Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic

I began this book knowing it would tug at my heart, since the author has neither arms or legs. But instead of feeling sorry for Nick Vujicic I came away inspired and encouraged.

This man has a passion to share the goodness of God. He thanks God for his disability as it allows him to minister with others in a way no one else could. He doesn’t try to use his lack of limbs for any other purpose but to honor God.

Nick has been through many trials growing up so he has a passion for helping young people with things such as bullying or thoughts of suicide. There are many websites given in this book to guide people with these issues. He did not share much of his school mishaps with his parents or school officials, but he advises against this. There is help for all those that need advice or counsel.

Some of the many emails he receives are quoted to show just how his inspiring words are impacting people around the world.

I encourage anyone who has trials of any kind to read this book. It doesn’t have to be physical disabilities. The author has a passionate spirit that reaches out to all people. God is using Nick Vujicic mightily and it goes to show there is no disability that can hinder that.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

"The Gospel of Yes" by Mike Glenn

I had always thought I had the gospel of "yes" with God. After reading this book I realized I might be playing it safe.

Mike Glenn begins with the point that God wants us to concentrate on doing things we are good at. God is will to show us if we just ask. I often wonder why we don’t ask God for such things.

The playing it safe portion starts to hit close to home as he states a lot of phrases that explain this action. Low profile, mind your own business, retreat, avoid the struggle of living out your faith, to name a few.

 There may even be those who duck behind a theological bumper sticker slogan that is designed to shut off any further conversation or thought. The author states the Resurrection is God’s ultimate "yes" to humanity.

I liked a lot of the one liners he used to explain things. Our lives may begin with a mess, but they end with the Divine Yes. Another was that being a Christian can become a spiritual frequent-flier program.

I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to everyone who is not afraid to use his or her talents for God. The greatest point Mike Glenn makes is that we are loved by God and everything else flows from that eternal reality.
　
　

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

Spark by Jason Jaggard

This book takes you on a path. An ever growing, inspired, spark filled path. It encourages to change things by moving from asking hard questions to making hard choices. I never thought about it being in God's will to live an inspiring life. But that is what the author says God wants for us in our lives.

We can even thank God for the things we cannot change or don't like about ourselves.  Jason Jaggard states for in these inadequacies there is a unique way to love others that not many can duplicate.  That is a great way to appreciate our faults.  Though our faults come naturally they don't always honor God. In these areas we need to devote an unnatural amount of energy to developing ourselves far beyond what we are good at.

According to the author there are four things a risk must be.

1. Immediate- something you will do in the next six days.
2. Controllable- something that is within your power to do.
3. Challenging- something that stretches your comfort zone.
4. Positive- something that makes your life or the world better.

After reading his book I want to have the spark mentioned.  The author explains it in a way that is attainable and Biblical.  I recommend this book to those that need a recharge or spark in their spiritual life.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

Living Close to God, When You're Not Good at it

In my opinion this book was way too short.  When I had finished it, I wanted more to read. I appreciated the author's honesty regarding his slow Christian spirit.  He is a pastor and leader with a spiritual handicap as he calls it.

He begins on the simplicity of God.  He brought up that some of the believers in Jesus' time did not read. The gospel message was simple. So simple an unlearned person could understand it. All evidence points to the fact that our Lord is not complex.

Gene Edwards challenges us to find the relationship with Christ that is simple and personal. He states "I had heard over and over again there was one solution to living the Christian life ,'Read your Bible and Pray'. This had not worked for me."   If a pastor was struggling with that statement I wanted to find out why and what more could be done.

This book details what the author did to live close to God. The wisdom he used, though useful was just that, his wisdom.  I can take his tips, hints and solutions he found, but I must make and find my own personal commitment to live close to God.

This book is a great read for those that are frustrated with their limited walk with God and have a determination to find out how to change that.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multomah Publishing Group for this review."

The Jesus Mission by Steven K Scott

This book begins by asking four questions that will define our relationship with God.  What does God want from you?  How can you give God what He wants? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus come to earth?

Nothing like getting right to the point.  But I was glad that this book started out with some thought provoking questions to peek my interest right away.  The author answered these questions and many more about Jesus and His time on this earth.

He brought out that the gospels were our job description  I had never thought about those four books that way, but I liked that definition. If there was any confusion on why some things are repeated in a couple of gospels, it was answered by how slow we are to learn our job.

The author goes on to explain the purposes of Jesus' commands and our mission.  It gave a detailed account of why, when, where, and how. 

There was a clear definition of what carrying our cross meant.  The cross was an instrument of death and the person carrying it has no alternative but to submit to what awaits him.  There was no backing out.  We should have no other alternatives to our path for Christ.  The self-directed expectations and an entitlement mentality are the enemies of happiness.

There is also brought out, how rejoicing should be a part of a believers function. It should be based on three facts: That we are going to heaven. We are born again by God's grace and eternal life can never be taken away. 

Even with rejoicing each day we need to take other steps in our spiritual walk.  The author details quite a list that comes right out of the gospels.  Of course there was mentioned the huge obstacle of pride, which hinders this walk we try to live out.

Throughout the reading of this book I wanted to get more details of the life of Jesus and what He taught.  I knew that since this was my job description I wanted to get it right.

I recommend this book to those who have read the gospels many times and would like to see it from another viewpoint.  The author stated in detail what Jesus expects from us.

This book may stir you and lead you to a closer walk with Jesus.  Nothing can be better than that.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

The Pleasures of God by John Piper

The Pleasures of God was originally written in 1991.  It was revised in 2012, which was the edition I read.  Of course any information about God never goes out of date or is exhausted.

To review this book is to try to review God's word.  How do you do that?  I'm not trying to say John Piper's words are any comparison to the Bible, just that he uses scripture to show God's delight in being God. 

Many times I had to stop reading and just ponder the spiritual meaning of certain paragraphs.  John Piper writes as if he knows God personally, which is what all believers should agree on.  Sometimes we don't profess the God we know in a personal manner. God too often becomes a distant relative.

Piper writes that God will not turn away from doing good. That He is not waiting for us, He is pursuing us.  How many ways the enemy of our souls can make us fear that the God and Father of Jesus Christ is too good to be true. 

I could not think of any answer of why we would fear this, except that the enemy is feeding us lies like he did in the garden of Eden.

There are times we don't even consider what God's pleasure is.  Isn't that what our Christian life is to be all about.  We often don't seek and search the pleasures of God. We often don't see and savor the glory of God.

John Piper states to not love God and delight in Him is a great loss to us and insults Him. These reminders and much more are revealed in this book about God.

I had to read slowly and deliberately to get every detail Piper writes. There is so much fruitful information that applies to everyone on a journey for God.  I came away awe struck at how little I know about God and how I should be seeking His presence continually.

I recommend this book to those that too often beat themselves up on not living a good enough spiritual life.  It is also a must read for those that enjoy the true greatness of God.  For both kinds of people John Piper writes "What pleases Him is not our work for Him, but our need of Him."

 "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."