Prepare for Rain

Michael Catt's book, Prepare for Rain: The Story of a Church that Believed God for the Impossible, should be required reading for all pastors and interested laymen. He does a great job explaining the ministry at Sherwood Baptist Church. The book tells a little about the movie, Facing the Gaints. This is where part of the title of the book comes (the first quote below is from the book, but taken frm the movie). I've only included a few quotes from the book, but please do not think any less of the book, it is excellent!

GrantI heard a story about two farmers who desperately needed nrain. Both of them prayed for rain, but only one of them went out and prepared his fields to receive it. Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain? Well, the one who prepared his fields for it. Which one are you? God will send the rain when He is ready. You need to prepare your fields to receive it. p. 11

Revival comes by agonizing, not organizing. p. 160

Revival is a divine interruption. I long for something to happen that is not on our planned-out, pre-arranged calendars. In 1975 I heard James Baker Cauthen say, "We're so organized and planned out that if the Holy Spirit left we could run for ten years and never know He was gone." We don't have time to seek God because we have to sell the latest product.p. 160

Un fortunately, the circumstances will rarely be completely favorable for believing God. We're forced to believe in darkness, crisis, tragedy, grief, suffering and uncertainty. Have you ever considered the following:

• Alexander the Great conquered the world by his thirtieth birthday but never went to college.
• Shakespeare was one of the greatest writers in history, but he didn't know to type.
• Knute Rockne, a legendary coach at Notre Dame, never won an NCCA championship.
• The twelve disciples never had a best-selling book or renowned religious talk show.
• Paul was never voted TIME Magazine's "Man of the Year."
• Martin Luther was considered a heretic by his peers.
• John B unyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress in prison.
• A church in Albany, Georgia, made a movie! pp. 168-169

To rder this book click here!

You Were Made For More

Jim Cymbala's new book, You Were Made for More, has many good thoughts. I have listed several below:

God’s kingdom will not be achieved by halfhearted measures. When we begin to act on our special assignment, it is pretty much guaranteed that we will be pushed beyond our comfort zones. We may be called to do things we don’t feel prepared for, even if we are capable. The assignment may call for more faith and courage than we have ever known. p. 27

We would do well not to focus on the top troubles lined up against us. Instead, we need to celebrate the God who has already demonstrated His power and provision in our past. p. 37

One word picture in the Bible for the Holy Spirit is fire. P.74

Fire has at least three remarkable properties that help us understand the work of the spirit. p. 75

1. Fire penetrates whatever it touches. p. 75
The Holy Spirit destroys whatever is flammable. He burns up what doesn’t belong in our lives, the “wood, hay, or straw” (1 Cor. 3:12) that are going to be exposed on the day of judgment anyway. They might as well get burned out now. p. 76
2. Fire serves as a light p. 76
The Holy Spirit is a bright and shinning guide for us. p. 76
3. Fire is contagious p. 76
If we are ablaze with God’s Spirit, we are bound to affect other people. p. 76

To order this book click here!

There is a place for human logic and judgment - but not if these things undermine God’s plans for our lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. p. 110

The principle behind almost any form of exercise is that resistance is required to make a person stronger. Muscles can’t build without force working against them. The same is true in the spiritual realm. Without “powers and principalities” working against us from time to time, our spiritual muscles don’t have a chance to be developed. p. 137

God is always into making His children channels of blessing. Remember this every time you face a difficult challenge. The day is coming when you will be a source of inspiration and hope to someone else who is undergoing a deep trial. p. 144

God develops testimonies of victory out of settings of difficulty and sometimes even desperation. Then He puts them to use with people who are struggling today just like we did yesterday. p. 145

Many of us today are in danger of missing out on a great future with God because of our concern over qualifications. p. 170

But God knows what He is doing, and when we take the risk to follow Him, He will meet all our needs. If we need financial resources, He will supply them. If we need strength and endurance, He will fortify us. If we need wisdom, He has promised to give it to us. We simply have to take God at His Word, trusting and obeying, regardless of the what-ifs and regardless of our fears. p. 170

To order this book click here!