On Wednesday evening, there was ice and snow. The roommates and I ended up talking much about revival and repentance and many other things. It's just a continuation of some things that the Lord has been speaking to me. And I felt compelled to pick up a book called, "Brokenness" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and reread it. In one chapter, she contrasts the heart attitudes and actions of the proud vs. broken person. Here are a few quotes that have stirred my soul.

Broken people are more conscious of their own spiritual need than anyone else's.

Broken people are compassionate; they can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven.

Broken people have a sense of their own unworthiness; they are thrilled that God would use them at all.

Broken people receive criticism with a humble, open spirit.

Broken people are concerned with being real; what matters to them is not what others think but what God knows; they are willing to die to their own reputation.

Broken people are grieved over the cause, the root of their sin. They are grieved, not because of the consequences of sin, but because they have dishonored God.

Broken people walk in the light. They are aware of the true state of their heart.

Broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God and for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit.

More can be found here: http://www.reviveourhearts.com/topics/downloads/index.php?id=9489

My parents aren’t perfect. And I’m sure they wouldn’t want anyone to think they are. But I just wanted to “give honor where honor is due,” and highlight a few wacky and many wonderful reasons why I love my parents.

1. They love me. Like real, tough, this-is-for-your-own-good love.

2. They love each other. And have been married for 29 years!!!! Yeah!

3. They taught me to appreciate simple things… Like hilariously lame jokes, visiting with old friends, popcorn, anything chocolate, hiking, venison, snow, a blazing fire, hospitality, and much more.

4. They homeschooled me. And that was awesome for me in a way that I cannot describe in a few words.

5. They literally drop everything to help me whenever I need it (whether it be a house issue, or a people situation or whatever). I started to feel like that was a little weird---them giving up so much time and energy and resources for their children… and then I realized that my parents do that for everyone in the church, and even outside the church. They definitely have the helping others/serving others thing down!

6. My mom taught me how to cook. And let me cook ALL the time when I was a teenager… and somewhere my future husband is rejoicing. LOL

7. My dad taught me how to work HARD. Blood, sweat and tears working. Through family projects, mowing the lawn, family snow removal business, and picking up roofing nails for 1 cent apiece as a little child.

8. They calmed my fears of failure and the unknown.

9. They taught me that it is *normal* to enjoy spending time with my family and have peace in the home and to be best friends with my siblings.

10. They modeled a lifestyle of personal prayer and study of the Word.

11. They forced me to go outside and enjoy the fresh air… even when my books were so much more appealing.

12. They taught me how to read a map. And drive in big cities. And face dangerous situations without flinching.

13. They guarded my innocence with a vengeance. Keeping me from ungodly influences in movies, music, people, books and anything questionable.

14. They apologized to me after sinning against/or in front of me. Ouch. I can imagine how humbling that was… but what a testimony of their character.

15. They gave me a love for traveling!! The simple joy of “jumping” over a state line, or staying at a hotel or the fun of riding "shotgun" and driving through the night or playing the license plate game…

16. They infiltrated my mind with the concept of judging media for its moral value, not its artistic or entertainment value. Yes, clean movies are always best.

17. They gave me liberty to laugh with them, with others and at myself… and showed me by example that the best humor does not hurt others.

18. They took me to over 80% of the United States and countless National Parks.

19. They encouraged me to develop my individual skills… like piano and photography and cooking. And presented me with opportunities to do so.

20. They forced me out of my natural inclination towards shy-ness.

21. They taught me that a Godly girl dresses modestly. And why.

22. They instilled an utter hatred within me for all lying, deception and conveniently hidden things.

23. They encouraged me to GO when necessary… and STAY when necessary. And as it happens, I trust and value their counsel more than any other.

24. They taught me how to be a good steward of God’s money! How to make a budget, balance my checkbook, throw away stupid credit card offers and generally make wise financial decisions.

25. Last and most importantly, my parents love God. And are real Christians. And everything they have done and continue to do is for the purpose of seeing God’s will established in my life. So I bow to the rebukes and humble myself before the words of wisdom and submit to my parents as God’s voice & authority in my life. And I give glory to God for saving them, so that in turn, I could be saved. And that is the greatest miracle of all!! :)

Lord, hurt me if I can be of greater use to Your kingdom.
Pain me if it is the price of Your pleasure.
Break me if You will pick up the pieces and make me into a vessel of honor.


And some songs in my soul right now:

"Jesus, bring the rain...."

"Brokenness is what I long for, brokenness is what I need..."

"Empty me 'til there's nothing left,
Invade my thoughts and change my ways,
Fill me 'til I overflow,
Set me on fire by Your Holy Ghost,
Use me for Your will alone,
Take my heart and steal my life,
I am Yours.."

My coworkers think I'm crazy for being a youth leader. Like seriously. They are quite amazed at my willingness to take 15 teenagers in 2 vans and drive 3+ hours to spend the day in a big city... They are quite right. I'm crazy. The youth are crazy. The other leaders are crazy. And craziness just kinda ensues. Here's a little glimpse of the interesting things of my Saturday road trip.

• "Ms. Maggie Magellan" - a.k.a. the new GPS system that accompanied us on our journey. She made a pleasant chiming sound whenever we made a correct turn. And so I chimed in, too, "Good job, Mom! Great driving!" :)
• We theorized about illegal U-turns and the response to a policeman. "My GPS made me do it!"
• Sharing food is the youth group's love language. French fries and pizza and chicken and McDonald's apple pies and soda and that interesting mocha passed around the entire big white van.
• Wondering about the location of Nebraska... It's not too far from Texas. Only a couple states over!
• Many, many jokes about Finding Nemo. We did find him. He was cute.
• "Just keep swimming.. just keep swimming--sideways!"
• The Witty Kid's almost falling into an icy harbor. "I just wanted to see how thick the ice was!" Yes, that is wrong in so many ways.
• Hugging bubble pillars at the Aquarium.
• Strange, unique and altogether fascinating sea life... the snake-necked turtle, tiny fish playing peek-a-boo, fish in neon colors and camouflage and sending electric currents.
• Telling stories about my coworker putting a dead seahorse in an envelope and sending it through the company postage meter. Sounded kind of like, "Squishhhhhhhh." LOL
• The Chatty Girl's comedy imitations: "Everybody only wants to save the cute animals! You never see someone out there with a sign... Be kind to carp!" "If dolphins are as smart as people, why don't we teach them to go around the tuna nets?!?"
• 4D movie experience filled with terrified children and only startled adults. And the weirdest seats that punch you in the back. Nice.
• My tongue-in-cheek warnings: "Stop that thumping. It's like, *thump* *thump* *thump* The van's gonna blow up!"
• Freezing cold and razor-sharp wind as we hiked to the 'top of the world.' A park overlooking Inner Harbor. There was complaining, but I still think the view was worth the discomfort!
• Hoping we won't get violently assaulted by thwarted Baltimore Ravens fans. 'Cause someone in our group had the audacity to bring a Steelers terrible towel and wave it around throughout the day.
• The war against texting. Ahhhh. :)
• One small-town guy with a 'gangsta' complex.
• Spiritual conversations about modesty, putting out "fleeces" and finding God's will, where we would be without Jesus, and what it means to be a Godly man or woman.
• Being nudged/compelled by the Holy Spirit to be a witness to some homeless young people. May the seed of God's Word not return void.

Let me burn out for thee, dear Lord,
Burn and wear out for thee.
Don’t let me rust, or my life be
A failure, my God, to thee.
Use me, and all I have, dear Lord,
And get me so close to thee
That I feel the throb of the great heart of God
Until I burn out for thee.
Bessie F. Hatcher

‘Here, Lord, I bring within my trembling hand
This will of mine – a thing that seems so small –
But You alone, O Lord, can understand
How, when I yield You this,I yield You all.’
Anonymous

If my life is broken when given to Jesus, it is because pieces will feed a multitude, while a loaf will satisfy only a little lad.
Ruth Stull of Peru

Oh that we may die, not in mere hymn and prayer, but in deed and in truth, to ourselves, to our self-life and self-love. I never knew what it meant before – DEAD to all one’s natural earthly plans and hopes, DEAD to all voices, however dear, which would deafen our ears to His – ALIVE unto God.
Amy Carmichael

When you have given up your life to the Holy Spirit, you have no right to take it back or resent what He does with it... You accept everything from Him, whether it seems to be for you or against you...
Rees Howells

We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety; this is especially true when those treasures are loved relatives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe when we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not committed.
A.W. Tozer

It happens quite often. At least once a week. I will be just chillin' in my living room. Maybe enjoying the comfort of a cup of hot tea and a fuzzy afghan. Late at night. Maybe checking email on the laptop. Alone in the house. And it happens.

DING-DONG-DING-DONG.

The doorbell rings.

I stiffen instinctively and glance around. Because remember, I'm alone! Then carefully, I check the windows to see if someone is standing on the front porch. No one. I tiptoe to the back door. No one. What the heck??

This happened again last night. Now I refer to it as 'the demon doorbell.' My roomies have experienced the mystery, too. Why it rings randomly and without provocation, I do not know. But because of the ringing doorbell, I leave the comfort of my living room to patrol the house.

And you never guessed that I would relate such an odd thing to spiritual life, did you? Sometimes things come up in our lives -- trials, persecutions, the confrontation of a friend, a warning word, a sermon, random weird experiences -- and we don't understand "why"... We just hear the ringing doorbell. We are compelled to get up out of our comfort zone and check our lives. And maybe the point isn't that annoying ringing noise, but rather, the "considering our ways" which results from it. The point is not the fire, but the faith resulting from the fire.

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"
1 Peter 1:6-7

The Word is alive
And it cuts like a sword through the darkness
With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid
Breathing life into all who believe
The Word is alive
And the world and its glories will fade
But His truth, it will not pass away
It remains yesterday and forever the same
The Word is alive

I got home after work yesterday and one of the roommates was washing dishes and listening to Casting Crowns. I love this Casting Crowns song and it was just another part of the theme that God has been revealing to me lately.

Without the Word of God, I feel lifeless, wooden, wandering, listless, empty, broken, sad... It's probably something of the feeling that sinners (in their constant separation from God) feel every single day. No wonder they need medication for mental illness. The stress of being without Christ is too much for their souls. It's understandable. God never created humans to exist by themselves. He created them to be dependent on Him, to have relationship with Him.

The power of the Word amazes me.
Here is a book, written thousands of years ago, with spiritual life just oozing from its pages. It is senseless to the human mind, but when I read the Word--I feel the presence of God. I can feel rest being restored to my spirit. No longer is my heart restless. The Great Shepherd led me to 'still waters.'

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 19:7-8

Friday: It was COLD. Bone-chillingly cold. With a wind chill of –9 or –15 degrees. Ouch! So we decided that the youth group wouldn’t “take it to the streets” Friday night for an evangelism night. I would like to keep all my fingers and toes, thank you very much! It was an awesome night of evangelism training, talking about this article http://www.evtales.com/index.php/2008/10/10/the-use-of-tracts-by-r-a-torrey.html, reading tracts and PRAYER! I am so excited about being used by the Lord in evangelism. We are left on this earth for an eternal purpose. To go into all the world and preach the Gospel! :) …. Afterwards, I wanted to hang out with The Not-So-Little Bro, who was hanging with his boys. Good times talking to them while they played video games. I tried playing…errr… losing. Actually, it was quite hilarious. I ran around (in the game) trying to kill aliens, and The Tall Guy discovered that he could throw grenades in the air and shoot them! Like skeet shooting—Halo style!!! Awesome.

Saturday: Studying, cleaning the house, meal-planning, grocery shopping, thawing frozen pipes, the delivery of a new dryer, baking an apple cake—which made the house smell all cinnamony and spicy-sweet! Cooking new recipes (thank you, Rachael Ray). :) Saturday evening, I headed over to The Tall Guy’s house for a game night with the “young adults.” We didn’t play games for the first 4 hours… just ate LOTS of food and discussed everything under the sun—politics, abortion, backsliding, salvation, immigrants, and use of the word “hot” (the girls find it demeaning and objectifying), etc. I believe it could’ve been classified as a group ‘fireside chat.’ Without the fire. But there was an adorable husky dog curled up on the couch. :) Awww… And when we did finally play a board game--Buzzword, the girls won by 1 point. YES! ‘Twas a late night for me though…

Sunday: I was GLAD when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!!! (and I add, no matter how tired I am!). Revelation of the day: Ya know how when John the Baptist preached, people were confessing their sins and being baptized? Well, I never realized before that the whole water baptism thing was unusual for Jews. Only former pagans—Gentile converts to Judaism—would be water baptized when they converted. By being baptized, these Jews were recognizing their separation from God because of sin. Wow. Not the main point of the day, but definitely one that stuck with me!… Sunday lunch with “the clan” & the first use of my Christmas gift of a crockpot! Football and naps. Then football and reading. Then football and a Hallmark movie. Go Steelers—my half-hearted attempt at land loyalty. :) Okay, I jest. The roomie and I were yelling at the TV in equal enthusiasm! The Steelers are enroute to the Superbowl. Woohoo!
Congrats for actually reading my weekend in review.

Your reward for being interested is a blog recommendation: http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/
Compliments of The City Guy, who let me borrow his laptop for a little while on Friday night. I was SOO excited to see that blog. I immediately added it to my Google Reader! Enjoy!

Something I wrote while meditating on Matthew 23.

You’re the one out in front
Before everybody else
Self-appointed, the “select”
Giving laws unto the masses

Speaking, always speaking
God forbid that you’d be doing
Too busy loading
Burdens on men’s shoulders
To yourself do any lifting

Adding words to the Word
Adding rules to the Law
As if God weren’t enough
You must add your two cents

Make long tassels
A louder message
All you want… is to be noticed
And you’re loving
The place of honor
Just call you, “Rabbi, Teacher, Father.”

By the gate of Christ’s kingdom
You stand as so-called judges
Enter not yourselves
And are others' obstructions.

Hear those long prayers?
In the temple?
Instead of answers
You receive judgment

You are passionate for converts
Travelling land and sea for one
Ruination awaits him
You make him twice the devil’s son

Unaware of God’s greatness
Fearing not His mighty hand
You make light of swearing by Him
O, gold is more important!

You are tripping over tiny things
Ignoring justice and mercy
Always choose-y, always petty
So selective in your obeying

You should’ve followed the commandments
Both large and small
You’re too busy straining a little knat
To notice a camel!

Beautiful appearances
Mark your spiritual dress
Yet death and filth
Bones and uncleanness
Fester in your soul
So outwardly righteous
You hypocrite!
Inwardly, you are lawless!

Believing to be great
You think you are discerning
“I would’ve known the voice of God”
“I would not have done the silencing”
Serpents, vipers, bound for hell
Upon you, the guilt will fall
The blood of innocent prophets
and righteous Abel
And Zechariah, whom you murdered
Between temple and the altar…

Now Christ pronounces Woe
Am I too deceived to see?
My God, please forgive
The Pharisee in me!

From a carnal standpoint, my weekend was SOOO not exciting.
I took down Christmas decorations, walked the dog, stared at the snow, baked muffins...


From a spiritual standpoint, my weekend just rocked.


Through strange twists of circumstance (I prefer to say that it was God's hand!), I was home almost all weekend long. Only me. And the Word. And E.M. Bounds on Prayer. And Leonard Ravenhill (online. woot!) And sometimes the roomies for great spiritual conversation.
Through the variety of sources... Matthew, Psalms, Romans, etc... there was a theme that the Lord was speaking to me about. He was dealing with my heart.

O, the motives and intentions of my heart. Why do I do what I do? Why do I pray what I pray? Why do I desire things? Seek after things? Avoid things? WHY is one of the most revealing questions to be asked. When I put the "why?" question against my heart, and lifted up the light of Scripture against my soul, I was ashamed. Such ugliness!

He showed me the contents of my heart. The strife, jealousy, unforgiveness, and just basic selfishness! Matthew 15:19 states that "out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, etc." Sin starts from within the wickedness of my own heart. Only God can change this heart of mine.


Also the loyalty of my heart: Matthew 6:24 says that 'no man can serve two masters.' His heart will love one and despise the other. Every time I give greater attention, more money, more time, more affection, more of my life to anything other than the Lord---I have become the servant of another. I must have an undivided heart! As a Christian, I love the Lord with ALL of this heart.,

And then, the doubting of my heart. Mark 11:23 says, "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him." If I haven't seen the impossible happen or the mountains move, it is not because of the unwillingness of God, but rather, because of the littleness of my faith. O Lord, help my unbelief!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Matthew 5:8

I knew that I was gonna do this... I forgot one of my all-time favorite books!!

The Cross & The Switchblade by David Wilkerson
I've been privileged to hear David Wilkerson preach several times and each time, I am touched by the humility and unassuming nature of this man of God. In my mind, I can hear him praying for the Holy Spirit's help to speak the Word of God. It is burned in my memory and causes me to think, I want to be that desperate for God's words when I preach! Anyway, back to the book. The Cross & The Switchblade tells the story of David Wilkerson's beginning in ministry---in a small church in Philipsburg, PA (close to me!), and how that God consecrated him by challenging him to give up television and give himself to prayer, and what resulted from that. Eventually, the Lord led him to New York City to begin Teen Challenge. I won't tell the story, but I especially love the demonstration of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit!!

This book is highly recommended by me. :)

Agonized
The path is hidden from my eyes
Distressed by uncertainty

Blinded
Unable to be guided
By useless humanity

Silencing
The voice of flesh and feeling
Only One Voice is necessary

Desperate
Has He yet answered?
The Voice of truth clearly

Only One illumines the darkness
Only One makes known the path of life to me
Only One is always trustworthy
Only One governs my times rightly
Only One upholds me in my failings
Only One gives grace so sufficient
Only One silences the doubting
Only One sustains me with His presence

Only One voice is enough for me…
Am I desperate enough to seek?

A few friends and I trekked to northern Virginia for time with friends and a little sightseeing... And here are a few highlights! :)


Getting my own house key! :-D I had to give it back eventually…

Many laughing moments about cows, failed polygraphs and an exploding kitchen.

Chanting “Adventures in Odyssey” information in unison.

The magnetic force of a piano in the house that we stayed.

Humid sweet-smelling jungle flowers at the National Botanical Garden

Awesome whispering trick in the Capital building.

Our favorite eating place. *cough* ZEPH’s favorite eating place—Mimi’s Café!

“Soooooo… what are we doing?”

The reality of God’s presence during Tuesday night prayer

Low-toned conversations about spiritual things.

A police escort to the Pentagon. I joke not.

Losing badly—dismally—horribly at video games… and being okay with that.

Planner idiocy (mine) about tour time scheduling.

Finally understanding my ridiculous cell phone – Thanks to the Raven-Haired Girl!

Hawaiian coffee and conversation at the dining room table Sunday afternoon.

A vacation with a constant stream of church meetings, good teaching of the Word and spiritual life. Kind of like a caffeine IV. Spiritual refreshment flowing straight into my veins! Now THAT is what a vacation should be!!!

“Hay, hay, hay!” ahahahahaha…

Sludging around DC in the rain and mud.

Misty view of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon.

“Everything I learned about history, I learned from National Treasure.”

The newbie winning at Apples to Apples. Grrr. My cards were horrible!

Obsessive sniffing of fragrances at HomeGoods.

Girlie time and “The Inheritance!”

Tiptoeing upstairs after late nights with friends from church.

The odd experience of worshipping without playing the keyboard… my hands were free, yet always tapping and moving.. sorry to the unfortunate people standing beside me!

The corn bag that smelled like… HOT CORN… Go figure.

More texting than ever!

“What’s your goal for 2009?” Virginians think the same as Pennsylvanians. ;-)

Think ghetto pizza, gunshots and a little Mexican guy hopping over puddles.

Loud musical singalongs while driving! “Side-by-side, driving the same highway…”

Resting on marble steps in the Library of Congress.

We were close to a former president! In a limo. Two blocks away. Ah yes, our brush with fame.

Meeting a certain ADORABLE little baby boy!

Rain falling down my face… soaking my jeans… refreshing my soul.

Testimonies of God’s grace, His power and faithfulness at almost every turn.

Now that I have "waxed eloquent" about what books people should not be reading, let me talk about what books people should be reading. I don't like dwelling on the negatives very much. If you know me and/or have read this blog for awhile, you know that I love books. I've loved books ever since I was a child. One of my earliest memories in school (of the very few years I wasn't homeschooled) was in 1st grade. The teacher gave the class our first chapter books and told us to read the first chapter during that hour... I finished the whole book. Not surprisingly, as I grew up, my favorite times were going to the library. At home, my mom knew that if she couldn't hear me--playing the piano--I most likely 'had my nose stuck in a book.' Only a raucous, lively family and intensely passionate church kept me from being a totally unsocial bookworm. :)


Through the years, I have compiled my 'short list' of All-Time Favorite Books. These are the books that continue to inspire, convict and challenge me spiritually whenever I re-read them. And I do reread them often...


Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill
I refer to this author "the poetic prophet." His writing is like a jewelled dagger; beautiful to look at and yet, sharp enough to pierce the soul. Alliterations and descriptive phrasing make this book a joy to read... and yet a painful experience. It's a call to revival!! Revival = a reviving of that which was dead. Revival is admitting that I was wrong, I fell away and I was not doing the things of God. Say it with me, "OUCH."

The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
You like adventure? You like stories of faraway lands and exotic peoples? You should read this book. It is the story of Brother Yun, a Chinese preacher who stands for Christ even in the face of persecution. It's quite the journey from the miracles of him receiving a Bible (in Communist China) to surviving a 74-day fast to walking out of prison supernaturally, as if he were invisible. Simply amazing. Brother Yun writes with humility and you will feel the depth of devotion in this spiritual giant's words.


No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green
The controversial life of a young musical genius who loved God desperately and followed Him completely until his untimely death at the age of 28. Keith Green's radical life stands a righteous rebuke and heartfelt challenge to me personally. Can I write songs from the heart of God, like he did? Can I preach truth and live holy and seek God passionately, like he did?


Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Living a life of discipline is hard for us carnal humans. This book gives practical insight on spiritual disciplines that we should establish as habits in our lives. Things like prayer, meditation, simplicity, fasting, confession, service, etc. Simple and deep reading, if applied. A word of warning (just as my pastor told me, when recommending the book), the author is Quaker and sometimes he gets a little mystical. Just chew the hay and spit out the sticks. :)


Rees Howells: Intercessor by Norman Grubb
The newest addition to my Favorites list. This book reveals how God can use any willing vessel, how surrender is the key to powerful prayer and how the prayers of one person can shake nations. After reading this book, I am inspired to get on my knees and intercede for souls.


In His Steps by Charles Sheldon
The only fiction book in my Favorites list. Even the fact that I have a fiction book in my list will tell you a little about the calibre of this story. Charles Sheldon spins a tale about a minister gives a challenge to church-goers, to ask themselves the question "What Would Jesus Do?" and then honestly live out the answer. The results dramatically affect people's lives, careers, business practice, passions--and even a whole town. Truly life-changing.

Other awesome books... Azusa Street by Frank Bartleman - Read and weep. That's what I did. Christ the Healer by F.F. Bosworth - It will rock your healing theology. Tozer on Worship and Entertainment by A.W. Tozer - Okay, this will just rock your world. In general. You will never think of entertainment the same again. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence - I read this as a teenager and was astounded by the concept of continual prayer. Not Even a Hint by Joshua Harris - Great Biblical book for anyone who deals with lust. The Autobiography of Charles Finney. I could go on and on and on... but since I am writing this blog entry while on vacation, and not staring at my library, you are saved from the endless lists of books.

Be a reader. Read the Word most and love it best. But also read good books. Read books that will feed your spirit, challenge your faith and mature your character.