The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs https://amzn.to/2D7XHqH This is one that is a slow read and multi-read. Over the years as I have wrestled with unrest, I read many books trying to figure things out. This is a treasure from the Puritans that with simplicity and depth brings the truths of being content in all things to life and into view. It is a beautiful invitation to great contentment in God that leads to great joy and peace. This is one to own, read, re-read, and mark up.
“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”
“My brethren, the reason why you do not have contentment in the things of the world is not that you do not have enough of them. The reason is that they are not things proportional to that immortal soul of yours that is capable of God Himself.”
Love Does https://amzn.to/2CGxcrs and Everybody Always https://amzn.to/2CFHRTc by Bob Goff are some of my favorite books. I love Bob Goff. I have not met him but I know we’d be friends. He did give me his cell number, well he gave everyone who reads his books his cell number and he actually talks to people who call. Who does that? Bob Goff that’s who. These are enjoyable reads. You will find yourself wondering if these stories are for real, they are. He is a great storyteller and he is a man choosing to live a great story for Jesus. Living loved and loving boldly. I also listened to the audio. They are good too. You will laugh outloud and sometime cry but these are worth the read. You will encouraged to love and trust bigger. Full of so many quotable quotes and simple yet profound lessons. (I saw that he now has a kid version of Love Does.)
“I used to want to fix people, but now I just want to be with them.”
“Most people need love and acceptance a lot more than they need advice.”
“I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say yes.”
“When joy is a habit, love is a reflex.”
“Jesus never said doing these things would be easy. He just said it would work.”
The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh https://amzn.to/2CFHRTc One of the many things I am working on in life is being a better listening. Listening well to what is being said and what is not. Paying attention and not chasing squirrels. This is the same man who wrote the Role of Introverts in Church. “Be quick to listen, and slow to speak…” is a verse I have to repent of not doing often. McHugh does a good job of encouraging us to be still and know God better and slow down and know others better.
“Hearing is an act of the senses, but listening is an act of the will.”
“You are not the expert on another person’s life. They know themselves better than you ever will. The solution to their problems lies within them, and good listening involves helping another person find it, not solving their problems for them. You want to encourage the speaker to think for himself, so when you are listening well, you are practicing good guesswork.”
“This is one of the greatest challenges for a listener: to delay your response so that others can express their present emotions and unresolved tensions.”
Desiring God Blog from John Piper and friends is a great blog. https://www.desiringgod.org/ One of Piper’s famous quotes, kind of his catch phrase for all he has taught is “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” In this blog they are are working this out in real life, real time. I appreciate the many articles that share thoughtful ideas, answers and thoughts on some challenging problems and scriptures.
Inkblot Life 