I have at least 15 cookbooks that were once my mother’s. She probably had at least twice that many, but that’s all I kept. Mom’s philosophy was that if you got one good recipe out of a book, it was worth it.

I apply Mom’s philosophy to books in general. If you get one good idea out of a book, it was worth it. So I should have something like 6,000 good ideas. Hmm. Maybe I should cut back to around 30 books or so to match the number of half-way decent ideas I have.

Actually, I have another book (one that starts off blank) where I write down good ideas I run across in the other books. Here’s one from Elaine Heath’s The Mystic Way of Evangelism. “Those who would lead us through the night must be schooled in contemplative prayer, for they can give only what they have received” (p. 82).  

That’s a thought I’d like to pass on to every church leader, volunteer, and minister of any sort. You have to learn to pray or you won’t have anything to give others. That’s probably the most important thing they didn’t teach me in seminary. What do any of us have to share about God if we aren’t spending time with God? It’s not just saying a few words, but intentionally spending a substantial time being aware of God’s ever present love for us.

We need give our full attention to God in prayer. That’s a good idea in anybody’s book.

Read Psalm 46:10 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne