Christian Book Notes

Brownback, Lydia. Purity. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2010. 136 pp. $10.99. Purchase at Westminster for $7.80.

Introduction

Lydia Brownback is the author of the series “On-the-Go-Devotionals” written with the busy woman in mind. Lydia is a conference speaker as well as a book editor for a Christian publishing company.

Summary

Joy is one of those emotions, though Lydia makes the implicit case that joy is not an emotion but a lifestyle, that we all struggle with.  In women, it may be a bit more difficult to cultivate given the daily duties as a wife, mom, and maybe professional.  Beginning with joy in going forward in life, Lydia takes her readers on a journey of cultivating a lifestyle of joy in all things culminating in finding your joy in God’s love.  Along the road, you will discover how to have joy in forgiving, letting go, being vulnerable, praying, trusting, and submission among many other areas of life.

Review

To find joy in every situation is tough.  Sometimes, seeking for the joy can actually become idolatrous.  What I mean by that is rather than looking to Christ, you seek the “silver lining” or the joy in every situation thus taking your focus from Christ.  Lydia does a masterful job of guiding her readers to cultivating a biblical understanding of joy.  Again, she does not write about joy as an emotion.  Rather, she writes of joy as a lifestyle. 

Each chapter is written in short, succinct messages allowing for more thought and meditation than simply reading and forgetting.  These devotionals will stick with the reader throughout the day and hopefully throughout her life. 

Recommendation

As with all of the “On-the-Go Devotions,” I highly recommend Joy to any woman looking to truly be joyous in every situation in life–even if that is in changing a diaper!

Brownback, Lydia.  Purity.  Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2010.  136 pp.  $10.99.  Purchase at Westminster for $7.47.

Introduction

Lydia Brownback is the author of the series “On-the-Go-Devotionals“ written with the busy woman in mind.  Lydia is a conference speaker as well as a book editor for a Christian publishing company.

Summary

The sub-theme of all the “On-the-Go Devotionals” is “A godly woman’s adornment.”  Purity takes a look at the woman’s heart and how she is to be singly devoted to the pursuit of a pure heart.  The second part looks at the fruit of biblical purity in a woman’s life. 

The first fruit is that of feminine purity.  Here, the woman is challenged to know and understand her biblical role as a woman–especially in the context of marriage.  The second fruit looks at the body.  Here, she is challenged to glorify God with her body throughout life. 

The third fruit is sexual purity.  (As a guy, I was stunned (in a good way) by this section.)  Sexual purity took on a much deeper meaning for me as I read through these chapters on passions, godlingess, weaknesses, flattery, etc.  The final fruit is that of pure love.  Pure love is best understood as other-focused. 

Review

As a guy, this was a bit challenging to read.  I was not prepared mentally to read how these principles speak to a woman.  In talking with my wife, though, Lydia is dead on in her assessments of biblical purity.  The chapters are short and to the point and leave the reader (preferably a female!) with much to think about. 

Recommendation

I heartily recommend Lydia’s “On-the-Go-Devotionals” to women who want to better understand there God-given roles as women, wives, and mothers.  Specifically, this book on purity is a must read in our sex-saturated culture where more women feel they must flaunt their so called purity rather than give God the glory for it.