I didn't even post that I was reading this book! I think I read it over three days; I would have read it faster but life interfered. Life has a way of doing that. If only I could have a whole weekend to read, and write, and pray and nothing else. (Actually, I did that about a year ago and LOVED it).
Right, oh yeah, the book.
My friend, Michelle, lent me this book to read when I requested prayer for an issue that came up in our home last week. Actually, Michelle lent me five or six books but this was the one she insisted I read all the way through. Man, am I glad she did.
I have had two major revelations in my life that have completely changed, not just my spiritual "walk" (that compartment thing again), but my entire life and how I see and understand God and the world around me. This book was the key to one of them. (Ok, if you count my actual salvation that makes three revelations, I don't know why it doesn't occur to me to include this.)
The first revelation was an understanding of Romans 6-8. I did a unit through my Online Bible College that explained these chapters and their application (i.e. the power the Gospel gives me over sin). While I found it absolutely fascinating it wasn't until I actually applied what I'd learnt that I had the full revelation. Silly me, why didn't I apply it when I first learnt it?
It was this revelation that showed me that I was no longer a slave to sin. That I didn't have to live my life in a battle between righteousness and sin and that I actually could live in freedom. Wow, you can't imagine how this changed my life (or maybe you can). I fully understood this revelation about a year and a half to two years ago.
Then I read this book this week. Michelle leant it to me for the "Protect Your Family" part, but let me tell you, that aspect was not what gripped me. God instead used the theological foundation which the protection was built upon to bring full revelation to my life. I was completely in awe reading this book. Yes, it applies to protection, but if you understand what Kellie is teaching it also applies to every single covenant promise in the Bible. Although the protection part is ground moving in and of itself.
I know. You are convinced that I'm exaggerating. Or that maybe I'm really anal about my family's safety. When I saw Michelle on Sunday I brought this book up. Her immediate reaction was "Life Changing!" I couldn't help but agree. If you only ever read one of the books I recommend, please, please, make it be this book. It will revolutionize your understanding of God, and of your power in this world (through Him of course).
Ironically, the crux of the teaching in this book is the answer to the questions we were discussing (I like to imagine you and I are having a discussion when I blog) last week on bad things happening to us. I don't have all the answers, there are so many factors, but I now understand the basics. The answer is - God is good, ALL THE TIME. And that is life changing.
I know you are going to want me to elaborate a bit but I'm not quite ready to. I'm planning to reread the book and take notes this time, and to pray and study a bit more. Maybe I'll be able to blog on it at a later time. Till then, if you need to know - read the book. You can get it cheap secondhand through Amazon.com.