Book Review: “Essentials For Life” by Marcia Ford

I am a member of  BookSneeze which is the book reviewing arm of Thomas Nelson Publishing.  I love it.  Each month or so they have books available for you to either download or get a free copy of to read and review.  It’s a win-win. 

I just finished a book they mailed to me called “Essentials For Life” by Marcia Ford.  I really enjoyed it.  It’s a great book to use as a reference for years to come.  Marcia really simplifies different strategies and goals that pertain to your walk with God.  She uses Bible verses, examples and quotes to help you understand and put together your own plan of action.

In some ways it’s a “to-do” list, but more importantly it’s full of great reminders and inspirations that I plan to use in my daily life.

She covers all areas from how we see God, to knowing the Spirit, understanding the Bible better, spreading the Good News, cultivating our relationship with God,  serving and dealing with our time, relationships and money.   I can’t think of many topics or concerns we have as Christians that Marcia doesn’t cover in this book.  It’s easy to read and set up in a very organized manner.  You could even treat it as a devotional and read one chapter a day.  Each chapter is only 3-4  pages, but filled with great information.

For instance, one of my favorite subjects to talk about with people is spending time with God.  Marcia has a chapter devoted to this topic, of course, and in that chapter she gives some great inspiration.  For those that feel overwhelmed in making time for God she speaks truth about common obstacles (fear of solitude, annoying sounds, etc.).  She uses quotes from very famous authors about how important time with God is, despite our fears and distractions.  She ends with the mere reminder to ask God to help you find the perfect time for Him.  She quotes A.T. Pierson  in saying ” God knows how to save for you the time you sacredly keep for communion with Him.”  I love that.   He will help us save that time…if we let him.

This book is filled with wonderful nuggets of truth and inspiration just like I described above.  I want to read it over and over again to remind myself of these truths and simple acts that can keep me grounded and focused on what truly matters. 

I really think this book offers some great “how-to’s” for living intentionally, simply, and on purpose.  I would highly suggest buying this book, reading it once and then going back and reading it once a year to keep you focused and on track.  Our lives get so busy and we need to always remember the essentials!

We Take Too Much For Granted

A friend of mine, Jennie Allen, posted this video on Twitter yesterday.  My daughter and I sat and watched it together.  It is nothing short of amazing.   It will make you realize just how much we take for granted.    

I Am Second – Part II

I know I’ve already posted about this site, but I just visited it recently to see the new people that have added their videos.  I love to visit this site because it is so inspiring.  When you hear these people talk about their lives, you realize they struggle just like you and me.  Maybe with different struggles, but they struggle nonetheless. 

I love this one below, especially because he speaks about living differently and how people notice.  Your friends notice.  You are not participating in the same things and they take notice and you may lose some friends.  Sometimes it can be uncomfortable, but when you are only living  for God’s approval you are on the right track!

I also love his phrase “God can take your mess and turn it into a message”. Brilliant.

I Am Second – Bradie James

Cool Videos by IgniterMedia

I just found these videos from IgniterMedia on YouTube.  They have a bunch of inspirational videos.   These were two of my favorites.

Love God, Serve Others, Live Simply

I work in the bookstore at our church once every few weeks and this past Sunday they had received in some new merchandise.  This one plaque in particular struck me when I saw it hanging on the wall.  “Love God, Serve Others, Live Simply”.  I love that.  If I focus on those three things, my life will become more in tune with God and what He has planned for me.  The two greatest commandments are to “love God with all your heart, soul and mind” and “to love others as yourself”.  The first one is covered and serving others is definitely loving them as yourself.  Living simply is what Jesus demonstrated for us.  He lived with very little belongings, if any, and was attached to nothing other than loving and communicating with God and serving others.  Shouldn’t I live my life the same way?

1.  Love God. This is obviously the most important thing we will ever do in our lives.  Without God as my focus my life would be nothing, literally.  I’ve tried living without God, and trust me it’s so much more fulfilling when you have a relationship with the One who created you.  No one on Earth knows you better or will always be there like He will.  He is what fills me up inside, nothing else in this world can do that.  Nothing.   When I love God with all my heart, soul and mind I have no room for sins that bring me down.  I don’t have time to focus on anything that could ultimately lead to self-destruction.  I focus above and all things below seem manageable.  Nothing can come second to God.

2.  Serve Others.  Serving others keeps me from focusing on myself.  Focusing on me gets me nowhere and that is not where God ever intended my focus to be.  He wants me out serving others, helping those that are in situations I have been in and can help with.  For me in particular, I know He wants me helping young women make the right choices in life.  He wants me to use my past experiences to help those who are just beginning their adult lives.  I’m just working all that out now and how it will come to be, but that is what God has put a fire in my heart for.  Helping young women with the choices in their lives.

3.  Live Simply. This is something I’ve really been working on this year.  Living with less.  Less attachments, less stress, less commitments, and less clutter.  We need so much less than we think we do.  We should be too busy with our relationships to worry about stuff or be bogged down by it.    Who has time to be tied down to “stuff” when you are busy loving God and serving others all the time?

Thankful Thursday

This video is amazing!  It makes me think about how much we take for granted!  I feel so very thankful for all that I’ve been blessed with.  I promise that this video will put things into perspective and make you so grateful for all that you DO have.  You’ll forget about the things you think you don’t have.

Nick Vujicic video

Be The Light

We had a great Easter weekend this past weekend.   On Friday night we attended a free Good Friday celebration at the Long Center here in Austin.  It was called “For The City” and 5 churches (including ours) put it together.  It included the worship bands from each of the churches along with the pastors.   The evening included a lot of great inspiring music and 4 shortened, but still powerful, sermons.  The main theme was that we need to be good examples of Christians in our city and to serve others.  We need to be different for Christ and do all things for the glory of God.

We were reminded of what Jesus did for us on the cross and that we need to be living our lives for him, not for the world.  We, as Christians, need to be loving and kind to those around us.  We need to reach out and help as many people as we can.  We need to be the light in a dark world.

The only way we can do that is to allow Jesus to live through us, and the only way that can happen is if we die to self.  We must die the slow death to self to allow Jesus to take up full residence in our hearts and to live out his will through us. 

What can I do today to be a light in this world?  That should be the question I ask myself every morning when I wake up.

Keeping New Habits

Yesterday at church the sermon was about habits and how we can stay on track.   It was a perfect sermon to teach at New Year’s when we are all making new resolutions and new goals for the year.    The pastor talked about how hard it is sometimes to keep from falling back into old habits, and how if we rely only on ourselves we will be much more likely to lapse into our old ways. 

Here are three ways we can keep from falling back into your old ways:

1. We must walk in humility.  We must be able to hand over our weaknesses to God for help.  We must be able to say “I can’t do this alone, I need God’s help.”  For many of us that doesn’t come easy, but it is a must if you want to truly overcome habits.
2. We must think like Jesus.  We must mirror the heart of Jesus and think the way he would think. We must see situations how he would see then.  Think about how he treated money, his body and his spiritual life.  Think of it in a different angle.  
3. We must get back up on the horse.  If you do indeed fall you must just get back up and try again.  Do NOT give up.  If you fall back to your old ways on one day, start right back with the new habit the next day.  Just keep working at it, never giving up.  Do not think that if you fall back one or two days that you have failed, just start back up. 

I’m working towards my goals for the year and so far I’d say I’ve done pretty good.  I do have to be humble to God every morning, asking Him to help me with my urges to do things my old way.  I am doing good with most of my new goals, but there are a few I keep falling back on….but I’m getting right back on and trying again tomorrow.  I WILL change these habits…..with God’s help.

Saying Goodbye to 2009 and Welcoming 2010

I can’t believe it is the last day of 2009.  This year has gone by so fast.  I say that every year.  They keep getting faster and faster and I know that is because I am either getting older or having more fun.  One of the two, or both. 

I want to take time today to give you two lists.  I want to highlight the top 10 blessings I am thankful for in 2009 and I want to give you my top 10 goals for 2010.  I think that is a good way to end a good year and begin an even better one.

Top 10 Blessings of 2009:

1. My personal relationship with God.
2. My marriage and how much we have grown together this year.
3. Good health.
4. The great lessons from God on money, relationships and choices.
5. Bible studies and the friends we have made this year.
6. Our kids and how they have grown inside and out.
7. The time I’ve been able to spend with the kids this year, during the summer and after school.
8. Great neighbors.
9. The schools our kids attend.
10. Our church and Mobile Loaves and Fishes  (I cheated and put two for #10, but this is my list so it’s ok).

My Top 10 Goals for 2010: 

1. Get closer to God through daily prayer and Bible reading.
2. Continue to grow in my marriage with open communication and time together.
3. Exercise as much as possible. (not just when I feel like it)
4. Eat well and drink a lot more water.
5. Work with God on the issues I need to work on. (He and I know what they are)
6. Read and write more.
7. Spend lots of quality time with the kids individually and as a family.
8. Spend less and save more.
9. Serve others as much as possible.
10. Be a good example.

Happy New Year!!

CAN

You have probably seen stories about this father and son team, and you may have already seen this video.  If you have not, and even if you have, watching it will undoubtedly move you and inspire you.  What an incredible love this shows.  It is a reminder that with our Father we CAN do anything. 

Philippians 4:13 is one of my favorite Bible verses.  It is printed on a magnet that we keep on our refrigerator door.  I need to see that on a regular basis.  That through Christ I CAN conquer anything life throws my way.