Rarely, do I use my blog or facebook account as a means of personal advertising. However, I do want to share something amazing that has developed in my life, and in turn, provides an opportunity for you.
I sometimes feel that I have been a Christian my entire life. I was saved at age five, and I never had to turn from a life saturated in sin. I can't even remember not being a Christian. However, being saved at such a young age and growing up "in the church" tends to bring a certain apathy to many people. I was no exception! I have always wanted to do right and please God and my parents, but I feel that my Christian walk consisted more of a routine that I lived out each day.
Over the course of time, God has been doing an awesome and patient work in teaching me to do more than just walk the Christian walk. I am learning to really LIVE the Christian life. In my pursuit, I have had several questions that plagued me. I thought I knew what the Bible stated, but I did not really understand the answers to these questions.
One example is the following: "Why Pray?" Seriously, if I believe God is sovereign, and His will is going to be accomplished, then what is the point in asking Him for requests. He knows my heart, so why do I need to vocalize anything? Yes, I know the Bible commands us and teaches us to pray, and so that is why I did it. However, the real heart of the question remained.
I dared to ask some of these "hard to ask" questions, and in searching for the answers from the Bible and other resources, I began an adventure that I now treasure! It is difficult to ask your pastor, Bible teachers, or parents: "Hey, why do we pray?" I didn't want them to think I was a heretic :)
I was tired of dodging these questions and decided to really search for the answers. Other topics that I studied include the will of God, the existence of God, miracles, the peace of God, and several others. My general approach follows the saying, "Leave no stone unturned!"
As I studied, I took notes, and I shared them with many others. Several people encouraged me to write a study regarding these questions, and that is what I have done. I have created a Bible study entitled, "The Hard Questions." It is a walk through searching for the truth in regards to ten sometimes difficult to ask questions.
The book is written as a study, meant for individual work or for a group study. I will be working through the book with my Adult Sunday School class females in January, and I am excited to see how the Lord will use it.
I now ask two things of you. First, pray that the Lord will use this book to help others, like me, who have questions about really living out the Christian life. Secondly, consider purchasing the study for yourself. I guarantee God will teach you something! If you would like to use it in a group, let me know, and I will send some other resources that I will be using with my own church group. The book includes questions at the end of each chapter (ten chapters) for personal or group reflection.
I have had the book published through Amazon, and it can be purchased online at the following site: https://www.createspace.com/3481296 .
Again, I promise not to advertise needlessly on my blog or facebook account, but this is just too good to leave to "word of mouth." Check it out!
