Christ as a Saviour above your own righteousness and all other ways. Your delight must be in this holy way of salvation.

3. You must choose the God of heaven for your portion. You must be of the same temper and disposition with the Psalmist who says, Psalm 73:25 " Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none on the earth whom I desire beside Thee." You must esteem and relish the enjoyment of Him far above all other things. You must be brought to see that there is that in the enjoyment of God and communion with him that is far better than all the profits or pleasures of the world. It must be so with you, that if you could have your choice of all kinds of happiness you could devise, and you which you would, and in what degree you would, to all eternity, this would be what you would far prefer.

4. Your heart must be brought sincerely to close with the employments of heaven. In heaven they are not idle, but they are continually employed, and their employments are holy employments; they spend their time wholly in holy exercises ; in contemplating on God, in praising and serving Him. Rev. 22:3 "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him." If ever you go to heaven, your heart must be brought beforehand to such a temper as freely to choose such employments, you must have a relish of them, and must account them excellent and delightful employments.

5. You must be pure in heart, and clean in hands. The pure in heart alone shall see God. Matt. 5:8. They that shall ascend into God's holy hill, are those that are of pure hearts and clean hands. Psalm 24:4. You must hate and abhor all sin, and allow none in your life. Sin must become to you a great burden. You must loathe yourself for it, and fight and strive against it, to purge yourself more and more from it; striving more and more to mortify sin, earnestly desiring and seeking to be more holy, more conformed to the will of God, and to walk more becoming a Christian.

6. You must be brought to sell all for heaven Matt. 13:44, 45, 46. Heaven must be to you like the treasure hid in a field; or like the pearl of great price. If you would have heaven, you must take it as your whole portion; you must in your heart part with all other things for it, and it must be your manner actually to part with them whenever they stand in the way of your getting forward towards heaven. If you would have heaven, you must sell your worldly profit and your credit, and the good will of your neighbours, and your worldly pleasures and conveniences, and whatever stands in your way. Many flatter themselves that they shall obtain heaven without this, and think they have a right to heaven, though they were never brought to this, but they are sure to find themselves disappointed.

7. You must never expect to go to heaven in any other than a strait and narrow way. Some expect to get to heaven who are not walking in a narrow way. The way they are walking in is a way of indulging their ease, and of shifting off the hard and difficult parts of religion. It is not the way of self-denial, and toil, and laboriousness, but they walk in a broad way, a way wherein they are not pinched, but can go on without labour, or watchfulness, or bearing the cross. But such as these, let their hopes be what they may, and their profession what it may, and their pretences to"experiences what they may, are not like to get to heaven. To some, the way that the Scripture has laid out is too narrow and-strait;" therefore they are endeavouring to get to heaven in a broad way ; but it is in vain for you to contrive this. If you can find out any way of getting to heaven that is not a strait and narrow way, it will be a way that you are the first inventor of. If you go thither, you must go in the way of the footsteps of the flock. If you would go to heaven, you must be content to go there in the way of self-denial and sufferings, you must be willing to take up the cross daily and follow Christ, and through much tribulation to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

8. This subject furnishes ground of solemn exhortation to the godly, to strive earnestly after holiness of life. What manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, who have received such infinite mercy of God, and entertain such glorious hopes; seeing God has admitted you to such happiness, earnestly labour that you may walk in some measure answerably; seeing God has admitted you to the happiness of children, walk as children. Eph. 5:1 "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children." imitate your heavenly Father; be ye holy, for He is holy. Seeing that you are admitted to the blessedness of disciples and friends of Jesus, walk as the friends of Christ, imitate your glorious Lord and Head. Here consider several things : particularly,

1. What great love God hath bestowed upon you in choosing you to such unspeakable blessedness before the foundation of the world. How wonderful was the lore ot God in giving his Son to purchase this blessedness for you, and how wonderful was the love of the Son of God in shedding his own blood to purchase such glory for you! How ought you therefore to live to God's glory! Let me therefore beseech, by those great mercies of God, that you give yourself up a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Give the utmost diligence that you may keep all the commandments of God: study that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God ; study that in all things you may be found approved : seeing God hath so loved you, strive earnestly that you may bring forth the fruits of the love of God ; and seeing Christ hath so loved you, see that you love one another; let love be without dissimulation; be ye kindly affectioned one with another with brotherly love; be of the same mind one towards another, in honour preferring one another; have fervent charity among yourselves. Seeing God hath mercy on you, be ye merciful as your Father which is in heaven is merciful. Look not everyone on his own things; be pitiful, be courteous; be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another. Christ hath thus loved you while an enemy; therefore recompense to no man evil for evil but contrariwise blessing; do good to them that do evil to you. Such things as these become those that are the heirs of the glory that we have heard of.

2. Consider how much above the world that blessedness is which God has given ; how therefore ought you to live above the world. God has redeemed you out of the world, and therefore do not live as though you had your portion in this life. Live as pilgrims and strangers; as those that are not at home; as fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God. Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. How dishonourable will it be to you that God had so advanced and entitled you to such glory, to set your heart upon the dust of the earth; how you dishonour the grace of God in giving you such blessedness: and how will you dishonour the blessedness that God has given, no more to set your heart on it, and to set it so much on the world!

3. Consider what a vast difference has God made between you and other men, how vastly different is your relative state from theirs, how much more has God done for you than for them. Seek therefore those things which are above, where God is. Will it not be a shame if one that is entitled to such glory conducts no better than a child of the devil? Consider it seriously; and let it not be asked with reference to you, Matt. 5:47. What do ye more than others? Other men love those that love them ; other men do good to those that do good to them: walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called; and let it appear that you are of a spirit more excellent than your neighbour; manifest more love, and more meekness, and more humility, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering. Put ye on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, gentleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another; and let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father who is in heaven. Seeing God has given you so much, God and men may well expect of you, that you should be greatly distinguished in your life from other men.'

Books, Books, and More Books!

I always try to make sure that any books, movies or music I recommend have no bad language, “fast-forward scenes”, or un-godly material. Such as: looking down on family, parents as idiots, or stealing, swearing, lying, and cheating treated as good things.
Here are a few, which I hope you’ll enjoy…

Crown and Covenant Trilogy / By Douglas Bond:
It is about a family living in the mid – late 1600’s. They are Covenanters, attacked by the King of England on all sides. They battle for their lives against injustice and for freedom to worship God as they pleased. The books are well put together and at every turn God’s unfailing mercy and strength come to light.

Freckles
By Gene Stratton Porter

Freckles, is about a young man of 18 looking for work. He’s strong, intelligent, and quick to think on his feet. Only one thing handicaps him, he is missing his right hand. He was an orphan with no name save the one the orphanage gave him, Freckles. Given a job by a Mr. McLean, manager of a large lumber company. He shows himself to be a man of honor, humility, and kindness. It has a wonderful mix of adventure, friendship, and true self-sacrifice. I have read it once and listened to it twice and still find it captivating to read.