Soulprint - book review

Once again, it's time for a review of a book I have read. I received Soulprint, written by Mark Batterson from Blogging for Books/WaterBrookMultnomah Press.

This is the fourth book I have read from Mark and each one has touched my heart in a different way. The cover art gives a great insight into what is to come in the copy to be read inside. ark describes how each of our lives has a unique "soulprint", much like our unique fingerprints. Nobody has the same and each has its own defining characteristics.

Through the pages of this book, you will be challenged to find your divine destiny that God has placed specifically for you. Obviously, we all have different ones, thus it takes work from each of us to find our own.

Come into this book with an open mind, and a heart looking for answers...a pad and pen will help while going through this study. There is also a study guide included to aid with your efforts.

Once again, a brilliant book by one of my favorite authors/ Please read, study amd find what your true calling is!!!

Comfort in the Word of God

Just got this image on my Facebook and wanted to share with you today. Share your thoughts of what it means to you...what are you going through...how has the Word comforted you...I pray that you have a blessed day!

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

The Brick

I am sure many of you might have seen this following story in an email, but I found it priceless and wanted to share with those of you who haven't...

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'

The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop..' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat.. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door.

He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life
so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!'

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning. Face it, friend - He is crazy about
you!

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

I pray this touched you as it did me. Might we take the time to slow down today...and not miss the opportunities that come our way!!!

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Nelson's Cyclopedic Bible Index - review

This is one of those books that is very difficult for me to describe. I have never been an avid studier, nor have I spent hours doing research in any subject. However, the Bible is a book that has required much study during my life (some times more than others, unfortunately).

Yes, I have the Strong's Concordance, which goes into the Hebrew and Greek translations, but this is more a topical index if you will. This Index will be easy to navigate as you are looking for corroborating verses in the Bible, whether it be for corporate teaching or just a personal study time.

The problem in this day and age is that there are so many online resources that do much the same as this book. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to delve into the Bible and teach on specific subjects or topics. It would be a great resource to have on hand for any believer, and I am glad to have mine!!!

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

I'm Ready!!!

Earlier, I was talking about how quickly Christmas had snuck up on me. I was talking about how unprepared I was for Christmas this year. It got me thinking in a different light...how prepared and ready am I for the coming of Jesus? When I thought of the title "I'm Ready", the first thought was of Spongebob Squarepants...sorry, but I have a five year old Spongebob fanatic in my house.

Many times, we Christians talk about how ready we are for our Heavenly home...the peace, no tears, the grand reunions, etc...but are we making preparations in our own lives for our meeting with the Lord??? I started searching for the Scripture reference for this subject and came across Matthew 24.


Let's take a look at Matthew 24:42-44..."Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (43) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (44) Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

The Amplified puts it this way..."Watch therefore [give strict attention, be cautious and active], for you do not know in what kind of a day [whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming. (43) But understand this: had the householder known in what [part of the night, whether in a night or a morning] watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be undermined and broken into. (44) You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him."

Looking at the first verse, we are warned to be watching, giving strict attention, being cautious and active...do you realize the ACTIVE part??? We aren't called to just do for ourselves, but be active in our Christian walk. Don't rest in you assured Christian world, but be reaching out to others who need to know the peace you have.

In the second verse, we're made to think how we would respond if we knew the hour when a thief would come. How would we prepare for that? Would we be on the lookout? Would we be cautiously waiting? Or, would we just rest without heeding what was to come? Sounds ridiculous, I know...but why would we rest and just take it easy when we know the Lord may come at any moment?

We are once again reminded in verse 44 to be ready...I know this doesn't quite fall into the scope of decorating for the Christmas season, but we do need to prepare for the coming of the Lord, and our lives should be ready at any moment to appear before Him.

What do you need to do to be ready for the Lord's return? Have you asked Him to forgive you of the sins in your life? Have you confessed that Jesus is the Son of God? If you haven't, don't let another moment pass without praying a simple prayer. If you need help or just want to talk to someone about this Jesus, please reply to this post...I will keep it confidential and will help in anyway possible.

As we come closer to Christmas Day, I pray that we each take advantage of the opportunities to share the true meaning of Christmas with those we come in contact with...will you accept that challenge?

Let's team up together to reach those around us...and let God work in our lives corporately, as we make preparations for Christ's return. Remember Titus 2:13..."Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" Let's be prepared, so we can state "I'm ready"!!!

If you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf, please let me know!!!

Have a blessed Christmas season,
Craig