And a Book Goes to…..

Posted on Friday, October 21, 2011 by Becky Pliego

Friday has arrived and with it, the news of the winner of the children’s book give-away!

I did not have time to take a picture yesterday to announce the happy winner, so I pulled from my archives, a picture of one of our dogs. She is very pretty and I thought that your children might enjoy looking at her. (By the way, I took this picture two weeks ago, now look at the Fall colors in Mexico!)

Her name is Kima and she sleeps mostly all day; sometimes she is awake, and of course, as you can imagine, she is a pretty good eater.

Kima, then, is our “guest” today and she is happy to announce our winner.

Ready?

Well, the winner of last week’s children’s book give-away is :

Analucia! (Oasis’ daughter)

Congratulations, Analucia! I pray you will be blessed by reading the beautiful story of the Prince’s Poison Cup.

Have a blessed weekend!

Becky

Good Books for Girls and Boys (8-11) -And a Giveaway-

Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2011 by Becky Pliego

Earlier this week I posted J.R. Miller’s exhortation about how we must be careful on which books we choose to read; and I am pretty sure that this is something we need to teach to our children pretty soon in life. We want them to be readers but wise readers. Readers that grow not only as independent readers but readers that love to read good books, books that challenge them to grow in virtue and character, and having this in mind let us look at these books.

My friend Hollie asked me which books I would recommend for her 9yo girl; so I thought I would share my answer with you all including books for both, boys and girls. But to make this list even richer, I asked some of my friends (most of them Classical educators) to list some their favorite ones, and they did add some good books to the list. Look at it, see what you think and why not, suggest few more in the comments.

The Long List:

Black Ships Before Troy (The Story of the Iliad) is a book that I really enjoyed reading with my girl. We found many good opportunities to talk about love, marriage, and faithfulness in the light of God’s Word. (VP Comprehension Guide)

and also the Iliad retold for children by the same author, In Search of a Homeland.

If you would like to read and enjoy a good book of Shakespeare stories for children, I would really recommend you the series by Leon Garfield (book I and book II). I love the style, and the illustrations. Just wonderful!

Charlotte’s Web (Isabel’s suggestion)

Chronicles of Narnia

The Hobbit (Literature Guide here) Santiago and Isabel read this book together, and it was so much fun to see them enjoying themselves.

From Dark to Dawn. A Tale of Martin Luther and the Reformation

Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History

These Books from Ligonier

This book is in our wish list; maybe to celebrate Reformation day…

Ligonier Shop

Or this one as a fun introduction to Church History:

See more here

This is a favorite one here:


Ligonier Shop

How important it is to introduce our children to the great biographies of men in the Church History, and Simonetta Carr has done an excellent job writing an amazing series for our children.

Monergism carries all her books.

Another favorite, a rare jewel is Divine and Moral Songs for Children by Isaac Watts, an excellent book for memorization projects, or just to read aloud and reflect on the words. (I wrote more about it here and here)

Elizabeth @ Finding the Motherlode recommends these:

The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques,
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster,
The Trumpeter Swan by E.B. White,
Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry

Elizabeth H. says “I love the historical fiction titles that Christian Focus Publications puts out.”

Brenda likes the American Girl series, and I have to say that Annie enjoyed reading those on her leisure time when she was little.

Amy recommends: The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson, and anything on Ambleside Online’s reading list!

Katy says, “In addition to the classics like RL Stevenson, Lewis, and Tolkien, we have enjoyed Donita K Paul, most everything by Edith Nesbit, and even the new Theodore Boone by Grisham.”

Norma likes:

Grandpa’s Box,(by Starr Meade, and I would like to mention here that she is one of my favorite contemporary authors for children, who writes from a solid Reformed Theology background. See more books of her here)
The Building on the Rock series (5 books)
The Squire and the Scroll
And some classics like, Where the Red Fern Grows.

Sue, whose children are now in a Liberal Arts college, says, “My kids liked the Redwall series…over and over again.”

And Amy Lee said she liked, when she was that age, Grandma’s Attic books by Arleta Richardson and Childhood of Famous Americans books (available used or at many public libraries).

Lastly, I must say that I am decided to read more fiction books to my little one, like the ones N.D. Wilson has written. My oldest have read them and love them, so I am thinking that even though fantasy is not my favorite genre, I really want to feed Isabel’s soul with stories. (plus, I enjoyed reading Wilson’s book Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, his style is one that captures your attention fully.)

Looking through all these wonderful books, and because in October we celebrate The Reformation and my little girl’s birthday, I thought I would host a giveaway. This time however, is for your little ones, which means the “rules” will be different.

Your child (8- 11 yo) must choose which book he or she would like to win (yes, call him and show him the options; or call your grandchildren on the phone -or Skype- and ask them which one will they want to read); then leave a comment with your child’s favorite option. If you have more than one child entering the drawing, please leave a separate comment for each one of them.

The options are:

1. The Barber Who Wanted to Pray by R.C. Sproul

2. Boys and Girls Playing by J.C. Ryle

or

3. Trial and Triumph by Richard M. Hannula

4. The Prince’s Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul

The winner will be announced next Friday, October 21.

Please, feel free to share the goodness with your friends!

May your weekend be full of good books and family time,

Becky

Not one, but THREE winners!

Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by Becky Pliego

We have one THREE winners of the book A Method for Prayer by Matthew Henry.

I was so happy with your responses that I wanted to give each one of you one copy! So instead of one I decided to give three books away.

Please, email me your address as soon as possible if you want your copy in the mail pretty soon 🙂

May His grace abound as we grow closer to Him in prayer.

Becky

*If you are interested in getting this book, you can buy it at a great price at Reformation Heritage Books.

How to use Matthew Henry’s Method for Prayer

Posted on Thursday, September 8, 2011 by Becky Pliego

When our schedule is full, and big changes are happening, the only thing we should never stop doing is praying; other things can wait, prayer can’t. We cannot live a Christian life if we don’t live it in prayer; if we don’t come to Him every day in prayer and in the Word.

Prayer goes hand in hand with the Word of God, and when we pray God’s Word we know we are praying according to His will and that our prayers are God-centered. One way to do this is to pray as we read the Scriptures; pray as we memorize it, pray as we meditate on a certain passage. Another way that has been a blessing to me is use Matthew Henry’s Method for Prayer (which is full of prayers based solely on the Scriptures). I have used this book; consistently for more than a year and I have shared many prayers, and quotes with you in this place. Today, however, I want to take the time to explain you how I use it; so if you get the book (or happen to win it here!), you’ll find it easier to start including it some days in your prayer time.

A Method of Prayer has 9 chapters that can be used as companions, aids in our daily prayer :

1. Adoration (with suitable Acknowledgments, Professions, and Preparatory Requests.
2. Confession of Sin
3. Petition and Supplication
4. Thanksgiving
5. Intercession
6. Addresses to God upon Particular Occasions (We use this chapter differently)
7. Of the Conclusion of our Prayers.

Notice how these follow the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer, and are God-centered.

So first, I recommend you to get some post-it© banners (like these or these); one for each section. Each section is subdivided, this means that you will be praying a subdivision from each chapter every time you use this guide in your prayer time.

This is an example:

1. (From Ch 1.1) We must solemnly address ourselves to that infinitely great and glorious Being with whom we have to do, as those who are possessed with a full belief of his presence and a holy awe and reverence of his Majesty, which we may do in such expressions as these

2. (From Ch. 2.1) We must acknowledge the great reason we have to lie very low before God and to be ashamed of ourselves when we come into his presence and to be afraid of his wrath, having made ourselves both odious to his holiness and obnoxious to his justice.

3. (From Ch. 3:1) We must earnestly pray for the pardon and forgiveness of all our sins.

4. (From Ch. 4.1) We must stir up ourselves to praise God with the consideration both of the reason and of the encouragement we have to praise him.

5. (From Ch. 5.1) We must pray for the whole world of mankind, the lost world; and thus, we must honor everyone, and, according to our capacity, do good to everyone.

6. (From Ch. 7.1) We may then sum up our requests in some comprehensive petitions, as the conclusion of the whole matter.

As I read each prayer (I did not post the complete prayers here for the sake of space), I add my own personal prayer to it; I only use these prayers as a guide; as I don’t want to repeat just for the sake of repeating them. (If you click on the links above, you will go to the online version of the book; which I would not recommend you to use in private prayer. It could be very distracting. I am sure you’d agree.)

When I come to the Intercession section, is the time I pray for the special requests of my family and friends. (It is very useful to keep those prayer needs written down because we want to be faithful in praying for those who ask us to pray for them).

In chapter 6 we find different prayers for particular occasions such as :

– In our morning and evening prayers.
– Prayers for those days when we are going on a journey.
– Prayers in the evening before the Lord’s Day; on the morning of the Lord’s Day.
– Prayer in our preparation for the Lord’s Supper; in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and after celebrating the Lords Supper.
– Prayers upon the occasion of the cares, and burdens, and afflictions of particular persons.
– And many more.

We can include one of these as part of our prayer time, when we intercede for others.

As I finish reading one section; I move my post-it banner to the next subdivision in each particular chapter; so the next day I won’t lose my place.

Chapter 8 presents a Paraphrase on the Lord’s Prayer, in Scripture Expressions. It is very long, so I read sometimes one section from it instead of the rest.

Chapter 9 includes some short forms of prayer; for example a prayer to be used by children, a morning prayer for the family, an evening prayer for the family, family prayers for the Lord’s Day, a prayer proper to be put by parents for their children, and different addresses before and after a meal.

The book also includes three discourses by Matthew Henry, that I have found very profitable and encouraging. I have read them several times. In the first one he shows how to begin every day with God; the second is on how to spend the day with God; and the third is on how to close the day with God.

Few “warnings” (if I should call them so) about this book:

1. It should NEVER substitute the Word of God.
2. You should NEVER hear yourself saying: “Without it I just can’t pray”

Now, maybe you are asking, Why a prayer method? From experience I can mention some benefits:

1. It has helped me to pray in so many different ways that I never used to; it has widen and enriched my prayer life; and it has helped me learn to pray God-centered prayers, instead of me-centered.

2. It has helped me to spend more time in prayer. Now I can’t pray only few minutes and then just start running through the day. It has helped me to discipline myself to stay in God’s presence and meditate on His Word for longer periods.

3. I highly recommend this prayer companion, because it only uses Bible verses put together in sentences, and paragraphs. And it points you to each verse that the author is quoting. This helps me to search the Scriptures too. (I love the Valley of Vision, for example, but even though those are wonderful prayers, when I pray over them -and I do sometimes- I know I am not reciting the Word of God; but other saints’ words.)

4. I have also learned to pray consistently over the Scriptures as I read them.

5. Don’t laugh about this…. but it has helped me not to fall asleep in prayer when I am super tired! Yes, I bring my companion, and my journal and I write short prayer or Scripture passages; this is a great help indeed for tired and sleepy mommies.

The most natural way to finish this post, is by hosting a giveaway of this book; don’t you think so? So, if you are interested please leave a comment saying that you want to enter it. The providential winner will be announced Tuesday, September 13. (You don’t have to be a follower of this blog to enter this giveaway, but it would be nice if you could pass the voice around!) UPDATE: GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

Under His sun and by His Grace,

Becky

>Two Giveaways. Two Books. Two facebook Pages.

Posted on Friday, July 8, 2011 by Becky Pliego

I wish I would be here today

Isn’t this an amazing shot? I wish I could be there even now! I love Katie Lloyd ‘s Photography, she is very talented and I just love all the prints on her shop. You have seen her art featured here several times (and will still see it in the future), and I wish you to know that I have her permission to do so. Thanks Katie!

Our Friday looks pretty ordinary, with the exception that we are not eating home, but are planning to eat in a Mexican taco place that my children and their friends (our two hosts from the USA) really enjoy. And for those of you who doesn’t know, we live in Mexico, so when I say a Mexican restaurant please, forget about the stereotype you have in mind. I am talking about great food here.

I still have to finish ordering the books for the new school year, and cleaning our school room. Let’s see how much I can do today. I really want to do this hanging book display for our little girl’s books; I just wished my mom were not in Canada, so she could help me! (Yes, I know it is easy, at least it looks easy, but I must admit that the needle, the sawing machine and things like that are not my friends. I love projets that involve fabric and glue. Sorry to disappoint you.)

Tutorial here

Well, now to the exciting part of this post: We (Diane @Theology for Girls and I) are hosting a fun giveaway on The Doctrines in the Kitchen Facebook page in which I am giving away one of my favorite books:

Read description at Monergism Books

and on the new Theology for Girls Facebook Page, Diane is giving away another excellent commentary, that has blessed my soul (actually the one I have, was a gift from her!). Plus, you will be excited to know that the book will be signed by Robert Bucknell (who happens to be Diane’s husband), the artist of the Spurgeon portrait on the cover.