He truly does.

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newThe scripture for today, May 7 (5/7), is 1st Peter 5:7 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Oh, how hard life can be sometimes. We wonder why God doesn’t stop all the bad things. But, if there was no evil and bad things happening, we would have heaven on earth. Satan is the Prince of this earth.  Jesus said so.

How many times in a week are you anxious about something? Especially now when our world has been turned upside down and inside out with an unseen enemy that taunts the earth. Your job, your home, your children, your neighbors, your government, your health? How many times in a day do your anxieties weigh you down? Are your burdens heavy? Almost too heavy to bear?

Name them to God. Tell him all about them. Go into as much detail as you want. Then put them all on his shoulders. That’s what he wants you to do. He will carry those burdens for you while you try to rest your soul.

Indeed, this is not heaven on earth. But Jesus provides a way for us to escape in our hearts to his world.  Of course, you don’t have to escape; he doesn’t force you. But always he calls out to you, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  Why would he do that? He cares for you. He truly does.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2WyA0z3

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0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newHEARTS AFIRE takes place when Jesus makes trips around the country healing people to prove who he was, and teaching the multitudes now following him how to rise above the wars and violence around them. This is novel 3 in the series THEY MET JESUS.  At the end of each chapter are life application questions and historical evidences of the events.  To BUY NOW,  click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2WyA0z3

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Perhaps the time is now

000-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, April 25 (4/25), is Proverbs 4:25 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

There are a lot of interesting and fun distractions in life, so we have to remind ourselves over and over what is most important to us. We have only so much time in a day and in a lifetime. We can run back and forth from one side road to another; one fun thing to another, one power thing to another, one great–looking thing to another.

Before we know it, we have been on that side road a long time. Too long actually.  We can barely see the main road we were on before. And God? He is now so far away. How can that be?  We were always told God would always be there for us.

But God pretty much treats us the way we treat him. If we don’t like being around him, he doesn’t much like being around us. If we don’t like listening to his word (the Bible), he doesn’t much like listening to our word (prayer). If we don’t like to spend special time with him, he doesn’t much like to spend special time with us. God gives us the same courtesy we give him. God will not force himself on us, for he is a Gentleman.

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I wrote the above a few years ago.  Looks like we do not have any excuses now.  Looks like it’s time to look back on the road(s) we have been traveling. Have you been so caught up, you have not realized how treacherous it is. Or perhaps you’re on a good road going the right direction, but it needs some repairs done here and there. Where have you ended up at this point in your life?  Sit down and write God a letter.  Level with him; he leveled with you in his Bible.  It’s your turn.  And it looks like the best time to do it ~ the best time we’ve had in decades ~ is now.

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I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?          http:// bit.ly/ LazarusSamaritan

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000-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailLAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN. This is the story of the Good Samaritan and forty-five years of his life as he also lives through most of Jesus’ other parables. Zarus endures false imprisonment, a cruel indenturement, a mine collapse, a brutal sandstorm, an earthquake, an epidemic, and kidnapping. What is all the exhilaration and heartache for? What is life all about, especially when it is hard? Why are we here?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http:// bit.ly/ LazarusSamaritan

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Of Governments & God

365 Dat by Date-Front-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, April 5 (4/5), is Micah 4:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

Nations rise and fall. Nations come and go. Nations are founded upon terror and aggression, or peace and democracy. Some nations follow religions which declare that peasants are peasants as punishment for previous lives, so must remain peasants. Some nations follow religions chosen by their national governments and which must be followed upon pain of death. Some nations deny religion completely and destroy anyone who believes anyway.

What kind of nation do you live in? As strong as your nation is, it cannot control your heart, your spirit, your soul. As strong as your nation seems to be, as much power as your government uses to control its citizens, it will not and cannot last forever.

Always remember, there is a forever nation ~ the nation of God, the kingdom of God. No matter what nation you live in, you can have “dual citizenship.”  And by being a citizen of God’s forever kingdom, you will walk in it forever and ever and…

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I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?         https://amzn.to/2V4L8D0

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365 Dat by Date-Front-Thumbnail365 LIFE-CHANGING SCRIPTURES DAY BY DATE provides a heart-to-heart to go with each scripture.  The scripture each day corresponds with the date.  March is the 3rd month of the year, and 16th is a day in that month. So on March 3/16, your scripture will be John 3:16.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2V4L8D0

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Prayer for Tuesday 3/3

O06-Boy Jesus-Thumbnail Coverh, my Lord, sometimes I am giddy with excitement over you. Sometimes I want to walk with you, talk with you, laugh with you, cry with you.  I want to run with you through meadows and lie on the grass and watch the clouds float by. When I am in a breeze, I wonder if you are whispering to me. Sometimes when I hear the flutter of wings overhead, I wonder if you are embracing me. You call me your child, then spoil me with your love. How I rejoice in you. My heart calls out to your heart. Even in the deepest gloom, I feel your presence. All that has been, is, and will be honor and glorify you.

I was with some friends the other day who had planned a party. It was all planned, but I chimed in and started suggesting they change this thing and that. I brought them into disorder when there was no reason to. Help me bury my ego and keep my ideas to myself.

Thank you for March. The snow is beginning to melt. There are puddles everywhere and the lawns are soggy. How I rejoice when I see all this because I know it is a prelude to spring. How I love spring. Thank you for Spring. Yes, and winter. Winter when the world goes inside and rests. When I have more quiet time, family time, and reflecting time. Winter is good. But now I am ready for Spring. Your seasons. How delightful they are. And always on time. Your promises are like that ~ always on time. Thank you for the unique beauty and benefits of each season. You thought of everything.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/3csvBVl

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06-Boy Jesus-Thumbnail CoverBOY JESUS is storybook #6 in A CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS series. Jesus was 12 years old the first time he got to go to the temple in Jerusalem.  He attended classes taught by the priests and amazed them with how smart he was. Then it was time to return home. But Jesus was lost.  Mary and Joseph searched for him for three terrible days.  They cried and cried. “God asked me to guard his son and keep him safe,” Joseph wailed.  “I’m a failure. Forgive me!”  Then one day they found Jesus.  He was still in the temple, only this time he was teaching the priests!  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/3csvBVl

 

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Prayer for Tuesday 2/18

04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleThumbnailI adore you, God of the Great Example, God of the Mighty Word, God of Forever Life.  I long to see you face to face, but I already do. Your face is in the sun, your eyes in the stars, your ears in the wind. But one mystery I cannot fathom: You adore me. How can that be? I am just a spec in the universe.  I sin every day by doing or thinking something amiss or by leaving undone even the smallest kindness I should be doing for others.  Oh, yes. I remember now. You dote on lowly me because you made me your child. Your child! You are so full of surprises. Delightful surprises.  Ah, my heart swells when I think of you.

Thank you, my Adonai, for this beautiful February day. The cold has shooed the germs away and made them go into hiding so we can have a healthier summer. The trees are getting their much-needed rest. My, my! How they stand strong under gales, sleet, rain. They remain steadfast in both floods and droughts. They even are unconquerable when cut down; they just send new shoots up from their strong roots and start all over again. Am I nearly as strong as the trees? The more the weather beats on them, the stronger they become. Thank you, Lord, for those things that beat down on me. Thank you for the opportunity to stand despite them all and grow stronger. Though the world cut me down completely, may my roots be strong enough to start all over again. What a privilege it is to be in a storm with you.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2SPlNMi

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04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleThumbnailISAAC & JACOB is storybook 4 in the series A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES.  This family argued a lot.  Twin brothers fought all the time and their parents played favorites.  Jacob finally ran away from home.  He was gone a long time, but got lonely for the brother he thought he hated.  He realized he loved his brother after all.  THINK & DO at the end of each chapter.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2SPlNMi

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Prayer for Tuesday 1/28

0-Come Fly-ChildsCartoonMediumCoverYou are the God of creation, of mind,  of life-giving and re-giving over and over. You are always with me. I adore you. I am giddy with excitement over you.  How you love me! Growing weak at the thought, I sink to my knees in adoration.  I know I am not worthy of your immeasurable kindness. Oh, look!  You are leaning low and whispering a song to me. Now you’re lifting me up to you, and…and… you’re showing me your favorite stars. Ah, my Lord…

Thank you, Lord God, for your Bible, for thinking about me all the time, for coming to this world and materializing so we could hear and see you. So much you gave up. Help me understand sacrifice from your example. Such strong love you have for me that you will never let me go. Such tender love you have for me. Someday you will end all suffering and take me home to rest with you. How can I begin to thank you? My soul soars at the thought. 

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I write to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2RYr3wR

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08-Come Fly-ChildsCartoonThumbnailCoverA CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST: COME FLY WITH ME is one in a series of storybooks for ages 3 to 12.  “Think and Do” at the end of each chapter gives a simple good work for the child to do. Large squiggly letters are fun to read.  Long names of people, places, and things are divided with dashes between syllables for easy reading.  Perfect for birthdays, church libraries, Bible school teachers, homeschoolers and grandparents.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………  https://amzn.to/2RYr3wR

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Friday 12/13 ~ Our God-Shaped Emptiness

The scripture for today, December 13 (12/13), is Ecclesiastes 12:13 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

When the King James Version was published in the early 1600s, they italicized all words that were not in the old documents of the Bible. The word “duty” above was not in the original. Translators inserted it to help us understand the original. But perhaps, in this case, it did not help. Fearing God is the whole of man ~ not our duty, but our essence.

Fearing the Lord is a gift. Isaiah 11:2 predicted regarding Jesus:

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him ~

     “…the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,”

          “…the Spirit of counsel and of power,”

               “…the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”

Solomon had tried everything to find happiness, as he explained in his book of Ecclesiastes ~ Pleasure (ch. 2), hard work (ch. 3), advancement (ch. 4), riches (ch. 5). None brought him true happiness.  Eventually, he concluded that only one thing can bring that happiness deep down inside where no one and no situation in life can touch it ~ God. God is the whole of man ~ if we let Him be.

Why? Ecclesiastes 3:11 explains it richly: “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” Another way to view this is “There is a God-shaped emptiness in everyone’s heart.” Fill your mind with the Word of God. Then God will fill your heart and being, and make you feel complete.

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS.  Start your day with one Proverb and one passage from Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Solomon. Keep them on your heart to help guide your day. These are the wisdom of God. This is book two in the TOUCHING GOD trilogy on inspirational thoughts, wisdom, and prayers. Beautiful original artwork on the cover and artistic font on the inside.  A perfect gift for all occasions.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/34h4Zl1

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Tuesday 12/10 ~ And soar to heaven itself

The scripture for today, December 11 (12/11), is Romans 12:11 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Sometimes you get physically tired and our spiritual zeal wanes along with it. You just want to rest. Well, while you rest, you can always become a prayer warrior.

When you see friends, ask them, “How was your week/day/month?” Don’t ask them how they are, for they will probably reply, “Fine.” But if you ask how their week has been, that gives them something to talk about. They’ll tell you of things they have been doing. Regardless of what they say, reply, “May I pray for your success in….” or “I’d like to pray for your….”

What the world needs is prayer. Many people have never in their entire life heard someone tell them, “I am praying for you.” Be the first. Open up their lives to the love of God.

Prayer is powerful, especially when you are not praying for yourself all the time, but rather are praying for others. Do you have a prayer list? How many are on it besides yourself? Ten? Fifty? A hundred? Five hundred? Is that too many to cover? Not at all. How long does it take to read 500 names in earnest, sincere prayer?

You may say, “But just mentioning a name is so meaning-less; it’s too simple. God expects me to explain all I know about this person’s problem and then do some begging.” No, he doesn’t; not with everyone. Prayer is so very, very powerful, that just mentioning a person’s name will bring this person before the very throne of God.

Then, even when you are tired and lack physical zeal, your soul can rise up with spiritual fervor and soar to heaven itself.

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Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S is the last of the inspirational TOUCHING GOD TRILOGY.  Each day you are given a suggested prayer of praise, repentance, and thanksgiving.  Your prayer requests are up to you.  Begin or end your day with special time with God, the lover of your soul. Great for Christmas, weddings, graduations, birthdays, promotions, retirements and other gift occasions.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2LHH8V5

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Sunday 12/8 ~ The meaning of life

The scripture for today, December 8 (12/8), is Ecclesiastes 12:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail” ‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the teacher. ‘Everything is meaningless!’ “

About thirty-five years ago some Christians in England did a sidewalk survey in the downtown of a major city. One of their inquiries was: “What question about your life do you ask the most?”. The answer almost always was, “Why am I here? What is life all about?”.

The entire book of Ecclesiastes is about all the things that the richest and most powerful man in the world did in order to have an enjoyable and fulfilling life: He built palaces and grand temples, he cultivated great gardens, he imported tons of gold and precious stones and fabrics from around the globe, he had numerous wives and mistresses, he built the largest army and navy in the world, he studied every possible subject. At the end, he said it was all meaningless.

The meaning of your life is that you were born to die and walk through a gate. This life is temporary. It is your proving ground. This life is the foyer of the life you will have eternally ~ a life in heaven or hell. You were not put here just to have fun, but rather to live in the very presence of your Maker and take many people as possible with you to the home of God, your Maker, the Lover of your soul. That is the meaning of life.

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS contains daily excerpts from Proverbs plus one passage from Job, Psalm, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Solomon.  This is one of three books in the devotional TOUCHING GOD SERIES. Original artwork on the covers and poetic font inside.  A beautiful gift book for Christmas and all through the year.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/2rvxON8

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Friday 11/29 ~ Rest for your soul

The scripture for today, November 29 (11/29), is Matthew 11:29f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

05-FLOOD GATES-Child'sCartoon-Thumbnail“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Ah, Lord Jesus. I am so weary worn.  It seems everything that could ever go wrong in my life is happening right now. Just when I think I have one problem at least partly under control, another raises its ugly head. Or should I say Satan raises his ugly head?  Satan, why are you doing this to me? It is you who is causing all the diseases and problems at work, and the car wreck and progressive blindness.  Was it you who set me up in that posh job which you knew was never popular in the company and would only cause me grief? Was this new house I bought with my pay raise worth it after all?

I am so tired. Help me, God.  I don’t know which way is up anymore. God?  I’m calling for you. God? Don’t you even care?

“Let’s trade, my child. I’ll take your burdens and you take mine.”

But, Lord, I do not understand. What could your burdens possibly be? You’re all comfortable in heaven.

“My child, my burden is to reach out to everyone and tell them how much I love them. My burden is to take their burdens on my shoulders. You can do it too. You can write encouraging messages to them every day. You can open up the newspaper and pray for everyone in it by name. You can call someone who is depressed like you and sing them a sweet song.”

But when, Lord? When would I find time?

“Use your brooding time, your crying time, your anger time. Let loose of them so I can brood, cry, and be angry for you. Remember, it’s a trade.”

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05-FLOOD GATES-Child'sCartoon-ThumbnailA CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST:  FLOOD GATES.  Jesus’ life on earth was filled with taking other people’s burdens onto his shoulders.  The people loved him for it and didn’t care that their leaders hated him for it.  Oh, how he loved us.  At the end of each chapter is “THINK AND DO” for children to apply that chapter to their own lives with a good work.  Perfect for children’s classes, church libraries, grandparents, birthdays, Christmas.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2XZM5xo

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