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