Parenting By God's Promises by Joel Beeke

-
I kept being drawn to this book, but hadn't picked it up yet. When I was given the chance to review it, I jumped at it. I am glad that I did too.

Now, let me tell you, the book starts off with the rather controversial topic of infant baptism and how we interpret the covenant of Abraham this side of the cross for our children. I had a parent in the Baptist church and one in the Lutheran one so I saw both sides of the coin. Really, I think the only real problem in this area are the churches that teach infant baptism saves you. Most churches do not teach this. The sacrament is faith in the covenant promises that God gave to Abraham. Each person must come to Christ in faith regardless of if they were baptized as an infant or dedicated. I thought Joel's exegesis on the subject was brilliant, researched, and well thought out. No matter your opinion on this, the rest of the book is worth your read.

The rest of the book was honey to a weary parents soul. He not only tackled topics with a genuine godly perspective, he added practical advice. Tackling the subject of the will and the sin nature, he encouraged the reader to pursue truth and grace in equilibrium.

I honestly was greatly convicted and encouraged by this book. There were so many things addressed about how our character guides our children. I wished I could give a copy to all my friends because I have found great freedom in the words of scripture found in this book. There are always ideas coming at us from every area telling us how to parent. Use discernment in what you choose.

Joel also wrote another little book I love. It is entitled God's Alphabet For Life.

Dr. Joel Beeke is president and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, a pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, editor of Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice-president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. He has written, co-authored, or edited seventy books.

This book was graciously provided for review by Ligionier Ministries.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

David Crowder's House Restoration

-
Image
A recent edition of Waco Today featured David Crowder's six year renovation project(we had to go check it out). I said a quiet prayer that God would let our house be completed before six years was up for us and then I dove in to the details. David and his wife bought the home of the man who invented Dr. Pepper. It is encouraging to see something that took so much effort and energy come to completion. May we soon see the same thing. You can read the story of the Crowder renovation here .
Read more

A Writer's Callous

-
Image
Alright, baby photo below. Quit emailing me! ;-) I remember having a writer's callous when I was five years old. In my adolescence I hated it. Now, I find it fascinating. Almost as long as I have been alive I have borne a mark that declares I am passionate about something in such a way that it bores into my skin. I have been blessed with wonderful Apple products to use and I still prefer writing things out. I heard Michelle Pfeiffer say David Kelley writes out all of his award winning shows on yellow legal pad. I like that. I prefer a journal and a real wood pencil (the kind that are stained, not the yellow ones.) There's something romantic about it to me. Writing is a choice medium in my relationship with God . I love to prayer journal. I pour out thanks for every minute that I get to spend doing it. In last weeks post I told you that God broke my Mac so I would spend some time alone with Him (then I can have it back in January). Shortly thereafter the enemy came in tel...
Read more

Miscarriage | Infertility | Hope

-
Image
I encountered Jesus as a young child in a church pew in the balcony of an old country church. Through a lifetime of trial, I knew he was there. I did not always know or understand what he wanted of me, but I knew I was wanted. We could go through all of the pain and abuse of my life and unpack each tiny detail, but that is not what this is really about. I love what Frederick Buechner said, “Pain is not the biggest thing that has ever happened to you.” That is true. I have beheld far greater glory. As I clung to his word through all of this, I knew he was there.   My story about trying begins long before I began trying to have children. I tell you this because almost half of the population has been abused in some way. The attack on my uterus began when I was four-years-old. I spent most of my life believing that I was broken and I was crippled by shame. I carried that shame into every relationship I had. As I encountered people in the church, I never felt safe enough to ask for...
Read more