A totally different read that impacted my thinking, faith, belief in the power of prayer and God's overwhelming desire to answer our prayers is Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala of New York's Brooklyn Tabernacle.  

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard.  Do you long to hear and know the voice of God?  This is your book.  Engaging, solid, biblical classic by beloved Dallas Willard.

Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald is a must read for the follower of Christ today.  So many things, so many thoughts and images, vie for our attention … how to discipline our inner self?  This is it.  Having met Gordon MacDonald at Q in Boston, 2015, he continues to be an inspiration.  

For me personally, being on the New York Times Bestseller list doesn’t guarantee that a book will interest or move me; however, Same Kind of Different as Me did both. First of all, there are so many parallels to the subject of the book, Denver, and my Long Beach bodyguard, the Duke of Earl—between the passionate woman, Deborah, who embodies the different one person can make, and me, (so many as to be almost eerie!) 

The author tells the story, switching off between the real-life characters. It is at once engaging and eye opening as well. Typically, if a book moves me to tears I put it down, (because everyday life has enough to contend with, without voluntarily reading something that makes me cry!) but this book did not allow me to put it down. I loved it! Thank you, Eric. 2006, Ron Hall, Nelson Publishers 

The continuing story is captured in What Difference Do it Make? also by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It is ‘the rest of the story’ and includes some of the stories of people who have been moved to action by the first book. Quite inspirational, it sparks ideas for getting off the church pew and out where Jesus would be—with the poor and disenfranchised. 2009, Thomas Nelson.

Riveted... intrigued... challenged... all words I would use to describe about how I feel about Timothy Keller's "The Reason for God, Belief in an Age of Skepticism." It is so much more than an apologetic work, yet Keller's book certainly addresses some of contemporary man's greatest 'excuses' for keeping God at bay, for instance, "How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?" Read anything compelling that addresses that question lately? Keller cites some of the literary greats and religious giants, such as C.S. Lewis, to support his well-written treatise, which really makes it a wonderful read. The chapter "Christianity is a Straitjacket" is worth the cost of the hard cover book. In it, he stretched my mind about community, boundaries, love and freedom. Keller knows of which he speaks, pastoring Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan--a multi-ethnic, multi-generational church, numbering about 6,000 people weekly. 

I love the Holy Spirit! Francis Chan, a Southern California pastor, has an easy-flowing writing style, and challenged me to think more, and think differently on the subject of the Holy Spirit in his book, "Forgotten God: Reversing our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit," 2009. Yet, he gives the biblical basis for the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and how he functions within the trinity and within our lives.

Food for thought... Are you lacking power in your spiritual life? Are you wondering why you lack intimacy with God? Perhaps you have forgotten the Holy Spirit in your life. I really loved Chan's book.

"Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" was also written by Francis Chan, 2008. Chan sets up each chapter with a video-clip that readers can watch on the crazylove.com website. Clever. This book reminded me of how big, how mighty, and how utterly good God is. I love the way Chan writes because I sense his urgency in living out our one and only life with passion for Jesus Christ—as though our days really matter—because they do!

Both of Chan's books are quick reads and are published by Cook Publishing. You should have them on your shelf.

One other book that caught and held my attention is Timothy Keller's "Counterfeit Gods," 2009. It helps us identify the constant temptation in this life to make gods of things—particularly those things that are highly esteemed in our contemporary culture, like careers, success, money, relationships, etc. Keller writes with an insightful wisdom born out of years of working closing with people. In his "Love is Not All You Need" chapter, he wrote "We maintain the fantasy that if we find our one true soul mate, everything wrong with us will be healed. But when our expectations and hopes reach that magnitude, the love object is actually God. No lover, no human being, is qualified for that role. No one can live up to that. The inevitable result is bitter disillusionment." Hmmmmmm . . .

Keller talks about the high price of idolatry, including hidden idols in our lives, and the toll they exact. Thought provoking indeed. I have a LOT highlighted in this little book.

Inspirational tunes.  Music can transport us into the presence of God.  The right kind of music can transform our attitudes, elevate our emotions and replay positively in our thinking. 
 

Solid artists, both musically and lyrically - Elevation Worship, Influence Music, Pat Barrett of “Build My Life”!  
 

Songs such as:  

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• Reckless Love ~ Cory Asbury

• Greater Things ~ Mack Brock

• Lion and the Lamb,  It is Well, Come to Me, No Longer Slaves, Raise a Hallelujah,

• Goodness of God —> Bethel Music

• Oceans, O Praise the Name, Who You Say I Am  —> Hillsong Worship

• Look Up Child, You Say, Remember —> Lauren Daigle

• Build My Life, Hymn of the Holy Spirit —> Pat Barrett

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