Crossway Hosts Women of the Word Month in July

The summer is a time to slow down and enjoy the longer days. Some of you may even have a summer reading list that you are trying to work through (I have a loose list myself!). Maybe you are hoping to study the Bible more or are looking for a way to do so. If that's you, I have an exciting opportunity to tell you about.

During the month of July, Crossway.org will be hosting Women of the Word Month—a 31-day online campaign designed to encourage women to get in the Word and stay in the Word during the busy days of summer.

Timed with the publication of two important new resources from Crossway—Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin and the ESV Women’s Devotional Bible—the campaign will feature a daily email devotional, as well as practical blog posts and weekly video interviews with gifted Bible teachers. Contributors include Jen Wilkin, Kathy Keller, Elyse Fitzpatrick, Gloria Furman, Paul David Tripp, Kristyn Getty, and more.

 

The best news? It's entirely FREE! That's right. It's free of charge, my friends. What more reason do you need to sign up?

 

So I hope you will join me for Women of the Word Month. I'm excited to dig in and see what God will do.

For more information or to sign up, go to Crossway.org/women.

 

 

Why I Teach and Write

The school that I teach at assigned every teacher a book to read over the summer. One huge benefit of teaching at a Christian school is that they can assign us Christian books to read. We had the option of choosing between two books, so I chose John Piper's Think. When I went to Bethlehem, one of the advantages of being a member was that we received his newest book as a token of appreciation for freeing him to write. I must say, I miss those days. I'm fairly behind on my Pastor John library! So I was really excited to have the opportunity to read Think.

This book made me pray. Hard. As he unpacked the purpose for our thinking and studying I was overwhelmed by the task of teaching young people God's word, and to even write about it on a blog. It's sobering to to think that all of it could be in vain if it does not serve one very distinct purpose--to glorify God. Here is the quote that stood out to me the most, and one that I will go back to over and over again this semester. We are all thinkers and teachers in some capacity. And what we think about and teach to others matters tremendously.

"All branches of learning exist ultimately for the purposes of knowing God, loving God, and loving man through Jesus. And since loving man means ultimately helping him see and savor God in Christ forever, it is profoundly right to say all thinking, all learning, all education, and all research is for the sake of knowing God, loving God, and showing God."

Summer is for More Reading!

Today CBMW posted a suggested summer reading list on womanhood that I wrote for their blog. It is not exhaustive, but it is a start for women wanting to get their feet wet on understanding how God created them to be.

I figured I would get my personal reading list in order since I was in the "reading list" mood. I don't really know why, but summer always makes me feel more motivated. I really should make a reading list all of the time, but the one I have made for this summer will suffice for now!

Below are the 6 books on my list for the remainder of the summer (or as long as it takes me to finish them).

The Reason for God by Tim Keller
I have heard really good things about this book and have wanted to read it for a while now. Now is the time.

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
I always try and pick a novel/literature to read to give me some variety. I have wanted to read this one for a long time but didn't own it. I got it at a garage sale in Little Rock for .50 (I think), so it is definitely the cheapest book on this list.

The Courage to Be Protestant by David Wells
I read No Place for Truth a few summers ago and really enjoyed it. We have had this book for a while and I keep meaning to read it. Again, now is the time!

Jesus and the Feminists by Margaret Kostenberger
This is my "gender" reading for the summer. The fact that this book is written by an articulate, complementarian woman just gets me excited thinking about it. I am really excited to read it!

Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
This is my "counseling" reading for the summer. Everyone I know who has read it loves it and this is definitely an area of my life that I need more sanctification in.

Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas
William Wilberforces life fascinates me. I think this book will challenge me in many ways and give me greater perspective into the life and ministry of this remarkable man. Plus I have to get it from the library and it's a good excuse to use my library card.

So what's on your list?