"IF" by Mark Batterson

A Modern Day Book of Wisdom

I just finished reading Mark Batterson’s new book “IF.”

My first impression is that this book is a Modern Day Book of Wisdom.

With 30 Chapters, it could easily become one of those books that you read a chapter a day.

Each chapter is filled with nuggets of wisdom and encouragement.

Mark does an excellent job, painting the picture of our God who loves us more than anything.

Each Chapter of “IF” is a Mark Batterson commentary on Romans Chapter 8, a.k.a. The Great 8.

My favorite Chapter would have to be Chapter 12, “The Scenic Route.”

A couple of my favorite quotes from Chapter 12:

“Anything less than God-sized goals constitutes a lack of faith.”

 “Your job is simply this: ‘keep in step with the Spirit.’”

“You are someone else’s miracle. All you have to do is let the Spirit lead and obey His prompting.”

IF is filled with nuggets like those I found in Chapter 12.

At times some of the stories seem repetitive, perhaps that’s only from reading so many of Mark’s other books.

Even in chapter 30 I found myself making notes.

IF is a book that will hold your attention to the very end.

In fact, once you begin reading you’ll have a hard time finding a place to stop!

All About the Grace

Let's have a short talk about grace.
Many people believe that when you live under grace, it is a license to do whatever you want to do.
You know, like grace is a big cover-up.
When we treat the Grace of God like a big cover-up, we cheapen His Grace!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in The Cost of Discipleship, "Cheap grace is grace we bestow upon ourselves... the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship...
Costly grace is the gospel which must e sought again and again... it is costly because it cost a man His life, and it is grace because it gives man the only true life."

The Grace of God is unmerited favor, but not just unmerited favor.

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹² It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

The Grace of God when it comes into your life:

1)    Gives you the DESIRE to do God’s will.

2)    Gives you the STRENGTH to follow through with it.

God's Grace will empower us to have the desire to do what is right.

God's Grace will empower us with the strength to follow through with our decision.

Think of God's Grace like this:

G = God’s love flows through us.

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

R = Redemption comes to us from Christ through grace.

Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

A = Abundance of power to keep us for Christ comes through grace.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Though the law showed us how to live to please God, it can do nothing to empower us to live for God.

We are saved through grace and we are kept in Christ through the abundant grace God provides.

C = Changes come to us through grace.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

When you allow God’s grace to grow in you, you cannot help changing. Your attitude, words and actions are transformed.

E = Extravagant and Endless resources for kindness and service.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

What we freely receive we freely give to others.

Through grace, we have an endless resource from which we can draw to produce good works of kindness.

We want to serve God with all that is in us — not to earn our way to heaven but out of obedience that comes from a grateful heart.

Because I live under God's Grace, I live in such a way as to honor Him because of all He has done for me.

God's Grace is unmerited favor. It cannot be earned. It is a gift.

A free gift that cost Jesus everything!

Walking by Faith

Have you ever really thought about what it means to walk by faith?
Do we really have faith?
We have faith for some things, you know like, "I had faith in this chair I'm sitting in." I had faith that it would hold me up! Or, "I had faith the switch on the wall would turn on the light."
Everyday we do things and never once worry about will it happen like it is supposed to.

But then, there are bigger things. You know, times when you must decide to live by faith or to hold back in fear.

I wonder how many times we choose not to do something or go somewhere that God has planned for us because we are afraid?

Recently I was listening to a podcast by Steven Furtick, during the message he said, "I would rather stand before God as a failure than one who was afraid."

This comment has really stuck with me. Paul told Timothy, "God has not given us a spirit of fear..."; the writer of Hebrews said, "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

Which word defines my life? Faith or fear?
Do I really walk by faith, or am I more likely to let fear keep me from trying something new or going somewhere different?

I recently read Tommy Barnett's book, "There's a Miracle in Your House."
The following quotes come from his book:
"The greatest hinderance to walking by faith is trying to be fail-safe."
"In the making of every miracle are faith, obedience and the willingness to take a risk."

I read both of these statements and realized how great they are. I've shared them several times with different people. Then suddenly the other day I felt the Lord say, "Hey Dummy, those were for you too!"
I had been so focused on encouraging others that I almost missed what God was trying to do in me.

Then I heard that statement from Steven Furtick.

I have decided I will be one who walks by faith, even if sometimes that step of faith ends in failure.

What is God asking you to take a step of faith and do? Are you willing to risk everything?

Take that next step of faith, even if you can't see where the next step is. You'll be glad you did!

On Target

Every January people set goals to start the new year. Some want lose weight, some want to quit a habit, some want to become better in some area of their lives.
By Valentine's Day, most people have abandoned their goals for the new year, falling back into old habits and old patterns.

For me, every January I set the same goal. I want to grow as a leader and the best way for me to grow is to read as many books as possible. So every January 1, I set a personal goal to read 36 books in one year. (Not counting the Bible!)

Honestly, I have yet to reach my goal of 36. I've made as many as 18-20. I don't get frustrated, I just keep reading. After all it's only a goal.

2015 has been no different. In January I set a goal to read 36 books. As of March, I am ahead of where I should be. Not bragging just making my goal public for accountability.

I often get calls or messages from different people asking what book I recommend for them to read.
I decided maybe I should just share what I've read so far in 2015.

Here's my list of books I've read so far this year. I'll try to make another post like this later in the year for a fresh update.

2015 Books I've Read This Year:

1. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 - Phillip Keller

2. God is Closer Than You Think - John Ortberg

3. The Prodigal God - Timothy Keller

4. The Shaping of Things to Come - Michael Frost & Alan Hirsch

5. Not Your Parents Offering Plate -  J. Clif Christopher

6. When Work & Family Collide - Andy Stanley

7. The Grave Robber - Mark Batterson

8. The Pursuit of God - A.W. Tozer

9. The Darkside of Leadership - Gary McIntosh & Samiel Rima

10. Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson,M.D.

11. There’s a Miracle in Your House - Tommy Barnett

These have all been great books. The hardest read so far has been "The Shaping of Things to Come."

My favorite so far this year is "Who Moved My Cheese." I read this book about 10-12 years ago. After reading it again, I bought copies for all of my leadership team.

I challenge you, pick up one of these books or any book of your choosing and start reading.

One of my mentors always says, "You gotta Grow!" 

Growth is not an option! So start reading and start growing.