I am an avid reader. At least I thought so until I talked with someone this week who is a voracious reader. Someone who is so hungry to devour books that they don’t put it down until every page has been read. This kind of person would rather read than sleep. They would read while others watch TV. As just an avid reader, I still put the book down from time to time to sleep, eat or perhaps even watch TV. I usually am reading at least 2 books to allow me to use one as a thought generator and one as a serious cover to cover experience. Right now, I am reading a book by Bill Johnson entitled, “When Heaven invades Earth”, a practical guide to a life of miracles. I have been listening to his podcasts for awhile and find that he stretches my faith in the area of believing for bigger things from God. Here is a line I read this morning:
“It is abnormal for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible. It has been written into our spiritual DNA to hunger for the impossibilities around us to bow at the name of Jesus.”
He says the normal Christian life should view problems as miracle opportunities. I was planning to read this book as a devotional where I read just a few pages a day over a several month period. However, It has become a cover to cover experience and I find that I am unable to put it down after just a page or two. It stirs me to trust God at a higher level.
Another book that has captured me this year is “The externally focused Church” by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson. I am using this as true devotional material finding gems to ponder and letting them digest before going on to the next. My gem from this morning is on page 174:
“Sometimes in ministry we assume we need to get everything just so before we can start-that people need to get the whole picture and have complete understanding before they can move forward. But the truth is, all they really need is enough understanding to get started. Part of being externally focused is to build the road as we travel it. We don’t need the entire road before we begin the journey, only enough to take the next step.”
One more thought this morning- I spend some time each day reading the Bible. The Word of God is the authority that helps we keep perspective while reading other material. It gives me a benchmark to judge the other stuff by. If time is limited, I need to choose Bible first, then other books.
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” ( Romans 10:17 )
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