Bible Study Magazine Giveaway

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

Friday Collage of Readings: February 20

Praise our God, you peoples;
let the sound of His praise be heard. (Psalm 66:8)

Happy are the people whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5)

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of His heart from generation to generation. (Psalm 33:11)

...If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. (Mark 8:34)

Your plans are better than mine, Lord,
and today I choose to trust You.
You are my strength, my joy, my wisdom.

Collage of Readings, Thursday February 19

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father,
You have brought me in safety to this new day:
Preserve me with Your mighty power,
that I might not fall into sin,
nor be overcome by adversity;
and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of Your purpose;
through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, quoted in Divine Hours)
God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life. (Psalm 54:4)
He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their chains apart. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for the human race. (Psalm 107:14-15)
Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord's acts of faithful love. (Psalm 107:43)
Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men. (Colossians 3:23)
...Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it. (Colossians 4:17)

Heavenly Father,
Preserve me
Lift me from gloom
Direct me to fulfill my ministry enthusiastically
ministry to my husband
my children
my friends
Sustain me

I will consider Your acts of faithful love
I will pay attention to Your word
I will follow You
with Your help
Amen

Wednesday Readings Collage

I'm beginning a new format for my not-quite-daily meditation post. Rather than limiting my comments or quotations to the readings from today's lectionary, I'll also include verses from The Divine Hours and any other Scripture/inspirational reading I'm doing on a particular day. I'm often surprised by connections or similar subjects in the different books I just happen to pick up on the same day.


My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits. (Psalm 103:2)

All You have made will praise You, Lord... (Psalm 135:10)

You have caused me to experience
many troubles and misfortunes,
but You will revive me again.
You will bring me up again,
even from the depths of the earth.
You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again. (Psalm 71:20-21)

[The discipline of God] yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet... (Hebrews 12:11-12)

Strengthen the weak hands,
steady the shanking knees!
Say to the faint-hearted:
"Be strong; do not fear!
Here is your God... (Isaiah 35:4)

Be my strength and confidence today, Lord.
I ask for renewal and peace.
Remind me of Your benefits--
Your touch on my life.

January Book Reviews

Take This Bread, by Sara Miles. Not for the ultra-conservative, this book is written in a style similar to Ann Lamott's. It's a thought-provoking biography of a left-wing lesbian's conversion to Christianity. I told my husband that this lady got saved and immediately wanted to do what Jesus did, while some of us are just sitting around talking about what Paul said.

Things Seen and Unseen, by Nora Gallagher. I found this glimpse of a year in an Episcopal church interesting.

Please Pass the Guilt, by Rex Stout. Intriguing and enjoyable---I expect nothing else from Nero Wolfe.

The Young Mrs. Savage, by D. E. Stevenson. A widow takes a seaside vacation with her four children in post-war Scotland. These books always leave me craving scones and hearty breakfasts.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winnifred Watson. This is another book I can't recommend to my conservative friends, but I found it rather funny. A very proper middle-aged spinster in the twenties finds a new life as a social secretary to an actress.

Blind Spots in the Bible, by Adrian Plass. As always, Adrian Plass is encouraging, comforting, humorous, and thought-provoking.

Frederica, by Georgette Heyer. My favorite escape reading. Headache? Read Heyer. Stressed? Read Heyer. Grieving? Read Heyer. Overwhelmed? Read Heyer. I think I read every Heyer I own in 2008, some of them twice.