Saturday 10/5 ~ Shhh.  Listen.  Do you hear him now?

The scripture for today, October 5, (10/5) is 2nd Corinthians 10:5f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

NF-WorshipChanges-WorshipFirst“Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”

This is about the 40 years the Jews wandered in the wilderness between leaving their slavery in Egypt and beginning a nation for themselves. They had the mindsets of slaves. They did not know how to make decisions for themselves. One of those decisions was to leave the gods of Egypt and worship only the one true God.

It was easier to fall in line with what they were raised to believe. That had long been their comfort zone. They took the easy way out rather than follow the God who had proved the Egyptian gods were not gods at all. They would rather die than change. So they did. They died.

Do you take the easy way out? Do you stick with things you were raised to believe even though you have learned more of the Bible and see those old beliefs are not what God said?

The early Jews did not listen to God, so God did not listen to them. He is calling out to you through the scriptures.. Shhh.  Listen.  Do you hear him now? “Come to me. I want to save you. Please come.”

 

NF-WorshipChanges-WorshipFirstWORSHIP CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST CENTURY provides a year-by-year account when changes were introduced, if not accepted, when they were reintroduced, who introduced them, and what they did to protestors.  Despite all that, a large number of Christians today think all those practices have always been from the beginning.  Written for denominational leaders with its companion, WORSHIP THE FIRST-CENTURY WAY.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2pMK6Q5

 

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Tuesday 10/1 ~ Being religious isn’t enough?

The scripture for today, October 1 (10/1), is Romans 10:1f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

000-COVER-KINDLE-Thumbnail“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ______ is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.”

Oh, my! Being “religious” isn’t enough? There are lots of religions out there. Feeling “spiritual” isn’t enough? There are lots of differing religions that induce a “spiritual” feeling. Confidence of salvation isn’t enough? There are lots of differing religions that create their own ways to salvation. Dedication to prayer isn’t enough? There are lots of differing religions that require much prayer.

Sincere Christian leaders today may want us to rely on feelings and inducements and confidence and dedication, but they can be sincerely wrong. If we base our salvation on feelings and inducements and confidence and dedication only, we have zeal, but our zeal is not based on knowledge. Some may defensively call “knowledge” legalism.

God gave us his Word ~ the Bible ~ for a reason. He wanted us to reason. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is accepting the evidence ~ not wishful thinking. Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing/reading the Word of God for ourselves ~ not someone’s sermon or a friend or a book. Let us search the scriptures daily for ourselves. And, let us not be afraid to approach our religious leaders and try teaching the teachers. Then their zeal as well as ours can be based on knowledge and take us to glory.

 

000-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailLAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN falls in love with the Jewess. Their marriage is filled with love, devotion, and confusion. They long for something to unite them spiritually.  Then they meet Jesus.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or PASTE THIS:  https://amzn.to/2IjojVR

 

 

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Wednesday 9/25 ~ How’s your race going?

The scripture for today, September 25 (9/25), is 1st Corinthians 9:25f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Strip of Inspirational“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly….”

Every few years there are world-wide Olympic Games with many races. The racers must eat properly, rest sufficiently, and exercise daily.

The Bible has been called the Bread of Life. As a Christian, you need to eat your spiritual meal every day to stay fit. You cannot keep up your strength without food.  Do you eat at least one spiritual meal a day? How delicious is reading His Words? Ah, you cannot wait until your next meal!

Your time of rest is prayer. You enter a room in your heart alone and talk to God every day. You do not spend all your time asking for things. You can hardly hold back your gratitudes and your praises. Ah, sweet time of rest in God. You need your rest. You cannot keep up your strength without it.

I Timothy 4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” You exercise your godliness by being out in the world and being a good example in the face of temptation to react to the world around you in the wrong way. Yes, spiritual exercise means purposely getting out there and facing obstacles to yourself or others. You exercise your spiritual muscles by pushing back and you do it daily.

The race, of course, is your Christian life. You run every day. How is your race going?

 

Strip of InspirationalTOUCHING GOD TRILOGY provides a daily meditation (GOLDEN BIBLE THOUGHTS: GOD’S HEART TO YOURS), food to face the day (PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS) and prayers of praise, confession, and thanksgiving for each day (SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S). A beautiful gift set with original cover art and delightful script.  To BUY NOW, click the book covers to paste this:  https://amzn.to/2lJwMud  (Click individual books to get paper price.)

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Friday 9/20 ~ Which God? Which Savior?

The scripture for today, September 20 (9/20), is Luke 9:20 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

” ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ “

04-King Joash-ThumbnailCoverJesus is still asking that question today. Who do you say Jesus is? Some people in the world say Jesus was the savior of the Christians, the same person as Moses to the Jews, and Mohammed to the Moslems, and Buddha to the Buddhists. In the name of being fair to everyone, they claim these are all saviors of different religions going by different names but of the same God.

Let us not be caught in the web of the New Age Movement that claims all saviors are the same savior and all gods are the same God.

This is an impossibility. These religions contradict each other. Read their holy books and you will discover this. So, which one is right?

The Bible is the only religious book in the world that can be proven to be divine with fulfilled prophecies of entire kingdoms. It says regarding our Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Here is a website with hundreds of proofs ~ https://casagrandechurchofchrist.com

Investigate. Read. Compare. Then stand up for Jesus, THE Savior! Stand up and be counted!

 

04-King Joash-ThumbnailCoverA CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS:  KING JOASH is the story of an orphan boy raised in secret in the temple who became king.  His people worshipped many so-called gods. They wanted to be able to choose their own god whose worship was more fun than the other gods’.  Young King Joash loved his Creator, the only God, and forbade his people to worship their so-called gods that weren’t even real.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/30wvSzp

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Tuesday 9/10 ~ Friends of the Great I AM

The scripture for today, September 10 (9/10), is Psalm 9:10 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-Thumbnail“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

The Lord has a name?  Let’s check this out.

What does “Lord” mean in the original Hebrew language of the Old Testament? It is Yahweh. Translated into the Greek of the New Testament it is Adonai.

In Exodus 3:15b God told Moses what his name was: ” ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers…This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.’ “

And what does Yahweh mean? Exodus 3:14 explained, “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites; ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “

God is the great I AM.

What is our relationship with I AM? Today’s verse does not say the Great I Am will keep you from all harm. What it says is that he will go with you into that harm and stay with you the whole way, giving you strength and courage.

And so, in peace or war, in comfort or pain, in well-being or devastation, he will be right there with you. He will never forsake you. Therefore, never forsake him.  Keep on worshipping ~ the Lord our God, the Great I AM.

 

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailWORSHIP THE 1ST CENTURY WAY is part of the series, WANDERING SOUL, ENTITLED HEART AND THE SIDE-TRACKED CHURCH.   It was written for our denominational friends who believe the way they worship is the way the apostles worshipped.  Each chapter is about a different portion of our worship.  HALF PRICE.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Olv53e 

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Monday 9/9 ~ Glory in the “new”

The scripture for today, September 9 (9/9), is Zechariah 9:9 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Matthew's Life of Christ-Cover-thumbnail“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Most people think Jesus riding on a donkey made him humble. Not at all. Donkeys and mules were rides of kings.

Judges 5:9-10 says, “My heart is with Israel’s princes….you who ride on white donkeys.” Supreme Judge Jair led Israel 22 years and had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys (Judges 10:3-4). Supreme Judge Abdon, who ruled Israel 8 years, had 70 sons and grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys (Judges 12:14).

II Samuel 18:9 says Absalom, King David’s son, rode on a mule. In I Kings 1:33,38,44, David ordained that his son, Solomon, ride on his own mule through the street as one proof that he chose Solomon to be the next king.

The people of Jerusalem knew Jesus was not only riding the ride of kings when he entered their capital city, but he was also, at last, fulfilling the centuries-old prophecy they all knew so well (today’s scripture).

This is the humility that Jesus did exhibit: He rode on the colt of a donkey.

Do you blindly follow whatever our religious leaders tell you? Do you know the scriptures as well as you think you do?

Glory in learning new things about your King of Glory.

 

Matthew's Life of Christ-Cover-thumbnailMATTHEW’S LIFE OF CHRIST is one of a series of EASY BIBLE WORKBOOKS, most of which are surveys.  Easy because a question is asked, the verse is listed where the answer is, and you just fill in the blank. Great for home Bible studies, homeschoolers, shut-ins, prison ministries, teen and adult classes.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2ZZjDex

 

 

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9/6/19 ~ The son is the father and is God who created himself

 The scripture for today, September 6 (9/6), is Isaiah 9:6 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Was Jesus God-COVER-kindle-thumbnail“For to us a child is born! To us a son is given! And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!”

This is one of the most amazing scriptures in the entire Bible explaining how God is One and self-existent. It is as astounding as John 1:1,14 that says, “In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

This child predicted to be born unto us was both Father and Son and God. He created Himself. He was self-existent.

He is the image of the invisible God, God materialized  ”For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:15, 19; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4). The men who saw Jesus Christ saw God (John 12:45, 14:9). God’s blood (God’s Word in flesh) was shed on the cross (Acts 20:28).

In America, we sometimes say about a son, “he is the spitting image of his father.”  Jesus said, “If you want to look at the Father, look at me.” God is a Spirit but created us in a material world. So, sometimes God materialized in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, he materialized as Jesus.

This is so amazing. And we have been so blest beyond full comprehension.

 

Was Jesus God-COVER-kindle-thumbnailWAS JESUS GOD also explains WHY EVIL is allowed in this world since God is supposed to be stronger than Satan.  Simply explained and easy to understand.  To BUY NOW click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2HRASYZ

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Wednesday 9/4 ~ Shhh. Listen. Do you hear?

The scripture for today, September 4 (9/4), is Daniel 9:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands….’ “

A lot of people in the world think God should feel obligated to take them to his heaven. After all, they are fairly good, and better than some. God couldn’t possibly in all good conscience turn them away.

Yet, their entire life they resent God. They don’t like his few commands; they don’t want anyone telling them what to do or not do. Or they claim to love God, but create their own commands that just aren’t in the Bible, making themselves God. What confusion!

Ultimately, heaven is God’s home, not yours. He is not obligated to invite anyone into His home. Besides, only perfection can live with God who is perfect. It only takes one sin to make us an imperfect sinner.

So how do you become perfect? That’s where God’s awesomeness is demonstrated. By following Jesus who was perfect and never sinned, and obeying Jesus’ few commands, God considers you perfect by proxy.

But it’s like a boomerang. God treats you the way you treat him. If you don’t take time for God, he doesn’t take time for you. If you don’t like to spend time praising him, he doesn’t spend time praising you. Actually, if you don’t really like anything about God, you would be miserable in heaven.

God never forces himself on anyone. He loves you even when you do not love Him.  So, he keeps on calling, “Come back!  Come back to me!  I can keep you safe.”  Shhh. Listen.  Do you hear Him?

 

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailTHEY MET HIM: SHADOW OF DEATH is book 7 in the 8-novel series.  The world is so full of people who expect to go to heaven but hate thinking about Jesus. They think he is full of rules just to make their life miserable. They do not understand that is Satan lying to them.  Share this with someone who doesn’t care at this moment. Perhaps just the cover will lure him into opening it and reading page one. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/30V6hBb

 

 

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Saturday 8/31 ~ Be daring. Check it for yourself.

The scripture for today, August 31 (8/31), is John 8:31f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Thumbnail“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, then the truth will set you free.’ “

Myriads of people call themselves believers in or disciples of Christ; in other words, Christians. What is Jesus’ definition of a believer or disciple? He explained, IF we hold to his TEACHINGS, then we are his disciples.

It’s not automatic? So being born into a Christian family doesn’t automatically make me a Christian? Being born in a Christian nation doesn’t automatically make me a Christian? Owning a Bible doesn’t automatically make me a Christian? Believing Jesus is the Son of God doesn’t automatically make me a Christian? (Demons believe that and aren’t Christians.)

“But, Jesus,” you might say, “I really feel like I’m a Christian.” And Jesus replies, “Hold to my teachings, then you are really my disciple.”

Do you know what Jesus’ teachings are? Do you take for granted everything your preacher and teachers and relatives and friends tell you is true? Does everyone tell you something different? How about reading the New Testament? How about refraining from saying, “I know it says that, but it doesn’t mean that. My preacher told me so” ?

Be daring!  Forget everything you have been told. Read Jesus’ teachings for yourself and hold to them, THEN the truth will set you FREE.

 

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailTHE HOLY SPIRIT: 592 VERSES EXAMINED covers every verse in the Bible about God’s Spirit.  It succeeds in clearing away all the opinions and confusions out there.  An easy read. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2ZAwQyp

 

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Friday 8/30 ~ They’re afraid of you

The scripture for today, August 30 (8/30), is Acts 8:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Questions You Have Asked1-Cover-Thumbnail

Questions You Have Asked2-Cover-Thumbnail

“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.”

Our friends, family and neighbors will continue riding their chariots and understanding little of the Bible unless someone ~ you ~ asks, “Do you understand?”.

“Do you understand why you are here?” “Do you understand why Jesus had to die?” “Do you understand that Satan holds mankind hostage and Jesus paid our ransom with his blood?” “Do you understand the Bible can be proven true?” “Do you understand how much God loves you?” “Do you understand how the Bible is divided up and which parts give the life of Christ?”

People are afraid to ask active Christians questions because they think you will make fun of their ignorance. You’ll probably never know what they don’t understand unless you do the asking. So, today, go up to someone’s chariot and ask, “Do you understand?”.

 

Questions You Have Asked1-Cover-ThumbnailQuestions You Have Asked2-Cover-ThumbnailQUESTIONS YOU HAVE ASKED 1 & 2 are compilations of questions I have been asked through years of private studies and in conversations.  They are the hard questions people ask with Bible quotations as answers.  To BUY NOW, click the book covers or paste these:  https://amzn.to/30LysCT  and  https://amzn.to/30PEQJa

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