We all struggle with life’s questions: Why am I here? How is God’s love different from human love? How do I know what is the right thing to do?I fully believe that delving to the depths of these questions is part of our spiritual formation process.One of my favorite writers – Max Lucado – has written a new book: Max on Life – Answers and Insights to your Most Important Questions. I am received this book in exchange for posting a review but this has not influence my feelings about this book.Lucado tackles some of life’s most difficult questions and provides concise and compassionate answers. This is what I both like and dislike about this book. Most of his answers are one page long – too short to really go into much depth.But again Lucado’s brief answers are full of wisdom, easy to digest, and provide much food for thought. None of us have the complete answer to most of these questions and Lucado gives us nuggets of truth to at least take the next step in our faith walk.My most … [Read more...]
Joanna Weaver’s Lazarus Awakening – Wake Us Up, Lord!
Lent is a time to stir our souls and awaken our spirits by feasting upon great writing. Joanna Weaver’s newest book, Lazarus Awakening, is a read that will provide much nourishment for your spiritual journey. Many of you know Weaver for her best selling and wonderful book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and I recommend Lazarus Awakening which also explores the famous family that were close friends with Jesus. Weaver dissects many spiritual questions we all have: what do we do when God doesn’t come through the way we hope He would? What should we feel when what is dearest to our hearts is suddenly snatched away? Does God really love me? What does it mean to be a friend of God? “I wonder what would happen in our lives if we stopped resisting God’s love and started receiving it. What if we spotted trying to do the math, spotted striving to earn His favor? What if we just accepted the altogether-too-good-to-be-true news that the yardstick has been broken and the cross has … [Read more...]
Who Influences Your Spiritual Journey? – Book Review – From the Library of A.W. Tozer
A great practice for Lent is to dig deeper into the writings of those who feed you spiritually. To take off the shelves and dive into those writers who nourish your spirit and stretch your mind. The ones who leave you refreshed like you and God were reading the words together, side by side.Some of the best books I have discovered are ones that influenced the very writers that influenced me. I love Richard Foster and his writings led me to Thomas Kelly, Dallas Willard, and Frank Laubach. Henri Nouwen introduced me to Meister Eckhart and Brother Lawrence.Bethany House Publishers sent me a review copy of the new book compiled by James Stuart Bell titled, From the Library of A.W. Tozer – Selections from Writers who Influenced his Spiritual Journey. I was under no obligation to give it a positive review and am not compensated for my review. But I do enjoy and have read Tozer. Tozer is much studied, read, and quoted by contemporary writers now -makes you wonder, doesn’t it – who inspired … [Read more...]
Soul Print by Mark Batterson – Book Review and Reflections
Self-discovery and reflection are surprising spiritual disciplines. But God knows us better than we know ourselves and learning to be our true selves, as God created us, is a lifelong discovery we are all called to do.I recently received Mark Batterson’s new book, Soul Print, as a blogger book reviewer for Multnomah. I enjoy reading this type of book that doesn’t focus on being self centered in our exploring our true identities, but God focused in living lives for Him.“You are unlike anyone who has ever lived. But that uniqueness isn’t a virtue. It’s a responsibility. Uniqueness is God’s gift to you and uniqueness is your gift to God you owe it to yourself to be yourself. But more important, you owe it to the One who designed you and destined you.”This book empowers the reader to look deeper and discover the joy of who you are and the freedom of who you are not. Batterson fills this easy to read book with interesting stories and thought provoking questions. You can tell he loves the … [Read more...]
Love and War: Devotional for Couples: Book Review
Next March I am helping to lead a retreat on marriage. Those attending have good marriages and are seeking ways to strengthen their connections. Topics are communication, vision, sex, and, of course, spirituality. I have been gathering material for the spirituality section since that is one I am leading and found this small devotional that I plan to recommend - Love and War by John and Stasi Eldridege. The tag line is “The eight week adventure that will help you find the marriage you always dreamed of.” This is a companion book for the full-length book of the same title, but you don’t have to read that in order to enjoy the devotional. Each week there is a different emphasis such as Remembering What We Wanted, the Journey, Companionship, and Your Spouse is Not your Enemy.Each devotion starts with a Bible verse, a meditation, a prayer, and an exercise to try. Easy to read and very practical. A great resource for couples. This book will help you see God in your marriage and … [Read more...]
In Constant Prayer – Book Review
Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2Prayer is the foundation for our spiritual walk. I like what Oswald Chambers wrote, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work.” In Constant Prayer is the newest book by Robert Benson and I am happy to add it my bookshelf next to other books I have by him: Venite and A Good Life.In Constant Prayer explains the pattern of prayer and worship called the Daily Office. This ancient practice is also known as the liturgy of the hours, fixed hour prayer, the divine office, the divine hours and daily prayer. It is the discipline of praying at fixed times throughout the day and night. Though its structure may not appeal to everyone, we are all called to deeper communion with God and this is certainly one way to open our hearts to hear God better.Benson writes in a warm friendly style like you are having a cup of coffee with him discussing ways to pray. He … [Read more...]
CHAZOWN – Finding Your Vision – Book Review
Do you have a vision? Can you state your purpose in life? Are you aware of your core values that drive your behavior?Chazown by Craig Groeschel is a book what could help guide you in answering these questions. Chazown in Hebrew means “vision.”Chazown directs us to find our core values and spiritual gifts, and identify our past experiences. Ideally when we analyze these three areas of our life we should be able to zero in on our life purpose. What I liked about this book is its brief easy to read format with many practical tools ad motivating and often humorous stories. You feel like you are talking with a friend.This is the type of book I will pull off my shelf once a year or so when I am thinking of next year’s goals. Its words of wisdom will help me sort through the noise and get to my key foundational values quickly and clearly. He asks thought provoking questions we all should consider frequently in life: 1. If money was no object and you could do anything your wanted for … [Read more...]
Nourishment for a Healthy Spiritual Life
“So, the paradox of prayer is that it asks for a serious effort while it can only be received as a gift. We cannot plan, organize or manipulate God; but without a careful discipline, we cannot receive him either.” (Henri J. M. Nouwen. Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life) Just as Nouwen describes prayer as a paradox of gift and self-discipline, nurturing our spiritual health is also a contradiction of terms. No matter how we work, struggle, and strive to be closer to God, it is His movement to embrace us that draws us into His heart. I read a new resource this week that is helpful in creating space in our lives for God. The book is called Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul – Creative Ways to Nurture Your Spirituality by June Mack Maffin. Using one of my favorite practices – journaling, Maffin provides 80 inspirational quotes and spiritual reflection questions to explore. She writes, “Journal writings are meant to be personal conversations - with … [Read more...]