life beyond the well…

Tag Archives: Scripture


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Weekly Word- Philippians 4:6-7

It’s been a whirlwind for #teamAlmond as Preacherman and I prepared for and made some major life changes.  One thing that has kept me constant over the past weeks is this:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Over this past weeks, I have found that if I’m worried about something, or if something is making me nervous or apprehensive, I haven’t prayed enough about it and I haven’t truly turned it over to God.  Over the past weeks, the faithfulness, provision, and favor of God has been at work in our lives, and at my core, it has been my goal to rest in the providence of God as opposed to be anxious about things that I cannot control.

The hymn is right- “Oh what peace we often forfeit; oh, what needless pain we bear.  All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.”

Be encouraged!  Peace and Blessings!

 


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Book Review: Altar Ego

I was excited to get my hands on a copy of Craig Groeschel’s latest book Altar Ego, and eagerly waited to request it from BookSneeze.  I had heard lots of good things about Groeschel as a pastor, leader, and author, so the anticipation was high.

I have to say that Altar Ego did not disappoint.  I really appreciated the practical wisdom shared by Groeschel, but I also valued the transparency that came in the book, as he shared testimonies from his personal life and the that of his family.  In addition to that, I enjoyed the conversational tone of the book- after reading many of the chapters, I felt that I had just finished engaging in a conversation with a friend.  Groeschel’s ability to infuse a sense of comfort and familiarity into his writing is truly a gift.

This book challenges to move from where you are, to where God desires you to be by gaining a full understanding of who you are in Him.  The concepts are simple, but thought provoking.  Groeschel organizes the book into three sections:

  1. Sacrificing Your False Self for Your Sacred Identity in Christ
  2. Sacrificing Cultural Relativity for Eternal Values
  3. Sacrificing Self-Justification for Passionate Obedience

In each section, he outlines the challenges and competing values one may face that are contrary to the identity God desires for us to have in Him.  I like that he provides practical ways to change that one can implement immediately to help them shift perspectives and grow.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to others.  I think it could be excellent for personal use and growth, but easily adapted for small group study.  Definitely worth checking out, and I’ve already put it on my list of books to reread when I need a refresher course in the basics of my faith!