Books I Love

Many people make it practice to record a reading list for the year.

Some make their lists prior to reading, while others make theirs after.

What follows is my reading list for life...so far.

I expect there will be more to come since I am still in my forties (for a little longer).

 The purpose of this post is to record my favourites all in one place.
It is not an exhaustive list, but, these are the books that I have returned
to, or expect to return to, for more than one read-through.

"Trusting God Even When Life Hurts" by Jerry Bridges 
is a book I cannot recommend highly enough.
It's full of Scripture and sound theology and offers
solid answers to life's toughest questions.

"Grieving Hope and Solace" by Albert Martin
was given to us when our Austin was called home to heaven.
It is a treasure that can be read and pondered and used to
encourage over and over again.  Full of truth and hope,
it was used by the Lord to heal our broken hearts.

"Holiness" by J. C. Ryle
sat on our bookshelf for many years before I picked it up.
I cannot believe I waited so long to soak in the wise words of
this godly man.  He had the ability to take deep truths
and make them understandable for all his readers.
It has become of my all-time favourite books.



"Little Pilgrim's Progress" by Helen Taylor
is a faithful rendering of the original work by Bunyan.
It is not watered down or minimized, yet, it is simplified
in its language so that even young children will understand the story.
It is a wonderful read-aloud which will spark conversations
with your children of those real and eternal things that truly matter.
It does have frightening parts, so perhaps it would be best to pre-read
to discover the appropriate time to introduce it to your children.

"Morning and Evening" by Charles Spurgeon
is my all-time favourite devotional book.
There are readings for each morning and evening of the year.
We like to think of Spurgeon as our own pastor from the past.
He had a beautiful way of conveying truths of Scripture with word
pictures and illustrations.  His writings are always so encouraging
and challenging.  Year after year, this work never gets old.

"The Glory of Heaven" by John MacArthur
was such an encouragement to our hearts after our Austin
was called to live in heaven instead of here.
Pastor MacArthur is faithful to the Scriptures and doesn't
introduce any fanciful ideas into his solid teaching.
He refutes anything that is extra-biblical in nature 
as it pertains to the subject of heaven.

"The Gospel According to Jesus" by John MacArthur
is a book we are currently reading through together with Howie's parents.
Once again, Pastor MacArthur doesn't leave any room for error
in the presentation of the Gospel.  He faithfully expounds Scripture
and teaches directly from its pages in order to expose false teachings.
It is so important for us to know what we believe and why.
This is a treasure that is worthy of sharing.

"The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment" by Jeremiah Burroughs
was a book I was introduced to in my Bible School years,
and then again by my Mum-in-Love when Howie and I were engaged.
Regrettably, I have let it languish on the shelf for far too long.
Jeremiah Burroughs was a Puritan who lived in England in the 1600's.
However, his subject is just as pertinent today as it would have
been four hundred years ago.  It's a timeless classic.

It should go without saying that the Bible is the greatest book of all.
Soaking our hearts and minds in its truth 
is a necessary practice.  A vital one, in fact.



"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, 
throughly furnished unto all good works."  2 Timothy 3:15-17   

If you are not a reader and opt for just one book in your library, the Bible would top my list.
The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are all that are needed to know God.
It is the only book of its kind because it is God's infallible and inerrant Word.
It is living and powerful and has the wonderful ability to change lives.

Whatever you read in 2017, may you find it to be a blessing
to your heart, lead you closer to the Saviour,
and encourage you in your walk with Him.

With Love, Camille

The One Thing Necessary

"Before, the soul sought after this and that, but now it says,
I see that it is not necessary for me to be rich,
but it is necessary for me to make my peace with God;

it is not necessary that I should live a pleasurable life in this world,
but it is absolutely necessary that I should have pardon of my sin;
it is not necessary that I should have honour and preferment,

but it is necessary that I should have God as my portion,
and have my part in Jesus Christ, it is necessary that my soul should
be saved in the day of Jesus Christ...



...when the heart of a man has nothing to do,
but to be busy about creature-comforts, every little thing troubles him;

but when the heart is taken up with the weighty things of eternity,
with the great things of eternal life, the things of here below that
disquieted it before are things now of no consequence to him
in comparison to him in comparison with the other --

how things fall out here is not much regarded by him,
if the one thing that is necessary is provided for."

Quoted from "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"
by Jeremiah Burroughs pages 92-93.

With Love, 
Camille

**Photo courtesy of Calvin ~
Thank you my love xoxo

The Art of Contentment

"...if a man or woman have their desires cut short,

and have no large desires, that man or woman is rich.
So this is the art of contentment: not to seek to add to our circumstances,

but to subtract from our desires. 

Certainly that man or woman is rich,

who have their desires satisfied. 

God satisfies them, that is, all considered,
he is satisfied that his circumstances are for the present

the best circumstances.  So he comes to this contentment

by way of subtraction, and not addition."

Quoted from "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"

by Jeremiah Burroughs, page 47.

With Love,
Camille

**Image in this post courtesy of Calvin ~
Thank you my love XO

Storms of Afflictions

"(The Lord Jesus Christ) has undertaken that all who come to Him shall have 
all things pertaining to life and godliness; but He has never undertaken that

He will make them prosperous, or rich, or healthy,

and that death and sorrow shall never come to their family...

...I dare not offer (any son or daughter of Adam) long life,

an increased income and freedom from pain.

I dare not promise the man who takes up the cross and follows Christ

that in the following he shall ever meet with a storm.

I know well that many do not like these terms...

...they do not like Christ and the cross, Christ and tribulation,

Christ and the conflict, Christ and the howling wind,

Christ and the storm...

...How should you know who are true Christians,

if following Christ was the way to be free from trouble?

How should we discern the wheat from the chaff, 

if it were not for the winnowing of trial?...

...The storms of afflictions and care are used in the same way.

They discover whose faith is real and whose is nothing

but profession and form.

How would the great work of sanctification
go on in a man if he had no trial?

Trouble is often the only fire which will burn away the
dross that clings to our hearts.  Trouble is the pruning-knife
which the great Husbandman employs in order to make us fruitful in good works.
The harvest of the Lord's field is seldom ripened by sunshine only.

It must go through its days of wind and rain and storm.
If you desire to serve Christ and be saved, I intreat you to take
the Lord on His own terms.  Make up your mind to meet with your share
of crosses and sorrows, and then you will not be surprised...

...If you profess to be a child of God, leave to the Lord Jesus
to sanctify you in His own way.

Rest satisfied that He never makes any mistakes.
Be sure that He does all things well.
The winds may howl around you, and waters swell.
But, fear not, 'He is leading you by the right way, that He may
bring you to a city of habitation' (Psalm 107:7)."

Quoted from "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle pages 193-94

With Love,
Camille

**Image in this post courtesy of Calvin ~
Thank you so much my love.  XO

Sorrows and Troubles

"Let us learn, first of all, that following Christ
will not prevent our having earthly sorrows and troubles.

Here are the chosen disciples of the Lord Jesus in great anxiety.
The faithful little flock, which believed when priests and scribes
and Pharisees were all alike unbelieving, is allowed 
by the Shepherd to be much disquieted.

The fear of death breaks in upon them like an armed man.
The deep waters seem likely to go over their souls.
Peter, James and John, the pillars of the church about 
to be planted in the world, are much distressed.
Perhaps they had not reckoned on all this.



Perhaps they expected that Christ's service would at any rate
lift them above the reach of earthly trials.  Perhaps they thought that He,
who could raise the dead and heal the sick and feed multitudes with a
few loaves and cast out devils with a word, He would never allow
His servants to be sufferers upon earth.

Perhaps they had supposed He would always grant them smooth journeys,
fine weather, an easy course and freedom from trouble and care.

If the disciples thought so, they were much mistaken.
The Lord Jesus taught them that a man may be one of His chosen servants,
and yet have to go through many an anxiety, and endure many a pain.

It is good to understand this clearly.  It is good to understand that Christ's
service never did secure a man from all the ills that flesh is heir to, and never will.

If you are a believer, you must reckon on having your share of sickness and pain,
of sorrow and tears, of losses and crosses, of deaths and bereavements,
of partings and separations, of vexations and disappointments,
so long as you are in the body.  Christ never undertakes
that you shall get to heaven without these."

Quoted from "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle pages 192-93

With Love,
Camille

**Image in this post courtesy of Calvin ~
Thank you my love. XO

The True Christian

"A true Christian is not a mere baptized man or woman.

He is something more.  He is not a person who only goes,

as a matter of form, to a church or chapel on Sundays,

and lives all the rest of the week as if there was no God.

Formality is not Christianity.

Ignorant lip worship is not true religion.

The Scripture speaketh expressly: 'They are not all Israel

which are of Israel' (Romans 9:6).  The practical lesson of those

words is clear and plain.  All are not true Christians

who are members of the visible church of Christ.

The true Christian is one whose religion is in his heart and life.

It is felt by himself in his heart.  It is seen by others in his conduct and life.

He feels his sinfulness, guilt and badness, and repents.

He sees Jesus Christ to be that divine Saviour whom his soul needs,

and commits himself to Him.

He puts off the old man with his corrupt and carnal habits,

and puts on the new man.  He lives a new and holy life,

fighting habitually against the world, the flesh and the devil.

Christ Himself is the corner-stone of his Christianity.

Ask him what he trusts for the forgiveness of his many sins,

and he will tell you, in the death of Christ.

Ask him in what righteousness he hopes to stand innocent at the

judgement day, and he will tell you it is the righteousness of Christ.

Ask him by what pattern he tries to frame his life, and he will tell you

that it is the example of Christ.

But, beside all this, there is one thing in a true Christian which is

eminently peculiar to him.  That thing is love to Christ.

Knowledge, faith, hope, reverence, obedience are all marked features

in a true Christian's character.  But his picture would be very

imperfect if you omitted his 'love' to his divine Master.

He not only knows, trusts and obeys.

He goes further than this -- he loves...

...Great as the danger is of him 'that believeth not',

the danger of him 'that loveth not' is equally great.

Not believing and not loving are both steps to everlasting ruin... 

...A man may lack clear head knowledge, and yet be saved.

He may fail in courage, and be overcome by the fear of man, like Peter.

He may fall tremendously, like David, and yet rise again.

But, if a man does not love Christ, he is not in the way of life.

The curse is yet upon him.  He is on the broad road that leadeth to destruction...

...If a man truly loves Christ, all is right;

if not, all is wrong...

...A true Christian loves Christ for all He has done for him.  

He has suffered in his stead, and died for him on the cross.

He has redeemed him from the guilt, the power and the consequences

of sin by His blood.  He has called him by His Spirit to self-knowledge,

repentance, faith, hope and holiness.

He has forgiven his many sins and blotted them out.

He has freed him from the captivity of the world, the flesh and the devil.

He has taken him from the brink of hell, placed him in the narrow way,

and set his face towards heaven.  He has given him light instead of darkness,

peace of conscience instead of uneasiness, hope instead of uncertainty,

life instead of death.  

Can you wonder that the true Christian loves Christ?

And he loves Him besides, for all that He is still doing.

He feels that He is daily washing away his many shortcomings and infirmities,

and pleading his soul's cause before God.  He is daily supplying all the needs

of his soul, and providing him with an hourly provision of mercy and grace.

He is daily leading him by His Spirit to a city of habitation,

bearing with him when he is weak and ignorant, raising him up 

when he stumbles and falls, protecting him against his many enemies,

preparing an eternal home for him in heaven.

Can you wonder that the true Christian loves Christ?...

...where there is real justifying faith in Christ,

there will always be heart love to Christ.  He that is really forgiven

is the man who will really love (Luke 7:47).

If a man has no love to Christ, you may be sure he has no faith."

**Quoted from "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle pages 234-237

With Love,
Camille

**Images in this post courtesy of Calvin ~ thank you my love. xoxo
(Image #1 ~ Anglesey, Wales; #2 ~ Mojave Desert, CA; #3 ~ Fairmont, BC)

With Christ

"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart,
and to be with Christ, which is far better."  Philippians 1:23

"Believers after death are 'with Christ'.

That answers many a difficult question, which otherwise might

puzzle man's busy, restless mind.  The abode of dead saints,

their joys, their feelings, their happiness, all seem to be met

by this simple expression -- they are 'with Christ'.

I cannot enter into full explanations about the separate 

state of departed believers.  It is a high and deep subject,

such as man's mind can neither grasp nor fathom.

I know their happiness falls short of what it will be when

their bodies are raised again, in the resurrection at the last day,

and Jesus returns to earth.  Yet I know also they enjoy a blessed rest,

a rest from labour, a rest from sorrow, a rest from pain -- and a rest from sin.

But it does not follow because I cannot explain these things,

that I am not persuaded they are far happier than they ever were on earth.

I see their happiness in this very passage:

they are 'with Christ', and when I see that I see enough.

If the sheep are with the Shepherd, if the members are with the Head,

if the children of Christ's family are with Him who loved them

and carried them all the days of their pilgrimage on earth,

all must be well, all must be right.

I cannot describe what kind of place paradise is,

because I cannot understand the condition of a soul separate from the body.

But I ask no brighter view of paradise than this -- that Christ is there.

All other things in the picture which imagination draws of the

state between death and resurrection, are nothing in comparison of this.

How He is there, and in what way He is there, I know not.

Let me only see Christ in paradise when my eyes close in death, and that sufficeth me.

Well does the Psalmist say, 

'In Thy presence is fullness of joy' (Ps. 16:11)...

...It may be you do not think much about your soul.

It may be you know little of Christ as your Saviour, and have never

tasted by experience that He is precious.  And yet perhaps you hope to 

go to paradise when you die.

Surely this passage is one that should make you think,

Paradise is a place where Christ is.

Then can it be a place that you would enjoy?

It may be you are a believer, and yet tremble at the thought of the grave.

It seems cold and dreary.  You feel as if all before you 

was dark and gloomy and comfortless.  Fear not, but be encouraged

by this text.  You are going to paradise, and Christ will be there."

Quoted from "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle pages 186-87

With Love, Camille

**Photos in this post were taken just days after
our Austin's body was laid to rest in his resurrection bed,
and later in the summer after a marker had been installed.

One Thing Needful

"Oh, it is a great thing in these days of unbelief to believe the whole Bible!

If you would ever be a healthy and scriptural Christian,

I entreat you to beware of any ministry which does not plainly

teach the reality and eternity of hell.

 Such a ministry may be soothing and pleasant,

but it is far more likely to lull you to sleep than to lead you to Christ,

or build you up in the faith.
 

It is impossible to leave out any portion of God's truth

without spoiling the whole.  That preaching is sadly defective

which dwells exclusively on the mercies of God and the joys of heaven,

and never sets forth the terrors of the Lord and the miseries of hell.

It may be popular, but it is not scriptural;

it may amuse and gratify, but it will not save.


 

Give me the preaching which keeps back nothing that God has revealed.

You may call it stern and harsh; you may tell us that to frighten people

is not the way to do them good.  But you are forgetting that the grand

object of the gospel is to persuade men to 'flee from the wrath to come',

and that it is vain to expect men to flee unless they are afraid.
 

Well would it be for many professing Christians

if they were more afraid about their souls than they now are!    
 

If you desire to be a healthy Christian, consider often what your own end will be.

Will it be happiness, or will it be misery?

Will it be the death of the righteous, or will it be death without hope...

 ...I beseech you, by the mercies of God, to look this question fairly in the face.
 

I entreat you not to stifle conscience by vague hopes of God's mercy,

while your heart cleaves to the world.

I implore you not to drown convictions by childish fancies about God's love,

while your daily ways and habits show plainly that 'the love of the Father is not in you'.


 

There is mercy in God, like a river,

but it is for the penitent believer in Christ Jesus.

There is a love in God towards sinners which is unspeakable and unsearchable, 

but it is for those who hear Christ's voice and follow Him.
 

Seek to have an interest in that love.

Break off every known sin; come out boldly from the world;

cry mightily to God in prayer; cast yourself wholly and unreservedly

on the Lord Jesus for time and eternity; lay aside every weight.
 

Cling to nothing, however dear, which interferes with your soul's salvation;

give up everything, however precious, which comes between you and heaven. 

This old shipwrecked world is fast sinking beneath your feet;

the one thing needful is to have a place in the lifeboat and get safe to shore.

Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.
 

Whatever happens to your house and property, see that you make sure of heaven.

Oh, better a million times be laughed at and thought extreme in this world,

than go down to hell from the midst of the congregation,

and end like Lot's wife!"
 

Quoted from "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle pages 172-174

With Love, Camille