I believe we reflect less on the soul these days, however, as Ortberg outlines, the Bible talks a lot about it.

This beautifully written book helps the reader to understand the soul’s significance and how to care for it. It starts with an important and revealing analogy, one I’ve heard a few times, The Keeper of the Stream. It is with this backdrop that Ortberg soon jumps to the core of the book: “Your soul is what integrates your will (your intentions), your mind (your thoughts, feelings, etc) and your body (your face, body language, and actions) into a single life” and hence, “It’s the most important thing about you. It is your life.”

The book is split into three sections:

1. What the Soul is
2. What the Soul Needs
3. The Soul Restored

I found greatest benefit in the first two sections and particularly appreciated the sections that dealt with sin and how it wages war against the soul: “Sin fractures and shatters the soul.” It is in our fallen natures that our soul’s are needy, needy for God, but often we seek other alternatives which constitutes idolatry.

Ortberg shares his own struggles with keeping his soul set on God and provides some pointers through his own daily experience of how he has developed the habit of walking through his day interacting with God. Dallas Willard has played a pivotal role in Ortberg’s life and understanding of how to care for one’s soul. Throughout the book we are given the opportunity to share in many of their conversations on the topic which I enjoyed immensely.

Ortberg has a very readable style, however, this is a book that challenges and provokes the reader to draw closer to the Lord as it is only “with God” that we can find true contentment.

Highly recommended.

 

We all desire acceptance and belonging. It’s a natural yearning that I believe God has placed in us all. Much of what we do in life from our earliest days as a child can be a result of this natural yearning. Ultimately, God desires we discover that only He can satisfy this deepest need.

Found In Him provides a wonderful outline of what God has done to demonstrate His yearning for relationship with us in giving us His Son. But more significantly this gem of a book provides a means to believe that is His desire and how we can find acceptance and belonging in Him.

The book is broken into two parts. The first covers the Incarnation. Fitzpatrick outlines in some detail how Jesus was like us. He was a child who did what children do. He lived intentionally as a child so he “veiled his omniscience”. He had to otherwise he wasn’t living as we did. That was his intention: to live as a human lives. That way he was able to replace us as on the Cross. Up until His baptism, Fitzpatrick contends “He didn’t get any special perks or supernatural privileges, like us He walked by faith, not by sight.”

Fitzpatrick walks through Jesus life to demonstrate His humanness in this first part and then leads us into the second part where she reflects on our union with Christ. She opens this section stating that Paul’s letters mention our being “in Christ” thirty-three times so is a central theme of much of the New Testament.

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.” (John 14:23). The Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus.

I don’t think I’d really ever thought of God’s love like that. I am loved as Jesus is loved. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Fitzpatrick lingers on the analogy of a wedding, the motif of which is strong throughout the Bible. The church, that is, His people, is His bride. And Jesus was our wedding gift.

The final chapter and in fact Appendix 2 (make sure you read this Appendix) draw it all together. There is nothing more we need to do but rest in the knowledge that we are wonderfully adored and loved by our Heavenly Father. How do we do that? Spend time with Him. Like any great relationship, time and giving of ourselves is how we find true connection and comfortableness.

This book needs time so read it slowly and stop frequently to meditate and talk to God about points that are presented. It is bathed in Scripture and Fitzpatrick makes reference to many other scholars who have written about “oneness” with Christ.

If you struggle with acceptance and a sense of belonging I’d encourage you to grab this wonderful book.

Wholehearted living. Aha, yep heard of it, but not sure what it means nor whether you’re living it?

Brene’s book goes a long way to helping you discover the what and the how of living a wholehearted life.

Brene’s recommendations are all based on quality research that she has performed as well as other various experts she engages through the discovery process she outlines through the book.

This is a practical book. But what is so special about it is that it’s also Brene’s journey. She’s not speaking from the pulpit, rather from the trenches alongside us. She guides, tests ideas, empathises, shares her own failings as she explores the results of the research she’s conducted over many years.

Being able to say “I’m worthy” or “I am enough” can be very difficult for many of us. This masterful guide is a great place to start in learning how to do just that.

Cannot recommend this book, nor its author, enough.