Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.....

We don't invite Jesus in...Jesus invites US in. Just like he said to Zacchaeus. "Zacchaeus, come down for I am going to YOUR house" He invited himself and like Zacchaeus we should welcome him gladly (Luke 19:5)

Idolatry

 I started the first day of reading my list of books by reading Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller. This book has already put me in my place. I have a bad habit of putting other people and things before God and I had a small battle of it today. And just like God is known to do, He made me realize it. The realization came when I read "An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought" How many times had I spent most of my passion and energy or emotions on people and things without giving it a second thought? I don't even think I could count all the times. But I pray that, like today, when I'm battling with idolatry that God will let me know, that He will show me one way or another.

The book recanted the tale of Abraham and Isaac and put the story into a light that I had never thought of. What would have happened if God never asked Abraham to sacrifice his son? Would he have spoiled him rotten or become over protective? Either would have been detrimental to life as we know it. Abraham is claimed as the founder of three major religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. But they wouldn't be what they are today without Abraham's obedience to God and his willingness to give up his "idol".

I pray God shows me what I consider idols, that He opens my eyes and that He opens yours as well. We all deal with idolatry and we can't escape it. But God is there to help us through. If we offer our idols up to Him, He will be faithful in His promises to us.
Just as He told Abraham, we should tell Him "Now we know that you love us. For you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love, from us" (Genesis 22:16)

2010

I know I am just another New Year's blog but it's ok. I'm looking forward to this year. I've had this insatiable appetite for knowledge lately, reading anything and everything I can get my hands on. I've compiled a list of books for this new year. Books that have made a difference in Christianity and many that I have pilfered from some trusted pastors top 5 list (The Louisville Project) I have a terrible, TERRIBLE time finishing books. Most of the times I just flit from one book to another. But I am committed to read these books and more this year, read them from cover TO cover. I pray that as I grow and learn, Christ's light will shine through me. I want nothing more than to know Him and have others know Him. I pray my relationship with Him is strengthened, that we will be like two books whose pages are woven together. This year will be interesting and I'm more than a little excited about it. So let's BEGIN!!

Book list

• Trellis and the vine -- Colin Marshall and Tony payne
• Counterfeit gods -- Tim Keller
• Pursuit of God -- A. W. Tozer
• The Reason for God -- Tim Keller
• The Prodigal God -- Tim Keller
• Knowledge of the Holy -- A. W. Tozer
• Operation World -- Patrick Johnstone
• Desiring God -- John Piper
• The Cost of Discipleship -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Through the Gates of Splendor -- Elisabeth Elliott
• The Myth of a Christian Religion -- Boyd
• The Hole in Our Gospel -- Stearns
• Jesus' Plan for a New World -- Richard Rohr
• Blue like Jazz -- Donald Miller
• Crazy Love -- Francis Chan
• Forgotten God -- Francis Chan
• The Radical Cross -- A.W Tozer
• In His Steps -- Charles Sheldon
• Walking With God -- John Eldredge

So that's the list for now...hopefully more will be added!!