The Book Deal

Just in case you're making out your summer reading list and finding it to be a little slim, I'll give you some of my favorite reads.

(author's note: I started this post June 3rd and didn't finish until June 16th, so I'm just going to stick to one book for now! More to follow as I have more time to write!)

1. Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore- This book was recommended to me by several different people and I think it is the best book I've ever read, hands down. It is life changing. http://www.samekindofdifferentasme.com/
Here are some things I've taken away from this book:

If God puts it on your heart to respond to a homeless person's request for money, then give them money and don't judge them for what they do with it...that's God's job and you will receive the blessing.

We have no idea where others are coming from and where they have been. I try so hard not to judge, but that's a reaction that comes much too easily for me. I am working on it...

We are given so many blessings - far too many to count. I look at everything I've been given, and I realize how much I hoard these things... the smallest of which could help another person out tremendously. I think God gives us so many opportunities to help others and we turn our heads and tell ourselves that someone else will do it. We are passing on so many things he's trying to show us.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the lease of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:35-40

I am often convicted by Christ's words in these verses...

"For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.

They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Matthew 25:42-45

Kind of makes you think about giving to the needy doesn't it...? Oh and don't forget to read the book!