Saturday, January 15, 2011

31 Days of Power = A Lifetime of Walking in Spiritual Victory

Book Title: 31 Days of Power: Learning to Walk in Spiritual Victory
Author: Ruth Myers with Warren Myers
Rating: 4/5

Are you ready for some warfare? Well, whether you are or not you are in the midst of an all out war daily - one that has been going on for ages. This spiritual battle wages in the heavenly realms and not just amongst us. Even more, this battle is over our very souls. Ephesians 6:10 says:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood; but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

31 Days of Power walks you through God's promises that He is victorious and that through Him we have spiritual victory! And we will be, "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37)

Through these 31 days, you will learn to live in "dynamic triumph God offers us in Christ" (Ruth Myers, pg.3) Through prayer, praise and crucial biblical truths, you will learn to approach spiritual warfare in a positive way.

Our goal in warfare is not to defeat Satan, but to serve Christ and bring as many to Him as possible - meaning we must learn to resist Satan and his attacks and to focus on God.

When I first picked up this book, I expected something a bit ore on warfare - what it is and not so much ] how to walk through it. But on reading this, it walked me through prayer and truth to keep in the victory that we have in Jesus.

31 Days of Power gives you insight to Spiritual warfare, and shows you the blessings of learning to walk in God's victory.

I found this book to be uplifting and an easy-to-read devotion. I devoured the truths that were so eloquently written in a matter of hours.

Praise God that the victory is His! And if you agree with me, read this book, read the Word and learn to live in the spiritual victory that God has given us.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Radical by David Platt

Never have I stumbled upon a book that made me think so much about where I stood with Christ. Radical opened my eyes to what it really means to be a follower of Christ. David Platt's words are undisguised and say it like it is, bringing us to ask ourselves, "Am I radical? Or have a fallen into the trap of the great american dream?

"Radical" is defined in Websters Dictionary as "a person who holds or follows strong convictions" or "A person who advocates fundamental political, economic and social reforms by direct and often uncompromising methods."

So then, that being defined, who can say that they are Radical for Christ? Do you hold and follow strong convictions and do you never compromise? Is Jesus worth everything to you that you are willing to give up everything for Him?

This book challenged me to think about who Jesus is to me. Yes, He is my savior and I cannot fully express my gratitude to Him, but do I live like that? Do I live like He is everything to me? Would I be willing to give up everything in order to go and follow Him? This book made me think about that question, and in the process, changed how I live.

Being radical is not compromising. It is believing in something so strongly that you do not back down and you live in a way that shows and supports fully what you believe.

In reading this book, I learned that to be Radical, that means me pushing past my feelings and doing the work that God has called me to do. God has called us all to witness and to make disciples of all nations. This can be uncomfortable sometimes. But we should impact the world! We have this amazing gift from God, and it is available to all people if they choose to accept it! How can we not spread the Word!? It is time to step above the crowd and speak not only with our words, but with our actions that We are Radical for Christ and that we are taking our faith back from the American Dream!

David Platt challenges the readers of his book to participate in the Radical Experiment. This experiment requires that one does these things:

-Pray for the entire world
-Read through the entire Word
-Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose
-Spend your time in another context
-Commit your life to a multiplying community

I'm going to take this challenge, and I'm also going to challenge you to read this book. It is truly inspiring! In these last days we must remember, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Step up to the challenge, and show that Jesus is really worth everything to you by living radically!

In our age, it has never been easier to convert someone and yet harder to disciple.

The beginning starts at the end of ourselves. I highly recommend reading Radical: Taking Your Faith Back from the American Dream by David Platt. You will be challenged and you will be blessed.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

All Things New - 2011

ALL THINGS NEW

Many people all over joined in the countdown that closed the year 2010 and welcomed the start of 2011. This is a new year we just hit – a new beginning and a fresh start that is laid out ahead of us. So many people see this day as a time to reflect on their life and to make a resolution to live better the next year. They resolve to eat healthier, exercise more or maybe to work harder in a certain area or to do anything to improve themselves or current lifestyle

These resolutions will soon be forgotten – possibly by the end of the month! What then, do these people do? They say, “Oh, well! Maybe next year I will stick with (put resolution here).”

With the New Year, people (generally speaking), start something new. But when they mess it up, eventually, a lot of them quit until the next year. There is just something about having a fresh start that motivates you to do your very best. Having a clean slate just makes you want to push forward.  

Well, this year, I’m not going to get into the typical New Year Resolutions that I’ll make, keep for a short time and break. No. What I am going to do this year is, when I wake up every morning, I am going to praise God that He makes all things new.

In Revelation 21:5 it says: “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

I am not perfect. None of us are. That is why I praise God that He makes all things new. I am human. I will make mistakes. I will say things I should not. I will do things that would have been better not to be acted on. I will make wrong or bad decisions. I will fail at times. But God makes all things new. And when He does, we once again begin with a clean slate to work our very best on. “All things new” is having another chance over and over and over again to do what you know is right and true.  
                
“This is what the Lord says, ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19.
               
“All things new” is putting the past behind and looking ahead, surrendering your life to Christ and moving forward with perseverance and purpose.
               
This year, I’m praising God for all things made new and I’m moving forward in Him. This isn’t something I’m just going to do today – but every day. I’m going to love more, hesitate less, and I’m going to give Him everything I got – everyday. We never know what tomorrow will bring, but of this we can be certain.
               
-Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever
and
 -God is always faithful.
               
This year, what will you do differently? If nothing else, I pray that it will be to put your hope in the one whose love never fails, and whose compassions are new every morning. I pray that you will put your hope in the one who never changes, and who loves you with an everlasting love. I pray that you look to the one who makes all things new – and that by Him, you will be made new. Look to Jesus Christ this New Year, and walk with him daily. He makes all things new. Put the past behind and move forward in Jesus.
               
What will 2011 be about for you? Don’t let this be just another year that passes by. This year is not going to be perfect. Hard times are going to come. But there will also be times of joy and peace. In all seasons, praise God – for He makes all things new.
                
               “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new…”
- Revelation 21:5
              

Happy New Year everyone! Prayers, love and blessings to all! Have a Happy 2011 in the Lord!

Dancing in the shadow of His cross,
                Brittany L. Ketter (1 Peter 3:4)