Deus Misereatur

The One Year Praying Through the Bible for Your Kids by Nancy Guthrie My rating: 5 of 5 stars With each epoch of our family's life changes in relationship with our children are constantly evolving. When our children were little, we had concerns and desires for them that reflected their young, inexperienced stage in life. As they grew into adolescence, we had new worries and delights. And now that almost all of them are adults, this has opened up a whole fresh bundle of prayers, anticipations, and sometimes, anxieties. Nancy Guthrie has handed parents a wonderful 400 page tool that reflects all of this in her "The One Year Praying through the Bible for Your Kids." It is ideal for the busy mom and dad, and can be adapted to be used in different ways depending on your season of life. As Sinclair Ferguson points out in the foreword, "It is not a "how to do" manual. No, it is a "how to be" guidebook" (viii). The format is simple. Each day o...

Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman by Sarah H. b. 1818 Bradford My rating: 5 of 5 stars  This is a touching rehearsal of the exploits of a self-emancipated slave who poured herself into helping other self-emancipated slaves to flee to areas where they'd be safe. The volume is primarily made up of select tales from Harriet Tubman told to Sarah Bradford - who left out any tales she could not corroborate. The material also includes testimonials from many who knew her during these years. "Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman" is short and easy to read. A few of the stories brought me to tears, and many brought me to prayer. Thanks to LibriVox for providing the book in audio form, and to Sue Anderson for taking the time to record it. Since this is Black History Month (February 2018), this book makes for great, first-hand historical background and context. I highly recommend the book. The LibriVox recording can be heard here: Librivox The book can be obtained for f...

The Divine Hours by Phyllis A. Tickle My rating: 5 of 5 stars This tiny little rascal arrived in the world in 2007. I have used it -in varied and modified ways - off and on throughout the years. It follows the traditional, simple format of 7 times of prayer for each day of the week. It is a handy, pocket-sized manual that can easily be carried in a purse and lightly held in a hand. Each portion is short, and yet has plenty of material from the Psalter, Scriptures, hymns, canticles, and litanies. "The Divine Hours" could be used by prayer-communities for corporate prayer; but it is also ideal for personal devotions. It can be employed in multiple ways to fit within busy schedules or to help people who have overly active minds that flit about. It can be supplemented or followed rigidly. If looked on as a tool, it will be found a tutor; and if used as an amenity, it will be found an ally. As I write this short review, it is Lent (2018). It would make a nice aid to Lenten...

Unlike Marduk and the gods of the nations, when you made humankind, you said: “ Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so ” (Genesis 1.29-30). Truly, LORD God, you made us not because you needed us. You made us not because you were lonely and lacked love. You made us not because you needed us to scratch some itch. You made us because you are love and goodness, and so desired to give and lavish that love and goodness on us! Therefore, with the 24 elders and creatures that surround your throne, we adore and worship you: “ Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created ”...