Thoughts from a Bibliophile

My husband and I are self proclaimed Bibliophiles! We each are generally reading two books and the Bible at one time. Most of what we read are related to The Bible but this varies. For instance my husband is currently reading Word Pictures of Thomas Watson and he just finished Fighting with The Screaming Eagles. Having confessed of our addiction, I offer the following words of Richard Baxter, from his Guide to the Value of a Book.
Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the Holy Scriptures ever have the preeminence.
Let Scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it.
While reading ask yourself:
1. Could I spend this time no better?
2. Are there better books that would edify me more?
3. Are the lovers of such a book as this the greatest
lovers of the Book of God and of a holy life?
4. Does this book increase my love to the Word of God,
kill my sin, and prepare me for the life to come?
“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” Ecclesiastes 12:11-12
These are very wise words and a guide we should all follow. There are MANY great books out there and many that are worthy of our consideration, be on guard that you not fill your mind with that which is not God honoring.

His Love

Love of the Father

As we think about love this week may we look at four aspects
that directly relate to The advent season.

The Love of The Father to send His son to dwell among us;

The Love of The Father to send His son to die for us;

The Love of The Son to be obedient to die a most humiliating death for
us;

The Love of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit to keep us until the
Glorious reappearing of Christ !

Winslow, “The Disciple Washing Christ’s Feet”

“A certain immoral woman heard Jesus was there
and brought a beautiful jar filled with expensive
perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet,
weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped
them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his
feet and putting perfume on them.” Luke 7:37-38

She washed Christ’s feet with the tears of grateful
love. Jesus had pardoned all her sins, had absolved
her from their guilt, and had released her from their
power. How natural was the feeling of gratitude,
how appropriate this service of love!

The most genuine contrition for sin flows from a
sense of its forgiveness. Nothing breaks the heart
so thoroughly as the experience of God’s pardoning
love, love flowing from a sight of the cross!

May we purpose to give our ALL to Christ. A very small price for the ALL
HE has given to us.