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Monday, June 04, 2012

A Woman's Wisdom, by Lydia Brownback : Part 1

When I saw A Woman's Wisdom: How the Book of Proverbs Speaks to Everything pop up on Crossway Books' new release list, I knew I'd want to read it. (If it's from Crossway, I generally want to read it. And wisdom isn't generally something I purposefully try to avoid receiving. For the most part anyway.) Having read one other book by Brownback before, I knew her style had great appeal and so I was in a good position to really like this book.

I did more than liked A Woman's Wisdom - I loved it, although for somewhat painful reasons. And so I'm going to do something with this book that I've threatened to do with others. I'm going to talk about it all of this week. I didn't want to do all of the talking though and so I asked for a couple of other friends and bloggers share their insights and opinions on this book as well.

It should not for one second be believed that we are addressing the subjects which this book talks about because we feel we are superior or in a place to give instruction without receiving any. We aren't perfect and do not in any way pretend to be. (If you know us well, you must know this to be true!) We are only talking about these subjects because we feel that someone ought to; because we don't hear these subjects being addressed very much and/or because we feel passionately about them. It is, however, completely understood that we are very much in need of wisdom ourselves. The only thing we hope to impress upon ourselves in writing what we do is the need to pursue wisdom and apply it as accurately as possible. We invite and encourage you along the journey.

As an overview, this book is a study of the Book of Proverbs as specifically applied to women. From the very beginning, Brownback admonishes and encourages her readers to hate sin and pursue righteousness.

To live wisely is also to love righteousness. But do we? If we're honest, we have to admit that, even as Christians, a part of us doesn't hate sin. Why else would we continue to practice it? We hate the horrible effects of the sin we see in our world, in our children, and in our own lives, but we will hate the sin itself only as we grow in the fear of the Lord. (Chapter 1, What, Exactly, is Wisdom?, page 24)


Only by learning to hate sin can we truly grow in wisdom.

In today's day and age we tend to think of "sin" as a bad word. It's harsh to declare that someone is sinning or "is living in sin", no matter what the truth may be. We either don't want to hurt someone's feelings, or we dislike conflict, and so we glance over bad behavior and poor communications so that a general sense of temporary happiness can be maintained. These days we're afraid to say that something is or could be wrong. We like feeling happy; we deserve to be happy. We choose ignorance in order to pursue temporary pleasures. Ignorance does not foster anyone's growth in wisdom. Frequently a growth spurt in wisdom requires a certain amount of pain - which is why we try to avoid it. Deciding that you will pursue wisdom, no matter what the cost, is not an easy decision to make but it offers you the most promise because the pursuit of it will bring you life.

Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
Proverbs 1:29-31


So what is our goal in discussing this book? It is merely to promote thoughtful conversation and self-evaluation, (in ourselves, by the way), comparing our own thoughts and behaviors to scripture. We long to cultivate humility by ceasing to naval gaze and to see what God has to say about the way that we speak, build and maintain friendships and generally go about living our lives.

We hope you will journey with us.

It is with some excitement that I am also pleased to announce that Crossway Books offered up one copy of this book each day. Today's winner is: Kristin (See Mommy Sew)

Congratulations!


To read the rest of this week's discussion, click on the following links:

29 comments:

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

Sign me up! I could use some wisdom. :-)

Annette W. said...

I am really looking forward to the discussion...I gain lots from your detailed thoughts.

And yes...would love my own copy. This is incredibly generous of Crossway.

Jessica B. said...

I really want to win this one!
jesslburke@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Count me in!

shostagirl AT gmail DOT com

Katrina said...

Very excited about this series. This book looks fantastic! I have some of her other devotionals on my Kindle (Contentment, Trust) and enjoy her writing, so I know this book will be in my collection before too long. And wisdom...yes, always a good thing!

Sherry said...

Yes! Sign me up. I've been wanting to read her books and this looks like the perfect place to start.

cre8sld@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

I will be here everyday! Thanks Carrie!

Barbara H. said...

That name sounds familiar -- I think I have one of her devotionals but haven't read it yet.

I'd love t win a copy -- we could all use more wisdom.

I think it is so painful to gain because we first have to realize that whatever we were thinking or doing was wrong, so it is a blow to the pride. Plus there's the whole inertia thing, it being easier to stay with the status quo than change something. But it is necessary to growth.

Bluerose said...

I definitely want to read this one!

bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

Shonya said...

I'm looking forward to your series. This brief post alone let me know I need to read the book, whether I win it or buy it! :)

Sky said...

Sign me up for the giveaway! I look forward to the rest of the posts.

Emmy D said...

Ooo pick me! I have heard great things about this book!

Alison said...

Add me to this! :)

Sarita said...

Thank you! Love me some proverbs! ;)
texasrainbow2006@yahoo.com

Kristin said...

Yes, sounds like a great book!
seemommysew @gmailDOTcom

Anita Yancey said...

Please enter me! The book sounds interesting. Thanks for having this giveaway.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Andrea G. said...

This sounds like an interesting book!

agreer65 AT yahoo DOT com

Unknown said...

This book sounds very interesting. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

karenk said...

i can 'use' this inspirational book


karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

crossways is a very reliable source for the goods!
dianam167@sbcglobal.net

apple blossom said...

thanks for the chance to win

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Heather VanTimmeren said...

I could use some wisdom!

histtheo1 at yahoo dot com

Janna said...

I love Proverbs and would love to check this out!
jannnarebekah (at) aol (dot) com

Unknown said...

I think I am going to have to add this book to my list of books to read, it sounds like a great read! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Linda said...

Can always use a book on wisdom! Who doesn't need it?

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I could really use the wisdom in this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Elisha said...

I would love to read this book! Looking forward to checking it out at the library I I don't win the drawing!

Unknown said...

I would love a chance to read this book! Thanks.

Nancye said...

This sounds like a great book! I would love to win a copy.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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