Earlier, I posted a review on this book and have been able to recommend it ever since. This is such an important topic in the life of every woman (not just young women). The Word commands us to live wisely: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time”. (Col 4.5). Mary tells her readers how to do this by comparing the wise woman of the Bible (Prov 31, Titus 2, etc) to the foolish woman found in Proverbs. This would be an excellent book for a summer Bible study!
Mary adds one more piece of the puzzle this week: as of May 18 she has posted the first in a series of Vlogs: video blogs with her discussing the book for about 5-7 minutes. This is an exciting tool to help fuel conversation in your group, or just to watch yourself and aid your study.
You can find these videos here.
Grow in wisdom.
Don't Waste Your Summer!
You can’t tell by the weather here in RDU today (or from what I hear in the ville as well), but we are more than halfway through the merry little month of May. Most schools are our or just about finishing up finals. College graduations have come and gone; so has Mother’s Day. Things are winding down – or gearing up for summer vacation.
How will you not waste your summer this year? How will I not waste mine?
Well, here are a few resources and tips; then I will share my ideas for my summer:
Johon Piper on Summer is for Seeing and Showing Christ:
God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute. If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. That’s what summer is: God’s messenger with a sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening letter of love to show us what he is planning for us in the age to come—“things which eye has notseen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Don’t fall in love with the video preview, and find yourself unable to love the coming reality.
Here are some things you can do:
1. Build community – this is why we have longer daylight hours – right?
2. Go see a movie on the side of a building (the NC Museum of Art does this at night)
3. Pick some fresh fruit or veggies. That is one way of caring for God’s creation that He gave us to subdue and work (and enjoy).
4. Read! What else are going to do with all that free time? Watch movies – play video games? Reading expands the mine!
5. Invest in your community around you. Go serve at a local park or shelter or at a year round school.
6. Travel – see the beauty that is God’s creation!
Here are mine:
1. Ministry: College bbq, College Summer Bible Study (going through Philippians), Summer Youth Bible Study (going through Wordliness by Mahaney with middle school girls), Impact Youth Camp, Singles Retreat, and daily life with folks.
2. Writing. Yes, maybe I’ll start this summer (part of my job).
3. Reading: Total Church, A Gospel Primer, War of Words, Future Grace, According to Plan, Parenting from the Pew, any others I should pick up?
4. Trying to lose these 10 lbs I’ve picked up since January 1.
5. Run in a half marathon.
There you have it. What are your plans? How are you NOT going to waste your summer?
“Don’t let the carnal thought take over your mind that summer is a spiritual void. That is not God’s view of things. He is displaying glories to be seen and worshiped. He is caressing the world with mercy (Matthew 5:45). His summer “kindness is meant to lead to repentance” (Romans 2:4). Let’s join God in his love for people in the summer and make it a fresh meeting with him in the light of his love.”
John Piper on Setting Our Minds on Things Above in Summer: