Thrive

Whew . . . I can finally do a post about this book!  I had to wait until a) I finished it (last night in bed) and b) we discussed it at book club (last night before bed).  In the last week, it has changed hands many times at my house, mostly because all the kids were home, and I had two copies lying around. 

I have three words to say about Lina's new book:  Please Read It.  I know she promotes it as a book for singles, which it surely is, but her subtitle could just as well be "The Christian Life As God Intended".   This is a book for Everyman (and Everywoman), and every woman last night agreed that this was true. 

Lina's five attitudes to embrace are: contentment, self-control, holiness, understanding freedom, and undivided devotion to the Lord.  Is there room in your life for more of these?  We are so prone to wander, aren't we, so prone to leave the God we love.  Practicing these attitudes can get us back on track.  Read this book for motivation and deeper understanding of how a lack of these attitudes gets us way off track. 

Her four obstacles to overcome:  self-pity, bitterness, idolatry, and the lie of loneliness.  Raise your hand if you never struggle with any of these, and then read Lina's book and realize that you nibble at them more than you think.  If you know that you lean in the direction of any of these, learn from Lina how to lean back on Christ.  For He is the answer to all our obstacles.  He is our good, sovereign, perfect Redeemer. 

And this is one of the lies we believe: that God is not good to us. 
                               "Satan knew exactly how to get Eve.  All he had to do was
                               convince her that God simply wasn't good.  If God were good,
                               He wouldn't hold anything back from Eve, would He? [When was
                               the last time you believed that lie?]  And poor Eve fell for it. 
                               Next thing you know, she's stuck with a lifetime of clothes
                               shopping and epidurals."  (p. 226) 

In Thrive, Lina bares her soul and her struggles with sin with us.  Her honesty propels us to tell ourselves the truth about our own sin and its consequences, and then to fall more in love with the God Who has rescued us from both. 

Please.  Read.  It.