Live Second–Reading 4

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to review the book I AM SECOND. Regularly, I hear on CHRI 99.1 some testimonies for IAMSECOND.COM and I am moved by what I hear from the people speaking. More recently, I have been approached to participate to the Week-Of-Second Blogging Campaign in an effort to share our thoughts on readings of the new book titled Live Second: 365 Ways to Make Jesus First.  The book is published through Thomas Nelson.

About the book

365 Ways to Put Jesus First

Athletes and actors, models and musicians, pastors and politicians … many have stepped forward, looked in the camera, and proclaimed, “I am second.” But most in the I Am Second movement are not celebrities. They are ordinary people—and they’ve come to the simple realization that when God comes first in their lives, everything makes sense.

But living second is not easy. It takes grit and humility, submission to God’s will, a willingness to listen and serve, an openness to God’s healing and call.

Live Second is a daily guide to help you. With 365 readings, prayers, actions steps, and an invitation to join other Christ-followers online, what you hold in your hands is a tool built with truth, scripture, and a sure path to put Jesus first every day.

The Christian life is not meant to be easy, just worth it. Live Second is exactly what you need as you become the new, inspired, God-honoring creation he made you to be.

My Assignment

To participate to this special blogging campaign I was asked to select 4 readings within session 2 of the book and to write four blog posts during the launch week about my spiritual journey as I read and interacted with the Live Second book.

Reading 4 – CHILD (Page 62 of the book)

Father. Papa. Each language has it’s own word for fatherhood.  But the one that represent God when you are a Christian is…

ABBA

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am on a journey to discover God as my Father – the one who will be there for me at all times.  Over the summer,God gave me a scripture to remind me He will always be there no matter what happens.

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

I won’t go into all the details in this blog post but let me tell you that this specific scripture has become a life scripture for me.  It spoke to my soul and I embraced it.  I knew He was always with me but this scripture made it even more real to me, more tangible.   And these past few months, I have discovered how much He cares for me and my family.  By the blessings He give us, opportunities knocking at our door, and by providing for our needs,God – my Father – cares for me.  He speaks to me through touching devotions I am reading,  by speaking through other people, by strengthening me, by reminding me that He is there even when I don’t see what He is doing.

It’s an incredible journey to discover His love for me.   I needed that to grow as His child, to learn to be His child, to be the woman He planned for me to be.   Yes there are disciplines sometimes or rules – and yes I might want to kick and scream and complain when it doesn’t go the way I expected it to go.  But ultimately God knows better than me.     It’s like us when we parent our kids.  They don’t like some rules in our house or being punished for something they did.  They don’t like loosing privileges…   But it’s for their own good.  They need to learn to respect our decisions and realize that we love them – no matter what. It’s the same with God towards me.   I have some growing up to do and discovering His love is part of it.  

I am so blessed to have been adopted in His family and to consider myself His daughter.  I am a princess of the TRUE King.   

I am priceless and that’s why Jesus died for me.  

That’s how much God loves me.  

He loves you too!  Will you trust Him to the point of totally surrendering to Him?  He won’t forsake you.   And the ride is so worth it – not always easy but so worth it…

Want to read more about people who have decided to make Jesus first? Get I am Second and Live Second. You won’t be disappointed.

Both books are available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

The books are also available on the Kindle.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Doug Bender for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Live Second–Reading 3

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to review the book I AM SECOND. Regularly, I hear on CHRI 99.1 some testimonies for IAMSECOND.COM and I am moved by what I hear from the people speaking. More recently, I have been approached to participate to the Week-Of-Second Blogging Campaign in an effort to share our thoughts on readings of the new book titled Live Second: 365 Ways to Make Jesus First.   The book is published through Thomas Nelson.

About the book

365 Ways to Put Jesus First

Athletes and actors, models and musicians, pastors and politicians … many have stepped forward, looked in the camera, and proclaimed, “I am second.” But most in the I Am Second movement are not celebrities. They are ordinary people—and they’ve come to the simple realization that when God comes first in their lives, everything makes sense.

But living second is not easy. It takes grit and humility, submission to God’s will, a willingness to listen and serve, an openness to God’s healing and call.

Live Second is a daily guide to help you. With 365 readings, prayers, actions steps, and an invitation to join other Christ-followers online, what you hold in your hands is a tool built with truth, scripture, and a sure path to put Jesus first every day.

The Christian life is not meant to be easy, just worth it. Live Second is exactly what you need as you become the new, inspired, God-honoring creation he made you to be.

My Assignment

To participate to this special blogging campaign I was asked to select 4 readings within session 2 of the book and to write four blog posts during the launch week about my spiritual journey as I read and interacted with the Live Second book.

Reading 3 – ENOUGH (Page 58 of the book)

Who are you God?  

This is a question our pastor challenged us recently to ask ourselves regularly.   In a way it helps to ponder on Him and reflect on His presence in our lives.  

This past summer I also attended a leadership conference in which the main leader had a word from the Lord for me.  Bottom line is that I need to discover God has my Father and me as his daughter.   So I am on a journey of discovery and learn to trust Him in various ways and on various levels in my life. I have seen His hand guiding us daily and providing for our homeschool in ways that still blow me away.   In the past year and a half, I have learned to also thank God daily about what he provides; a sunrise, my kids, free curriculum for our homeschool, products to review, contracts…   Doing so in writing in my journal also help a lot to shift my way of thinking.  

Do you have the tendency to look at your neighbor and wish you would have what he/she has?   It may be tempting to do so sometimes but when you stop and think about it, you might not want everything that this person has…  what if his/her marriage is difficult or other issues are not known by you.   In a time where most people wish to have more stuff, how do you see if you have enough?      By looking at the blessings in your life.   It’s that simple really.  Going through struggles also helps to readjust our vision and see how God provides in one’s life.  

I would like to challenge anyone reading these lines, to daily list things that you are thankful for.   In a matter of days, you will realize that the way you think of God will change.  Not convinced?  Why not try it and see how different you will think in the end.

Want to read more about people who have decided to make Jesus first? Get I am Second and Live Second. You won’t be disappointed.

Both books are available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

The books are also available on the Kindle.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Doug Bender for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Live Second–Reading 2

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to review the book I AM SECOND. Regularly, I hear on CHRI 99.1 some testimonies for IAMSECOND.COM and I am moved by what I hear from the people speaking. More recently, I have been approached to participate to the Week-Of-Second Blogging Campaign in an effort to share our thoughts on readings of the new book titled Live Second: 365 Ways to Make Jesus First.   The book is published through Thomas Nelson.

About the book

365 Ways to Put Jesus First

Athletes and actors, models and musicians, pastors and politicians … many have stepped forward, looked in the camera, and proclaimed, “I am second.” But most in the I Am Second movement are not celebrities. They are ordinary people—and they’ve come to the simple realization that when God comes first in their lives, everything makes sense.

But living second is not easy. It takes grit and humility, submission to God’s will, a willingness to listen and serve, an openness to God’s healing and call.

Live Second is a daily guide to help you. With 365 readings, prayers, actions steps, and an invitation to join other Christ-followers online, what you hold in your hands is a tool built with truth, scripture, and a sure path to put Jesus first every day.

The Christian life is not meant to be easy, just worth it. Live Second is exactly what you need as you become the new, inspired, God-honoring creation he made you to be.

My Assignment

To participate to this special blogging campaign I was asked to select 4 readings within session 2 of the book and to write four blog posts during the launch week about my spiritual journey as I read and interacted with the Live Second book.

Reading 2 – VAIN (Page 56 of the book)

This is another great devotion on how banking on things we have and money is not the best way to think.   Why?  Simply because anything can happen that will make your empire crush.  Nothing last forever apart your relationship with God.

Reading this devotion made me think of Herod who build all these beautiful palaces in Jerusalem.   What is it left to see now?  Ruins.  Nothing of the grandeur he thought would impress people in the future is left standing – well whatever is left can barely represent the majestic construction that these palaces were back in the days of Jesus.   Not as impressive as it was for sure.

I also recall the story of someone who worked hard and was a millionaire.    Something happened and he lost everything.   And he rebuilt it all.   With hard work obviously but it makes me wonder about the fact that anything can happen in a split of a second.

It’s hard for me to plan the future because I don’t know what God has in plan for me, for us as a family.    Right now, He has called us to be obedient, to homeschool our kids  and to trust Him.   It’s not always easy when you don’t see what is coming next.  However,  I know one thing for certain – I don’t want to have a life that ends up being empty.   I believe that I am shaping my kids to become men and woman of God that will impact the people around them as they grow up.  And for me this is priceless.

Want to read more about people who have decided to make Jesus first? Get I am Second and Live Second. You won’t be disappointed.

Both books are available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

The books are also available on the Kindle.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Doug Bender for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Live Second–Reading 1

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to review the book I AM SECOND.   Regularly, I hear on CHRI 99.1 some testimonies for IAMSECOND.COM and I am moved by what I hear from the people speaking.   More recently, I have been approached to participate to the Week-Of-Second Blogging Campaign in an effort to share our thoughts on readings of the new book titled Live Second: 365 Ways to Make Jesus First.    The book is published through Thomas Nelson. 

About the book

365 Ways to Put Jesus First

Athletes and actors, models and musicians, pastors and politicians … many have stepped forward, looked in the camera, and proclaimed, “I am second.” But most in the I Am Second movement are not celebrities. They are ordinary people—and they’ve come to the simple realization that when God comes first in their lives, everything makes sense.

But living second is not easy. It takes grit and humility, submission to God’s will, a willingness to listen and serve, an openness to God’s healing and call.

Live Second is a daily guide to help you. With 365 readings, prayers, actions steps, and an invitation to join other Christ-followers online, what you hold in your hands is a tool built with truth, scripture, and a sure path to put Jesus first every day.

The Christian life is not meant to be easy, just worth it. Live Second is exactly what you need as you become the new, inspired, God-honoring creation he made you to be.

My Assignment

To participate to this special blogging campaign I was asked to select 4 readings within session 2 of the book and to write four blog posts during the launch week about my spiritual journey as I read and interacted with the Live Second book. 

Reading #1 – OWNERSHIP (Page 53 of the book)

Luke 20:10 is highlighted at the top of the page and the scripture reading is about the story of the evil farmers which were supposed to care for the vineyard but became greedy about it and wanted to keep it for themselves instead of giving back to the owner.

Bottom line the lesson behind this scripture, the text of the devotion and the prayer is to become wise with our money because ultimately it all belongs to God.  Whether your life goes well or is having roadblocks for some reasons, He is in control.   It’s not easy to change your way of thinking.  Few years ago, we were not thinking like that completely but since then we have seen God at work in our life and know that He cares for us.  You see my husband and I own a consulting business and we have learning to trust God in every way for providing.   Nowadays due to change within the procurement ways of doing things, being a contractor is more difficult than it used to be.  Still, God is there.   Providing for our needs in ways we don’t expect and imagine.  On the other side of things, we have decided a couple of years ago to tighten our expenses in order to pay off our debt.   We are almost done doing so – we learned to be wise with our money, to pray and consider big purchases which often are delayed, to keep an eye on sales if needed be, and much more.

Everything we own is His.  Our life, our house, our children, our business.   When we started having children it was a big deal because we have been told that it was almost impossible for us to have some.  Now four kids later, we know that they are gifts from Him hence the meaning of their second name “Gift of God”.   We homeschool them and see that their faith has a strong foundation.   We are just managers for now in their life – ultimately they are His.    We are asked to provided guidance and teaching for them to become His messengers in the world eventually.  

We also think like this for our finances.  We have learned the hard way and now we see the importance to think of our money as being completely His – not just the 10% of our finances.   EVERYTHING – 100% of it.    Is it easy to think like this?   No.  As I said, we learned the hard way.   But it makes more sense as He is the one who opens doors of opportunities in our life.  And honestly because of this we see God’s blessings in our life even much more present than before.    The best way to manage your things is to switch your thinking to MY things into something more like His things.   Plain and simple.

Want to read more about people who have decided to make Jesus first?   Get I am Second and Live Second.   You won’t be disappointed.

Both books are available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

   

The books are also available on the Kindle.

   

Disclaimer: Thanks to Doug Bender for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.