In Psalm 19, David describes God’s “two books” —the book of nature, through which God is speaking of his existence, power, and glory, and the book of Scripture, through which he provides much more extensive knowledge of his works and ways.
David was committed to making a close study of both of these forms of revelation and kept a “pad and pencil” at hand so he could reflect on them. The words he jotted down became the words of this wonderful psalm. His close study of God’s revelation led to the concluding verses, where David prays that God will show him his sins and faults, that God would motivate him to live a blameless and innocent life.
Tozer once said that “an honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly,” and Psalm 19 provides a clear example from the life of David. His closing words are a prayer for each of us: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LoRD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

As you know, I like to do my best to sort through the new Christian books that are released each month to see what stands out as being not only new, but also particularly notable. I received quite a number of books in January and narrowed the list down to the ones below. I have included the editorial description for each. I hope there’s something here that catches your eye!

Mothering Against Futility: Balancing Meaning and Mundanity in the Fear of the Lord by Simona Gorton. “Simona Gorton calls women to embrace the God–glorifying tension between the seemingly meaningless work and the weighty responsibility of motherhood. We know the gospel impacts the repetitive, mundane work so inherent in homemaking and mothering, but how does that knowledge work itself out in the fabric of late nights and spilled oatmeal? As mothers, we live in the tension between the seemingly meaningless ‘everyday’ of our callings and the magnificent realities of the gospel and what God promises to do through us as mothers as we raise up the next generation to His glory. This book was written to showcase how God uniquely uses the ‘vanity’ inherent in the work of motherhood to display the beauties of the gospel in and through us as we fix our eyes on its truth.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Joyful Outsiders: Six Ways to Live Like Jesus in a Disorienting Culture by Patrick Miller & Keith Simon. “You probably feel more like an outsider in our culture today than you did ten years ago. If that’s the case, you’re not alone. The question is, what kind of outsider will you become? Will you become a combative outsider and rage against your enemies? Will you become a conformist outsider and mirror the world around you? Will you become a conflict-averse outsider and avoid confrontation at all costs? Jesus has so much for you. He’s called you to be a joyful outsider like him. He was crucified as an outcast outside the city. Now he welcomes you to join him; to die to yourself and discover that sacrificial love has the power to change the world. In Joyful Outsiders, pastors Patrick Miller and Keith Simon will train you how to be a joyful outsider by laying out six ways to navigate a confusing culture at home, at work, and beyond. They draw on the examples of biblical characters to introduce six types of joyful outsiders: the artist, the protestor, the builder, the advisor, the ambassador, and the trainer.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Meet Me in the Bible series by Colleen Searcy. “Meet Me in the Bible” is a series of 8-week Bible studies by Colleen Searcy. The series is launching with 2 volumes now and 2 more becoming available in May. The initial volumes cover Colossians & Philemon and The Story of Abraham. Every volume in the series offers: a simple 5-step framework for studying any book of the Bible, individually or in a group; a bookmark, ample space for note-taking, discussion questions, and helpful appendixes for further study; an inductive approach to studying Scripture; a unique combination of Scripture Journal and Bible Reading Guide; and spiral-bound pages that lie flat to make reading and writing more comfortable. (Buy them at Amazon)

How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith by Sam Luce & Hunter Williams. “What comes to mind when you think about teaching theological truths to children? Glazed eyes? Over-their-head discussions? Theology doesn’t have to be ‘too deep for kids.’ For kids to stand firm in a culture that suppresses the truth of Christianity, we need to give them a grand view of God that overwhelms their hearts and fills them with wonder. A child’s faith is only as strong as the God they believe in. For their faith to be great, they need to learn about their great God. In each chapter, the authors diagnose problems that hinder leaders from teaching kids theology, explain principles to combat these problems, and suggest practices for applying these principles to your ministry.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian by Mark Farnham. “Do you want to defend your faith but aren’t sure where to begin? Mark Farnham’s accessible guidebook simplifies apologetics and empowers Christians to effectively present the gospel in all its glory and rationality. This new edition includes practice case studies, chapter review questions, and a new chapter on engaging in gospel conversations over the long term.” Fred Zaspel says of it: “Marvelously clear, practical, and emboldening. Excellent guidance for anyone who seeks to be more faithful and effective in gospel advance.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

The Unvarnished Jesus: The Beauty of Christ and His Ugly Rivals by Samuel G. Parkison. “Samuel G. Parkison makes a startling claim: Jesus is the most beautiful man to ever exist. His defence is theoretical and experiential: he knows him to be ultimate beauty and he has experienced him to be so. Deconstructing cultural notions that beauty is subjective or sentimental, Parkison constructs an impressive picture of God’s breathtaking beauty. On this firm foundation, the only building to rise is one that testifies to Jesus, the God–man, as the most beautiful man that ever lived.” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord Is King, Volume 2, Psalms 42 to 106 by James A. Johnston (Preaching the Word Commentary). This is now the second volume of a 3-volume set covering all 150 psalms. “The Psalms is one of the most widely loved books of the Bible. A source of instruction for our prayers, inspiration for our songs, and consolation for our tears, these biblical poems resound with the whole spectrum of human emotion and teach us to hope in God each and every day. In the second volume of a 3-part commentary on the Psalms, pastor James Johnston walks readers through chapters 42–106, offering exegetical and pastoral insights along the way. Edited by R. Kent Hughes, the Preaching the Word expository series is an essential resource for anyone interested in studying, teaching, or preaching the Bible.” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Complete Gathered Gold: A Treasury of Quotations for Christians by John Blanchard. “Throughout his more than sixty years of ministry, John Blanchard, author of Ultimate Questions and Does God Believe in Atheists?, learned from hundreds of Christian men and women. The Complete Gathered Gold collects more than fifteen thousand of his favorite quotations on over six hundred subjects. Christians can find nuggets of wisdom on every topic, from ‘adoption’ to ‘zeal.’ The Complete Gathered Gold is sure to be a treasure trove for preachers, teachers, and everyday believers whenever they want to read a gem of truth.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World by Melissa Dougherty. “Have you ever wondered how we ended up in a world where personal feelings could become the authority for reality? Or why so many of us are on a relentless pursuit for happiness yet somehow feel more exhausted and sadder than ever? You’re not alone. Melissa deftly traces the roots of today’s social chaos back to a little-known (but very influential) 1800s philosophy known as New Thought. A former follower of its teachings, Melissa provides clarity and compassion mixed with a dash of loving snark as she exposes New Thought’s deceptions and its many concerning tendrils within the church and our ‘self-help’ culture. You’ll be shocked, grieved, and encouraged as you learn: How you can experience true freedom, hope, and peace instead of the world’s counterfeits; How an anti-God ideology so easily hijacked Christian-sounding ideas; Why thinking positively is entirely different from the unbiblical and burdensome ‘positive thought’ movement; How understanding the New Thought mindset can help us share our faith more effectively; and much more.” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Appearing of God Our Savior: A Theology of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus by Claire Smith. “The letters of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus were written by Paul to trusted coworkers toward the end of his apostolic ministry. As Paul’s delegates, they were to teach and defend the truth, model godly living, and ensure that godly church leadership was in place. But these letters are more than just a how-to guide for ministry. In this volume of the New Testament Theology series, Claire Smith explores the central themes and theology of each letter, which consistently focus on God’s eternal plan in Christ to save a people for himself. Emphasizing that we live between the two appearings of Christ Jesus in history, Smith encourages readers to live in this present time as God’s household (1 Timothy), how to endure suffering as believers (2 Timothy), and how to live in an unbelieving world (Titus).” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Quiet Time Kickstart: Six Weeks to a Healthy Bible Habit by Rachel Jones. “Kickstart your quiet time and discover the joy of spending time with God in his word. Beginning with short, simple 5-minute devotions that are easy to make time for, this little guide will kickstart a daily Bible-reading routine. It’s ideal for anyone new to reading the Bible or anyone struggling to spend regular time in God’s word. The devotions gradually increase in length over the course of six weeks and offer focused guidance on understanding the Bible. So by the time you finish, you’ll have the skills and confidence you need to read and enjoy Scripture for yourself—and make your quiet time a habit for life.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Our Daily Food: Or Portions for the Lord’s Household by James Smith. “James Smith was a prolific writer, and his daily readings and devotionals in particular were highly esteemed and hugely popular. ‘My object,’ said our author, ‘is to lead the mind from self–to Jesus; from sin—to salvation; from the troubles of life—to the comforts of the gospel. My aim is to humble the sinner—and exalt the Saviour; to strip the creature—and place the crown on the head of God’s free grace! I cannot ascribe too much to Jesus—or too little to man!’ Some daily devotionals are longer, and demand a fair amount of time. Some are briefer, and take a few moments to read over. These golden nuggets of truth will take only a moment to consider, but will give you matter for a day’s consideration and comfort.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Our Great Redeemer: 365 Days with J. C. Ryle by Bryan Schrank (editor). This one actually released at the end of 2024 but I missed it until now. You couldn’t go wrong spending a year with Ryle! “J. C. Ryle knew that there was only one way to prepare for Christ’s return: to know Him as Our Great Redeemer. This compilation of 365 powerful readings from Ryle’s preaching and writing is rich with the grace, truth, and conviction that defined Jesus’s ministry. Spend this year meditating on the glory of Christ with one of the great evangelical leaders of the nineteenth century in this new devotional.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Missional Wear who also sponsored the blog this week.

Missional Wear has got your back this Christmas with amazing and unique gifts that you can’t find anywhere else! It’s important to do your online shopping early because of anticipated shipping delays that are expected to be even more challenging than last year. Because of this they have released their Black Friday doorbuster deals earlier than ever. Now is the time to get your orders in while getting some of the deepest discounts of the year! Don’t miss the early Black Friday Deals! Also check out the full 2021 Reformed Gift Guide.

The new ugly Christmas sweatshirts are very popular this year and are available only for a limited time. Some sizes are already close to selling out! You can save 10% on these sweatshirts this weekend only by using discount code CHALLIES.
Five winners will be able to choose between an ugly Christmas sweatshirt or a $75 gift certificate to buy whatever you want!
Enter Here
The format is changing a little this week in order to increase your odds of winning! You will be able to earn extra entries by taking actions such as sharing this giveaway on social media, following our various social media accounts, and even subscribing to my YouTube channel and podcast. You may earn as many entries as you wish! Also, the giveaway will be extended through Monday at noon to allow as many people as possible to participate and share. If you are viewing this through email, click here to enter or visit my site and enter there.