Book Review : Title - The Heart of the Story by Randy Frazee

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:25

If you are looking for a good book to have a quick overarching view of the story of God and life and the Bible, you can pause for a while and check out this book ‘The Heart of the Story’ by author and pastor, Randy Frazee. In 31 chapters, Pastor Randy shares like a story teller on the master plan of God unfolding in the lives of the Bible characters and in your own life. He brings us to understand the Bible in two perspectives - the Lower Story, the many stories of men and women interacting with God in the daily course of life. The Upper Story is God’s story, His plan in His great Sovereignty putting all things in place in the eventual end.

Tucked in some of the chapters, Pastor Randy shared some interesting stories to help illustrate the main point of the chapters. For example, one of them is the story of Johnny Lingo, a wealthy landowner who came to the islander Sam Karoo to ask for the hand of one of his two daughters. Instead of asking for the hand of the beautiful younger daughter, Johnny to everyone’s surprise asked for the older daughter. He paid Sam Karoo ten cows for her. He saw beyond her outward appearance and recognized the beauty of her heart and character. The value he placed on her true beauty helped her realize her true worth. So which Bible character is this story do you think it is illustrating?

In another chapter, Pastor Randy illustrates of a friend whose daughter delighted in receiving his dad’s letters while she was in college. When her dad quit sending her letters after she was married and family and career filled her life, she called and pleaded, “Daddy, please keep sending me real mail.” This story helps to point to the kind of real mail the early churches received from the Epistle writers, like Paul, Peter, James and John as compared to the kind of digital mails we receive nowadays.

This book is recommended for read so that we can understand how our daily life here on this earth (Lower Story) has meaning and purpose when we give thought to His daily presence with us and align our lives with His and our God’s great desire is to do life with us, now and until eternity (Upper Story).

Book Review : Title - The Emotionally Healthy Woman by Geri Scazzero with Peter Scazzero

The Emotionally Healthy Woman - Eight Things You Have To Quit To Change Your Life

“Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”” John 21:22

This book is a dangerous book. It is not a book for women only. It is also for men. It is more than a book for women on improving their emotional health. It is also for men in some ways to understand women better. The book is dangerous because it has only 8 chapters and each begins with something to "Quit..."

1. Quit Being Afraid of What Others Think
2. Quit Lying
3. Quit Dying to the Wrong Things
4. Quit Denying Anger, Sadness, and Fear
5. Quit Blaming
6. Quit Overfunctioning
7. Quit Faulty Thinking
8. Quit Living Someone Else's Life

This was what Geri did. She quitted the church her husband pastored. But God used her courageous decision to change her life in profound ways. She found herself in the process of spiritual formation and was able to return and serve God and His people in greater joy, humility and delight.

All of us have seasons in life where we have to take a step or maybe two steps back, to sit back, reflect, repent, rest and return. This book helps to assess the inner turmoils of the inner life and to regain the balance needed for the seemingly stressful, busy and burnout-heading Christian life.

Though every chapter is good reading, I find chapters 5 to 8 are a must-read which I could identify with many situations being illustrated. Once again, read with caution and share with an accountable mentor your discoveries.

Check out other titles written by Peter Scazzero:
1. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
2. The Emotionally Healthy Leader

Dear God

Dear God

Thank you for the greatest privilege - the access to your presence in prayer; to meet with the greatest person - yourself, Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, Jesus our Savior, Lord and brother and Holy Spirit, our prayer partner and protector; to experience the greatest protection in God; to encounter the greatest power in all things; to receive and read the greatest pages of life - the Bible and the greatest present - the gift of life through faith in Jesus Christ. 

We worship you as the greatest process, part and preparation for the eternal dwelling with Jesus in the heavenly realms. 

In the name of Jesus we pray. 

Amen

You Are My God

You Are My God

2012-10-01

You are my Father

You are my brother

You are my Savior

You are my Redeemer

You are my Giver

You are my Deliverer

You are my Shelter

You are my Banner

You are my God

You are my Creator

You are my Maker

You are my Soother

You are my Calmer

You are my Comforter

You are my Helper

You are my Warmer

You are my Cooler

You are my God

Man and God

Man Questioned ...

How To Live With God?

God Questioned ...

How To Live With Man?

If Only They Knew

If Only They Knew

That God is with them

That God hears their prayers

That God knows their pain

That God sees their hearts

That God feels their sorrow

That God comprehends

That God rules over all

That God saves as many

That God waits for more

That God changes your heart

That God stills the storm within

That God walks with them

That God stands with them

That God hears their cries

That God listens to the silent

That God came as a man

That God died on that day

That God was buried there

That God rose on that day

The Lord Bless You and Me

The Lord Bless You

The Lord keep you

The Lord make His face

To shine on You

The Lord bless you

The Lord keep you

The Lord show His 

Kindness unto you

The Lord bless you

The Lord keep you

The Lord tells you,

"I love You"

"I am with You"

I thank You

In your presence

I bless Your name

For Ever

I give You

All the glories

I bless Your name

Everywhere I am

Which Is Better?

Which Is Better?

To carry a cute baby or a big fat grown up in an adult diaper?

To move a small pot of plant now or a grounded giant tree later?

To start running when you are slim or when you are fat and chunky?

To go for a holiday when you can walk and see or when you can't walk and your eyesight is poor?

To start eating right now or when you are full of sickness?

To live life now or to regret living later?

To take a step of faith now or regret later not doing so?

To have tons of money and no peace or have peace even though have no lack?

To have a nice car with loads of debt or take MRT with time to read and sleep?

To say Yes to pleasure now and suffer later or to say No now and enjoy later?

To enjoy 5 minutes of pleasure and bear 50 years of pain or bear 5 years of waiting and enjoy 50 years of pleasure?

To experience a gentle cane of pain and learn or to be sentenced to years of jail after a rod cane on the bottom?

And many more ...

Alternative title:

Choose Wisely

The Gospel for you and me

The Gospel for you and me

The Gospel for you and me

Good news to remind me

God, His magnificent presence

His love, His mercies, His gifts

His Son, His Spirit, His people

This world and cares, I lay at His feet

His precious Word I daily seek

I feast, I delight and I read

His instructions my daily need

I memorize, meditate and feed

Lest I forget by daily squeeze

By busyness, Satan's schemes

He lives, He lives, He lives

Though He died, was buried,

But on the third day, He rose

That's the Good News

That's His Promise, Our Hope

Through all of our daily strife

Through all our ups and downs

Through all our thick and thin

Song - Rejoice

Song - Rejoice

Re-joice

Re-joice

Rejoice in The Lord

Rejoice in The Lord

Repeat

Wonder

Wonder

Wonder in The Lord

Wonder in The Lord

Delight

Delight

Delight in The Lord

Delight in The Lord