Saturday 4/20 ~ A ray of humility

The scripture for today, April 20 (4/20), is 1st John 4:20 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Joseph-Cover-Thumbnail“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”

Jealousy and hatred are very much akin. Are there people you are jealous of? Do they have a position you want, and so you say and do things to undermine their character or work, so you can get their position? Do you have a position you love, and there is a new person who could perform better, so you undermine that person’s ability in order to protect your position?

God eliminates jealousy this way: Do what you do best in private. What you accomplish  that everyone knows about isn’t as important to him as what you accomplish when no one is around to praise you. Jesus said those who receive acclamation by people already have their reward.(Matthew 6:1-5, 16-18).

 Is divine reward from Almighty God for eternity so inferior in your mind that you would sacrifice it all to be number one?

Ah, my Lord God, forgive me. Pride stands between you and me. Take hold of my awful pride and dissolve it in a sea of tranquility graced by a ray of humility.

Image result for "Buy the book" button redJOSEPH: THE OTHER FATHER had to give up his dream for a while of being a father to Someone Else’s child. Pride did not get in his way. He put himself in danger to keep God’s child alive in a violent world. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2GpgCN2

 

 

Thursday 4/18 ~ What is unseen is most real

The scripture for today, April 18 (4/18), is 2nd Corinthians 4:18 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Was Jesus God-COVER-kindle-thumbnail“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

In a sense, what is unseen is the true reality. We cannot see love, but we see its influence, and it is stronger than anything in the world that we can see. We cannot see God, but we can see his influence, and he is more real than anything in the world that we can see.

Sometimes we all say we wish we could see God and touch God. But if that were the case, he wouldn’t be God, for he couldn’t be everywhere at once. He would only be able to hear the prayer of one person at a time, and only able to answer the prayer of one person at a time. By being unseen by human eyes, God can be everywhere.

It’s a hidden blessing!  Every one of us among the billions of people on earth can feel we are God’s special ones. Every one of us can feel his presence, his soul, his love.

Image result for "Buy the book" button redWriting WAS JESUS GOD? (WHY EVIL?) impacted me more than anything else I have ever written. The urgency of God materialized spilling his blood so Satan couldn’t punish me touched me indescribably. Today, heaven is more real to me than ever it was. How I long to be there right now. But God still has work for me to do. When that work is done, I will leave all of you behind. But I’ll be waiting for you to catch up with me so we can be together forever.  Katheryn.  To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2ULeFUS

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Wednesday 4/17 ~ How deep are your roots?

The scripture for today, April 17 (4/17), is Mark 4:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Thumbnail“But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away.”

We may be mentally prepared for persecution out in the world. But what about persecution among our friends who we attend worship with all the time? They can turn on us too.

Perhaps you have discovered a “new” truth and are trying to get members of your congregation to believe it. If members get the feeling you are trying to prove them wrong and make them look bad, they will turn on you, much like people do a “whistleblower” in the business world.

On whose side will you stand? Your friends’ so you can continue to be friends with them, or God’s? It’s easy to let things slide and pretend that “new” truth no longer exists so you can keep your friends. How deep are your roots? Who shall you worship? Your friends or your God? What is more important? Your comfort in this life or your eternity?

Image result for "Buy the book" button redSTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR starts out as a teenage coward who runs from every confrontation and hides his beliefs.  Through tragedies, he gradually matures until one day he is confronted with the leaders of his old religion who demand, follow our creeds or die. So, he died. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2GnzJqq

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Tuesday 4/16 ~ Mercy when you need it

The scripture for today, April 16 (4/16), is Hebrews 4:16 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Anyone who has lived very long has committed some sin they hope no one ever finds out about. Some people have committed many such sins. Because of that one “big” sin or the constant repetition of a particular sin, do you punish yourself by putting words in God’s mouth? Do you say, “God could never forgive me for that”? Perhaps you can never forgive yourself, but God is greater than you.

Jesus told Peter we must forgive our brothers 70 times 7. If kept literally, that would mean we’d have to forgive the same sin 490 times. It is figurative for forgiving all the time. 1st Corinthians 13, the “love chapter” of the Bible, says, “Love…keeps no record of wrongs.” Do you hold grudges?

Alexander Pope said, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” In addition to forgiving yourself and others, can you reach out to help people who cannot forgive themselves? Are you strong enough to imitate God? Are you strong enough to find enough mercy and grace in your heart to forgive? There, indeed, is divinity in forgiveness.

Image result for "Buy the book" button redIn the midst of excruciating torture, Jesus uttered, “I forgive you.” THEY MET JESUS: SHADOW OF DEATH tells the story of ultimate forgiveness of his enemies (that includes us).  Read about all the people involved in his death and the beholders of his coming back to life in this historical novel.  To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2GcZcmy

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Monday 4/15 ~ Could you die for it?

The scripture for today, April 15 (4/15), is 1st John 4:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

The New Testament was written by people who walked and talked with Jesus. They saw his miracles, they heard his amazing words. They were eye witnesses.

Several first- and second-century manuscripts still exist that were passed down from some who actually knew the eye witnesses. A few were even written during the late lifetime of the last living apostle, John. The Bible has more existing ancient manuscripts (over 5000) than any historical writing in the world.

Read the New Testament. It was written by inspired men with a passion that would not let them stop talking about this Jesus. He consumed their life when he was on earth, and consumed their spirit after he left.

Through the centuries, men and women have given their lives so that you today may have the writings (New Testament) of those eye witnesses in our own language and read it for yourself. Many were ridiculed and tortured terribly and then died a long excruciating death so that the apostles’ testimony could live on.

Do not take for granted your New Testament ~  the words of Jesus’ eye witnesses. Jesus lived and died for you. Those witnesses, in a sense, also lived and died for you. Read what they testified to. Then, live, and if necessary, die for it.

Image result for "Buy the book" button redPAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE loved people’s souls so much, after they beat him for telling them about Jesus, he got up and told them again. Such stubborn love.  Follow him from his robust youth to bent and worn-out old age.  To BUY NOW click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2Gg3ppw

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Dear God

To brighten your day.

mitchteemley's avatarMitch Teemley

Introducing-your-children-to-god

Actual Kids’ Letters to God

Dear God…

“Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don’t You just keep the ones You already made?” ~Jane

“In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation?” -Christi

“Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before, You can look it up.” ~Bruce

“Is it true my father won’t get in Heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house?” -Anita

“If You watch me in church Sunday, I’ll show You my new shoes.” ~MickeyD.

“Who draws the lines around the countries?” ~Jennifer

“It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said some things about You that people are not supposed to say, but I hope You will not hurt him anyway.” ~Your friend (But I am not going to tell you who…

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Sunday 4/14/19 ~ Listen. Do you hear them?

The scripture for today, April 14 (4/14), is Esther 4:14b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Thumbnail“And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Today’s scripture is about a reluctant young lady who won a beauty contest and was chosen to be the queen of Persia. Time has passed, and now a command has just gone out to kill all Jews. Queen Esther was a Jewess but had not told anyone at the royal court. She could continue to hide her nationality and let all her people die, or she could try to intervene with the king. She was the only Jew the king would have listened to. So, realizing she could be killed too, she spoke on behalf of her people. They were saved.

There are always situations in life in which you are the only one who can accomplish something very needed. Perhaps you are the only adult standing near a strange child about to run out into a busy street. Perhaps you are tall and a short person needs to reach something at the store. Perhaps you know a particular language and others around you need you to explain something to them. Perhaps someone called a wrong number on the telephone and reached you instead.

As you go through life, there are situations in which you are the only one who can handle them. Do you? Do you watch for those situations, or do you walk around in your own little world?

Listen! It’s the silent cries of people only you can help. Do you hear them?

SImage result for "Buy the book" button redTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR was difficult for me to write. He was a young deacon with a wife and children, a sought-after speaker, a miracle worker. What motivated him to be the one to go into the Sanhedrin’s chamber that day and speak so powerfully, they would kill him to shut him up? I walked the floor for two days and cried before I could write those final scenes where he struggled alone to make the big decision, then carry it out. Come along with me as we try to walk in young Stephen’s shoes.  To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Bowxf8

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Saturday 4/13 ~ Someday you will smile and rise again

The scripture for today, April 13 (4/13), is Philippians 4:13 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

000-COVER-KINDLE-Thumbnail“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Life is not easy. Plans are scattered, dreams are shattered, and even predictable every-day things sometimes give way to the unknown and unforeseeable. Maybe you have made bad decisions, or you weren’t prepared for emergencies, or you are an innocent victim of someone else’s problems.

There is Someone who knows everything that is happening to you and who will walk beside you down whatever path you find yourself. And, as amazing as it sounds, even if you lose faith in Him, He will not lose faith in you.

When you don’t feel like it, reach out to God. Pray, even if all you can think of talking about is how terrible things are right now. At least you’re talking. And read the Bible, for that is God talking to you. Keep the two-way communication going. Amidst your weeping when you fall, God will give you strength. And someday once again you will rise and smile again.

Image result for "Buy the book" button redLAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN becomes a slave in a copper mine who eventually owns his own lucrative mine, raises a family and loses everything. The surprise ending will knock your socks off. Has something to do with a pearl. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2G9A3cj

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Friday 4/12 ~ You will be astounded

(Sorry for some of my messages being delayed. I must be doing something wrong. I’ll double check from now on.)

 

The scripture for today, April 12 (4/12), is Colossians 4:12 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“He is always wrestling in prayer for you.”

Do you have fast-food prayers? Drive in, ask for something for yourself, and drive out two minutes later?

How about trying gourmet prayers ~ where you gather many ingredients, not just one? They take longer but are very special and rewarding.

Your menu is your prayer list. People on your list don’t even have to be people you know personally. They can be from the newspaper, teachers at a local school, government officials, your neighbors, your congregation. List people by name. Pray for them by name.

Then tell these people you are praying for them. You may think you’ll get some strange looks, but mostly, even from the unreligious, you will get a smile and a whispered thank you. Some will actually reply, “No one has ever told me they were praying for me.” After a while, you will begin receiving word from people you are paying for, “Guess what? Your prayer worked.”

Prayer is powerful and wonderful. God loves to answer prayer. It is most wonderful when it centers, not on what you want for yourself, but on struggling in prayer for other people.

One by one you will begin seeing amazing answers in the lives of those you pray for. Don’t believe it? Give it a try. You will be astounded.

Image result for "Buy the book" button red365 SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S is one prayer per day which includes praise, forgiveness, and thanksgiving. Prayers of request not included so you can personalize yours. Beautiful gift set of three in the TOUCHING GOD series.  To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2GcvQVi

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Thursday 4/11 ~ God has an assignment for you

The scripture for today, April 11 (4/11), is Exodus 4:11 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Thumbnail“Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”

This is a dynamic verse, for it helps answer the question: “If God is so good, why did he allow me/my relative to become deaf/blind?”

Here is the answer.  Satan is the prince of this world.  So, God takes countermeasures to defeat him.  Everything Satan does God can undo.  But he does it in his own way.  He does it through us.

God gives each of us an assignment. We all have something God wants us to overcome. Why?  Because it makes us spiritually stronger. It is intended to turn us into spiritual giants. Perhaps he has something special in mind for us in our eternal world.

His assignment may be the family we were born in to, the country we were born in, an earthquake, a flood, an unfair professor, a mean boss.  Amidst our tears, as we face sometimes unbearable assignments, the challenge is for us to carry on with the smile of faith on our lips.

Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 12:10, “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses…For when I am weak, then I am strong!” If God did not believe you or your relative or friend could handle your affliction, he would not allow you to have it.

It’s almost as if the more affliction you have, the more faith God has in you.  After all, 2nd Corinthians 6:1 says we are workers together with God.

Has God given you an assignment? What a privilege!

Image result for "Buy the book" button redMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE was denied the throne, then spent his life handicapped. Life-long enemies tried everything to destroy him and make him bitter, but he would have none of it. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Ga5tzi

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