Why books?

So, why have I ventured into the arena of writing and self publishing books?  The reality is that deep in my heart I have carried a desire and dream to write. Many times I have imagined my name on a book but never quite new how to get my words inside. Many years ago I wrote a manuscript entitled, "Are You Content to Wear Those Chains?"  I never did anything with that as I didn't know what to do or how to do it. I determined that perhaps writing was not for me.

This past May I told my wife that I felt I needed to begin writing seriously. As always she was very supportive.  Within 2 weeks of that conversation I heard 2 sermons on Josiah and revival, I was challenged by prophetic people and words to write a book, I was given an outline for a book about Josiah and revival, and I spoke at my first conference. What topic was I given? Revival. I thought I had better pay attention.

On May 30, 2012, I began writing "Carrying the Torch for Revival," and the first draft of the book was completed June 30. I can honestly say I never experienced anything more powerfully in my years of church life or ministry. The message of the book was stored in my spirit and exploded out. Revival is my driving passion. I long to see Gods people alive with His truth and Spirit.

In September, I stumbled upon a method of self publication that utilizes Amazon, Kindle and other avenues of distribution. The company is known as Create Space. My first venture into publishing was "31 Keys to Possessing Your Promise," a 31-day devotional that began as a daily email to our church family. The response to that has been humbling and surprising. Seeing my name on a book was unlike anything I could have imagined. I still look awkwardly at it and try to figure out "why me?"

Finally in January, "Carrying the Torch for Revival" became a published reality. I am not entirely sure what God has planned for these and future books, but I am totally convinced I am following His plan in writing. My prayer with the messages I have put in print is that they will be in the right hands at the right time.

Your dream may not be writing, but I want you to know that your dream can be a reality as well. What can you do today to begin making that happen?

So, why books?  Why writing?  Why not????

God Deserves Our Best

This morning has been a reflective one for me.  I sense various challenges and opportunities before me that are exciting and even a little bit frightening.  At the same time, I have before me some difficulties of things gone wrong and unfulfilled dreams and visions.  The reality is that we can find times in our lives where we feel trapped or uncertain as to what is going on and what it is that God is trying to do in and through our lives.

Yet, I have come to a renewed conviction about something.  GOD DESERVES OUR BEST.  

When things are going as we want . . . GOD DESERVES OUR BEST.

When things aren't going as well as we would like . . . GOD DESERVES OUR BEST.

It seems that in many ways within the modern church the idea of excellence and giving God our best is a foreign concept.  How many times have I myself done just enough to get by?  How many times have I forfeited God's best and my best to just embrace the good enough?  You might say it is a church epidemic.  We only approach God at appointed times.  We only think of Him when we need something.  We want His bailout when it gets tough.  And, we want all that God has to offer without our having to offer anything.  If we would be brutally honest with ourselves, many of us fit that picture. 

But I am haunted by this question this morning:

IF I DON'T GIVE GOD MY BEST AM I GIVING HIM ANYTHING AT ALL?

I think about the story of David in 2 Samuel 24 when he was instructed to build an altar unto the Lord and offer sacrifice and worship.  He approached the owner of the field and the guy was willing to give the land to the king for nothing.  Yet, David's response baffled him and it baffles me this morning.

²¹ Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be held back from the people.” ²² Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. ²³ Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.” ²⁴ However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. ²⁵ David built there an altar to theLord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.

David had it in his heart to only give God the best.  And it was said about David that he was a man after God's own heart.  Just like God cared enough to send His very best - His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross - so are we to give our best to Him.  Yet, how often do we just skirt the issue?  We give just enough.  We do just enough.  We go just enough.  On and on.  

Jesus said that our hearts are where we have placed our treasure (Matthew 6:21).  The choices we make in our lives reveal what is really in our hearts.  And the begging question is whether our hearts are in the right place with God to the point that we give Him our very best.  

Just like the widow who gave her 2 small coins, our very best does not have to outdo or measure up to or with someone else.  It must be OUR very best.  I cannot give your very best.  You cannot give my very best.  We each have our own responsibility.  Always remember . . .

GOD DESERVES OUR BEST.