Patterns: Ways to Develop a God-Filled Life [Hardcover]

Mel Lawrenz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

A good pattern progressively builds you up. A bad pattern relentlessly erodes your humanity. Patterning is a focused commitment to making a few habits and character traits the normal, the daily, the consistent. All life is built in patterns. Nature has its orderly patterns, from the bee building its honeycomb to the DNA encoded in genes. The Bible offers patterns for living a godly life. There are also patterns in every human life. As children of God, we have the power to choose the patterns we wish to follow. We can build patterns of behavior into our lives that shape our character, form our reputation, and determine our satisfaction in life. 'Anything we do in life with any kind of repetition is a life pattern---whether it builds us up or tears us down,' says author and pastor Mel Lawrenz. 'Being unaware of our life patterns is about the biggest gamble any of us can take.' Patterns looks at two essential sets of biblical patterns that can help you create a God-filled life. First come the building blocks of character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then the book looks at devotion patterns: the acts that draw you closer to God, such as prayer, spiritual reading, and worship. You'll see how the different patterns relate to one another, and how you can become more aware of your own life patterns so you can make a conscious choice to develop a richer, more vibrant relationship with God. You'll learn how to practice good life patterns that offer a design for spiritual health and strength, order for spiritual direction, and consistency for an intimate dialogue with God. Patterns challenges you to cultivate habits of life deeply rooted in the love and grace of God. Lawrenz says, 'The idea of patterning is that if we follow the designs God has described in great detail, if we follow those blueprints and keep steady in those rhythms, we will experience life with a fullness and soundness that comes only from God---just like building a home according to the plan of a master architect.' Patterns is a handbook for spiritual development that encourages you to discover the patterns of your own life---and how you can nurture God-inspired life patterns that build and strengthen your Christian faith.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What began as a simple offer to pen a weekly essay on spiritual matters for his Elmbrook Church congregation grew into a significant add-on ministry for pastor and author Lawrenz (The Dynamics of Spiritual Formation). Several thousand interested recipients from more than 30 countries have benefited from these narratives about the life-giving spiritual disciplines of daily prayer, Bible reading and meditation. In this expanded treatment of those essays, Lawrenz skillfully examines well-known character traits such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In an opening story as charming as any offered by Max Lucado, the author breathes life into each trait with a concise and lively biblical summation, and then discusses ways Christians might experience that trait in their lives. Lawrenz incorporates poignant, well-spoken prayers and incisive personal reflection questions. In one especially fine essay on patience, Lawrenz declares, "`Now' is a golden calf of the modern world." He admonishes Christians to endure by developing a willingness to wait patiently, thereby girding themselves for the next battle. Lawrenz vows that daily attentiveness to the things of God will result in a life characterized by design, order and consistency-a message many readers have gleaned from the highly acclaimed works of Richard Foster. Like Foster's work, Lawrenz's remarkably fresh treatise expounds upon the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

What began as a simple offer to pen a weekly essay on spiritual matters for his Elmbrook Church congregation grew into a significant add-on ministry for pastor and author Lawrenz (The Dynamics of Spiritual Formation). Several thousand interested recipients from more than 30 countries have benefited from these narratives about the life-giving spiritual disciplines of daily prayer, Bible reading and meditation. In this expanded treatment of those essays, Lawrenz skillfully examines well-known character traits such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In an opening story as charming as any offered by Max Lucado, the author breathes life into each trait with a concise and lively biblical summation, and then discusses ways Christians might experience that trait in their lives. Lawrenz incorporates poignant, well-spoken prayers and incisive personal reflection questions. In one especially fine essay on patience, Lawrenz declares, ' 'Now' is a golden calf of the modern world.' He admonishes Christians to endure by developing a willingness to wait patiently, thereby girding themselves for the next battle. Lawrenz vows that daily attentiveness to the things of God will result in a life characterized by design, order and consistency---a message many readers have gleaned from the highly acclaimed works of Richard Foster. Like Foster's work, Lawrenz's remarkably fresh treatise expounds upon the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life. (May) -- Publisher's Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310248108
• ISBN-13: 978-0310248101
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #492,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Mel Lawrenz was Senior Pastor of Elmbrook Church, in Brookfield, Wisconsin for ten years and presently serves Elmbrook as Minister at Large training leaders through The Brook Network (thebrooknetwork.org). Mel received his PhD in historical theology from Marquette University. He is the author of eleven books for professional and popular audiences. Mel and his wife, Ingrid, have two children. More info about Mel's writings at www.wordway.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book Study., July 28, 2003

By 

"ajlafromboise" (MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Patterns: Ways to Develop a God-Filled Life (Hardcover)

I am in a book study (small group) with Patterns, and it is an excellent book for personal reading, and for talking about in-group discussion. Each chapter ends with thought provoking questions. Mel Lawrenz has his material orderly and concise. The basis of the book is explain different life Patterns, and how to incorporate them in your own life. We have new Christians and mature Christians and this book is great for both.

Whether reading alone, or with a group I highly suggest Patterns.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, January 7, 2010

By 

H. Jenkins "Peaches and Herb" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Patterns: Ways to Develop a God-Filled Life (Hardcover)

This book was different on a spiritual level. It talks about changing your schedule. This can affect your spirituality. The goal is to change things around so that you don't rush everything. If we don't make this change we can leave God out of the picture.