We're all going on a...summer holiday....

We head off tomorrow to Co. Clare for a week which I am highly excited about, and I know some others are heading away soon so I just want to wish you well and that you spend plenty of time reading good books and relaxing etc etc.
I'm bringing 'Knowing God' by J I Packer. It has been mentioned loads by girltalk and CJ Mahaney etc so why not eh?!
Also 'The God I Love' by Joni Eareckson Tada. Also mentioned on girltalk and given to me by a friend. Lots of small typing so looks like it will keep me going for a while...
Dan is bringing a few Max Lucado books which he has recently started getting into.
Then hopefully when I get home I will be recieving a big parcel from John Piper's $5 book sale :)
Let me know what you guys are reading and what you recommend. Happy reading :)

More books...

I started this book yesterday, and I hope to finish it tonight. Every Woman's Marriage by Shannon Ethridge. It's really easy reading and full of practical advice, though there isn't as much of scripture being quoted as I would like. It has already highlighted lots of things I deal with incorrectly...so hopefully after reading how other people have learnt the lessons from decades of marriage, I can change my ways now, after 22 months of marriage.

Update

Hello, sorry for neglecting you all. Just thought I would update you on what I have been reading recently. Feel free to leave a comment or post on your summer reading!

Hardly surprising since girltalk is all I talk about but I have joined the girltalk book club. YAY! I know Barbara has too so can I encourage you to join us?? And it isn't necessarily females only! This friday will be week 4 of 'Doing things right in matters of the heart' by John Ensor. So quick...hop over to amazon and order your copy now. Some bits are really good, he includes quite a lot of quotes from english literature and songs etc which sometimes go over my head but on the whole, I think it is worth the read. Primarily aimed at single people too but I encourage married people to read also...

CJ Mahaney says “Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart defines and describes biblical masculinity and femininity for single adults. I would also encourage those who are married to read it. John Ensor is a creative and theologically astute writer. I have thanked him for writing this book and you will too.”

Here are a few quotes I have highlighted...

If we do not seek our happiness in God and make him our perfect and everlasting happiness, then every good thing becomes a substitute for God; it becomes an idol.

The idealism and romanticism found in so many paperback romances and films reflect our search to find our eternal happiness in a human relationship.

Idyllic love is idolatry because it places on man what only God can provide. No man can fulfill the deepest longings of the human heart because these longings belong to God alone and cannot be filled by another.

Feminine Appeal

Can I recommend a wonderful book? Please?

Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney. (Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother

It felt like it took forever to arrive but now that it has I'm thinking for the sake of my exams it maybe would have been better if it taken a bit longer. I seriously have to restrain myself from sitting and reading it from front to back, so far I have limited myself to the first two chapters and girls...you should all read. Especially if you are a parent. Carolyn keeps bringing everything back to the gospel, since this all started from Titus 2...the purpose of being transformed by Titus 2 is that the word of God may not be reviled (v5), so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us (v8), and so that in everything (we) may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour(v10).

I will leave you with a little bit to whett the old appetite...

"Our conduct has a direct influence on how people think about the gospel. The world doesn't judge us by our theology; the world judges us by our behaviour. People don't necessarily want to know what we believe about the Bible. They want to see if what we believe makes a difference in our lives. Our actions either bring honour to God or misrepresent His truth."

I should really be disappearing for a while until I get the finals out of the way :) May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Beautiful In God's Eyes

Hello all,
Hope you enjoyed the Easter hols! I had a good few sentences written there but why would you want to know. I'm recommending this book written by Elizabeth George, a friend in work recommended her stuff to me. In this book she goes through Proverbs 31 and I've found it really interesting as most times I go to read, it is talking about something specifically applicable to me. So maybe recommending it isn't totally useful because it has just spoken a lot to me and where I am now, but it's pretty easy reading and has some practical tips at the end of each chapter.
GirlTalk are also talking this week about keeping your home clean and pretty and how it reflects God's character by creating a beautiful environment for others to delight in. It's so sad I find that interesting but I think I am supposed to.
Also please remember to pray for the three-day-club at Bottear, Wendie teaching two nights and a girl from her church teaching the third. And also for Barbara and the impending birth :)

Captivating

Hey this is a book recommendation...
Captivating (unveiling the mystery of a woman's soul) by John and Stasi Eldredge
I just finished reading it yesterday. Wasn't mad keen on the start to be honest and my memory is so bad if i read something and don't look near it for a few days i come back and start reading without remembering anything that i had previously read. But i really liked the last few chapters, they started to talk some sense.
If anyone wants to borrow my copy just say to me!
Have a splendid monday.