This book was a recommendation from one of my mentors, Jeanne Mayo. She recommends it to everyone she knows, she’s read it more than any other book she’s read, and she gives this book out more than any other book. Obviously – I had to read it.

It was a great book that really focuses on getting your mind in tune with the Word of God. The book is based on Phil. 4:8 which tells you what your mind should be thinking about all the time. I found this book to be very practical. It provides a lot of questions to ask yourself and a lot of exercised to get your headed in the right direction when it comes to your thought life. We all have a battles going on in our minds – thoughts fighting for our focus and attention. This book will help you focus on the right ones. An excellent read, and a must for a leaders bookshelf.

Final Grade: 9/10     Buy it here

Some Highlights:

• All lasting change is preceded by changed thinking
• The secret conversations you hold in the privacy of your mind are shaping your destiny little by little
• Right thinking is a choice you have to make for yourself the rest of your life
• Your life here on earth is your special, unrepeatable opportunity to fulfill God’s vision for your life and to magnify the joy He has placed within you.
• Live each hour as if your full potential has already materialized
• Emotions don’t reveal the quality of your life; they reveal the quality of your thinking at any particular moment
• Do not affirm what you do not want in your life
• When you allow God’s word to permanently occupy your heart and mint, in inevitably shapes your desires and goals.
• Worry is when you trust your fears more than you trust God

I’ve heard about this books hundreds of times from people, and finally got the chance to read it because of Bible School. The book is a quick and easy read, and it is excellent. It takes the stories of King Saul, David, and Absalom and compares how they led people and treated each other.

The tag-line of this book reads: “A study in brokenness” – which is very fitting. This book really taught me that God longs to have broken vessels who want His will above their own. Our ministries are not our own, they are God’s, and can be taken from us at any moment. The best any of us can do is just live our lives fully-devoted to God and trust Him that if we live lives of integrity and live for doing His will, that one day we really will hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Final Grade: 8.5/10    Buy it here

Here are some highlights:

“In David’s darkest hours, we knew them as his pre-king days, but he didn’t. He may have assumed that was his lot forever.”

“David never spoke to people about authority. He never spoke of submission, but everyone submitted to him.”

“Many pray for the power of God. More every year. Those prayers sound powerful, sincere, godly, and without ulterior motive. Hidden under such prayer and fervor, however, are ambition, a craving for fame, the desire to be considered a spiritual giant.”

“After the passinf of time, and the way you react to that leader, be he David or Saul, reveals a great deal about you.”

“Men who speak endlessly on authority only prove that they have none.”

“Beginning empty-handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them.”

“I desires His will more than I desire a position of Leadership.” – David

Probably one of the most influential people in my life has been John Maxwell – and I’ve never met him (Definitely a bucket list item). I’ve had this book on my shelf for a few years, it’s a companion to John’s book: Winning With People (I’d highly recommend that one as well. I pulled this off my shelf because of one of my mentors, Jeanne Mayo. Last week I got back from a mentoring retreat with 40 other youth pastors at her house. She is absolutely incredible at winning with people. I recognized that I need to do more on purpose when it comes to connecting and winning with others, so I picked up this book.

This book is a must read! It’s written by Les Parrot and John  Maxwell. Les basically interviewed people that were close to John and asked them why he is so good with people. They came up with 25 principles John practices. The first half of each chapter is Les telling a story he heard from one of John’s staff while the second half is John teaching about the principle. I don’t care if you’re naturally a people person – Read this book! It will help you win with people.

Here are the 25 Principles You’ll Learn:

1. Start with Yourself
2. Practice the 30 Second Rule
3. Let People Know You Need Them
4. Create a Memory and Visit it Often
5. Compliment People in Front of Other Peopel
6. Give Others a Reputation to Uphold
7. Say the Right Words at the Right Time
8. Encourage the Dreams of Others
9. Pass the Credit onto Others
10. Offer Your Very Best
11. Share a Secret with Someone
12. Mine the Gold of Good Intentions
13. Keep Your Eyes off the Mirror
14. Do for Others What They Can’t do for Themselves
15. Listen with Your Heart
16. Find the Keys to Peoples Hearts
17. Be the First to Help
18. Add Value to People
19. Remember a Person’s Story
20. Tell a Good Story
21. Give with No Strings Attached
22. Learn Your Mailman’s Name
23. Point out People’s Strengths
24. Write Notes of Encouragement
25. Help People Win

Final Grade: 10/10 Buy Here