Sometimes you read a book and are moved to the point of action. That was the effect Jen Hatmaker's book 7: An Experimental Mutiny against Excess had on me. She writes, "Jesus, may there be less of me and my junk and more of You and Your Kingdom." Jen evaluated seven areas in her life and worked to counter the excess in each area. For example, one month she only wore seven articles of clothes. One month she only ate seven different foods. She didn't do it just to do it, she did it to discipline herself (and her family) and to have more empathy for those who have less.
I loved the book. It pushed me to look at my own life and evaluate the excess. Then I took these ten steps as I applied what I learned:
- Sponsored a Compassion child.
- Donated a sewing machine through Gospel for Asia.
- Read Irresitible Revolution by Shane Claiborne.
- Cleaned out and donated the boys' toys.
- Recommended it to my friends.
- Started a shoe drive.
- Bought a new laptop for half the price of the one I really wanted.
- Sent Starbucks gift cards to three church planters we know.
- Planned for an even bigger garden this year.
- Prayed not only for the boy we are adopting from Ethiopia, but also for his birth family, village, and region.
Have you read 7 or another book that inspired you to make some changes?
Linked up to Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday.
4 comments:
WOW.
You are the 2nd person I've heard who read, loved and acted after reading the book!
Now I need to read it!
a
inspiring!
I love that you found specific ways to respond.
Books that have moved me to action are
Same Kind of Different as Me
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Speaking of Jesus
I'm about halfway through this book. I have loved it so far. This could be a book that messes me up for a long time in the good way.
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