RESOURCES

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/ / /  BOOKS I use and recommend:

NIV Student Bible, Softcover A softcover study Bible for students of the Bible with notes and articles written by Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford. Includes the full text of the NIV Bible, the world’s most popular modern English Bible translation. This Bible's proven, common-sense approach to studying the Scriptures appeals to high school students and college readers. Its thoughtful, carefully researched features will help overcome common obstacles to reading and understanding the Bible. Written and edited by award-winning authors Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford. Features Complete NIV text, 2011 update Book introductions and overviews Insights provide background information on key passages Guided Tours offer a bird's-eye view of the Bible Highlights present short commentary on specific verses 100 People You Should Know Indexes, glossaries, and study helps Subject guide Eight pages of maps with index Three-track Bible-reading plan Presentation page 9.25" x 6.25" x 1.50"

I was given a New International Version  (NIV) Student Bible from the members at my church upon graduation from high school in 1989.  I find the introductions to each book in the Bible very informative, as it gives the reader some background as to what was going on when the book was written, and offers suggestions as to "How to read the book".  I tend to reference the NIV more than other translations, but I often find tremendous value in cross referencing other translations.

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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible By Matthew Henry Matthew Henry had the rare ability to express profound spiritual insights with simplicity and eloquence. Over the years his writings have been read for both their scholarship and devotion, and none more than the classic Commentary of the Whole Bible.This commentary uniquely offers Matthew Henry's outlines in today's languages, which allows you to develop lessons and sermons as well as highlight the organization of each book and chapter. Additional maps and charts provide an overview of the New Testament, Christ's ministry, and that of the apostles who followed Him. Features: Prophecies of the Messiah-biblical markers that help you see God's plan Harmony of the Gospels-side-by-side accounts of all four biblical books 12 pages of Indexed Maps-a guide to the cities and regions that witnessed the Bible firsthand

Apart from the tattered, torn, and thoroughly noted King James Bible that belonged to my grandmother, this Unabridged Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible is my most treasured Christian reference.

One summer afternoon (when I was much younger), I drove over to my grandmother's house and asked her to help me find a scripture verse that had something to do with waves that I could sticker onto my surfboard.  After searching her concordance, we came up with a couple, and in the process of determining which one I would select, she said, "Let's see what Matthew Henry has to say about these".  And, with Mr. Henry's help, we settled on Psalm 93:4 which reads "The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea."

Until that point, I had no idea that there were commentaries on the Bible, and became enthralled by the potential lessons housed within such a large book.

On that day, my grandmother, willed the book to me, by inscribing in the back cover that it should go to me upon her death.  After she died, I was not sure where her books had ended up, and was delighted when my cousin, who had become a pastor, delivered it to me after having read the inscription in the back.



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Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year By Joyce Meyer Seek the Lord in the morning---and you'll stay closer to him all day long! Here are 365 brief inspirational devotions to help you put God first before you face the world. Meyer shows you how to enjoy every new opportunity, balance out extremes, act with self-control, live without fear, and much more. 386 pages, padded hardcover from Warner.

Want a simple, straight forward way to start every day with a message of hope, encouragement, love, etc.?  This is it!  I get so much from Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year by Joyce Meyer.  Her words seem to coordinate so seamlessly with the underlying dynamic of life throughout the calendar year.

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I owe a great debt of gratitude to two friends from my current congregation who decided that I might benefit from reading Meditations on a Loving God: Daily Readings Through the Church Year by Leslie F. Brandt.  They mentioned that they had treasured this devotional, and tend to give it away as a gift, which is becoming more difficult to do as this is out of print.

The devotions are admittedly straight forward, and often hard hitting...but always challenging, convicting, and inspirational.  I recommend this book to those who seek a deeper accountability, while relying on the simplicity of grace and mercy for getting through our lives as more diligent servants of God.

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Other Books I recommend

When Good Men Are Tempted, Revised and Updated By Bill Perkins In today's world, sexually charged images abound, making it difficult for a man to maintain purity. Christian men have the tools to avoid temptation, and author Bill Perkins provides a three-step plan that utilizes those tools to help men live a pure lifestyle and provide a godly example for their families and the world.

I picked When Good Men Are Tempted up out of curiosity, and have been pleasantly surprised at the ease with which Bill Perkins addresses one of the most universal hurdles that men tend to face when attempting to become more fully used by God.  The book provides Biblical and quite logical explanations for why men are so easily distracted by lust.

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Cure for the Common Life By Max Lucado * You work all day, arrive home exhausted, watch TV to unwind, and then go to bed---only to wake up the next morning and do it again. Is there a remedy for routine? Lucado says yes---and helps you embrace your uniqueness and use your singular talents to experience the "uncommon" life God intends for you. 240 pages, softcover from Nelson.

Everyone has a special backpack of talents and abilities.  It's important to try to discover what's inside that backpack, if we are to attempt to live more fully for God.  Through some fun, short writing exercises, Max Lucado's Cure For The Common Life: Living In Your Sweet Spot helps you uncover clues to better determine who God has uniquely designed you to be (and what He has uniquely designed you to do for Him).



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Satan, You Can't Have My Day: Your Daily Guide to Victorious Living By Iris Delgado Filled with biblical promises and principles, this powerful daily devotional will help you apply God's Word to each day, each hour, and each moment of your life. As you commit yourself to daily communication with God through the Word and prayer, you will be trained in spiritual warfare to defeat the enemy's attacks, and you will begin to experience the power of God to transform your life with healing power and miraculous blessings. Hardcover binding with a ribbon bookmark.

When my wife gave me a book (a devotion book that she expected me to read every day), subtitled Victory in Your Marriage and Family..well, let's just say it got my attention.  And after reading the introduction, I knew I was going to get a lot out of it.

This book will get you ready to face each day with a firm knowledge that God is in control, and that His Holy Spirit will guide you through the day ahead with power.

Each devotion is short.  Iris Delgado utilizes a commanding economy of words and phrases to pack inspiration and motivation into each sentence.

Don't let Satan steal the victory of abundant life that Christ died to give you.



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