Talk: It gives LIFE or DEATH

I just picked up The Power of Words and the Wonder of God. (I believe it's a book that came out of a Desiring God Conference). The first chapter I'm reading is by one of my favorite authors Paul David Tripp. I could probably quote his whole chapter but I'll just leave you with a few:

"The book of Proverbs is, in ways, a treatise on talk. I would summarize it this way: words give life; words bring death-you choose. What does this mean? It means you have never spoken a neutral word in your life. Yours words have direction to them. If your words are moving in the life direction, they will be words of encouragement, hope, love, peace, unity, instruction, wisdom, and correction. But if your words are moving in a death direction, they will be words of anger, malice, slander, jealousy, gossip, division, contempt, racism, violence, judgement, and condemnation. Your words have direction to them. When you hear the word talk you ought to hear something that is high and holy and significant and important. May God help us to never look at talk as something that doesn't matter." (p24)


"...it is only when I love God above all else that I will love my neighbor as myself. It's only when God is the rightful place in my life that I will treat you with the love that I have received from him. Brothers and sisters, hear this: you don't fix the language problems, communication problems, and word problems horizontally; you fix them vertically." (p37)


"Word problems are heart problems." (p30)


(embolden & underline are my emphasis)

Books for $1.99 this Friday

Just found this in an email from Shepherd Press. Go here on Friday! 

In case you the book titles are too small:

• Get Outta My Face!
• Craftsmen
• Heaven At Home
• A Proverbs Driven Life
• Power Perfected In Weakness
• The Gospel For Children    

     and more.....

45% off Jesus Storybook Bible-this week only!

Over at Westminster Bookstore there is a great sale going on. Among the many good books comes my favorite storybook bible for children The Jesus Storybook Bible. As hard as it is to get kids attention sometimes, my preschoolers love the way the stories are written. At rest time, they love to look at the colorful pictures and ask why I haven't read this story or that. If you have been wanting to buy this book or are looking for a quality children's storybook bible, then head over here to get it at 45% off. Remember, it's this week only. I'm going to be giving mine away at the end of the summer (to one of my kids, that especially loves it) , so I was happy to find such a deal. They also just made a larger "Read-Aloud Edition" which will be good for the classroom!

Here's what Tim Keller says about the book:

“I would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian--from pew warmers, to ministry leaders, seminarians and even theologians! Sally Lloyd-Jones has captured the heart of what it means to find Christ in all the scriptures, and has made clear even to little children that all God's revelation has been about Jesus from the beginning--a truth not all that commonly recognized even among the very learned." 

— Rev. Tim Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York

Books Children Love

I haven't bought any new children's books lately and even though this isn't a children's book, I thought it would be an excellent resource for teachers or parents when filtering through books at bookstores. Books Children Love by Elizabeth Laraway Wilson is about picking out the "worthwhile" books amidst the what I would call less quality ones.  Here's what crossway publishing says about the book:

A love for reading is one of the most precious gifts that we can give children. It nurtures their imagination and creativity, lets them explore other worlds, and opens their minds to new truths and knowledge in appealing, inspiring ways. But how can we sort through thousands of children's books to discover the really worthwhile ones?

Elizabeth Wilson offers us a newly revised, comprehensive guide to the very best in children's literature. Just as in the original volume, she comments on the tone and content of excellently written, captivating books in over two dozen subject areas. Hundreds of new titles have been added while retaining timeless classics and modern favorites-all of which respect traditional values. So that no matter what the children's ages are or whether they love fact or fiction, you can trust these books to share things that you can believe in and kids will delight in.

I'm definitely adding this to my Amazon Wish List!

C.S. Lewis' Letters to Children

This week I am presenting a children's book, but it's no picture book. Over the weekend I was given C.S. Lewis' Letters to Children. So far I've loved it. It's been quite some time since I've read the books, and I never even read the entire Narnia series. However, I've loved reading his letters to little ones, and if you have shared his stories with your children, your children will enjoy it too! Here a couple of short letters that Lewis wrote:

Dear Hugh,
Oh, very good. Eustace as a dragon is your very best picture yet. Really awesome! Love to all. 
Yours, 
C.S. Lewis


Dear Joan,
Thanks for letter and pictures. I say, you are lucky to have armour: I would have loved it when I was a boy but never came my way. The kind you have would be even better for Vikings etc. than for Arthurian knights. As for doing more than 7 Narnian books, isn't it better to stop when people are still asking for more than to go on till they are tired?
Love from, yours
C.S. Lewis


Dear Hila, (only an excerpt)
....As to Aslan's other name, well I want you to guess. Has there never been anyone in this world who (1.) arrived at the same time as Father Christmas (2.) Said he was the son of the Great Emperor (3.) Gave himself up for someone else's fault to be jeered at and killed by wicked people (4.) Came to life again (5.) Is sometimes spoken of as a Lamb (see the end of the Dawn Treader) Don't you really know His name in this world. Think is over and let me know your answer!....
All good wishes, 
yours ever 
C.S. Lewis


What a fun read it is!

Who is the fairest of them all?

This week as I teach the children about People being made for the glory of God, I’ve been saying things like: God made us to tell Him “God you’re the greatest! God, you are the best! God you are the strongest! God you are the biggest of all!” Over and over we’ve been talking about this: during circle time, at the writing table, even while we play outside and singing songs. It’s been fun watching them getting it. Let me explain.

This week’s theme is Super Heroes and Princesses. So I’ve had the chance to read some books about fairy’s and princesses. I don’t normally try to tie the picture books into the truth I’m trying to teach. I just pick fun books.

However, this morning after I was done teaching them about how we were made to tell God He’s the best, one precious girl thought of God during the story.

I was reading about a character named Alice the Fairy (by David Shannon) spilling juice to magically turn her shirt from white to red, and literally using her wand to make it dark (by reaching her wand to the light switch). Then as I read about Alice asking of the mirror “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” I heard a sweet little voice that said, “God is the fairest.” Okay so I know teachers say this all this all the time but it really did “warm my heart.”

Now I know she didn’t know what “fairest” meant. However she did catch the –est ending. Since we were talking about God being the biggest, strongest and greatest-I’m sure she related that to God. But that does not make it any lighter. She is learning that God is always the best of everything. Though she didn’t know what fairest meant, she gets that God is the best of everything. And I'm thankful. Because He is.

The Cost of Discipleship

For Christmas my best friend Sarah gave us the book “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I’ve only just recently been able to pick it up and let me tell you I’m only the 2^nd chapter into it and it’s amazing! I was trying to read the 3^rd chapter today but I couldn’t stop thinking about the 2^nd. Thus I thought I’d quote some of it here to give you a taste…

“It is Jesus who calls, and because it is Jesus, Levi follows at once. This encounter is a testimony to the absolute, direct, and unaccountable authority of Jesus. There is no need of any preliminaries, and no other consequence but the obedience to the call. Because Jesus is the Christ, he has authority to call and to demand obedience to his word. Jesus summons men to follow him not as a teacher or a pattern of the good life, but as the Christ, the Son of God….”

p 58

In relation to the call of Christ and obedience to being called Bonhoeffer talks about Peter the disciple in this way…

“Peter knows he dare not climb out of the ship in his own strength-his very first step would be his undoing. And so he cries, ‘Lord, bid me come to thee upon the waters,’ and Jesus answers: ‘Come.’ Christ must first call him, for the step can only be taken at his word. This call is his grace, which calls him out of death and into new life of obedience. But when once Christ has called him, Peter has no alternative-he must leave the ship and come to him.” (italics added) p 66

So excited to read the rest of the book. Makes me want to see the movie on him even more! Thanks for the book Capa!

Mighty Acts of God

A good Bible Story Book recommended by Noel Piper 

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