Growing up, my father would always encourage my sister and I that work was good for the soul. He modeled for us what it looked like to work diligently in all areas of life. While I learned a lot from my father in terms of working hard, I really struggled with viewing work as good and good for the soul. The fact is that my father was not far from a biblical truth that begins in Genesis. Work is good for the soul, because God made mankind with the purpose of doing fruitful work and labor in his garden, but man's sin made our work toilsome and difficult, and now we're longing for the redemption of all things, including work. James M. Hamilton explores this idea of work in his book Work and Our Labor in the Lord. A short but helpful book, Hamilton explores four aspects of our work: creation, work after the fall, redemption, and restoration. I've been thinking a lot about work and calling over the past few months and have read several books that focus on why we were made and how we should live out our calling and be good stewards of our callings (Made for More, You Are Free, and What's Best Next). However, this book gives a great introduction to why God made work, why work is good for us, why work is so hard, and how work can and will be redeemed or restored through Jesus. Here are some standout quotes: “Work is neither punishment nor cursed drudgery but an exalted, Godlike activity” If you're looking for a book with a helpful biblical perspective on work and how work will be redeemed, Work and Our Labor in the Lord should be on your list. Related Posts The Work of God's Fingers Confessions of A Creative Christian Shadows of Heavenly Things The Amazon links to the books mentioned above are affiliate links. If you click on the links and purchase any of the books, this blog is supported at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting She Laughs Without Fear!
I received a free copy of Work and Our Labor in the Lord in exchange for an honest review from Crossway.
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Several bloggers that I follow shared about this book (You Are Free) by Rebekah Lyons a couple months ago, sharing that it encouraged them in thinking through what it means to walk in freedom. I'll admit, I was skeptical about this book. Sometimes I avoid books if they seem like they might be "fluffy". This book was definitely not fluffy, but it's also not what I expected. When I see a book labeled You Are Free with a foreword written by Ann Voskamp, I expect the book to be the working out of deep theological truths a la the Book of Romans style. I expected to read a book that seeks to help women understand what it means to walk in the freedom of Christ as described in so many different passages of the Bible. What I found in this book was different from what I expected, but no less helpful. You Are Free is not a book that takes specific passages and shows their implications to our lives and how the Bible itself can help us to walk in freedom. This book is one woman sharing vulnerably about the areas in her life where she was not walking in freedom in the identity that she has in Jesus Christ, and some of the ways that the Lord worked in out in her heart. This book is primarily an autobiography of what it looked like for one woman to grow in her relationship with Jesus. I appreciate learning from other women as they live our their faith in their day to day life, but I did not expect this theme to be the main thrust of the book. While I'm sad that there weren't more practicals or Scriptures in the book that might encourage women to see the ways that they are not walking in freedom from sin, I did appreciate Rebekah Lyons prose and sharing specific things that God has been teaching her about living in freedom. Here are some takeaways that I had while reading this book: Remember the Joy of the Lord Rebekah takes a chapter to talk about how she realized that she had lost her joy. In doing, doing, and doing, she no longer felt the joy of the Lord in her life, and her children saw it in their mother's smile. Reading this chapter was like an alarm, and I found myself thinking and praying through, "Am I intentional in remembering the joy that I have in Jesus?" The answer is that I often do not take the time to remember the joy of my salvation and the joy that I have in Jesus. This chapter made me think through and evaluate whether I make intentional space in my life for thanksgiving and offering prayers of thankfulness to God. It made me think through the ways in which I can enjoy Jesus more. It made me think through whether my prayer focus for May should be thinking through the things that rob me from my joy in the Lord. As an added bonus, when my joy is in Jesus, it is easier for me to walk in freedom from sin, because when I give into sin, I believe the lie that it will satisfy me or bring me more joy than Jesus. And it never does. Thinking through what it looks like to put my joy in the Lord is immensely helpful in terms of living free and remembering who I am in Jesus. Short Prayers Can Be Powerful Rebekah shared a number of prayers that she wrote in her journal as she was working through walking in freedom from anxiety and depression and panic attacks. I really appreciated her sharing these short prayers. Something as simple as Lord, please show up in my sleep has a lot of power. It made me realize how often I forget to pray or talk to the Lord and I can simply talk to Him, even if it's a short prayer like Lord, please help me to remember who I am in Jesus. The Lord Sets Us Free So That We Can Help Others Walk In Freedom Something I appreciated about Rebekah Lyons' testimony in this book is how the Lord setting her free from anxiety and panic attacks has actually allowed her to love and care for others and point them towards the freedom that they can have in Jesus. She shared a story in which she was on a plane and a woman started having a panic attack. God used that as an opportunity for her to love and care for that woman and walk her through the panic attack and then even share about Jesus with her. She is now able to use her freedom as a means to help others to walk in freedom as well. Review Summary When it comes to recommending this book, I would recommend this book to women that enjoy reading about someone else's walk of faith. I gleaned a lot of nuggets from Rebekah Lyons and her relationship with Jesus, and there is much that we can learn and be encouraged by from other followers of Jesus. However, I would not recommend this as the first book someone should read if they want to walk in freedom from sin or want to know what it means to be made free by Jesus Christ. For someone that wants to walk in freedom and know what it means to be free, I would recommend reading Romans 6 or Colossians 3 or both of those books of Scripture in their entirety. If you want to learn more about the book or even read the first chapter, you can do so here: You Are Free. The Amazon links to the book mentioned above are affiliate links. If you click on the links and purchase any of the books, this blog is supported at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting She Laughs Without Fear! I received a free copy of You Are Free in exchange for an honest review from Book Look Bloggers.
Reading is a discipline that I'm learning blesses others more than it blesses me. While I might glean nuggets of wisdom that challenge and grow my heart, the nuggets I receive actually end up loving and serving the friend that I talk with later on. I've read a lot of books like this over the past month, books that encouraged me and might just encourage you, which is why I like to share about them. So here are a few books that I've been reading over the past few months and how they might encourage you. Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson A few weeks back, I wrote a blog post called When Humility Brings Peace as a result of reflecting upon reading Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson. I was deeply encouraged by Anderson's writing and her connections from the Bible in regards to humility and peace. Her main point: you are not God and you desperately and dependently need Him, and the humility of that statement brings peace. I've been walking through a season where the Lord is showing me my desperate need and dependence on Him and how important it is that I abide in Jesus. If you're looking for peace in your life, I would recommend this book to you. PS: the chapter on transplanting vines is my favorite because it relates directly to abiding in Jesus. Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus by Mark Dever If you're looking for a short but helpful book that will help you in the process of helping others grow in their walks with Christ, this book is for you. Immensely practical, Dever gives a definition of discipleship (doing spiritual good to others to help them grow in their relationship with Jesus), and gives helpful practicals of what that looks like. As someone that loves discipleship (giving and receiving), I would love to see others grow in thinking through how God has called them and equipped them from the Bible to be disciples and to help others to be disciples. The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines I'm a big fan of Fixer Upper and the business model that Chip and Joanna Gaines employ. They use their business to love other people like Jesus and have a heart to see the restoration of homes. They're in the business of restoration, and I am too! (Just in the business of heart restoration through Christ.) This book was an enjoyable read, and it encouraged me in hearing what God has done through the lives of this couple and their business. If you like Fixer Upper or Magnolia, this book is a great read for you! If you want to read a book about a couple that use their business to glorify God and love others, this book is for you as well. If you just want an autobiographical read... you got it, this is for you! Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God's Image by Hannah Anderson I just finished reading this book, and I am so thankful that I did. I read it at just the right time, when I needed to be reminded that I am made in the image of God and for a purpose. If you're in a place where you feel purposeless or that you're not living up to your true potential or just discouraged in the things that God has called you to, then this book is a timely read for you! After finishing Made for More, I've taken a fair amount of time to think through how God has made me and in what specific ways He is calling me to image Him in my work and my day-to-day life, and have been invigorated in my work by how I can reflect the Lord. How about you, my friends? Have you read any books lately that you would recommend? Send some love and comment your titles below! The Amazon links to the books mentioned above are affiliate links. If you click on the links and purchase any of the books, this blog is supported at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting She Laughs Without Fear!
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