Author Jim Stovall.

I knew it had been a while since I had written, I just did not realize how long.  Here are two books I would suggest, both are written by Jim Stovall:  The Way I See the World and You Don’t Have to be Blind to See.   And if you have not guessed by the title of the second book, Jim is blind.  He was not born blind but slowly went blind from the ages of 17 to 29. 

In his books you will not find anything that will cause you to feel sorry for him.  What you will find is encouragement.  He shares parts of his story to teach and challenge so that you can be successful in whatever you choose to do. 

I am listing some things that have stuck with me. 

§  Happiness is our sole responsibility. 

§  It is important to realize that every person we meet will have the potential to impact us in a positive way.  (This means the reverse is true; I am impacting people I meet.  I hope that’s good!)

§  Instead of prioritizing our schedule, we need to schedule our priorities. (Ouch! That one stepped on my toes.)

Go to the youtube below and you will hear one of his stories.  This particular story is his motivation for why he writes and speaks.   (If it doesn’t work copy and paste the link into your browser.)  Jim has writen many other books; including The Ultimate Gift.  For more information about Jim Stovall go to http://jimstovall.com/   

Happy Reading, Trena
check out my other blog: http://nospringchick.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1xGJZngN5g

The Blessed Life by Robert Morris

In the first blog about The Blessed Life I wrote “This book is not a get rich quick book.  So far it is about obedience and the blessing that come with it."  Well, I finished the book.  Guess what; this book is not a get rich quick book.  It is about obedience and the blessing that come with it.   

Since reading this book I have made some purposeful changes in my business and personal life.  As usual I was second guessing myself on some changes, then a client stopped by my office and out of the blue he asked if he could give me some business advice.  His advice, “Whatever you do, tithe and then give more.”  He summarized the book and confirmed my changes in five words. 

What an ending: Tithe and then give more. 

P.S. Remember the hymn: 
Count your blessings name them one by one,
Count your blessings see what God has done.
Leave a comment about what God had done since you started tithing. 
 

Something quick!

As you know Church That Matters gives away a book when you hand in a commitment card.  Our pastor just added a new book yesterday.  Armed and Dangerous, Ephesians 6:11, Straight Answers From the Bible.  The book has a list of topics; you chose a topic-go to the page and there you will find some scriptures on that topic. 

Yes, I know this is not a new concept.  Several years ago Victory Christian Center gave away a similar book.  I kept one in my Bible bag; I used it all the time!  (I gave it away, so if anyone has a spare...)

This book would be handy for anyone, but Armed and Dangerous is great for youth.  Many of the topics are things they may not want to go to a parent or adult about; such as drug abuse, lust, and temptation.  The book is small, easy to carry and bright orange (hard to misplace.)  I like to open it randomly and read.  That's a good way to end.  

..thumbing through...
Topic: the future.
1st scripture:
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.  Proverbs 3:1,2

 

Busy Busy Busy

It has been a busy place around here; hence the lack of getting to rock-n-read.  Here's an overview of just the last two weeks. 

• I (meaning husband Troy, friend Robin, son Christopher and myself) have relocated our 600 sq ft office to my 160 sq ft dining room. 
• Troy and I have had relatives stay with us from Oregon for a few days (which was great!) 
• Went to a family reunion, Sunday after church (which was also great.)  
• Planned Hats & Hankies Ladies Movie Night. 
• Finished and printed speaking brochures. 
• Started a new blog...  nospringchick.blogspot.com.  (check it out)  

This and the regular day to day activities of work, church and being a grandparent. 

All this to say, I have not taken the time to write a chapter or book review.  Although I have not finished the Blessed Life yet, I have started another book, "The Christian Atheist."  The book in a nutshell, is that our walk and our talk don't always go together. 

Stay tune and thanks for being patient.

The Blessed Life by Robert Morris: Fulfilling the law.

Have you ever read something that was explained so well, you wondered how you missed it?  That is how I have feel reading this book.  Robert Morris explains the principle of tithing so well I wondered how I missed it.  Everyhing he talks about is in the Bible!   But I never connected the dots.

Morris points out that the laws in the Old Testament are principles in the New Testament.  Jesus’ crucifixion did not abolish the law; it fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17.)  Though we have grace; the principle of the laws still apply.  The righteousness of grace has set a higher standard for the principles (Matthew 5:20.)  Example: standard (law): do not kill; higher standard (grace): Jesus said if you hate you have killed.  In other words do not hate.  Standard (law): Do not commit adultery; higher standard (grace): Jesus said if you lust you have committed adultery.  In other words do not lust/desire after someone or something.  In the two examples the standard is the act and the higher standard is the thought process that leads to the act.  Most of us can say, I have not killed anyone, but can we say we have not hated anyone.  Which is the higher standard? 

If you have not read this book, you have got to do so.  Robert Morris has a knack for using scripture in the Old Testament with the related scripture in the New Testament.  I love it! 

If you have or are reading The Blessed Life by Robert Morris, make a comment.  I would love to hear what you are getting out of the book.  Even better, if you have applied the principle of tithing, tell me about it.

Tell next week,

Trena Zickefoose       

Random book selection: Blessed Life, Crazy Love, & Story

I was thinking maybe I should stick with one book at a time.  I am reading “The Blessed Life” by Robert Morris, “Story, Recapture the Mystery” by Steven James and listening to “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan.  I thought it was too much, because I’m starting to get them mixed up, but I realize they are actually complementing each other.  Here is an example: (please keep in mind, this is Zickefoose translation of these books)

In one chapter “Crazy Love” talkes about how we pray, specifically when we take a trip---protect us, keep us from harm…Chan suggested praying ---let me be a witness for you, whatever it takes.  A chapter in “Story” refers to Matthew 26:39, this is where Jesus falls on his face and says---if possible take this cup…yet Your will not Mine.  In other words…whatever it takes!  “Blessed Life” is about God sacrificing his first born to redeem us.

While in the garden, if Jesus would have prayed---protect me, keep me from harm; we would still need to be redeemed.  I can imagine posts on facebook: Woo Hoo-I get to give my first born today- I’ll post pics later.  (Or)  OMG after Zumba I have to find a replacement lamb , our first one was born with spots.  Craigslist: Tulsa, spotless lamb, serious inquires only.  Sounds gruesome, doesn’t it?  To Jesus it sounded gruesome; because it was; physically, emotionally and spiritually gruesome.  He could have called 10,000 angels, but he didn’t.   He said, Father whatever it takes.

What a difference one prayer made.  And I thought the books chosen randomly. 

The Blessed Life by Robert Morris

Praise God, it has been a busy week!  But, I have not taken time to write for several days.  So let’s get back to the book.

If you are reading or have read The Blessed Life, remember what started with a van that was given to him and his wife.  After the van, then someone gave them a car, which they gave away.  This car give and give away went on till they had been given and had given away nine cars.  With this in mind, I have got to tell you about the last couple of days.  It has been remarkable! 

I was given some money to purchase some Easter outfits for friends.  I went to a ladies dress shop, told them what I needed and that I had a very limited budget.  The store manager offered a discount and said to pick out what I wanted and that she had some things in the back, she would give me.  After a little bit, she came to me and said, “You may want to pull your car up to the front.”   I was there to get an outfit for two young ladies, I left with the two outfits and four boxes and two bags of new clothes, shoes, belts, purses and sunglasses.  When I got the last box in the trunk, I could not even talk.  I got into my car and cried.  God is good!

I just couldn’t imagine it getting any better than this.  But it did!  I went to get some boys clothes; they asked if I needed help.  I told them the sizes I needed and that I had a very limited budget.  They had jeans and shirts on sale and then gave an additional store discount on top of it. I was overwhelmed, again.

In The Blessed Life, Robert Morris says, “Being “blessed” means having supernatural powers working for you.”  I had planned to squeeze five outfits for five kids out of a very limited amount of money; I thought it would be difficult.  But I was truly “blessed.”  It wasn’t just a shirt and or pants for the boys; it was a couple of shirts and pants or a couple pairs of pants and a shirt. Now the girls…pants, Skirts, shirts, shoes, belts, purse and sunglasses.  Think about it…God provided sunglasses.  I didn’t even think to ask for sunglasses.  So the five I planned for turned into eight or nine.    

I have to admit, this has been a humbling experience.  I learned that my God is not limited, but I limit Him. God is willing to do so much more for us than we allow Him to do or ask Him to do.  I’m not just talking about the physical stuff, but in our hearts and minds.

This book has made me more aware of not only the blessings in my life, but of blessing I don’t allow, because I have limited Him.  Like I said before this is a book about obedience; my prayer this week is to see more than my potential, but to see God’s limitless potential for me. 

Book: The Blessed Life by Robert Morris

Yes I know I was going to start with the book Story, but our pastor gave us this book and asked everyone to read it.  So I am starting with it.  The Blessed Life by Robert Morris. 

Author Robert Morris tells about something that happened to him in his early days of traveling as a speaker.  He was preaching a small church for one night and it was the only thing he had scheduled for the month.  (This was his only income.)  At the end of the service, the pastor of the church brought him an envelope with the love offering in it.  He opened the envelope and it was almost the exact amount of his monthly budget.  As he was exiting the church, the Lord put it on his heart to give the check to a missionary at the church.  Robert goes on to explain the struggle he had with the Lord, and finally he endorses the back of the check, gives it to the missionary and ask that he not tell anyone.  That evening Robert and a group of people from the church are eating pizza.  A man at the table said to Robert, “God is about to teach you about giving, so that you can teach the body of Christ.”  The man handed him a check folded in half, Robert opened it and it was exactly 10x’s the amount of the love offering he had given the missionary. 

I am sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch, it’s late.  I have my book light attached to the back of the book and I am tired.  But I want to read a little before going to bed.  I read a couple of pages with my mind focused on tomorrows to do list.  I sit the book down.  “Lord, show me what you want me to learn from this book.  Show me what you want me to write about.  Give me the boldness to write it, speak it and live it.” Then I stopped “boldness” I corrected myself…”Lord you have given me the boldness-I need to be obedient!”

I know it sounds like I have gotten off track, but stick with me a little longer.  When Robert told about his struggle with the Lord to give up the love offering; it was an obedience issue.  The man at the table; again it was an act of obedience.  God has already given us the boldness. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear (timidity), but of power, love and a sound mind.  God want us (me) to be obedient. 

This book is not a get rich quick book.  So far it is about obedience and the blessing that come with it.  If you don't have the book, get it and read it with me.  Also check out the series Rusty has on the blessed life at churchthatmatters.com.  It is really good.

Good night everyone.

Why this blog?

At church I help with the hospitality table.  One thing we offer is a free book when you hand in a commitment card.  Great idea, but when I was asked about the books I just stuttered around; I had not actually read any of them.  (It’s hard to summarize the summary on the back of the book.)  Honestly it had been a long time since I had read a book, I generally lean toward podcast. 

When I listen to podcast I am sewing or cleaning.  Even when I am talking to my husband or someone else, more than likely I am doing something else at the same time.  There is something about devoting your time to a book; reading requires all my attention.   I am either on the front porch or in the living room in a rocking chair; reading. 
(Hence: Rock-n-Read.)

Well guess what…the books are worth reading.  I just finished, Story by Steven James.  So many OMG moments!!  Now when someone ask about a book, I can't tell them enough.  That's is were the blog comes in.


As I am reading, I will write about the book, it might be chapter by chapter, thought by though, or just something that really stood out to me.  You can read the book with me and we can share thoughts.  Or, if you are reading a book I should read let me know. 

I am going to read Story again and this time I will share it with you.  It is a great book to read around Easter.

So, watch for the next post.    

By the way, check out churchthatmatters.com