A journey of renewal and exploration

I would like to invite you onto a special journey. I am going to be leading us on a journey of renewal throughout the month of September. It is something that I feel I personally need, and so would like to make it open for you to join me in this process. For these daily blogs, I will be giving you a scripture passage and asking you to do a few things:

1. Read through the passage once.

2. Spend a few minutes in quiet contemplation - I usually find it helpful to have a journal or diary nearby, so that when thoughts come crashing into my mind, I write them down and get back to them later.

3. Read through the passage again and underline or note any important verses or words that stand out for you.

4. Ask God to show you what this could mean for you, at this point in your life. Write this down. 

5. Is there some action that God could be prompting you to follow up with?

6. Spend some time in prayer, using the passage as a starting point. 

7. Share with someone about the word/verse that stands out for you (you can even email me if you like)

I pray that this journey may be a time of refreshing for us all. 

6 This being so, I want to remind you to stir into flame the strength and boldness that is in you, that entered into you when I laid my hands upon your head and blessed you. 7 For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.8 If you will stir up this inner power, you will never be afraid to tell others about our Lord or to let them know that I am your friend even though I am here in jail for Christ’s sake. You will be ready to suffer with me for the Lord, for he will give you strength in suffering.

9 It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began—to show his love and kindness to us through Christ. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, who broke the power of death and showed us the way of everlasting life through trusting him. 11 And God has chosen me to be his missionary, to preach to the Gentiles and teach them.

12 That is why I am suffering here in jail, and I am certainly not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to safely guard all that I have given him until the day of his return." - 2 Timothy 2:6-12

"Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day."- Jim Rohn.

Living in Grace

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Final list of books for 2021

I should have realised that I was not going to be able to narrow down my reading list to just 21 books for this year :) Thank you all so much for the delightful suggestions and comments. I truly appreciate the wide range of authors, genres and topics which are covered by your input. 

I have now compiled a list of over 50 books (see below), which have been suggest by you all - if I have missed out one or two, I am sorry for my error. I have already read a few of the books that have been mentioned, but I am still listing them because I believe they are great reads in any case.

If you are looking for something to tackle during this year feel free to see what other people are reading. Go for it. 

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

Living in Grace

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LIST OF BOOKS:

1.      The War of the Roses (Stormbird) – Conn Iggluden

2.      The Choice - Edith Eger

3.      Missing Pieces – Tim Weaver

4.      Hope in The Dark - Craig Groeschel

5.      My African Conquest: Cape to Cairo at 80 - Julia Albu

6.      The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - Charlie Mackesy.

7.      Dominion - Tom Holland

8.      Ragamuffin gospel - Brennan Manning

9.      A Time of Gifts and Between the Woods and the Water - Patrick Leigh Fermor.

10.  I'll Push You – Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck

11.  Radical Optimism - Beatrice Bruteau

12.  Captivate - Vanessa van Edwards

13.  Knowing God - J Packer

14.  Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts

15.  Finney lives on – V. Raymond Edman

16.  Man - The dwelling place of God - AW Tozer

17.  Wholly for God - Andrew Murray

18.  The Universal Christ - Richard Rohr

19.  God on mute - Pete Greig

20.  The Infinite Game - Simon Sinek

21.  The 11th commandment - Jeffrey Archer

22.  The smell of apples - Mark Behr

23.  The girl with seven names - Lee Hyeon-seo

24.  The Jesus I never knew - Max Lucado,

25.  Mr Men books J

26.  Overcomer- David Jeremiah

27.  American Dirt - Jeanine Cummins

28.  The heart's Invisible Furies - John Boyne

29.  Shrink: Faithful ministry in a Church-growth culture - Tim Suttle

30.  Gary Kirsten Autobiogrpahy

31.  The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark Comer

32.  The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz - Erik Larson

33.  From the Holy Mountain - William Dalrymple

34.  The 4 Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz

35.  Who Moved the Stone - Frank Morrison

36.  Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine - Gail Honeyman

37.  The Evening and the Morning - Ken Follett.

38.  Talking to Strangers - Malcolm Gladwell;

39.  The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg;

40.  Who do we choose to become - Margaret Wheatley.

41.  The Boys in the Boat - Daniel Brown and Edward Wilson

42.  Of the Antarctic by George Seaver ( if you can find it !)

43.  Dining at the Masters Table by Paul D Norcross

44.  Ask for more by Alexandra Carter

45.  The book of longings – Sue Kidd Monk

46.  All the Light We Cannot see - Anthony Doerr.

47.  The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

48.  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime – Mark Haddon

49.  The Meaning of Night: A Confession - Michael Cox

50.  Edward Rutherford - London 

51.Washing of the Spears - Donald Morris

 

The right thing

"We may think we are doing the right thing,
    but the Lord always knows what is in our hearts.
3 Doing what is right and fair pleases the Lord
    more than an offering." - Proverbs 21:2-3

What is the right thing to do? That is often the big question we have to answer and there are seldom easy ways to figure it out. I find that using the Golden Rule from Jesus is usually the best place to start. 

"Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Love your neighbour as you love yourself."

If the 'thing' you are wanting so badly goes against one of these two commands, then there is every likelihood it is not what God would have us do. However, it is always best to ask the Spirit to help us discern this truth. Or speak to a trusted friend.

For those of you who do not know Him, choosing your eternal home is the most important decision you will ever make. Billy Graham

"You cannot make progress without making decisions. It doesn't matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes." - Jim Rohn

Living in Grace

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Motivation and Habit

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." - Jim Rohn

Jim Rohn shares this quote in the light of leadership, but I think it is a great thought related to our spiritual journey. Often it is the motivation of the Spirit that draws us into the presence of Christ and gets us started on the journey, but we all need to be disciplined to keep going. Of course God gives us the strength and resources we need, but unless we created Godly habits, then we will not maintain the initial burst of commitment.

Romans 13:10 - This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the initial motivation of your Spirit, but please grant me your faithfulness and endurance as I commit to follow you everyday.

Living in Grace
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Inspiration or Desperation

"We usually change ourselves for one of two reasons, inspiration or desperation." - Jim Rohn

So which one of these applies to your life? Do you only begin to change things when circumstances are so desperate (that there is no other choice) or do you allow Inspiration to bring about change?
I wish I could be admitting that I always rely on Inspiration, but sadly I can easily avoid change, so that I end up getting to a place of desperation before I make changes.
How about you?
Be honest now?

If we look at the lives of people in Jesus day, it seems that many of them waited until things were desperate before they turned to him. It was in their deepest need that Jesus healed them.

"Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need." - Psalm 79:8

"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me." - Psalm 142:6

Living in Grace
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Not You

"Let others lead small lives, but not you.
Let others argue over small things, but not you.
Let others cry over small hurts, but not you.
Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn

Living as a Christ-follower requires us to live differently from others. I encourage us all to let the words from Jim Rohn to inspire us to go counter culture.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 - As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

Living in Grace
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