Spark: Transform Your World One Small Risk at a Time

The first thing I noticed as I opened the book was that the font was not Times New Romans! Good choice. As I read the book, I laughed a lot. That does not mean I did not think about and evaluate where I am in life right now. Jason Jaggard is highly relateable through his writings. I would like to think that if we were to meet face to face, we would be friends.

 

The main question Jaggard asks throughout the book is "'What's one risk I can take this week to make the world a better place?'... 'What's one way I can serve others?'... 'How can we reflect the character and impact of God' (52)?

 

"You can spend years talking about risks, but your life won't change until you start taking risks. It's not enough to know the information. It's not enough to have the conversation. You have to move on to application" (68). 

 

My favorite chapter was eleven. I relate to the girl he mentioned in a story who said "I just don't feel like I have anything to offer" (129). He proceeded to list several things that made her unique. His challenge is to use what you have.

 

Jaggard, about speaking in front of thousands of people, said, "I wanted the opportunity, but I was afraid I wasn't capable.... There's a tendency in many of us to just stay where it's safe to avoid opportunities that would demand something from us that we're not sure we can give. And that, if anything, defines a life without God -- a life that doesn't need Him to exist" (167).

 

After telling a story about a jr. high overnight retreat, Jaggard says, “Sometimes people need just a little bit of hope. They need to have someone believe that their lives can be better tomorrow than they are today. That they can be better tomorrow than they were today (203).
 

I really needed this book... and chances are someone else does too! I highly recommend it.

 

I reviewed this book for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers Blogging for Books. I received this book for free in exchange for a review of the book.

fiesty missionary

I read this book the week before I turned 28. What was the rush? Mary Slessor was 27 when she prayed to God to become a missionary. I love reading these books... they are for young teens, but I enjoy the story as if we were actually right alongside these amazing people. 

Mary was a fiesty young Scottish woman who loved people in Africa. She was a trailblazer for sure and like Gladys Aylward had her fair share of struggles.

Mary was actually engaged for a bit of time, but because she was expected to move to a different city and work with other people than who she felt called to, she broke off the engagement.

These women encourage me in my life. I may not know what God is up to these days, but I definitely sense that he has a plan for me. The two people groups I feel called to are Italians and middle school kids. I would be fine working with either and have had the opportunity to interact with both. 

So thankful to God for a great cloud of witnesses and their testimonies of how God worked in their lives.