Issues of the Heart

I have finished reading the book, but my journey to godliness is far from complete. With the rest of my life ahead of me, however long or short that may be, this book has served as a piece of the building that will not crumble, burn, or fade.

Chapter Three taught me: 

God loves music, my love for it is a good thing.

"Music, like all of God's gifts, is meant to draw our hearts and attention to His glory, His power, and His love" (p.88).

As I choose music, I must choose it wisely. If it does not draw my heart and attention toward God, then it probably isn't something I should spend my time on. 

Lastly: I should own no music that I would only listen to in the case that I begin to backslide. 

Chapter Four taught me: 

How to begin considering my heart and motivations. 

Looking at "stuff" was the beginning to realizing how much of an affect materialism has had on me. 

If I let go of stuff, then I will be that much closer to embracing God at the fullest. 

It is time to dematerialize and begin holding onto the riches of Christ!

Chapter Five taught me:

That modesty is an issue that is rooted much deeper than the skin- it, like everything else, begins in the heart.

As I seek to raise my daughters and disciple other young women towards dressing (and living) modestly, I must not begin there. Instead, I must begin at the heart level. 

This is so basic, but it is something I was wrong about. This knowledge will help me to be a better witness for Christ and see the lost as He sees them.

Chapter Six taught me: 

Loving the world properly is made possible by first loving the cross. 

When I begin at the cross and let it touch every area of my life, I will be headed towards the magnificent God Story that is being laid out for man to see. 

This book is a must read for everyone. I'm excited because it sounds like I'll be going through it all again with my family. Read it prayerfully and the effects will last long after the last page has been turned!

Living Coram Deo

-Chapter Two-

All about "God, My Heart, and Media", this chapter holds its fair share of issues. Craig Cabaniss speaks clearly when he challenges Christians to take discernment seriously in all areas of their lives. 

This chapter specifically deals with visible media: magazines, TV, internet, movies, theatre, and even person to person communication. Christians must consistently and actively hold everything to the Word of God in order to determine wether it pleases God. 

This life long task is not done legalistically, because it is not rooted in a desire to gain or earn God's favor. Rather, it is done in love with a desire to have more of God and live like it. The grace God bestows upon salvation is the source that lives on and manifests itself in God-pleasing lifestyles. 

I came away from this chapter with one broad thing:

I need to take time to evaluate both the quality and the quantity of my media involvement. 

I leave you with one quote from the text:

"Watching coram Deo leads to acting coram Deo." 

(p.60)

The Word

-Chapter One-

C.J. Mahaney encourages and instructs Christians to take the Bible as a whole and make it the standard by which they live by. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and is meant to be the instruction manual for God's people. Cutting sections out of the Bible, or pasting new ones in, is absolutely unacceptable and leads only to wasted lives. 

The danger of "editing" the perfect Word of God is decline. God desires for His people to enjoy life, but He does not desire for them to waste their lives. He wants them to follow the words of Jesus in Mark 10:45:

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..."

God placed man here not so He could serve them, but so that they could serve Him. That service is not only purposeful, it is joyful, fulfilling, and desirable. 

I finished this chapter with three thoughts: 

I need to be careful not to cut and paste to make my own Bible.

 I need to be in the Word daily, that I may know the Truth and discern that which is not true.

I need to live out the concepts the Lord is teaching me.

Life As Usual?

Reading "Worldliness - Resisting the Seduction of A Fallen World" has already been quite a challenge. The reading itself is very enjoyable- it's the digesting that has proven to touch more than my mind! 

I have come to realize a serious, honest, in-depth self-evaluation is absolutely necessary right now. I am far from what most would consider worldly, but I have my faults. This book has begun to do just what I hoped it would, that is, point out practical ways that I can more consistently do whatever I do for the glory of God. 

According to contributor and editor, C.J. Mahaney, worldliness is simply "the love for this fallen world" (p.27). He goes onto quote Joel Beeke who said:

"The goal of worldly people, is to move forward rather than upward, to live horizontally rather than vertically. They seek after outward prosperity rather than holiness. They burst with selfish desires rather than heartfelt supplications. If they do not deny God, they ignore and forget Him, or else they use Him only for their selfish ends. Worldiness...is human nature without God." 

The content of this book is a testimony to the fact that God builds precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little in the lives of His people. 

Check out the book! It's more than a good read, it uses Scripture to equip saints for a truly abundantly good life!