Self - insufficient

Self-insufficient

I don't think that this is actually a word, but I am using it anyway. I want to talk about the opposite of being self-sufficient. When I moved to Ames I had to become completely self-sufficient. I didn't have any family or friends anywhere near me. Unfortunately I somehow let this self-sufficiency slowly creep into my relationship with Jesus. I began to depend upon my own strength and ability rather than Him working in me. Thankfully He is gracious in showing me areas in my life where I need to follow Him and forgiving when I stumble.

I am dependent on Jesus. I am reliant upon Jesus. I am self-insufficient. I choose Jesus. I choose His way. I choose to have Him be my all. I need Him. I depend on Him. I am His.

On my own I can do nothing, but Him in me can accomplish everything.

"True grace undercuts not only self-righteousness, but also self-sufficiency. God often brings us to a point where we have no place to turn but to Him. As with manna, He always gives us enough but not too much. He doesn't let us store up grace. We have to go back for it, fresh, every day, every hour. " Randy Alcorn in The Grace and Truth Paradox

Time for books...Yes

Yesterday afternoon I spent a few hours at Ada Hayden Lake in North Ames. It is only about a 20-25 minute bike ride from my house. It was a beautiful afternoon of warm sunshine, praying, reading my Bible, and journaling.



I also started reading The Grace and Truth Paradox by Randy Alcorn. It is good thus far. I'll post some thoughts on it once I'm finished.

Time for books

Right now I wish I could take a few weeks to read some of the books that have been sitting on my shelves for way too long waiting to be read. It seems like the list of books I want to read is ever growing. Here are a few of those on my shelves that I am looking forward to reading (soon).

The Grace and Truth Paradox by Randy Alcorn
Experiencing the Holy Spirit by Andrew Murray
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee
The Math Gene by Keith Devlin
The Language of God by Francis S. Collins
Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
The Saving Life of Christ by Major W. Ian Thomas

Perhaps I will go to the park and read for a few hours today...