NonFictionBooks

Rick Warren tells how a church can grow and be healthy. I like one part in the beginning of the book where he talks about waves. He talked about how one can have all the equipment it takes to be a great surfer, but regardless of how experienced a surfer you are, it is God who makes the wave. The same application can be applied to a church. Without God, the church won’t be built or become effective. In his book he talks about what makes a healthy church. He also lists many ways a church can die or not grow at all. He also tells how he started a church from his home with just a few people, to his first Easter service of 205 people, then finally to the 8th largest church in America. Warren does not say that every detail he implements is essential for church growth. I enjoyed reading his concepts. One thing that he covered was how some ministries are reluctant to try anything new. He covers how times and methods change, but the gospel remains the same. Rick Warren has taught many leaders on church growth and many testify of church growth within their ministries.

Ann

I saw Pastor Franklin on TBN a few years ago talking about the purpose of fasting and he really caught my attention. He spoke as one who not only knew the Biblical aspects of fasting, but one who practiced it as well and experienced God’s move in his life. This is a must read. This book has helped me to learn about the various types of fasting such as the Daniel fast, Absolute fast, and The Esther fast. He gives both new and old testament Scriptures on who fasted, why and how long. He also talks about his own experience. As a teenager he went on his first 21-day fast. He also talks about three day fasts that he did. This book is refreshing to see the author not just having head knowledge but also actually applying it to his own life. I recommend this book if you have a desire to get closer to God by fasting & prayer. Three main areas he covers are giving, fasting, and prayer. Some of the chapters are: Fasting for your Breakthrough, Dethroning King Stomach, God’s Coming to Dinner, and Nothing Shall be Impossible—It works, just to name a few. The book is 237 pages long, but it looks shorter, probably because it is a small hardcover book.  A 21-day companion journal can also be purchased separately. I purchased the journal too. I like it because he asks you questions that you can jot down as you meditate on Scripture passages or answers to his thought-provoking questions. The journal is 104 pages long and full of questions and bible verses.  I plan to use this book and journal throughout the year when I fast.

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At the time of the writing of this book, Juanita Bynum was single. Since then she was married and is now divorce. I was thinking what a wonderful fairy tale it would have been if she were still married and going strong. In spite of that not being so, the book is still applicable for today. Bynum shares her own struggles of sexual sins, lewd affections, impurity, making wrong choices, bondage of the mind, purification and becoming the virtuous woman of proverbs 31.  Bynum tells her story well. As I read her book I felt as if she was sitting right at my bedside giving me a sista to sista chat.  She leaves no sheet unturned. She even deals with the taboo topic of masturbation and breaks down why this is a perversion. This is a must read for all women, but I actually think everyone should read it: Single, Married, Divorce, male or female.  Sheets are exposed, masks fall off that some churches don’t deal with. Bynum offers many good solutions to various problems you might be struggling with. She gives you a full account of how making the wrong decisions will have devastating consequences. Many churches are filled with hurting people who wear masks. This is a great book to use for a women’s group study.

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Since God is omniscient why do we need to pray? Dutch Sheets answers this question. God simply decided that His work on earth would be done by and through humans. He talks about how we are partners with God. Jesus intercedes on our behalf to the Father. He uses us to intercede (go between) for others. Sheets stated, “It means our prayers of intercession are always and only an extension of His work of intercession.”   He covers why prayer is necessary.

• To fight the power of darkness
• To help bring deliverance from those who are bound
• Fighting spiritual warfare
• Power comes from God and he works through you.

One story that struck with me was when he took a trip to Guatemala. There was a 6 or 7 year old that was chained up to a tree because her parents said that she was uncontrollable. This young girl would afflict harm not only to herself but also to others. She was tied up like an animal. Dutch Sheets began to minister in that village and God spoke to him to pray for the child. God delivered this little girl and many in the village accepted Christ.

I love the attitude of Dutch Sheets. He doesn’t act like a big shot or so super anointed that he has Jesus special cell phone number. He is very honest and open about his total dependence on God. He shares his fears and struggles throughout his prayer journey.

After reading this book, I felt that I could become an intercessor too. God is no respecter of persons. He will use anyone who yields to Him.

If you want to have an effective prayer life, how to develop and become an intercessor, and how to deal with the struggles in prayers…get this book!

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