Even More Love (1)

Received this encouraging email from a young lady in our congregation in response to last week's message and the quotes from the book "Crazy Love", by Francis Chan.

If you want to order a copy of this book, click here.

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Hi Rick. I just wanted to tell you how excited I was that you used Crazy Love in your sermon today. I started reading Francis Chan's book on the Holy Spirit back in September and I was SO challenged by it. Then I went on to Crazy Love, and have been incredibly challenged by it as well! It's made me ask myself very tough, heart-searching questions, and has helped me identify areas that I am lukewarm. The awesome thing is that I want this life....I want to give up anything, go anywhere, or do anything for Jesus. I want my life to be counter-cultural.

My daily prayer has been so similar to what you wrote in the bulletin today...I want to love God with all my heart...with all of me. I have already made a commitment to God that I will not leave my house until I have been with Him in prayer and through the Word. This means even if I wake up late and Courteney has an appt...then the appt gets canceled and I get my time with God. I made this commitment to the Lord b/c I know I have a tendency to fill my day without making God my first priority...this is not meant to be legalistic, but simply a christian discipline. I have been wanting to grasp in my heart that I need God, that if I step foot out of the house w/out being filled with the spirit, I have NOTHING to offer anyways. I have been begging God to teach me that I am desperate for Him that I need Him and His Spirit each and every day.

So far, I have spent SO much time just loving Jesus and hearing the Holy Spirit. I have found so much victory over my flesh in these times with God. This book also SO affirms why we are adopting Kevin. I have definitely gone through the "poor me" stage of this decision...b/c making the choice to adopt Kevin means sacrificing comfort, ease, sleep, etc. But this book has really helped me to remember my life is nothing...a blink of the eye..and that it is all about sacrificing for Christ. It has helped me release some of the fears and anxieties I have about Kevin and realize this is for Christ and there is no better place to be than in His will. It has also helped me to realize that it is a GREAT place to be when the world looks at you like you are crazy for what you are doing...we get that a lot from family and medical professionals. I love being challenged...I love reading books or hearing sermons or reading God's Word and truly being challenged...this book, along with God's Word, has convicted me and has made me desire a radical life lived for God's Glory and His Kingdom purposes.

My women's bible study is starting Crazy Love in March... I am so excited. I really feel this is something we all need to hear and be challenged with. Thanks for sharing that today!!

Christine Boyle