So – I’m trying to write a review of the book – Do What Jesus Did, but I also have a big heartfelt personal story to share.  Do I split it into two posts? One really goes with the other. If you’ll stick with what may be a deluge of words – I’ll try to share.

Hopefully, all of my readers realize that my core, the center of what guides my actions – is because as a small child, in the 3rd grade, I sat in my dad’s truck and gave my heart simply to Jesus. Raised by simple grandparents and a dad in the Coast Guard, then adopted by my godly step mom when I was 5, I had a pretty simple, sheltered ‘Christian’ upbringing. If the door was open – we were there, including Christian private schools in High School.

I spent a rather selfish time – trying out all of the activities that were frowned upon by the Word and my family during my 20’s. The Holy Spirit stepped in and told my heart No More around 1995. Since then, I’ve been learning and experiencing living a life of faith for Christ. Not just being that Christian Girl raised up in The Church, but sorting out each day – trying to listen and walk in faith.

I think that Robby’s life was similar. Raised in the mission field, he grew up to be a youth pastor. It sounds like he did his job well, and enjoyed being and working as a Christian.

Try to think of a list of things that you have heard people do followed with the affirmation of ‘That’s what Christians Do”. Soup Kitchens? Giving Jackets to the poor? Vacation Bible School? Attending Church? Raising money for missionaries? There is a lot that we do and then claim ‘Christian Service’.  Robby mentions that his life was full of faithfulness, but lacked faith. He describes a phone call that launched him into learning about the authority that we can walk in. Not for us – but for those who around us.

People have use the WWJD almost like a weapon to keep their kids and friends out of trouble, as guilt to get them to serve, and as a caution sign to keep smiling and watch your reactions.

Robby wants us to go further – and not ask what would Jesus do, but rather encourage us to Do What Jesus Did.  The new testament is full of what he actually walked through.

I highlighted the passage he shared of  Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;[a]
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;[b]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.^[c]

One of the things that I have missed the last two days after reading the book – are the scriptures. As Robby tries to explain his journey, he shares many verses – Another one of my favorites is Joel 2:28-30

“And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
²⁹ Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”

If you read through those scriptures – do you think of someone else? A leader in the church? That traveling healer? Do you feel challenged at what you can now do with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Although Robby shares the amazing miracles that he has been a part of – Cancer healed, Bone Growth, Backs aligned, Migraines disappear – He is quick to say over and over that it is not about the healing – but to show people that God is Real. He rejoices in the moment when the light bulb comes on with someone he is praying with, the eyes large and uplifted when they realize that God has personally moved on their behalf, and they put their faith in Him, or their faith is restored.

For me, as I’ve prayed for people – I must confess that this was my favorite part of his sharing.  The HOW. The words that he mulls over in his mind and heart as he stands before someone wanting prayer. Since this is a review – I urge you to get a hold of the book and hear in his words how he deals with atheists, prayers that do not show change, resisting the devil, theology, risks, forthtelling, authority over demons, prophecy – and more. He shares in such a transparent simple manner – it encouraged me further – that my prayers and authority could be the same. He shares how he encouraged others to do what he is doing, what Christ did, and the miracles and growth in their lives.

This is NOT a “Wow, I’m the world’s coolest cancer healin’ dude of all time” book. This is his heart to share with you how you too – why you too – should be – could be – walking in this authority in your life – all. the. time.

I have over 30 places highlighted on the Kindle. I can’t wait for the book to come out so I can have some coffee chats with friends over different sections. I’m pretty sure Robby Dawkins would not like me to share 30 specific things here on a review post. Ha. So, I’ll share one personal story, true to me.

On January 9th, my husband had an incident at work and ended up falling hard on the outside of his shoulder. In the fall, his shoulder was dislocated. MRI’s and xrays revealed that he had broken a bone in his shoulder in the fall. For several months his shoulder would pop in and out of place without that bone in place, He had ripped several ligament/muscles in his rotary cuff as well. We waited from January 9th, until May 28th – to have our first appointment with the surgeon that was going to fix the shoulder through surgery. (Insurance crazy paper pushing mess).

On the night of January 9th, I as at our local Worship and Healing Center. I asked hubby to come in after work (9pm) and share his story and ask for prayer. Three people in the room had a picture put in their mind of something being stitched and knit together.  We assumed it was the muscles and praised God.  The pain that he should have been feeling all these months was not as tremendous as it should have been. He continued to work 11-9 each day in a sling.

Back to the Dr. Appointment this week – as the doctor was asking hubby to show range of motion, he was quite puzzled. He said is range was a lot greater than he would have expected. For the bone being missing, and for being in a sling for almost 6 months.

He looked at the x-ray, and became more puzzled.  Then he pulled up the MRI.  (Fresh x-ray taken that morning).  He went through the previous doctor notes on how they interpreted the MRI. Then he walked us through it. 

His Explanation: There is a flap on the edge of the bone that holds the ball in place, when it was knocked out, it took a piece of bone with it. That’s why it popped out so many times, because it was free to move in and out.  Had he seen the MRI in January, he would have scheduled a surgery right away to attach the bone back in place with little tags. However, the bone was put back in place. It had been Healed.  It was perfectly centered and aligned in it’s spot. And it had been Stitched Back Together. The bone is knitting itself into place.  He showed us the lines on either side of the break where it looked like stitches. He showed us the crack of where the bone had been broken. He showed us the muscles that were still weak but reattached.  He said that surgery may not be necessary if it keeps knitting back together. 6-8 weeks of physical therapy would strengthen the muscles, and then he could peek to see what the bone is doing. It may not need the artificial supports to keep it in place.

Well – you know I was having a hard time not crying, the boys were excited, hubby was excited.  We asked the doctor what he felt about faith healings, and just quietly said that hubby had been prayed over and we believe that this was a healing from prayer.  We got to talk to the nurse about it in detail, and she was excited, and a believer. She said the doctor ‘had religion’ and would like the story too.

We went back to the Worship and Healing Center on Weds and got to share with all of the people who prayed that the doctor used the exact words that the Holy Spirit had given them.  Hubby has been able to share with a few people at work.  I think it is very cool to have been able to see the MRI and x-rays from January, and then the x-ray from this week.

My prayers have been full of thankfulness that we walk in the authority of Jesus Christ, and He is eager to move. God so wants people to know that He is Real, and is eager to show them that He is alive and working in their lives today.

If you would like to hear how this works out in one man’s life, and his simple specific ways that he walks in this authority. I had so much fun walking through the many many many (many) verses that he reflects back to when he writes. This is not just one man’s weird opinion, this is the Word, and God’s desire for His people to Walk In Christ.

OK.  I’ll stop now. Can you tell I’m a wee bit excited?  Can’t wait for every single one of my friends to read this book.

  ISBN9780800795573   Do What Jesus Did

Disclaimer – This book was given to me in Kindle download in exchange for a review from  Chosen Books.