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Review: 7 by Jen Hatmaker

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Review: 7 by Jen Hatmaker

Okay, there is conviction… and then there is CONVICTION.  This book has challenged me to study God’s Word to see what it means to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I have been a believer and follower of Jesus since I was 12 years old.  In many ways, I have been blessed with Godly wisdom to avoid some of the major pitfalls of this life.  However, in many ways the plumb line that I had used against myself was not the Living Word of God, and definitely not the Saviour of the Universe.

Now that I have seen, I am responsible.

I have always struggled with how the Living Word was supposed to scrub up against the life of the a 21st Century American Christian.  This book has caused me to focus on 7 major areas of my life and hold them up against the Word of God.  Those areas are: Clothes, Spending, Waste, Food, Possessions, Media & Stress.  At first glace, you might think, “I do okay in those areas..”.  If you feel like you are good and have accomplished all that Jesus has for you, read this book.  If you feel like you are obedient in most areas of your life, read this book.  If you feel like you have no real understanding of what God says about these areas, read this book (and then become a Berean and study it out).

Jen doesn’t seek to be the end all, be all about these issues mentioned.  My understanding is that she just wants the American Church of Jesus to study out how our lives actually line up with the Word of God.  Our view of Christianity is skewed by an American worldview, and not a Jesus worldview.

If you dare to go and pick this book up, be prepared to be challenged.  Be warned, this book is not for the weary.  Actually, the weary might just be the very one intended to read it!

Happy to you in finding your alter to fall upon with all of your idols!  Get ready!  Don’t say I didn’t warn you… (btw we all have idols).  Remember we have a loving Saviour who is willing to show grace to all, may repentance be near.

seven

Review: Sons of Encouragement by Francine Rivers

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Review: Sons of Encouragement by Francine Rivers

This book.  This book.  Wow.  This book.  Okay, so my girl Francine Rivers has challenged my knowledge of God’s Word once again.  Francine writes a beautifully anointed book in exploring every avenue of scripture.  She doesn’t just focus on the text, but the historical, physical and sociological climate of our scriptures.

This book explores the lives of five men in scripture: The Priest (Aaron), The Warrior (Caleb), The Prince (Jonathon), The Prophet (Amos) & The Scribe (Silas).

These men each faced extraordinary days in walking with the Unseen God of the Hebrews.  These men were placed in positions that no one else had ever faced and were forced to choose- follow Him faithfully & fearlessly OR disobey and walk away from the only peace and truth they’d ever known.

Not only does Francine challenge us with her sanctified imagination of scripture, but she follows up each section with a dive straight into the Living Word of God.  It is always important to decipher between what we actually know from scripture and what is sanctified imagination, but Francine paints crucial pictures for all believers everywhere to study out further.

This book has challenged me in ways I never could’ve dreamed.  It has also taught me how to view each person in our Holy Scriptures: real, sinful people born of the same dust as me.  These people were not super heroes.  These people were common.  These people only accomplished what they did for the Kingdom because the Spirit of the Living God was upon them.  Lord, may I be one who is known as a girl with the Spirit….

 

sons of enc

Presents for the King

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birthday bookLast night as I was reading to Georgia before bed, the Lord spoke.  We were reading an awesome book about birthdays, not because I am some great mom theologian teaching about Jesus on Christmas Eve… but she picked it out because it is one of her favorite books.  Throughout the book it speaks of hanging the decorations, sending the invitations, opening the birthday presents & the birthday cards and then at the very end it speaks of how thankful the little girl was for spending time with her at her birthday party.  And that is when it hit.

Has Jesus ever told me “thank you” for spending time with Him on His Birthday?

This year, Christmas has been completely different for me.   This year, I forced myself to be less busy and to truly focus… and it has changed my Christmas.

When I was a kid, and even many years into my adulthood (honestly, until last year), Christmas was really only about the presents.  I would get so excited about what I would open and what I would get to take home with me.  But this year, after spending more time with Him in His Word than ever before, this Christmas is truly about so much more.  Even when you look at your grandparents and how they celebrate Christmas.  They literally only want to be around you and family.  They want your presence, not your presents.  Maturity equals a switch in focus.  Time with Him changes your viewpoint on life and then on Christmas.  Jesus wants our time.  Jesus wants our presence.

This December has been the best December in my entire life.

If I were to give Jesus a birthday present, something that He has never had before… what would it be?  Today, in this early morning moment on Christmas morning, while my house is still and quiet and the only thing on is my Christmas tree lights and my coffee pot.  Today, I want to give Jesus the one thing that he really wants… my time.  The first hour of every day, may it always be devoted to Him.  Happy Birthday, Jesus!  Happy Birthday.

P.S.  Thanks Georgia for choosing the absolutely perfect book to read on Christmas Eve!

Teaching Jesus in a Santa Claus world

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Teaching Jesus in a Santa Claus world….
“The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers”
Our second biggest celebration has been hijacked… And we’ve allowed it. Not by Santa & his elves, not by our families nor by the shopping phenomena or the decorations. Our celebration, our joy has been taken because we are distraction from what it is all about…. The birth of the One Who is the Living Word of God, Who brings salvation to all mankind. 
Christmas is not exhaustion. Christmas is not debt. Christmas is not stress. Christmas is not overworking, overdoing. Christmas is not productions and busyness. Christmas is not Santa Claus. 
Christmas is Jesus Christ, His birth and His redemptive power. 
I love Santa and who the original Santa was and what he stood for and did for children in need. I love the Spirit of Santa, but our children (my child) cannot be more excited about a man who brings them gifts instead of the One that created the gifts.  

 

In order to defeat the enemy, we must first identify him. 

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In order to defeat the enemy, we must first identify him. 

We all have one enemy. 

He is referenced as the father of lies. 

Our Lord told us that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. That same enemy accomplishes his work through unbelievers who give themselves over to him. While it is easy to sit and say that the Muslim religion is our enemy, let’s remember that they can be brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

Does that mean that we roll over and look the other way so that we don’t offend someone? No. It means we take this battle, the fight, this war, to the only place where it can actually we won…. On our knees. 

Our enemy must be defeated in the spiritual realm. Our enemy is Satan himself and the evil he brings into the world. When a nation stops praying, stops believing in the One True God, YHWH, then evil has the upper hand. And we are seeing that very thing unfold before us… Evil taking over our country, one city at a time. 

Review: Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury

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Spiritual warfare is real.  There is a spiritual world that is going on all around us, every moment of every day.  This book is a beautiful fictitious depiction of how angels are involved in the spiritual warimagefare all around us.

Have you ever been curious about why God’s perfect plans for our lives are so important and how they effect those around us?  God knows what is best for us, He knows what His perfect plan for us is, He wants us to surrender our will to His perfect Will.  This book shows how normal people, living normal lives make decisions that effect the course of their lives forever.  Karen Kingsbury creates an inner monologue within the reader that forces them to view every day activity with a new set of eyes, spiritual eyes.

If you want to look at life from a different vantage point, this series is the one for you this cold, winter season!  It is a MUST READ!  The second book in the series, Chasing Sunsets, is also ADDICTIVE and may actually be better than the first.

This series also shows you the major importance of prayer and the power that it has on the course of life.  And never forget how much power is found in the Name of Jesus.

 

Drowning

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This was written by my precious husband many years ago, and I thought it was a powerful read. I hope you enjoy!

When life seems to be trying to drown you and throw everything in your face all at once, you feel as though you cannot keep your head above water.  As you take in the water it slowly fills your lungs making it harder for you to scream.
      
      

From out of nowhere a Hand reaches down into the water and tries to lift you out, but where you have never seen this Hand before, you refuse it and fight it.  As you become weaker and start to sink, the Hand still reaches for you.  You then come to the realization that the reason why you are sinking is because you won’t let go of the things in your life weighing you down.  
      
      

You see the veins and muscles start to come out in the Hand from where it is straining so hard to save you.  A Voice comes stern but soft, and beckons you deeply to reach for Life.  You start to sink faster as your lungs quickly fill.
      
      

As you push all those things away from you that seem to hold you down, the Hand slowly pulls you back up out of the water.  You take your first real breath of fresh air, and it’s the best thing you have ever tasted.  You cannot help but want more of this free air that has been given to you.
      
      

The Hand graciously offered you Life and you took it.  We have to die, before we can Truly Live.

By: Clifton J. Haley

Original Post on August 26, 2005 1:26 AM

  

the last seven days of being 29.

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what do i want to remember and take with me from my twenties AND what do i want to see happen in my thirties?

these are the true questions i ask.

my twenties: my junior year at UT-Knoxville studying in public relations.  college graduation.  my engagement and later marriage to my best friend.  my first full time job.  the first time i ever turned in a two week notice.  my first adventure to nyc.  the death of an amazing father-in-love.  the deaths of all of my remaining grandparents.  the many years of infertility and deep sadness, mourning even.  asking GOD why i wasn’t worthy of HIM creating life within me.  a deeper connection to a human than i ever anticipated to have, my husband.  realizing that HIS timing is perfect, because that is all HE can be.  moving into an industry working with the greatest generation.  becoming a publisher.  becoming thankful that i can remember my name.  ten years of youth ministry coming to a close.  my first mission to southeast asia.  my second mission to southeast asia.  my life being utterly interrupted by my GOD because of southeast asia.  realizing that my GOD really is holy.  my first time visiting the sweet women in the red light districts.  when GOD taught me how to pray for my sisters wearing chains, physical & spiritual.  going to my first passion conference in atl.  my first time stepping on the same land where my savior stood, Israel.  understanding that i do not know my GOD as much as i though i did.  becoming free in worship, anytime & anywhere.  learning what cleft lips and cleft palates are.  asking GOD why HE chose not to completely heal my baby girl’s cleft lip and cleft palate.  experiencing natural childbirth for 27 hours.  having those 27 hours end with a c-section.  loving every minute of those 27 hours of labor.  experiencing the Hand of the FATHER through my humble husband leading me and guiding me.  asking GOD why i had to have a c-section.  asking GOD why i couldn’t breastfeed my baby girl.  learning that asking GOD why is okay and didn’t condemn me to hell.  resting in the promise that HIS ways are not our ways and HIS thoughts are not our thoughts.  seeing the love of JESUS in my sweet Georgia girls smile.  seeing the room light up when she arrives.  watching my husband become the father HE was always designed to be.  learning one of the greatest lessons of my life, only the LORD is to be worshiped.  HE does not share HIS glory with anything or anyone.  asking GOD why i couldn’t have learned that lesson another way.  walking hand in hand in the valley of the shadow of death.  fighting for restoration.  deciphering who GOD is and who HE made me to be.  realizing that HE knows exactly what i need, even when i don’t.  watching HIM remind me, repeatedly, that my battle is not against flesh and blood.  the excitement of learning how to walk in HIS freedom, walk in HIS liberty.  the ever-present knowledge that this is not my home.  the joy in earning money so that i can give it away.  the peace in walking as JESUS walked, with the least of these.  the honor of discipleship.  the fulfillment in fighting for my flock in prayer.  the drive to surrender every ounce of who i am for HIS purpose and plan.  the passion to be a vessel for the sole purpose of chain removal.  

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  Romans 8:18

coming next, the thirties….

romans 8_18

Iron sharpening iron means fire. 

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For all those who’ve led me… Discipled me. And for all those who have been iron for me…. Sharpened me. 

Mom and Dad, my sister and Greg, Brother Bill Romines, Gail Gouge, Donna & Randy Smith, the Llewellyns, Pastor Keith & Nini Weaver, Kellie Wawa, Kim Raiford, Becki Bird, Melanie Porter, Becky Beeler, Jeff Haun, Mr. Burman, Zane Ellis, Tommy Brown, Steve Snyder, Lynn Hill, Maleena Wright, Kristen Dickerson Qualls, Michael & Lyndsay Carr, Coach Phil Peak, the Woodalls, Pastor Bryan Wright, Pastor Mihai Micula, CLIF HALEY (definitely sharpening me daily!), the sweet social worker at Vanderbilt Cancer- Cindy, Mindy Grimm, Pastor Jeff LaBorg, Doug Haley, Jeanie & Scott Bittle, Ted Reed, Danny Goins, Jon & Reagan Guffy, Carolyn McNeil, Denise and Jerry Miller, Shane & LeighAnn Bales, Sheri Smith, Robin Smith, Steve Borden, Mike Ward, Joe Bond, Anna Cantrell, Perry & Christy Miller, Jenny Pressley, Madison Wright, Jody Hood, Ashton Bayne, Amanda Meek and the many more who I have left off of this list because of my feeble, finite mind. 

Today, as I’ve thought of all that the Lord has done in my heart and life since birth I am full of gratitude. I am full of humility. I am full of an overwhelming awe of what God can do with some dust. 

When He sharpens us, it must have fire. There must be heat. Lord, please keep sharpening me for the promised land you are preparing me for. 

Spreading discouraging reports…

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“Then the ten scouts who had incited the rebellion against the Lord by spreading discouraging reports about the land were struck dead with a plague before the Lord.  Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.”      Numbers 14:36-38.

Why do we think that sin is only when we do something bad?  Sin can be good things, great things even.  Sin is whenever we do something that is disobedient to what the Lord has told us to do.  So can eating be a sin?  Yes, if He has told us to fast.  So can singing in the choir be a sin?  Yes, if He has told us to stop.  So can sharing the complete facts about a piece of land that you have been told to go an explore be a sin?  Yes, if you cause everyone around you to doubt the Hand and Word of God and encourage them to flee and disobey instead of trust.

These spies were not bad people.  They didn’t lie about the land, they did not even mislead the people about what or who was there.  They said that the land contained strong people (giants) and large, fortified cities.  These statements weren’t untrue… however, they forgot one game changing fact: the Lord had said it was already theirs for the taking.

The Lord God had called His people to faith.  The spies were stated to have “incited a rebellion” and were “spreading discouraging reports”.  Have you been known to spread discouraging reports among the people of God?  Even if what you were saying were true to the physical world…. were your words true to the spiritual side?  Yes, giants lived in the land.  Yes, the cities were large fortified cities.  Yes, in the physical realm it would have been impossible for the Israelites to overcome the people living there.   But God called them to have faith.  God called them to trust Him, even when all looked lost and all looked dark.

We, as believers of Jesus Christ, are called to live in the spiritual truths of life.  God calls us to have faith and to believe in Him.

Today, will you be struck with plague to never enter into the fullness that the Lord has in store or will you live in the freedom of trusting Him to do what He said He was going to do?  The choice is yours.