Pattern for Living

When I was at the Ladies Spectacular in October I picked up a copy of the book entitled "Pattern for Living." This is a wonderful little handbook of instructions on personal development for Christian ladies and girls.

I love this book. I think this is the third copy that I have purchased over the past ten years. It is laid out in such a practical and helpful way. It is a wonderful manual to use if you are a new Christian desiring to grow and develop your "feminine side" or to use to teach a class to teenage girls (or your own daughters) as they are in the process of developing theirs :).

You can order this book through the Christian Womanhood ministry by calling (219) 932-0711 or visiting their web-site at www.christianwomanhood.org..

Family Celebrations by Ann Hibbard

Many, many years ago, when my daughters were just five and six years old I was introduced to the book, "Family Celebrations ~ Meeting Christ in Your Holidays and Special Occasions" by Ann Hibbard by a young pastor's wife of a church that we attended for a very short time.

This young wife had the best ideas for celebrating the holidays in such a fun and Christ honoring way and when I asked her to share with me some of her ideas (so that I could learn how to do the same) she in turn shared with me this very special book.

By the time I got around to purchasing the book it had become out of print and I actually called up the author at her house to see if she knew of anywhere that I could get a copy. She just happened to have a few left in her garage and she ended up sending me a signed copy of it. I still have the book and I still many of her ideas as I plan our family celebrations during the year.

I have come to learn that this book has now been replaced with a series of books ~ one for each holiday season and I would highly recommend collecting them all! Mrs. Hibbard has so many great ideas and I'm sure you will be blessed and encouraged as your read about them.

As Christian women it is our privilege to create happy memories for our family, especially during the holiday season. And what a wonderful idea it is to know how to bring the message of Christ in a fun way into every celebration that our family enjoys.

I believe that you can purchase these books through your local Christian book store or you could order them through Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com.

I'm going to purchase the Thanksgiving & Alternatives to Halloween for my own home library this month and I might even buy a copy for my daughter and her family to enjoy as well!

Happy Reading!

Keep A Quiet Heart

This past week I picked up this book to reread again for the fourth or fifth time. My daughter Kina purchased for me as a gift about sixteen years ago, and it is one of those books that is a blessing to you every time you read it.

"Keep A Quiet Heart" is written by Elisabeth Elliot and it is a compilation of short articles that she wrote for the Gateway to Joy newsletter that she published many, many years ago.

I appreciate Elisabeth Elliot's straightforward and sincere love for God and obedience to His Word. She references many different Bible versions in her writings ~ something that I find distracting, but her wisdom and devotion to truth is worth the trouble it takes to read along with your own Bible when she uses scriptures references in her writings.

I have especially been encouraged by this book this past week as I find myself wanting to be doing more than I am able as I recover from this second shoulder surgery of mine. It has been a very encouraging thing for me to be reminded to "keep a quiet heart" and trust in the sovereignty of God at a time like this.

This book can be purchased at most Christian book stores and even through many secular book stores as well. If you like to be challenged to trust and obey God at His Word (like I do), then you will enjoy this book and soon find it becoming a favorite of yours too!

Praise Her In The Gates

I have been taking some time lately to reread some of my favorite books on marriage and motherhood. This week I am rereading the book, "Praise Her In The Gates" by Nancy Wilson. The subtitle for this book is The Calling of Christian Motherhood.

What a wonderfully biblical and instructive book this is! It is not a very large book, only 105 pages in length. But it is packed with wonderful insights and admonitions for every mother to learn from!

You can order this book through Amazon.com.. I encourage EVERY mother to get a copy of this book. The peace and direction that it offers will encourage you greatly.

Evidence Not Seen

I have just finished reading the most marvelous book written by Darlene Deibler Rose about her struggles as a prisoner of war during World War II.

Mrs. Rose and her husband were missionaries to New Guinea when the war broke out and ended up being captured by Japanese soldiers and tortured in their prison camps.

This is the most inspirational book that I have ever read (besides my Bible of course). You will be amazed at the faith of this dear woman and her missionary friends. You will be so encouraged as you see the hand of the Lord do miraculous things in the most hopeless places.

I wish every Christian person would read this book. It would change their whole perspective about life ~ most of us have such an easy time and appreciate it so little.

Mrs. Rose's testimony is also recorded on tape and video. I had watched the video many years ago and listened to the tapes . . . but reading the book was so much better. She was such a practical godly woman, I wrote down so many of the things that she said to "quote" later.

This book is amazing, you will definitely want to read it. You can purchase it at your local Christian book store or Barnes & Noble will order it for you.

Life as Viewed from the Goldfish Bowl

Lately I have been rereading one of the most helpful books that I have ever purchased as a Pastor's Wife ~ "Life as Viewed from the Goldfish Bowl" written by Mrs. Beverly Hyles.

I want to begin by saying that I was given the wonderful opportunity of working with Mrs. Hyles in Hylander Wives during the years that my husband attended Bible College and she is the finest Christian woman that I have ever met. I have been in her home, I have gone out to eat with her, and I have attended other activities which she has been at ~ Mrs. Hyles is the closest thing to the perfect Proverbs 31 woman that I know. I love her and as you read through this book, you will love getting to know her too!

Mrs. Hyles is a beautiful, gracious, practical, obedient Christian woman and this book expresses her desire to encourage the wives of Christian servants and laymen to walk with God and bring glory and honor to Him in their lives.

This book is FILLED with practical advice on every area of life! I have been recommending it so often lately, that I thought I should recommend it to you here as well.

You can order this book through Hyles Publication and you might even be able to purchase it through the Sword of the Lord.

This book is a MUST HAVE for every Pastor's Wife. It's the manual that we need to show us how to "do the next thing" and be the great Christian servant that God has called us to be.

A Firm Foundation

A few weeks ago I asked my husband what his favorite book on marriage was. He surprised me when he said, "A Firm Foundation" by Dr. Paul Chappell. I had never heard of this book, but since my husband said it was his favorite, I asked him if I could borrow a copy to read.

What a fabulous book this is! It is now MY favorite book on marriage as well!

Dr. Chappell does a wonderful job of encouraging married couples to build a household of faith on the unchanging principles of the Word of God in this book. It is neatly laid out in three parts and thirteen chapters total. It is very easy to read and understand. He uses practical illustrations and the whole tone of the book is friendly, encouraging and VERY biblical.

I would recommend this book to EVERY couple, no matter how long you have been married. It will not only help you as a couple, but it will encourage you as parents as well.

You can order this book through Striving Together Ministries, which is a ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, California.