A simple prayer by Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it. I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor. I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether. O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.    In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have. I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner; you are upright. With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. Amen.

The power of Books

"When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers." (2 Timothy 4:13 NLT)


I have to admit something; I am not a great reader. I like to read, but it does not come natural to me. Part of the reason I am not a great reader is that I am a results orientated person, therefore if a book does not grab my attention or interest early I have little patience to finish it and quickly move on to something else. I am not positive I read a book cover to cover until I became a Christian. (Sorry to all my High School teachers and College professors). After floundering in college and pursuing many other pipe dreams, I became a Christian. Shortly after that, I felt a calling to full time pastoral ministry and went to Bible College. It was there I discovered the joy of reading and the necessity of reading.

A pastor friend of mine once said: "For the Christian, reading is not an option. It must become a discipline." That statement stuck with me. God chose to speak to us through a book. The book is how we get to know Him, know His purpose for our lives, and how to get along in a broken world. It answers all the big questions of life. I would agree with Abraham Lincoln: "In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book."  Reading scripture and other books is key to spiritual growth and maturity.

Rick Warren Tweeted the other day: "Reading a few life-changing books over & over enriches your life far more than reading a long list of soon-forgotten books."

This made me think of the books that have impacted me most. I thought I would share my top twenty. My goal is to re-read each of these over the next year.  These are not in any particular order

1. "The Jesus Creed" by Scot McKnight: http://goo.gl/poGZ5

 

2.  "The Jesus I never knew" by Phillip Yancy: http://goo.gl/k5nj9


3. "The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard: http://goo.gl/33QCN




4. "The mark of the Christian" by Francis Schaeffer: http://goo.gl/kYDBQ


5. "The Purpose driven life" by Rick Warren: http://goo.gl/BaIH7


6. "Desiring God" by John Piper: http://goo.gl/ro7z1



7. "Don't waste your life" by John Piper: http://goo.gl/C78bP


8. "Seizing your divine moment" by Erwin McManus: http://goo.gl/zGyh1


9. "The Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller: http://goo.gl/u1GNd


10. "The life you've always wanted" by John Ortberg: http://goo.gl/kfD7D



11. "The Holy Spirit" by Billy Graham: http://goo.gl/3Fhj1


12. "Messy Spirituality" by Michael Yaconelli: http://goo.gl/IPXAg


13. "The cross of Christ" by John Stott: http://goo.gl/DDZS2


14. "The contemporary Christian" by John Stott:http://goo.gl/X2yG2



15. "The incomparible Christ" by John Stott:http://goo.gl/9MWb5


16. "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis:http://goo.gl/D3Btd


17. "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis:http://goo.gl/q4tTc



18. "The cost of discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:http://goo.gl/w6Y2g


19. "Grace Awakening" by Charles Swindoll:http://goo.gl/LV4DF


20. "Humilty" by Andrew Murray:http://goo.gl/rdx4i