Jamie's Recommended Reading List

AND THE LAMB WINS: Why the End of the World is Really Good News – Simon Ponsonby

There is a growing collective interest in the end times. But with that interest comes a barrage of confusing and sometimes misleading ideas and messages. Simon Ponsonby takes an eye-opening look at what the future holds. Cutting through today's cultural commotion, he examines provocative topics including biblical indicators of the end times, Jesus Christ's return, the tribulation and rapture, the future of Israel, and the role of the Antichrist. As each event is examined through the lens of solid scripture, readers will gain a firm foothold on how they can realistically and positively react to these revelations in their lives. Ultimately, they'll find that whatever the future has in store, hope lies beyond this world; because no matter the end, the Lamb wins.

DANGEROUS PRAYERS: Because following Jesus was Never Meant to be Safe - Craig Groeschel

"Do you ever wonder, "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?" Do you wish you could see the evidence that prayer changes lives? Are you tired of playing it safe with your faith? Prayer moves the heart of God - but some prayers move Him more than others. He wants more for us than a tepid faith and half-hearted routines at the dinner table. He's called you to a life of courage, not comfort. This book will show you how to pray the prayers that search your soul, break your habits, and send you to pursue the calling God has for you. But be warned: if you're fine with settling for what's easy, or you're OK with staying on the sidelines, this book isn't for you. You'll be challenged. You'll be tested. You'll be moved to take a long, hard look at your heart. But you'll be inspired, too. You'll be inspired to pray boldly. To pray powerfully. To pray with fire. You'll see how you can trade ineffective prayers and lukewarm faith for raw, daring prayers that will push you to new levels of passion and fulfillment. You'll discover the secret to overcome fears of loss, rejection, failure, and the unknown and welcome the blessings God has for you on the other side. You'll gain the courage it takes to pray dangerous prayers."

DON'T GIVE THE ENEMY A SEAT AT YOUR TABLE - Louie Giglio

"It’s time to win the battle of your mind: Discover how to break free from the chains of negative thinking and experience true freedom from unhealthy thoughts and emotions. 

The Enemy is constantly seeking to fill your mind with destructive and harmful thoughts — whether of fear, worry, insecurity, anxiety, temptation, envy. It’s all too easy for Satan to manipulate his way into a seat at the table intended for only you and Jesus, and to try making himself at home in your mind. It’s an ongoing battle, but one you can win! 

You can find freedom from the war inside your mind—if you allow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to lead the battle. By drawing from Psalm 23 as a framework, he offers biblical insight on how to cancel the lies that will wreck your life, take empowering steps to live fully alive in Christ, stop the spiral of shame, temptation and insecurity, restore peace and rest in your life, embrace the true purpose behind your journey through challenging circumstances and break free from the endless cycle of destructive thinking."

GRACE: More than we deserve, greater than we imagine - Max Lucado

"Are you ready to move from insecure to God secure? From regret riddled to better-because-of-it? From afraid to die to ready to fly? Today, find freedom in God’s grace. We often talk about grace, but do we really understand it? Grace politely occupies a phrase in a hymn and fits nicely on a church sign. It never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no? ‘GRACE’ helps us dive deeper into what it means to be changed by grace. God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off. Have you been shaped, emboldened, and softened by grace? Let’s make certain grace gets you."

HOLY FIRE: A Balanced, Biblical Look at the Holy Spirit's Work in Our Lives - R.T. Kendall

The Holy Spirit: Greater than your theology, bigger than denominations, beyond all we can imagine, God s gift to the church and to you. Debate about the Holy Spirit has been around for a long time. In Holy Fire, best-selling author and respected theologian R T Kendall sets the record straight about the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives and in the life of the church. If you want to increase your knowledge of this most misunderstood member of the Trinity, or if you long to experience His presence in your life in a deeper way than ever before, this book is for you. Are you charismatic? He is bigger than your signs-and-wonders events. Are you Reformed? He will not be limited by your theology. As Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, He blows where He will.

THE AWE OF GOD - John Bevere

Do you long for an intimate relationship with your Creator, but He seems elusive? Perhaps it is because something utterly essential is missing — the fear of the Lord. Don't let this frighten you. Fearing God is very different than being afraid of God. It's the key to everything.

Take a fresh look at what it means to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. This healthy, holy, and largely forgotten virtue is the uncommon path to a more fulfilled and fruitful life. In this book you will see the many reasons godly fear is so foundational to wisdom, divine direction, Christian maturity, freedom from the snare of the fear of man and much more.

TRULY FREE: Breaking the Snares That So Easily Entangle - Robert Morris

"Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18). As believers we have Christ and never need to be afraid. Yet it's also true that we are not immune to the effects of evil. Christ has conquered sin and death, but in his infinite wisdom - for reasons that are often difficult for us to understand - evil is still permitted to exist. Even if we're saved and trust in Christ, we may still find areas in which we just can't get victory. Maybe it's a sin we've confessed again and again or a constant struggle with depression, anger, or lust. These long-imbedded patterns of shameful living continue to entangle us day after day, month after month, and even year after year. In Truly Free Robert Morris invites us into a glorious truth - that the promise of being set free from the slavery of sin is a promise to be set free completely. Although evil is real and Christians can be oppressed by it, we have the promise that the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Jesus saves us, trains us to resist the power of evil, and delivers us from anything that holds us back. With Jesus we can be finally free forever."

WHISPER: How to Hear the Voice of God - Mark Batterson

"Does God still speak? In what ways? Can we hear him? And how do we understand what he is saying?
Through clear biblical teaching and illustrative storytelling, Mark Batterson reveals the 7 key languages of God; some that you might suspect, and others that might surprise you. By learning these languages, you will be able to hear from God and follow his voice in your daily lives. From the biggest most gut wrenching decisions to the seemingly simple choices we all face, Batterson believes that God loves us enough to speak into our lives and does so more often than we realize.
God speaks to his people and he speaks often. Get the tools you need to properly tune in and turn up His voice in your life!"