Last year, I did an inventory of the deepest needs of the American people. The basic question I asked throughout the nation was, "What is the one thing which causes you the greatest difficulty in your daily living? State your deepest need."” The survey was sent out to a cross section of people in various parts of the country. The question w... more »as asked of people in conferences wherever I spoke. On successive Sundays, I asked worshipers in my Hollywood congregation to complete the statement, "My deepest need in living is..." Several thousand cards were collected. All of the needs expressed then were sorted, sifted, and categorized. The raw nerves inside people were expressed in what they shared. I felt the pulse of the hurts and hopes of all of us.
At the same time, I was doing a devotional study of the "I am" statements of Jesus. The deeper I penetrated into these powerful self-disclosures, the more excited I became. Each of the "I am" promises matched one of the deep needs which headed the list I had collected. Listening to people and to the Lord at the same time gave birth to the vision of doing a contemporary exposition of the "I am" affirmations as the Lord's healing answers for the aching needs of people. My studies in the original Greek text revealed several pointed "I am" claims of Jesus which have been blunted in all the English translations. Therefore, my lift of "I am" ascriptions is expanded beyond most traditional compilations. What Jesus said about himself and what he offers to do in our lives today become a solid biblical basis for emotional healing. The Lord can turn our struggles into stepping stones!
Each of the chapters in this book was spoken on my church’s national television program. “Let God Love You!” The responses of people were gratifying. Their shared insights about the Lord’s healing power in their struggles greatly assisted me in the revision of the material for publication. I am also indebted to the Hollywood Presbyterian congregation for the dialogue between pastor and people. Through the media and opportunities to speak extensively, the Lord has given me the privilege of feeling our nation's deepest needs. We are fellow strugglers who are discovering the Lord's stepping stones together. This book is offered in praise to the "I am" who can make things happen in our lives today.
Pages:
297 Format:
Hardcover EAN/ISBN:
0849930316 Publisher:
Word Pub
