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.