Stages of the Soul God's Invitation to Greater Love by Nancy Kane - Mood

How can you tell if you're actually growing?

Spanish:

El cambio es un tema que me gusta. Porque no lo comprendo, porque no es sencillo para mi, y porque lo necesito.
No conocía esta autora, es el primer libro que leo de ella, la googleé y creo que solo tiene otros 2. Debe seguir escribiendo, me gustó mucho su estilo, siento que es una maestra nata. Su pequeño libro me hizo pensar mucho. No pensé que tratara el tema de una manera tan concreta y sencilla. La autora divide de una manera casi visible el caminar de una persona con Cristo. Aunque somos seres tan diferentes y únicos, creo que tiene razón en poder poner a groso modo el cambio de las personas en etapas generales con las cuales cualquiera puede sentirse identificado. Sus palabras y ejemplos son claros y oportunos en cada sección. Disfruté mucho sus páginas y lo comenté con mi hijo. Es tan digerible que lo leí en una sentada, pero no te equivoques no es ligero. Quisiera poder leerlo con amigas,detenernos en cada pregunta de reflexión, orar, llorar... snif... hacerlo como estudio. Me hizo pensar en el libro de How people change, de Tripp. No tiene que ver el uno con el otro, excepto en que ambos hablan de cómo cambia la gente. Creo que los dos son un buen kit para comprender el avance y cambio en la madurez de las personas. Es muy intenso ver cómo has ido avanzando y dónde te has estancado... y todo lo que te falta para ser como Cristo. Recomiendo este libro para personas que han "nacido" en cuna cristiana, en el evangelio y que piensan que lo saben todo. No, no lo saben todo. No, aún no llegan. Necesitamos continuamente predicarnos el evangelio y vernos en el especto de la verdad, dejar que la espada penetre. Me gustan los recursos de Moody. Oh yeah.

English:

Change is a subject that I like. Because I don't understand it, because it's not easy for me, and because I need it.

I did not know this author, it is the first book I read about her, I googled her and I think she only has 2 others. She must continue writing, I really liked her style, I feel she is a born teacher. Her little book made me think a lot. I think she treated the subject in such a concrete and simple way, enjoyable. The author divides the walk of a person with Christ in an almost visible way. Although we are such different and unique beings, I think he is right to be able to roughly change people in general stages with which anyone can feel identified. His words and examples are clear and timely in each section. I thoroughly enjoyed its pages and commented with my son. It is so digestible that I read it in one sitting, but make no mistake it is not light or shallow. I wish I could read it with friends, stop at each reflection question, pray, cry ... snif ... do it as a study. It made me think of the book of How people change, by Tripp. It doesn't have to do with each other, except that they both talk about how people change. I think the two are a good kit to understand the progress and change in the maturity of people. It is very intense to see how you have progressed and where you have stagnated ... and everything you need to be like Christ. I recommend this book to people who have been "born" in a Christian crib, in the gospel and who think they know everything. No, they don't know everything. No, they still do not arrive. We need to continually preach the gospel and see ourselves in the spect of truth, let the sword penetrate. I like Moody's resources. Oh yeah

Description:

Sure, when you're working on getting rid of a huge character flaw you can see progress, but do you ever wish you had a roadmap for the spiritual journey for the rest of the time? Do you ever feel spiritually dry—or like something's just not working anymore in your spiritual life? If you find yourself longing for more satisfaction, joy, and intimacy with Christ, this book is for you.

Stages of the Soul is about making tangible spiritual progress. It's about truly understanding—understanding like you've never understood before—that you are deeply loved. Nancy Kane walks you through five stages of the soul's journey toward embracing God's love. As you learn about each stage you'll be able to:

identify where you are in the process of spiritual growth
understand the role of pain and suffering in your life
experience God's love in the radically deep way you were designed to experience it.

Imagine loving God in a way that fills you up from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed. Imagine having Christ's love for the world flow out of your heart without insecurity, anxiety, or selfishness getting in the way. That what this book is all about: radically deeper love. This book will help you see more clearly how the Lord tenderly guides us to greater wholeness, holiness, and love. But Stages of the Soul is not just another book, it will become both your companion and guide as you walk day by day in greater intimacy with Christ

Love over fear by Dan White Jr. - Moody Publishers

Love over fear by Dan White Jr. - Moody Publishers

Facing Monsters, Befriending Enemies, and Healing Our Polarized World

It amazes me how people are afraid of things they don't even know. The most interesting thing about this book was to learn how a white male thinks about color people. Even when it just not talk about racism, I think is a topic we all must face and have an opinion. What are we going to teach our children? I have friends who are always making assumptions about certain people not just with fear but with certain hate, I feel sorry about those children, growing learning to avoid people they don't even know. The first time I heard my husband preaching, he was talking about love and how it is the most powerful thing we can do, it is a powerful verb, because it represents God itself. I think some part of the books can be misinterpreted and you need biblical wisdom all the time to discern the intentions of your heart. Loving, integrating, not judging, racism, are very popular topics right now and some people change the truth for self convenience or to fit in, to be socially or politically correctness. You will find the book useful if you need to see inside of you and find out how o you approach people who are and think differently than you. May live as God lived. Only by His power and grace that will be possible.

You can order here: https://amzn.to/315uS6d

Aren’t Christians Supposed to Be the Loving Ones?

Whether it’s the news, social media, or well-intentioned friends, we’re told daily to fear "others." We fear strangers, neighbors, the other side of the aisle, even those who parent differently. And when we’re confronted with something that scares us, our brain sees only two options:

Attack or Avoid

But either way, polarization intensifies. What if you could defy your own instincts and choose a third option—scandalous, disruptive, unthinkable LOVE? Sure, we love people who are like us, who are easy to enjoy. Everyone does. But what about our enemies, the people we consider monsters? Loving them requires exceptional strength—strength only the Holy Spirit can provide.

Love over Fear is a compelling guide to conquering fear with love in an age of polarization. Hear stories of those who changed hearts and minds through radical love, learn how to practice disarming compassion, and discover the disruptive power of showing affection to monsters.

Something Needs to Change A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need by David Platt - WaterBrook & Multnomah

you can get it here, english and update: now available in spanish too!
english version: https://amzn.to/3osFWps
versión en español: https://amzn.to/36Hww3y

I know a lot of people who don't like challenging books, but once that they read one, their little world shakes. Years ago my husband and I went through Radical and it was life-changing, you will find it very convicting, but true. I have said before that I found that many "modern" Christians who hate this kind of message, I think it is because they know it is true and it is uncomfortable, but they would have to think and make changes in their own little comfortable worlds. I think we must change ourselves without waiting for something else changes, not churches or systems that need to change for you to make decisions that alter our lives. May God guide us and help us to live as He wants us to and help us even when it is not easy at all. I recommend gifting this book who people who like to question their own life and the system they live in, people who want to make their life count in the middle of urgent needs.

Description

The New York Times best-selling author of Radical takes readers on a soul-searching journey through impoverished villages in the Himalayan mountains, daring them to make a difference in a world of urgent need, starting right where they live.
“Grippingly vulnerable and unforgettable. I could not put this book down.”—Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts

While leading a team on a week-long trek of the Himalayas, bestselling author and pastor David Platt was stunned by the human needs he encountered, an experience so dramatic that it "changed the trajectory of my life." Meeting a man who'd lost his eye from a simple infection and seeing the faces of girls stolen from their families and trafficked in the cities, along with other unforgettable encounters, opened his eyes to the people behind the statistics and compelled him to wrestle with his assumptions about faith. In Something Needs to Change, Platt invites readers to come along on both the adventure of the trek, as well as the adventure of seeking answers to tough questions like, "Where is God in the middle of suffering?" "What makes my religion any better than someone else's religion?" and "What do I believe about eternal suffering?" Platt has crafted an irresistible message about what it means to give your life for the gospel--to finally stop talking about faith and truly start living it.

Advance praise for Something Needs to Change

“Rugged. Authentic. Gritty. Real. Worshipful. There are no other books like this one. I always pick up David’s books with a sense of excitement and, quite honestly, apprehension—because I know that areas of compromise and complacency in my life are going to be exposed. But this book exceeded even my high expectations, for which I am grateful. And so will you be. As David writes, it’s time to run, not walk. Let’s go.”—J. D. Greear, president of the Southern Baptist Convention
“Extraordinary and challenging. I’ve just never read a book like this before. I am so moved. Bring your full heart to this story and watch how God opens your eyes, changes your mind, and broadens the dreams you have for your life.”—Annie F. Downs, best-selling author of 100 Days to Brave and Remember God
“If you dare to read this book, you might just have an unexpected encounter with Jesus that leaves you weeping on the floor, as David’s experience did. Something changes within us when the seemingly overwhelming needs of the world present themselves simply in the life of a single person. Ultimately, I pray your compassion will be transformed to action.”—Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, president and CEO of Compassion International

pub date 17 sep 2019

#SomethingNeedsToChange

Growing in Godliness: A Teen Girl's Guide to Maturing in Christ By Lindsey Carlson - Crossway

pub date: 31 may 2019

you can pre order it here: https://amzn.to/3oeRKMa

Girls are complex beautiful creatures, more when they are teens. I really like resources for girls, because I have one. I enjoyed the simpleness and truth shared in this book. It gives perspective and wisdom you young girls. I quote this part that I loved:

"Growing in godliness takes a lifetime. As you grow, you will be tempted to grow weary to lose sight of the goal of godliness and to wonder if God is really at work in your life at all (...) where you find death, pray for new life. Where you find immaturity, pray for maturity (...). When you die to yourself and come alive in Christ, you live to glorify God by growing in godliness. (...)As you grow to look more like Jesus, you will more clearly display God´s likeness to the watching world. God will use the fruits of righteousness in your life to plant seeds of faith in the lives of otheres. And in doing so, Christ builds his kingdom. (...) Fruitful maturity in Christ is the ultimate way your life can bring glory to God. Never stip growing". That is my prayer for my little pre-teen.

Growing in Godliness: A Teen Girl's Guide to Maturing in Christ

By Lindsey Carlson

"Hands down my favorite book for teen girls."
Rosaria Butterfield, author, The Gospel Comes with a House Key

Your teen years matter.

Of all the ways you're learning and changing during the busy teenage years, your growth in Christ is the most important. God intends to use your teen years as a launching pad into a lifelong pursuit of looking more like Jesus.

This book will help you prioritize your Christian growth—pointing you to the resources God has given you in his Word, in prayer, and in the church; offering help for managing your emotions, watching your words, and bearing spiritual fruit; and challenging you with ways to center your life around this important task.

Even as a teenager, you have all it takes to grow in godliness.

Author: Lindsey Carlson is the mother of five children and has served alongside her husband in pastoral ministry for fourteen years, currently at Imprint Community Church in Baltimore, Maryland. She enjoys teaching and discipling women through writing and public speaking, but most often through the context of the local church.

Endorsements:

“In a world where teens are too often viewed as incapable of earnest discipleship practices, Lindsey Carlson’s book communicates a refreshing and much-needed message: maturity starts now. Growing in Godlinessoffers basic concepts, accessible tools, and practical steps for teens to understand themselves as devoted followers of Christ. And it offers parents a rare gift as well: the golden opportunity of faith-infused dialogue with their young-adult child.”
Jen Wilkin, Director of Classes and Curriculum, The Village Church; author, Women of the Word; None Like Him; and In His Image

“So much of the person we turn out to be hinges on decisions made in our teenage years. Those years can be filled with wonder, but also with fears and dangers. In this book, Lindsey Carlson gives a practical guide for how young women can use their teenage years to grow in Christ. This advice could be life-changing for you, or for someone you love.”
Russell D. Moore, President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

“Growing in Godliness is hands down my favorite book for teen girls. Its fresh writing, theological grit, accessible advice, grace-driven counsel, and practical application of the means of grace make me want to put it in the hands of all of the girls I know. No Pollyanna fluff or theological bricks here. I started to read this in the hospital, watching my own teenage girl recover from major surgery, and the sections that I read filled me with hope in the dark hours of my daughter’s pain.”
Rosaria Butterfield, Former Professor of English, Syracuse University; author, The Gospel Comes with a House Key

“As children grow into teenagers, there is also a growing sense of urgency in their parents. There’s so much to say, so much to teach, and still so much to learn. It’s hard to know where to start. Parents can trust that Growing in Godliness will give their teen girls a great place to start in their discipleship. This practical resource is grounded in the gospel and candidly conversational to reach teen girls where they are.”
Gloria Furman, author, Missional Motherhood and Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full

“It’s not easy to be a teen girl. The world tells you to follow your heart, your peers encourage you to conform to their image, and even your own emotions threaten to overwhelm you. Which of us didn’t long for a trustworthy friend to guide us through those messy middle-school years? Thankfully Lindsey Carlson is that friend—warm, wise, funny, and direct—pointing teens to the only source of certainty and hope in a confusing world. Again and again, she brings girls back to God and his word, encouraging teens to shake off the worldliness that stunts their spiritual growth and to reach instead for Christ alone. As a pastor’s wife and mother, I couldn’t be more pleased to have this book on my shelf. Give it to the teens in your church or, better yet, gather a group and read it together. Growing in Godliness is an invaluable resource for young teen girls and the adults who care about their souls.”
Megan Hill, author, Praying Together and Contentment; Editor, The Gospel Coalition

“While I have no experience in being a teenage girl, I’ve got a fair bit of experience in raising them. And from the perspective of a father, I can say this book represents exactly the kind of knowledge and wisdom that will serve them well for the few years they are teenagers and for the lifetime beyond.”
Tim Challies, blogger, Challies.com

“Growing in Godliness is one of the best resources I’ve read on the topic of discipleship in the teen years. Lindsey Carlson is relatable, engaging, understanding, wise, and laugh-out-loud funny as she helps teen girls grasp their need for God and learn how to grow in faith. I plan to read this book with my daughter and will be recommending it for all her friends!”
Melissa B. Kruger, Director of Women’s Content, The Gospel Coalition; author, In All Things: A Nine-Week Devotional Bible Study on Unshakeable Joy

“As a fellow victim of the glamour shots trend of the 1990s, I can relate to Lindsey Carlson’s described desire for quick fixes and microwaved maturity. But she has given teenage girls a gift in these pages—not only a description of what it means to be spiritually mature but also a relatable guide for pursuing that growth. I’m thankful my own daughter will have these words to encourage her as she grows in grace.”
Catherine Parks, author, Real and Empowered: How God Shaped 11 Women’s Lives (and Can Shape Yours Too)

“This book was a heart-changing read. It altered my perspective on many things. The author had lots of stories, which made reading it fun. Now I can’t wait to grow in godliness!”
Emily H., age 11