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What are you reading?

Blake

Blake

Member
I've been reading a whole lot more lately. I made a deal with myself that I'd spend a lot more time in books and the Bible and in prayer to make up for lost time on the internet lol.

So I've been reading through The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, and Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke. They've been excellent. I've also been thumbing through a Smith Wigglesworth devotional, and next in line I've got My Utmost for His Highest which was recommended to me.

I want to pick up a few more books soon. I'd love to hear your recommendations and what you've been reading on.
 
Blake said:
I've been reading a whole lot more lately. I made a deal with myself that I'd spend a lot more time in books and the Bible and in prayer to make up for lost time on the internet lol.

So I've been reading through The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, and Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke. They've been excellent. I've also been thumbing through a Smith Wigglesworth devotional, and next in line I've got My Utmost for His Highest which was recommended to me.

I want to pick up a few more books soon. I'd love to hear your recommendations and what you've been reading on.
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For me, i read stuff from Joseph Prince, and Kenneth and Gloria Copeland.
 
I've caught a few Joseph Prince sermons lately and his grace teachings are so good. I'll put him on my reading list!

Tozer is also on my list. I heard about him around the same time I heard about Leonard Ravenhill. I've only read short devotionals by Ravenhill, nothing really yet from Tozer. Are there any books you recommend?

I actually haven't heard anything George MacDonald. I'll look into him.
 
I enjoy Tozer's "Pursuit of God", it's a book I find myself reading again and again. It takes you back to the root of Holiness.

Many find it offensive. :)

MacDonald is similar but I found his writing style to be more of a difficult read. I can't recall the title but he may only have one book out and it might be out of print. I'll see if I can find my copy and provide the title name.
 
Blake

I was incorrect, he has written several books! This was a pleasant surprise, I'm going to be finding/purchasing the other books to read:

Here is a bit of biography:

In his George MacDonald: An Anthology (1947) C. S. Lewis states that while reading a copy of MacDonald's Phantastes (1858) "a few hours later," through inspiration of the gentle Christian's words "I knew I had crossed a great frontier.".... "I know hardly any other writer who seems closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ himself." W.H. Auden and J. R. R. Tolkien also admired his efforts. Phantastes was to become a definitive work of MacDonald's career. Through his writing, peppered with the Doric Dialect, he asserted that there was a God and art and the expression of creativity of spirit brought one closer to Him. Other successful titles were At the Back of the North Wind (1871), The Princess and the Goblin (published sometime in the 1880s) and it's sequel The Princess and Curdie (1883). The Diary of an Old Soul first published posthumously in 1965 strikes a deeper note of thoughtfulness where MacDonald offers a prayer for each day of the year.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/macdonald
 
Abigail123 said:
Blake

I was incorrect, he has written several books! This was a pleasant surprise, I'm going to be finding/purchasing the other books to read:

Here is a bit of biography:

In his George MacDonald: An Anthology (1947) C. S. Lewis states that while reading a copy of MacDonald's Phantastes (1858) "a few hours later," through inspiration of the gentle Christian's words "I knew I had crossed a great frontier.".... "I know hardly any other writer who seems closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ himself." W.H. Auden and J. R. R. Tolkien also admired his efforts. Phantastes was to become a definitive work of MacDonald's career. Through his writing, peppered with the Doric Dialect, he asserted that there was a God and art and the expression of creativity of spirit brought one closer to Him. Other successful titles were At the Back of the North Wind (1871), The Princess and the Goblin (published sometime in the 1880s) and it's sequel The Princess and Curdie (1883). The Diary of an Old Soul first published posthumously in 1965 strikes a deeper note of thoughtfulness where MacDonald offers a prayer for each day of the year.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/macdonald
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This all sounds good.
I'll check it out.
Thank you.
 
Blake said:
I've caught a few Joseph Prince sermons lately and his grace teachings are so good. I'll put him on my reading list!

Tozer is also on my list. I heard about him around the same time I heard about Leonard Ravenhill. I've only read short devotionals by Ravenhill, nothing really yet from Tozer. Are there any books you recommend?

I actually haven't heard anything George MacDonald. I'll look into him.
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I have a pdf of unmerrited favor if you would like a copy..........this is for anyone who would like a copy
 
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When I get around to it, I'll find my copy of My utmost for His highest. I bought it before I actually got saved...now that I'm interested in Christ for real, I of course can't find it, lol.

I'm skimming through God Loves You by David Jeremiah. I ordered but haven't yet read The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. Even though the class is over, I sometimes take a look at a couple books for classes I did last semster at Liberty, especially the text book for Survey of the Biblical Literature. Nice mix of info...

btw, Liberty had me reading a couple books by Elmer L. Towns, and I recommend his books to anybody. Well-written, informative, and often insightful.
 
Christ_empowered said:
When I get around to it, I'll find my copy of My utmost for His highest. I bought it before I actually got saved...now that I'm interested in Christ for real, I of course can't find it, lol.

I'm skimming through God Loves You by David Jeremiah. I ordered but haven't yet read The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. Even though the class is over, I sometimes take a look at a couple books for classes I did last semster at Liberty, especially the text book for Survey of the Biblical Literature. Nice mix of info...

btw, Liberty had me reading a couple books by Elmer L. Towns, and I recommend his books to anybody. Well-written, informative, and often insightful.
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Another good book is captured by grace by David Jeremiah. I read that book a few years ago and God used a page in that book to speak to me. Awesome!
 
Jesus > Religion and The Ragamuffin Gospel have been amazing so far. I'm about 3/4 through both. Awesomely enough, Bethke mentions Manning and a quote from his Ragamuffin Gospel book, and it worked out as a confirmation for me... in this season of my spiritual life God has been teaching me grace, something that I have been conditioned to and have taught myself to reject in a lot of ways. I have always chosen to wear rags when God has given me a robe and armor, I have always chosen to eat crumbs underneath though God has invited me to His table. I have always suffered deep bouts of condemnation from time to time and the Lord is leading me to rest and trust in the process... a resounding scriptural call to trust that He will complete the work He started in me. Glory to God! Typed myself into goose bumps lol.

Cturtle I would love a pdf copy of that book. I'll PM you my email address.

QuestDriven, I need to check out Lee Strobel. I hear he's essentially a master of apologetics. I hear his name very often.

ChristEmpowered, I will take that author into consideration!

Abigail, thanks for all of the recommendations!
 
Blake said:
.... in this season of my spiritual life God has been teaching me grace, something that I have been conditioned to and have taught myself to reject in a lot of ways. I have always chosen to wear rags when God has given me a robe and armor, I have always chosen to eat crumbs underneath though God has invited me to His table. I have always suffered deep bouts of condemnation from time to time and the Lord is leading me to rest and trust in the process... a resounding scriptural call to trust that He will complete the work He started in me. Glory to God! Typed myself into goose bumps lol.!
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it's funny that you mention about grace. What you wrote above gave me tears and goose bumps also! For it spoke so loudly. This is where God is teaching me now. Silly little things that seem to matter, i would not allow myself to think of because i was fearful of not having enough to last till whenever we had the money to get them.

Condemnation was a friend over the past 25 years or so, especially when i turned 16. But in the past year or so the Lord has been teaching me slowly about grace..and the definition. I think because of my upbringing, i thought that i had to earn the right to have things or even an emotional connection or love for that matter. Just the other day i listened to an mp3 from a pastor that changed the way that i viewed things. It seems as if God had to get me to the place where i could receive the freedom that it brought.

I think that the revelation began about 2 weeks ago, with the verse where Paul says that God told him that my grace is sufficient for thee. (2 Corinthians 12:9) I was praying and i believe that God put the thought of putting the definition into the verse where just the word resides, and wow was that ever powerful! It read...But He said to me, My overwhelming desire to treat you as if sin never happened (grace) is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.

Thanks again for the opportunity to share. May the Lord richly bless you all with peace and joy!
 
Cturtle, God is so good to us. Be confident in this, that God who started a good work in you will complete it! Philippians 1:6. Not because of who we are, but because of who God is. Not because we are perfect in our works, but because of His finished work on the cross. The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:11.

I believe Satan has convinced us for too long that we deserve to wear beggars rags, we aren't good enough for the fatted calf, the ring or the robe. We aren't strong enough for the shield or armor. This type of thinking robs us, that old thief... He had us thinking that the cross wasn't enough for us. He had us thinking our own strength and success would judge whether or not we could dwell with the Father when the Son has told us His power is magnified in our weakness. I can approach the throne of grace boldly, beautifully broken, I am an heir and a son, not an estranged orphan. Amen. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!
 
Blake said:
Cturtle, God is so good to us. Be confident in this, that God who started a good work in you will complete it! Philippians 1:6. Not because of who we are, but because of who God is. Not because we are perfect in our works, but because of His finished work on the cross. The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:11.

I believe Satan has convinced us for too long that we deserve to wear beggars rags, we aren't good enough for the fatted calf, the ring or the robe. We aren't strong enough for the shield or armor. This type of thinking robs us, that old thief... He had us thinking that the cross wasn't enough for us. He had us thinking our own strength and success would judge whether or not we could dwell with the Father when the Son has told us His power is magnified in our weakness. I can approach the throne of grace boldly, beautifully broken, I am an heir and a son, not an estranged orphan. Amen. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!
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Amen!!! When i saw you post the words "beautifully broken" God immediately reminded me of Jeremiah 18:1-6...the potter's house. Oh what a blessing to me this passage is! And brings much freedom!

Thanks for the encouragement! Seems as if you preached yourself happy! Awesome!
 
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