So, first off I'm very glad that Kevin mentioned this book reading idea at the Atlanta Fest concert. I was super excited when I got the book after checking with several stores. (:
As I read these chapters I kept a pencil handy and underlined what really stood out to me...
Chapter 1
- "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him" 1 Corinthians 2:9
This verse really hit me and as I kept reading I understood just how much I could not fully comprehend.
- "Why? Because 'extraordinary' is how we were created to live. It was God's plan from the beginning."
This really shocked me... not that I didn't already know that God has already fully created a plan for our lives, but that His plan included our lives to be more than ordinary, that He CREATED us to be more than normal. But why haven't we taken advantage of this "extraordinary" gene that God placed in each one of us? It has been right there all along, but we just sit back and live ordinary... normal lives.
- "He is the One who breathed into us the desire for the extraordinary."
"God BREATHED into us"... just that right there is wonderful, but then to add "the desire for the extraordinary" just is the icing on top of the cake. He gave us this desire that we need to take complete advantage of in order to live the way He wants us to.
- "God brought the animals to Adam and gave him the responsibility of naming them....Not only did Adam have the creativity to name them all, but he also had the capacity to remember each one."
Sweet creativity. (: God is a creative God isn't He? He gave Adam the extraordinary creativity needed to create sooo many names for millions of animals, and Adam remembered them all? That is just crazy to me. I can't even imagine trying to name all of those animals, but to REMEMBER them? Goodness.
Chapter 2
- "we can't do anything to make Him love us any less."
That is just straight up comforting to me. As many times as I completely mess up and make my own parents mad... His love for me doesn't change. (: Very good thing to remember.
- "Then the world will know that you [God the Father] sent me [Jesus Christ] and will understand that you love them as much as you love me" John 17:23
When Kevin said this verse at ATL fest, it really caught my attention. God loves me as much as He loves Jesus? Little ole me? Goodness. It really is hard to comprehend His love for us, but that surely does put it into a better perspective.
- "His love for you can never weaken or become obsolete."
As many times as we get hurt because we get told "I love you" but then people leave us or say they never really loved you... God's love NEVER weakens or goes away... NEVER. That is good news.
- "In God's eyes, Jesus' value is the same as yours!"
Ah, sweet love.
- The whole conversation that John Bevere had with God really was amazing to me. There were many great points made: "I hung on that cross, bearing your sins, sickness, disease, poverty, and judgment and finally died because I esteemed you better than Myself." His love is so great! To suffer all of that for the love of humankind... I can't even imagine the pain! Just to save us, such a huge price. I wish that I could have that clear type of conversation with God... hopefully one day.
- "He's the One who poured out the love of God in your heart when you gave your life to Jesus Christ"
I never really thought about that before... the Holy Spirit POURED the love of God into my heart? Pure crazyness.
- "He is the Spirit of Love, for God is love."
I love this... the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love itself, and God is that love. (:
I really think this is the perfect timing for reading this book since I have a little over a month before I move off to my first year in college. Hopefully this book will prepare me to be extraordinary throughout college faith wise and academic wise. Thanks, Kevin, for sharing this with me. (:
P.S. sorry I wrote so much, I like to write... what can I say? (:
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