".......Enjoying Life with God" by Doug Sherman

I assume we all have regrets; some minor...others about things that could have been life changers. My good friends Thomas Vetters and Bryan Anderson asked me a few months ago to go to a Bible study. This study was led by Doug Sherman and the study was focused around his new book.

Now, I'm sure they both thought I would have been all over this study because I'd read Doug's other books. His Your Work Matters to God is an incredible read and study that I've talked and written about in this blog and other venues for years.

Yet, I let "things" get in my way.

Thomas presented me with "More than Ordinary; Enjoying Life with God" as a gift recently. As I began reading it that night I expected to finish within 2 or 3 days. The depth and life applications Sherman presented in his story caused me to slow down and get a pen out. I finished a different journey than what I'd began.

It's been a week since I finished and wanted to wait before writing about what I read. I wanted to see if I thought much, or any, about Doug's writing. Ha! It has been hard not picking the book back up and tilling the pages some more.

In "More that Ordinary...." Sherman lays out an important read derived from experience and not opinion, nor theory. I've always enjoyed how Doug brings his experiences into his writing and talks. It is especially good when an author credits and talks about his own reads and you know he knows other writers have had an impact on his life.

While I don't agree with Buford that this is Doug's best (sorry Bob), I do agree with him that this is an important book (very important). I also agree (with Nuenke) that it is good to be reminded that God is always moving toward us and Peterson's comment that Doug's insights are challenging me to examine my walk with the Lord against the truth of God's Word.

Great read, great experience, a book I expect to stay in my re-read and ponder stack for a long time. Thank you Lord for men like Doug that aren't ashamed to tell us about their experiences with you (struggles and failures as well as triumphs); trust in God, step, trust in God, step. Sometimes one-day-at-a-time is too long.

Thanks Doug for this book.

As to the regret for not attending the study? Yes, but I need this now and the way in which it has come about is all good.

Thanks for this path Lord.


To that end.....make it a great day, make tomorrow greater.

When you honor God, does He bless you more?

For now we see dimily in a mirror, but in His time then face to face;

now I know in part, but then I will know him fully, as He knows me.

- 1 Cor 13:12

"When you honor God, He will bless you. That's obvious from what's happening with your business." A good friend made that well meaning statement to me a few years ago when our business was doing well and I was trying diligently to honor God. My intitial thought was along the lines of what Jesus told the rich young man about none being righteous, none just; would God really bless me just because I was practicing Christianity in my business?

It was well meaning, but wrong. For starters, I wasn't sure I was honoring God in everything. I mean..really, that's hard to do; hundreds of employees, lots of money exchanging hands and there were more than a few "opinions" even about what, when and how Christianity should even be practiced in the work place. Some said my intentions were good but nothing more than dreams. Most just nodded and gave me space. I'd read over 3,000 pages about practicing Christianity in the workplace, had taken classes that ranged from bible studies to auditing a seminary course. Yet, I wondered "do I we really know what it means to honor God?" To just try and think deeply about what it must take to "honor" God can be excruciating for the melancholy. Tony Reinke compares that depth to a vacationing Nebraskan's knowledge of the ocean; A vacationer on the shore, a shepherd on the cliff—neither can see the breadth and length and height and depth of the ocean. Nor do we yet fully comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for us shown in the gospel (Ephesians 3:18–19). Like a wide-eyed shepherd looking out from a window seat on a clear day from 40,000 feet over the ocean, one day we will more fully comprehend the dimensions (1 John 3:2).

Does God bless us when we honor Him? The business owner with increased wealth, or the healthy family, is tempted to think so. But what about the owner who has devoted her life and business to honoring God, sought Christian counsel in setting company policies. Yet, she's lost that business? Or the family that prays and seeks Christ's ways and has lost a child or parent way too early?

Is one more blessed than the other?

No. Maybe..from our earthly view of blessings. But Heavenly? Left to our own, we reap what we sow and the one who sows from the flesh will reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8). Left to our own....we will sow from the flesh.  But through Christ we can sow from the spirit and reap eternal life.

We don't begin to comprehend God's plan for us.

Doug Sherman, in his new book "More than Ordinary'" writes "what would it be like to live fully confident that He will never waiver in his devotion to me, never stop being loyal to me, or never fail to do what is perfect for me?"

....never fail to do what is perfect for me.
....never fail to do what is perfect for me.

For years I've heard John Piper say, "God is most glorified, when I'm most satisfied in Him." and for years I just didn't get-it. It took problems that brought me to my knees, problems that made living one-day-at-a-time way too long...not challenges, but problems....for me to understand.

God is most glorified, when I'm most satisfied in Him....and he will never waiver in his devotion to me, never stop being loyal to me, or never fail to do what is perfect for me.

Thank you Lord that Your grace is sufficient, you will never fail to do what is perfect for me and I pray that I remain satisfied in you.

Amen