Category: temptation

The Unknown Future

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn #friendships, attitude, blessings, discouragement, emptiness, Fear, forgiveness, Heaven, judging, Loss, patience, Satan, Saved from hell, sin, temptation, things, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 20 (6/20), is Matthew 6:20f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-MEDIUM“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In describing heaven, terms are used like pearls, diamonds, emeralds, gold, and so on. So, certainly, God is not against riches. Otherwise, he would not have described heaven with those terms.

So, what is the problem? Ask yourself, “If I lost everything tomorrow, could I face life?.”  You may say yes, but what about your friends? They may not want to associate with someone with nothing. So, it is not only a greed problem but a social problem. It is a problem of losing both your possessions and your friends.

Some have solved this problem by moving out into the country where possessions and social status don’t mean so much. Or you could stay where you are and just change your choice of friends. Your new friends may be truer friends than you ever had before and may need you more.

Lastly, if you lost your job, your car, your home ~ your identity ~ would you be so devastated that you would contemplate suicide as some have done? Or would you be able to look around and see what you can do without being paid and a job to occupy your time?

There are always things you can do for others. Is that truly where your heart is? In that case, loss of everything would not bring catastrophe. Rather, it would give opportunity to reveal what stuff you are made of deep down inside where your true treasure is ~ in your heart.

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Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAILTHE ROAD TO HEAVEN.  It’s a long road.  It began in the Gaden of Eden.  What has it taken to get you forgiven?  It’s been a long battle between God and Satan, both of which are trying to get you on their side.  And the logistics God worked out:  He’s always fooling Satan.  Satan does not understand God. So, even though he thinks he is winning, he is not. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/Road-To-Heaven                                           https://northernlightspublishinghouse.com/the-road-to-heaven/

What if Jesus had refused to forgive you?

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn #friendships, attitude, Daily, discouragement, ego, ethics, forgiveness, healing, humility, judging, Loss, love, persecution, sacrifice, sin, temptationLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 25 (5/25), is Galatians 5:25f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Medium“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.”

When someone is better than you in doing something, do you pick fights with them as punishment, or spread gossip about them in order to get others to quit respecting them? Do you become a persecutor?

Perhaps you don’t do this all the time. But what about times when there is something you feel you are really good at, but another person not as talented gets the honor? That’s when it’s hard to “keep in step with the Spirit.”

Someone else may say, “But they just barged in and didn’t ask my permission.  I can’t get rid of that hurt.”  When you sin, do you ask God’s permission before you do it? If you didn’t, do you think God “just can’t get rid of the hurt”? God treats you the way you treat others.

Whenever you envy or resent someone, deep down, you consider that person your enemy. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45a). What are you willing to do to continue being a child of God?

To many, loving our enemy is the most difficult command in the Bible. Perhaps one way to love your “enemy” is to realize that Jesus loved his enemies. Every time you sin, you become one of his enemies. But Jesus keeps right on loving you, even when you don’t want to stop doing whatever you shouldn’t.

Jesus demonstrates the love of the Son of God. And here he says, if you love your enemies, you are demonstrating what the children of God do. And that is far more important than honor and respect that goes to those you envy or resent. Leaving behind conceit makes it much easier to love everyone.  Love everyone?  What an intriguing thought.

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailTHEY MET JESUS:  SHADOW OF DEATH.  In a sense, the whole world since the creation of mankind, crucified Jesus.  That’s whose sins he carried on himself.  What if Jesus had refused to forgive the world for sinning against him and crucifying him?  What if….?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/ShadowOfDeath-7                https://northernlightspublishinghouse.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-7-shadow-of-death-adults-childs-versions/

Shhh. Do you hear? Jesus is calling you

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn #friendships, attitude, ego, faith, judging, love, temptation, thingsLeave a comment

0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-medium-newThe scripture for today, May 6 (5/6), is Song of Solomon 5:6 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“I opened [the door] for my lover, but my lover had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer.”

Jesus is the lover of your soul. He hears you knock, so opens the door for you. But you are now sidetracked. Perhaps you’re now spending all your time thinking about material things. His heart sinks when you run away from him. Oh, how his heart aches with loneliness for you.

So, Jesus goes out looking for you. He looks everywhere you go. He calls you by name. But perhaps your life is so full of the noise of doing and going and accomplishing, that you do not hear him.

Stop! Allow some quietness into your life. Then listen. Shhh. Do you hear? Jesus is calling for you.

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0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-medium-newTHEY MET JESUS:  FOLK HERE.  Crowds grew from hundreds to thousands to tens of thousands.  People from nearby nations heard of his fame and came to look for him.  Some were loyal.  Some were fickle. Religious leaders cornered him, theologians stalked him, The wealthy helped him.  For commoners, he conquered demons, controlled nature, created food, And destroyed death. Hometown friends tried to kill him, While cousin John gained a glory home.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/2U4kZ7L   

https://northernlightspublishinghouse.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-4-folk-hero-adults-childs-versions/

Throwing away your prize

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn attitude, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, Fear, Heaven, Life of Christ, sacrifice, Saved from hell, temptation, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

0-BK 6-PromiseKeeper-Cover-medium-new-kindleThe scripture for today, March 14 (3/14), is Philippians 3:14, as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus knew that, out of jealousy, the religious leaders were trying to kill him. So, for a while, he stayed out of Jerusalem, where the religious headquarters was. But Eventually, the time came for him to put himself in their hands. Was it easy for him to do? Definitely not! For he knew his death would be by physical and spiritual torture.

“They were on their way up to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished while those who followed were afraid” (Mark 10:32).

Jesus pressed on. He did not want to go through the crucifixion. Hebrews 5:7 says that “during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.”

As difficult as it was for him, Jesus pressed on toward the goal to win the prize. But the prize was not for himself; it was for you and me ~ eternity in heaven instead of hell!

You do not have to go through what he did for your salvation and avoidance of hell. Your little bit of sacrifice is nothing by comparison. But do you turn away from the prize Jesus sacrificed so much for so you can have a little more fun, accumulate a few more things, watch a few more tv shows, play a few more computer games, be a little more important to your friends?

Are you throwing away your prize?

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0-BK 6-PromiseKeeper-Cover-thumbnail-new-kindleTHEY MET JESUS:  PROMISE KEEPER.  A traitor praised him, a woman crowned him, foreigners sought him. the world ran after him, Judas ran from him, his apostles deserted him. He held his own funeral service, then begged God to free him of his promise. The religious leaders were unmasked, And Herod wrestled with just who he was. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/3ldcjbB

Book 6: Promise Keeper

Do your best, Timothy. Do your best.

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn attitude, Daily, discouragement, Enemies, eternity, Fear, governments, Heaven, Inspirational, Loss, patience, persecution, power, problems, temptation, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-The scripture for today, February 15 (2/15), is 2nd Timothy 2:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

“Do your best,” Paul told a younger co-worker.  “Do your best.”

This was an apostle speaking. This was Paul who had endured multiple beatings with rods and lashings with whips. This was Paul who no one could stop.

He had endured floods and snowstorms, hunger and robbers on the road. Still, no one could stop him. He endured shipwrecks and even treading water a day and night in the sea. Nothing could stop him.e \

It seems with Paul, it was never enough. He was driven. When he was stoned and presumed dead, he got up and went back into the city! When he was imprisoned, he defied the magistrates who put him there and sang his sermons to the other prisoners. Nothing could stop him. Nothing could shut him up.

When he wrote this, he was now in prison. He had done his best. Now it was time for the next generation. He was handing the torch over to Timothy and the others.

“Do your best, Timothy. Don’t let them stop you. Never let them stop you. They are lost and don’t know it. Tell them, Timothy. Keep telling them, no matter how terribly they treat you. Keep telling them and keep telling them. Don’t stop, Timothy. Do your best.

“Some will stop what they are doing and listen to you. They will turn their life around. They will be there with you when it is time to be presented to God. They will be there with you, and with you they will say, “I did my best.”

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE.  I sometimes wonder what kind of child Paul was.  I tend to think when his parents punished him, he got up and immediately did the offending thing again.  Why do I think that?  Because that is what he did as a missionary preacher.  Pagan priests beat him. But he got up and preached again.  Jewish priests lashed him. But he got up and preached again.  Governments imprisoned him. But he got up and preached again. What kind of stuff was Paul made of?  To READ THIS BEST SELLER, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/UnstoppablePaul

Book 2 ~ Paul: The Unstoppable

How can I touch your holiness?

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn attitude, Daily, discouragement, Inspirational, judging, patience, power, prayer, temptationLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 10 (2/10), is James 2:10 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-“Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

Do we pray on Sunday and curse on Monday? Do we sing on Sunday and lie on Monday? Do we recite a scripture on Sunday and mock someone on Monday?

On the other hand, do we use this as an excuse not to go to church? Do we refuse to attend because there are hypocrites in the church?

Do we refuse to go to work because there are hypocrites there who talk behind the boss’s back? Do we refuse to go to school because there are hypocrites there who would skip school if they could? Do we refuse to sit for two hours in a boring airport because there are hypocrites there smuggling things in their suitcases? Do we refuse to go to sporting events because there are hypocrites there that would literally “kill the umpire” if they could?

Even Jesus had a hypocrite among his 12 Apostles ~ Judas. That didn’t stop him from doing what was needed to save us from hell.

In a sense we are all hypocrites because we go to church and sing songs about giving everything for Jesus, then we go home and don’t. Or we sing songs about going into all the world and teaching the gospel, then we go home and don’t. Or we talk about the importance of praying for everyone around us and their loved ones, then we go home and don’t.

Perhaps Jesus was the biggest hypocrite of them all because he, who never, ever sinned, took the blame for your sins and went through excruciating body and soul death in your place.

Oh, my Lord Jesus, how can I worship you enough? How can I thank you enough? How can my spirit touch your holiness?  I am weak and need you.

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE.  No one could stop him from cursing, jailing and torturing Christians.  Then Jesus got hold of him and he joined the camp of the enemy.  Once again, no one could stop him.  Not any of the beatings he endured, and going hungry, and being thrown into the sea and being stripped by thieves and being stoned until he was supposed to be dead.  For years he dared anyone to stop him from telling people the truth about Jesus and save their souls.  People hated him for it.  But always, in the midst of torture, he would shout, “Jesus!  This is for you!”  To  BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/3fw2mlA

Book 2 ~ Paul: The Unstoppable

 

See? He’s running after you.

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn #friendships, blessings, Daily, Enemies, eternity, faith, healing, Inspirational, judging, love, patience, prayer, problems, Satan, temptation, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 8 (2/8), is Genesis 2:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Medium“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.”

Just think: Mankind’s nursery was a garden. How God wanted to spoil us, his children. And dote on us.

He even visited us sometimes. He walked with us in the cool of the evening through the beautiful home he had given us. It was the first of many times in the future he would walk with man. It was a beautiful time.

Then jealous Satan appeared out of the shadows of time and lied to us. He claimed God was our enemy. How could he say that with God providing us with tasty food to eat and sparkling water to drink beautiful flowers and trees and…  Well, we had everything.

Satan knew he couldn’t deny that, so he planted in their minds what they did not have.  “See that tree over there? God doesn’t like you or he would let you touch that tree.  See that fruit over there? God doesn’t like you or he would let you eat anything you want.”  Oh, and the biggie. “God doesn’t want you to be as smart as him.  Evil is fun, but he is keeping you from knowing what evil is.  It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. If God hates you that much, then hate him back.”

So, they did. And Satan laughed. They were so gullible. Too late they discovered God had been trying to protect them.

Do you believe God doesn’t want you to have any fun? That is not true. God does not hate you. God is not trying to keep you from having a good time. The real good time is in heaven and he is trying to get you there.

Do not listen to Satan. He is the one who hates you. Do not wait until it is too late. Turn around and try once more listening to God. See?  He is running after you. He wants to protect you. He loves you beyond comprehension. And wants to spoil you. In heaven.

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS provides one proverbs plus one passage from a wisdom literature — Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon.  This is book two in the devotional trilogy — GOLDEN BIBLE THOUGHTS: GOD’S HEART TO YOURS and SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S.  Original art on the cover and classical papyrus font on the inside.  Perfect gift for yourself in these trying times of Covid uncertainty or a gift to someone else.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/3epvDgU

365 Pearls of Wisdom: God’s Soul to Yours

 

Holy Tears

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn attitude, discouragement, ethics, family, forgiveness, healing, Inspirational, judging, Loss, love, patience, prayer, problems, sin, teaching, temptationLeave a comment

The scripture for today, January 28 (1/28), is 1st Chronicles 1:28  s found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleMedium“The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.”

Are you a parent with a grown or nearly-grown child who is going in the wrong direction? Have you tried everything you can think of, and nothing is working? Do you know in your heart that you have been a good example and things shouldn’t have turned out like they have?

Abraham has been called the Father of the Faithful. Yet he had one son who followed Jehovah ~ Isaac ~ and one son who followed idols ~ Ishmael. Certainly, Abraham tried everything he could to “talk some sense” into Ishmael. Certainly, he prayed earnestly for Ishmael. So, what went wrong?  He also had two grandsons who fought each other all the time ~ Jacob and Esau.  Again, what went wrong? He was a godly man. His son, Isaac was a godly man?  How could this have happened when they tried to raise their sons right?

Just as God has given each of us free will, our children and grandchildren also have free will. Just as God will never force us to follow him, we cannot force our children to follow God. You did not refrain from having your children because they may have difficulties in their life, and neither did God. And when our children rebel and break our hearts, imagine what God goes through when we rebel and break his heart.

Who knows? Perhaps your child will return to God someday in your old age, or even after you have died.  If your child deep down has a good heart, that is enough for God to work with.

Keep hope alive. And try not to weep too often.

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04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleThumbnailA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES: ISAAC AND JACOB is a book of hope for dysfunctional families.  Twins Jacob and Esau fought all the time. Then Jacob stole from Esau, so Jacob ran away.  For twenty years they were apart and missed each other and eventually forgave each other.  What a reunion it was.  How happy Isaac must have been.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/3rcRNtZ

A Child’s Bible Heroes Book 4 ~ Isaac & Jacob

 

The stars sing their praises

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn Bible, Daily, family, forgiveness, Inspirational, patience, power, praise, prayer, Satan, temptation, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

02-Noah-KindleMediumThe stars praise you, oh God, with their singing. The mountains praise you with their rumbling. The meadows praise you with their whisperings. The oceans praise you with their ebb and flow in tune with the rest of the universe. Ah, my Lord, to be with you without Satan always trying to lure me away from you. His lies won’t work, Lord! I will not let them. And when I am weak, you will stand between us not let him get to me. Nothing praises Satan except emptiness, shadows and hollow egos. All things good and grand and glorious and praise you now and forever.

Lord, sometimes I eat too much. Why do I do that? The taste is with me but a moment, then whisks away and I have to take another bite to get it back. And another. And another. Help me eat until I am no longer hungry instead of when I am full and about to burst.

Thank you for my family and friends. Thank you for the animals that sometime show more love than do humans. And for birds that hop around and flutter and fly and sing to me. And the fish that wiggle and splash and sparkle. And touch ~ the softness of cotton, the smoothness of silk. Bumpy tree bark and smooth flower pedals. And knowing for sure that spring will return some day.

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02-Noah-KindleThumbnailA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES: NOAH. Fun, large-print book that even has dashes between syllables in long words for early readers. THINK & DO at the end of each of the ten chapters. Can be understood beginning age three. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/36yPMip

A Child’s Bible Heroes Book 2 ~ Noah

My mind, my spirit, my soul

On By Northern Lights Publishing HouseIn blessings, Daily, faith, Inspirational, praise, prayer, Satan, temptation, worshipLeave a comment

Holy!  Yes, holy!  You are, mighty God, Creator of the universe and my mind, spirit and soul. You are holy!  My Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Mediummind worships you by learning more and more about you, knowing I can never know it all.  My spirit worships you by keeping my soul alive and vibrant in all I do for you.  My soul worships you by absorbing your Holy Spirit into mine and becoming one with you. With all my being, I worship you, for you are holy.

Father, forgive me, please, when I help other people out and expect them to thank me. I must keep my motives in check. You send the sunshine and rain on both the just and unjust with hardly a thank you from anyone. Help me be more like you.

Lord God, you gave me the choice of being a miniature form of you or of Satan.  I do not like that choice. But you made me responsible for what I am. A little child waits to be told what to do, but you want to challenge me, put spiritual muscles on me, strengthen me. How can I become spiritually strong unless I have burdens to bear and battles to fight?  So, when Satan tempts me, help me stand up to him, turn my back on him, and be a miniature you. Thank you for entrusting me to fight  with you.

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS provides a daily proverb plus a passage from Job, Psalm, Song of Solomon or Ecclesiastes ~ all parts of the “wisdom literature” of the Bible.  This is book two in the TOUCHING GOD series, all with beautiful, hand-painted originals by famed colorist, Betsy Kemp Thompson. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/365PearlsOfWisdom

 

Holy!  Yes, holy!  You are, mighty God, Creator of the universe and my mind, spirit and soul. You are holy!  My Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Mediummind worships you by learning more and more about you, knowing I can never know it all.  My spirit worships you by keeping my soul alive and vibrant in all I do for you.  My soul worships you by absorbing your Holy Spirit into mine and becoming one with you. With all my being, I worship you, for you are holy.

Father, forgive me, please, when I help other people out and expect them to thank me. I must keep my motives in check. You send the sunshine and rain on both the just and unjust with hardly a thank you from anyone. Help me be more like you.

Lord God, you gave me the choice of being a miniature form of you or of Satan.  I do not like that choice. But you made me responsible for what I am. A little child waits to be told what to do, but you want to challenge me, put spiritual muscles on me, strengthen me. How can I become spiritually strong unless I have burdens to bear and battles to fight?  So, when Satan tempts me, help me stand up to him, turn my back on him, and be a miniature you. Thank you for entrusting me to fight  with you.

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS provides a daily proverb plus a passage from Job, Psalm, Song of Solomon or Ecclesiastes ~ all parts of the “wisdom literature” of the Bible.  This is book two in the TOUCHING GOD series, all with beautiful, hand-painted originals by famed colorist, Betsy Kemp Thompson. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/365PearlsOfWisdom

 

Holy!  Yes, holy!  You are, mighty God, Creator of the universe and my mind, spirit and soul. You are holy!  My Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Mediummind worships you by learning more and more about you, knowing I can never know it all.  My spirit worships you by keeping my soul alive and vibrant in all I do for you.  My soul worships you by absorbing your Holy Spirit into mine and becoming one with you. With all my being, I worship you, for you are holy.

Father, forgive me, please, when I help other people out and expect them to thank me. I must keep my motives in check. You send the sunshine and rain on both the just and unjust with hardly a thank you from anyone. Help me be more like you.

Lord God, you gave me the choice of being a miniature form of you or of Satan.  I do not like that choice. But you made me responsible for what I am. A little child waits to be told what to do, but you want to challenge me, put spiritual muscles on me, strengthen me. How can I become spiritually strong unless I have burdens to bear and battles to fight?  So, when Satan tempts me, help me stand up to him, turn my back on him, and be a miniature you. Thank you for entrusting me to fight  with you.

.

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS provides a daily proverb plus a passage from Job, Psalm, Song of Solomon or Ecclesiastes ~ all parts of the “wisdom literature” of the Bible.  This is book two in the TOUCHING GOD series, all with beautiful, hand-painted originals by famed colorist, Betsy Kemp Thompson. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/365PearlsOfWisdom

 

365 Pearls of Wisdom: God’s Soul to Yours