How he smiles when you do.

00-LUKE-KINDLE Cover-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, September 17 (9/17), is Nehemiah 9:17 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and, in their rebellion, appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore, you did not desert them.”

Such love! Do you rebel against God (who is only trying to save you) over and over because you don’t want anyone telling you what to do? Or because he’s too much bother? Or because you don’t have time for him? Or maybe you just outright hate God? Stop. Turn around. He is only trying to help you.   

God has faith in you when you do not have faith in him. God forgives you over and over. First Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord…is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God could turn you into a robot and force you to love and obey him. But that wouldn’t be real love. God is Love, and he cannot go against his own nature.

And so God follows you around and pleads over and over, “Come back! You’re in danger. Come back. Follow my Son to safety!”

How he hurts when you do not; how he smiles when you do.

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00-LUKE-KINDLE Cover-ThumbnailLUKE: SLAVE & PHYSICIAN.  In Roman times, doctors were almost always slaves and belonged to one family. The legions were just beginning to have their own doctor.  In this story, Luke loses his father at age 8 from a battle between his Nordic village and the Romans.  He is adopted by Theophilus, a tribune, and given training to be his doctor. Then they meet the apostle Paul, become Christians, and Luke is released to be Paul’s personal physician.  Paul’s back has been ripped to shreds so many times, it is solid scar tissue and ten times more sensitive to touch than normal tissue.  Luke works to keep Paul alive.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:   https://bit.ly/2FsFwin

 

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This is my assignment?

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-Ah, my Lord God. I try to comprehend what you did for me, but I cannot. You saved me from hell! I was headed straight for it along with all of mankind. I could not pay the ransom. The ghastly trinity ~ Sin, Satan, and Death wanted the death of God. So, you gave them what they wanted. But it backfired on them.  It took you only three days to conquer them all  ~ Sin, Satan, and Death.  You are strong with the power of the ages. In your right hand is Truth, in your left is Life. You ride on the wind, you leap between stars. You do whatever is necessary to protect us. For me, God? For me?

Father, I have been complaining a lot lately. Complaining about food I got at the grocery store that I didn’t realize was spoiled until I got home. Complaining about the weather. Complaining about the way a relative spoke to me. Complaining about the traffic and gasoline prices. Lord, it was actually you I was complaining about. This is where you want me to be. Complaining is akin to accusing. Satan is THE accuser. Lord, make Satan get away from me so I’ll stop complaining. And can you forgive me?

My God, you have been my comfort through so many things and over so many years. Must I praise you for all the horrible things I’ve lived through? You say I must and so I do. I am reminded that you have given everyone their assignments, and these have been mine. At each stage of my life you have given me different assignments. I agonized under some of them. I cried and screamed, and yet you would not release me.  I thank you for them all, Lord.  Truly, I do.  They made me stronger, didn’t they? I made Satan a little weaker, didn’t I? Together we did it.  Together forever.

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE was just that. This historical novel follows him from his early years at the Temple school to enjoying Jesus’ crucifixion, to torturing Christians, then his own self-torture alone in a black room for three days comprehending the horrid things he had done.  After that, he can never do enough to make it up to his Lord. Go with him as he endures highway thieves, harrowing wrecks at sea, snow storms, starvation. Feel his beatings and whip lashings break through his skin.  Hear him as each time, he cries out, “Jesus!  This is for you!”  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  http://bit.ly/PaulUnstoppable   

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If I knew a thousand languages

0-Cover-MediumIf I knew a thousand languages, I would use them all to praise you. I would travel the earth from obscure village to obscure village where only their own language is known and proclaim your majestic goodness as long as they would allow.  And when I had traversed the world, I would begin again.  Only this time, I would teach them about you who loves them beyond their understanding. And I would teach them how you ransomed them from Satan’s clutches. And I would teach them about heaven and how you left the gate open for them. Well, it is not so. I can only speak one language. So, with what I have, I will travel the earth and proclaim your majestic goodness anyway. Somehow, I will.  You alone deserve the praise of earth.

Lord, thank you for taste and smell.  If it were not for the taste and smell of food, I don’t guess anyone would eat and refuel their bodies.  When you created us, you knew what it would take to lure us to the table and take time to feed our bodies. Yes, I know there are bad smells and taste too. But thank you for those also. They warn us to stay away from them.  And thank you for gardens and farms that grow the food that keeps us alive. Ah, the smell of the soil newly plowed up. And the smell of flowers, and spices and even newly mowed grass. Thank you for all of it.

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How can it be, my Lord?

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE MediumHow can it be, oh Lord, that you love me, a mere worm crawling through the dust of sin? Won’t what your eyes behold take away your holiness? Won’t what you hear take away your purity?  My Lord, how can it be? Before your eyes behold my sin, you take it away. Before your ears hear my sin, you take it away. You never change. Sin cannot touch you. Sin does not exist where you are.  Your throne glistens white with sinlessness. You are crowned with virtue and you hold the scepter of goodness.

Thank you that I can freely breathe. There are some people whose lungs are bad and they struggle for their every breath. And thank you that I have two strong legs to stand on. There are some people wheel-chair bound and have to look up at everyone. And thank you that I can hear and speak. There are some people out there who can do neither. Lord, may I take a deep breath, walk to someone’s door and knock on it, and use the voice you gave me to tell them how much you love them. My every breath, my every step, my every word are gifts from you. May I ever use those gifts to glorify you and bring more souls to the safety of your heaven.

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0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE is a biblical historical novel about the son of Jonathan who David loved like a brother.  Through crippled for life, he had his father’s disposition of loving even his enemies.  It got him through an otherwise stormy life.  How about you?  Read and be inspired.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….   http://bit.ly/crippledprince

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Smarter than God

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-MediumThe scripture for today, September 2 (9/2), is Job 9:2 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Though one wishes to dispute with Him [God], he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.”

There are so-called sophisticated intellectuals in the world who want to come up with all the answers about God. Many even make God in their image instead of we being made in God’s image. They try to reduce God to complete human understanding.

I smile sometimes when I hear TV evangelists declare, “God likes it when you…” or “God approves when you…” or, “God thinks…” and they’re all different.  He must look down on it all, shake his head, and think, “You know nothing.”

This was Satan’s temptation and Eve’s desire ~ to know everything God knows. She bought into Satan’s lie.  How can we even begin to figure out God?  There are two trillion galaxies out there ~ not stars but galaxies. And one hundred thousand stars in each galaxy.  And God is larger than them all. Dispute with the all-knowing God?

That cannot be! If we could understand everything about God, He would not be God! He has told us everything about Himself in his Word that he wants us to know and that we are able to comprehend.  Actually, He has poured out his heart to us in His Word.

Let us rejoice that there are things about God we do not understand. Let us rejoice that there are events in our life that we do not understand with our finite minds. Let us rejoice that such a God loves us in our finiteness. He said so Himself.

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS provides one proverb and a passage from one of the other wisdom books ~ Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon ~ for each day of the year.  It is a companion to 365 GOLDEN BIBLE THOUGHTS AND 365 PRAYERS, all gift-book quality.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/3i1Y4TY

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With you my soul is at peace

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailLord God Almighty, as long as I walk with you, I am safe. Nothing others can say or do to me can harm me. They may insult me, threaten me, beat me, but all the while I will be safe. I will not hear their words because your words will echo through my mind ~ words of love and comfort. I will not notice their threats because I will be hiding under the shadow of your wings and only hear your breath of life.  I will not feel the beatings they batter me with because I will feel only your loving arms around me. Lord, with you I am strong. With you my soul is at peace.

Ah, my Lord, I remember the day of my baptism. It was long ago, but I remember everything about it. I remember walking up and sitting on the front pew. I remember the preacher asking me if I believed Jesus is the Son of God. I said yes, but in my young heart I thought the question was so unnecessary because, of course he is the Son of God!  I remember my mother and her friend helping me put on a white robe and stepping down into the baptistry. I remember the preacher’s words: “I now baptized you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of your sins.” I remember leaning back and going down into the water. Most vividly I remember coming up out of the water and telling myself, “I am sinless! I am pure!” Thank you for making all this possible and for the good memory of it.

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And They Wept

04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleMediumThe scripture for today, August 10 (8/10), is Nehemiah 8:10b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

After exile over 70 years for forsaking God, the Jews were led by Ezra and Nehemiah back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and rebuild the wall. On a special day, Ezra read the Law of Moses to all the people.

And they wept.

They were so embarrassed and so sorry they had betrayed God. The above scripture quotation is from that occasion.

But many people find it too humiliating to admit to others they were wrong. Others find it easy to repent, but never regroup and pull themselves up so they can try again. Still, others say, “What I’ve done is so bad, God could never forgive me.”

God can perform miracles. That means he can forgive the greatest sinner. So grieve. Ask for forgiveness. Then start over fresh ~ innocent in the eyes of God.

Remember, when you feel weak, the joy of the Lord is always your strength. And it is magnificent.

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04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleThumbnailISAAC & JACOB is storybook #4 in A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES.  You would think a little lie wouldn’t hurt.  Or even a big lie.  But Jacob’s lie cost him everything. It disrupted his entire family.  His twin brother tried to kill him.  He was gone from home for 20 years and during that time he lost his mother.  Talk about a dysfunctional family. But God healed them.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http://bit.ly/2LacnWf

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It is August and I am happy

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-MediumAt first, when I learned about you, Lord God, my faith was a slight spark, barely visible. Later, my faith enlarged to the size of a pin light. Eventually, the light of my faith filled the little space around my body.  Finally, the light of my faith filled a room and I rejoiced in it. But that was not all.  I continued to study your Word and pray and share, and after all that, I realized the light of my faith was large enough to fill an arena. Now that I am growing old, my body is weaker and starting to shrivel, but not the light of my faith. Now, and now oh, Lord, my faith flares up high and wonderous beyond my wildest dreams, fills the world, and draws wanderers to it. All because of you, Lord, for the light of my faith comes from you.

It is August and hot outside. I don’t care. At least it isn’t snowing, Besides, in August I don’t have to worry about shoveling sunshine! In August I slow down a little and take life easy before the bustle of harvest and autumn. I can go out in the cool of the morning and pick strawberries or blueberries. I can wade in mud puddles after a summer shower. I can sit under a tree, look up through the branches, and imagine the top of the tree are reaching the canopy of the sky. I can even lie on my back on a blanket and imagine what kind of animals the clouds look like. Ah, yes, it is August and I am happy.

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Goodness in every country on earth

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnailThe way you designed the trees is so much like the growth of my soul.  We start out life as a little ball, so tiny and full of wonder.  Then as toddlers, that tiny ball develops into a bud with just a touch of color peeking through. Finally, we open up in full bloom and our faith in you is so innocent and pure. Then we reach our teens and doubts creep in. One by one the sweet-smelling blossoms lose their colorful leaves. But, in young adulthood after we come out of our dares and doubts, we form into something else. The flower has turned into a miniature green fruit, a promise of things to come. In full adulthood the fruit becomes yellow or red or whatever it is supposed to be and adorns the branch it has grown from. In middle age we are plucked and become nourishment to others. Finally, in old age, the tiny seeds that fall from the fruit are buried once again, some day to start all over again as a little green ball, tiny and full of hope. May my life blossom the way you intended and, after I am gone, may the seeds I leave behind develop into a brand-new generation to carry on your work and your glory.

Thank you that I live in a free country to do whatever kind of work I desire to do, to live where I want, and worship you freely. And, thank you, for the other countries of the world. They may not have the freedoms I have, but many of them have opportunities not available here. And they live in areas full of so much ancient history, much of it having been lived out in your Bible. How exciting for them. There is something good in every country. I thank you for helping me not become arrogant and think my country is better than anyone else’s country. Thank you for opening my eyes.

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Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S is the third book in the TOUCHING GOD trilogy.  Prayers of praise, repentance, and thanksgiving are provided to help get you started with a few reminders.  Prayers of request are left for you to apply to your own life.  This series is a great gift for weddings, showers, graduations, baptisms, restored Cristians, birthdays, Christmas.  Beautiful original cover art and ancient papyrus font on the inside.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………https://bit.ly/3ia96a0

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Splendor from the oil of mercy

Golden Cover-KINDLELord, when I first heard your Words, they seemed rough and uncaring. Then I scraped away my resentments and bad habits. Oh, my. Your Words seemed not so bad after all.  Then I brushed away my ego. And wonder of wonders.  I saw your Words were for my benefit. Excitedly, I polished them with the oil of mercy and revealed a splendor I had not imagined. In your Words I saw the beauty of your holiness. I saw the epitome of love and majesty and glory. I am sorry for misunderstanding you for so long. Let me now share your holiness and grace with others.

Ah, my Lord, as I came out from my childhood, I began to sin ~ usually sins of attitude like jealousy, impatience, But sometimes I gossipped in order to make someone else look bad and me good, or I borrowed something and never gave it back, or I disobeyed my parents.  As I grew older, my sins were more sophisticated.  And I could not stop.  I still cannot.  Neither can anyone else.  You could have condemned me and left me in the hands of Satan. Instead, though you are my Judge, you also became my Public Defender, and I became a Christian.  You saved me from Satan’s punishment instead. I fall at your feet unworthy.  Lift me up, Lord, so I may always be yours.

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Golden Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 GOLDEN BIBLE THOUGHTS: GOD’S HEART TO YOURS is book one in the TOUCHING GOD series.  Beautiful art work on the cover and ancient papyrus print inside.  Buy all three for a wedding gift, new parents, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas. For all ages.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/33obxBJ

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