Hearing God's Voice One Next Step at a Time - Follow the Cloud

This book is quite easy to read, engages the reader quite effectively, and the theology is sound and biblically based. My only complaint is that it is a bit too simplistic, more milk than meat, and seems to be targeted at Christians who have not spent much time in the Word or developing a relationship with the Lord. There are no great revelations in this book, but the message is practical and for someone learning how to follow God in their life, I think this is a good place to start.

Follow the Cloud, by John Stickl, is an excellent reminder that our goal in life is to live. We are not to be dominated by fear or hesitation, but by walking daily in the light of our marvelous Savior’s love.

After reading this pastor’s book, I understand why he has such a vibrant ministry. The ability to communicate in memorable phrases abounds on nearly every page. Consider just a few of the ones I highlighted with my trusty yellow pen:

• Jesus is the narrow gate that leads to a wide life.
• A heart full of faith gives us eyes full of vision
• …understanding always comes through obedience
• Remember, your future is always on the other side of your fear.
• The last thing you want to talk about is probably the first thing Jesus wants to address.
• Jesus is always more concerned with your next step than your misstep.
• We don’t take steps to become someone we take steps because we are someone.

There are dozens more of these type nuggets. Each of these thoughts and the many others lead me to think deeper about my relationship with my Father. The amazing grace displayed by sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit for His children is beyond anything but worship. And, as Stickl so aptly states, Worship reconnects the drifting heart to the Anchor of our souls.”

Two final thoughts that sum up the Follow the Cloud theme – “Destiny is not about finding tomorrow; it’s about walking with God today. It’s not a destination; it’s a way of life.” And, “Kingdom people are God’s answers to the world’s prayers.”

Our lives matter and God has a will and purpose for each one of His children. We draw near to Him, learn to live in His presence, and they walk out and change our world.

The book is an excellent read and I intend to make it mandatory reading for those that work with me.

Blogging for Books provided this copy to me in exchange for an honest review.

Dr. Jeff Klick

"How do I know what to do with my life? How do I hear God's voice? What if we stopped letting obligation drive us and instead let grace lead us? What if instead of focusing on our faithfulness toward God, we focus on God's faithfulness toward us? " These are some interesting and truly life changing questions. John Stickl, pastor of Valley Creek Church in Texas, answers these questions and more in FOLLOW THE CLOUD.

He caught my attention in the introduction. "It IS all about you".. It's just not all about us, the way we usually hear that.. He kept my attention when he talked about FOMO- Fear Of Missing Out.. and then again when he said "do you really want to get well?" The truthful answer to that is that we often feel defined by the things we complain about, the things that are our addiction, or our pain, or our struggles..

This book spoke to me on so many levels, in so many areas of my life. If you are unsure of how God is moving in your life, or you feel like He isn't, this book is for you. If you just want to grow your spiritual closeness to God, this book is for you.

Go, Follow THE cloud.

I received this book from Bloggingforbooks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Follow the Cloud by John Stickl is such an intriguing book on how to hear God's voice. This is a wonderful book for readers who desire to better understand the importance of hearing God's voice.

It is important for readers to know that this is not the traditional book on hearing God's voice. The purpose of this book is not to share different methods for being quiet and positioning ourselves to better hear God's voice. The heart of this book's message is to help readers grasp why hearing God's voice is something to be desired by believers in Jesus Christ.

This book emphasizes the importance of resting in God's presence, following His lead and instruction and being wiling to take the next step that He gives us. In order for us to do that, we must fully place our trust in God. One of many things that I enjoyed about this book is that it doesn't place the focus of taking the next step solely on our action. Yes, it's important for us to take action (the next step), but we should not rely on ourselves. Instead, we must place our trust in God and only then take the next step.

I found this book to be a very easy and enjoyable read. It has a really good flow and I was very pleased with the balance between sharing principles and personal experiences. There are also thought-provoking reflective questions that readers can ask themselves and answer at the end of each chapter. These are very helpful in ensuring that the concepts and principles shared within the chapter are understood before moving on.

Pioneers (Chapter 11) is hands down the best chapter in this book to me. I was already enjoying the book, but when I reached this chapter my level of enjoyment greatly increased. There are so many valuable principles shared regarding the pursuit of God's will and purpose for our lives within the chapter. I never want to forget any of the principles that are shared. If readers do nothing else, they owe it to themselves to read that chapter and apply the principles shared within it.

If you have a sincere desire to follow God's lead, get in tune with His voice, trust Him fully and take action on what He reveals to you, this book will be a valuable resource along your journey. This is definitely a must read for those who are ready to hear God's voice and take the next step that He has for their lives!

I received this book free from the publisher through their book review bloggers program and I was not required to write a positive review.

FOLLOW THE CLOUD by pastor and first-time author John Stickl takes a relatively brief, yet
fulfilling and encouraging look at the desire that God has to lead His children on a continual
basis, and that this type of intimate and relational expression of life with God is available to all
Christians now. Using the Old Testament example of how the Lord led the Israelites through the
wilderness to the Promised Land through a cloud by day (and fire by night) to lead the people
exactly where they needed to go when they needed to go. Stickl challenges readers to “follow
the cloud —- courageously taking next steps when we see God move.
The author breaks his explanation of following God more closely into four sections. Section 1
— Awaken to Life — makes the case that believers today have more access to God than the
Israelites did in the Old Testament, and that the Lord means for us to follow Him in a dependent
and trusting daily walk. Section 2 — Receive His Grace — builds a foundation for this intimate
walk by demonstrating the love and grace of God, and believers’ identity as sons and daughters
rather than servants or sinners. Section 3 — Experience His Presence — goes into detail to
describe what “following the cloud” entails, and all the various ways that God communicates
with us. Finally, Section 4 — Release His Kingdom — lays out a vision of what a willingness to
trust and obey God can mean in the individual believers’ lives, as well as in the lives of their
family, friends, coworkers, church members, communities and society at large.

Stickl writes in an honest, self-effacing manner as someone who has only recently learned more
about the love of God and His desire to lead him and all believers in all things; so that striving
and despair can cease, and Christians can live in the joy and freedom that Christ desires and
delivered to us through His sacrifice and obedience to the Father. This aspect of Stickl’s writing
reminds me in a good way of other authors like Craig Groeschel who write not as “super
Christians” who have had very extraordinary experiences and blessings with God that would
make readers feel guilty and self-conscious; but rather as a follow struggler who has had to learn
some difficult lessons, but now wants to share his joyful discoveries with others. This book is
extremely encouraging and uplifting, and as a believer who has had many ongoing struggles in
learning to trust God and totally depend on Him, this book was like a breath of fresh air to me. I
would highly recommend this book for all believers.

Do you feel like you've been stuck in a rut? Feel like you need to preform or "do church" to get God's favor?

Can I tell you a secret?? You don't. The truths in this book resonate if you're questioning God, walked away from him, a new follower or are struggling in your journey. I don't have the answers, but I'm walking with new revelation and a renewed promise. The message in this book is soo powerful.

Come and discover it for yourself...and then share it with someone who needs it!

These are profound truths that will change our perspective on who we are at our core, who God is in our lives, how He can use us to do the amazing things that we were created to do - releasing life into a hurting world around us. The heart of the book is that God actually *wants* us to live free and pursue the dreams that our in our hearts. He always wants more for us - so with Him, where we're going is always better than where we've been. This book is an awesome tool to use as an encouragement along the way as we "follow the cloud", into our created purpose, one next step at a time.

Pastor John Stickl’s new book, Follow the Cloud, is highly inspirational and filled with nuggets of wisdom. I like Stickl’s down-to-earth writing style and how he lays out complex topics such as identity and purpose in simple, easy to understand points. All of his points are backed by scripture. Throughout the book, main points are highlighted in boxes, which makes concepts easier to memorize and follow. The end of each chapter contains thought provoking questions. As such, this would be a great book to use for a book club or Bible study. This book can be used as a springboard to start many great conversations. Stickl explores the concepts of identity, relationship, and purpose in depth. It is through understanding these concepts that we are able to follow God’s purpose for our lives and hear His voice. This is a very practical, hands on, inspirational book. I recommend it for anyone seeking direction in their lives. Read more about Pastor John Stickl here. Book Gratis Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

This book, written by one of the most humble and unassuming pastors I have ever encountered, so captures the heart and process of my own journey to freedom and will no doubt encourage every person in their own journey with Jesus. Its all about NEXT STEPS.. 1 step at a time! Pastor John communicates simply, yet so profoundly as he releases the revelation of learning who we are as Beloved Sons and daughters, learning who HE is as our gracious Father, and discovering what we are created to do as we release Heaven on Earth! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

There are so many things to say about this book but I will defer to my friend John Stickl who takes complex thoughts and breaks them down to everyday principles you can live by one step at a time. Simply put... whatever God is doing and saying, I'm doing that, I'm going that way; one next step at a time. John has lived what he has written; now it's your turn, enjoy!

This book has inspired me as a new follower to the written word. While I have always believed in "A higher power", I never immersed myself in understanding what that "higher power" was or who he is. This book has made it clear to me that I make the right choice to follow him everyday! This book has inspired me to LOVE, to ENGAGE, to READ, to live joyfully even in the darkest of hours. This book has clarified so many questions I didn't know that I had, and has also cleverly created several more. This book is a must read!

This is the story of how to hear God's voice to see major changes and growth in your own life. I have been privileged to be a part of the community from which this book came and we have all been dramatically impacted as we follow God's leading in every season and area of our lives. This book will transform your view of who God is and who you are to Him. This really is GOOD NEWS!

Most of us are afraid of the unknown. And afraid of change. We don't know what it will cost us or require of us.
Thinks can be out of our comfort zone.

The familiarity of bondages, and chains, is often more comforting than the unknown of freedom.

John Stickl teaches you in "Follow the Cloud" how to distinguish God's voice from the worlds noise.
To have a relationship with Jesus, will give you an identity.

Although we (husband, wife, children) are a Christian lead family and have been growing deeper in our faith through God's Word, Christian fellowship, and small daily actions, reading Follow The Cloud has opened up our eyes to see so much more in how BIG God is and can be! There have been several areas of the book that as I/we start to read it, we jump to the conclusion of I/we know where this is taking us...but WHAM, out of no where it goes somewhere deep and really catches you off guard by this simplistic examples and personal stories. We (husband & wife) are reading it first, before going back through a second time to share with our children. It has been very refreshing and has lead to deep discussions and introspective aspects from our past that is holding us back (individually and united), but our future is changing as we will continue to Follow the Cloud one day at a time.

Please, PLEASE, read at least one chapter. I have the faith that if you lean in for a little and take a next step, you will be blessed with a lot!!

This book is Life Changing with principles and lessons you can put into action immediately, not to mention it's an amazing read! The concepts are written in a way you truly understand them. John also uses his own life experiences to keep things real and add humor, which keeps you engaged. Knowing others struggle and similarly is a comfort, but learning what God has done through that is beyond measure!! I can't even name a favorite nugget I've gained but here's one - "We have allowed our experiences to determine what we believe, instead of allowing what we believe to create what we experience." I am sure you will want more before you finish chapter 1 - can't wait for you to begin!!

In Follow the Cloud, pastor and new author John Stickl echoes and expands on this concept of following God’s leading just one step at a time.

As you might suspect, Stickl refers often to the Old Testament experience of Israel. God led His chosen people out of bondage and through the wilderness with a cloud. The people weren’t given a roadmap or told the exact location or timeline of God’s plan. Their directions were simply to move when and where God’s cloud moved. That’s faith-training!

Stickl explains that: “a journey of next steps isn’t really about where we go, what we do, or what we accomplish; it’s about who we become.”

With that thesis in mind, he shares personal and Biblical stories and illustrations to discuss elements of God’s leading like:

• God’s invitation to come with Him
• Gaining momentum through change
• Receiving God’s grace
• Recognizing God’s voice
• The importance of obedience
• God’s purposes and invitation

The cadence of Follow the Cloud is casual. Most of the sentences are short. The concepts focus on more practical application than academic understanding. Stories, Scripture, and tweetable quotes make it a fast and engaging read.

Examples of quotable statements (of which there are many) include:

“God speaks in sentences not paragraphs because you can only obey one sentence at a time.”
“I don’t want to come and see. I want to see and then decide if I want to come.”
“Don’t lower your theology down to your personal experiences; raise your experiences up to your theology.”
“Identity determines behavior, because you do who you are.”
“You were never meant to live a life of what-ifs; you were meant to live a life of He is and He has.”

Some of Stickl’s illustrations break down a bit before he wraps them up and his examples from Scripture are sometimes based on presumptions. However, I found his conclusions seemed in line with God’s Word. As usual, it’s wise to check teachings against what God says in the Bible.

Follow the Cloud is an encouraging read that will likely be meaningful to people who are wrestling with making big life decisions.

<I wrote this review in exchange for a free copy from Blogging for Books>

One of the most powerful books I've ever read. I'm a fast reader, but this book I had to slow down, process, journal through. A new friend whom I'd never met felt led to give me this book the first time we ever met for lunch. It was definitely part of God's plan. This book is a must read for everyone!

This book is a must read! It is written in "plain English",compelling logic, and has scripture after scripture that supports and encourages a different way of seeing yourself, Jesus, and your purpose in life! This book has a very real and intimate way of encouraging you. If you are emotionally, physically, spiritually exhausted or simply feel you're just missing the mark on what your purpose in life is or know someone who it, then this book is for you. This book is a keeper!

This is one book that I will read again and again. Every page had an "aha!" moment for me, and I've been underlining, highlighting, and adding stars to paragraphs and sentences that I want to remember. I love the insightfulness of John Stickl's writing, and the relevance to our lives today.

Just finished Follow the Cloud by John Stickl. So easy to read and understand, but so much meat to chew on. John is transparent with his illustrations of his life experiences and tender with his sharing of God's love for his beloved children. This book helped heal the leftover legalism I experienced in my early life and has lead me to a greater understanding of my real position in the kingdom of the Father.

"Follow The Cloud" by John Stickl is a good title for anyone wanting insights and suggestions on hearing and obeying God's voice. Around 220 pages, the title addresses such topics as:

1. God never leads us out of something without leading you into something better.
2. Jesus wants to disrupt our routine and lead us to something better.
3. The future with God is always better than the past without Him.
4. Desperation can be God's grace to take you where you didn't have the faith to go.
5. Focus on God's faithfulness towards us instead of our faithfulness toward Him.
6. 5 ways we can position ourselves to hear what God is saying to us.
7. 5 ways we can experience God's presence.

The book is well-written, contains helpful insights, and transitions smoothly from chapter to chapter. Good read. I was given a copy by Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair review.

This book is a must read! It is written in "plain English",compelling logic, and has scripture after scripture that supports and encourages a different way of seeing yourself, Jesus, and your purpose in life! This book has a very real and intimate way of encouraging you. If you are emotionally, physically, spiritually exhausted or simply feel you're just missing the mark on what your purpose in life is or know someone who it, then this book is for you. This book is a keeper!